Work Text:
Neither of you should be here. Not you, not Caleb.
You should be in the hall, dancing with suitors and Caleb should be watching from a distance.
But here you both are, hidden amongst flowers and vines, draped in the moon's soft glow. Sitting on a bench in the royal garden's parting, you sigh wistfully. Caleb hears and glances over at you. "What troubles you, my highness?" He asks quietly, his voice no louder than the gentle wisps of the wind.
You think for a few moments, tearing your eyes away from the moon and the stars that surround it. Your gaze finds nebula-coloured eyes and your heart sings a melody of yearning and love. "Sometimes I feel that perhaps I'm not quite made for a life of marriage." You admit, your head downcast.
Caleb tilts his head, his gloved finger tilting your chin up to meet his eyes again. The moon reflects off his armour, he should look intimidating, covered in thick metal and with a sword hung off his hip. But you can't see anything but the man you love. "Why is that, princess?"
"The one I long for is out of reach." You say, looking off to the fountain that stood tall in the middle of this parting. You miss the way Caleb's eyes flicker with an emotion close to both sadness and envy. "You've fallen for a suitor? What is the wait for, then? Talk to your parents, let them know."
You wish it were that easy, Caleb wasn't born with royal blood, he wasn't a heir or a suitor. He was a knight, one sworn and dedicated to protect her all of her life. The scandal would be great, her parents would never let her marry a man that isn't a royal descent.
"He's far from my reach. We are so close yet so impossibly far." Your shoulders sag a little and his cape that was draped over you to keep you warm slips. Your fingers come up to fix the cape but you find that his fingers are already there, pulling the long fabric back up your shoulders.
"You need not fear that, leave the distance to me. It is my duty after all." Caleb says with an encouraging smile, he ignores this ache in his chest at the thought of you not needing him anymore.
After all, once you find this mysterious man, he'll be the one to shield you first. He'll be the one to wipe your tears, to say something awfully stupid to make you smile amidst your grief. Oh, how Caleb will miss you, he will miss taking care of you despite being right there and close to you.
Nonetheless, it's his unwavering loyalty and love to you that makes him want to make you happy. Even if it's not with him. "Tell me his name and where he is, princess. I'll bring him here and deal with the fallback if there is any." He waits, watching as you turn to look at him.
"Caleb." You whisper out after a few moments of silence.
"Yes, your highness. Tell me, I'm listening." He reassures.
"Caleb." You repeat, your hand slowly coming over his.
Caleb feels his heart twist, his eyes widening when he realizes that you're not calling his name. You're saying the man's name, you're telling him that he's the man that's captured your heart.
His lips curve into a smile, his hand flipping so he can intertwine his hand with yours. "Yes, my love. What do you desire?" He lets go of your hand only to yank his gloves off before holding your hand with one hand and the other hand comes to cup your cheek.
The expression of defeat fades away from your face, instead in its place appears a look of content and relief. "Your love, Caleb." You murmur your wish as if it's a sacred song. Caleb chuckles under his breath, resting his forehead against yours.
"You've always had that, my princess. From the very start." Caleb pushes himself off the marble bench, bringing you up to your feet as well. “If it is settled then, may I have the pleasure of having a dance with you?” He knows he shouldn’t, a knight isn’t supposed to dance with their charge, but right now, in this beautiful fairytale-like dream..
He is not a knight and you are not a princess.
He is just Caleb and you are just you.
There’s no ranks or titles here, no formalities or expectations. Just love between you and him. Love that he will persevere and protect. He will fight every battle, every scandal that may arise in loving you, he will be the shield that protects you from the disapproving gazes of nobles and court members. He will lay his life down if it means you can flourish like the beautiful flower you are.
You place your free hand on his shoulder while the hand that was intertwined with his serves as a guide as the both of you sway to the nothingness of the night. “It’ll be tough.” You begin. “Loving me, our situation is not easy. My parents will fight to refuse, people will talk and you may lose your position.” You say it like a warning, like you're making sure that this is what Caleb truly wants. And he only laughs because for you he would do anything. It’s always been like that.
“You underestimate me, my love. No matter what happens, none of it will stop my heart from wanting you. I could lose this position as a knight, could have an entire kingdom talking down on me and have your parents decline me over and over.” He pauses so he can spin you around. “But none of that would ever deter me from you. You are my fate, my destiny and my one true desire. I will fight the Gods themselves just to love you even if for a day.”
He lowers you into a dip, his armoured arm wrapped carefully and protectively around your waist as he brings you back up. “Come what may. Storms, hatred, anger. Disapproval and shame. My sole purpose on this Earth is to protect you and to make you happy. I will shoulder it all for you.” You’re not quite sure how to respond, every response that comes into your mind seems inadequate to the tenderness in which he’s spoken to you with.
“I’ll meet you halfway then.” You bring your intertwined hands to your chest, laying the back of his hand against your heart. “Whatever you must shoulder, I’ll carry half the weight. I’ll protect your name and your position. When the kingdom presses down on you, I’ll be the extra arms that help you lift the pressure off.” Your hand squeezes around his, and he squeezes back. “As far as you’ll go to protect this connection we share, I’ll do the same to protect you.”
Caleb is taken aback by your heartfelt promise, this oath you take with his hand pressed against the very essence of your life. He snaps out of his shock and chuckles, pressing you closer to him and tucking your face into the crook of his neck. “Is that so?” He asks, resting his chin on the top of your head. “Do you have any doubts?” You poke his side, and he only laughs again.
“Not at all, my dear. Never when it comes to you.” He presses a kiss against your hair, breathing out as the both of you sway back and forth now rather than dance. “I suggest you should prepare for a grand celebration and that we go inside to talk to your parents.” He pauses, a grin tugging at his lips. He slowly releases you from his embrace, only to offer you his arm so he can guide you back to the hall.
“Oh.. And perhaps you should tell the Prince of Philos that you’ve already found a suitor. Burst his bubble of hope and let him know you’ll soon be my wife.”
“Really, Caleb?”
“What? Can’t I make sure none of those warts try to woo my bride? Can I not make sure my fiancé is safe from a prince that looks like the king’s great great grandfather, a prince that looks like he’s about to quiz you on medical terms, another prince that looks like a fairy casted a spell on him and a prince that looks like he’s one dance away from sleeping.”
“Caleb!”