A/N: Yes, I know it's started off a tad bit slow. I promise it will get better. Thank you for the input! I really appreciate it. Also, the rating might have to be changed in a bit because there's violence coming up.
Disclaimer: Only own OCS like the Catalina brothers and Alyvia.
"Good morning, Alphonse." Alyvia said as she carried in a cup of red wine to place by his meal. The man glanced up, his eyes focusing back on her. His blonde hair was ruffled on one side of his head, his cheek pink from contact on the pillows. A lazy smile came across his face weakly and he willingly took the cup, sipping at the sour delicacy. "I trust your sleep was all right?"
"It's different, sleeping in a bed." He took a bite of pork slathered in white gravy, the sound of his stomach growling carrying just to her ears. She bit back the smirk that would get her questioned, pulling out the chair across from him and setting herself down in it. Her own stomach wanted food as she watched him pile the available food onto his plate, licking his own lips for affect. This time she couldn't help giggle at him—it slipped out without her being able to stop it. "You like humor, do you?" He asked as he sipped his drink, his blonde brow raised in questioning.
"No, sir." She said, cursing at herself for giggling. Her least favorite flaw had to be her uncanny ability to ignore the self-control she'd studied for years and let the freedom she experienced outside the castle walls flow. Alyvia stared at the purple fabric covering her legs, praying that it would only be able to smother her with ease. "I was just—"
"You don't have to lie to me." He interrupted, his smile rather warm. Alyvia shut her mouth softly; it was the least she could do after laughing at him. Alphonse's eyes held her for a long moment, before he returned to eating his pork. "You know, I was rather impressed with your thoughts on the possibility of the war." He said, tearing off a piece and nearly inhaling it. She couldn't contain her surprise; her head snapped up- which hurt her neck, of course—and her mouth fell open before she could regain herself.
"It was wrong of me to outburst." Her own voice sounded monotone to her ears, no matter how surprised she truly felt. Someone actually found her knowledge on the subject impressive, something she had always felt she would never understand. Before Alphonse could answer, the heavy clank of boots rang through the dining hall. The man across from her rolled his eyes, grabbing the cup with ease and tipping his head back to drink it. Alyvia frowned in confusion, her fingers digging into the lavender silk against her legs as she turned to the entrance of the hall, spotting him by the doorway.
"What, didn't save any for me?" He asked, leaning against the doorway. His hair was pulled back in a thick braid, his arms crossed in mock frustration. Alphonse huffed across from her, shaking his head as he returned to his food, his brow pinching in. The Knight of Fullmetal made his way towards his brother, flopping into the seat beside him and immediately pulling at the warm pork in front of him. "Morning, miss." He said without emotion, pouring the white gravy over his meat, his expression full of gluttony.
Alyvia's frown deepened. "Forgive me, but I don't know your name, other than the Knight of Fullmetal." She said, stirring her own food softly. The man brow raised, his cheeks stuffed full with food so that he looked like a squirrel storing food for the coming winter. A bit of gravy drabbled past his lips as he quickly chewed, unable to answer with his mouth so full. She waited patiently, for it was the only thing to do as a lady.
Finally, he swallowed his masses and licked his lips, wiping away the excess gravy. "Ed," He said bluntly before his focus returned to the food sprawled across the table. Ed. Edward, the Knight of Fullmetal. What a common name for such an uncommon man. Alyvia cleared her throat as he headily finished the food on his plate, chugging the red wine without heed. His golden eyes met hers for a brief moment before he snickered and stood. "C'mon Al. We're supposed to be gone already."
"You're leaving?" She blurted, surprising both of them. Ed and Alphonse glanced at her with their eyes wide. Alphonse's face slowly spread into a sheepish smile while Ed stared straight ahead, his right arm tightly on his brother's shoulder. He wouldn't look at her, for whatever reason. Half of her was particularly thankful for that; she didn't know if she could deal with his golden eyes meeting hers with such eagerness to escape the granite walls of her home. "But you just got here."
"Just for the day, my lady." Alphonse said as his smile spread wider, before his brother yanked on his shoulder gruffly. A final look from the lighter blonde boy humored her once more; his cheeks were red with mock fury as his older brother half dragged him out of the dining hall. With receding clanks of boot steps and the awful creaking noise that the castle door made when it opened, Alyvia figured she was in the clear.
She raced out of the dining hall and up the steps, her dainty footsteps light against the scarlet carpet as she rushed, raising the train of her dress to give her faster access to her room. She breezed past her father's study, ignoring the thought of him hearing her, and threw open the door. Her handmaiden sat on the edge of the bed like a trained dog, ready to fetch. "I need you to watch out if anyone should return for me." Alyvia ordered as she threw off the purple silk and tugged on the leather tunic and pants she felt much more comfortable in.
"But my l-lady—" Her handmaiden's eyes were white with fear and anxiety as Alyvia moved through the room, throwing off her mother's clip and letting it land on the pillows with ease. Ignoring the frantic attempts her handmaiden kept making to stop her hurried movements, she tugged her hair into a low bun. "What if our guests—"
"You'll tell them I went to the market like a good girl and claim that I would return before sunset. Which I will." In one quick movement, she fell onto her bed and slid on thick, dark brown boots that were still muddy from the previous night's adventures. She watched her handmaiden's mouth drop in horror as she smeared the dark, decaying mix of leaves and dirt on her white feather bed. Her muscles ached as she slowly attached each of the golden buckles still splattered and wet with thick mud. "If I'm not… well, be creative."
One last item, she realized as she touched her waist. Crossing her room she yanked open her vanity door and pulled out her most treasured item; a sterling silver knife, with black leather covering the handle easily. Engraved into the handle as well was the Catalina house sigil; a mountain lion with three large claws ready to strike, symbolizing her older brothers. It didn't matter that she hadn't been included in the newer sigil; the gift was enough. She attached it to her belt and turned to face the solemn looking individual on her bed. "I won't be gone for forever."
There was no inclination that she even heard before Alyvia was out of the door, rushing to the kitchen. The stairs wouldn't trip her up this time as she moved easily in her leather outfit as she landed, hard, on the edge of the carpet. Her pace quickened as she raced through the castle and main dining hall into the kitchen, where the cooks and servants were cleaning up that morning's breakfast. "Good morning," She said to them quietly as she snatched a loaf of bread and slipped her fingers into the pot of honey.
"Be careful, miss!" She heard as she slipped out of the back door. Her muscles stretched as she licked at her fingers coated in honey. Still full from breakfast, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her towards the stables. The entire field stretched out in front of her as she raced through the long grass whipping at her legs, threatening to leave grass mites in her clothes. The warm late summer sun shone against her back as she made her way closer to the stable. Her beautiful black mare waited for her, her long mane decorated in small purple and red flowers that grew on the vines climbing the walls of the stone stables. "Good morning Temptress," She whispered, petting her horse's nose gently and slowly pulling out the flowers sprinkled in her mare's mane.
Alyvia grabbed the saddle and hitched it onto the back of her horse, tightening it around her friend. She slipped the loaf of bread into the saddlebag before jumping onto the back her Temptress. Her fingers ran through her mare's coarse mane, brushing out the tangles slowly. "Come on girl. The usual place," She said, nudging her horse gently and then smirking as her friend lurched forward, racing out into the field. The grasses would not cut her legs this time as she rode closer and closer to the tree line, hearing the noise of fighting in the distance. Ignoring it, she whipped the reins a little harder, egging her horse onwards.
Easily her horse slipped through the branches blocking the entrance to the thick woods. Alyvia leaned forward, wrapping her arms around her horse's neck. She was extremely thankful she didn't have long hair that would get tangled up in the sticks hanging low from the branches. The extremely long and bare ones lashed out their broken fingers to scratch her exposed arms. Before they could draw scarlet blood like they had the day earlier, her horse yanked to a stop. She nearly flew off of her horse once more, but her grip was tight on her, and when she opened her eyes she found herself in back in her only escape of paradise.
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