Chapter Text
"Ren, should we really be out here?"
Ren scoffed and rolled his eyes, waving off her concerns with ease. "It's fineee, Pearlie," he dismissed her, and tugged her to walk closer to him when she almost knocked into a passing villager. "Besides, I will be the one getting in trouble if we are caught, not you—so just relax!"
She sighed in frustration, and emphasized, "I think Mother and Father will both be upset if we are caught sneaking out, regardless of any prior engagements only one of us is missing," before she pushed his hood off and pinched his ear, getting a little yelp out of him.
"Ouch! Hey- you are the one that has been wanting to come out more, I did not make you come!" he chastised her in retaliation, and readjusted his hood over his ears, before he pushed Pearl's off of her head to get back at her.
Pearl sighed, knowing she was beat. "Whatever, shall we just not get caught then?" she suggested as she fixed up her hood, and only felt her worry spike when she passed another villager who could have been listening in on their conversation.
"That is my specialty," Ren boasted, and ignored the deadpan stare from Pearl.
"Right, because you have never been caught stealing jelly tarts from the kitchen, or sneaking out of your room, or taking Mother's jewelry-" she was stopped when Ren slapped a hand over her mouth, only to swiftly pull it away when she licked him.
"Eugh! You are disgusting! Were you raised by animals?" he teased her as he wiped his hand on his pants.
"Where do you think I get it from?" she shot back with a grin. She stopped when she realized they were in front of the tavern, and took a deep breath. Ren sobered up as well, and prepared his little speech since it was her first time. Man, he was a great brother.
"Now, you are going to stick by my side, or at least where I can see you. No getting drunk and making proclamations, or singing on the stage. No joining other people's tables. No agreeing to quests. And most importantly, do not fall in love with the tavern maids. They are beautiful, but they are being nice to you for the tips. Do not fall for it."
"…You have done that all before, haven't you?" Pearl asked, already knowing the answer as she stared at him with an unimpressed look.
Ren's tail drooped as his ears flattened against his head. She snorted out a laugh and pat him on the shoulder. "Whatever, let us go inside," she let him off the hook, and led him inside. He perked up when they entered the lively building, and saw people dancing near the stage or chatting around their tables. He was just thankful that the spot they needed the most was vacant: the bar.
He guided Pearl up to the counter, but froze when he noticed an avian tavern maid. Her blonde hair just reached her shoulders, and she had the biggest eyes he'd ever seen, with a lovely shade of blue to complement her hair. She had striking cheekbones and a sharp jawline to match—he'd truly never seen anyone like her before.
He startled when Pearl cleared her throat and elbowed him in the side. "What was that final rule of yours, Ren?" she teasingly reminded him with a knowing smile. He rolled his eyes, and tried to keep his head on straight as the blonde avian approached him.
"What can I get you?" she asked, not even bothering to fake a smile or seem any amount of interested in their conversation. Gem, the tavern maid he would consider a friend of his, rolled her eyes as she elbowed her coworker in the side, her doe tail flicking in annoyance. He could faintly hear her scolding her to be nicer and put in some effort with the customers, but she still seemed like she couldn't care less.
"You can tell me your friend here's name, Gem," he teasingly requested, and ignored Pearl's annoyed sigh and grumbling.
The woman finally perked up a bit, and shot back with a forced smile, "You can pay me and I shall tell you a fake one." Ren chuckled, already figuring she'd be a little tough to crack.
Gem sighed in disappointment, and went to get Ren's usual drink since he was probably never going to properly order until he figured out the avian woman—which was never going to happen, by her calculations.
"A whiskey for you," she said as she handed him the drink, then locked eyes with Pearl, "and who's this lovely thing you have with you?"
Pearl blushed and panicked at the nickname, and had a hard time meeting her eyes as Ren jokingly pushed her forward. "This is my sister, Pearl. Pearl, this is Gem—I would consider her a good friend of mine," he warmly introduced them, and bit back a laugh when Pearl struggled to get her words out before he finally took a sip of his drink.
"U-U-Uh hi," she shakily managed, and awkwardly curtsied before Ren cleared his throat, and Pearl realized her mistake. She finally put her hand forward for Gem to shake, and it didn't get much better for her when Gem just giggled.
"Your secret's safe with me, sweetheart," Gem teased, and softly laughed once more when Pearl's face went alight with blush.
Ren sighed, and muttered, "You are breaking the rules! She is the worst one to fall for!" but Pearl wasn't listening to him anymore as Gem showed her the list of drinks, telling her all the flavor notes, and what she thought someone as sweet as Pearl would like- Ick.
Granted, with his sister and the tavern maid's attention now stolen, he could focus on the other woman working behind the counter. "Have you been working here for long? I do not recognize you," he questioned as he leaned on the countertop, and took another drink of his whiskey.
She side-eyed him as she polished one of the glasses. "That is the third time I have heard that tonight. You are going to have to get more creative," she replied, still seeming wholly uninterested in him. Ren wilted, and didn't know how to convince her that he was genuinely curious about her life.
It got even worse when Pearl listened into their conversation. Ren wished he never brought her out when she nudged him with a big grin and stage-whispered, "Ah! She is your type! Not into you!"
He immediately rescinded that statement when the woman laughed, and finally smiled at Pearl's joke. Heavens, what a beautiful smile she had. It was a little lop-sided, with one side lifting more dominantly than the other. He wanted to do everything in his power to see it again.
"Would a dance perhaps lighten your spirits, my lady?" he requested, and tilted his head in reference to where a few other couples were dancing.
She just smiled and rolled her eyes. "In your dreams," she lithely rejected him, and set the glass she finished cleaning on the back counter. He admired her wings when her back was turned to him, and took another long drink. Her feathers were a simple shade of brown—he'd assume she was an eagle, just going off of that. He rarely ever saw peasant hybrids—save for Gem, of course—let alone an avian who wasn't of nobility. Who is this woman?
He bit back a smile when Gem nudged her friend, encouraging her to go dance with him. "He is of good character, I promise you," she insisted, and Ren was a little touched, hearing Gem speak so well of him.
The avian sighed and rolled her eyes. "It is not going to kill you to have fun once in a while," Gem teased her.
"I will be the judge of that," she retorted, and walked around the bar to join Ren on the other side. "I am taking your tips," she muttered to Gem as she passed her by.
"I will tip you both, handsomely," Ren quietly reassured Gem, and finished off his drink before he set it down on the counter. He usually did anyways, but he owed Gem now since she vouched for him.
She just laughed and waved him off, although Ren almost felt like she tricked him when she leaned in closer to Pearl, and now had her all to herself. Well… Pearl said she wanted to experience the world more. Now she could have her first heartbreak.
He guided the blonde woman to where the other dancers were gathered, and smiled widely when the band started playing a lively song. "Is this not a wonderful job, my lady? Getting to hear such lovely music every night and be surrounded by such lively energy?"
She rolled her eyes, and awkwardly put her hand on his shoulder as he held her waist, then they held each other's free hand. "It is fine, I suppose. Not really my scene, though," she drawled back, and went through the motions as he led her in a dance.
Ren hummed in intrigue, and lifted her arm before he spun her around. When she came back to him, he perused, "And… what is your scene, my lady, so I may see you in a setting that pleases you?"
She bit back a smile, and tried not to find his efforts endearing. "I enjoy a stroll in the woods, where I can be alone with nature," she replied, and made sure to emphasize the word alone.
Ren just grinned, and mentioned, "Well, my lady, I may not have a forest at my disposal, but I have a lovely, lush garden where you could get lost for hours and simply take in the view. There is even a maze, with a lovely gazebo in the back, where one might enjoy a picnic, away from prying eyes."
The woman's expression changed to one of curiosity. "…Are you describing the royal gardens? How could you possibly have access to that?"
Ren's eyes widened when he realized the position he had put himself in, and his face was enough for the woman to catch on as well.
"…Dang it," he cursed under his breath. His blunder was worth it though, when the woman laughed loudly, her head tilting back as she made fun of him for his foible.
He smiled with pride, his cheeks reddening as he listened to her laugh. "You have a splendid laugh, my lady," he praised her. "And a gorgeous smile, more rare than anything in the royal coffers."
She averted her gaze from his, and chewed on her lip as she tried not force back her smile. "Thank you, your Highness," she quietly teased, making sure no one could hear her using his title.
Still, Ren corrected her with a gentle smile, "Please, just call me Ren."
She grinned a little, and repeated, "Ren- thank you for your praise, but…" Any joy on her face slowly wilted, and that familiar furrow came back to her brows.
"If it was your intention to bed a working girl tonight, I am sorry to say it looks like you are out of options," she stated and glanced to Gem, who was still locking eyes with Pearl as she let the woman taste whatever she wanted from the bar.
"N-No!" Ren rushed to reassure her, "That was not my intention, my lady. You simply… caught my interest. I wanted to know you."
The woman stared at him for a moment longer, seemingly chewing on her cheek as she studied him. Their bodies swayed along to the music like it was second-nature. Ren couldn't help but think maybe they were made for each other. "Have you been successful?" she jested, already knowing the answer.
He chuckled, and spun her around once more. "Unfortunately, you are a bit of a fortress, my dear. I should have to return some other night to see if you will let your walls down for me," he proposed with a teasing smile. She just softly scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"You would really waste your nights on a tavern maid? Should you not be courting the princes and princesses of other kingdoms?" she pointed out.
He lithely smiled, and brought her in close as the music called for it. "You have caught my interest and held it more intensely than any prince or princess I have ever met," he confessed. He turned along with her, and felt his heart swoon when she blushed. "I have cherished my few minutes dancing with you more than I do the countless hours I have spent at balls with other nobles."
She laughed when he dipped her, and he finally saw that beautiful smile again. When he pulled her back to her feet, she was still grinning as she taunted, "Do they teach you flirting in that big, grand castle of yours, or does that just come naturally to you?"
He couldn't help but smirk as he twirled her for the final time, and brought her back in closer than before. "That is all me, my lady," he proudly replied, and chuckled when she smiled and rolled her eyes.
It was when the song ended that the woman went still in his grasp, looking past him as her brows furrowed with concern. She nudged him, but before he could look to see what was bothering her, she whispered, "Do not look behind you. I believe you have been discovered. It might be best for you both to leave now."
Ren still couldn't help but glance behind him, and his eyes widened when he saw some terse-looking villagers sitting at a table a little ways behind them, and noticed how they were glaring at him. She pinched his arm, and chastised him, "What did I say?" The people she mentioned went back to their conversation, trying to make it look like they weren't eyeing him down, but she felt dread build up in her stomach.
"There is a side door. I recommend you grab your sister and make haste," she directed him in a hushed tone, and tried to inconspicuously lead him back to the bar, where Pearl was still fawning over Gem.
"Did you get her name yet?" Gem teased Ren, until she noticed the panicked look in his eyes.
He sighed as he shook his head, and grabbed Pearl's hand, ignoring her indignant noise of annoyance. "It shall have to wait for another day, my friend. Thank you for showing my sister the thrills of being swooned, but we must leave before she has a much more deadly tale to add to her life experiences." He tilted his head in the direction of the table of ruffians, and Gem's mouth parted with uncertainty when she realized what he was getting at.
"Rennn," Pearl whined, her ears flattening against her head. "Come on, I was having a good time!" He could easily smell the alcohol on her breath, and made a face of disgust that got a laugh from the blonde avian. Does she just delight in my pain and suffering? he had to wonder, though he couldn't bring himself to be bothered when the reward was so sweet.
"I was too, but I should like to survive tonight so we may be alive to look back on it fondly," he replied to Pearl, and caught the avian's hand since she was still standing by his side. "I had a lovely evening with you, my lady. I shall be back another time, and endure whatever blunders may befall me if it should please you," he teased, and leaned down to kiss her hand. He ignored Pearl's gag and Gem's giggle.
The woman grinned, and didn't even roll her eyes this time. "You should go now, your Highness," she softly replied, and chuckled when Ren didn't get any sort of teasing back from her like he wanted.
"Yes, it looks like our friends are catching on," Gem reminded them in a hushed tone, and grew more worried when the table of villagers started staring them down again. Still, she blew a kiss to Pearl, and teased, "Come back any time, pretty. I shall have more drinks for you to try out."
Pearl dazedly nodded with a dumb smile, and stumbled over her own feet as Ren tugged her along and out the side door.
False sighed as she leaned against the counter, and noticed the prince and princess through the window looking out to the alley. "Do we think they will return home safely?" she quietly pondered, growing a bit worried, especially of Pearl's drunken state.
Gem nervously chewed her cheek, and crossed her arms. "They should be fine, so long as…"
The words were practically stolen from her when the ruffians quietly got up from their table and walked out of the tavern.
"…Shit," they cursed at the same time.
Ren grumbled as he slung Pearl's arm around his shoulder to have a better hold on her and help her walk. "Well, dear sister, you have certainly had a fun night out, yes? Was it everything you hoped for?" he prodded, though the answer was quite clear already.
"Gem's r'lly pretty and nice," she slurred, and got a good chuckle out of him. "You're an idiot. Why did you break up w'th her?" she questioned, and leaned more into his side even as she insulted him.
He brushed it off, "We were never together. We simply… had some fun, and that was it. I would still consider her a good friend of mine, though…" Ren stopped when he heard a concerning amount of footsteps behind him, and let out a pained sigh when he glanced back and saw the same ruffians from the tavern.
"Shit," he quietly cursed to himself. He knew he couldn't run with Pearl's inebriated state, and he neglected to bring any sort of defense for himself. It seemed like he would have to try and talk his way out of this one. He stopped in his tracks, and tried to not look afraid when the rough-looking villagers approached them. "Keep your head down and be quiet," he strictly whispered to Pearl, and was thankful that she finally listened to him for once.
"Lovely evening we are having, is it not?" he tried to make light conversation in case they weren't malicious like he feared.
That thought quickly died when he noticed the bearded one with an axe in his sheath also holding a bag and rope, and dread seeped into his veins. Ah, a kidnapping. That's a new one for me.
"Listen-" he tried to bargain as he slowly backed away and tightened his grip around Pearl, "I will give you whatever you want, please just leave her out of it, she's not-"
"Good, we do not want her," the clown-like one piped up. "We just need you."
"We will take your gold as well, though!" the tallest with a magnificent wizard hat commented, before the axe-wielder elbowed him.
Ren swallowed, and didn't know what else to do. "…Ah, well… if I may- I would actually prefer you do nothing to either of us? I-I am quite useless actually, I am only good for riding horses and reading poetry-"
"Shut up!" the purple-skinned one shouted at him.
The clown-like one continued, "Just make this easy on us. Leave her over there," he gestured to the building closest to them, "and come with us quietly."
Ren grimaced when the purple-skinned woman suggested, "Do we have to leave her here? She is quite pretty," only for the clown-like one to roll his eyes and start bickering with her.
Pearl whimpered when she lifted her head a bit and realized the danger that they were in. "Ren-" she whispered, "what do we do?"
Ren went still, unsure of how to reassure his sister or take out the ruffians or get them out of there, but he didn't have to, when someone ran out from the nearest alleyway, and slammed the hilt of their sword into the head of the purple-skinned woman.
The rest of them all startled and jumped back when their comrade was knocked out onto the ground, and Ren worried for a moment they might just be some rougher, stronger bandit trying to take advantage of him and Pearl, before he recognized them. It was her, the avian tavern maid he danced with.
He kept out of the way as she fended them off, starting by disarming them of their daggers or axes. He could tell she was attempting to only knock them out rather than killing them, which he appreciate for Pearl's sake. She even managed to use their own strength against them, as she flapped her wings to catch the tall wizard off-balance, then kicked him to the ground. She used a similar tactic to make the one who held the axe fall on top of him, getting a heavy wheeze from the wizard below as the man on top of him hit his head on the pavement and fell unconscious.
If Ren was intrigued by her before, he was positively enchanted with her now.
She approached the fourth and final one, ready to do what she had to to knock him out. Or… she would have, had he not attempted what Ren could only assume was meant to be a backflip, and failed miserably as he hit his head on the cobblestone pathway, promptly passing out alongside his teammates.
The avian looked confused, but just shrugged. She finally made eye contact with the two royals now that they were no longer in danger. "Are you both alright?" she asked as she stepped over the fallen villagers and approached the pair.
Pearl weakly gave a thumbs up, and Ren nodded in affirmation. "That was incredible, my lady! Where did you learn to fight like that?" he praised her. He couldn't help but wag his tail when she sheathed her sword, then went to Pearl's side and put her other arm around her shoulder, lightening the load for Ren as they started walking towards the castle. Seriously, did Pearl have to be a few inches taller than him? That wasn't how younger siblings were supposed to work!
"I studied sword-fighting in my free time when I was a librarian," she replied, and Ren tried not to show how excited he was at getting a new inkling of information about her.
"Well, you are better than any knight on our staff," he complimented her. When she just rolled her eyes and slightly smiled, he insisted, "I am serious! Your match of wits and strength make you an incredible fighter! I have never met anyone like you!"
She chewed on her cheek, and finally looked into his eyes again. "Well… thank you, your Majesty," she accepted the compliment, but still dug at him when she didn't use his first name.
Still, Ren just smiled at her, and hoped she knew he meant it earnestly.
Their walk to the castle gates was thankfully uneventful, but Ren stopped before they were in sight of the guards. Pearl was nearly asleep against him as the tavern maid passed her off to him, and he picked her up in his arms, hoping it would make their venture inside a little less alarming if she wasn't visibly drunk.
He looked away from the gates, and faced the blonde avian. "I cannot thank you enough for what you did for us. Thank you, my lady," he insisted, and one final time, he asked, "May I please know your name, so I can call upon you tomorrow and give you a proper reward for your service?"
She smiled gingerly, and simply replied, "Get home safe, your Majesty," before she turned to walk back to the tavern.
He frantically stopped her, "My lady!" and sighed in relief when she stopped and faced him once more. He approached her, and requested, "May you… raise your hand for me? I would usually lower to do it myself, but uhh…" He shrugged Pearl in his arms, showing that they were full. She softly laughed, and raised her hand to his mouth. He smiled, and leaned in to kiss it, before he met her eyes once more when she put it back down.
"Thank you, my mysterious knight in shining armor," he praised her once more, and grinned when a faint blush warmed her cheeks. "I hope you get home safe, as well."
She nodded, and still looked at him as she slightly turned towards the village. "Goodnight, Ren," she softly replied, and faced away before he could see her damning grin. He just chuckled to himself, and watched as she walked off into the night.
He knew he was going to be in a world of trouble once he stepped through those castle gates, but he couldn't bring himself to care when he replayed her words in his head, and envisioned her smile in his mind. He needed to find out her name.