I DO NOT OWN THIS STORY!
This is a story written by Voltage and was on the Lovestruck app that was shut down due to lack of funding.
I am simply writing the stories from the app out as I prefer to read them this way and nobody has yet to do so.
I have typed this out word for word from the app except for a few bits to help identify people sense there are no pictures to see who is talking.
If you have any suggestions on how to make this flow better, please let me know!

Love & Legends - Saerys Route

Season 1: Chapter 5

We double-time it back to the castle through the fields surrounding town.

Progress is quick, with Saerys guiding my steps to cabbage-free ground.

(I can tell he's still anxious about that Lennox guy.)

(I half expected him to do the whole 'warp factor five' thing to get us back.)

(It was pretty damn cool.)

We both keep quiet on the way back.

The castle lights are glowing a mellow orange, one brighter than the rest in the center of the darkened structure.

"…He is home. Good."

We triple-time it from there to the gates, to the hall, to the study.

When we reach the door, all Saerys' pent-up nervous energy seems to flow away.

(There's something about Reiner that sets him at ease.)

(It's like he's certain that as long as Reiner's around, things will work out.)

(Maybe it looks bad, maybe it won't be great, but as long as Lord Reiner has his back, it'll be okay in the end.)

The door opens on the second knock.

"Milord Saerys and milday MC!" gasps Ryland.

"Yes, do come in, Lord Reiner has been expecting you both."

He waves us in hastily before bowing to Lord Reiner.

"Lord Reiner, mi-!"

"Saerys!"

"I should have known you would turn up in only a night."

Saerys gives a respectful bow of his head.

"We found trouble in the forest."

"Yeah, no. We were doing just fine until Mr. Trouble himself found us."

Reiner's expression darkens, and he turns to face the window.

"The others informed me of all they could. Lennox Arnold…"

He scowls.

"And he came after you tonight?"

"Yes, Lord Reiner."

"He thought to convince MC that I had cruel intentions toward her."

He looks away, shifts his weight from one foot to the other.

"In the end, it came to blows. I drove him off, butt was unable to capture him."

(Yeah, somehow I don't think 'capture' is what Saerys had in mind.)

Reiner sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose before turning back to us.

"We were able to calm the townspeople, after you departed."

"With the…agitator gone, they were willing to listen to reason."

"The man's voice is like warm oil; where it spreads, people lose their surety of step."

(That's maybe the most poetic way I've every heard someone call someone else a slippery bastard.)

"For the time being, I must ask that you both keep away from the town."

"I will not risk some plot bringing you harm on my watch."

"If you think that's best, I'll keep out of town."

"Thank you for defending us, Lord Reiner."

Saerys, for once, seems pleasantly surprised.

He nods in agreement before turning back to Reiner.

"Lord Reiner, Lennox acts like a disease."

"He follows wherever I tread, seeking to turn the people against me."

"And I cannot imagine his ends are simply misguided."

"…This is troubling news indeed."

"When the Lords meet, I will present this to them and to the King."

"He will be stopped, my friend."

"For now, rest. This day has been long enough and then some, for all of us."

(Most tiring dream I've ever had, yeah.)

By the time we reach Saerys' room, I'm about ready to curl up on the floor and call it good.

(Bare walls and a modest bed never looked so inviting.)

(Although, there was that time I got lost between Chicago and Bloomington.)

(That might top this.)

Once the door is closed, Saerys sets about preparing for bed, but does it aimlessly, pacing and half-finishing things.

(He's stressed and exhausted and hasn't quite realized it yet. Finals syndrome.)

(Maybe I can cheer him up a little…)

"Hey Saerys, I'll make a deal you a deal."

"…Fine, I will ask. What sort of deal?"

"Next time we bump into that creep, I'll help you catch him if you promise to fling him into the sunset like you're doing a hammer toss."

A beat of silence passes, and Saerys starts to chuckle.

It's a quiet, rolling sound, like a smooth stone skipping over the surface of a lake.

"You have quite a wit, MC."

"It may not solve what ails, but…thank you."

He sighs, and glance over at the window.

(I can't help but notice he's got a couple of Reiner's mannerisms.)

(He really does look up to the guy.)

"It will come to a head soon. Things cannot escalate forever."

"Well, hey. After what I saw today, I'd say-!"

I interrupted myself with a long yawn and drop to sit at the edge of the bed.

"I'd say your odds are pretty good."

"Would that I could share your optimism so easily."

"Rest now, MC."

(Hard to argue with that.)

(I could sleep for a week, if this weren't already a dream.)

I'm half-asleep by the time my head hits the pillow, and the last thing I see before I drift off, is a pair of glowing eyes, fixed on the night sky.

When the morning sun finds that perfect angle on my eyelids and wakes me, he's nowhere to be seen.

"Saerys?"

There's a knock on the door, and I hurry over to answer it.

(Maybe he went out to get breakfast and can't open the door because his arms are full?)

(Listen, a girl can dream. And if I'm dreaming, I may as well dream.)

(…This train of thought jumped the tracks at some point.)

I tug the door open, and I'm greeted by a warm smiling face.

"Good morning, milady!" smiles Solaire.

"I do hope you slept soundly."

"From what Ryland told me, it seems as though you had a rather… unpleasant day."

"Yeah, I'd say that about covers it."

"Are you well, milady? I can only imagine how frightening that must have been."

(If this weren't a dream, I'd have been way past frightened.)

(That Lennox guy is bad news.)

"I'm alright, trust me."

"Saerys ran that guy off in no time flat."

Solaire smiles bright and earnest, and for a moment seems to hover just a hair off the ground.

"Wonderful! You are in good hands with him, milady."

"Ah, what I meant to pass along."

"Breakfast is served, Lord Reiner and his retainers have gathered in the dining hall."

"You are welcome to join whenever you would like!"

"Solarie, that was the most beautiful sound I've hear all morning."

We reach the dining hall after a few turns through the castle, past the guest bedroom I got my new digs in and down the same stairway that continues up to Reiner's study.

(It's funny, I've been having this same dream so long I'm starting to learn my way around it.)

The door to the dining hall in massive, and the hall past it makes everywhere else I've been in the castle seem downright puny.

Conversation drifts over to is from the tables nearest the door to the kitchens, where Saerys and the others are gathered and sharing breakfast.

"MC, come and join us!" shouts Altea.

The murmur of conversation sharpens into casual banter as I get closer, and I pick a seat beside Saerys with a wave to the others.

"…And the next day, they told me they feared I might drive the poor dog hoarse!" says Isuel.

Altea laughs brig and clear, Reiner chuckles, and August stifles his own laughter with a life-threateningly large mouthful of sausage.

Saerys is smiling when he looks over to me.

He seems more at ease than last night.

"And somehow I cannot imagine you did the respectful thing, and prove them wrong."

"Come, August, where would the fun be in that?" says Altea.

"You surprise me, August; I expected you would approve of Isuel driving things…horse."

There's a group groan and rolling of eyes, and Saerys chuckles his quiet breathy chuckle.

(Oh my god. Reiner is exactly as dad-ish as he looks.)

"Hey Lord Reiner, can I ask something?"

"Hm? Of course, MC."

"How many people in this room have called you 'dad' or 'father' on accident?"

Everyone suddenly finds a very interesting bit of architecture to inspect.

Even Solaire, halfway to the table from the kitchens, seems to take a sudden interest in the furniture.

"…All of you?"

"I confess it is a pattern I have noticed, though I cannot imagine why."

Altea chooses that moment to cut in, tapping her fork against a glass.

"Ahem!"

Everyone turns to look at her, and I swear I hear a sigh of relief.

"Last evening, I found myself thinking-!"

"Gods help us." moans August.

"As I was saying, I found myself thinking, we ought to hold our own celebration!"

"Just a small one between us, since the occasion was rather rudely cut short."

"An excellent idea! Less chance of interruptions with fewer in attendance, no?" agrees Isuel.

"For once, I agree. A less eventful event would be welcome." Nods August.

"And you , Saerys?" asks Reiner.

"Little chance of unwelcome attention this way , and we get our celebration."

"I think perhaps our celebration has come and gone."

"It has not! The celebration lives as long as we do!" yells Altea.

(Yeah Saerys, listen to the anime girl! The party don't stop till we walk out!)

"I…am not sure."

"Come on, Saerys! After all the bullshit yesterday I think we've both earned it."

I can see him winding up for a retort, and press on.

"I can and absolutely will pull the duty card to get you to hang out with your friends, Saerys."

He stalls out with hos mouth half-open, then shakes his head.

"It was foolish of me to think I could argue with all of you united, I suppose."

"Very well, then. A less chaotic time might be… fun."

(He said fun! He said the word 'fun' with his own mouth!)

"Yes! I may have already arranged a few things with Ryland." Smiles Altea.

"If 'a few things' is going to be anything like what you did for Isuel's last birthday-!" says August.

"A few simple things. Besides, that was fun!"

"You nearly got us all-!"

"Anyways, what matters is that today will be great!"

It's a gorgeous day out, the perfect mix of a warm sun and a cool breeze.

Altea brings along a thick blanket big enough for everyone to sit on, a basket filled with snacks, and a second basket with a change of clothes for everyone.

"Just in case I get it wrong, no need to worry."

(She has this way of sounding really happy while saying really worrying things.)

"You always say that, and I always need to worry."

August fishes an apple out of the bag, and it's halfway to his mouth when a huge head knocks him off balance.

"Oof- hey!"

Before he can even reach for the apple, Wyndsor snaps it up and trots a few steps away, swatting August with his tail in the process.

"Wyndsor Royale, get back here!"

Saerys chuckles at August's accidental antics, but Wyndsor's ears flick in his direction the moment he hears.

A huge, thick glob of horse spot arcs gracefully through the air, and hits Saerys shirt with a wet thwap.

A single beat of silence hangs in the air before everyone- except Saerys, who looks positively dejected- doubled over laughing.

"See? I was right about bringing spare clothes!"

Altea recovers enough to pass a shirt across to Saerys, then takes up her staff.

"Okay, here goes!"

(Well, they aren't being totally subtle in leaning away.)

(I guess her reassuring didn't quite sink in.)

"Water's fragile bond, by my command hold fast!"

"Elegant Ocean's Effervescence!"

For a moment, nothing happens.

(Did it not work?)

Altea grins, and I notice the sunlight gleaming on a thin pink film that's formed in the crook of her staff.

She sweeps it through the air as though waving a flag, and bright pink bubbles peel off and drift through the air.

"I imagine they will start catching fire any moment now."

"That would hardly be elegant, August. Such a spell would be…Raging Ocean, perhaps." Replies Isuel.

"Roaring, actually! And those are red bubbles."

"…You have a bubbles-that-catch-on-fire spell on-hand?" questions MC.

"She has four." Says Saerys.

"That you know of!"

Saerys chuckles with a shake of his head, and lays back on the blanket.

I follow suit, just as a small flock of bubbles start to land.

"Altea, if I may ask…"

He turns a hand, examining the bubbles stick to it.

"How long will these last?" asks a worried looking Reiner.

"…"

"You don't know, huh?"

"Oh, I know. That is what the spare clothes are for!"

As one, we all turn to look at Saerys. A few more bubbles land on his shirt.

"I think this means you get to choose between bedazzled and horse goo."

He smiles, unfazed.

"This is my burden to bear, It seems."

We stay until dusk, talking and laughing and simply enjoying the day.

Just as we begin to pack up, Saerys calls me aside.

"Is there something wrong, Saerys?"

"Not today. I only wish to thank you, MC."

"This has been the best day I have had in… quite some time."

"Thank you for insisting I come."

"I had a wonderful day with you."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Authors Note:
I plan to try and add a chapter once a week but I hold no promises.
I also plan to do all the routes for Love & Legends as well as the other stories that were on the app.
If you would like to watch the scenes that this story is typed from simply search the story name in YouTube and you are sure to find it.
If anybody has any questions please do not be afraid to ask.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did!
Again I DO NOT OWN THIS STORY!