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It was a night like any other in the cool calm of Sailane Castle: the surrounding hills were dusted with frost, even in late spring.
Lachesis sat at the window with her skirts pulled up, resting her stocking-clad feed on the windowsill beside her as she looked out into the powdered landscape below with the stars overhead. If she was home, this would have been the height of galas, welcoming all of Nordion’s knights and lords to make merry.
She could still remember the very last one she attended: she had finally made her official debut, thanks to Grahnye speaking to Eldigan on her behalf, and she danced the night away– first with her dear brother, then her sister-in-law, then with Eve and the other Cross Knights. When Eldigan and Grahnye took to the dancefloor, she had her little nephew perched in her lap, wrapped up and giggling in her fluffy stole as he clapped along to the music.
On that night, she truly felt that she was on the top of the world.
Lachesis smiled at the memory, only to find as she did, tears had begun to fall down her cheeks, running and making her lips taste of salt.
It happened again. How revolting.
Every time she thought back to those happy memories, she couldn’t keep the sorrow from creeping in. She would never see Eldie again— the last time she had, it was—
Lachesis let out a low moan of pain at the memory of Sylvale’s battlements, where she hadn’t been able to look away fast enough, even when Sigurd had yelled for her to do so. Where she had seen a familiar mane of gold hair.
The once princess of Nordion didn’t even know if Eve had escorted Grahnye and Ares to Leonster safely— every day she went to Ethlyn and Quan to seek out news, but they had received none.
Lachesis knew, deep down, that those dances were lost forever.
“Lady Lachesis?”
Lachesis looked up and found another figure partially reflected in the window. She went still, before childishly wiping her face.
“Sir Naoise.” Lachesis replied with as much decorum she could muster, having been found like she was. “What keeps you up at such an hour?”
Naoise’s expression closed off slightly, and Lachesis felt another pang of sorrow for that. Among all of their makeshift army, Naoise had been among the people who had tried to look after her the most.
“I had been taking a walk. To clear my thoughts.” Naoise offered calmly, before his shoulders slumped. “I… to be honest, my thoughts had been filled with you, my lady.”
“Me?” Lachesis replied, before letting out a brief, hollow chuckle. She truly was making things difficult for everyone, wasn’t she? It wasn’t as if she was the only one who lost their home and their loved ones. “Apologies for causing you such troubles.”
But Naoise shook his head and knelt down beside the window sill, before taking one of her hands in his. “It is not a burden to think of you, Lady Lachesis. It was…” He looked away from her for a moment, before looking back up at her. “It was me trying to think of what I could do for you, to give you.”
Lachesis let out another huffing laugh, though this one sounded more genuine as she put her other hand over his with a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you, Naoise,” Lachesis said, regaining some of her composure. “But I think it is beyond your ability to bring me Nordion’s ballroom filled with musicians, even for a knight of your caliber.”
Despite his usual taciturn earnestness, that brought a smile to Naoise’s face as well. “I will admit that is the case, however, perhaps we can still have a dance: my lady, do you remember your favorite song they would play at the dances?”
Lachesis nodded.
“Hum it.”
Though she didn’t know what Naoise meant, and if it were anyone else she would have told them to leave her be, Lachesis began to hum a familiar tune, usually accompanied by winds and strings, before deep horns joined in.
As she did, Naoise rose to his feet, and made a formal bow expected of a knight, before he asked someone to dance.
Her eyes felt wet again, only this time it was only joy, instead of sorrow.
Even though she was still in her stockings instead of her dancing shoes, and there were a few times she had to take the lead to help Naoise’s steps, it was magical.
At the end of the movement, Lachesis’s humming came to an end, but she rested her head against Naoise’s chest.
“Thank you, Naoise.”
The hand that had held at her waist moved to rest across her back, holding her close to him in comfort. “When our names are cleared, you will return to Nordion, and be able to dance to your heart's content. From dusk until dawn, if you wish.”
Lachesis nodded, but was unable to hold back her sigh. “It won’t be the same without them.”
She didn’t have to say who they were for Naoise to understand. However, she never expected what would come next to be what Lachesis most desperately wanted to hear.
“... I’ll go with you.” Naoise murmured, no louder than a whisper against the top of her head. “I’ll go with you anywhere, if you’ll have me.”
Lachesis’ mouth went dry, unable to speak fast enough, only to feel the warmth enveloping be cruelly pulled away, as Naoise pained but ever-dutiful expression looked to her.
“I must give my greatest apologies. That— what I just said was unbecoming, and if I overstepped—”
Lachesis realized he thought she meant to reject him, and reached up to silently hold the side of his face, before guiding him back down so she could kiss him.
Naoise froze, before he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet and into his embrace.
When they finally pulled back, Lachesis patted his cheek. “You can’t expect me to dance without my knight, can you?”