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In the underbrush that covered the sanctuary, there was a rustle in the leaves and the sound of a bird in the distance. The skyless lights scattered underneath, with beeping and tapping from the strange devices King Ridley and the Wizard Caster were working with.
Sir Adya took in her surroundings as if they were as familiar to her as they were foreign. She knew Lady Audrey’s woods, knew them quite well actually, but as she looked around it was almost as if it were all new to her. The trees and land around her appeared as if they were things she knew in a dream, or a long forgotten childhood. And then there was her.
Z’ymira the Huntress held a grip on Sir Adya’s heart like no other.
While nothing could ever doubt or sway her loyalty to her King, Z’ymira was a variable that she hadn’t accounted for. She’s the reason for thoughts Adya wouldn’t otherwise ever dare to have, the subject of dreams she never could’ve imagined having. Of another life. One where she had no royal obligations or duties, and where Z’ymira wasn’t sworn to the forest.
It made her feel dirty and selfish to even think of it, that that could ever be a life for her, one that she could ever have. And to wish that on The Huntress felt wrong as well, Adya knew well the deep love and connection Z’ymira has with the forest, it’s one of the things she admires about her.
But that never stopped the dreams, painting scenes of their potential lives together. Her mind wandered into moments where they could be happy, laughing, having adventures together. The impossible scenario that she could live and love only for Z’ymira, and the ridiculous notion that Z’ymira could not just, but would want to live and love only for Adya as well.
Adya’s fantasy kept her mind in the clouds far more than they should, but what’s the harm in wishing for more for yourself in life? Even if it is just that: a fantasy. Not in a hundred years would Z’ymira throw away everything for Adya.
Nothing ever seemed like it could be easy, could it? Adya wanted nothing more than to be the brave knight who saves the kingdom, and gets her happily ever after. She knew it was much more complicated than that however, as life tends to be. So Adya let herself indulge in those dreams sometimes, and live in a world where just once, she gets the girl.
Adya looked back to reality, her legs dangling over the side of one of Lady Audrey’s beds. There had been little for her to do other than keep watch over the door. The babble the others spoke of confused both her and Z’ymira, and they left them to their work.
Looming over them, Z’ymira passed some time restringing her bow and sharpening some arrows. Adya had watched her retighten the straps on her armor twice over, even have a short exchange with Lady Audrey, but had said nothing to her, barely even spare her a glance. It hurt to be skirted around, even though she knew Z’ymira hated this part more than she let on.
“What troubles you Z’ymira?” Adya had no idea how else to start this conversation, so went ahead anyway. Z’ymira’s head turned her way, stopping as she was filling her quiver back up. Their eyes met and Adya felt the warmth grow over herself, up her legs and across her chest, up her neck, and even her ears tickled from it. Looking back was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.
There were moments in Adya’s life where life felt truly and utterly worth living. Those moments sometimes came to her surrounded by her kingdom, family, and friends. Often they came to her on the battlefield, defending said people and risking her life for them. It gave her great comfort and purpose to know she could serve the people she loved, putting them before herself felt like a superpower of sorts.
The feeling was like a familiar song, one that echoed through your house as a child. Or the pure inhibition when you laugh so hard you can’t stop. It’s when the world stops and you know everything’s going to be okay. The air stands still and your body is light and tingles, and you think that just somehow, inexplicably, this is why life’s worth living.
Seeing Z’ymira’s face, having her stand there in front of you, was one of those times. Just getting to be in her presence is time that is so precious, as Adya was never sure when she would get it. The entire shape of the Huntress was like it had been hand carved by the universe in astounding detail to serve her forests and wildlife as its guardian. And now Adya was fortunate enough to be this close, to know her so well.
Adya would never say this outloud, but when she looked at Z’ymira she felt so deeply that she knew for certain some kind of god existed, because here she was. Blasphemous to think, she knew, but Adya had never felt such a visceral experience than that of when she had first set her eyes on Z’ymira. It had to be godly.
The Huntress’s gaze dropped again, guilt in her face, and Adya knew exactly what troubled her. She just wanted to hear Z’ymira say it for once.
“Adya….” She started, “you know I’m sworn to…..” Her voice trailed, realizing she had begun repeating the same words she always did, that she belonged only to the forest. She stopped and looked up, properly taking Adya in finally. She smiled at her, the warm genuine smile they both knew was underneath her serious, dark demeanor. Adya loved making her smile. She swung her feet back and forth a little over the edge of the bed in a childlike way and grinned back, making the other woman chuckle a little grudgingly.
“I bet I’m the same height as you now,” Adya said, straightening her back and teasing Z’ymira a bit. She hated when things got sad, she had to make jokes, she couldn’t help it.
“You think so?” Z’ymira strode over to test their height difference and stood in front of the bed, their faces close and mouths smiling wide. Adya put her hand up over their heads to check the height but alas… “Ha! Not quite, better luck next time Ady,” Z’ymira was teasing now, with a lace of tease that only Adya could hear. Adya ached to hear the nickname she had been bestowed again.
Adya’s hand went from the tops of their heads to tracing Z’ymira’s hair down and behind her ear, she watched her hand run through it like water and felt Z’ymira’s eyes locked on her, wanting to keep her attention.
“Adya….”
She dared not look at the other woman, Adya felt the tears starting to form in her own eyes and fought furiously for them to leave, looking in her eyes would only make it worse in this moment. She continued to weave her hand through Z’ymira’s hairline, down onto her shoulder where it splayed. She traced along the armor she knew so well, the scale-like leather that didn’t budge along the side of her fingers. She followed in a curve along her ribs to her hips, hooked her hand around and Adya pulled Z’ymira in to close the final space between them.
Z’ymira gasped under her breath, not expecting the light pull, but gave in to it nonetheless. Her one hand fell on Adya’s thigh instinctually, the other grasping her arms gently in return.
“Adya…” She whispered again, and her eyes flicked around at their companions, wary of their display of closeness.
“Ignore them,” Adya said barely audibly, “they’re so distracted by their magic that they won’t pay attention to us right now.”
“Should we not be keeping watch?” Adya could tell the woman was a little nervous. Not from the potential threats of not keeping watch, or even of the others seeing really. Goodbyes made both of them anxious.
“Z’ymira…” Adya leaned her head forward and lightly rested her forehead against Z’ymira’s. The Huntress relaxed ever so gradually against Adya and their breaths started to match. “Just for a second, just pretend there’s no duty.”
“Adya you kno-“
“I know, but just pretend, please,” the gentle beg sounded more desperate than she meant it to, but to hell with it. She never knew whether or not she would see Z’ymira again each time they parted, so Adya had to savor what she could.
“For five seconds, let’s just be us. Here, now.”
Z’ymira twisted her head slightly against Adya’s, almost trying to get closer. Their noses brushed.
Adya’s eyes were downcast, still playing with the tassels hanging from Z’ymira’s armor. She knew the fabric well, where it opened up and was vulnerable, and where it’s tough and shines best; just like Z’ymira herself.
“I didn’t expect to run into you today, I’m so happy I did.”
“You looked like you needed some help,” Adya could hear the smile in Z’ymira’s voice, and she lightly punched her arm. Adya pulled away a little indignant so she could look at Z’ymira.
“Hey I was doing just fine!”
“Oh yeah? Tell that to your hands that were up in surrender,” Z’ymira chuckled a little while she said it. Adya grinned at her.
“You always know when to come save me,” Adya said softly again and squeezed Z’ymira’s arm just a bit.
“About what Caster said….” Z’ymira reflected. Adya remembered the words well.
Perhaps it is your differences which drew you together.
She hadn’t dwelled on them too much but Z’ymira seemed moved by it.
“He’s right. Your loyalty to the King, your bravery, your stubbornness, and even that ridiculous thing you do by running into trouble without ever thinking first.” Adya clung to her words, Z’ymira wasnt charitable with her compliments, they came unexpected and few, like Z’ymira herself. “You’re the last person I would’ve imagined I could….”
Her voice trailed. The missing word hung in the air between them and Z’ymira’s gaze dropped below Adya’s face. She leaned her head forward and rested it back on Z'ymira's.
“I know.”
Seconds felt like eternity with her. Adya wasn’t sure how long they sat like that, holding each other, though it couldn’t have been long.
“Z’ymira?” She lifted her head again.
“Yes?” The ocean blue eyes stared back at her, piercing in contrast to the dark makeup she wore. Adya felt the nerves shoot up her spine and across her bones.
“If you could have another life, anything you wanted, what would it be?”
Z’ymira’s eyes softened just so slightly, and her lips parted to speak, but she didn’t say anything. For a moment, she just looked at Adya, gaze flickering around her face trying to find the right words.
Instead, her hand found its way to Adya’s neck. Her fingertips moved up the curve, and like a familiar dance, Adya lifted her chin upwards towards Z’ymira’s height.
Their lips met and Adya felt warmth drip through her skin. Her mind melted away the worries, confusion, and battles of the day. She forgot all her surroundings, there was no more Lady Audrey and her woods, no more King Ridley and Caster the Wizard, no more battle for the throne and no more Crimson Guard.
Adya’s hands went to Z’ymira’s face, holding it to hers. They pressed together, chests heaving. She tasted sweet like smooth honey and fresh lavender. Her eyelashes tickled her once or twice as she moved closer and it felt like sunshine hitting her skin. Z’ymira truly was nature’s creation.
Adya could die here, this was surely heaven itself.
When they parted the air that filled her lungs was heavy. The space that filled between what they left felt wrong, like without the other went against nature itself.
“You.”
Adya’s eyes flung upward and her heart did too, right into her throat.
“What?” She sounded more stupefied than she meant, but for a second she had almost forgotten her question.
Z’ymira’s eyes cast down right onto Adya’s. And in barely a whisper she heard her say “I want you, I always have.”
Adya pulled her in for another kiss. This one was shorter, but deep and strong, like she was about to leave for battle and was saying goodbye. Which she supposed she was, and reality started settling in.
Honey lingered on her lips as they pulled apart slowly.
“Will I see you again?” Adya hesitated in asking, she didn’t want to put Z’ymira on the spot, but she had to speak the possibility into existence.
“I truly hope so.” Z’ymira looked much lighter and content after their shared words and embrace. She was breathing deeply, drinking in the moment as much as Adya was. Her grip tightened around Adya’s waist once more before she parted further and Adya could almost hear the next words before they were said. Z’ymira whispered them: “The forest calls.”
Adya’s face went grave, and she nodded a little.
“I know.”
When Z’ymira left her side, she felt naked and cold. She watched the woman sling her quiver around her shoulders, and look up. She didn’t say any more, she didn’t have to. Everything had been said that needed to be. So she turned away, picked up her bow, and walked out the door.
“The forest calls….”
Adya, far more lovesick than she ever realized, watched her go with the grin of a happy woman and the pining eyes of a lonely knight. It hurt Adya to watch her leave, never knowing if she’d see her beloved again.
She looked to her hands where the woman once was, and in her lap lay a small sprig of lavender. Adya held it to the light and smiled, sniffing the purple flowers gently.
“Thank you, my love.”
That night, when the crew of the Enterprise slept, they all dreamt fantastical scenarios, ignorant to the reality in which it had existed. Unbriefed on the missing five hours, they had dreams of elaborate costumes and weapons and magic, taking them to another world.
Erica Ortegas dreamed of many things that night. She dreamt of a sword, long and being skillful with it, she battled foes and protected people. She dreamt of lush woods and forests, losing herself in their density and wonder. But mostly, she dreamt of a woman.
She couldn’t quite make out her face, but when she awoke the next morning, she mused over the long dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and tall stature that blessed her dreams. Her body felt light, like she could get swept off her feet at any moment. Her lips tasted sweet, and felt as though they were full from a kiss (or two).
Her mind flipped through twisted, hazy images of this woman, living in the clouds all day unable to focus on anything.
-
On a different floor, in another set of quarters, Una Chin-Riley woke up from her sleep with one face on her mind: Erica Ortegas’.
While most of the crew was not yet privy to the details of the missing five hours from the previous day, she had been the first to learn the story from Dr. M’Benga. She had heard all the wild intricate changes the alien entity had made to the Enterprise and her crew. She’d heard about cowardly Chris (which she wished she’d seen), and evil Uhura, and most importantly, how she was the Huntress.
The Doctor had not failed to explain to her the reason for his discovery of it being linked to his daughter was that Rukiya had made her character, The Huntress, get together with Sir Adya, who happened to be cast as Erica Oretgas.
Una lay in her bed longer than she normally did. She was an early riser and didn’t like to laze around much, but today she was frozen in thought. She had had dreams all night of the same face, of Oretgas. But it wasn’t Ortegas, it was Sir Adya.
She remembered the ruffled collar shirt she wore and the sword at her hip. She thought of her gloved hands on Una’s hips, and on her face. She thought of her lips on her lips, and she swore she remembered it all.
And while Erica was fantasizing over the woman of her dreams, Una mused over Erica.