#I know the azurines are light blue not this deep blue

[layaart]

I walked through the dark to the edge of the cliff, the big basalt-column fingers that held us up from the hungry crashing water. I sat down. [...] I felt my heart seize and I mashed it back inside my body. [...] The near moon and the far moon were both out. Full and gibbous. In the water they overlapped and made a sort of milky blurry hourglass shape. "May I sit with you?"

a scene near the end of Metal From Heaven, by august clarke

[rohad93]

A Knight Affair: Redux - Shadowed

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Rosaline asked for maybe the seventh or eighth time as she and Greggory stood outside the carriage with Azurine and Aurelia by her side. She looked down at her four year old son, held securely in Azurine's arms. She hadn't been parted from little Steven for more than a few hours since he had been born.

"They watch him all the time," Greggory tried to soothe, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be okay, Rose." He patted her shoulder. Rosaline frowned, worrying her scarred hands together.

"Everything will be fine," the queen assured, hefting the boy higher up in her arms. "Go" she shooed the princess away with a wave of her hand.

Pink stepped forward and pressed a kiss to one of the boys pudgy cheeks.

"Momma will be back in a few days," she said to the boy, who smiled.

She hugged Blue before she finally allowed her husband to help her into the carriage, climbing in beside her. Once the door closed the driver jerked the reigns, and the carriage slowly pulled out of the courtyard and out the gates.

Yellow nodded at the two guards on horseback as they followed behind.

"Bye momma!" Steven waved a little hand at the disappearing carriage.

"She will be back before you know it, my sweet." Blue pressed a kiss to her nephews dark head before turning around and going back inside the palace with Yellow following behind her as they stopped in the grand entrance way.

"I have cleared the rest of my day, what shall we do, my little prince?" Blue looked at the curly haired toddler.

"The garden!" he immediately answered with a wide smile making the queen laugh.

“He does seem to love all manner of plants and flowers.” Yellow observed, a smile tugging at one corner of her lips.

“Shall we retire to the garden then, captain?” Cerulean eyes settled on her questioningly.

“If her majesty and his highness so desire.” She tilted her head at them with a smile.  

Steven began to squirm in her arms until Blue was forced to set him on the floor. The moment his feet touched the plush red rug laid down over the palace’s stone floor, he was running in the direction of the garden, past several servants and guards who looked fondly at the prince as he passed.

“It seems he’s not going to wait for us,” Yellow chuckled, folding her arms behind her back as they started after him at a much more sedate pace, knowing where he was going to end up.

“So it would seem,” Blue agreed, covering her bright smile with a hand.

“When do you think he’ll realize Rosaline and Greggory aren’t going to be back in just a few hours?” Yellow asked idly as they followed the young prince’s trail down the halls to his mother’s private garden.

"What do you mean?" She glanced at the knight curiously.

"He's never been away from them for very long. He's not going to be as calm once he realizes they aren't going to be back in just a few hours," she explained.

"Oh, you’re an expert on small children now?” Blue asked with a small grin; she nudged the now frowning knight.

“No, I saw it happen a lot in the orphanage when people left their children there,” she explained with a grunt. “It was usually that night or the next day they realized their parents weren’t coming back.”

“Greggory and Rosaline are coming back.” Blue rolled her eyes at the dour forty year old knight.

“It’s the same principal,” she mumbled as they stepped out into the private garden, no servants were around, but they could hear the rustling of foliage from somewhere among the rows of brightly colored flowers and vibrant green bushes.

“Steven?” Blue called. A small giggle was their only answer.

Blue only grinned, sharing a look with the now smirking knight as they separated.

Yellow walked quietly through the rows of plants, careful not to make a sound. A feat that would have been impossible had she been wearing her armor; as it was, her leather boots made no sound as she walked softly through the paths between the rows of plants.

“Steven…,” Blue called in a sing song voice as she walked down a row of plants, the long, pale blue gossamer skirts of her dress rustling the grass. Another giggle sounded a few feet farther back and Blue looked up at Yellow, who nodded and walked silently down the row toward the source of the noise.

They both stopped next to a hydrangea bush filled with lage, violet flowers; Yellow held yup her hands, poised to strike.

Amber and cerulean flickered to each other briefly

“Oh Steven…,” Blue called once more.

The leaves rustled and Yellow thrust her hands into the foliage, a delighted squeal followed by loud giggles filled the garden as she pulled the boy out of the bush. Blue laughed as Yellow held him aloft, some leaves and twigs stuck in his hair

“We found you.” Yellow smirked.

“You found me,” he giggled, wrapping his arms around the knight’s neck, pulling her into a hug.

Her grin turned into a soft smile as she wrapped one arm around his tiny frame and pressed her cheek to the top of his curly head.

Blue watched the two and couldn’t help but smile adoringly at them, a warmth spread through her chest as she watched the prince and knight interact.

Yellow set him down after a brief moment.

"Come on!" He beckoned them as he ran toward the gardens center.

Before Yellow could turn to follow she caught the saccharine look Blue was giving her.

"What?" she asked, cheeks flushing at the look.

"Nothing, darling." She smiled knowingly and followed Steven to the garden’s center, where the carved marble benches sat, encircling the pool that had been built in the center. The smooth stone that made up it’s lip was etched with vines and roses.

They sat next to each other on one of the benches, enjoying the warm early summer sun and watching as the boy busied himself with picking flowers from several different plants. A few roses, lilies and a handful of irises helped make up the pile of greenery in his arms.

Once he seemed satisfied with the flowers in hand he wandered back to them and sat at their feet, his little fingers fiddling with the stems.

“What are you doing, my sweet?” Blue folded her hands in her lap and bent at the waist to try and get a better look at what the little boy was doing, but he turned to shield his hands with his body.

“Not yet! I’m not done!” He looked at them over his shoulder.

“We’ll wait,” Blue promised with a smile, leaning back. The knight just snorted, thinking how much he sounded just like his mother when she was a child.

Blue gave her a light, admonishing slap to the leg, taking one of her gloved hands as they waited for him to finish.

A leather covered thumb rubbed absentmindedly over the back of her hand as they sat side by side, listening to the light breeze rustling through all the plants, creating a sweet smelling wind, with the occasional petal or leaf blowing by them as Steven worked at their feet.

Blue looked up from the boy and was surprised to find Yellow, with her eyes closed, enjoying the warm sunlight splashing across her face and through her already sunlight colored locks. If she looked close enough she could see, flashing in the light, the thin bands of silver that had begun to lace themselves between the gold.

Azurine couldn't help herself. With her free hand she reached up and threaded her fingers through the dual colored hairs.

"I know what you're doing," Yellow grumbled, but didn't open her eyes. The deep lines beneath her eyes seemed lighter in the bright sunlight.

Blue smiled and hummed questioningly.

"Playing with my gray hair," she grunted.

"It's not gray, it's silver," Blue corrected, still running her hands through them. "...and I think it's very becoming."

"On you, perhaps. Your hair has always been like spun moonlight, mine is simply a reminder of my ever advancing age." She huffed.

"It's distinguishing and I'm rather fond of it," Blue argued, tugging gently at some silvery strands.

"Flatterer," she sniffed, but her lips quirked upwards.

Before Blue could say anything else Steven jumped up.

"Finished!"

They looked down to find him holding up a carefully weaved crown of flowers in his hands.

"Is that for me?" Blue pointed to herself with an ever widening smile pulling at the faint lines around her eyes and mouth.  

"Yeah!" Steven grinned at her.

Reaching up, Blue carefully pulled the gemstone studded silver crown from her head, setting it in her lap as she leaned down, allowing him to place the homemade wreath atop her head.

The bright red roses, yellow daffodils and pink azaleas stood out in bright contrast to her silvery white hair.

"Thank you, Steven." She smiled, reaching out to caress one of his rotund cheeks, making him grin.

He reached down and picked up a second wreath made of violets, deep blue Irises and white calla lilies, holding it up to Yellow, who blinked owlishly at the weaved flowers.

When she didn't immediately lean down to accept the offering, his smile faded into a wounded, watery eyed expression that instantly reminded Yellow of Rosaline, so long ago.

Without a word she ducked her head down and he instantly cheered as he nestled the flowers into the blonde locks.

"Thank you, Steven." She nodded, leaning back up, careful not to look at Blue, whose eyes she could feel on her.

Seemingly satisfied, he ran over the pool and began playing in the water.

Yellow finally risked a glance at the queen who was looking at her with a soft look and a knowing smile.

"Don't" she crossed her arms over her chest, a pink flush stretched across her nose and both cheeks.

"Those are quite becoming in your hair as well, love." She grinned. Yellow only glowered harder at nothing in the distance, making the queen chuckle.

“I only allowed it to make him happy,” she grouched.

“I know,” Blue hummed, leaning into the pouting knight captain. “It’s one of the reasons I love you so much, and for nearly twenty summers now,” she mumbled to her.

If anything the pink on the knight’s face darkened into a burning crimson. She only hummed in response, but Blue knew well enough and smiled.

She leaned back to put some space between them, least someone unexpectedly come looking for her and find them in the unexplainable position, despite the many, and often true, rumors and whispers about their association that had persisted for years among the servants and even the empire’s nobility’s

Every once in a blue moon there was an occasional proposal of marriage, but they had mostly dried up around the queen’s thirty-third year and were always flatly refused regardless.

At balls, most the young male nobles had turned to Rosaline, despite her marriage and much to Greggory’s annoyance and Yellow’s amusement.  

A splash, followed by a stream of laughter made her look over at the pool, where Steven was playing, splashing his hands in the cool water. Watching him, stary thought came to her mind.

“I wish mother could have been a part of this,” she said quietly, a rush of air as Yellow whipped to look at her told her the knight had heard her.

The two of them hardly ever discussed her predecessor, despite having made peace with the fact that Winea had been a victim of her madness no less than the rest of them had, and the suffering she had inflicted on them, both mental and physical was long forgiven.

The sudden thought still surprised the knight captain.

Blue turned to look back at her, the puzzlement apparent in those amber eyes.

That was expected.

Yellow had never even known her mother, and as fervently as she cared, she could never truly understand the gravity of her and Rosaline’s loss.  

“She would have adored him,” she said simply, the best way she knew to answer her consorts unasked question.

Several replies all raced to the tip of Yellow’s tongue but she swallowed all of them and instead said:

“Yes, she would have,” she agreed.

They lapsed into a long stretch of quiet, enjoying the weather before the queen finally spoke gain.

“I think it’s about time we got him something to eat.” She glanced at Yellow, who nodded as she stood from the bench, offering a hand to Blue, who smiled gratefully, holding her crown in her other hand.

“Steven!”

The boy immediately looked up from what he was doing to give the knight his undivided attention.

“It's time to go inside, It’s time to eat.”

“Coming, Yellow!” He hopped off the pools lip and trotted over to them as they started inside.

~ ~ ~

Blue woke with a start, jolting up, her heart beating so loudly in her ears she could scarcely hear anything else. Her breath came out in shallow, shaky gasps, cerulean eyes darting around rapidly in the darkness.

Their bedroom. She was in their bedroom, in their bed. She kicked off the bankets, they felt to restrictive, like she was being weighed down. The room was warm, too warm.

She touched her face with a shaky hand. Still here, she was still here. She ignored the sweat that had dripped down her forehead.

Reaching out slowly, she found the warm lump that was Yellow under the blankets beside her and exhaled another relieved sigh. The soft rise and fall of the blankets as Yellow slept on was a relief, but the dread that had settled over Blue just wouldn’t leave her.

The warm darkness of their bedroom felt suffocating, she had to move.

Carefully without waking her slumbering partner, she slid out of bed, sliding on her slippers and throwing a robe over her sheer, summer night dress and padding quietly to the door.

She hesitated a moment, tiptoeing quietly over to the cot they had set at the foot of their bed and knelt down, finding the toddler’s curly head, even in the dark with the tips of her fingers. His small body rose and fell in slow, even breaths that further calmed the thundering pace of her heart. Careful not to wake him, she stepped away and slipped quietly out of their room.

The halls were devoid of servants, so it must have been quite late or rather, early, indeed if no one was moving about the halls.

The few lanterns still burning in the halls were just enough light for her to make her way to her study. Her footsteps and the quiet flickering of the flames inside their glass and iron housing as they popped and crackled were the only noises in the cavernous halls.

She slipped quietly into her study, shutting the door behind her.

She sat in the high back chair with a sigh, reaching out with a still shaky hand, she lit the single candle sitting on the corner of her desk, it’s flickering red and orange light illuminating the papers sitting on her desk.

She leaned back in the chair, still trying to bring herself back under control. A looming sense of dread still hung over her like a cloud she couldn’t shake.

With a shaky breath she looked over at the far wall where a large painting in a brass frame hung.

Three figures, depicted on aging canvas.

An eight year old Rosaline, in a poofy pink and white dress, stood in the forefront, the somber expression on her otherwise normally jubilant face looked grossly out of place. Standing just behind the youngest princess’, to her left was an eighteen year old version of herself, staring back just as solemn as Rosaline in an elegant, sapphire and cream colored gown.  

The third figure stood behind them, a hand on either of their shoulders. The flickering candle light didn’t quite reach the far wall, leaving the top half of the painting, including the third figures face, in shadows.

Blue could practically feel those gray painted eyes on her now. She pursed her lips, turning away from the old royal portrait. Normally it didn’t cause her such dread to look upon it, but tonight? Tonight it caused something chilling and unpleasant to crawl up her spine and clutch its cold hand around her heart.

She gave herself a shake, she needed to calm her nerves.

She reached down and pulled open one of her desk drawers, even in the low light she knew just where the bottle was.

She set the dark green bottle on her desk, it’s contents sloshing around as she pulled the flagon out and shut the drawer.

She pulled the cork out with a satisfying pop and poured the clear liquid into her cup.

It might be mistaken for water if not for the acrid smell wafting into her nose.

Corking the bottle, she wasted no time taking a deep drink.

It burned like fire all the way from her tongue to her belly, the warmth already helping numb her jangled nerves. This was not something she usually indulged in, but tonight seemed to call for it.

She was just about to take another swallow when the study door opened and Yellow stepped inside, still half asleep by the looks of it.

The loose white tunic she slept in hung off her shoulders, displaying the sunny colored diamond pendant Blue had given her so long ago, hanging from her neck.

Her normally carefully brushed blonde hair was a wild mass, sticking out in every direction except the the right side, pushed flat from sleeping on it. Something Blue usually found quite amusing, but not tonight.

"I’m sorry if I woke you," she mumbled quietly, eyes darting to the cup in her grasp. Yellow ignored the apology.

"What's wrong?" Her voice was thick with sleep as she padded over to the desk, her feet still bare, not bothering with her boots, who would stop or question her, especially at this time of night?  

There was no sense trying to say she was fine, she didn't normally get up in the dead of night to drink in her study.

"I had a nightmare," she mumbled.

"What about?" the groggy knight asked gruffly.

Blue took another drink from the cup, emptying it. Yellow looked at the bottle knowingly, her already narrowed eyes squinted further.

"My mother," She breathed, face twisting as the alcohol slid down her throat.  

"What about her?" The gruffness in her voice had softened.

Blue didn't answer for several long moments, long enough that Yellow eventually walked around the desk and laid a scarred and calloused hand on her shoulder.

"Blue…"

"What if it happens to me?" she finally spoke, a tremor in her voice as she stood from her chair and moved to pace along the wall.

"What if what happens to you?" Yellow's face scrunched up in confusion at what she was talking about.

"Madness!" Blue shouted, whipping around to face her. "What if I go mad like my mother did?" She threw out her arms.

"What? Where is this coming from?" If she hadn't been fully awake before, she was now

"I had a nightmare about my mother and what happened to her and then... it happened to me…I went mad and..." she pressed a shaky hand to her face.

"Your not going to go mad." Yellow quickly crossed the room and laid her hands on the queens shoulders.

"But what if I do, Aurelia?! My mother wasn't always as mad as she was in the end." She backed away, letting Yellow's hands fall. "It was slow for her too… we didn't even notice until she was ready to kill us all…" she wrapped her arms around herself, turning away from the knight.

Yellow didn't know what to say to Blue’s confession.

“She was kind and loving when she was younger… then slowly, before our eyes, she was… warped... into a monster… What if that happens to me? It’s so slow… what if I never even notice, disappear and never realize?" She clutched the sleeves of her robe. "What would stop me from hurting Rosaline and Greggory? You? Steven?" She choked, shoulders shaking.

In two long strides Yellow was behind her, wrapping her arms around the queen who tried to break loose but the knight only held tighter as she struggled. Soon the fight left her and her knees buckled. Yellow gently lowered them to the floor.

"That's not going to happen, Azurine" Yellows gruff voice was right in her ear as she held her flush to her chest.  

"How do you know?" she choked as sobs wracked her body.

"I won't let it…" She squeezed Blue even closer, trying to quell the queens shaking sobs. “I’ll remind you, everyday if I have to,” She spoke just loud enough to be heard over Azurine’s crying. “I’ll remind you who you are, and who we are.” She promised.

They sat there on the floor for sometime, Yellow, running her fingers through the long silvery locks before Blue’s cries finally quieted into sniffles.

"Are you alright?" Yellow asked quietly. Blue nodded soundlessly, turning to face the knight.

Carefully, Yellow reached up and brushed the hair from her face, allowing her to better see the queen's puffy eyes and tear-stained face. With a thumb, Yellow gently wiped away the last of the tears.

"I'm terrified it will happen to me, Yellow…" her voice was raspy and low.

“Has anyone else in your family ever suffered from madness?” Yellow asked.

Blue sniffed, looking thoughtful. “Not that I can recall,” she admitted, trying to run her many predecessors through her mind.

“Then it probably isn’t something you’re going to inherit through your blood.” The knight reasoned. “Maybe she regularly ate something that slowly poisoned her over time, maybe she fell and hit her head, we’ll never know for certain, Azurine. You shouldn’t worry about something that will more likely than not will never affect you.” Yellow cupped one damp cheek in her palm. Blue looked up at her from beneath damp lashes.

“I know… I just don’t want to be the reason everyone I love suffers…” She leaned into the warm touch, eyes closing as she soaked up the warmth that always seemed to radiate from the knight.

“I need you to make me a promise…,” she said suddenly. Yellow looked at her expectantly. Blue bit her lip.

“If it ever happens, I want you to promise me that you won’t let me languish in madness.”

The meaning was clear.

Yellow’s jaw clenched so hard Blue was afraid her teeth might crack. The vein in her neck stuck out sharply.

“No” was the resolute answer, growled out between clenched teeth as her lover glared at her.

“Aurelia…,” Blue started.

“No!” the knight snarled violently, her yell startling the queen. “You may ask many things of me Azurine, even for my life, and I’d give them all to you; but never that!” her voice cracked. She leaned forward, their foreheads pressed together. The knight’s eyes slid closed.

“You can’t do that to me…,” she ground out, voice wavering “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She admitted, voice barely a whisper.

Blue’s heart clenched at the quiet admission. She reached up, taking hold of the knight’s face between her hand; her thumbs brushing along her cheeks. She could feel the tremors running through her.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Aurelia,” she soothed quietly, till the tremors had stopped and her breathing had evened out.

After a while, shiny amber eyes slid open to regard her.

“Forgive me?” She let her hands fell from Yellow’s face as she hummed in quiet agreement.

“Will you make me this promise instead…?” She breathed, as though they weren't the only two people in the room. Yellow eyed her warily.  “Promise me that you’ll protect our family, no matter what.”

“I always have…” Yellow bit out, trying to push the thickness out of her voice.

“I know.” Blue smiled, leaning further into her, Yellow’s arms wrapping around her was automatic and Blue buried her face in her neck. For now at least, the weight that had settled on her chest since she’d woken up had lifted.  

Nothing else was said for a while, till the knight gently separated herself and stood, offering her hand to the kneeling queen.

“Can we return to bed now?” She asked, tiredly, face sagging with exhaustion. Blue felt just as tired as her lover looked and nodded, taking the offered hand and allowed Yellow to help her stand. She returned the bottle to its place in her bottom desk drawer and snuffed out the candle.

The halls were still empty as they left the study, headed back to their bedroom.

As soon as they opened the door the wailing hit them.

“Oh, Steven!” Blue hurried over in the dark to the boy sitting in his cot, crying.

Yellow moved to light the candle sitting by their bed, casting a flickering glow over the room, illuminating the teary eyed toddler, sitting up in his bed with the blanket pulled tight around him.

“Aunt Blue” He blubbered, jumping up and running to her, wrapping his tiny arms around her legs. Blue hauled him up into her arms and he buried his face into her hair.

“What’s wrong, my sweet?” Blue rubbed his back soothingly.

“I-I woke up and couldn’t find momma or daddy,” he hiccuped.

“They aren’t here, remember, Steven? They’ll be back in a couple of days.” She rocked the boy back and forth. He nodded but didn’t pull his face out of her neck.

Yellow plopped herself onto the bed and watched the two, stifling a yawn as Blue cradled him in her arms, murmuring soothing words into his ear.

“Would you like to sleep with us?” She asked, running her fingers through his hair, he nodded.

“Lets go to sleep then.” She walked over and set him on the bed, he wasted no time crawling over to Yellow and snuggling into her side. The knight grunted, but Blue knew very well just how pleased she was that he went to her.

Blue slipped off her robe and climbed into the bed, pulling the blankets over them as Yellow leaned over and blew out the candle, casting the room in darkness.  He wiggled around for several minutes before seemingly getting comfortable.

Within a few minutes, Blue could tell by his stillness that he was asleep, snuggled between the two of them.

Carefully Blue reached out and found the scarred and calloused hands she would recognize blindfolded, and wrapped her fingers around them. Yellow squeezed back and any lingering tension ebbed away as she drifted back to sleep.

~ ~ ~

“I missed you so much.” Pink pressed kiss after kiss to her son’s giggling face as they sat on the carved marble benches. “The meeting’s were so dull,” she lamented. “How were things here?”

“We had a wonderful time together.” Blue told her, watching the two.

“I’m glad.” Pink replied, looking up at her sister. She glanced over at the small wooden table set up not far away where Yellow and Greggory sat playing chess; both looking much to serious for a game. “I don’t understand why they play. Yellow always wins.” She shook her head. Blue chuckled.

“I think that’s why.” She smiled. “Yellow likes to win and Greggory knows the only way to get better is to play against someone better.” She shrugged.

“Checkmate.” Yellow leaned back, crossing her arms.

“Ugh” the former bard groaned, sagging.

“Next time, perhaps” The knight smirked, but the message was clear. ‘Not likely’

Pink rolled her eyes.

“Ah, while I’m thinking about it, when you and Greggory are properly rested I’d like all of us to sit for a new painting of the whole family. I think it’s time to replace the one in my study…” She looked at Pink who knew exactly which painting she was speaking of.

"I think that's a great idea. Steven might have a problem sitting that long, but we’ll try," Pink said, running her hand through her son's hair.

"Yellow won't like it either, we'll just have the painter paint them first." She smiled.

"You're going to include Yellow?” Pink looked at her wide-eyed.

“I am.” The queen nodded, folding her hands in her lap. “Surely you don’t protest?” Blue looked at her.

“No! Of course not, I think it’s great! It’s just... I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of all the rumors constantly being flung around about the two of you. Having Yellow..., no matter how many years she’s been with us, sit for a portrait of the royal family would all but be admitting that the rumors about your love affair have always been true.” Pink warned.

“So long as no one admits anything, they can think and speculate all they want, they have for years now, they always will... and they will always be true.” Blue smiled.

“I suppose so,” Pink chuckled. “Have you told her that yet? You know how she gets about anything that might give too much away.”

“You’re right, It may take some convincing…” Blue agreed, looking at the two of them. Pink caught on quickly.

“Say no more.” She grinned and leaned down to whisper in her son’s ear.

“Steven, wouldn’t you like for Yellow to be in the family painting with us?” She asked as he looked up at her with wide eyes. “Do you think someone should go ask her?”

A wide smile broke out across his face and he began to squirming in his mother’s grip. With a giggle, Pink set him down and he took off running toward his father and the knight.

“Yellow!”

[rohad93]

A knight Affair: chapter 5 - two Princess’ and a Knight

I keep forgetting to plug the Ao3 version here if you don’t know about it.: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21064748/chapters/50110898

~ 

Yellow took her time strapping her armor into place, making sure to look presentable when she was summoned to see the queen this morning. She and Blue had decided that the best way to deal with this for now was to carry on as they always had.

Not that they had much choice in the matter. Yellow was bound to do as commanded, least she wanted to be the next person stoned to death by mindless townspeople. Blue promised that she would be discussing things with the court advisors, no doubt they had noticed the queen’s continually worsening erratic behavior being in such close proximity to her most days. 

The sun was only now starting to peak over the horizon, she’d made sure to be awake and out of Blue’s room much earlier than last time. Blue didn’t like it but she understood the day’s urgency. She was still reluctant to let her go when she tried to get out of bed. Who knew when they would be able to enjoy each other’s company again.  

Yellow sighed. She had never been one to question her orders nor her queen, she hadn’t risen to captain for nothing, but things had been steadily declining ever since the rebellion began and she was worried about Blue and Pink. 

She didn’t think the queen would ever hurt them, she mostly just seemed to forget they even existed and that was somehow almost, worse.

Almost

Blue had been in training all her life to one day succeed the queen, she could run the empire just fine. The eldest princess was more worried about her sister and both of them having to watch the queen’s descent into madness.

Yellow scrubbed her hand over her face. Everything was such a mess right now. She wished she could do something that would help the sisters. At present her hands were just as tied as theirs.

They all had their rolls in the empire, Yellow had always followed hers, to great success. but even if she didn’t say it aloud and Blue never made mention of it, it was obvious to both of them that it wasn’t the queen where Yellow’s undying loyalty lay, but squarely in her love’s hands. 

It would be treasonous to say such a thing. 

Yellow snorted to herself. As though sleeping with the next heir to the throne wouldn’t get her put to death just as easily as the former.

It hardly mattered at this point. She knew who she would fight for if Blue decided it was her time to take the throne in light of the queen’s failing mental state. 

But that was a decision for Blue to make, and one that would never be made unless they were locked in the most dire of situations.     

A few hours later she was summoned to the throne room and was surprised to find both Blue and Pink there at the queen’s side. Both younger women looked worried and confused, they were never called to hold court with their mother without reason. 

“Your Majesty. Your highness’”She greeted the three dipping into a bow. 

“Ah, Captain Stone, how good of you to join us. I have been considering your next assignment and have decided that your talents could be best served escorting Azurine and Rosaline...” She began.

Yellow listened intently, keeping her eyes on the monarch who seemed quite lucid today.

“...to Fort Luna on the front line.” She finished.

Maybe not. 

The princess’ both jerked to look at the queen who sat in her throne smiling serenely as though she hadn’t just ordered her only two daughters to go to the war torn front line that was constantly moving back and forth and could easily catch them in it. 

“Fort Luna? Why?” Blue was the first to find her voice. 

“This uprising has gone on long enough. I think the men have simply not been duly motivated.” She waved a hand. “You two shall go and lift their morale. Remind them what they are fighting for and remind the traitors that we in the heart of the empire are unfazed by their little rebellion.” She explained. 

Blue didn’t know what to say. Yellow less so.

“Your Majesty.” The queen’s eyes slid to her and Yellow could see it, the queen was looking at her, yet it felt like she couldn’t see her, like she was invisible. Yellow powered on regardless.

“The front line at Fort Luna shifts by the day, Princess Azurine and Rosaline could be caught up in the fighting at any moment, it isn’t safe for them there.” She made her case. Suddenly the queen was completely focused on her and Yellow knew instantly that that was not a good thing as the queen abruptly stood from her throne, glaring down at the knight from the dais. 

Blue and Pink both went stock still. 

“Are you questioning my orders, Captain Stone?” The question slid like ice down Yellow’s spine. 

“Not at all your Majesty. It is simply my assessment of the…” 

“I did not ask for your assessment of the situation, captain. If I needed an incompetent view of the situation I would have asked you.” The queen bit out. “I gave you a command and I expect you to have it carried out or I will appoint a knight captain who will. Do I make myself clear?” She looked down at the knight with narrowed eyes.

“Yes, your majesty.” She bowed again. Her face burned with anger and embarrassment. Anger that the queen was putting her children in blatant danger like this and embarrassed that Blue and Pink both had been present for her tongue lashing. 

Without another word to the knight or her daughters the queen turned on heel and left the throne room, guards following her out. 

Blue clenched her fists, now her mother was turning her fits on Yellow and sending them into possible danger. Once the queen had disappeared Yellow stood back up and Blue could see the anger and humiliation on her face. She tried not to let the empathy show on her face. Yellow was very proud and much as she wished to comfort her it would be ill received.

Pink watched her mother’s back till she had disappeared from view, fists clenched tightly at her sides. The more she interacted with her mother as of late, the less she recognized her. She was a familiar looking stranger. 

“I suppose we should go and pack for the trip…” Blue turned to her sister who could only nod. Pink looked just as happy about the situation as she or Yellow. 

The knight carefully avoided their eyes as they left the throne room and it made Blue frown. How badly she wished to walk up to Yellow and hold her, but she couldn’t, not just because of the people around, but Yellow would never allow it. Not so soon after being humiliated. 

With a sigh, she turned her back to the room and quickly made her way to her room to pack a few days worth of provisions.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They were made to leave as soon as the younger royals had finished their packing. 

If Yellow had been angry before it was nothing compared to how furious she was when she was informed that she was the only guard accompanying the princess’. The queen couldn’t expend any more man power on this simple visit to the fort when more men were needed to secure the southern border. 

A border that was in no danger at all. 

 Yellow felt like she was about to combust.

She alone was being tasked with the safety of the only two heirs to the kingdom in what could instantly turn into hostile, than enemy territory. 

She stood behind the carriage and took deep breaths that were meant to be calming. As soon as Blue and Pink appeared they would go. It would be late in the night before they arrived at the fort. They should have left much earlier as to avoid any traveling at night along roads that could be plagued with bandits and thieves.

She had had her suspicions about the queens mental state when their orders changed by the second on the front. Just a week ago they had been ordered to take captives to use in bargaining for the return of their own captured men and in the next breath were told to execute them all.  

The rebels had retaliated in kind.

Now she was putting her children in needless danger. Yellow wanted to pull her hair out.

Suddenly two servants appeared, each carrying a case, the princess’ trailing behind them. Once the two cases were loaded to the carriage Blue waved them both away.

“That will be all, thank you.” Once they’d gone she turned to Yellow, looking around. “Who else is accompanying us?  

“It seems…” Yellow started. “That I will be the only one accompanying the both of you on this trip.” She managed to ground out. Trying to keep appear formal and in control.

Blue’s eyes went wide and Pink looked between them, face twisted in concern. “The queen can not afford to pull any men away from the southern border.” Just saying it out loud to the two made Yellow’s muscles strain and her blood boil. To be told to your face that your mother cared less for your well being than an imaginary threat, for which she had already dedicated three-hundred men. 

Blue bit her lip, watching the protruding vein in the captain’s neck that only ever appeared when she was on the verge of a monumental outburst. She had to be the calm and rational one for the three of them for now. Until Yellow was no longer on the verge of meltdown. 

“I have full confidence in your abilities, captain.” She smiled and laid a hand on Pink’s shoulder, hoping to soothe both Yellow and Pink, who had been jittery herself ever since they had been called into the throne room after their morning meal. 

“You’re to kind...“ Yellow mumbled. “We had best be going…” She held the carriage door open and with a last look at the knight Pink quickly climbed inside.

As she passed Blue reached out, laying quick caress to the knight’s cheek. Her voice barely a whisper. “Don’t worry...” She tried to soothe in the passing moment. It was all they had. 

Yellow turned her head away. Still feeling the morning’s shame mixed with her unspeakable fury at the situation at hand. 

It stung the eldest princess, but she understood. 

Once she’d climbed inside Yellow wasted no time climbing atop the thing and spurring the horses on, she wanted to be out on the road at night as little as possible. 

Inside Blue and Pink sat across from each other on the brightly upholstered seats in silence. The eldest with her hands folded in her lap and a frown pulling at her mouth as she looked out at the passing countryside. Pink studied the older woman intensely.

There was a lot she wanted to talk to Blue about… this trip they were suddenly being sent on, their mother’s growing instability and of course what she had witnessed in the library last night. 

Which had made her start thinking about something else. 

“Blue?” She asked about an hour after they had left. Her sister’s gaze turned to her, waiting for her to go on. There were so many questions burning on the end of her tongue, fighting to be the first to be answered. 

“Do you trust me?” She finally asked at last. This seemed to surprise Blue as her eyes widened.

“Of course I trust you, Pink. Why would you have to ask?” She blinked at the suden question.

Pink turned away, looking at the passing countryside, trying to decide what to say.

“Would you keep secrets from someone you trust?” She asked another question instead of answering her sisters, Blue’s brow furrowed in confusion and worry but she didn’t immediately answer. Pink turned to look at her and saw her looking down at her clasped hands.

“Sometimes, secrets are kept, not because of a lack of trust…” She started, cerulean gaze turning back to Pink. “...but simply for safety… some secrets are more dangerous than others.” 

“Is that why you never told me about you and Yellow?” She finally asked. The shock that suddenly spread across Blue’s face would have been comical if she still wasn't feeling stung that Blue had never told her about her romance with the knight captain.

Blue didn’t know what to say. Pink was looking at her expectantly but words just couldn't form in her suddenly dry mouth. She’d never prepared herself for the younger girl to ever find out. 

“How did you find out?” Blue finally managed to make her tongue move. 

“I saw you both… in the library last night... “ She shrugged. “You’re lovers, aren’t you?” 

“Pink…” Blue started, licking her lips. Trying to bring back the moisture that had so suddenly left her body. She sighed. “Yes” She finally said, going slack in her seat. 

“Why wouldn’t you tell me? You don’t trust me?” Pink leaned forward. Now that Blue had confirmed it for her, her questions were burning in her mind. Blue rubbed her temple, a headache coming on.

“Pink, As I said, it’s not that I don’t trust you, you know I do, but this…” She waved a hand indicating her and Yellow. “... is dangerous. Forget about any punishment I’d receive, Yellow would be put to death!” She surged forward, eyes locked with Pinks as the girl shrank back into her seat. 

She knew that of course. She���d had all the same lessons as Blue growing up and one of the most important had been on who to fraternize with. 

Those vying for their hands had to be of certain backgrounds and lineages. The kind with money or influence and as much as Pink adored the knight captain, she had neither of these things. 

“It wasn’t something we ever planned…we just… fell in love and have been ever since.” Blue explained simply. 

“Since when?” Pink couldn’t help but ask. 

“Five summers, now.” 

“Five?!”  She marveled. All that time and she had never had even an inkling of the relationship Blue and Yellow had been having. 

“Rosaline” Pink was suddenly pulled from her thoughts by her sister as she knelt in front of her, hands on her shoulders. “You can’t tell anyone about this, you understand that don’t you?” 

“Yes, of course I understand.” She nodded vigorously. 

“Good” She sagged in relief, before climbing into the seat next to the younger.

After a few minutes of companionable silence it was Blue that broke the quiet. 

“How much did you hear last night?” She asked without looking. Pink looked down at her lap.

“All of it, I suppose.” She shrugged. 

“About mother?” She asked after a long moment.

The girl nodded, face falling and Blue sighed and wrapped an arm round Pink’s shoulders, she leaned heavily into the older, letting Blues arms wrap around her protectively.  The subtle orchid scented oil she had been wearing for years helped calm her. 

“Is there nothing we can do for her?” Pink mumbled into her sister’s long hair. Blue squeezed her tighter. 

“I don’t think so…” Blue’s sorrowful voice made Pink close her eyes. “It… will only get worse from here I’m afraid.” She dug her fingers into her sisters curly hair, smoothing the pale locks. “I’ve never seen her like that before… the way she acted to Yellow.” She glanced up at Blues face. It was no court secret that Yellow was the queen’s most favored knight. 

“No, and if what the court physician said is true she’ll act that way to us all soon…” 

“What do we do?” Pinks voice was small and quiet. A fourteen year old on the verge of losing their remaining parent. 

“I don’t know yet.” Blue admitted. “We will come up with something.” She promised, leaning them both back to look out at the trees and fields passing by the carriage windows. 

“Is Yellow alright?” Pink asked after a short while, thinking about how strained the knight captain had looked this morning. 

“She’s under a lot of pressure. We should have a group of guards, not a single knight, and don’t tell her that I said this, but she’s still ashamed after this morning.” 

“Ashamed of what?” Pink pushed herself up to look at Blue. “Everything she said was true!” Pink scowled. It made Blue smile to see the girl defend the captain so. 

“I know it was… but Yellow is very proud though, Pink, she hates that you an I were there to witness her humiliation.”  

“She has nothing to be ashamed of...” Pink grumbled. Leaning back into her sister’s embrace. Blue smiled at her.

“No, but she has her pride. So it's simply best if we don’t talk about it in front of her, yes?” She felt Pink nod against her collar.

They stayed that way for a while, watching the sun inch it’s way across the sky. Neither had said anything in quite some time, in truth Blue was sure the younger girl had fallen asleep, so it surprised her when she spoke up out of nowhere.  

“How do you know? That Yellow loves you I mean?” She’d been wondering how her soft sister could fall in love with the stern knight.  

Blue hummed as she thought about how best to answer that question in a way that Pink would understand. 

“She tells me, of course. I know that isn’t what you mean though.” She quickly finished before Pink could interrupt. “It’s hard to describe truthfully. It’s a lot of things.” 

That was of course to vague for Pink.

“Like what, though?” 

Blue rolled her eyes despite the smile on her face. 

“Like… the time we took a basket of food out into the woods and halfway through it started to rain heavily and she gave me her cloak to keep me dry on the ride back, even though she became soaked through and caught cold.” She finally said, shaking her head at the memory even as she smiled 

‘What else?” She prodded with a smile. 

“Every time she passes through the western territories she goes several hours out of her way to get the perfumed oil I love so much. ” 

Pink grinned as she watched her sister's eyes light up and a dreamy far away look came onto her face she recalled these things and wondered if Yellow would have a similar reaction. 

Probably not quite, given how she knew Yellow.

“What about something big?” Pink was having too much fun, listening to her sister and watching her face.

“Something big?” Blue glanced down at her. 

“Yes, some big romantic gesture?” 

“Yellow isn’t the type for large romantic gestures. She shows her love in little ways. The ways that let me know that she was thinking of me. That means more to me than any one grand gesture.” Blue smiled at the girl. She could only hope that one day Pink would experience a love like she had.

It was nearly dark when they finally began to get restless in the carriage. 

“She needs to take a rest.” Blue made a face, looking toward the front of the carriage where Yellow was.

“Does she ever do that?” Pink smirked to herself. It wasn’t exactly a secret that the captain was rather high strung most of the time.

Blue huffed, suppressing a laugh. “She’s been known too, on occasion.” She smiled as she slid one of the small windows at the front of the carriage open. 

“Yellow” She called, making the knight jerk toward her, immediately picking up on the less formal address. “Pull to the roadside.” 

“What? Why, is something wrong?” She glanced at her over her shoulder. 

“You need to take a rest. As do the horses. ” 

Yellow opened her mouth to argue but the look Blue was giving her right now was very clear. 

With a huff she tugged on the reigns, pulling the horses to a stop. Once the carriage had come to a full stop Blue stepped out, followed quickly by Pink who wasted no time moving toward the horses. 

Yellow climbed down, plate armor chinking and clinking together with every movement.

Blue could see that she was no longer fit to burst, the hours on the road had soothed her temper and pride but she still didn’t look happy. 

Blue had a thought and tried to keep the smile from her face as she walked up to the knight who was stretching out her back.

“Yellow…” 

The knight looked at her, blonde brow cocked as she looked between her and Pink standing not to far away. Blue smiled, reaching up and pulling off the gleaming golden helmet only making the knight more confused before Blue was pressing a kiss to her lips.

Pink watched the knights eyes nearly pop out of her head as Blue planted a kiss on her unsuspecting lips. 

She giggled as Yellow took Blue by the shoulders and held her at arm's length, face bright red.

“What are you doing!?” She wasn’t quite yelling but it was certainly panicked. 

“It’s alright.” Blue laughed, stepping closer as Yellow’s grip went slack. ‘She knows…” 

Yellow looked up at her.

“That doesn’t mean I want to watch!” Pink yelled, turning away from the two. 

She could hear them now talking quietly to each other, Blue was no doubt explaining how the younger princess had come upon their most closely guarded secret. 

“Pink will never tell a soul.” Blue assured. Running her hand down one of the knights still warm cheeks. 

“I trust her.” The knight nodded, leaning into Blue’s touch.

“Feeling better?” Blue asked gently, tilting her head. 

“I still don’t like this. It’s dangerous.” She growled, covering Blue’s hand with her own on her face. 

“Yes, but it will be alright,darling. We’ll spend the two days rousing the troops and return to the capital. It will be quick. So please, relax a little, for me?” Blue wheedled, leaning in close, their noses almost touching. 

“I will… try.” Yellow mumbled. 

“That is all I ask.” She pecked the knights lips again. 

Once everyone had sufficiently stretched their legs they were back on the road to the fort.  

It was a few more hours before the carriage again began to roll to a stop. 

“Were here.”  Blue said nudging her half asleep sister. 

“Huh?” She grumbled, trying to sit herself up. 

The carriage door opened and Blue quickly made herself presentable before stepping out, Pink hurrying to bring herself to full wakedness behind her. 

    It was dark but the many torches and fires lit inside the fort lit it up enough that the two royals could make out the high stone walls and the many soldiers gathered around the fires, eating or talking and more still laying injured and bandaged on the ground making quiet noises of pain.

Pink looked at all the injured men, their white linen bandages stained a muddy color. Some missing arms, legs or eyes.

Some looked like they had fallen into campfires. Their skin was black and charred, crackled like burnt out firewood.

 Blue looked at them sorrowfully, hands clasped tightly at her waist, carefully hiding the pity she felt at the sight of the mutilated soldiers. 

Pink was more open in her horror, eyes wide and jaw hanging ajar as she looked at the wounded.

Yellow for her part just breathed heavily through her nose. 

“Welcome to Fort Luna.” She grumbled under her breath to the two princess’.

[rohad93]

A Knight Affair: Chapter 11 - To Ashes

For two days, the guards tore the palace and all the surrounding area apart searching for the queen’s assassin. No stone was left unturned, no possible witness left unquestioned, but because so many of the guards had been away and the servants didn’t venture to the third floor without reason, no one had seen or heard anything.

After two full days of searching, the knight captain finally called it off, declaring they had escaped and further searching would only leave the remaining royals vulnerable, to which the men agreed.  

Word spread quickly that the queen had been assassinated by an unknown assailant and the people of the empire could only guess and wonder who had killed their lovely and wise queen?

A queen who had been conscripting men to fight in the still trudging on rebellion. 

A fact that had seemed to vanish from the memories of the people as the news of the murder spread across the land from the empire proper to the sprawlling territories it had brought under its heel. Towns and villages all across the empire kept their heads bowed as they carried on with their days 

The empire was in mourning, from peasants and servants to the remaining members of the royal family. To lose their monarch while still fighting the rebellion raging in the east was a hard blow to take.

The night the search had been called off, Yellow dismissed them for the rest of the night and made her way quickly to Blue’s quarters and slipped silently inside. 

The soon to be queen was sitting at her writing desk with her back to the knight.  A single candle at her side illuminating whatever she was working on as her quill scratched at the paper under her fingers. She was dressed in her sleep wear, probably heading to bed soon.

Yellow waited quietly for the scratching to stop before she spoke.

“What are you working on?” She asked quietly. Blue jolted, turning to look at the knight over her shoulder. Her shoulders dropped, relaxing as cerulean eyes landed on the knight’s armored form.

“Just some final preparations for the coronation." She sighed, setting the quill back in the pot before turning to face her completely.

"How goes the goose chase?" She cocked a brow in amusement.

"It has been long enough that I finally called off the search." She pulled off her helmet with a relieved sigh. “Is everything ready for tomorrow?” She cast the other woman a meaningful look.

“Yes. We shall send her off at noon.” Blue sighed, thinking about the large pyre that had been built in the field just outside the palace over the last day. 

"And Rosaline?" She asked as she worked to take off her armor,putting it away before climbing onto the bed and plopping face first into the goose down mattress. 

Blue had taken full advantage of the situation announcing to the guards and servants that due to her mother's violent death and that the perpetrator had not been caught, the knight captain would be staying close. 

She had the knight moved into the room next to hers, one that had been empty for many years and unbeknownst to most had a secret passageway that connected the two, hidden behind matching paintings of the northern shore.

A turn of events that suited Yellow fine. 

"She's alright… still coming to terms with what's happened." She toyed with the blue diamond pendant hanging from her neck. 

A nervous habit that Yellow picked up on right away, even from her place laying almost completely face down in the pillows. 

"Did something happen today?" She pushed herself up on one elbow to better look at her.

Blues lips pressed into a thin line, gaze drifting off to the side. 

"Azurine…" Yellow prompted softly.

"We had a… disagreement this afternoon… voices may have been raised." She finally admitted, turning to look away from the knight 

"You fought." Yellow corrected bluntly, resting her face in her palm, elbow holding up her tired head.

"Yes…" the soon to be be queen huffed, still refusing to meet the knight's gaze.

"What were you arguing about?" 

"The rebellion. I informed her of my plans to pull the troops from the southern border and send them to the east and finally bring this to an end. She did not agree." Blue reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration. “She wants all the bloodshed to stop immediately. She wouldn’t listen to reason.” 

“For once I may agree with her.” Yellow hummed, making Blue turn to her.

“You think we should just let Aarde go? After all that’s been sacrificed to keep it?” She asked in disbelief. 

“That’s not what I said.” Yellow held up a hand. “I understand that we can’t just pull back now, but everyone is tired of the constant death.” 

“I don’t relish the idea of yet more fighting, but what else can be done?” 

“You could grant them autonomy. They would be beholden to the empire and pay taxes but would in truth be sovereign.” Yellow suggested. Blue hummed, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

“That would be the most widely acceptable solution… How did you get so smart, love?” She asked with a grin.

“Believe it or not, before I would meet you there, I spent my time in the library reading.” She snarked making Blue laugh.

“My apologies. Perhaps I should make you the head scholar rather than knight captain?” She suggested blowing out the candle and casting them both in near complete darkness. A sliver of moonlight was slipping between the curtains, casting just enough light once her eyes had adjusted that Blue could make her way across the room.   

The bed shifted as Blue climbed in beside her, practically forcing Yellow onto her side to better snuggle against her, forcing the knights arms to encircle her. 

A faint chuckle and warm breath against her face let her know that the knight captain had no objections. 

Blue’s hands slipped up the back of the knight’s tunic, fingers running over the raised scars that covered her skin. She felt Yellow shiver as he cool rands skimmed over the warm skin of her back.

It pained her still, knowing how she had suffered, for them. She traced each of the fifteen long scars. She would never forget that day nor the pained look on Yellow’s face after every strike. It would be seared into her memory always. 

“I’ll never let anyone hurt you like this again…” Came her quiet promise in the dark.

She could feel more than see those amber eyes trained on her in the darkness of the bedroom. 

“It wasn’t your fault.” A calloused hand reached up to find her cheek even in the dark.

Blue took hold of it and turned her face to press full lips to every pad of those scarred and hardened fingers.

“Yes, it was.” She mumbled between lavishing affection on the knight. “I should have taken action before, when she began to become unstable. Before any of this happened. I could have saved you and Pink and our people so much suffering.” 

“Azurine…” The bed shifted and the sliver of moonlight was now splashed across Yellow’s face, letting Blue look into those shining amber eyes. “All you would have done was get yourself killed.” She hissed.

“I…” She started and Yellow’s grip around her tightened, pulling her flush against the knight. 

“No. We both know that’s what would have happened.” Her voice was a deep rumble in her throat, a mix of suppressed anger and something Blue couldn’t put a name too. 

The reflection of glittering moonlight in her narrowed eyes gave Blue pause.    

”I promise you, I would gladly take another lashing if it meant keeping you with me.” Her voice was low and guttural in Blue’s ear.

The soon to be queen’s breath hitched as a tide of emotion welled up in her chest, threatening to overflow. 

“Aurelia…” Was all she managed for several long moments. “I love you.” She finally breathed, burying her face into Yellow’s neck. Long fingers tugged her even closer if possible and lips pressed firmly against the top of her head.

“And I you.” She mumbled.

~ ~ ~ 

The morning leading up to the old queen’s final farewell was a bright and sunny one outside, but dark and dreary in the confines of the palace. 

Blue was already sitting at the long dining table when Pink finally came down. 

“Good morning, Rosaline.” She greeted with a small smile. The princess looked tired, not that Blue could blame her. It had been a hard two days, Especially for Pink. 

“Morning” She nodded sitting in her spot next to Blue. She didn’t seem eager to talk this morning, no doubt a multitude of things weighing on her mind today.

“I talked with Yellow last night, about our… disagreement from yesterday and she agreed with you.” That seemed to perk up the girl.

“She did?” She turned to look at her. 

“Partially, but yes. She agreed that more bloodshed was not the answer, so I decided that I won’t be sending more troops to the eastern border. I’m going to send an envoy to the rebellion’s leaders to work out a new solution that I think will benefit us all.” She explained as there food was set in front of them. 

“That’s great.” Pink smiled, but it wasn’t as enthused as it might have been were today any other day. Blue didn’t have to guess at what was bothering her but she had no idea how to ask. 

“I hope you are both well this morning?” They both looked up as Yellow entered the dining hall in full armor, helmet held beneath her arm.

  “Good morning, captain.” Blue smiled at the knight as she stopped a few feet from the table and bowed. “Your Majesty, Your Highness.” 

“Captain…” Blue smiled brightly. Pink couldn’t help but roll her eyes, glad there weren’t really any servants about and wondered how they had managed to keep their secret for five years with the way Blue always lit up when the knight captain appeared. 

“Hi, Yellow.” She turned back to the knight captain. “Where have you been?” 

“Checking on all the guard posts, I want to make sure that everything goes smoothly today.” She turned to the girl.

“Right…” Pink nodded, turning her eyes to her lap. Yellow shared a look with Blue before kneeling down to be face to face with the princess.

“Pink” She said quietly, drawing those pale rose colored eyes to her. “I know that you must still feel… uncertain about what happened, but I am proud of you.” She said. Pink’s eyes popped open.

“Proud?” She repeated in disbelief. The knight nodded. “But I…” She began only for Yellow to shake her head.

“You protected yourself.” She insisted. “If you hadn’t acted you would be dead, with your sister and I not far behind.” She assured. Pink looked away from the intense amber stare to look at her scar covered hands in her lap.  

“I…know that everything is for the better now that she’s…” She stopped herself from saying it. “I still feel bad about it.” She mumbled, looking back up at the knight sadly.

“You will, for a time.” She gave a slow nod. “I will never forget the first time I had to kill. I hated it, as I hate it still, but it was necessary if I wanted to live.” She patted the girl’s knee. 

“In that vein…” She dug into her left boot and pulled out a sheathed stiletto dagger and held it out to Pink.

 The sheath was black with gold fittings and had roses carved into both it’s high polished wooden sides. The hilt was twisted black iron with spiraling thorned, vines etched into the metal. The pommel and crossguard both were golden and polished to a mirror’s shine.

Pink blinked at the weapon owlishly for a long moment before looking up at Yellow, the question unspoken.

“I’m afraid I can’t return the other one to you, for obvious reasons, but I assumed you wouldn’t want it back regardless. So, I took the liberty of acquiring this for you, so you could protect yourself if you need.” She explained, still holding out the dagger. 

Pink reached up slowly, hand hovering over the hilt. 

Yellow said nothing, just held it out patiently. 

Finally the blotchy scarred hand grasped the hilt, taking it from the knight.

“I… don’t know, Yellow…” 

“I do.” She stood back up and looked down at the unsure princess. “You’re capable and what happened was awful, but you shouldn't let it cripple you. You are stronger than that, Rosaline.” The knight’s tone did not brook for argument. It usually didn’t. 

Pink’s grip tightened on the dagger as she held it close to her body and nodded.

“Thank you, Yellow.”

The knight nodded and happened to glance at Blue who was smiling adoringly back at her. Her face flushed as she looked elsewhere, trying to avoid the saccharine look being directed at her.  

Blue knew she must be awfully transparent at the moment but he couldn’t help it. The showing of affection between her sister and the gruff knight filled the would be queen with an intense feeling of joy and peace she hadn’t felt in some time.

Pink glanced between her smiling sister and the flushed knight and couldn’t help but chuckle.

~

At nearly noon the noble families and the representatives from the northern, western and southern territories began to arrive, gathering around the pyre that had been built in the middle of the field. 

The once queen’s body had already been laid upon it that morning, guards standing watch should anyone get any ideas they would be quickly dissuaded.  

The black veil over Blue’s head kept her face shrouded in shadow, hidden from everyone as she and Pink made their way by foot through the field, Yellow followed only a few steps behind with two other guards, each carried a torch. Most of the gathered nobility assuming it was to hide her tears, but the reality was it was to hide the fact that there were no tears.

She and Pink had cried, cried long and hard, mourning their mother. 

The mother they had lost long ago but not realized until the stranger with her face lay dead in the courtyard in a pool of blood and shattered crimson glass. 

Their mother was dead long before she had ever died.

Pink had been quiet the majority of the morning. Blue supposed that was to be expected all things considered. Her mood had been a little brighter after the talk she and Yellow had this morning in the dining hall though. 

She was still keeping an eye on her, she knew Yellow was as well. 

At noon exactly the head cleric moved to the front, a bright spot in the crowd in his high collared white and gold robes and tall cone shaped hat. He began to give a long mournful speech, expounding the many great deeds and virtus of the late queen, whipping many of the assembled into frenzied fits of tears and wailing.  

Blue remained rigid, hands clasped at her waist and eyes dry. She had no grief to give for the corpse laid out in front of her. All her pain had been laid bare already, now she was numb, the rawness already fading. 

The girl at her side was not of the same mind. 

Pink’s shoulders were shaking with her barely controlled sobs. It was moments such as these that reminded her that Pink was still just a girl. One that only until recently had lived a relatively sheltered life, unaware of how terrible things could be. 

How bloody.

She would be no different if it hadn’t been for Yellow, exposing her to the harsh realities of life that existed beyond the palace walls.  

Gently she took hold of Pink’s shoulders and pulled her back against her. Pink let herself be pulled into the cloaked embrace, letting herself sink into the comforting shadows, shielding her from the many eyes all around them. Blue’s arms wrapped securely around her had always protected her, her and the knight she knew was always close at hand. 

Yellow watched the two from beneath the visor of her helmet and sighed silently, wishing there was more she could do for the two of them at the moment, but she had to maintain her distance, and they understood that. 

Finally, the cleric, red faced, with tears running down his own cheeks finished his impassioned speech and turned to look at the knight captain. 

Yellow nodded and she and the two guards at her side stepped away from the two mourning royals toward the pyre. 

The torches were dipped into the bundles of straw, quickly catching in a burst of fire.

Flames licked across the large logs and bundles of straw sandwiched between them, blazing to life. 

The wood groaned and shifted as the fire ate at it.

Blue held Pink tighter against her as the flames caught the long white gown draped atop the wood, the silk material going up in the blink of an eye and soon the old queens form was obscured by the ever higher rising flames.  

After a while, many began to wander away, back towards the palace till only the two royals and the guards remained, watching the flames slowly eat away at the pyre. 

It was nearly dark, the sun only just dipping behind the horizon, lighting the sky brilliant shades of yellow, pink, red and orange when the flames finally began to fade, leaving only smoldering embers and ashes.

“Azurine…” Yellow’s quiet voice at her side finally breathed life back into Blue. She turned to look into those worried amber eyes and nodded to the unspoken question. 

With a gentle tug she pulled Pink along with her as they turned and began the walk back toward the palace, the setting sun at their backs.

The thirty year reign of Queen Winea Diamond was over.