Willows: Chapter 3

[gaiages]

Willows - Chapter 3
Fic Table of Contents

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV
Eir and Reyna get a break from their busy schedule.


CWs: none

This is a fluffy chapter, where the two get a moment's peace from Eir's extremely busy schedule. I really like their dynamic :)

Other links: Tumblr | AO3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

"You can hold me closer, I will not crumble into pieces just because you squeezed a little."

Reyna responds with a grunt as he readjusts his grip on the horse's reins. "I am not worried about that, Your Highness, so much as—"

"—as the castle staff gossiping? It is far too late for that, ser knight—they have been talking about you before you even arrived." Eir chuckles lightly before leaning back against Reyna. "But the gossip will be far worse for the both of us should I fall off this horse. It's quite difficult to keep my balance." She makes an annoyed gesture at the large skirt of her flowing dress.

"...Very well." Reyna couldn't very well argue the point with the princess—it was clear how much she was swaying with each of the horse's slow, plodding steps. He takes one arm and wraps it around Eir's waist, helping to steady her as he holds the rein in the other hand. "Better?"

"Yes." Eir offers the knight a soft smile before turning to watch the path ahead. The gesture catches Reyna off-guard—even after these days together, he could rarely guess how the princess was really feeling. But every once and a while, her words seemed more genuine, as if she was letting her guard down, if only a bit. Reyna wasn't sure what to make of it.

"It is nice to have a moment of peace, yes?" Eir doesn't turn back around to look at Reyna, and a weary look crosses her features.

Reyna offers a short hum in agreement. The last few weeks have been nothing but a whirlwind of lessons, meetings, and humoring nobles—he'd barely been able to rest the whole time. He got some reprieve when Eir had to attend to private matters, but it also made him wonder when she even slept, let alone relaxed.

Eir smiles, but the smile doesn't reach her tired eyes. "I must apologize for these last few weeks. I trust you are getting some rest when you can? I cannot have my knight too tired to protect me."

While Reyna didn't feel very rested, he gave her a nod regardless. "What of you, though? Is this truly your schedule every day? I fear you have no time to sleep…"

"What? Oh, I-I…" Eir covers her face with her hand, seemingly caught off guard by the question.

The sudden change in demeanor made Reyna nervous. "Ah—I'm sorry, that was improper—-"

"No, you are fine. It is just… I don't believe anyone has expressed such a concern, besides Gemna." She offers Reyna a smile to soothe his concerns. "Regardless, I am fine. I'm more than used to my schedule. I do appreciate your concern, though."

Reyna nods again, and after a moment, Eir continues. "Of course, the breaks are usually short moments like these… safe rides inside the castle walls, or a quiet tea time in my chambers."

There was a hint of bitterness in her voice. The knight knew that Eir seldom ventured outside of the castle—and guessing by the way she talked about it, Reyna figured it was not by choice. He cannot well question the king's judgment of such matters involving his daughter, but Reyna can understand the princess's frustration.

"Perhaps, Princess, there will be more opportunities to venture outside the castle now that someone can protect you from threats."

"Perhaps." Eir stares at the path, sounding wholly unconvinced. Reyna did not try to press the matter further—it'd only make her mood worse if he attempted to console her.

As such, the two fell into silence as the horse continued along its route. The swaying along the quiet path threatened to lull the knight to sleep… which is when he felt Eir's head lean against his chest.

He looks down at the princess to find her ears folded down and eyes closed, peacefully asleep. Reyna couldn't help but lightly chuckle at the sight. The princess, after all, was the princess—the only heir to the throne, elegant, intelligent. It can be difficult to remember that she, also, is a normal person.

When Reyna looks back up to the path, the knight decides to take the long way back to the stables—it was clear Eir could use the extra rest.

***

"So, how was your afternoon, Eir?"

Eir frowns slightly at the tone of Gemna's voice—she can tell the handmaiden trying to start something. "...It was fine, Gemna, nothing out of the ordinary."

"Oh, truly now? So quick to say that… too quick, I think." Gemna smirks at the princess, and Eir responds with a huff as she begins to undo her dress.

"What is this about—"

"You wouldn't believe what I heard from the groundswoman today."

Eir groans and she pulls on the back of the dress.

"It sounded like a picture from a fairytale! The handsome and gentle knight riding in with a sleeping princess in his arms? So romantic—"

"I wasn't sleeping by then, Gemna."

"But you were before, were you not? It seems Reyna was late getting back too… giving you extra time to nap, no doubt?"

The princess sighs in annoyance. "Yes, I ended up missing tea with that merchant's son. Father was upset."

"I don't think you're upset about it, though. What did you say that merchant's name was?"

Eir is silent for a moment, then waves Gemna off. "Oh, I don't know. It doesn't matter. Just another noble family looking to curry more favor with Father and probably ask to marry me. As they all do. As if they don't have enough favor and wealth already."

Gemna snorts as Eir aggressively pulls at a particularly tight bow on the dress. "Well well, you're even more worked up than usual." The Bangaa shoos Eir's hands away as she works on untying the bow. "Why is that?"

"Reyna asked if I was alright."

"I don't see why that would annoy you."

"No one ever asks that—in a genuine way, I mean."

"Mm." Gemna lets the silence hang in the air, and after Eir struggles with another tight bow, she gives up and continues.

"I suppose it caught me off-guard. Why would a knight care about how much I'm sleeping?"

"Any decent knight would care about their charge's well-being, Princess." Gemna smiles and she quickly undoes the offending bow. "Either way, you seem comfortable enough with Reyna to fall asleep on him. You haven't scared him off yet, either."

"I will admit he's far more tolerable than the others have been. At least he isn't a doddering old man or some wet-eared, useless noble." Eir looks at Gemna through the mirror as she begins pinning her hair up. "Regardless, Reyna has been my shadow long enough, it is about time he—and I—have a break."

"I see. Will you be going, then?"

"Yes. I pray you'll take care of matters in my absence?"

"Of course." Gemna chuckles. "Enjoy your time out, dear."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~