Last chapter. I don't own this game.
His Gift
The Prince sat at the writing desk he had against his wall, a little tired from the day's events of walking around for countless hours to find Lyon gifts she would like.
When they arrived back at the castle his younger sister had mauled him when he entered, just because she noticed he was missing about an hour after he left. The distractions his parents set up really didn't work for the whole day but it got him enough time to leave without her following.
He promised to make it up to her later, and would tell her why since she wouldn't stop asking. He sometimes was annoyed by this, but the irritation left soon after - he just could not stay mad at her, no matter what she did.
After that he had to go get ready for dinner, then went straight to his room to work on the 'list' he created in his mind before he forgot anything. The Prince stopped his writing, and looked over the things he had written down, checking to make sure everything was there and nothing was forgotten.
Everything looked like it was written down and ready to be ordered or made. He'd have to give the list to his Aunt so she could talk to the people in charge of all this. (He'd do it himself, but that wouldn't be possible with Lyon following him around everywhere.)
He stood up, and walked to his door - he hoped Lyon had gone to her own room to rest, not standing guard or doing patrol right out his door, as she has done that before - and walked to the other wing of the palace where his Aunt and younger sister slept. All the while, he was on alert for Lyon, who had a sixth sense for when he wasn't near her and would go searching. Kinda scary.
It was around the time when she'd just start her drinking and Little Lym would be settling down for bed. He usually wouldn't bother other people when they were about to sleep - less it be an emergency - his Aunt being the only exception. She was quite violent when she was woken up from her sleeping.
Prince Frey passed the bodyguard who stood watch at the entrance, who seemed to be quietly seething about "other men not being allowed into this wing less it be the Prince or His Majesty Commander Ferid".
The Prince stopped at the first door that could be seen, a maid was sanding in front of it. He wasn't going to ask. Instead, he had the made ask his Aunt if he could go inside for just a few minutes. "Come on in, Frey!" She was defiantly more lively when she had her wine and beer, with the night to accompany it.
He thanked the maid, and slowly opened the door. "Auntie?" Peeking his had in, he saw a neat room (the maid's doing, not doubt) and his Aunt looking comfy on a couch with a wine glass in her hand, she was laid out of the couch where she had various wine bottles on the table not far from her. Her queen's bed was off to the side, and Frey walked in when his Aunt gestured for him to come closer, he closed the door behind himself as he walked over to her.
"So, what is it Frey?" She sipped her wine.
He took out the list he had written. "Could you get the things on this list? It's for Lyon's birthday, and we have a deadline to keep. It's coming up soon."
He handed her the list. "Her presents huh?" She skimmed it. "I'll get it done."
Sialeeds sat up, setting the glass on the table so she could talk with her nephew better. "We will be throwing her a small party. Here's the tricky part. We have to try and get her to dress up, and see what size she is so we can get her a dress - even if she only wears it for this occasion - and trick her into putting it on."
The Prince had no idea how he was going to do that.
His Aunt had a solution. "We use Little Lym for this. Tell her what we're doing. I'm sure if you ask her not to tell she'd comply in a heartbeat. Miakis we wont have to worry about."
Prince Frey nodded. "Thanks." Sialeeds shook her head.
"Go talk to your little sister."
***
The next day, after his studies, training, and lunch his little sister did what they had planned when he talked to her the night before.
Time to play dress up.
The Prince had promised her to also play 'dress up', under the condition she wouldn't make him wear a dress. (She did it once, and he looked identical to his mother - not a good thing.) So instead, little Lym had him wear one of the nice, but stuffy clothes, acting like they were about to go out to a party.
She ordered Lyon to pick a dress from her Aunt's closet, ones she wore a long time ago. She looked uncomfortable and out of place in the dress, but she didn't mind since she could move around easily in it, and still had her sword attached to her hip - it was not a puffy dress, but one that acted like a second skin. She did look very pretty, which he told her in a teasing way from when she kept calling him handsome a few days earlier.
The dress fit her quite well, except for the top area for obvious reasons.
He wasn't about to venture out and find out her measurements there either. He'd let his aunt decide what to do with that.
The small group of four then spent the remainder of their time playing with Lym, until dinner it was dinner time.
***
About a week later, everything was beginning to come together. Most of the staff, particularly the Queen's knights who knew Lyon well, knew about the party. They were all to come and have a good time, but most - like Galleon - were hesitant to, and would very much rather stand guard and continue their duty of protecting the Royal family they had grown to love and respect.
The Queen's knights had agreed upon themselves that they would 'rotate' being on guard so everyone had a chance to have fun.
It was definitely going to be a small party - with the majority being the staff, guards and other knights besides the Queen Knight's who all knew Lyon. But everyone was to dress up anyways, if so only Lyon could have a memory of doing so.
The gifts he wanted her to have were coming in, his Aunt kept them hidden in her bedroom. The dress his Aunt designed was pretty, and she had that custom made, hanging it in her closet.
The head Chef was also having fun baking various cakes, debating which one would be the best.
Her birthday was coming up very soon, and everything was being set in place.
***
She was suspicious. Lyon kept giving him this look like she knew something was happening under her nose. Did she know? Did someone tell her by accident?
The Prince sat in his chair, staring off into space, thinking of what Lyon would do. She was more than capable of being him to a dirty pulp, or she may be happy that he set up this party.
He hoped it was the latter.
"Frey." At the sound of his mother's voice, he snapped out of his little daydream of Lyon getting his weapon and hitting him with it.
"Yes, mother?"
"Stop daydreaming and eat your food."
The Prince looked a little embarrassed, and his little sister tried to 'soothe' him, with Miakis laughing from where she was standing guard, and Lyon gave him that look.
"Sorry.." He mumbled and ate his dinner.
***
The day was here, and the Prince had to distract Lyon from going into the Throne room where the party was to be held. It wasn't all that hard, really. The two just ended up sparring against each other for most of the day, with Lyon winning all of them, but he did come close to winning a couple of them.
When it was close to evening, he finally gave in.
The two then proceeded to wash up for dinner. The Prince couldn't really come up with any excuse to get the dress on her, so lying to her and saying they were going to have a formal event and that she had to dress up or just relax here at the castle always worked.
That did just make her more suspicious but she had said nothing, and went along with it.
Which is why they went to separate rooms to get ready.
The only reason she's going through with this is because she wants to see what's been happening behind her back. Hell, she probably already figured it out.
Prince Frey put on the clothes he hated most, the ones that were similar to what his mother made him wear for the portraits. He re-did his braid, leaving it the way it usually was.
After he got ready, he exited his room and found Lyon already there and dressed up, in the same dress as before except it fit her better. She arched an eyebrow and waited for him to walk down. She had that look again.
"Don't kill me." He mumbled, he turned and walked down the hall.
The two got to the Throne room, and Frey sighed and opened the door, letting Lyon enter first, normally it wouldn't be like that, but her curiosity and suspicion got the better of her.
When everyone yelled "Surprise" her reaction was something predictable. T was one of an arched eyebrow, and a small smile.
"You had it all figured out, didn't you?" Frey asked her, standing next to her as he looked at everyone standing there, everything decorated, with a few long tables set around the grand doom, and her gifts off to the side.
"I knew you'd pull something like this." She didn't get mad though, instead she looked at smiled at him. "Thank you."
"This is what friends are for!" He was happy she liked it. "Now, let's enjoy ourselves."
***
Before Lyon started the party, she said the Prince had to stay close by, or else.
She took her job too seriously sometimes, but he promised her he would, if only so she would have fun. Everyone wished her a happy birthday from there, then everyone started to socialize. Kyle took this as a challenge of hitting on the female guest - most of whom worked there, and those who were not off duty were serving food on trays before the main course would come out and everyone was to be seated.
After they were done eating, it was time for dancing, which Lyon seemed very uncomfortable with. She was asked by a lot of other knights and soldiers, but she said no to them, and was content to just sit there and watch everyone flow with the music.
She kept a close eye on the Prince, watching as he danced with his little sister, with whom Miakis was also watching closely off to the side eating some food.
Habits died very hard, and both had a habit of keeping an eye on their assigned person no matter where they were.
After the musicians finished their fast paced song, a slower one started. The Prince had gone over to where his friend was at. "Lyon, you haven't danced at all. Why not come dance with me?"
Lyon smiled at him again. Yes, he was a dear friend to her.
"Hmm. I don't know." She flustered at the thought, embarrassed since she had no idea how to.
"Come on, it'll be fun." he held his hand to her.
"Fine - but just one dance." She took his hand and the two danced, Frey poking fun at her, with her just blushing from her embarrassment - but she did have fun.
Sialeeds was off to the side, impressed that he was able to coax her into dancing at all.
After the dancing, it was becoming late, so the cake and gifts were up.
She wasn't expecting so many, and all the gifts were ones she liked. Asking who got her these, Sialeeds said Frey picked out all of them.
She especially liked the small locket that was hiding at the bottom, it was the one she saw at the store. So that's what that trip was for.
She again thanked the Prince, and hugged him to show her appreciation. He laughed, and said again that's what friends do.
It had become one of her fondest memories.
***
Lyon sat on her bed, polishing her sword, when the memory of her first party crept into her head. She was grateful for those fun times, when only a few years later did the Prince go through so many things.
She put her sword to the side, and looked at the locket she kept hung around her neck, where she kept a picture of the Prince. Queen Lym was going to make him take another shot, it was long overdue and the two had stepped up to higher power after the war.
She planned of getting a copy, because his looks were different. Especially when he cut his hair after having it in a long braid all those years, and he was finally taller than her. And stronger.
She still took it upon herself to guard him though, even if the New Commander of the Queen's knights was the Queen's personal bodyguard himself.
Old habits died hard, and with his new position there were people who would want him dead, especially since he wasn't even the Queen's husband. No, she had almost lost him twice in the war, no way was she going to let all that go to waste.
So even when he was on duty, Lyon stood by him, or was never very far off. Just like Miakis was with Lym.
A knock on her door caused her to slip her locket back in her shirt, and she answered the door as she placed the sword back on her hip.
It was a messenger. 'Lady Lyon, Her Highness the Queen awaits you in the throne room."
So, Frey was there too. She dismissed him, and went to where the Prince lost his parents.
She opened the door. "Lyon."
Commander Frey smiled at her, and offered her his hand, like all those years ago when she had her first dance.
She smiled back and took it, both bowing to their Queen.
She refused to leave his side, if ever. That she made a vow quietly to herself many years ago, and still held true to it. his gift was more than a locket, it was her first real friendship, and years later her first love.
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I want to do another Lyon/Prince one soon. Man. There should be more.
Thoughts?