The air was full of dandelion seeds, their soft fluff dancing through the air. And while this was not an unusual occurrence for Mondstadt, but their usual comforting sight was making Noelle anxious.
She had been waiting now for half an hour. Not that Lumine, Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius, was late to their intended rendezvous. When Jean had found Noelle skulking around the gardens, bemoaning her sudden departure from her daily duties, the Grand Master had sent her out of the city to 'begin enjoying her break.' Now she waited, a half hour earlier than she agreed to meet Lumine, under Vennessa's tree. But as the minutes had ticked by on her day off—the first day off since Barbatos knew when—the nerves she had worked so hard to control were rocking her heel to toe.
She took a deep breath.
And then the air rushed around her, and with a sigh, Lumine appeared through the waypoint, amber eyes aglow.
"Good afternoon, Honorary Knight!" Noelle squeaked, curtseying.
"Good afternoon, my friend. No need for honorifics," Lumine said. "We're just Lumine and Noelle today." Lumine smiled. "I'm glad I could convince you to join me today."
"Ah, yes!" Noelle could feel her voice raising an octave with each word. She flushed. "No… Paimon?"
Lumine shook her head, golden hair flouncing in the breeze.
"I left Paimon with Lisa today. She needed help cleaning the top shelves in the library, and Paimon will do most anything for a fisherman's toast."
"Ah. A perfect solution from the Honorary Knight herself!" Noelle beamed before catching herself. "Err…."
Noelle caught Lumine's eyes for a moment as the traveler shifted her bangs from her face.
"You're in your uniform today…?" Lumine's sentence trailed off, an open question. Noelle cocked her head to the side, hands clasping together behind her maid's outfit.
"Ah, yes. I hope I am not dressed inappropriately?"
"No, no!" Lumine rushed. "You look lovely." Lumine's eyes lingered on Noelle's face. "Shall we, then?"
Lumine set off from the Statue of the Seven. As Noelle followed, her eyes shifted to a picnic basket swinging easily from Lumine's hand.
"What is that?" Noelle asked, her stomach twisting.
"Well," said Lumine, her voice flitting through the air like the anemo she could catch so deftly between her fingers. "I figured that since we agreed today would be a day off, and Xiangling was in town… She owed me a favor, so I decided to cash in."
"Oh, I see."
"Is that alright?"
Noelle's hands flew in front of her.
"Of course! I just meant…" What had she meant?
"I just meant," she continued," that when you said 'day off', you meant a day off from my maidly duties. I thought you meant—"
"A training session?"
Noelle breathed out.
"Yes! Exactly. A training session."
"Is that why you brought your sword?" Lumine asked, peering behind Noelle, where her claymore floated obediently. Noelle looked away, smiling sheepishly.
"The Knight of Falonius Handbook states—"
"Yes, yes. Actually, do you have the handbook on you?" Lumine asked, cutting Noelle off. Eager, Noelle reached into her pack.
"Of course! I always carry—"
The air rushed around her, and Noelle felt her words escape as her handbook flew from her grip.
Splash. The book disappeared, bubbles swimming to the top where it had landed in the clear spring below.
"What-!"
"Noelle, you're on a break today. I promised Grand Master Jean that you would rest today. I promised Captain Kaeya that you would rest today. I promised Deaconess Barbara that you would rest today!" Lumine sighed deeply, her chest heaving. "And I know you already have the entire handbook memorized, regardless of if you have a physical copy with you at all times or not. Please? If you won't do it for yourself, and you won't do it for me, do it in service of becoming the best knight you can be?"
Noelle felt her whole face flush with embarrassment, her ears burning hot. Silently, she nodded, and Lumine continued onward.
Towards the tree they went. Lumine slipped her hand into the basket, and out flew a blue gingham blanket. She shook it out as Noelle watched, her fingers itching to push Lumine aside and take over setup.
"Noelle," said Lumine, her back turned. "I know you want to help, but I've got this. Really." There was nothing but kindness in her voice, but Noelle felt like she had been slapped. How, at every turn, was she offending the knight she had craved an audience with most?
"No!" Noelle cried, her hand slipping to her mouth at her outburst. It seemed that today was meant only for embarrassment. Her flush deepened.
"It's not that at all! It's that… Well. It would be no trouble for me to set up! And you've been so kind to invite me here. I'm sure the Hon—you have any number of duties that would better be serving you right now than making sure I have a picnic lunch!" The pebbles at her feet began to shake with her emotions, the pale-yellow glow of Geo surrounding her. Maybe Jean was right—she did need to get out more. All this socializing was exhausting.
Noelle took a deep breath, struggling to regain control. Lumine chuckled, shaking her head as she smoothed out the blanket. She patted the spot next to her.
"You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to doing nothing."
Noelle's breath caught. She folded her legs under her and sat, praying that the flush had finally left her cheeks. In the tree above, the birds sang sweetly.
"Dandelion wine?" Lumine asked, popping the cork. Two silver goblets sat in front of her, their sheen catching the light.
"Oh, I musn't, I'm—"
"Not on duty," Lumine jumped in. Noelle shook her head.
"A knight is never off-duty," she replied automatically. "But no, that's not the reason." Noelle narrowed her eyes, then forced herself to relax, trying desperately not to appear a snitch. "How did someone your age get a bottle of this?"
"Let's keep it between us that I cashed in more than just one favor in order to maximize our time together today." It was Lumine's turn to flush. "That is, for your break."
Lumine poured. The sweet scent filled the air.
"I have never tasted wine before," mused Noelle, watching Lumine swirl the goblet gently. But as Noelle reached for her glass, Lumine's fingertips met her own.
"Ah, ah," she said, a hint of tease in her voice. "Never once?"
"No," said Noelle, withdrawing hastily. How presumptuous of her!
"What good would your first experience of this delicacy be if you couldn't enjoy it the way Dawn Winery intended?"
Noelle smiled.
"Silver goblets, breathing the wine for twelve minutes—"
"And ice!"
From the basket, a small metal container was procured. Noelle shook her head in disbelief.
"Even in this heat!"
Lumine's grin cracked even wider.
"A lot of favors."
"Why are you being so kind to me?" Noelle asked, surprised at her own forwardness. "Please, I do not wish to offend—I would never! It's just…" Noelle bit her lower lip, searching for words. Lumine lay back, hands behind her head. So unbothered! Noelle wondered how she could be so calm.
"I'm listening, Noelle," Lumine said. Noelle played with her gloves, words refusing to slip through her lips. A shimmering crystalfly flitted over, attracted to the scent of the wine. Noelle shooed it away, her mind racing.
"It's just that, you arrived in Mondstadt almost three years ago, and we have barely spoken since that arrival. I can think of only a handful of times… When we helped that merchant, for example. And, well, I did not exactly present myself in a way that I am proud of."
"What do you mean?" Lumine's eyes were closed as she laid back, the blue gingham bringing out darker streaks in her hair. Though she was older than when they had met, Lumine had grown into her features. Noelle admired the sharpness of her nose, how her lips pouted just so, how relaxed she seemed when she carried the weight of Teyvat on her shoulders…
She folded her hands on her lap and pursed her lips.
"I hope I am less naïve now than I was then, greeting that man with so much pomp and circumstance when he had arrived to steal our merchants' secrets."
Lumine rolled to her side, propping her head up on her hand.
"That was a lifetime ago, my friend. I'm sure things are different now."
Noelle shook her head, smoothing out her dress.
"I am afraid very little has changed for me. I was a maid then, and I remain a maid now. I've failed the trials every year since you arrived."
"Through no fault of your own," Lumine insisted. "No knight in the current guard is more powerful than you. Everyone knows that, even Jean."
"Then why am I held back?" Noelle snapped, the force of her query shocking her once again. The ease of their conversation had relaxed her usual proper and guarded nature. Noelle could not remember the last time she had spoken at length with any person about anything other than her duties. She sat up straighter, clearing her throat. "If I am so powerful, what do I lack that prevents me from ascending to the next position?"
Lumine sighed.
"I have an idea, but I'm afraid it would offend you."
Noelle's fingers tightened around the flow of her skirt.
"I would be much obliged if you could impart any wisdom to me, Lumine."
Lumine sat up now, and scooted closer to the would-be knight. Slowly, she reached forward, and took Noelle's hand. Noelle's breath caught as Lumine's hands neared her elbow, and with a touch lighter than a feather, slipped her glove down her arm, placing it next to the picnic basket. Noelle wondered if she imagined the slight tremor in Lumine's hand as she took Noelle's.
"I wonder," said Lumine, her voice a husky whisper, "who Noelle is when she takes off her uniform at the end of the day, takes off her armor and her determination and her singular desire for knighthood." Lumine's golden eyes glistened as they stared into Noelle's. With a quick squeeze, Lumine's hand was gone, leaving Noelle burning from her touch.
"And perhaps Jean is also wondering," Lumine continued, snapping Noelle from her stupor.
"Ah…"
"Knighthood is like marriage in that way; I'm sure that knowing who you are is just as important as knowing who you are coupling with."
Noelle looked away.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
"Why do you wear those roses, lady knight?" Lumine reached into the basket, the moment slipping away.
"To remind me?" Noelle replied. Her head was swimming, and she could feel a hazy, unwarranted smile living on her lips. And truthfully, at the moment she couldn't remember why she wore them. She cleared her throat as Lumine procured their meal, fighting her instincts to offer help.
"Captain Kaeya told me once that loose lips sink ships." Noelle reached up with her ungloved hand, teasing one of the flowers out from behind her ear. The braid she kept tight over her forehead fell, kissing her cheek. No one had seen her without the maid's uniform haircut since her arrival in Mondstadt, but removing her glove had made her vulnerable, and she was feeling lighter than she had in years. "I've already failed the trials so many times, I can't imagine what I would do if I were to ruin my chances or get someone hurt by sharing confidential information."
"Do you cut the thorns out?"
Noelle offered the rose to Lumine, who took it gently. She ran her fingers down the stem, brushing the thorns with her fingertips.
"Be careful," Noelle warned, though she knew the strange traveler in front of her needed no warning. "The thorns remind me to stay focused. They keep me grounded."
Lumine chuckled.
"A geo-vision holder needs a reminder to remain grounded?"
Noelle sighed.
"If today has shown me anything," she said, "it is that I may be too grounded." She pulled her remaining glove off, the rose tucked within the sleeve falling to the ground. The breeze slipped through her sweating fingers, and she wondered when the last time her hands had seen daylight outside of her bedroom. Her guard now completely gone, she swung her legs out in front of her and ripped off her boots. Next went her hat, and the ribbon around her neck, and the pauldron at her shoulder.
"Whoa," said Lumine, eyes widening. "I didn't realize it was that kind of party." But Noelle laughed, shaking her head, and snatched a sunsettia from the plate. She brought it to nose and inhaled the sweet scent, ripping her teeth into the flesh.
"Sometimes I forget that there are other scents than roses," Noelle said through her mouthful, thoughtful. She swallowed, then looked to Lumine, catching her eye.
"Thank you, Lumine," she said, warmth spreading through her body. "You were right. I did need this."
Lumine reached forward and tucked Noelle's fallen braid behind her ear.
"Truly, this was my pleasure," Lumine replied, that same warmth in her voice.
"Lumine, I would ask something of you," said Noelle, her boldness refusing to release its grasp on her. She picked up the two goblets and offered one to her companion.
"Anything. But, ah, before you continue. Do you think the ice is about sixty percent in the wine?" she asked, her voice wavering. Noelle nodded. She had never seen the Honorary Knight nervous before.
"The last trials of this year are being held within the next few months," Noelle said, swirling the wine in her goblet to make the ice clink, the way she had seen Fatui diplomats do. "And I was wondering… Maybe you might be interested in helping me pass that time?" She smiled down at the blanket, suddenly overcome with a shyness she was more accustomed to. "It appears you might have some insight into why I have not succeeded thus far—the things I am… Lacking."
Lumine beamed, clinking her goblet against Noelle's.
"I would love nothing more."
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