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"I suppose those riding lessons paid off." Eirika smiled as she said this, but it was a tender, wobbly thing. The battle at Renais took its toll, and though her mare was docile and adept at dancing around rubble, it was hard to ignore the epicenter of everything.
Joy, however forced, was a fragile thing. Like a flower that should be nurtured in sunlight. Which made Seth wonder why Eirika remained back behind the rest of the group as opposed to up beside her brother — basically the sun incarnate. Questioning his liege's decisions was not his duty, however. So he played along. "I suppose so, my lady."
"I told you I could have taken the lead," she continued, dancing her horse around to cut Seth's off. "Your injury was only aggravated by-"
"Please," Seth interrupted, a frown pulling at his lips. "You have plenty on your shoulders. It is not enough that I am alive?" Seth swallowed against other words that threatened to bubble up. Just before storming the castle, they spoke of feelings, feelings that could not be named as love and yet implied that term so heavily. They promised also not to speak of it again, the gulf between their stations too great.
"….no." Eirika's hands tightened on her reins. "No, Seth. That is not enough."
"Your Highness-"
Eirika pulled beside Seth, both of her hands grabbing for one of his. He knew she picked the one that suffered the wound, the scar tissue that was still so new pulling as he let her take it. He did not flinch, did not wince, merely watched how her smaller hands cradled his larger one.
"It is not enough for you to live," she said. The earnestness in her voice dragged his gaze upward. She remained focused on his hand, spreading his fingers, tracing the scars along his palm. "I want you to be safe. Secure. Healthy."
This back and forth was common between them. Yet Seth could not bear to interrupt his Princess — or was she Queen until or if Ephraim married? — another time. She would only grow irritated, and so soon after the liberation of Renais, that was bound to be a bad change.
She trailed her fingers, still soft and delicate beneath her callouses borne of circumstances, to the tips of his own. "I want you to promise me something, Seth."
He didn't hesitate. "Anything."
"Promise that," Eirika's expression wavered. She looked to the horizon, to the rest of their ragged group and focused especially on her brother's stiff posture and slumped shoulders. "…promise that when we come home next, you will be at my side."
"Of course, Princess." It was easy to promise, just as it had been to promise her father. He turned his hand in hers. Bringing it to his lips, Seth kissed her knuckles.
"I promise."