That was exactly what happened, I made a memory orb from each of us so we knew exactly where the lines were drawn. It wasn't exactly a long list for either of us, which made it feel a bit excessive, but it also made us realise that we were both still wanting to try new things.
Mine were, and still are obviously, mostly tied to making sure consent was established, I wouldn't try anything without permission or request, the only other thing I had down was that I was never going to be happy or willing to bring other people into it.
Eve on the other hand had taken things a little a bit further she didn't just outline her absolute boundaries which were just the same as mine, even if she was usually a bit dominating in the bedroom. She also gave me standing permission to engage whilst she was sleeping at least once if I ever felt comfortable enough to try, but also a short list of things she wanted to try.
It was a bit amusing, despite her naivety she clearly spent a lot more time considering the matter and was clearly wanting me to try and take the lead more. I didn't mind that, if anything I appreciated it.
"I'll try and be more assertive, I'm sorry. I guess the mountain of people of corpses I left behind for ignoring others wishes has made me a bit frigid, scared to act in case I've missed some sign that you aren't in the mood or... Sorry I'm being an idiot again, aren't I?"
"What? No, you're not. I love how fiercely strict you are on it. You may not be the humans' biggest fan, but you still respect that everyone has the right to say "no" and know the damage that ignoring it can cause. I'm sure Babylon would tell you the same thing." She replied, pulling me close.
She held me a moment before continuing. "Adam, I'm not mad, or disappointed, or even unsatisfied. I'm new and curious, I want to try new things, in this new world of intimacy. I don't expect you to come up with this stuff honestly, I know you're still adapting to even wanting it, let alone exploring it, I just want you to know that if you do want to try new things it's okay to ask, or suggest.
For what it's worth we have yet to do anything I didn't like, though the way that doesn't make babies will definitely have no room for being rough." She finished with a chuckle as my eyes bulged and I nodded my head in agreement.
"Eve, I love you, at some point I promise to try waking you up with it okay? I'm sorry I ruled out something you wanted so quickly, but I need to get used to the idea and I'll probably chicken out quickly the first few attempts."
She was.... Disconcertingly happy, which made me realise how long that was going to take me to try.
With that discussion done, we opened a portal for the kids, then we got ready to go find Ogrith, who would be waiting to show us to the heart of the mountain.
He was stoic when we arrived, the face of a man holding back tears at his brother's funeral. It wasn't because of something that had happened per se, but because of what we were going to do. "Do you have the crests Adam?"
"Of course, let's see honour honoured."
With that, he led the way solemnly. We picked up a procession of dwarves, those who were free, everyone would have liked to go, but society moved forward. The free went, carrying the words of those who couldn't.
Usually the words, might be poems or songs to their deeds, but no one bore memory of them, they were dwarves who had never been committed to the mountains memory before facing me. It meant, all the words most likely wrote were simply "Honour to you Brothers".
The mountain grew think with sombre air, the mountain grieving the thousands upon thousands of lost children, she didn't hate me for it, or at least hadn't but for that walk at least she couldn't help turning my path into a labyrinth of trip-hazards and spontaneously grown, spear-like stalagmites.
I could have avoided them all, but I owed her that much, even Eve couldn't get angry, I tripped countless times, was nicked countless times and was impaled countless times. I took it all, to give her the chance to avenge her fallen kin, to give those still breathing the chance to see for themselves the foe those fallen faced.
"They never flinched."
"Never lamented."
"Never cried."
"Never ran"
"Your kin were strong. Courageous to the end."
"They fought like stone, against the odds."
"They each fought on their own, against a god."
With the end of the poem, broken and stretched by the mountain's wrath, we reached the heart we moved towards. The heart of the mountain wasn't at all as imagined, not light or burning red magma. It was a revelation.
The heart was molten, but blacker than pitch, a black we knew well as it matched our wings and the deva's bodies. Cosmael, stood solemn, unable to speak and I nodded in understanding it was a secret that we weren't ready to hear.
The Black of the heart was, like oiled lava, though it suddenly became clear why she had no grudge to bare and the true weight of sin I did. The mountain was indeed my kin, as were the children I'd slain.
I levitated the crests in front of me and imbued each with a slither of my power, then one by one I cast them in.
As the black magma absorbed the power in each, along with the memories contained within, it pulsed with new life. The mountain... Gravalon, shook with new renewed strength, then the bubbling mass began to burst and flow upward as though she were about to erupt.
"Hello sister... Or neice it seems."
"Hello, what name would you prefer I use?"
"I'd rather just be called the mountain after your dad's reaction." She huffed. "I've been using Arthurian names for eras to trigger a memory or two with no luck, but of course he comes with most of it back when I choose the one that most embarrassed me."
"He hasn't remembered everything, he hasn't recovered either, my creator has put a boundary in place to stop them overlapping. Careful what you share."
"You've grown Little One, I was told you were a shy and nervous thing. You, my other niece, are a stunning girl so full of life, please visit when you wish and I will miss you in between."
"Mama and Papa say "emotional blackmail is mean" but I was gonna visit anyway so I guess it's fine."
Finally the mass of scorching liquid began to condense and reshape. It eventually found its form in one not too dissimilar from the deva, but more semi-liquid as opposed to ethereal.
She then walked passed me and embraced Eve. "Dear sister thank you for loving this stubborn fool. Forgive his thoughtlessness and oblivious self-sacrifice, but please make sure he doesn't go too far."
She then slapped me with a hand that simply burned through as it connected with my jaw, leaving me to briefly choke as my airway melted shut.
When I had healed enough to stand, I did so. "I killed my own kin, I'll suffer as much as you wish. I doubt it will be as much as I do but please free me from a measure of guilt at least."
"Adam, your life is not your own anymore. I cannot rob children of their father, nor a wife of her love. So you can carry the guilt, that will be your penance, carry it and the names of the millions you slaughtered. Then get over it, for the sake of those I mentioned."
"Mama, I can't tell if Auntie is angry at Papa or sad for him."
"I'm both dear! He has that annoying effect of being a truly moronic genius. Where do you think my children get it from? It runs in the family men." She ranted, before holding me. "One day, I'll get passed the barrier and make you pay moron."
She finally released me then walked to the edge and straight off it, returning to her natural form leaving the atmosphere heavy and thick with emotion.
"Ay! Not even a glance at your own children? Battle-axe..." Ogrith asked her to cut through the tension left in her wake. "Seems the woman has had enough socialising, will you be staying another night?"
"No, we have worn on my sister's hospitality enough for one visit. I'll let her grieve her fallen children."
"Aye, figured you might, we have some stuff ready for your trip and save the "oh I couldn't possibly" bollocks for someone who will listen."
"Well then, stay well I'll see you at the coronation then. I think it's Rigli's job to see us out of I'm not mistaken."