A/N: Wow... it's been awhile hasn't it? Sorry, I write and never feel ready to post, but I'm glad those of you who read and reviewed kept encouraging me. I hope to move on from here and post at a much more constant rate. Anyhow, read and enjoy!
Chapter 1.11 - Knots and Tangles
Hours earlier
"Are you sure you don't want me to take the reigns?" Alex asked the woman she found herself sitting by her as they drove a carriage through snowy hills.
Sam shook her head, "You should be napping for when I hand them off to you."
Alex sighed, "we're nearly there."
Sam smiled, "exactly so you'll have to be the one to deal with a risen prince and I'll be sleeping."
Alex chuckled, "and here I thought you were selfless."
Sam shrugged playfully and then handed the reigns to Alex.
"I actually should go back and check on Ruby."
"Of course," Alex nodded and took control over the horses.
Sam shuffled a bit until she could comfortably turn and peek behind the wagons sealed flaps. She was glad that Ruby was sound asleep and that the cabin was warm. The prince looked just as peaceful, but Sam knew it wasn't a voluntary sleep that had taken over.
"You can go in as well if you need to." Alex prompted.
Sam grinned and looked back at the caring woman. "I fear you might freeze without my company."
Alex felt her chest tighten as Sam moved closer to her.
"Or I might freeze without yours." Sam concluded.
"Right, of course, two bodies make more heat than one." Alex rambled on about thermodynamics.
"Also, I wanted to thank you." Sam interrupted Alex before the science-minded woman could lose herself in more words.
"Thank me, for what?" Alex asked.
"For promising to keep my secret," Sam explained, "not many would be so understanding."
"Oh, no problem, Ruby's a great kid." Alex offered with a genuine smile. "I was honestly kind of surprised when you told me what Kara had done for you… that it had to be done in the first place."
"She's as pure hearted as they come," Sam responded. "Seems like it took you awhile to warm up to her; may I ask why?"
Alex shrugged, "I don't know… I'm just used to people like her being judgemental."
"A fair point for the most part, but she is different."
"Yeah, what other princess would come ask for help to drug her cousin and then drag two unfortunate souls across the kingdom to some orphanage. If I knew any better, she had a fight with that girlfriend of hers and…"
"You know!" Sam interjected.
"About Lena?" Alex scoffed, "you haven't seen them spar have you?" Alex chuckled, "it's more like foreplay than swordplay."
Sam laughed merrily and nearly fell off the wagon but Alex's hand pulled her back just in time. The whole commotion had caused Sam to lean on the driver and even after recovering from her laughing attack, she did not move.
"Do you mind? I am rather tired after all." Sam asked.
"Not at all," Alex spoke softly and they rode the rest of the way in comfortable silence.
Upon arriving to the orphanage, Alex made it her responsibility to get Sam and Ruby to a bedroom so they could properly rest. While Ruby was easy to wake, her mother was another problem altogether. When she had tried nudging Sam awake, the woman did not so much as murmur. Without much difficulty, Alex lifted the woman bridal style and made her way to the main building. Ruby smiled and followed the tall, short-haired woman.
"Wow another princess!" A child greeted her as she passed through the main doors. "And you must be her knight!"
"Uhh… sure, why not?" Alex went along with it. "Would you know where I could set her down, a spare bedroom perhaps?"
"Sure, the guest rooms, follow me." The child was excited to lead her newly found story book characters.
Alex followed the eager child and when they entered the room she softly set Sam down on the bed.
"Thank you so much, what's your name?"
"Reagan," the child responded with a toothy smile. "I'm sorry I have to go now. I promised Serah I'd eat with her."
And with that Alex was left alone in the room with Ruby and Sam.
"Thank you for carrying her. She usually is so tired she sleeps like a rock." Ruby broke the silence.
"I noticed," Alex chuckled. "You should also try and sleep until she wakes."
"I slept almost the entire way here," Ruby mentioned, "you, on the other hand, actually look like you need the sleep."
"Oh do I?" Alex raised a brow in mock defense. She chuckled and then said, "I'll go look for another room."
"But why? That bed is huge?" Ruby asked sincerely.
Alex's cheeks tinged with pink as she cleared her throat. "Share the bed?"
"We do it all the time, I'm sure she'd rather you be here when she wakes than you not." Ruby contemplated out loud, "I'm going to go back to the hall, I think I can smell hot cakes."
Before Alex could make a decision, Ruby had left her to her whims. She glanced at Sam who lay happily in the sheets she had tucked her in. Alex felt heat rush to her face once more and scolded herself for her weakness to pretty women. Not to mention, she had just had a huge fight with Maggie before taking off on this strange mission.
"Maggie…" Alex sighed, "how could two people so in love want such different lives?"
She took off her jacket and let it hang on a nearby hook. She felt more tired than before; thoughts of Maggie weighed her down like stones suddenly set in her chest.
"Come, my knight, you deserve some rest too." Sam's voice broke through her sunken feelings.
"Y, y, you heard that?" Alex exclaimed even as Sam's hand pulled her towards the bed.
Sam nodded and scooted so that there was room for Alex.
"Come, rest." Sam made simple demands and Alex followed.
With a last soft smile, Sam closed her eyes and snuggled into her pillow. Alex followed suit and fell into a deep sleep completely forgetting about the prince that still slumbered in the wagon.
When Sam roused she grinned at how vulnerable the usually guarded woman seemed lying by her side. She wondered what she might be dreaming of, but stopped herself from venturing further. She knew who Alexandra Danvers was, that she fancied women and that she was currently courting Magdalene Sawyer. While two women was nothing uncommon, dating below your rank was definitely a taboo. However, Lady Sawyer had risen in rank recently from a guard captain to one of the royal knights under Olsen's wing. Either way, she doubted Alex needed yet another complication in her life, so she had decided to be a friend.
With cat-like movements she made her way off the bed and walked down the hall. She would have headed straight for the dining hall, but a feeling pulled her in another direction. She followed it and found her eyes fluttering open as her lips tugged into an undeniable smile. The door was slightly ajar and inside she could see Kara snuggled into Lena. When Kara had proposed her crazy plan, Sam had been all for it, and now she knew it was well worth the craziness. She gently closed the door lest anyone else also peek into their tender moment.
Kara heard the slight squeak of the door and roused. She had never felt so warm in her life. Absentmindedly she let her lips brush along whatever was nearest to her. A sweet scent filled her senses and she kissed with firmer lips on the flesh that rose to meet her.
"Kara," Lena whined as she fought the urge to shove Kara further into her chest.
"Mmmm?" Kara hummed out a question but continued leaving her trail of kisses on Lena's cleavage.
"Zor-el!" Lena said with more aggression but noted how this only further fueled the royal, and that made it that much harder to not encourage her demonstrations.
Lena pulled away with what little focus she had left and caught Kara's lips with her own. At least this way she had some control of what Kara's mouth was doing to her, but, she had to admit, it wasn't that much more. She rolled until she was on top of Kara and gained more leverage in the battle of their lips. She rolled her hips and found Kara unable to resist emitting a moan, and while she enjoyed the sensation, she felt like she had more control. She rolled her hips again, slower this time and felt the girl below her shudder. She tried again and found Kara eager to match her with a thrust. She stopped and heard the whine in Kara's throat. Swiftly she rolled off and managed to evade Kara's grasp.
"You… are much too good for your own good." Lena sighed happily and planted a small kiss on the bridge of Kara's nose.
"Sorry…" Kara blushed, "I've never been so drawn to someone. It's a little scary how easy it is to get lost in you."
Lena smiled and pulled Kara off the bed. "For me too, but we'll figure it out together, promise."
Kara nodded and they shared a slow, intimate kiss before getting ready to face the reality that they had to return to. When Lena pulled away she looked sheepishly up at Kara.
"Kara, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but…" Lena struggled with the proper words.
"What is it?" Kara asked.
"Do you mind if we not hold hands in front of Kal... you see, I want him in a rather good mood for the children's sake."
Kara rolled her eyes but nodded in understanding.
"I suppose I could try," Kara muttered.
Lena chuckled and gave Kara a small peck on her cheek which washed away the momentary moping face that the princess had adorned. They walked out to the foyer, not hand in hand, but even in the way they walked there was a level of synchronization that wasn't there before. Lena's strides were more confident and Kara seemed more at ease.
Upon entering Lena was surprised to see Sam, Kal and Lex sitting near the fireplace enjoying a pot of tea. They took the available seats and jumped into the conversation.
"You know, cousin, you could have asked me to assist you in this charity instead of resorting to trickery."
"There was a chance you would say no, and even if you said yes, it wouldn't have been quick enough." Kara protested.
"Quick enough for what?" Kal gave her a wary look and shot a glance over at Lena.
Lex watched with interest and also found himself glancing at Lena. She offered a soft smile and nothing more, but it was the princess by her side that seem flustered.
"I… I…." Kara began but had no way to explain her sudden departure.
"It is Lena's birthday tomorrow," Madam Mulberry walked in with an air of nonchalance as she put out another pot of tea. "I take it that's why you rushed on over."
"Exactly!" Kara jumped on board and Sam did her best not to giggle.
Lena kept her cool, but momentarily shared a look with Madam Mulberry. Per house rules, none of the children at the orphanage ever celebrated their birthdays. It was mostly due to the fact that many did not know when they were born, and back then there was nothing much to celebrate with. She had never had a birthday, and thus wondered if this was merely one of Madam Mulberry's ploys to save Kara from further embarrassment.
"Oh, in that case, happy early birthday; I'm afraid I'm leaving this evening so I won't be able to wish you so on the actual day." Lex stated happily
"Ummm, thank you," Lena responded, still unused to the sentiment. "Why will you be leaving so soon?"
"My mother would not hear of me remaining in a small town for more than 2 days." Lex explained, "still I am glad I had the chance to meet everyone here."
Kara leaned in to whisper, "you didn't tell me it was your birthday tomorrow!"
Lena threw her a glance that told the Kryptonian princess that they would talk about this later. Sam again stifled a giggle and then looked past the group with a genuine smile. Alex had finally risen.
"Good morning Lady Danvers," Sam greeted the woman, who produced an awkward smile and sat by her.
"It is nearly noon," Alex muttered.
"Well we did drive the majority of the night through frostbitten lands." Sam shrugged.
"Sorry about that," Kara apologized and scratched the back of her head.
"As am I," Kal added and then sighed. "Kara has always been sentimental about birthdays. Every year I tell her not to do something for me, she ends up doing the exact opposite."
Kara opened her mouth to respond but then accepted the truth of Kal's statement. She loved birthdays and everything they stood for, which is why she was so mad that Lena hadn't informed her of hers. She had always only been able to celebrate Kal's, Krypto's and her birthday since she usually wasn't allowed to fraternize with anyone else. Now she had Lena and could go all out for the girl who made her feel like she could fly, but her birthday was less than a day away and Kara had nothing prepared. She wanted to excuse herself and get to work, but everyone would know what she was up to now that Kal had said something.
"Whose birthday is it?" Alex asked; she wasn't aware they had traveled like mad-women for the sake of someone's birthday.
The group stayed silent, their gazes falling on Kara's handmaiden. Madam Mulberry cleared her throat and Lena shifted a bit before realizing everyone was looking expectantly at her.
"Oh, um, mine," she stammered. "It's my birthday tomorrow." She clarified and resisted the urge to disappear. She felt the scientist's glare and could only smile awkwardly in response. What had Madam Mulberry dragged her into this time?
