Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Smoke fills the room, a thundercloud building before two figures drop out from it, crashing into a heap on the floor.

"UFF!" exclaims the unfortunate soul that lands on the bottom of the pile, getting all the wind knocked out of her.

"Oh shit, are you okay Emmy?" The girl on top immediately scrambles to stand up, extending a hand to the one on the floor.

"I will live, Am." Emmy sighs before accepting Am's hand, dusting herself off once she's upright.

"I guess we're back in the castle?" Amber turned in a full circle, mustering their surroundings. "East tower?"

Emmy nods in agreement, though her brows furrow at the state of the room they arrived in. "Appears so, although I don't remember it being this dusty in here... anyways I'll be honest, for a moment I had my doubts about the effectiveness of Auntie Elora's potion." 

Am let's out a laugh, playfully bumping the other girl's shoulder. "You and I both. To be fair she doesn't have the cleanest track record. Worked just in the nick of time though, didn't it?" 

"No shit." Emmy winced slightly, brushing the newly shortened strands of some of Am's fiery red hair behind her ear. 

Am pouted. "Be honest with me, how bad is it? Do I need Lori to even it out?" 

Emmy fondly rolled her eyes at Am's overdramatic behaviour. "You're fine -

"I know." Am smirks and Emmy pinches her nose between her fingers. 

"More importantly, we should probably find mom and mum and let them know we're alright. The sooner we do the better our chances are to not be grounded for eternity." 

"That…is a good point." Am's right hand instinctively flew to her waist, checking for her rapier whilst her left wrapped around the amber pendant on her neck.

 Mirroring her movements was Emmy, checking for the presence of her dagger and a small pouch as well as for the familiar comfort of the emerald pendant around her neck. 

"At least we haven't lost anything, I'll count that as a win!" 

"Yes but we might lose our heads very soon if we don't get a move on, so come on Am." Emmy gestured with her head for Am to follow her as she made her way to the door and down the tower steps.

Neither of them had noticed the oddly formed shadow that paid attention to everything they said and was now crawling along the walls and down the staircase, hot on their heels. 

Chapter Text

Emerald couldn't help but cringe, their footfalls sounded awfully loud in the empty corridors. To avoid less of a scene, they decided to use the dimly lit servant's pathways but she would still prefer them not running into anyone at all if possible.

"This is seriously weird." Emerald turned around at the voice of her twin. "Why is there so much dirt and-" Amber shook the cuff of her red flowy shirt, lips pulled back in disgust, "spider webs. I swear we were in here just last week and it didn't look like this."

"Oh? And who is we ?" Emerald couldn't help but tease as they moved on. 

"Oh shut up and keep walking." Chuckling, she didn't need to turn around to know Amber's cheeks matched her name. 

Mercifully for Amber, they reached the corridor leading to their mothers' quarters, down the hall from their own.

"From what I've noticed earlier in the tower, it's around early noon, meaning mum won't be there but mom might be doing some paperwork." Emerald thought out loud. 

"-and we do know how much she dislikes it so she's likely taking longer than needed. Which works in our favour this time." Amber added as they reached the big oak door to their parents' room.

"Assuming neither of them hasn't already been alerted to our disappearance. Sam got away, didn't she?" 

"I think so." Amber bit her bottom lip, a nervous trade she's had since they were little. "She knows what to do when things get dire enough for us to use one of Auntie Elora's potions." 

"She'll be fine." Emerald gave her sister's hand a reassuring squeeze. "First we should focus on winning the following battle." 

Amber nodded in agreement. " Well, here goes nothing." She knocked on the door.

They waited with bated breath.

Nothing. 

This time, Emerald was the one who knocked. 

A minute passed. Silence.

"Alright fuck this." Amber lifts up one booted foot.

"Am wait - aaaaand you kicked in their door." Emerald put her face in her hands while Amber skipped into the room in front of her without a care. "Sometimes I wonder how we're even related."

"Look if we're gonna get grounded, we might as well make a cool entrance! Did you see how cleanly I got that open?" Emerald rolled her eyes. 

"Also relax, no one's here." 

At that, Emerald finally stepped into the room. Not only was it empty but it was…different. Very different.

"What the hell?" The huge mahogany desk their mom usually worked on was absent from the room, as well as their mum's favourite armchair that mom got her for her 42nd birthday and their big family portrait that usually hung between the massive windows. 

"Am, I think we might've spoken too soon about Auntie Elora's potion."

"You think?" 

-

Jade, as per usual, woke up as the first rays of sunlight hit her face. Groaning quietly, she attempts to rub her right hand across her face, only to be unable to do so. 

Actually, she couldn't feel her right hand. Frowning slightly in confusion, her face turned right only to be met with a mob of brown hair and the naked back of the person that was holding her arm hostage. 

Now that her sleep-addled brain had caught up, the confusion melted away into fondness.

Leaving a feather light kiss on the back of Kit's neck in apology, Jade slowly removed her arm from underneath her lover's head, doing her best to not wake her.

While she waited for the feeling of needles in her arm to dissipate, Jade allowed herself to fully take in the love of her life, who subconsciously had moved towards Jade's side of the bed in search of her.

Sometimes she couldn't believe they made it. Between Kit's abandoning issues, Sorsha's bad habit of using her daughter like a bargaining chip and, well, a war for the ages, building and upholding a healthy relationship was challenging at times. Not to mention that she wasn't without her faults either. 

Unable to restrain herself, she delicately brushed some of the strands out of Kit's face, admiring how at peace Kit looked, before she managed to move off their bed and get ready for the day.

Now in full training gear, she made her way down to the dinning hall, exchanging smiles with the castle staff that was already up and working hard.

"Good morning Lady Claymore!" 

"Ingrid you've known me since I was ten, please stop with the titles." Jade replied sheepishly.

Ingrid huffed as if Jade had personally offended her. "Nonsense! You've worked so hard for it and it's not every day-", it was, in fact, a month ago at this point, "that you get chosen as commander of the Pacalcade. And the youngest at that." 

Ingrid beamed at her with such pride that any protest died in Jade's mouth and she just decided to nod in gratitude, blush colouring her cheeks before she continued walking.

After entering the hall, Jade fixed herself a plate of fruit, cheese and freshly baked, still warm bread, before she set down at her usual spot.

"How's it going with the recruits?" Elora spoke in a way of greeting, sitting on the seat across from her. She continued to be the only one from their group who consistently shared breakfast with Jade, forever in the habit of getting up early like she did as a kitchen maid. In a way, it has become their own little tradition. 

"Good. I think everyone's finally adjusted to the new training schedule." She gave Elora a grateful smile as the woman slid a coffee mug towards her, already prepared how she liked it.

"I mean, it's about time. Even the ones who believed it was favouritism must have realised their faulty reasoning by now. You're the best person for the job, a literal war hero." 

"Says the empress . By the way, how are the classes with Sorsha going?" Jade took a moment to take in her friend's appearance, slightly worried. Elora looked exhausted, her bedhead on full display. But there was also an undeniable spark in her eyes.

"It's still a lot, but it's getting better. Who knew there was so much to running a kingdom? Nevermind working out negotiations to unite two."

Jade reached over the table to give her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "At least Graydon's helping, isn't he?"

Elora sat upright at that, face brightening considerably. "Yes, he's amazing. He's doing his best to erase any concerns the people of Galladorn might have about the union. He's actually going to be present at the public hearing today." 

"The one for the farmers of both Tir Arsleen and Galladorn? Sounds…fun." Jade couldn't help the slight sarcasm that slipped into her voice. 

Elora let out a sigh. "Tell me about it. Last time we had to break up a fight about which one is the superior grain: buckwheat or bulgur wheat." 

"..." 

Elora threw up her hands in annoyance. "I mean obviously it's buckwheat but I needed to remain impartial." She pouted at the last bit.

They both ate in silence for a minute before Elora added. "It's worth it though, you know. Seeing the realm rebuilding itself after all the destruction it endured. People from both kingdoms working together and helping each other." They shared a smile.

"I agree." Tensions were high between her own recruits that came from all over the realm when they first began training. It started with pranks and turned into full blown fights until Jade put her fist down, gave them all a stern talking to and forced them into trust and team building exercises. 

They were both lost in their own world until they were interrupted by a messenger who hastily moved their way.

"Empress Elora, Queen Sorsha requires your presence this instance."

In a rather unladylike fashion that you'd only see as normal if you knew Elora personally, she picked up her coffee mug and chugged it in one go. 

Meanwhile Jade calmly finished hers, before they both got up. "I suppose duty calls. See you at lunch?"

Elora gave her a nod. "Hopefully, if there isn't another fight. Wish me luck!" 

And with that they both went their separate ways.

-

It was after they were done with their first drill session that Jade started feeling that something was off.

She couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was, but something wasn't quite right. Over the next hour or two she proceeded to mentally check for any irregularities. 

No water buckets over door frames, no weapons missing from the armoury, all her recruits present and accounted for.

She let out a frustrated huff, focus momentarily returning to the group in front of her that was diligently training. "Alright guys, I want to see the disarming technique combined with a knock out once more and once I'm satisfied, you can have your lunch break." 

She hid the smile that was threatening to spread across her face at the relieved sighs of the recruits. She knew she could be a bit hard on them, but she wanted to give them their best chance at survival should they ever get into a fight. 

As she watched the siblings Jake and Angel go through the combination, she felt her neck prickle. When she couldn't stand it anymore, she whipped her head around, hoping to catch whoever was boring holes into the back of her head. She scanned the ground and found nothing. 

Restless reaching a new height and satisfied with everyone's progress, she dismissed the group only fifteen minutes later . "Well done everyone. I will see you at the archery stands in the afternoon, enjoy your lunch." 

"Thank you commander!" They echoed in exhaustion. 

Jade waited till every single one of them left the training grounds before she slowly turned into the direction of the stables. The prickling on the back of her neck has returned and now that her schedule is clear for the moment, she could finally focus on uncovering her stalker. 

Hand on the hilt of her sword, she moved into the stables, hyper aware of the slight rustling that's coming from one of the stalls to her left.

She was about to draw her sword and move towards it, when her eyesight was obstructed. Just as she's drawing back her elbow on reflex to gut whoever was behind her-

"Guess who it is?" A voice spoke, filled to the brim with cheekiness. 

Relief flooded her system as she removed the hands placed above her eyes and turned around to face the culprit. "By Cherlindrea, Kit you scared me." 

She removed her hands from her sword, instead letting them circle Kit's waist as her love gave her an only half-apologetic grin.

"Sorry babe."

Jade chuckled. "No you're not."

"...okay no I'm not," Kit conceded, "but can you blame me? I thought it would be a nice surprise." She gave Jade one of those dorky, charming Kit Tanthalos™ grins that still made butterflies erupt in her stomach.

"Short morning meetings?" 

"Does it look like it?" Kit gestured at her clothing, which these days thankfully didn't consist anymore of the dresses Sorsha used to force her into but was still more formal and uptight than Jade knew her girlfriend preferred. 

Kit pulled at the collar in annoyance, her elegant white shirt buttoned up to the very top. "I was in the council chamber all morning."

Something about that statement rang alarm bells in the back of Jade's mind, but just as she was about to examine it closer she felt soft lips on her own and any thoughts melted away. 

"I have about ten minutes till my mother sends a guard in search of me to drag me back into the chambers of hell." Kit whispered against her lips slightly breathless. "Let's make the most of it, yeah?"

Jade nodded, before the alarm bells in her mind resurfaced. "Yeah, just one thing first."

"Yes?" Kit mumbled against the side of her neck, where she lay increasingly distracting kisses. 

"You said-" Jade fought against the fog that's settling over her mind. "-you said you were in meetings all morning."

"Yes? What about it?" Jade let out a gasp as Kit pushed her back against a stable stall, careful to not let Jade's head crash against the wood before she doubled her focus on Jade's neck, starting to leave marks in her wake as she moved further down. 

With the last remaining bit of will she could muster, Jade put a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder, stopping her movement.

Trying to clear the confusion and slight disappointment on Kit's face, Jade explained. "If you weren't the one that's been watching me since midday, then who was?" 

"Uhm…that would have been us." 

Both Jade and Kit jumped away in surprise at the voice that emerged from the stall Jade's back was previously pressed against.  

They drew their weapon's, Jade her rapier and Kit a dagger she always had in her boot even during meetings but they dropped them in utter shock as they took in the two girls that emerged from the stall. 

One was wearing a sheepish grin, avoiding their eyes, the other was picking straw from her red shirt, not unlike what Kit prefers to wear. 

The latter one spoke, disgruntled and slightly pale. "Thank god, this was getting seriously uncomfortable-"

"-and awkward." The other one finished.

Jade blinked slowly. Once. Twice. "I'm sorry but who the hell are you?" 

Chapter Text

"Soooo…how are we gonna go about this?" Amber turned from where she was watching a younger version of their mum train the recruits, raising an eyebrow at her twin. They eventually made their way to the training grounds in search of their mum, avoiding a few close run-ins with servants.

The horse stables weren't the best smelling hideout but the stable windows opened onto the training grounds perfectly for a little bit of spywork.

Emerald's features were twisted into a frown. "Well, lying is out of the question. Explaining our looks as well as sudden appearance and knowledge of the castle grounds is basically impossible to explain away. They'd catch us in our lies at some point." 

Amber nodded. "So honesty it is."

"Yes, best to wait for lunch break and try to catch mum alone. We don't want a crowd for this, we already sound crazy as it is." 

Amber hummed in agreement. "What do you think, when are we? I mean they obviously haven't had us yet, but mum's already commander."

Emerald fiddled with the emerald pendant of her necklace like she does whenever she's deep in thought. "Hmm the guards are still wearing the old uniform and the servants' corridors are all dusted up so my best guess is maybe a couple of months or a year after the war was over? Everyone was still recovering so it makes sense for the castle to not have that much staff around and therefore no need for the corridors. Plus there’s no engagement dagger on mum's belt." 

"That tracks, well observed." Amber gave her sister a genuine smile and hair ruffle and received a slightly annoyed shoulder bump for it. 

"Will you stop with that? We're twins."

"But I'm one minute older."

"You're gonna hold that above my head our entire lives, aren't you?" Amber grinned happily at Emerald's resigned sigh, her only response the widening of her grin. 

"Oh shit! They're done." Amber's focus returned to the training grounds, where their mum was sending off her recruits to lunch. 

And then she was coming their way. "Oh fuck, hide hide hide!" She quickly pushed a grumbling Emerald into one of the empty stalls.

"What are you doing? We need to talk to her." Emerald whisper-yelled. 

"Yes but what's the game plan? 'Congratulations mum, you have twins!'?!" 

Emerald gave her an unimpressed look. "Could you please actually take this seriously? For once?" 

Now Amber was getting annoyed, whispering back aggressively. "I am taking this seriously Emmy! What do you want me to say-" 

Before she could finish her sentence, Emerald clammed a hand over her mouth. She was about to give her sister hell for attempting to shut her up when she too, heard the quiet footfalls making their way into the stable. 

When she was sure she's going to stay quiet, Emerald removed her hand from over Amber’s mouth.

Gesturing to the door, Amber signalled for them to get up and walk out when they heard some rustling and another voice as someone else joined them in the stables. 

Being unable to distinguish the words spoken, Amber peeked over the horse stall to see who interrupted their grand entrance only to have to swallow down the surprise noise she almost let out. That makes things easier for them, she supposed. 

She squatted back down, turning to where Emerald was patiently waiting to hear what she saw and mouthed, "It's mom!" 

Both of Emerald's eyebrows rose in surprise, seeing the same opportunity as Amber. Maybe their luck was finally turning aroun-

Thump!

Both of them almost jumped out of their skin, scared as something hit their stall door. 

They stared at each other, eyes wide open and waiting for their parents to discover them.

In hindsight, they would've preferred that. It only took a moment for Amber to figure out what noises she was hearing from the other side. 

She looked to her left only to see the same realisation plastered onto her twin's petrified face. God they already knew more about their future parents' still very happy marriage than they ever wanted to. Poor Uncle Airk most of all. 

Amber was about to let out the loudest cough that was humanly possible, when all noise stopped. 

Emerald must've heard what was spoken on the other side because she stood up and spoke. 

"Uhm…that would have been us."

-

In the very first moment, Kit thought they looked identical. Feature-wise she supposed they were. 

Same blue eyes. Same small amount of freckles scattered around and on their button noses. Same fiery red hair. Both of them are standing at the same height. 

But upon further inspection their differences are even more noticeable. They wore their hair differently. The one with the more calm energy had it in a ponytail, the more chaotic one braided on the left and falling down on the right. Though there was a part at the front that was cut unevenly, almost like it was cut off clean by a blade. Kit raised an eyebrow at that in curiosity. They also had different weapons- both at which Kit nodded absentmindedly with approval- on them and wore different styles and colours of clothing, one more practical in green, the other more extravagent in red. 

Having taken all of that in, in mere seconds, Kit could only think of one thing.

"-Why do you look like us?"

"-Did Airk put truth plum juice in my drink again?"

"..." 

Three pairs of eyes gave her the eerily same unimpressed stare. 

"Seriously mom? That's your best guess?" The one with the rapier sassed before she received a well placed elbow in the side from her sibling.

"Well done, Am. That was smooth."

The cocky girl, Am apparently, rubbed her ribs with a slight wince, before rounding on her sister. "Look Emmy I'm past the point of tap dancing around this-"

"Did you say mom?" Kit spoke in utter disbelief? Confusion? (Wonder? Fear?) This definitely felt like a trip. 

She glanced at Jade, interested in her reaction to all of this. Jade was doing this thing with her face- and Kit would know, she spends a lot of her time staring at it- where she puts on a cold and unreadable front but Kit could tell that she was rattled by these two strangers.

Jade's eyes narrowed, voice turning authoritative- which, Kit couldn't help but notice, is still so very hot. "I've never seen you two around here and we don't have any new castle staff or recruits arriving. Why are you walking around the grounds unauthorised?" 

"Fuck this isn't going well at all…" The one with the rapier mumbled. Kit couldn't help but agree in her mind, sympathising with the two. Wait, why was she sympathising with them? 

Sensing the new level of tension, the one with the dagger took a slow step forward, holding her hands up placatingly. "I swear we can explain. Please just hear us out." 

She took a deep breath. Somehow, Kit wasn't too shocked about what she said next. "My name is Emerald and this," she threw a thumb at the other girl, "is my dumb-

"Hey!"

"-twin sister Amber. We are you daughters. From the future." 

All you could hear was the occasional horse neighing as they all stood in silence for a moment. 

Then Jade chuckled. "Sure. And I'm secretly a princess-"

"I believe them." 

Kit turned to face a slag-jawed Jade. "I know they pretty much explained nothing but I just have this…feeling about them. They feel familiar." Kit leaned further into Jade's space, whispering underneath her breath. "Also, have you seen them? They kind of look like a fusion between us. The similarities are freaking scary Jade." 

Jade studied Kit's face carefully for a moment. Kit could tell she was conflicted. Ever the rationalist, but also trusting Kit's judgement and maybe even sharing that same weird feeling of connection to these two girls. 

Her love let out a sigh. "Alright. I'm still not entirely convinced and you girls have some explaining to do but this is definitely not the place for it. Let's move this to our quarters." 

Amber perked up, seeming more relaxed and excited now that the tense moment had passed. "Awesome! Honestly I think we will all have a great time together. I always wondered what you guys were like back in your youth." 

"I beg your pardon?" Jade frowned and Kit snorted. 

Kit quickly moved in front of them all, changing the focus of the conversation which earned her a cute grin- shit, that grin was basically all Jade- from Amber. "Anyway we should probably take the route starting behind the stables. Less foot traffic and-"

"Oh don't worry, we already know the best ways to move around undetected." Emerald explained nonchalantly, walking to the front of their group and leading the way.

Kit watched as Jade's eyes narrowed again. In suspicion or, unknowingly,  parental disapproval, she wasn't sure. "Do you now?" 

Emerald just made a noise of confirmation in the back of her throat, refusing to face them as they all sped up to a brisk walk along the castle walls. That's when Kit noticed something else interesting.

Falling back to where Jade was moving in the back, keeping a watchful eye on the girls, she dropped her voice to a whisper.

"Hey, check out the back of their necks."

Kit could pinpoint the exact second Jade's eyes widened in shock as they fell on the mark, the same one as hers that almost no one got to see. 

Multiple overlaid circles, building a simple symbol at the back of their necks. The mark of Kale.

Amber's was more hidden, seeing as half of her hair was down, but Emerald's was proudly on display. 

She decided to voice what they were both likely thinking. "You and Scorpia are literally the only two people with this mark. Most people still don't even know what they are, nevermind what your specific one looks like. Scorpia is still in the Wildwoods most of the time and yours is hidden more often than not. They couldn't have simply copied them-" 

"I know Kit but how could they be here? Kids? Our kids?" They both turned bright red at her words, bashfully avoiding eye contact. 

Jade cleared her throat. "How do we know they're not a trick from some of the leftover Wyrm minions and demons? Shapeshifters or something?"

"I mean we fought a whole bunch of creatures and demons. Elora literally does magic on the daily. Time travel might not be so impossible after all." Kit argued back. 

They both looked back to the girls, who were chatting at the front of their little group seemingly not noticing the intense conversation going on in the back. 

"They have your hair." Kit couldn't help but comment fondly. 

"And your eyes." A small but adoring smile broke out on Jade's face.

"Okay so they might in fact be who they are claiming to be, but there's definitely more to it than they are telling." 

"Agreed. We need to get to the bottom of this." 

-

"They are totally taking stock of us." 

"Oh definitely." Amber voiced her agreement.

"Honestly it's cute to see that they always did that. Trying to inconspicuously come up with a plan while being totally obvious." 

"Mhm, they've probably spotted our marks by now too."

"They wouldn't be our moms if they hadn't." 

"True that." 

"This is going better than when it started. But we're not out of the woods yet. Mum's like a bloodhound, she's not gonna drop her suspicions till we're completely honest." Emerald stated what they both knew.

"We'd have to explain the shadow-walker at one point anyway. I just hope everyone back home is okay." Amber frowned.

"I'm sure they're already figuring out a way to get us back." If they even knew where, or better when, the twins even ended up at, Amber thought to herself. None of this was supposed to happen. They hadn't even figured out yet what exactly had gone wrong. 

Amber turned her focus away from the endless questions in her head and instead opened the door to their parents' room, having arrived there again. At least this time seeing the not entirely familiar room felt a bit less disorientating. 

Emerald took the lead, gesturing for their parents to take a seat on their bed. "You might want to take a seat, this could take a while." Mom did, while mum refused, clearly still doubtful. 

"Alright, where to start…"

-

Elora Danan's day was not going well. So of course she immediately jumped at the chance to investigate when she heard that the princess and commander were spotted with two unfamiliar persons sneaking around the castle grounds.

Elora could taste the chaos and shenanigans. If it was just those two, no one would have even pointed it out, it wasn't an unfamiliar sight to any of them by now but with two armed teens? That the staff had never even seen before? 

Elora was exhausted and she was convinced she deserved some of that tea. 

So, after the public hearing was finally over- this time with next to no progress and multiple arguments- she decided to take it upon herself to find out what Kit and Jade were up to. Thankfully, Graydon volunteered to stay behind and make sure any unfinished arguments wouldn't escalate. She gave him a grateful kiss for his sacrifice. 

Ben from the kitchen said he spotted them walking in the direction of their chambers, so that was how Elora ended up marching down the right wing of the castle, eyes firmly focused on her friends' oak door. 

Feeling just a bit extra today- an empress deserves her flair okay- she decided to forgo knocking and simply threw open the doors with a mighty push.

Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw on the other side.

Jade and Kit, sitting on their bed (thankfully just sitting and nothing else) and in front of them, two girls, twins in fact by the looks of it.

They immediately stopped what they were saying, turning to Elora in surprise. Elora's eyes opened even wider- if that was even possible-  once they fully faced her. 

It was as if someone moulded Jade and Kit into one person. The similarities were undeniable.

Their features brightened as they saw her, excited smiles breaking out that looked so much like Kit's that it gave her whiplash and when they exclaimed-

"AUNTIE ELORA!" 

"Oh this looks interesting. " Elora sent them a grin just as bright.

From the bed, she heard Jade let out a deep-suffering sigh. 

Time for some tea.

Chapter Text

"Earl Grey, anyone?" Elora asked into the group.

Kit and Jade declined, while Amber and Emerald- so they introduced themselves- gratefully took a cup. Amber put in two cubes of sugar while Emerald took hers with three. Elora secretly dropped four into her own. 

She hasn't been able to get the grin off her face. The same way she couldn't stop staring at the twins. She wanted to know everything. How old they were, their hobbies, what was in the leather pouch on Emerald's waist, or that small book, what the necklaces- so similar to the one Elora knows Kit wore but with different stones- meant.

Amber, in a very galant fashion that reminded her of Airk, pulled up the chair from the work desk in the corner for Elora to sit on, while she herself plopped on the ground cross-legged on the carpet, posture lax. Emerald also chose the carpet, though she sat down in a slightly more elegant way, body relaxed but eyes and mind alert. 

Emerald put her tea down after taking a sip. "As I was saying before Auntie Elora dropped in, we aren't entirely sure how this happened…"

-

Almost like clockwork, Amber and Emerald nearly fell through the doors to the dining hall, the former being locked into a choke hold by the latter. Airk wondered what Amber had said this time. No one at the table reacted much to their sudden entrance, the whole family was used to it by now.

Airk took a sip of his coffee as Amber managed to, to his surprise, choke out some more words. "All I'm saying is you guys looked awfully close there this morning-"

Ah, he thought, that topic.

"-with her on top of you and all that. It's not like you to lose-" Airk wasn't sure if he wanted to commend Amber on her bravery or point out her stupidity.  They all knew Emerald only brought out the choke holds when she was truly desperate to shut Amber up. 

"OKAY OKAY I'M STOPPING, I'M SHUTTING UP NOW PLEASE LET ME BREATH!" Amber's teasing tone and energy had vanished in the wake of her sister's ire. Now she's tapping her hand repeatedly on Emerald's elbow, asking to be let go.

"Girls please tone it down a bit. You know your mother doesn't do well with all this screaming in the morning." Jade tutted at them from where she was sitting beside Kit, rubbing her back comfortingly while her wife's head was on the table in front of her, brown-grey strands falling everywhere.

The twins reacted immediately, sending their mum bashful smiles and walking over to Kit, dropping kisses on her head in apology. "Sorry mom."

Amber whispered to no one in particular. "Hangover?" She winced when Jade made a so-so gesture. All of them couldn't handle more than a glass or two these days without waking up with a splitting headache, Airk thought somewhat sorrowful.

"How am I turning into my mother?" Kit bemoaned.

"I heard that." Their mother deadpanned from where she just entered the hall, cane clacking on the stone floor.

"Good morning grandma!" The twins echoed.

It still brought Airk joy to see that smile overtake his mother's face. The one that was just for his nieces. She opened her arms in invitation and the two immediately moved into them. "Good morning girls." She pulled away, smiling gently at them both. "How are my two favourite girls doing today?"

"Wow okay, I see how it is." Kit commented, playfully miffed as the twins made to fill their plates with food. Airk still didn't quite believe how far his twin and his mom have come. With how unloved by Sorsha Kit used to feel to be able to joke like this now.

"Grandma just has great taste mom, you can't blame her for that." Amber teased back.

Kit lifted her face off the table at that, squinting at her daughter. "I gave you life, you know?"

"Uhh, mom's god complex is showing again." Emerald spoke up. 

Amber shook her head disappointedly in agreement. "It's getting out of hand, I know." 

Kit shook her head in disbelief, though Airk could see the grin she was trying to hide.

"Such brats ."

"And who do you think they got it from?" Airk did his best to hide the cackle Jade's comment evoked, in his mug. 

Meanwhile Kit's jaw dropped, as she turned to her left, where her wife was calmly enjoying her coffee. "What is this betrayal? And by my own wife ?!"

And because they all know Jade could hardly refuse her as it is, they weren't surprised when Kit started to pout and say, "I demand compensation." 

Jade's poker face still lasted an impressive amount of time before she broke out into a loving grin, rolling her eyes at her wife's dramatics before giving her a chaste kiss. 

"And to answer your question grandma: I had a lovely morning, thank you very much. Sam showed me a new tincture she learned how to make, she-" everyone exchanged amused glances as Amber corrected, "- it is amazing." 

While Amber floundered for a moment she quickly managed to turn the question on her twin.

"Though I don't think the same can be said for my dearest sister…or can it-" Her sentence was stopped quite abruptly when Emerald's elbow made contact with her ribs. 

Having apparently fulfilled a, to her,  acceptable amount of teasing Amber took the seat between Elora and himself. That or she was done collecting bruises, Airk couldn’t fully tell.

He patted her on the shoulder as she winced, rubbing her ribs. He whispered conspiratorially. "Ever thought you might be pushing it a bit hard?"

He held up a finger as Amber was about to argue. "No no, don't worry, I get it. Watching your moms pine after each other for years was like second-hand torture after all."

Amber stayed quiet at that, always interested in hearing more about how her parents got together. Internally Airk's chest swelled with pride. She was as big a romantic as he was.

"All I'm saying is that there's only so much pushing you can do in an attempt to help. The rest is up to them…plus this can't be good for your health long term." His voice turned from gentle but serious to playful towards the end. 

He could see she was mulling his words over in her head, one eyebrow crinkled in thought- just like Kit. Seemingly having come to her own conclusions, Amber nodded to herself before sending Airk a grateful smile which he mirrored and with that they both focused back on the conversation in front of them.

"-I was distracted, is all. But then she has to be so smug about winning. Offering me a hand up, checking if I was okay, prancing over me like she's the goddamn empress-" 

"There there sweetie." Elora patted Emerald on the back as everyone watched in more or less well hidden amusement how Emerald had her almost daily rant about Alice, daughter of Duchess Silva, golden star of this year's new recruits and most important of all: bane of his niece's life.

Why? Airk had a couple of guesses, but for now he was going to keep those to himself. Besides, if Alice was actually a bad person, he knew Jade would have kicked her out of the training program a long time ago. The handful of times he ran into her she seemed like a lovely, well raised young lady. Maybe they should catch up with Ava and Beatrice some time…

Anywho, he loved watching his nieces grow all on their own. The joy and laughter they spread was endless. 

"Want me to show you the new spell modification I'm developing?" Graydon offered from Elora's right side in an attempt to get Emerald out of her grumpy mood. 

Emerald immediately perked up, excited at the prospect. "The one on matter stabilisation?" 

He nodded, smiling softly. 

"Will Julius help too?" The cousins have been best friends for as long as any of them can imagine. Both interested in science, especially in magic and incantations they would stay up together past their bad time, researching in the library till their parents inevitably found them and dragged them to bed. 

"If he will be back in time from the Wild Woods." 

"He better be." Emerald showed a pout anyone rarely saw on her face. It only lasted for a moment though before a genuine smile spread across her face and she stood up and walked over to Graydon.

"Thank you so much uncle Graydon!" She gave him a big hug before she made her way out of the dinning hall, having finished her breakfast, now with a new lightness in her step. 

Kit sent him a small but genuine smile. "Thanks, Graydon." 

He waved her off. "You know I love to make her smile." 

"Hey mum, wanna go knife throwing for a bit?" He might know both of them incredibly well, but not even Airk can decipher the mother-daughter silent conversation that was going on between Amber and Jade.

All he knew was that at the end of it, Jade gave an easygoing smile and nod, left a kiss on Kit's temple and off they went. 

That's when both Kit and Elora turned to face him fully and he realised any attempts at escape would be futile. They had him now.

"So, oh most lovely brother of mine, are you finally willing to tell us about your not-so-secret-anymore lover?!" 

Graydon lifted his mug towards Airk in silent solidarity and consolation. 

-

THUD!

Jade smiled in satisfaction when her knife hit its mark on the tree. She stepped to the side and let Amber have her throw. 

Something was on her daughter's mind, that much was obvious. She still hit the tree, but also slightly more off mark than usual. Nevertheless Jade decided to wait, sticking to their usual routine. 

Only after five or six repetitions, did Amber speak up, fiddling with the knife in her hand. "So you and mom were best friends before you got together, right?"

Jade dropped her throwing arm and put her knives away to give her daughter her full attention. "Yes. We've been friends since we were little."

Her eyebrow was crinkled. "I see…"

Feeling that Amber needed a bit of coaxing, Jade went for it. "Is this about Sam?"

Amber's face grew increasingly more red as she spluttered. "Uhm no , that was just an overall question. We're just friends. I don't know why you'd think that-"

Jade gave her an understanding and gentle smile.

"-oh whatever! Yes, it is. Are you happy now?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest, shoulders raised almost to her ears.

"Well that depends: do you actually want to tell me what's bothering you, monkey?" She walked over to Amber and gently extracted her daughter's hands from where they were hidden, giving them a gentle squeeze. 

That has done the trick, as usual and Amber completely deflated, defensiveness melted away.

Amber leaned into her shoulder. "I just don't know what to do! She's my best friend, I can't lose her!"

"Well-"

"And I know I will always have Emmy, Julius and Hector but with Sam it's different."

Jade waited a beat this time. "Have you thought about-"

"I just want her to know how important she is to me without scaring her away, or risking our friendship!"

"..."

"Mum, are you gonna say anything or?"

Jade internally rolled her eyes at her daughter. Now's not the time to make fun of her though.

"Have I ever told you why we gave you girls these necklaces?"

Amber's brows furrowed in confusion and mild irritation. "No? I'm assuming because of our names? But I don't see how this is con-"

"You would, if you would let me finish." With a huff, Amber snapped her mouth shut.

"You know your mother wears a similar necklace?" She receives a nod. "Well, that used to be mine once upon a time."

By now any irritation has left Amber's face as curiosity has overtaken. 

"It had a Jade pendant. We were still young, it was a couple of years after your grandfather hadn't returned from his mission. I decided to give this to your mother so that she always carries a part of me with her. So that she knows I care for her and that she's never alone. That I will never truly leave her." 

She picked up the pendant around her daughter's throat. A beautiful golden-orange that matched her hair perfectly.

"Your mother and I gave these to you both for the exact same reason. It doesn't have to be romantic. It can be platonic too, I think at the time I still thought it was." They shared a grin. "But, whoever you give it to, it means you'll always be there for them, no matter in what way. Even if they don't believe it. It's the Claymore codex of honour if you will." She winked at her daughter, who gave her a playful salute but genuine smile.

"I get that you're scared, I was too. So many times I thought your mother would hear how my heart would almost jump out of my chest whenever we were close." Amber has set down at a nearby rock as her mother talked. They were completely alone in their secluded spot behind the castle.

"So how about we start a bit smaller?" She must've been wearing her strategy-time expression, cause Amber perked up immediately, eyes sparkling.

"Like a gift?" 

"Yes, for example. However you present it is up to you."

Jade watched with fascination how an idea appeared in her daughter's mind and she got that certain spark to her eyes. Like Kit, when she came up with a crazy but possibly brilliant plan. 

She let out a fond sigh before all the air was knocked out of her as a body slammed into her side. "Thank you so much mum, I'll beat you again properly next time, okay?"

Amber gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as Jade gasped in indignation, before she started jogging back to the castle. "Talk to you later, I love you!"

Jade shook her head. "I love you too. Don't be out past curfew or so help me Cherlindrea!" 

"I won't, don't worry!" 

Call it a hunch but somehow Jade seriously doubted that. 

-

So maybe she had been slightly untruthful. But mum gave her the idea, so she is at least partially responsible, Amber thought.

"Remind me again why we're out past curfew?" Emerald grumbled from where she was walking to her left, using her dagger to cut low hanging branches that obstructed her path through the woods. 

"Because this is an emergency-" that next part was gonna be interesting, "and you promised you'd be a supportive wing woman."

Emerald stopped in her tracks. "So you're finally going to do something?"

Amber tried to hide her annoyance at the plain hypocrisy on display and simply continued walking. "Yes I guess."

Now more excited than annoyed, Emerald picked up the pace. "What are we looking for exactly again?"

"Moonpearls. Hard to find, small in growth but unbelievably potent. You only need a small amount to dilute and you can add it to many tinctures, pastes and medicine-"

Amber stopped talking at the incredulous look on her twin's face. " What? I pay attention when people talk. And I know Sam would be excited about having some of these." 

"More like only when Sam's the one doing the talking." She heard Emerald tease under her breath. Amber didn't pay her any mind though. At least she is doing something about her crush, which is more than Emerald can say. She won't even call it a crush.

"If they are so tiny, why are we searching for them at night? This-" she rattles the lantern with a single candle inside of it, "doesn't do that much."

"Cause it needs to be harvested in the moonlight. They are called Moonpearls." Amber gave her an eyerole which Emerald answered in kind.

"Excuse me, Miss Green-Thumb, please lead the way then."

"I will-"

"Wait, did you hear that?" They both stopped talking. After a few seconds, they were able to make out the softest crunch of leaves under boots.

They both hid behind trees. Emerald gave her a nod.

Silently drawing her rapier, Amber swiftly turned away from the tree, appearing behind their stalker and holding her blade to their throat.

And then she noticed who she was holding. Tan skin, medium length black hair, falling down her back in waves, smelling like rosemary and other herbs Amber could never remember. 

Her brain must've shut down for longer than she thought, cause the person spoke. "Am it's me. Will you please let me go now?"

Face bright red, Amber immediately let go and took a big step away from Sam. The girl in question turned around and again, Amber couldn't help but be struck by her beauty. Those deep chocolate brown eyes she could write serenades about- she's sure Uncle Airk would help her out- bore directly into her own. 

Ah fuck, she was in trouble.

"Sam! So good to see you-" Emerald started.

Sam pointed a threatening finger at Emerald, white nightgown flowing behind her etheraly. "Don't even get started Emerald." 

Then she turned to Amber, knowing Amber could never lie to her even if she tried. "What are you guys doing out after curfew? You know it's dangerous. There's a reason we have it." 

Amber saw the worry hidden under the anger and put up her hands placatingly, unusually demur. "We know. I was just looking for something in the woods and Emmy was helping me." 

Sam seemed to calm down at that, if just slightly. "I came to check on your bruises from training but you weren't in your room." She fiddled with her hands like how she does whenever she's anxious. 

Amber immediately pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." 

They must've stayed in the hug a bit longer than what was seen as normal because Emerald decided to clear her throat.

"Well, now that that's handled, let us be on our way…"

That's when they noticed the fog that had fallen into the woods.

No, not fog. Smoke. And an unnatural one at that. So thick and black it swallowed any light.

Amber silently moved in front of Sam, Emerald joining her a bit further off to the right. As much as she knew Sam didn't like to be on the sidelines, they all knew she joined the healers for a reason and not the guard. 

"No. Sudden. Movements. It might not have noticed us yet." 

Amber highly doubted that, but knew that acting rashly right now could cost them their lives. 

The smoke slowly took the form of an animal- Amber guessed a wolf- black as night, smoke curling around its form in tendrils. 

And then it crooned. "Where are you, children of the cuirass-bearer?"

Amber could feel how her stomach dropped, cold sweat running down her neck at the ancient, gravely voice. 

She looked towards Emerald, only to see her twin already reaching for the little leather pouch at her waste.  

Then multiple things happened at once. 

Emerald removed a potion from her pouch. 

Amber took a step towards her not noticing a branch on the ground.

SNAP!

"Got you."

The creature pounced.

Amber pushed Sam back before Emerald grabbed her by her wrist, yanking her to her side just in time before the creature's claws would've sliced up her face. 

She could feel the air move as she evaded the claws by mere millimetres. It still got a bit of her hair though. Slicing it off as if it was air. 

The creature howled at having missed its prey, already reading itself for its next attack. 

"Do you have it?!" Amber rushed.

"I think so."

"You think ?"

"It's DARK!"

The creature jumped.

"Fuck this." Amber took the bottle and smashed it on the ground. Not even a second later they were engulfed in a cloud of fog.