This one is for Seth and Eirika. You know, the knight in shining armor and the princess/damsel in distress are the characters in a stereotypical fairytale aren't they? lol but I dunno, I'm a sucker for those!
The Men In Her Life
The Silver Knight
by PhoenixBlade
Rated: G
"Princess."
She blinked, suddenly feeling that she had been elsewhere in her mind. Looking up, she saw that it had been Seth, her father's most loyal and trusted knight, that had called her. His eyes were filled with worry and apprehension that spoke in volumes but was never to be spoken aloud. Though a great knight he was, he was still just a knight and nothing more than that... but at times, she wished that he wasn't just a knight, or rather, the general of the Royal Knight of Renais.
The crackling of the fire and dancing of the fire's shadows on his face, drew her once again out of her thoughts.
"Princess, you must go to your tent and sleep. If you carry on like this, you cannot lead an army, much less yourself," he told her.
Some voices caught her attention and she turned to see the soldiers on watch laughing and joking with each other. In the distance, she saw her brother having an argument of some sort with Innes, the Princes of Frelia. Beyond them laid the Darkling Woods, their final destination where they would fight the Demon King and hopefully save her good friend Lyon, the prince of Grado.
She turned back to Seth, whose passive face was marked with a bit of annoyance at her failure to care for herself. He was persistant, she could give him that, but she didn't want to sleep yet, not with… not with that on her mind.
"Seth, what do you think of me?" she asked suddenly, though she was quite surprised that she had would voice those thoughts.
He was taken back, "P-princess…"
Oh well, no use stopping now.
"How do you see me?"
He stammered for a bit, not acting like the Seth that stood at the front lines ready to charge in the name of loyalty to the crown and Renais.
Finally clearing his throat, he spoke, "Princess. You a fine princess and will become an even finer queen. The people look to you for support because you are headstrong and passionate. We all look to you for strength and for your undying love for Renais and her people."
"…But, what do you think of me?" she asked again with more emphasis.
He fidgeted a little as if he were uncomfortable.
"My princess, as a knight, I am honor bound to serve you and protect you with my life. What I think of you means naught for you are my princess and-"
She was annoyed and cut him off, "No Seth. I apologize for what I am about to say but I most know."
Seth looked at her and seemed hesitant, as if he knew what she would say.
"Seth, all these years serving my father and Renais, did you ever think to look at me not as Renais' princess but as…me? Perhaps it is because we at the last leg of our journey and maybe I am going insane because I haven't slept well or eaten well these last some days, but I cannot sleep if I cannot know. Please tell me Seth, not as the Silver Knight or Knight of Renais, but as a common man, what do you think of me, not as a princess but a woman?" she pleaded.
It was sad, to think that the princess of Renais would be pleading her subject to answer her question, but she could not stand to think any more on this matter. If his feelings were not the same, she would throw away (or try to) these childish feelings of hers for her knight and thought it would hurt, give her full attention to her duty.
He bowed his head in contemplation… or perhaps he did not wish to show her his face, but he was silent for a long time.
"Seth-"
"If the princess if asking, I shall oblige as a knight of Renais that my answer is the same as before," he replied.
He bowed to her and began leaving.
Tears began to well up in her eyes. Her heart felt as if it had been thrown into ice cold water and ripped to pieces. Perhaps tonight, she would cry in her pillow again.
"But…"
She looked up at the still form of Seth, his back to her. Was he…?
"But, if it is a woman named Eirika who asks Seth, a mere pathetic man, if these feelings that he has for her is true or not… He wishes to tell her that when she does not sleep, he cannot sleep. If she does not eat, he cannot eat. If she is harmed in battle, he becomes wounded as well. He truly wishes to take her away to a quiet and peaceful place where he could embrace her in his arms and never let her go. If she feels the same way, then he is content to know that…"
She felt her heart flutter for a second. Did he just…?
"Princess, Seth, knight of Renais bids you good night," and he walked away.
She watched his retreating form and smiled. A tear slid down her cheek.
I love this pair. sighs