Chapter Text
As days and nights passed, AJ found herself wandering the castle ground. Always somewhere else rather than where she was supposed to be. But of course, she was never alone. No. She never went out alone, though, she only went out at night for one reason.
Tonight, she found herself outside for the same reason she always was out for. The night was dark, and calming. The sound of the water from the garden fountain, and the sound of the crickets resonating.
A fear was brought to Drift as she watched AJ walk the edge of the fountain, using it as a balance beam like one would as a child.
AJ’s arm’s stuck out like a T to keep her balance. “So, Open Book wanna spill where your name came from?”
“What, Drift? I’d tell you but I can’t just kiss and tell.”
“You want me to kiss you then?” AJ teased.
Drift’s face went a very obvious pink, even in the moonlight it was the only thing AJ could see.
“What? No! That’s not even- god you’re infuriating!”
“Just say the word, I’m right here all night, every night.” AJ said smugly.
“I hate you.” Drift turned her head away from AJ’s eyes.
“Hah! You wish you did. Then, what’s something you can tell me?” AJ continued along the fountain's edge.
“Why do you want to know so bad? Can’t you read right through me cause I’m such an open book?”
“Well, where would the fun be in that? It’d be quite disappointing to say the least.”
“Oh, disappointing really? You find that reading me like an open book is so sad and disappointing? Maybe you should go find a different book to read. How about that?”
“You want me to leave? Is that it, Drift?”
“What? No- Don’t twist words and feed it into my mouth!” Drift pointed at AJ with a condescending finger.
“Oh, so you want me to feed you now? Didn’t take you to be the greedy type? First a kiss, and now feeding you? Well don’t you want the princess treatment.”
“What? No, no, no! I’m not- Why would you call it princess treatment?” Drift was visibly nervous, a bit uncomfortable as well. The maid’s dress she had borrowed had done no good for her.
“Oh, come on,” AJ hopped off the fountain edge and in front of Drift’s path. “Are you blushing, Drift?” AJ was having fun now, a bit…too much fun.
“What? No, no I’m not! You’re blushing!”
“Psh, nah, not me. I don’t blush.” AJ shrugged with a hidden smile. “But you, my friend. You are blushing.”
Throughout the past two weeks they’ve naturally become close. Teasing each other, pushing each, being so close to each other than they’ve ever been with someone else. But now, they were so close that AJ was inches from Drift's face.
Both had stopped walking, glancing from the others eyes to their lips. For a second, the world was silent; the world was calm. Drift swallowing back a sense of nervousness. Yet somehow…she wanted it more than anything.
“Oh, you wish! Get out of my face.” The flustered girl used her hand to push AJ’s face away from hers.
“Right, right...Come on, Drifty, a little secret won’t hurt us. Not like your dad is going to find me and bury me alive. Ooh, spooky.”
“Do all knights pester people like this? Or is it just you? I really should put a word in with the royal guard.”
“Avoiding the question, I see! What, are your parents of some kind of importance?”
“You think I’d be working in the royal kitchen if my parents were of importance? And aren’t all parents of importance to people?”
“Hm, I wouldn’t know. But hey, I don’t let that get me down!” AJ turned and continued walking the path, swinging her arms excessively. “It can’t be that your dad is magically the king and he’d banish me the second he found out about this.”
Silence built a wall in the air as Drift had a realization and slowly backed away from the conversation. ‘She couldn’t have clocked it that easily right?’
The one thing Drift never wanted to talk about with AJ was herself. Especially her family.
“Ah…yeah. Real- real funny if he was, wouldn’t it? It’s getting late, you’ve got stuff in the morning, I’ve got stuff in the morning. What a hassle it would be to get up in the morning, hey? Well- bye now.”
“Wait- Drift, where are you going?” AJ laughed.
Drift walked as the world around her faded to a muffle. ‘What if father found out about this? Me sneaking out to meet a knight…? How puerile of me. Ros already got a mouthful from him…who knows what would happen if- no. It can’t happen.’
AJ watched as Drift walked away, confused about what she had done. Why was Drift walking away?
The cursed ideas of ‘will she? won’t she?’ echoed in Drift’s head.
‘Will she pity me like everyone else if I told her the truth?’
‘Won’t she trust you and stay by your side?’
‘Will she call your story make-believe and call you a liar?’
‘Won’t she-’
Drift wasn’t walking away from the conversation, she was drifting away from it. The actions from AJ flustered her so badly, but this wasn’t just teasing now. This was turning her face from a bright pink to a disturbing pale. This was bringing up theories and what-if’s that Drift never wanted to think about.
There were things about Drift that AJ had begun to notice, how her eyes would open wider when something she liked was being brought up, how her hands move to show her excitement, her eyebrows furrowing when she was the slightest bit irritated. But this action wasn’t like the others. Drift’s shoulders were tense, she held her arms in like she was trying to make herself smaller. She was scared.
“Hey, hey, hey, I didn’t mean it, Drift.” AJ reached out to grab one of Drift’s arms.
Drift flinched back, moving away from AJ’s grasp. “What? No, it’s alright- I mean I’m alright.”
“Really? You don’t seem alright. Was it—something I said?”
“It’s not just that, AJ. I…it’s complicated. I…I’m gonna go back now. Don’t- don’t follow me…please.”
Something inside AJ’s chest cracked. Drift never pulled away, Drift let things happen. She didn’t...this tone wasn’t hers. This tone was something that AJ hadn’t heard since the last time someone was this…disappointed in her.
That disappointment in someone’s voice was something that AJ feared. She hated it. It was a constant hole drilling in her stomach until they told her it was okay. Or until she cut them from her life completely..
AJ ran to catch up with Drift, trying her chances with grabbing her arm once again. “Drift…please.”
“I just...I need to think, AJ.” Drift brushed AJ’s arm off hers. The longing look in her eyes turned to a deep sadness.
AJ didn’t know what to say, she didn’t know what to do. She was stuck. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.
AJ didn’t want this.
She never wanted it.
She didn’t want her to…
Leave.
+++++
The next morning, teams of four lined up in front of the arena’s stage with their hands behind their backs, dorm twelve among them.
These were not the same knights-in-training that entered the tournament. These were true knights, and a true knight they all felt.
Atop the stage stood the three head knights, Commander Juniper, Lieutenant Commander Sunny, and Lieutenant Pyro.
The lieutenant commander was the first to speak. “Today marks the first fortnight in The Tournament of Knights. If you stand before me you are part of the last sixty-eight remaining knights. As a reward, you’ve been granted access to the town for the day. You are allowed to visit family or friends, but you are not to break laws of any sort. Do you understand, Lukey.”
“Uh, sir yes sir!” Knights familiar with Lukey laughed and giggled before Lieutenant Commander Sunny told them to be quiet.
Lieutenant Pyro followed in sequence. “Along with this access, you will receive your first payment by the royal guard. Everyone is to receive one thousand gems each. No questions of more or less. It does not matter if you’ve done more than one person or the other, any complaints will receive a deduction of gems. So I’d advise you to spend it wisely. Or spend foolishly, just spend.”
“As you did on your first day of training, you will receive a bundle from the podiums. You are allowed to leave as soon as you acquire your gems, but you are to be back before nightfall. If you fail this task, you are eliminated from the tournament. We’ve seen in recent days that some of the dorms have been…sabotaging other dorms. We do not know to what extent this has gone to, but we do know that some civilians have a sort of dislike towards the knights. I’d advise you all to be careful.” The commander spoke loudly, “Congratulations to the remaining teams, you may now line up for your payment bundles. Blessed be the king.”
With that, the head knights left the stage, walking off to the arena gates. The knights themselves dispersed and gathered with their teams lining up for the podiums. Some knights pushed, these were the knights filled with greed. The knights you could tell weren’t going to make it any farther than they already have.
Legundo, Oli, and Graecie spoke with each other about the things they could see since not having been in this kingdom before. They didn’t push as they moved up the line, there wasn’t any reason to.
AJ wasn’t listening, she moved willingly with her team but stuck inside her head. ‘She flinched…she pulled away from me. I…
I scared her.
“So, AJ. You’re gonna show us around town, yeah?” Oli nudged AJ with his elbow.
AJ was snapped out of a trance. “I mean, yeah, I can.”
The thought of seeing her family again was everything to AJ. Seeing Mel, Flick, and Hector. AJ dreamt of this day, she pushed herself for it when the rumor had released itself a couple days before.
But the thought of the way last night had ended replayed itself over and over again.
Oli turned to Legundo and cheered silently, “Awesome, I can’t wait–and hey–did you know it’s Graecie’s birthday today?”
AJ looked up at Graecie who was smiling like her twenty-first birthday was just another day to her. “I did not know that. Bright One, you’ve got something to tell me?”
“What? Oh, yes! It’s my birthday, so you and I can go to the pub!” Graecie sounded more excited than she was when dorm twelve met.
“I was hoping you’d say that! Alright, Bright One!” Fixing her posture and pushing her team towards the podiums, out of the corner of her eye she saw Pyro. His solid blue eyes fixated, studying her. Those same eyes that followed her as a child. The eyes that watched AJ leave.
She turned away from his gaze and focused on her team. This was a day for them and her, she wasn’t going to let anything get ahead of that.
The four successfully managed to push through the crowd and budge in the lines. They went through the process of checking into the list of knights and eventually acquired their gem bundles.
The budging was AJ’s doing. Oli—like the childish kid he is—encouraged this behavior, but Legundo and Graecie were not a fan. Insisting they apologized to every team they passed.
Teams developed systems for spending. Some would combine and spend together, some kept the money to spend for themselves. Some said they would save, but most knew that wasn’t true.
Dorm twelve was amongst the teams that combined and spent together. Well, Graecie, Oli, and Legundo that was. AJ had duties to attend to, duties of which required her gems.
“Alright, alright. Who’s ready to party across town? I’m taking you all to the best places I know, and there’s no way out of it!”
+++++
The town square was full of civilians. Businesses ran all across town, from Elaina’s forgery, to The Princes of Kewltown by Cambam. No one really knew what “Kewltown” was, though it was a fun place to be. For children that is.
It was lively to say the least, children ran around in the streets with kites and wooden swords to play knights.
“Oooh, how joyous! I’ve never seen so many children in one place! And having fun as well! Oh, how blessed these children are to be watched over by the great Shepherdess.” Graecie gave a delightful sigh, holding her bells to her chest. She was grateful for the children playing and doing all the activities she hadn’t done as a kid.
“You don’t need to be a kid to have fun, Graecie! Not when booze exists, that is.” AJ said smugly knowing town square was the perfect place to bring her team.
“Where’s Oli?” Legundo blurted.
AJ and Graecie looked around, too many people in their line of sight on all sides.
“Where did he go?” Graecie stepped on her tip-toe trying to scope out over the civilians heads.
Through the growing crowd, the three stuck together looking around in caution. Of course there was the danger of other teams sabotaging, there had always been since the start of the tournament.
The sound of clashing came from the distance not too far from where they stood. Their heads followed the sound before following it themselves.
“They wouldn’t attack us right now would they?” Legundo hovered his hand over his dagger pocket.
There had only been one team that was after dorm twelve. They wanted to sabotage, to push dorm twelve to failure. But every single time it backfired and Legundo traced it back to dorm four of the bronze unit.
“On a day like this? That’s a new low.” AJ did the same.
“They couldn’t have, right, AJ?”
“Surely not, Bright One.”
“Oh, may the Shepherdess guide his path safely.”
They followed the sound to the end of the row of town houses. The clashing became more frequent as they got closer. The three lined up with their backs against the wall.
Legundo was the first to peek around the corner. “I can’t see.” He whispered.
AJ was next, around the corner was a tree. Behind it was...just a blacksmith. AJ sighed, dropping into a squat. “It’s not them. We still should be careful.”
“Be careful of what?” a clear muffled voice came from behind them.
Graecie was the first to turn, only to see–
“Oli!” She yelped.
Oli stood behind them, curious to know what they were looking for while holding skewers of mixed vegetables and meat in his hands.
“Hi guys!” His mouth was full of food, sauce caught on the side of his mouth.
“Oli- what are you- when did you- where did you go!” Legundo yelled in anger and relief.
Oli swallowed back the food in his mouth before speaking, “This old lady waved me over when we were in the square and she introduced me to her granddaughter and then gave me some skewers! Want one?”
Legundo slumped over and sighed in defeat, walking past Oli and stealing a skewer from his hand as he passed.
“What about you guys?”
“I don’t eat meat, but thanks anyway, Oli! Legs, wait up for me!” Graecie ran after Legundo.
“Hm, AJ?” Oli stuck out his hand, offering some to AJ.
“I’m quite alright, thanks, Oli. But next time don’t go and leave us behind like that.” AJ patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to walk the other way now.
“You sure? It was very tempting, and her granddaughter was very beautiful, maybe you’d like that? And I haven’t seen you eat lately.”
“What? No, no, no. I’m alright with the ladies, thanks. And I do eat, sometimes.”
“Really? Is that when you eat? Because of that mysterious lady you go out to meet every night?”
“What? How do you-” AJ turned her head to see if Graecie and Legundo were still nearby. When she saw they were out of earshot she yelled in a whisper, “How do you know about that?”
“I went to the bathroom after you left one night, and I followed you and I saw you with her. Who is that by the way? She’s pretty.”
“Y-yeah I know she’s pretty, but- do Legs and Graecie know this too? You didn’t tell them right?”
“Oh, oh no! That’s your thing to tell, not mine.” Oli took yet another bite off of the skewer, but this was the only time they got to eat the good stuff.
“Oh, good. Thanks, Goggles.”
Graecie and Legundo waited for them by the square’s entrance, waving AJ and Oli to join them. AJ smiled and waved back.
“Graecie saw a ‘petting zoo’, now she wants to go.”
“No, I saw lambs to be exact, Legundo. Can we go, can we go?” Graecie asked excitedly.
AJ looked behind Graecie upon the hill where the lambs laid in their enclosure. Looking up she saw one of Gerard's old friends. Her eyes softened and a grateful smile crossed her lips. “Yeah, we can go.”
“Oh, blessed bells! Come on, Legs!” Graecie cheered as she dragged Legundo by the collar of his shirt along with her. He yelped as he eventually accepted his fate.
Oli and AJ followed behind, beating around the crowd and making their way over.
“So do I get to know? Like about her?” Oli asked with an uncertainty in his tone.
“I…” AJ thought about what she’d say. But what’s the worst he could do? “Sure, what do you want to know?”
“How did you meet? What’s her name? How old is she? Is she tall? Is she nice? Or are you into those kinds of mean girls? What does she do?”
“Woah, woah, woah, slow your roll, man. One question at a time. I met her on a walk to the garden on the first night.”
“You left the dorms on the first night? Well, aren't you the risky type?”
“Guess you could say that. Her name is Drift. At least that's what she says it is.”
“Maybe you should change her name to yours, you catching my Drift?, ay?” Oli smirked and giggled his laughter matching his joke quite well.
“Oh, god. Shut up you dimwit!” AJ buried her face into her hands like it was the stupidest thing she’s ever heard. Believe it or not–it’s not the stupidest thing AJ has ever heard.
“What? Am I funny? Guys, do you think I’m funny!” Oli yelled out
Aj dragged her hands down her face, closing her eyes and looking towards the sun. “God, you are the most naive giant brute known to mankind. What was the next question?”
“Uh, I forgot. But hey, we’re here!” Oli gestured with his arms at the animals in front of him.
“Shhh! The little lambs are sleeping.” Graecie put her finger to her mouth, “Oh may the Shepherdess watch over your sweet souls.” she whispered to the lambs.
“I haven’t seen these guys ‘round here. Might be new.” AJ crouched down to the lambs, scratching the head of one of them.
“AJ? Is that you?” AJ looked up, a smile shining on her face. The voice came from a short old woman. A woman that AJ had known alongside Gerard.
“Alma..It’s so good to see you.” AJ’s voice softened as she extended her arms to hug the old woman. “How is Lars doing?”
“Well, why don’t you go see for yourself? Mel told us about you leaving for the tournament, and that little boy broke down into a mess.”
“Ah, I see. Missed me that badly huh? Don’t think I’ll have time today, but I’ll come by again soon.” AJ scratched the back of her head, occasionally looking back at her team, making sure they were still in reach.
“How could we not? After Gerard passed, you’ve been here to help out. We’re truly grateful, dear. And who are these kind people you’ve brought?” Alma gestured towards the group.
They were neatly huddled around a single lamb who was licking Graecie’s face.
“Oh, Alma, these are my…” she hesitated. Who are they to AJ? They’re not strangers, no, they can’t be. AJ finds herself reaching out to them more often than she had expected. “They’re friends. They’re my friends from the tournament.”
“Friends, ay? You always refused friends. It’s a good change, and you,” Alma walked over towards Graecie. “Aren’t you precious? You remind me of my daughter. What is your name dear?” She reached out and took Graecie’s hands in hers.
“Oh, I’m Graecie, ma’am, and I can assure you that I am not your daughter.” Graecie didn’t quite get the concept of a comparison but that was okay. She was trying her best.
“Oh-ho! Funny you are, you are quite beautiful as well, darling. And you, sir. What a strong knight you’ll turn out to be.” This time she spoke to Oli. She wasn’t wrong at all. Alma was never wrong.
Oli stood straight and bowed as if Alma were of higher status. To him, it was a sign of respect for the elderly, “I’m flattered, ma’am. I’m Oli, but these guys call me goggles. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.” Of course to Oli, that may have been the slightest ego boost.
“Oh, stand! Don’t make me seem like an old chump!” Alma laughed, pushing Oli back up by the shoulders. “And the one with the blue hair, who are you, dear?”
“I’m Legundo. Legs is fine.” Legundo’s answer was short and quick. It was obvious he didn’t do well around people he didn’t know.
“Well, Legs. It seems, Astrid has taken a liking to you.” Alma pointed to the lamb who was resting her head on Legundo’s lap.
“She thinks you’re her caregiver.” Graecie whispered to Legundo.
“Ah, well. We don’t plan on being here that long. We’d like to see more of the town.”
“Are you not from here?” The older lady questioned.
“Nah, we’re from Psephos. The kingdom over east. We were too young for the tournament then, so we came over here in hopes of this one.” Oli blurted.
“Psephos, really? My husband was from there, Psephos is such a nice place. Less barren than it is here.”
“It’s still nice here. A great place to be, everyone here is friendly.”
Oli and Alma continued their conversation. Oli was good at that. Too good at that. AJ looked back out around the town, there were so many things to do, and the entirety of the rest of the day to do them.
After a while of pondering, AJ was startled by a loud surprise from Alma.
“Oh, dear! That damned castle kitchen has been feeding you all nonsense! Listen here you four, stop by Zam’s Tavern, she’s sure to fix you up with a good meal, you hear me?”
“If you insist that’s what we do ma’am, who are we to ignore you? Right, Legundo?” Oli’s tone was amiable, the voice of someone you know you could trust.
“Right, if you’re still hungry then that’s what we’ll do.” Legundo hadn’t sighed this time around, he was more content than he was before.
“Well, then it’s settled. We appreciate your gratuity Miss Alma, to the tavern we go!” Oli grabbed Legundo by the arm, dragging him along towards the edge of town where the tavern was.
“Does everyone insist on grabbing me!” the shorter male yelped.
AJ stayed behind, waiting for Graecie to finish up with the lambs who had gracefully fell asleep near her legs.
“I appreciate their warmth, take good care of them and feed Sausage, okay? He’s the big orange looking one sitting on the hay bales.”
“Oh, I will, don’t you worry, dear. Run along now.”
“I appreciate it, Alma. May the Shepherdess guide your path!” Graecie said as she rang her bells then ran along down the hill to catch up with Oli and Legs.
“Nice bunch of peers you’ve got there, my dear. Take care of them, and yourself alright?” Alma motioned AJ to come closer to her.
AJ followed the motion and leaned her head over as Alma took it in her hands. Kissing AJ’s forehead, a friendly maternal gesture.
AJ smiled, “I’ll come by again, Alma. Thank you, again. I’ll make sure to send a letter to Lars when I have the time.”
“Until I see you again, dearie.” Alma waved off the knights as AJ left down the hill to join them.
AJ wasn’t the same girl she was when she met Hector and Mel. She had changed, she had purpose, she had found love. But that didn’t mean that her past left her, no, her past was still there, haunting her and yet–she found ways to grow from it. That was her biggest accomplishment.
+++++
“Drift, look who I found!” Shelby yelled into Drift’s room, with an excitement that would’ve pierced ears across the kingdom.
Drift sat in front of her vanity, her eyes closed as Ros pressed setting powder into her makeup. “Who is it, Shelby? Better not be another one of the butterflies that were in the garden.” Drift’s voice was tired and exhausted. She hadn’t gotten any sleep from the night before, her mind spiraled through ideas and ideas of bad thoughts. But she had a duty, a name she refused to uphold that she had no other choice but to comply with.
“No, no, turn around!” You could hear the jumping in Shelby’s voice.
“You should turn around. It’s quite a nice surprise.” Ros spoke softly, setting down the powder puff back into its crystal jar.
Drift sighed, opening her eyes and looking in the mirror. Behind her was… “Scott!” Drift was quick to hop off her ottoman to run towards her dear friend.
“Hey, Drift.” Scott laughed, pulling her into a hug. He swung her around before setting her back on the ground.
“Oh, Scott! You look amazing! Wow, you just get taller every time I see you. Oh, I’ve missed you!”
Scott indeed looked amazing. A white suit with gold buttons and pins, a blue cape pinned upon his left shoulder, and sapphire brooch placed on the collar of his neck. His figure was tall, and sculpted. Almost that of an Apollonian statue.
“Right? I found him in the main hall on my way here. And I just couldn’t tell if that was our Scott or a suitor.” Shelby popped out from behind Scott. You wouldn’t have been able to tell she was behind him.
“She screamed really loudly.” Scott’s voice was always sort of monotone and cool. He never meant it on purpose, he was taught that from a young age and it had never gone away.
“What are you so dressed up for Scott? The last times you’ve come to the castle you weren’t this fancy.” Ros asked, her back turned towards the group as she put the cosmetics back into their proper storage.
“I could say the same for Drift, what’s the makeup for?”
“Don’t avoid Ros’s question, you prick.” Drift joked as she walked towards her bed where her choices of dresses were laid out.
“Rude. My father said I couldn’t come by until I looked presentable to the royalty.” Scott rolled his eyes.
“Your dad might be as stuck up as mine. Ros managed to get permission out to the town. She’s bringing Juniper to escort her and I was going to bring Pyro to escort me, but he had ‘duties’ to attend to.” Drift sighed, picking up a dress. “So now I have Sunny to escort me. Of course I don't hate him, but he’s such a rule follower it’s kind of irritating, you know?” Drift’s voice dropped to an irritated tone as she slammed the dress back on the bed.
Shelby and Scott were now leaning against Drift’s couch where Ros stood, “Someone didn’t like that one…” Shelby whispered to Ros.
“She’s very picky about the petticoat. Never too fluffy, never too flat.” Ros whispered back.
“One of these days, we’ll end up finding her in stolen pants.” Scott mumbled.
“You act like I can’t hear you guys!” Drift yelled from the other side of the room. The three snickered with each other, only stopping at the knock of the door. Scott and Shelby tip-toed out to the balcony to continue their conversation.
Through the door the voice that came was from Drift’s personal maid, “Princess Drift, Commander Juniper is here to escort Princess Ros to the village.”
Drift gave a playful sibling glare to Ros before telling the maid to allow Juniper into the room. “Thank you, Violet. Could you wait in my washroom to help me with my dress?.”
“Of course, Miss.” Violet excused herself in front of the other royals after making her way into Drift’s room and through the doors to the privy chambers.
After the door closed Ros dropped her big sister–princess facade, and jumped into Juniper’s arms. “Oh, I missed you! How’s the tournament?” Ros held Juniper’s face in her hands, placing kisses all over her face as Juniper laughed.
“It was great, they’ve learned much, many great knights left. There’s one I’ve got my eye on, one that’d be good for Drift.” Juniper let Ros back down, letting her feet hit the ground softly.
“Good for me in the knight way, or the way that you were good for Ros?” Drift finally set her eyes on the final dress, the one that caught her eye.
“Good for you in whatever way you’d like to take it. She’s caught my eye from the very start of the tournament. She’s known amongst the knights for being resolute and steadfast.”
Drift scoffed, “Is she a tryhard or something? What’s her name?”
“Her name’s AJ.” Juniper blurted.
Drift froze, her hands stopping while flattening the wrinkles on her dress. ‘She couldn’t have known could she?’
“She’s brave, very courageous, strong, she’s got a good note of what it means to be a knight.” Juniper spoke again, her voice not as commanding as she was when speaking to the knights in training.
Drift couldn’t falter, they couldn’t know her secret yet. “Is that so? Maybe I’ll take a look during the next training session.”
Juniper and Ros gave a knowing look to each other. “Do you really need to go to the next training to see her if you’ve already seen her every night?” Ros said with a tone.
Drift clenched her fingers and tensed. “So, you already know?” Drift’s voice was strained, the kind of strain to mask a fear. “Okay, just please don’t tell dad, like honestly, Ros, You already know I hate talking to him, please don’t.” She pleaded.
“Woah, woah, woah. I’m not gonna tell him, slow your roll.” Ros moved her hands in a stopping motion. “I might be your older sister, but I’m not that kind of older sister. He gave me so much backlash, why would I want that for you?”
“What was that I heard about Drift going to see someone every night?” Shelby peeked her head into the room from the balcony.
“Oh, okay.” Drift sighed, knowing she could trust her sister's promise. “I will get changed and when I come out, I’ll tell you all about it before we go out to the village.”
“Don’t take too long.” Ros chuckled before taking Juniper’s hand and walking to the couch. Not a minute later, Shelby came back into the room dragging Scott along to the couch opposite of the commander and the eldest princess.
Drift stood in her washroom with her back against the door. “Violet, what am I going to say to them?”
Violet took the dress from Drift’s hands, “The truth perhaps? Your sister will understand.” Violet hung the dress up on the room divider.
“But, Shelby’s out there too, and I’ve been telling the both of them that I wouldn’t go any farther with a knight rather than just ‘Knight and Princess’. And then look what I did! I went farther with a knight than just that!”
“Well, what’s so bad about that?” Violet helped Drift back up to her feet, turning her around to tie her corset.
Drift’s breath hitched as the corset tightened around her body. “So many things, I- Violet you know I just hate- ugh! This isn’t as difficult as I’m making it seem right?”
“It’s not difficult at all. But, as you are still a human, you don’t have to tell them.” Violet finished the tie on the corset then turned to grab the dress off the divider.
“I tell them everything but somehow this is so much more different than other times. Why is that?”
“You’ve had a knack of being afraid of being wrong since you were young.” Violet handed Drift the dress and then closed the divider between them.
“No, I’m not afraid of being wrong with them. I think I’m just afraid of it…being taken from me. Because what if she doesn’t make it to the royal choosing? She still doesn’t know I’m the princess too! So what if she finds out and then loses trust in me?”
“Why would you think she’d lose trust in you?” Violet said softly.
“Because! Because I lied to her and walked out on her last night. And the night before she told me…she told me she wouldn’t trust the people who’d walk out on her without a word.”
“Do you want her to trust you?”
“Well, obviously yes!” Drift pushed open the divider, a long olive green straight skirt, along with a fitted bodice with a high collar, and to top it all off a long overcoat with the rich color of a muted dark forest green.
“Then you can go out and see her later tonight. If the feeling of trust is mutual, she’d trust you enough to show up to the garden in hopes of seeing you.” Violet fixed the collar of the coat and plucked a loose strand of hair off the skirt. “You look beautiful, Miss.”
“You really think she’ll be there, Violet?” Drift fixed her posture in the mirror. She was never one that cared much for her looks. But she knew the knights were all currently in town. Which meant AJ was in town.
“She’ll be there, and if not then I’ll be in my quarters for you to talk to.” Violet stood by the door, waiting to escort Drift out.
“You really are the best, Violet. Thank you for helping me, take the rest of the day off. I’ll talk to Mark.” Drift walked over to Violet, and gave her a hug. Drift trusted Violet more than anyone other than Ros. Other than Ros, before any of Drift’s friends now, Violet was the only one she could tell anything to.
Violet hugged her back “I appreciate it, Miss.”
After Violet opened the door, cheers arose from her friends and sister from the couch.
“Gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, words can’t explain how good you look in that, Drift!” Shelby gasped.
“You look amazing, sis.”
“Quite the beauty you are.” Scott took a sip of tea.
“Thanks, you guys.” Drift walked over to the couch. “You may leave now, Violet. I appreciate the help.” Violet bowed and thanked Drift again before leaving.
“So, Ros filled us in on how you’ve been sneaking out every night.” Scott spoke with his heavy accent.
“Yeah… about that, how did you even find out?” Drift took a seat on the couch, crossing her leg over the other right next to Shelby who looked like she was going to pop at the mention of any drama.
“You act like I haven’t snuck out myself to go see Juniper.” Ros mimicked her sister, crossing her leg over the other, leaning back against Juniper.
“Okay, well, that’s you, and that doesn’t explain how you know that I’ve been sneaking out. And what if you’re reading it all wrong, huh? What if I'm just going out and sneaking into the kitchen? Ever think about that?”
“Well, that wouldn’t make sense, if Ros and I have been keeping a safe track of you two since day one.” Juniper spoke.
“What? What do you mean since day one?” Drift stammered.
“Ooh, drama.” Shelby whispered over to Scott, who spat out his tea while holding in his laughter.
“Excuse me.” He coughed.
Juniper was the first to speak, “I watched the dorms on the first night, to catch any stragglers who decided to quit in the middle of the night while everyone was sleeping to avoid the embarrassment. I saw AJ sneak out, she wasn’t carrying anything on her so I followed and swapped shifts with Pyro.”
Ros continued, “And that night I was waiting for Juniper to come meet me, out by the stables. That’s when I saw you sneaking to the garden.”
“But we didn’t even know each other so why would you assume we were meeting up?” Drift scratched her head. She hadn’t seen Ros outside that night.
“We didn’t assume you knew each other. We just wanted to…” Ros trailed off, thinking of what to say.
Juniper finished the sentence for her, “We got curious. So we followed. Then we wound up bumping into each other while hiding behind a bush spying on you two.”
“So that’s what the giggling was? I swear I wasn’t crazy that night!”
“Yeah, so Juniper and I have been sneaking out after you guys, just watching so we knew neither of you were getting hurt.”
“But AJ’s a knight, I wouldn’t get hurt as long as she was around.” Drift understood the message to the point of something could hurt her, rather than someone could hurt her.
“That’s the thing. She’s a knight, some knights don’t know their own strengths and limits and they do sometimes end up hurting people.” Juniper answered
“Wait so you know about the fake identity?” Drift placed her hand on her chin
“We do. You’ll have to tell her sooner or later. She’ll have the right at the royal choosing to decline the offer as your royal knight.” The commander's voice was sharp and thorough.
“I appreciate you guys looking out for me.” Drift paused, her thoughts hitting her like a fast carriage. “Does that mean you guys…know about last night?”
“What happened last night?” Shelby mumbled through her mouth full of pastries.
“Shelby, shush!” Scott placed his hand over her mouth to let the others continue talking.
“We…did see what happened, and we’re rooting for you! But, you really need to tell her about…well, you. Because no relationship, platonic, romantic, whatever you want to call it, will never end up going the way you want it to go if it’s built on lies.” Ros reached over to Drift, holding her hands in hers.
“No, I know ,I know.” Drift squeezed. A gesture they did as kids. Whenever one had been scared, tense, or not even their usual self. They’d grab each other’s hand and squeeze it, just as a reminder that the other was there. That they were there and they were going to be there.
“Do you really know, Drift? I saw how tense you got out there. That’s not normal, especially for you.”
“Drift, we understand you like how things are with her now, but they can’t stay like that forever.” Juniper placed her hand over Ros’s and Drift’s.
“Okay…okay, okay, okay. I’ll talk to her. Tonight. I promise. “Just…Can we go to town now? Please?”
“Yeah, we can go now.” Shelby placed her hand on Drift’s shoulder.
Drift knew that her family would be there for her. Maybe not her father, but her sister and found family was all she needed to know that things would be okay for her. Even if they weren’t okay with a certain knight.
Outside the doors of the castle, awaited The lieutenant commander.
“Hi, Sunny, thanks again for taking me.” Drift stood in front of the lieutenant commander, their heights in equal size.
“Pleasure is mine, Princess.” His voice was stern, but somehow the way he said it was surely sending a disgusting chill down the others backs. Drift included. “Shall we go now, your highness?” Sunny turned and extended his elbow for Drift to take. That of which she didn’t.
“Yes, we should. Definitely.” Drift walked ahead of her crowd, head down to hide her embarrassment.
‘There's no way that just happened. God, you better be there tonight, AJ.’
+++++
“Man, oh, man. I am stuffed.” Oli held his stomach like it was going to burst if he didn’t.
“Oh, blessed bells! Zam’s food was amazing! She had so many non meat options and they were soo delicious!” Graecie loved the food. Maybe a bit too much. She was a never ending hole that had kept ordering and ordering. Yet somehow, she didn’t feel any different from when they first entered the tavern.
Legundo was hunched over, holding his abdomen “Oli…why’d you order so much?”
AJ checked her bundle of gems, if she had counted right with her spending, she should have enough to buy her necessities, “You guys still have a lot of gems and time left so whatever you guys want to do you can do. But uh, I have to run to the store really quickly though, so if you guys want to sit here and wait?”
“Can we go wait over by the lambs?” Graecie hopped around, waiting for AJ’s answer.
AJ thought for a minute, “Yeah, yeah, sure go ahead. I’ll just be a minute and back, then I want to take you guys somewhere.”
“Oh, this day can’t get any more joyous! Okay, see you later, AJ! May the Shepherdess guide your path!” Graecie yelled, ringing her bells before dragging Oli and Legundo by the arms.
AJ sighed, should she have brought them along? Was that okay? She didn’t want to be a burden on them on a day like this and bring them to a medicine shop.
“Miss Masha? Are you here?” AJ opened the doors to the apothecary, peeking her head in as to not scare anyone inside by shoving the door open.
“I’m here!” A voice shouted from the private rooms. “Oh, AJ, how are you?” the woman said out of breath.
“I’m good, I’m good. Is Franz here? I have the gems to buy some medicine for my dad.” AJ pulled the bundle from her pocket, lightly setting it down onto the counter.
“Oh, I’m afraid Franz isn’t here, but I could help you. Do you know what kind of medicine it was?”
“It- it was a potion? I think the name was…Nexus?”
“Oh, yes! The Nexus potion, I make it by hand actually, let me go grab it for you.”
AJ smiled knowing she had done something good for her family. Which made her feel good about herself.
“Alrighty, how many did you need AJ?” Masha yelled from the other room.
“Uhm, just the one bottle is alright!” AJ yelled awkwardly. It did not feel right to yell in a shop made for medicine.
“One bottle! Got it, Franz told me about your father so I went ahead and gathered the ingredients myself, no charge for labor–and for the friend fee…will be…six hundred and eighty gems please.” Masha was energetic, a bit too energetic. She grabbed a paper bag and rolled the top to close it.
“Six hundred? Franz told me eight?” AJ rummaged through her bag, each gem the knights had received was worth ten gems each. AJ pulled out twelve and passed the bundle to Masha.
“Well, he wanted a labor fee, I don't. Big difference.” Masha counted the gems then stuck out her hand to AJ. “Pleasure doing business with you.” She said smugly.
“Always.” AJ took Masha’s hand, shaking it firmly but lightly.
“He’s to take a spoonful of this potion with every meal and before bed.” Masha pushed the bag towards AJ.
“Really don’t know how to pay you back for this.” AJ pulled the bag of medicine off the counter.
“Don’t! You’ve already done enough, taking care of your father is the first part isn’t it?”
“Thank you, really. I’ll come back to repay you some day. I promise.” AJ took her steps toward the door.
“Then I’ll hold you to it!” Masha waved off AJ before walking back into the back of her shop.
The time hadn’t passed far, but just far enough that the sun had shone down on the town. Causing a heat that mixed with the cool breeze. AJ walked back toward the hill where the lambs lay, swerving around busy people and their children.
“Hey, I’m back!” AJ yelled from down the hill.
Graecie thanked Alma once again before ringing her bells and running down the hill.
“Hi, AJ! How was your errand run?” Graecie said in a breathy voice.
“It was good, I saw a familiar face.” AJ watched as Oli pulled Legundo over his shoulder, what happened to them?
“What’s his problem?” AJ questioned.
“Too much food. Maybe it's my fault, but he’s doing alright now…ish” Oli smiled carrying the full grown-ish man over his shoulder like it was nothing.
“So, where are you taking us next?” Graecie asked.
“We’re gonna stop by my house, to see my dad.”
+++++
“Welcome to Schneider’s sewing, how may I…AJ!” Melink jumped up from behind the counter, tears forming in her eyes. “Oh, I missed you.”
AJ laughed as she fell back onto the floor as Mel used all her force to hug her. “Oh, it’s only been two weeks and it feels like forever!” AJ hugged Melink tightly. Making sure this was her reality and not one of her dreams.
“Never leave without telling me again. Meanie. Who are these people?” Melink pulled back and laughed before wiping her eyes.
AJ pushed herself back up off the ground, “I did tell you! This is my team, Oli, Graecie, and Legundo. Also known as Goggles, Bright One, and Legs.” Then she helped Mel off the ground, making sure she wasn’t injured or hurt anywhere.
“He’s Goggles? But you’ve all got goggles?” Mel wiped the dirt, dust and debris off her skirt once she made a full stand.
“Well…I mean- I mean I guess you’re right…Should we rename?” AJ looked back at her group with a smirk and eyes as if they said ‘we need to do this.’
“Ooh, I’ll do it! AJ’s Goggles Blueprint, Graecie is Bright One, because believe me, you’re very bright. Mmm, I like your blue hair, you’re Goggles Version One, Oli is Goggles Version Two.”
“Aw, man, I got pushed down to version two.” Oli sighed and kicked the invisible dirt on the ground.
The group laughed before AJ interrupted, “How’s Hector? Has he gotten better?”
“He’s doing good,” Mel sniffled, “He’s holding up okay, he hasn’t gotten too bad with the medicine that we’ve been getting.”
“That’s good, but he’s going to get better now. I’ve got it.”
“What?” Melink muttered.
“I’ve got the medicine. He’s going to be okay.” The knight pulled the seamstress back into another hug, this one warmer and reassuring.
“You did it? You did it! Oh, you did it, you did it! I thought you didn’t make it!” Mel backed away and jumped around the room.
“W-what? What do you mean, you thought I didn’t make it?” AJ’s smile and tone faltered. ‘Did she not believe in me?’
“I mean, this knight came here asking if you were here and gave me this wooden sword to give you. Oh! He gave me a wooden sword to give you!” Mel ran back to the counter, before she could bring out the sword, AJ had cut her off.
“A sword…can you show me that later…? Let’s just go see Hector for now. Come on guys, make yourself at home.”
The group walked to the back of the shop, through the door was a staircase that led upstairs. At the top of the stairs was a cozy home. The kitchen was messy but clean. The sofa was nonetheless the epitome of cozy comfort.
“Take a seat you three, Mel can grab you a drink.” AJ motioned the three to take a seat on the sofa.
“This place is homey, reminds me of your house doesn’t it, Goggles V Two?”
“Oh shut up you large donkey.” Legundo punched Oli on the shoulder.
AJ held in a snicker, looking at Melink before walking into Hector’s room. Closing the door behind her, made her heartbeat speed up.
“AJ? My girl, is that you?” Hector’s voice was weak. “Oh, look at you. You’ve gotten stronger.” Each word made AJ’s heart tug at its own heartstrings.
“Hector…Have you eaten yet?” AJ tip-toed to his bedside.
“Melly made me porridge, have you eaten?”
“I did eat, yeah, we had a luncheon at Zam’s Tavern for work.” AJ spoke softly.
“Good, that's good.” Hector’s voice was breathy now, which made AJ break slowly.
AJ sat down on the side of his bed “Hey, hey, I’ve got some medicine for you, you think you can take some?”
“So much medicine…Let your old man rest.” Hector raised his hand, putting it on AJ’s shoulder.
“You’ve gotta take some medicine, Hector, it’s good for you, I promise. Just a spoon.”
Hector shooed AJ off once more. “No, no, I’m alright. Thank you, AJ.”
“Dad, please. For Mel.” AJ pleaded. She hated seeing someone who meant so much to her be so weak like this.
“Oh, how could I say no when you call me that? Alright…I’ll take your medicine.” Hector tried to act strong, he knew he was weak, but being strong for his girls was something he knew he needed to do. Or at least try.
“ Thank you. Here I’ll help you up.” AJ relaxed her shoulders, helping Hector back up into a sitting position and then unscrewing the cap off the potion bottle and pouring out a spoonful. “Bottoms up.” AJ laughed, Hector always said that when giving medicine to AJ as a kid when she didn’t know what she could do by herself.
Hector swallowed back the medicine, shaking his head after the liquid got in his system. “Woo, that burns.”
“It’s good for you, dad. I’ll be here a little while before I have to go back to work. I brought some friends so we’ll be hanging with Mel.”
“I know it’s not just work you’re doing, my dear. You’ll be a good knight, I know it.”
AJ’s breath hitched as her eyes were pooling with water. “Thanks, dad.” Before AJ left the room she placed a kiss upon his forehead. “I’ll see you in two weeks, promise.”
“In two weeks you better come back as the Princess’s Knight.” Hector and AJ both laughed before waving goodbye.
Walking back out into the living room was like she had never left the living room in the first place, it was awkward and quiet.
“Oh, guys, you couldn’t talk with each other? Oli, you like talking, what happened?”
“Our conversations…got a little too close to home…and Legs got scared of the tapping in your attic.” Oli confessed.
AJ laughed, really laughed. Then she saw Legundo sitting on the opposite end of the sofa, crying into his shirt. “Oh, man! Oh, this is good! Here, I’ve got something to show you.”
AJ climbed up over to the attic stairs, pushing open the hatch. Through the trap door came out, “Flick! Hey girl!”
Flick flew around and chirped, spinning around the room then landing on AJ’s shoulder. “Oh, you’re such a beauty, Flick. Yeah, I missed you too.”
“Oh. My. Bells. She’s so precious! I love her, oh my Shepherdess.” Gracie jumped up from her seat, running over to the birds side.
“Should we go outside for a walk?” AJ suggested.
“Yes! Yes we should!” Legundo was quicker than any of the others to leave the house.
“Maybe we should call him a scaredy cat instead.” Melink blurted as the group filed out of the house.
+++++
“Mel! You can’t say that!”
“What? All I said was that if you put Scaredy Cat and Flick in a cage together, Flick would win.”
“That is not how you said it!” AJ laughed.
The sun was setting and some of the knights had filtered out of the town.The walk was peaceful. And although dorm twelve hadn’t spent all their gems, they had gotten something that was worth so much more than what gems could buy. A friendship. A found family.
Walking back into the shop, the lights were dim, a home was here.
“Okay, Flick, it was good seeing you baby, but we gotta go soon.” AJ kissed Flick on the head. Placing her back onto the counter.
“It was nice they gave you this day to come out here.” Mel said, standing behind the register.
“Yeah…about that sword…where is it?” AJ asked, not wanting to let her team wait any longer than they already have been, and not wanting to leave Melink again.
“It’s here.” Melink dropped below the counter, digging in the drawers where she left it. What Melink pulled out was nothing more than a wrapped tapestry.
“Oh.” But it wasn’t just any tapestry. It was the tapestry from the house that AJ had grown up in. AJ took the package and unwrapped it on the counter. Inside of it, laid a wooden sword that every child had used as a kid. In AJ’s hand now, the sword had looked like a dagger. She flipped it around, looking at the bottom of the handle.
AJ & PY
“Heh…” AJ scoffed. “Thanks for holding it for me, Mel. You’re really the best sister ever.” AJ wrapped the sword back into the cloth and held it in her arm.
“We should go, AJ. The sun’s setting fast.” Graecie said softly.
“Yeah…Yeah I’ll catch up.”
“I’ll stay back, you two can go ahead.” Legundo spoke.
“You guys better be back before night falls.” Oli warned, his tone stern unlike normal.
“We will be.” AJ promised.
Graecie chimed her bells. “It was nice meeting you, Mel, and Flick! I hope to see you again, may the Shepherdess guide your path!”
“May the Shepherdess guide yours!” Mel yelled back. “Who’s the Shepherdess?”
“This lady she looks up to, don’t judge her for it though. I appreciate you staying behind, Legs. You really didn’t have to.”
“Someone had to make sure you got back to the kingdom tonight. But I’ll wait outside.” Legundo waved goodbye to Mel before walking out the door.
“They’re really nice people.” Melink made her way to the other side of the counter to join AJ.
“I know, they’re my kind of people.” AJ whispered.
“I’ll miss you again, but it’s good to know you’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll miss you too.” AJ kept her eyes down. She wanted to stay strong in front of her sister, but if she looked at her face for even a second, she was sure to break down in tears.
“You better come back, otherwise I’d tell the business and go cry on the streets or something.” Melink leaned over on AJ’s shoulder.
“No one is selling the business, no one's going to be out on the street.” AJ grabbed Mel’s shoulders and turned her body towards herself.
“I will be back, and I will be back as a royal knight. I promise.” With that they pulled each other into a tight hug, Mel’s tears falling slowly onto AJ’s back. But she didn’t mind. Flick then flew onto AJ’s shoulder, cuddling close into her neck.
“I’ll miss you too baby, I won’t forget.” AJ turned her head and kissed Flick’s head.
“Thank you for doing this. You really didn’t have to.” Mel’s voice stuttered.
“I did it because I wanted to, and when I’m back I’ll have so many more stories to tell you.” AJ squeezed.
“Best friends forever for life?”
“Best friends forever for life.” AJ sniffled.
AJ waved goodbye to Mel and Flick as she joined Legundo up the path back to the castle.
“You’re a good sister.” He spoke as they turned their heads away from the shop.
“That was my goal.” AJ held her composure.
“Are you doing this for your family?”
“I wouldn’t do this for anyone else.”
+++++