The courtyard shimmered again as Rhiannan opened the next portal, her hands glowing with divine light as mossy green magic spiraled outward like curling vines. A warm, earthy breeze swept across the stones just before Nahlia stepped through first, looking fierce and radiant in her forest toned armor laced with golden roots.
Behind her, an explosion of dryad magic surged through the gateway, vines, moss, flower petals, and sparkling spores burst into the air like nature's own fireworks.
The dryads poured through the portal in perfect harmony with the land, their skin marked with bark like patterns, moss hair braided with blooming flowers and twinkling stones. The forest warriors dropped to one knee before Rhiannan the moment they reached her, and a wave of glowing green energy radiated from their palms as they sent her blessings of fertility, protection, and strength.
Rhiannan gasped softly as the magic caressed her glowing belly, and her mates instinctively stepped forward, forming a loose, protective circle around her as their eyes glittered with reverence. She smiled through the warmth blooming in her chest, her hand resting on her divine bump.
"You honor me," she said, voice thick with emotion.
💬 FaeNet lit up instantly
💬 @mossbabe112: "I'm SOBBING. The dryads love her so much. Our Goddess is loved by all beings and I'm unwell 😭🌿"
💬 @floralhexing: "That entrance tho. Moss magic supremacy!!"
💬 @rootedbitch: "They made the courtyard a literal dreamscape. I stan these leafy bitches forever."
💬 @valorvixen: "Okay but if I don't get a room like the dryads I will RIOT 😤🌿✨"
Tilina Softwhisper, the ever graceful head maid, floated forward with her clipboard and a faint glowing trail of lavender dust. "Right this way, warriors of the woods," she cooed, smiling mysteriously. "You'll find your wing perfectly suited to your essence."
She led them down a winding path into their own enchanted quarters, where living walls of ivy, crystal ponds, moonlit mushroom groves, and sun dappled moss beds awaited them. It was less barracks and more sacred glade sanctuary.
Cries of joy and whispered blessings filled the air. The dryads hugged each other, spinning with glee as they saw trees with hammocks and healing vines draped through the corridors.
One of the elder dryads turned to Rhiannan and knelt once more, voice strong, eyes glowing with ancient devotion. "We pledge our undying loyalty, Goddess Rhiannan. Your heart beats with the wild. And we will fight for it with everything we are."
Rhiannan's voice cracked with emotion. "Welcome home."
FaeNet responded instantly
💬 @mysticmothhoe: "This is why she's our Queen. No species left out. No warrior turned away. This is how you build a kingdom."
💬 @azziefanclub: "Azarion better be taking notes on how to impress the girls like this 😏"
💬 @nahlianation: "Nahlia is everything. Forest fairy queen energy. 10/10 would follow into war."
As the courtyard settled with the hum of nature magic, Rhiannan exhaled slowly, her smile pure sunlight. Another piece of her dream had just bloomed into reality, and this time, with wildflowers and war ready warriors.
Portal five crackled open with a rumbling sound like thunder in a mine shaft, and the moment it stabilized, Barrick Stonevein stomped through, arms crossed and expression pure dwarven grump.
Behind him came the wildest, rowdiest, loudest group of bastards to ever walk the realms. The Dwarven Legion from the Stonekin Clans. Fifty thousand strong. Covered in enchanted armor, drunk as shit, already cussing, belching, and challenging each other to wrestling matches, before they even cleared the portal.
Rhiannan blinked as one dwarf was literally riding another like a pissed off goblin, screaming, "YOU CHEATED YOU FILTHY GIT, SAY IT TO MAH BEARD!" while chugging from a gold etched flask.
"Sweet Goddess," Sasha muttered dryly through the comms, "the courtyard's gonna need pressure washing after this."
The noise died down slightly as Barrick whistled sharply and raised one calloused hand. His booming voice echoed across the space. "Alright, shut your crusty asses up, this here's the Divine Queen you bastards owe your fealty to!"
The dwarves froze, turned, and then in perfectly timed, slightly drunken unison, dropped to one knee and pounded their fists to the ground. "For the Goddess Rhiannan, Queen of Stars and Fury!" they bellowed, voices shaking the damn walls.
Rhiannan grinned wide, amused and touched. "Thank you for your loyalty," she said warmly. "But honestly? I don't care if you cuss, fight, drink, or fuck in the goddamn courtyard, just fight with your whole damn hearts for me when it's time, got it?"
The dwarves exploded in cheer and tossed more drinks around like it was a damn tavern brawl.
💬 FaeNet lost its collective fucking mind
💬 @goldengrumbler: "This is the most accurate representation of dwarves I've ever seen. 10/10 no notes."
💬 @nymphsandstone: "Barrick's nymphs are gonna need a nap and a cold shower after this week I swear 💦🧡"
💬 @rockhardtank: "Did she just say fuck in a royal speech? I love her more every day."
Barrick's three nymphs, glowing and elegant as ever, stepped forward and bowed to Rhiannan as well, exchanging warm greetings and a few cheeky hugs with her mates.
"Welcome home, friends," Kaleb said, clapping Barrick on the back. "Try not to break the castle."
"No promises," Barrick grumbled. "But we'll build ya a new one if we do."
Tilina Softwhisper floated in without missing a beat, her clipboard glowing softly. "Gentlemen and ladies of the Stonekin Legion, if you'll follow me…"
She led them to their new quarters, deep stone walls carved with glowing dwarven runes, beds custom built to dwarf scale, gold dusted furnishings, and a bottomless mead tap already enchanted to refill itself.
One dwarf fainted from joy.
Another shouted, "I'm never fucking leavin'!"
And everyone else? Immediately started chanting: "FOR THE GODDESS!" as the party moved in like a damn parade.
FaeNet ignited again
💬 @forgemistress: "Those rooms are HOT. I'd fake a dwarf ID to live there tbh."
💬 @grumblelove: "Can we get a spin off series about Barrick's life pls? Him and the nymphs are ICONS."
💬 @dwarvesbehavingbadly: "If there's a brawl, I better be invited. I throw hands AND glitter."
Rhiannan laughed, clinging to her glowing belly, her men close around her. The courtyard was chaos, but it was her chaos. Her soldiers. Her family. And they were all exactly where they were meant to be.
With portal after portal closed and every single damn warrior either settled into their enchanted quarters or halfway to drunk in the barracks, the courtyard finally, finally, fell quiet.
The golden sun dipped low in the sky, casting shimmering beams across the newly polished stone. Soft wind rustled through the trees lining the magical forest path. The chaos had become calm.
Rhiannan slumped onto a velvet-draped chaise like a glorious, exhausted goddess. Her glowing baby bump pulsed gently with divine light beneath a soft silken robe, and her freckled skin shimmered faintly with residual magic.
Her mates circled her like loyal wolves, tense with protective pride and love. Arwen stood nearby, arms crossed, eyeing the horizon for threats. Kaleb leaned against the archway with a half smile, the pack alpha in full dad mode. Azarion floated just off the ground like some ancient magical guardian angel, crackling softly. Liam was already massaging her feet with reverence. Elisha watched her like she held the sun. And Sable, of course, was sharpening a blade slowly while glaring at the empty courtyard like it personally insulted him.
Enter the holy trinity of divine chaos and calm, her official ladies in waiting.
🌿 Lady Kaelith of the Bloomspire, a dryad healer hybrid with cascading green hair, tattoos that shimmer with mood magic, and the calmest damn energy known to the realms.
⏳ Sereth the Time Witch, an elegant and time sensitive enchantress with eyes that saw more than she ever said.
💥 Brimma "Boom Boom" Thornhex, a battle-scarred goblin fae with a grin full of mischief and knuckles scarred from decades of war.
These three badass nannies swept into the courtyard with a tray of enchanted snacks, steaming tea, and a glowing charm that instantly restored magical reserves. They didn't ask if Rhiannan needed anything, they knew.
Rhiannan smiled up at them with tearful gratitude. "I don't deserve you."
Kaelith handed her a tea cup. "You do. And you will never raise this army or these babies alone."
She sipped, her mates quietly surrounding her. Arwen muttered something about not trusting sparkle grenades, and Brimma winked.
Azarion floated down, placing a glowing hand over Rhiannan's belly. A pulse of divine warmth rippled through the courtyard, and every soul there stilled.
The goddess was restoring.
And the kingdom? It was ready for war.