Thank you readers for being so patient with my slowness in posting hopefully the other fic I wrote kept you sane.
After that night Myrrh and L'Arachel spent most of their time together, they ate with each other, they slept with each other, they even practiced fighting together. While no one ever saw them sleep together, people just assumed that this was taking place. Myrrh was much more confident in herself and Dozla swore he never saw L'Arachel happier in her life.
Meanwhile, the people of Rausten were preparing a grand ceremony to commemorate their princess' victory over the evil Lyon of Grado. They all assumed that she had met some wonderful man on the field of battle and would bring him home for all the people to venerate. Mansel himself was planning to bless their engagement. The Palace guards were theorizing what this knight in shining armor would look like. Some even thought it would be the strong prince Ephraim from Frelia or even the keen eyes prince Innes. The decorations were hung and the people were buzzing with excitement even before the messengers came that L'Arachel was soon to arrive at the castle even in a matter of days. Hearing this the people became almost feverishly excited and almost every function of the city completely stopped the citizens were pulling out all the stops for their victorious princess, her steadfast guardian and, the mysterious prince she was bringing home with her.
At one day until her arrival people were either silent with anticipation or they couldn't stop talking they were so anxious the palace guards were some of the most talkative.
"I bet he's a noble individual well read and strong."
"Or he could be a free and wandering soul."
"I doubt that L'Arachel will have picked a true warrior, brave and skilled with a blade."
"Nonsense he will be a fellow magic user intelligent and cunning."
A young trainee who was on his second day of guard duty joined these four guards.
"Might I make a suggestion."
"Come then young one what do you say."
"Well I submit to you that she might not be bringing a man."
"What do you mean young guard?"
"…"
"Come now out with what you mean?"
"Well it is only that while I was on duty last night I made my rounds through the Princess' room and I found some odd things."
"What odd things?"
"Well I was paging through her diary and I noticed she never made any mentions as to any men she was physically attracted to."
"While I dislike the invasion of our noble lady's privacy I fail to see what this has to do with whether she brings a romancer home."
"My theory is she does not seek the strong company of a man but rather desires the similar comforts of a woman companion."
"Most preposterous!"
"Ridiculous our princess is not some deviant."
"Why is this deviant behavior? Merely because someone seeks the company of the same gender doesn't mean that they are to be hated or feared."
"Your imagination has run off with your common sense young one! You should clear your mind before meeting L'Arachel tomorrow."
"If you are so confident you will not mind a wager on the outcome of this."
"Fine in fact we will all wager 500 gold if she brings home a man which she will you have lost and will give each of us 500 gold if your cock and bull theory turns out to be right and she does not bring a man or even brings a woman we will have been humbled and you will have won."
"Very well."
"I accept."
"As do I"
They all shook hands and left to finish their patrol routes all the rest that day they were all silent. The young guard went home and went to sleep after his shift was over, he had decided he wanted to get up early tomorrow and he wanted to go find a better bed, he thought about all the gold he could win if he was right he could afford such a bed and he might even get some good wine with the rest.
The next day he woke with the sun and went to continue his guard duty. He got his armor on and checked in at the palace. He was to patrol the roof and the walls. He hoped he would get a good view of the approaching princess and her companions he was sincerely tired and tried to get some sleep behind a battlement section, he eventually got up and resumed his rounds. The sun was up by now so he ran to an observation tower. He could distantly make out three figures in the distance he figured two were L'Arachel and Dozla the other seemed kind of small and would raise into the air every so often, like it had wings or something.
"So he is a wyvern rider free and adventurous."
He had been joined by one of the guards from yesterday.
"No it is far too small."
"A shape shifter maybe."
"Come why can't you see it's a woman?"
"I don't want to but I think you are right young one."
"Why?"
"Because I have never seen L'Arachel give a man the look you know?"
"Never?"
"Never."
They watched the figures get ever closer, the scouts on the forward walls began yelling "We see her!" and "There she is!"
There was a great bustling around the town as people began rushing around to get a good place to watch the magnificent march into town. Both guards looked over at the sound of another cheer there she was, princess L'Arachel was more noble than the young guard had any idea anyone could possibly be.
The regular people were going absolutely crazy with celebration and merry making. All place guards had to stay and guard the palace, hence the name palace guards. They watched as the three figures made their way closer and closer. Most of the guards were at the front steps, they all watched as L'Arachel dismounted and they all walked up the steps most were watching the third figure that was completely hidden by a cloak and hood. They all entered after the figure had followed L'Arachel inside. L'Arachel immediately demanded that the figure be shown to a room. The young guard, who was named Eric, escorted the figure down the hall. He led it down two halls until he was sure that no one was within earshot, then he turned suddenly on the figure and pulled the hood up. Even though he had wagered it was a girl under the cloak it still shocked him when he saw how young she looked.
"Ah ha I knew it!"
"eep…what are you doing?"
"I knew it was a girl under that hood and I was right!"
"You...knew I was…under here?"
"Well not you but a girl."
"…"
"Don't worry I'm not gonna do anything to you but why?"
"L'Arachel and I…love…each other."
"That's what I figured anyways."
"You…knew?"
"Well I guessed."
"…"
"Here let get you a room."
He lead her down the hall and to an empty room usually reserved for diplomats and other political figures.
"Here you go."
"Thanks."
"What's your name anyways?"
"Myrrh."
"That's a cute name."
"…"
Eric decided he would leave her alone. He left to find princess L'Arachel. He found her talking to Dozla.
"Your eminence."
"Yes."
"Your girlfr…I'm sorry guest has been lead to her room."
"What did you say?"
"Your guest…guest has been lead to her room."
"Exactly you said her."
"It's a guy?"
"No she is a girl but how did you find out?"
"I got…curious."
"You monster! Dozla get this predator!"
The captain of the guard was looking for one of his new recruits. He decided he must have gotten lost so he decided to ask L'Arachel if she had seen Eric. He heard something that sounded like a mouse being stamped on he opened the door to find eric being pinned by Dozla for some reason.
"Dozla get off him what did he do?"
"He attacked a guest of princess L'Arachel!"
"No Eric wouldn't do that he probably just surprised her."
"Oh alright."
Eric was released and he ran off to find the other guard he made the bet with. He found them all talking when they saw him they all reached into their pockets to get the said gold they now new they owed him. He happily took all the gold and he checked out and went back to his house. He would be drinking well tonight.
L'Arachel was furious, she couldn't believe a guard would ever get that close to putting everything together. She wanted him fired or something that would make him miserable. It wasn't like she was embarrassed of Myrrh but she wasn't stupid, politics these days wouldn't allow her to publicly love another woman and he could have ruined everything. She went to Myrrh's room to apologize. She found Myrrh looking at the furniture.
"Myrrh."
"Oh…hey."
"What's up?"
"Just looking around."
"I heard a guard was giving you a hard time."
"No…if you mean him…"
"He didn't attack you?"
"No…he did find out who I was."
"God I knew this would happen this is not good."
"Why…"
"If word gets out…"
Myrrh stood up and kissed L'Arachel on he cheek.
"You're worrying too much."
"Myrrh…"
"As long as we are together…I don't think anything else matters…"
"Myrrh…"
"What…?"
"That was uncharacteristic of you."
"I know but I thought…maybe if…"
"Well thanks."
"No…problem."
L'Arachel hugged her. She was going to force Myrrh to come to the dinner that she was attending as a celebration for their victory. She may not be able to show affection for her publicly but she could at least show her a good time despite of that.
