Chapter Text
A handsome young knight is madly in love with a princess,
And she, too, is in love with him
(though, she seems not to be entirely aware of it.)
Despite the friendship that blossoms between them,
Or, perhaps because of that very friendship,
The young knight finds himself
So humbled and speechless
That he is totally unable
To bring up the subject of his love.
So one day he asks the princess, point blank,
“Is it better to speak or to die?”
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Jade
“If I don’t go now, I never will.” Kit’s voice barely breaks a whisper, face shifting momentarily from that infuriating determination to a sort of pleading look. It doesn’t last, and Kit turns to walk away.
Jade scoffs. “Okay. Fine. Just do what you want.” She ignores Kit's indignant noise as she turns back to face Jade. “You know there’s nothing brave about running away in the middl-” Jade trails off as she sees another figure enter the stable.
“Princess?” The young guard looks just as shocked as them at the situation. “I- Your Highness, you shouldn’t be here. Allow me to escort you back inside to your rooms.”
Jade’s stinging tirade goes forgotten as her gaze flickers back to Kit. Her expression is blank as she gives a curt nod to the guard, refusing to meet Jade’s gaze as they turn to walk back toward the castle.
Jade just stands there staring, unable to move, until Kit is out of her sight once more.
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Kit
For as long as she can remember, Kit has had a knot of dread settling in her stomach. It’s made a home there, festering and growing as time goes on. It taints every happy moment, every accomplishment or small taste of freedom. It rots her from the inside out.
But just for one night, that weight had been lifted, and Kit felt whole for the first time. The rot was gone, leaving pure potential in its wake. She felt free to make her own decisions, to build a life that truly belonged to her. No crown, no engagement, just Kit.
That chance at escape had slipped through her fingers, and she was back in this gilded prison of a castle.
Now, laying on her bed and staring at the ceiling, freedom feels further than it’s ever been: a light at the end of a tunnel that grows longer and longer each time Kit approaches the exit.
She hasn’t slept since the stables. The sun’s glare filters through the curtains, having risen a few hours ago. Kit sits up and looks around. Her boots are piled haphazardly on the floor where she had practically thrown them upon returning to her rooms. And the bag slung next to her is still packed for the journey, stuffed to the brim with what supplies Kit could remember to grab in her frenzy.
Just then, there’s a knock at the door, and Kit whips her head around toward the sound. Whoever is behind the door, Kit isn’t in the mood. She groans quietly before addressing them.
“Who’s there?” Kit says as she walks to the door.
“Uh, Airk?” a muffled voice answers. “...Unless you’re still mad at me, then it’s definitely not Airk.”
Kit opens the door and glares at him impatiently, raising a brow to prompt him to get to the point.
Airk continues: “Okay, whatever, not important. I’m here because, uh, mom wanted to talk to you? I don’t know why, exactly, but I know that something is going on, and she is not happy about it.”
Kit throws her head back for a moment, breathing out a small “ Great, ” before moving out the door to pass Airk. He sidles up next to her and keeps rambling as they walk down the hallway.
“I just figured you’d rather have me come and get you instead of some random guard, so I could like, warn you about it? Because, I stand by what I said last night, and-”
“I don’t need your help, Airk.” Kit cuts him short, not even looking at him as she continues her path. “I don’t need you to warn me about mom, and I definitely don’t need whatever pity you’re throwing at me right now.” She glances back at him, quickly cursing out an apology to the maid she nearly runs over in the process.
Now that Kit notices it, there seem to be more people mulling about the castle than usual for so early in the morning. She isn’t able to think too much of it, though, advancing down the hall to the throne room. Airk stops her, leading Kit instead to the left, toward Sorsha’s private rooms.
When they enter, Sorsha is standing over a table littered with boring-looking papers and maps. Ballantine is next to her, looking up to give Kit a nod of respect which she reciprocates. She clears her throat to catch her mother’s attention, and the Queen’s head snaps up, taking in her new visitors.
“Oh, you’re here already,” she mutters, looking almost as tired as Kit feels as she turns her gaze to Airk. “Thank you Airk.”
“You’re welcome, mother.” he shoots back, leaning against the wall as if to stay a while. Kit and Sorsha shoot him matching glares, and Airk raises his hands in surrender: “Alright, fine!” He saunters out the door, and the two are left alone.
Kit’s arms are crossed, an armor of nonchalance and arrogance as she addresses her mother. “What do you need, mother? ‘Cause I’m actually pretty busy today, you know, wedding preparations and all that. Or did you forget that I’m getting married today?” The parasite inside her jumps at the words, even masked as they are with snark. The dread rot grows, bigger and bigger as her marriage becomes more of a reality.
“Actually, you aren’t.”
The air leaves Kit’s lungs. Her words stutter for a moment, managing only a breathless “ What ?” as she steps mindlessly closer to her mother. She can’t even get herself to get her hopes up, Sorsha’s sharp tone and the dread settled deep in her bones screaming that it’s too good to be true.
“The King and Queen of Galladoorn came to me early this morning. They informed me that after your… stunt last night, they cannot in good faith continue with the alliance, saying that you are an unstable, dangerous girl, unfit to rule one country, let alone two. And I agree with them.”
Kit focuses her eyes on a spot on the wooden table as she forces herself to just take it, despite every instinct aching to defend herself.
“Luckily for us – for you –” Sorsha continues, rage simmering just below the surface of her words, “they have graciously decided to give you another chance. Rather than canceling the wedding altogether, the entire court of Galladoorn will return here in three months, in hopes that you are ready for the responsibility entrusted to you by us and all the people of the realm.”
The Queen looks back at the table as if this conversation is a nuisance and a bore. “For the sake of that, I will ignore your insolence from last night. I will ignore your attempt at running away last night.” Now it’s Kit’s turn to look down. She feels small and pathetic in only her riding clothes and socks, like a child that has thrown a tantrum. “And in return, I expect you to take this seriously , Kit. I hope this outcome will teach you that your actions have consequences for more than just yourself.” Kit expects her mother to continue, but Sorsha simply looks at her in that queenly manner that both dares and demands a reply.
Kit’s response is as eloquent as ever: “Uh, okay.”
She’s overwhelmed with confusion, completely unsure of how to feel at this news. The silence in the room is palpable for a moment, but Sorsha seems not to notice, absorbed once more in her papers as she huffs out a tense breath. “Anyway, I think it’s best we continue this conversation another time.”
At the Queen’s words, Ballantine speaks up for the first time. “Should I escort her Highness back to her rooms?”
“Oh, please.” Sorsha replies, and Ballantine moves to walk Kit out. But her mind is stuck on something, a nagging thought in the back of her mind: Jade’s words as they danced last night.
I have to… go south with King Hastur after the wedding.
Kit motions for Ballantine to wait before asking her mother, “...when are they leaving?” Kit winces immediately, sure it’s the wrong question. But the Queen gives a confused hum, prompting her to clarify. “Uh, the party from Galladoorn. When do they plan to leave?”
But Sorsha simply looks at the table again and replies, “Oh, they all left shortly after my conversation with the King and Queen.” Kit’s head snaps up to lock eyes with Ballantine, suddenly understanding why he volunteered to walk her back.
She doesn’t even say goodbye to her mother as she barrels to open the door, Ballantine in her wake. Kit whirls around to face him the moment the door closes.
“Did Jade go with them?” She asks. Ballantine hesitates. “ Did she go with them? ” Kit repeats, no concern for the hurt stinging in her voice.
“She did.” He replies, and Kit exhales sharply looking away. “It was her only chance, and the decision was made last minute, she-” But Kit ends up tuning him out, unable to concentrate on anything but those two small words, and their world-shattering implications.
She cuts him off absentmindedly saying, “I’d rather… walk myself back if that’s okay. But thank you for the offer, Commander.” Ballantine lowers his head, and Kit rounds the corner alone.
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Jade
(earlier that morning)
Jade is shaken awake for the second time that night by Ballantine. It’s not quite as violent as how Kit woke her, but Jade still panics the moment she sees his face.
“What’s going on?” Jade asks blearily. “Is there some sort of attack?” It’s the only reason she can think that Ballantine himself would come and wake her, before the sun has even risen.
“Oh, no Jade the palace is safe. But there’s been a last-minute change in plans. There isn’t time to get into the specifics, but the wedding has been delayed.” His words don’t quite register, bouncing around in Jade’s head like a meaningless echo.
“Delayed?” The panic in her thoughts changes directions at that, questions and confusion whirling.
“The party from Galladoorn has decided to leave at first light, and return in three months' time. If you want to accept your spot with the Shining Legion, you must go with them. I know it’s sudden, but pack your things. I’ve asked them to ready your horse along with the rest.” Ballantine moves to exit the room, leaving Jade shocked still sitting up in bed. She shakes herself into motion after a few seconds, though, first changing out of her bedclothes.
Jade gets a little stuck on the “packing her things” part, though. She quite isn’t sure if any of her belongings are even rightfully hers: everything she’s ever “owned” was lent to her by the palace, having arrived as a child with only the clothes on her back - clothes she’s long since grown out of.
She ends up stuffing some plain clothes in a bag, unsure if any clothes the Shining Legion may provide would fit the first woman of their ranks. Jade hesitates as she reaches for her sword. It rightfully belongs to the queen, but surely Jade shouldn’t travel unarmed, even with the protection of a group. She resolves to ask Ballantine before leaving.
Jade exits the room, descending directly into the stables. She can see many guests from Galladoorn readying to leave, and stops Ballantine talking to a stablehand next to her horse. The stablehand walks away as she approaches.
“Jade.” Ballantine shifts his focus to her. “Before you leave, I have a gift for you. I had it made to celebrate the beginning of your journey, to remind you that a knight is defined not by skill in battle, but by the oaths they keep. Your undying spirit is what drew me to train you, not just your talent with a sword. I wish you well in all your pursuits.” Jade takes the new sword in her hands, inspecting its impeccable craftsmanship.
“Ballantine, thank you . I hope that when we next meet, you feel like I’ve earned this…beautiful gift.”
The words linger in the air, a sharp reminder that Jade has no idea when that next meeting will be. She tucks the thought away, along with all the other whirling thoughts kicked up by such a sudden departure. Jade sheathes the sword and straps it around her hips before taking the reigns and leading the horse out into the courtyard.
It seems Jade is just in time. Galladoorn’s royal family is out, the last to enter their carriage before the party is to set off. She mounts her horse and looks down at Ballantine. He gives her a nod of farewell, a wistful smile ghosting his lips. Jade returns the gesture right as one of the knights accompanying the Galladoorn party waves her over, giving her a general place in the formation. They set off within minutes, and Jade leaves behind the only home she’s ever known.
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Calling it off, our hoax of trying.
What’s this place if you’re not here?
- Japanese Breakfast, The Body Is a Blade