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Liam Dunbar still looked ready for battle. Ruby eyed him from across the festival pathway before sighing dramatically.
"You know," she said, folding her arms, "most people stop scanning rooftops once they arrive somewhere with kettle corn."
"I am relaxed."
Ruby blinked. "Liam."
"What?"
"You just growled at a mime."
"He was suspicious."
"He was juggling."
"He was juggling too well."
Ruby pinched the bridge of her nose. "I've dated you for over a year and somehow you're getting weirder."
"I'm adapting."
"To what?"
He glanced around. "...possible threats."
Ruby slowly looked around with him. Children chased bubbles. A blacksmith demonstrated horseshoes. Someone dressed as a fairy was arguing with a pirate over the last cinnamon-roasted almonds.
"...You're right," Ruby admitted. "The fairy definitely started it."
Liam nodded seriously. "Exactly."
She couldn't hold it anymore. She burst into laughter. Liam smiled despite himself. "There she is."
"What?"
"The laugh."
Ruby nudged his shoulder. "You're impossible."
"And yet..."
"And yet," she interrupted with a grin, "you're annoyingly adorable."
Five minutes later...
Ruby emerged from a vendor's booth wearing an enormous flower crown. She struck a dramatic pose. "Well?"
Liam looked up from the turkey leg he'd been devouring. "...You're pretty."
Ruby blinked. "...That's it?"
He tilted his head. "I mean... you're always pretty."
She stared. "I was expecting at least one joke."
"I don't joke about facts."
Ruby's cheeks turned pink. "...You're not allowed to be smooth."
"I wasn't trying."
"I KNOW!"
An elderly vendor overheard the conversation.
"Oh," she cooed. "Young love."
Ruby smiled politely. Liam looked horrified.
"We're adults."
"So?"
"...I don't know."
Ruby elbowed him. "Congratulations."
"For what?"
"You've somehow made being complimented awkward."
"It's a gift."
Further down the path, Ruby spotted a rack of wooden practice swords. "Oh."
Liam immediately recognized that tone. "No."
"Oh yes."
"No."
She picked one up anyway.
"Tis I," Ruby declared in an exaggerated accent, "Lady Ruby Redmoon, Defender of Festivals!"
Liam sighed. "...People are watching."
She pointed the sword at him. "And you..."
Liam groaned.
"...are Sir Grumpy of Growls-a-Lot."
Several nearby children gasped. One whispered... "Fight."
Ruby wiggled her eyebrows. Liam looked at the growing audience. "...If I don't do this, they'll never leave."
He grabbed another wooden sword. The children erupted into cheers. Ruby immediately charged. "Have at thee!"
CLACK!
Their swords collided. Ruby dramatically stumbled backward. "Oh! A worthy foe!"
Liam barely tapped her sword. She spun in an unnecessary circle. "Such incredible strength!"
"Ruby."
"Yes?"
"You're making sound effects."
"PEW!"
"...That's not even sword-related."
Their duel lasted all of thirty seconds. Mostly because Ruby stopped mid-battle. "...Hold on."
"What?"
She pointed behind Liam. "Baby goat."
Liam turned. "...Baby goat."
The sword fight was forgotten instantly.
Ten minutes later...
Ruby was crouched beside the petting zoo. The tiny goat was chewing on her sleeve. "Oh my God..."
Liam took a picture. "...You're being eaten."
"I accept my fate."
The goat sneezed directly into her hair. Liam laughed so hard he had to lean against the fence. Ruby looked up slowly. "You think this is funny?"
"I really, really do."
She scooped up a handful of hay. "Liam..."
He took one cautious step backward. "...Ruby."
She smiled sweetly. "...Run."
He did. She chased him halfway across the festival while laughing uncontrollably.
Eventually they collapsed onto a grassy hill overlooking the festival. Music drifted through the air. Laughter echoed from every direction. Colorful banners danced in the breeze. Ruby rested her head against Liam's shoulder. "You know..."
"Hm?"
"You came here looking for a war."
"I did."
"And instead..."
He looked up at the flower crown she'd quietly placed on his head while he wasn't paying attention. "...I lost a battle to flowers."
Ruby grinned. "And a goat."
"And a goat." He slipped an arm around her waist. "...Worth it."
Ruby smiled softly. "Yeah."
Then she looked at him. "...You're still wearing the flower crown."
He reached up. "...I forgot."
"It suits you."
"I am never living this down."
Ruby kissed his cheek. "Absolutely not."
A passing child pointed excitedly. "Look, Mom! The knight is wearing princess flowers!"
Ruby dissolved into helpless laughter. Liam closed his eyes. "...I'm moving to another state."
Ruby took his hand as they walked toward the music. "No, you're not."
"...Probably not."
Besides... Every knight needed someone willing to win the wars they never saw coming.
Especially the ones involving flower crowns. 🌸