Chapter Text
Dorcas loved her job. She loved being able to help her country, having the wits and brains that could serve her new home. She loved walking around the royal halls with her head held high, knowing she’s earned her place. She revelled in the way people saw her: a wise person, a sage, someone who had answers.
She hated, however, the way a certain princess took advantage of that to do whatever she pleased.
“For the last time, Your Highness, get inside! You must be well-dressed for the arrival of our guests.”
Marlene had decided that she would much rather get her horse ready for a ride through the forest than sit in a chair in her room as a swarm of people used her face as a colouring book. And despite being very accustomed to Princess Marlene’s antics, Dorcas always held hope that Marlene could be mature when necessary. That hope was wrongfully placed.
“Oh my darling, you should join me! We could be having much more fun away from prying eyes,” Marlene yelled back, turning her head to give Dorcas a sly grin, the same stupid sly grin she gave when she knew her royal advisor was cross.
“Lady Dorcas, should I prepare a horse for you?” One of the servants beside her asked. The poor boy had been waiting for Marlene for over an hour.
“No, Finn. I am not chasing after that brat. And neither are you.” Dorcas pointed a finger at the boy and told him to get inside.
Dorcas had one hour left before the sun would set, and the royal family of the Gryffindor Kingdom would arrive. One hour to prepare Marlene to greet, dine and keep company to what the Queen described as the only solution to the country’s. “I know my daughter, Dorcas, and I know what an excellent job you’ve been doing keeping her in check over the past 3 years, even if it was never what you were tasked to do.” she had said. “Please, keep an eye on her tomorrow night. It is vital that she makes a good impression on the Gryffindor family.”
“Your Majesty, I assure you that I will. There was no need to ask” Dorcas had replied.
“Like I said, I know my daughter. But thank you”
Dorcas stood alone, glaring at the blonde royal on her horse. She bent down and delicately caressed the mane of her brown stallion, but she was aware of Dorcas’ presence. The other woman stomped over and looked up at Marlene. As her eyes blazed with pure rage, she raked her brain for a better, more intelligent way of getting the girl to go inside the castle, other than pushing her off her horse and dragging her by her hair.
She was a smart woman, in fact it was her job to be smart, she could do this.
You could intimidate her, threaten her with all the little secrets you’ve kept to yourself over the years.
No. She trusts me. She told me because she trusts me, because we’re friends.
Friends? Don’t kid yourself, Dorcas. You stupid little girl.
And she knew Princess Marlene was her friend, she knew that they laughed and smiled and sneaked into the kitchen to drink wine and talk about which royal guest had been the biggest fool, as much of a pain she was to babysit. But in times like this, where Marlene would play with her, and joke and toy at her expense, she wondered if that was really true.
Look at her, Dorcas. Does she look like she’s having fun?
Dorcas snapped back to reality to observe the princess. The girl was still maintaining her perfect horseback posture, courtesy of General Patel, an expert in more than just military affairs. But it was impossible not to notice the incessant shivering of her body, or the defeated look in her eyes, always glinting with mischief.
“What’s wrong Marlene?”
“Nothing sweetheart.” She replied hastily.
“Ok, I’ll try again,” Dorcas pulled onto Marlene's shirt to bring her down to her eye level, and the act was so sudden and strong that the princess had brought her hands out and braced them at Dorcas’ shoulders to stop herself from falling over.
Maybe she just really liked the idea of pushing the other girl off a horse.
Marlene's eyes widened at their proximity before smirking suggestively.
“I’m very interested in this new tactic you’re trying, my darling Dorcas. What are you planning on doing, kissing me until I join you inside?”
“Tell me what’s the matter or I won’t speak to you for a week.”
Marlene couldn’t help but gape, opening and closing her mouth endlessly like a fish, only for no words to come out.
“You can’t be serious.” she laughed nervously.
Dorcas shrugged, and stepped away from the horse, which did lead to Marlene's long-coming fall. She leaned forward and stayed half-suspended in the air, thanks to her feet being trapped in the horse’s stirrups, something Dorcas had taken notice of. She hadn’t become that cruel.
Marlene breathed out a sigh of relief and looked back up at Dorcas with a glare.
“Fuck you.”
She turned towards the castle and started walking.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Dorcas heard her stutter from behind. She refused to turn around and look back, hugging her chest to try and fight against the cold winds blowing in.
“Fuck, Dorcas, I apologize I—“ Marlene’s blabbering was interrupted by the sounds of straps rattling and what Dorcas assumed was her trying to get out off her saddle.
“Okay I truly am sorry, look! I’m going to my room to get ready,” she tried, the sound of her riding boots slapping against the grassy floor. “I even promise to never be a horrible whiny pain ever again!”
Despite Dorcas fuelling the speed of her legs through her sheer need to get warm, Marlene was a fast runner, and the two girls were eventually side by side, although Marlene was now walking backwards, trying to catch Dorcas’ gaze.
“Dorcas, please. Don’t do that. Don’t ignore me.”
Dorcas stopped, too stricken by the sorrow behind her pleading voice. She looked Princess Marlene in the eyes, those lively green eyes, and sighed. God, this was why she never played the tough love card with Marlene, she always gave in. But this was more than tough love, this was about trust.
She softened her eyes, and reached for Marlene's hand. She squeezed it once, and loosened her grip. It was her way of asking, tell me Marls, why are you so afraid?
Marlene sighed before running a hand through her locks.
“I cannot— You are not—fuck, I am not in any right to tell you. I’m not in any right to even know,” She exasperated. Dorcas’ worry grew with those words, and her eyebrows furrowed.
“Princess Marlene…”
She snapped her head back to look at Dorcas, and smiled. Perhaps saying I would never speak to you again was an exaggeration . Dorcas’ anxieties were only momentarily soothed by the sight of Marlene’s stunning smile, but the idea of the princess being involved in something that Dorcas wasn’t even aware of popped up in her mind again.
She wanted to hug her close, and lay Marlene’s head on her chest, so wrapped up in warmth and comfort that the world of politics and royal affairs would crumble. But Princess Marlene had tremendous responsibilities to attend to, even if she was second-in-line to the throne, and Dorcas’ duty was to assist her, guide her, help her become the best version of herself. Dorcas sympathized with the domineering pressure forced onto her.
“Oh, Merlin almighty, stop looking at me like that! I planned on telling you just—“ Marlene sighed, and Dorcas perked up and reached for her other hand. The princess leaned her forehead to lightly bump against Dorcas’, and the two girls stayed in that position: connected at the hands and the head, one girl impatiently waiting as the other girl tried to call her breathing down.
“Just come see me in my room, when you’re dressed. I would prefer to discuss this where there aren’t people who will overhear and spread rumours” She muttered.
Dorcas nodded, and Marlene felt it by the way her head moved.
They separated, and Dorcas immediately longed for the feeling of Marlene’s touch again: her hands were bare and cold, like spending a winter's day outside without gloves.
Marlene stepped back, her gaze never wavering from Dorcas’ form, reaching for her stationary horse, and guided it towards the stables, stroking its mane. Dorcas watched as the stable boy, William, joined Marlene and took the reins from her, and made her way back to the palace grounds.
The grounds were made of the tallest towers and delicate arches, never-ending stairs and hidden passageways, all to encompass the heart of the Ravenclaw kingdom: the main castle. A fountain place, with a beautiful statue of an eagle, wings ablaze, as the centrepiece, was carved just in front of the entrance doors. The alabaster walls glistened under the falling sun, and as the moon’s glow began to appear on the sky, an enchantment was cast upon the castle. Once where the princess’ juvenile antics would arise and where her advisor would chase after her, at night it would be the unruly territory of vicious politics, cryptic schemes and amoral individuals. Of course, Dorcas wouldn’t know that, not yet, despite her profound wisdom.
She knocked on the door of Marlene’s chambers, immaculately prepared for tonight’s dinner, adorned with a long dress made of indigo and violet silks (a gift of gratitude from her good friend, Duchess Mary), the fabric covering her arms and draping elegantly off her shoulders to flaunt a hefty golden necklace (a parting gift from her grandmother). The door opened, but revealed one of the maids.
“Good evening Lady Dorcas,” she bowed her head down and pushed the door wider.
Dorcas smiled and walked into the room.
“Thank you for attending to the princess tonight, you can get some rest now Valerie.”
“I appreciate your kind words, but I’m afraid I have to go help Princess Agatha with her hair. She intends to upstage the Duchess.”
Good luck with that, Duchess Mary had an outstanding streak of stealing the show with her beauty no matter the occasion.
Dorcas didn’t say those words to Valerie, she just nodded in understanding and let the woman leave to accomplish her other duties. She spun
“Finally. I thought she’d never fucking leave.”
She spun around at the sound of Marlene’s voice, deep and smooth, and found her at the window sill. She was curled up by the window, a cigar placed between her dainty fingers, and brought it to her lips for a smoke.
Dorcas ought to concern herself over the princess, who had only ever taken to such a destructive habit when she would have an especially heated argument with her mother, or when she wouldn’t receive any news about the health and safety of her oldest brother, always stubborn about serving his country as a soldier. However, Dorcas’ mind was fixed on the exquisite sight of Princess Marlene: her blonde hair as bright as a star in the candlelit bedroom, her alluring figure dressed in burgundy velvet, wrapped tightly around her chest and cascading freely from her waist and onto the floor.
Marlene’s face was no longer towards the window, and Dorcas’ heart jumped out of her chest at her red rimmed eyes, and her tear-stained skin. She rushed to the window to sit beside the princess and carefully reached for her flushed cheeks. Dorcas brushed her fingers against her olive skin, the wetness of her salty tears falling onto them. Marlene took another smoke before looking into Dorcas’ umber brown eyes, and let out one sharp laugh.
“That’s twice now you’ve looked et me like that today, dear.” She muttered, smoke escaping from her lips with each word.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m on my deathbed, doomed to join my late brother in the afterlife--”
“Do not say such things unless you wish for them to happen. Your brother is not dead, he is simply fighting for us on the war front,” Dorcas snapped, stunned at Marlene’s pessimistic speech. Although it had been a while since Prince Daniel had sent a letter, he was a skilled soldier? and blessed with the overwrought love of his family who pray for his return.
“I miss seeing that disapproving glance you always cast me. Now all I can win from you is pity—”
“Your Highness—”
“And despite what you may believe, I would much rather have you see me as an immature brat than some unfortunate woman living a life set in stone. It is utterly ridiculous—”
“ Your Highness —”
“For someone of my stature to complain and whine about the unfairness of my life, the adversity of my situation—”
“Princess—”
“As though it is not my purpose as a member of this dynasty to ensure alliances, protect my subjects and take part in anything and everything that will end this war against the Slytherin Empire--”
“ Marlene! Shut Up! Dear Merlin, shut up!” Dorcas squeezed Princess Marlene’s face as she yelled.
Marlene looked down at the cigar ashes in her lap bashfully, and her chest heaved as though out of breath. For a moment, that was all that filled the air, the rising and falling of Marlene, who had spoken so lowly of herself without taking a second to breathe. Dorcas loosened her grip and tugged at her from the nape of her neck, and her head came to rest upon Dorcas’ bare shoulders.
Marlene threw her cigar out the window without a care in the world, and hugged her friend tighter. Dorcas tried her best to comfort the princess by stroking her hair, whilst taking in regard the many efforts of Valerie, the sweet maid who helped style it. She felt Marlene’s back tremble and heard the sound of sniffles muffled in the crook of her neck, as well as the vibrations of her voice on her skin.
“Did you say something?”
She slowly unwrapped herself from Dorcas’ body, but repositioned her head to rest on her chest.
“Mother has invited the Prince of Gryffindor because we are to marry.”