A/n: The first one starring my OC Carrie! If you've read the basketball AU fic of mine, she's pretty much the same as she is there, except she's a cleric who can heal and use light magic. Enjoy!
The Commission Files- File a64 Homecoming
Characters: My OC Carrie, her family, Kent, Sain
Based on: Commission by JohnCaden64 on Twitter
"Soooo, this friend of yours you're going to introduce me to, what is she like? Is she pretty? What does her voice sound like? What kind of flowers does she like?" Of course it would be Sain that would be doing most of the talking between the three of them, it was as if he enjoyed the sound of his voice more than anything sometimes. What was going on you may ask? Well it was Carrie's birthday, she was turning 22, and she was going to celebrate it by going home to Worde to visit her friends and family. With her were two loyal knights of Caelin who she had come to enjoy the company of for different reasons. Sain while flirtatious and such was a good man and was always giving compliments that he truly meant, but it was Kent that Carrie truly fell for. Luckily he felt the same way eventually so along with a birthday celebration it was going to be the first time Carrie's family met him in person. And since Sain didn't want to be left out Carrie told him she would introduce him to one of her friends while they were there.
"I mean, I think she's good looking, but I'm her friend so I don't know how much that counts." Carrie replied. "Her voice is a bit deeper than mine and I think she likes lilies, and she's very energetic and bubbly like you so I think you two will get along great!"
"Or, as per usual, you'll come off way too strong and scare her off." Kent commented with his dry sense of humor. "Leaving the two of us having to spend our time consoling you as always."
"Oh nonsense my boon companion, today Lady Luck shines on me and~" At that point he went on a rant about beauty and love and all that which both Kent and Carrie had learned to tune out at this point.
"He really needs to get a steady girlfriend." Carrie noted as they walked along, Kent just sighed, partly in agreement and partly because he felt uncomfortable. "What's going on, I know that sigh."
"I still think it's not a good idea that both me and Sain left Caelin for this. Yes it's part of our regimented vacation time, but maybe we shouldn't have done it at the same time." He replied.
"Don't you trust Mark and Lyn to take care of things in Caelin while we're gone?" Carrie asked. "Mark has plans for every outcome and Lyn could defeat a whole platoon of knights, I think it's in good hands."
"I do trust them, with my life even, that is when they aren't out-flirting Sain with every single person they make friends with." Kent countered. "I mean I guess I should be more relaxed, but you know that's hard for me. And to be honest, you're the first woman where I had to go and meet her parents, and I'm also a bit wary on that part."
"Come on Kent, I told you it's going to be fine, if anything they are going to treat you like some play actor or famous bard because you're a knight, you could literally say anything and they would eat it up." Carrie told him.
"Which is another concerning thing, shouldn't they get to know me first before they act in such a way? I am a very studious and decorated knight, but they don't know that yet." Kent noted in concern.
"I'm sure once you all get to know each other things will simmer down, besides it's not like we have to visit them all the time." Some of Carrie's resentment was starting to come out then, but by that time Sain was done with his rant and pointed something out.
"Hark! The city gates of Worde approach! See, it took us no time at all once I was able to regale about all the times I've been scorned but got back up to try again." He said excitedly. "Now, just about where would your house be Carrie?"
"It's towards the middle of town, so we've still got a bit to go, but we should stable our horses first so they can rest up." Carrie said, so they did that an the trio began to walk the streets of Worde, it was one of the smaller territories of the Lycian League, even smaller than Caelin, but it was busy nonetheless and there were a few sights to see along the way. Of course Sain could only keep his eyes on the pretty ladies while Kent had other things on his mind.
"Worde seems to be very efficient and busy, I don't see much litter anywhere and I haven't seen any troublemakers either, I quite like that." He commented.
"Well you can thank my brother Joel for that fact, he's the judge of the territory and he's very fair but exacting with his rulings." Carrie told him. "Everyone here loves him, and for good reason."
"Then I look forward to meeting with him then, he sounds like someone I could get along with." Kent said with an approving nod and tone. Soon enough though they were all at Carrie's home and since she still had a key with her she unlocked the door and let them all in.
"Mother! Father! I'm home! And I've brought some friends like I said I would!" She called out as they all shuffled in and closed the door. The house was oddly quiet, you couldn't even hear snoring from anyone sleeping. "Strange, I would have thought that they would be home at this time of day." Though a few moments later there was some noise coming from the stairs and a tall, brown haired man in his 30's came down them and into the living room where Carrie and the knights were standing. "Joel? What are you doing here?"
"Carrie! Glad you could finally make it back home." Joel said coming up and giving her a hug. "And these must be your knight friends, Kent and Sain correct?"
"Yes, that would be us." Kent confirmed reaching out to shake Joel's hand. They both gave a firm handshake and Kent appreciated that. "I take it that your parents aren't here?"
"No, they are out shopping at the moment, and I just had to stop by to pick something up for them before I head off to some paperwork at the courthouse." Joel replied. "Sorry I have to leave so quickly Carrie, if I'm gonna make it back in time to celebrate with everyone, I have to hurry and get going."
"I understand Joel, I'll see you later." Carrie assured him and he left without much more fuss. "He's such a hard worker, another reason I think you two would get along Kent."
"I agree." Kent noted before there was a bit of silence between the three since they didn't quite know what to do now that their plans had gotten a little hitched. Of course it was Sain who spoke up first.
"So, I guess that means we have time for you to introduce me to your friend, if that's okay with you two, or I could just go by myself."
"NO!" Both Carrie and Kent exclaimed at the same time. "I mean, you don't even know exactly what she looks like, so I should go with you at least. You can stay here and wait for my parents if you want Kent though."
"No, I should go along as well, just in case Sain says something stupid as he always does."
"Why does no one trust me?" Sain chuckled before they left again. Carrie explained that she told her friend, named Emma that they would meet her for some lunch and where to meet them, so she led the knights that way, taking a different route through town so they could see a bit more of it. While they were walking though Kent noticed something a bit different about the staff Carrie was holding.
"That's a new staff isn't it? Where did you pick it up, it looks pretty new and valuable." He wondered.
"Oh, this staff was Mark and Lyn's early present to me since they wouldn't be able to join us today." Carrie replied. "Mark assured me that it was in my skill level to use and that it should be super helpful for a long time if I treat it right, which I plan on doing. Don't tell me, you got me a staff as well?"
"No, no, I have a different gift for you Carrie, I was just wondering." Kent assured her. "Mark and Lady Lyndis are just always surprising me with how good friends they are." Carrie couldn't agree more but before she could say so they made it to the restaurant and things got started there. She introduced Emma to Sain and Kent and Sain, as usual, started to try to woo her in every way he could. Though this time he was getting a bit of success as Emma teased him back and enjoyed the genuine attention he was giving her.
"Just think, both of you could fall for a woman from Worde, wouldn't that be interesting?" Carrie teased Kent after a while. "I guess we have our wiles after all."
"Well, it would certainly be easier to meet up with one another, that would be for sure." Kent commented before suddenly they heard some yelling from down the street. "What in Elimine's name could that be?" They didn't have to wait long before they got their answer.
"BANDITS! Bandits are robbing shops down there!" A few citizens yelled as they ran past the restaurant. Both Kent and Sain got up together and started to run towards the trouble as any good knight should.
"Hey! Meet me again at Carrie's party!" Emma called out to Sain and he took a moment to look back an wink at her before Carrie caught up to the pair.
"You two realize that you don't have any weapons right, that you left them with our horses?" Carrie noted.
"Knights of Caelin are trained in hand to hand combat before they even choose which weapon they want to specialize in." Kent noted as they got closer. "And besides, with how strong we've gotten because of the war with Nergal, a few bandits shouldn't be too much of an issue."
"Yeah, a few punches to the gut and jaw and they'll be running home to their mothers." Sain added. "You focus on the citizens who are hurt Carrie, we'll take care of the rest." Carrie appreciated that even Sain with his flirty ways could be serious when things got down to it. She nodded and peeled off from the knights to use her new staff to heal those who had gotten injured. If she had her Lightning tome she could have helped fight, but that too was with the horses back in the stables.
"Are you okay, where is it bleeding?" She asked the first person she saw on the ground and she went around to about half a dozen people with small cuts and bruises, nothing too serious or anything like that. Eventually the street was clear of any civilians and it was just Kent and Sain fist-fighting the bandits. As Kent noted they were very good at beating them back even though the bandits had axes and swords to swing at them. Soon enough they looked to all be subdued and the knights looked around to make sure no one else was looting anything.
"Another knightly deed well done my boon companion, wouldn't you agree." Sain said only slightly sweating as he put his arm around Kent's shoulder.
"Other than you almost kicking me in the head that one time, I would agree, we were pretty synchronized as we usually are." Kent agreed. "What about you Carrie, did you help the civilians get away safely?"
"Yep, everyone got clear as fast as possible and I didn't see any casualties, I think we did a perfect job." Carrie noted, so the trio relaxed for just a moment.
"I wonder what Emma would have thought if she saw me fight so valiantly like that, I bet she'd be really impressed." Sain said showing off his muscles a bit, getting Carrie to laugh. But suddenly they hear a yell from beside them.
"Watch out!" Was all that was heard, causing Sain to turn around, but he was just a tad too slow for a dagger from a straggling bandit to rip across his chest. It was a glancing blow at best because of his knightly reaction time but it hurt enough for him to fall to the street and yell in pain. But just as soon as he fell and the bandit turned to Kent a mercenary planted his lance into the ground and sent a flying kick into the bandit's chest, knocking him out and finishing the fight for real.
"Amos! Where did you come from?" Carrie exclaimed, knowing who it was.
"You know this man?" Kent asked.
"He's my little brother, or well he's not so little any more I guess." Carrie said looking at him. "It looks like your mercenary work is paying off."
"It is, but you may want to help your friend down there before he bleeds out or something." Amos noted.
"No, it's fine, I enjoy being on the ground and getting blood on my clothes, the ladies love a good scar story." Sain said half sarcastically and half for real, so Carrie bent down and started cleaning the wound before healing it up with her staff. In no time he was back on his feet, good as new. "Okay, so let me have it, I was fooling off again and paid the price."
"Not this time Sain, it was all of our faults." Kent noted. "We all thought we were done, so you're in the clear for this one, but you probably should thank Carrie's brother for saving you."
"Of course, nice move with your lance. Where did you learn that move?" Sain asked, so they got to talking while rounding up all the unconscious bandits. Eventually more of Amos' mercenary group along with the police chief of Worde came to pick them all up.
"So yeah, we've got a contract with the city for a year, so whenever you come to visit I'll be here unless it's one of my weeks off." Amos explained when the whole ordeal was over. "Well, sorry to kick butt and leave so quickly, but my shift isn't done today, but I'll definitely be at the party later Carrie. Don't go beating up any more ruffians without me." And with that he left to deal with the after effects of the event that just happened. The trio started to walk to just get away from the area when Carrie spoke up first.
"Sain, can I talk to Kent privately please?" She asked and sensing the tone Sain just nodded without throwing in a joke or anything, letting the two of them have their private time.
"What's the matter, are you still a bit shaken up from that fighting?" Kent asked concerned. Carrie shook her head, not saying what it was quite yet, trying to put how she felt into words. "Then what is it, you know you can tell me anything."
"I-I, I feel-" She started out before taking a deep breath. "I don't feel important. Not to my family at least. Mother and Father weren't home to greet us, Joel had to rush to work, and Amos didn't have the time to stay and talk more with us. I wanted everyone to get to know each other before the party and such and it just seems like everything isn't going how I planned it. I know that's selfish of me to think about, but sometimes I just want things to go my way for once you know? Especially since I didn't get a lot of that growing up." Kent couldn't relate that much to the feeling, he was an only child, but he listened to what Carrie had to say anyways and reacted by stepping closer and giving her a comforting hug.
"Well, who wouldn't want their special day to go the way they planned it?" He noted, at least understanding one thing. "But I don't think that it's not because your family doesn't care about you. Your parents are probably out shopping for some good food or to pick up a present they ordered for you, Joel is out making sure no one comes to ruin the party by causing a scene, and Amos is as well. They all said they would be there, and even though I don't know them that well, they seem like trustworthy men. Do they have a track record of not showing up to things that are important to you?"
"No." Carrie admitted.
"Then trust them when they say things like that. Just because they may have gotten more attention or have more exciting employment doesn't mean they don't think you have your own value." Kent continued. "I mean I see your value every day, and let me tell you Carrie, it's something I don't think I could go without for an extended period of time."
"You're just saying that because you love me." Carrie replied, but she was perking up.
"Maybe a bit, but you are hard working, skilled, and compassionate, everything a good healer needs to be. And you were instructed by someone who I consider one of the smartest men in all Elibe, and he told me you were one of his best students."
"Mark was a good teacher, I will give him that." By this time Carrie was calmed down enough and was content with what Kent had told her, so she rewarded him by giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Maybe there will be more of that after the party, who knows?"
"I look forward to it then." Kent said with a small smirk. "Well, let's get to it then, shall we?" And with that they rejoined with Sain and made their way back to Carrie's house. And as soon as they opened the door, all of Carrie's friends and family jumped out to surprise her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They all yelled happily. It was going to be a great party.
