Willows: Chapter 6

[gaiages]

Willows - Chapter 6
Fic Table of Contents

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV
Problems need solving, but duty cannot be ignored.


CWs: mention of blood

And we're moving right along! I like this chapter a lot because I get to show Eir's and Reyna's true personalities a bit better. Without all the titles and duties and so on, how they interact in chapter 5 and here are way more true to themselves :)

Other links: Tumblr | AO3

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Eir kneels near a bush and nods to Reyna, a finger on her lips to urge silence. "It's over there."

Reyna quietly kneels next to the princess and looks over the field. His eyes widen when he spots the beast—a large, cat-like creature languidly sitting among the crops, many eaten away at. While it seemed at ease, it was clear the beast was dangerous, and Reyna couldn't help to stare at the beast's claws. Is it a coeurl? "How can a monster just…"

"…sit around a field as if it owns the place? It doesn't think there's any danger." Eir tsks. "And there wasn't. What are a few farmers going to do against that?"

Reyna frowns and looks back to the monster. It's true, a farmer wouldn't stand a chance.

"Even I'd have trouble against this beast, but I had the farmers prepare something beforehand." Eir continues before Reyna has a chance to mull over her phrasing. "See how slowly it's moving? The crops have been treated with a sleeping potion. I would have preferred not poisoning the crops, but best to lose a few of them now than to lose all of them to the monster."

Reyna hums quietly. She certainly is prepared. Hells, the knights could do with more training about critical thinking—

"Stay here, I'm going to slay it." Eir pulls a long dagger out of a sheath strapped to her shin, but Reyna grabs her arm before she moves.

"Wait! You can't just go out there alone—"

"I don't think you understand, ser knight." Eir hisses the last words out as she wrests her arm from his grasp. "This isn't a strong sleeping potion—anything stronger would affect the soil. Make too much noise and it'll easily shake off the effects. Then it'll rampage and destroy what little there is left!"

"I…" Reyna sighs, oddly hurt by Eir's vitriol. "I'm just worried… not because you're the princess. It's dangerous for anyone."

Eir looks at him for a moment, expression unreadable, before looking out at the field again. "…I apologize. I did not mean to take my frustrations out on you." She shifts, making ready to stand. "Please… just trust me. This isn't my first time doing this. If it looks like I'm having trouble, come out and help. It's nice to have someone watching my back, for once…"

Eir smiles at the knight, and silently leaves the bush before he can respond.

** **

Gods, why is he like that!? Eir thinks angrily to herself as she slowly picks her way through the brush. Why does he care!? …No, I shouldn't be like that. It's clear his concern is genuine, but… She stops, shaking her head. But now's not the time.

Eir slows her progress to a crawl as she approaches the coeurl, dozing in the middle of the field. It's likely to hear me before I get close enough… She pulls a second dagger from her belt and continues to move forward, holding her breath. Just a bit closer…

The coeurl's ears flick backward towards the princess. Now. She throws the small dagger, praying it hits its mark—and a scream from the monster lets Eir know she hit her mark.

Good, but that was the easy part. She rolls from her spot, just barely dodging the coeurl's enraged swipe. She thought quickly about casting a spell but decided against it when she was forced to backstep quickly to avoid another attack. No time to make it discreet… I'll just need to wait it out, and pray Reyna doesn't come and try to be a 'hero'.

Eir continues dancing around the coeurl, slowly closing the distance between her and it, but not attempting to strike. After a few moments, the beast starts moving more lethargically, letting out a small growl as the leg that was hit by the dagger buckles.

Best to finish this now.

** **

Reyna watches the coeurl swipe around the field with trepidation, keeping his grip on the pommel of his sword. I can't even see Eir, is she alright—

Suddenly, the beast screeches in pain and reels back, blood pouring from one of its eyes. Before he realizes it, he sees Eir stab the coeurl in the chest, and it screams again before heavily falling to the ground.

The knight rushes out of the bush to Eir, looking at the monster to make sure it's dead before turning his attention to its slayer. "That… that was incredible!"

Eir is shocked into silence as Reyna continues. "To fell such a beast by yourself, and so quickly!" He circles to the creature's flank, pulling out the small dagger to look at it. "Was there another poison on this? The knights could do well to learn these sorts of tactics."

"Oh… uh, yes, there's a paralyzing poison… be careful with it…"

Reyna looks up at the princess to find her face red. Did she overexert herself? No, maybe— "Right, here." He carefully hands the blade to Eir, and she sheathes it with a nod.

"…Thank you. It's getting dark, so it's a good time to return to the castle."

"What of the beast's body?"

"The villagers will take care of it, they can use the fur and unpoisoned meat." Eir turns on her heel and walks away from the field, and Reyna hurries to catch up as they head down the road back to town.

"Where did you learn to fight like this?"

"I didn't expect you to ask these sorts of questions…" Eir chuckles and gives him an amused look. "Gemna taught me most of it. I couldn't learn all the fancy swordplay my father and the nobles use, but this fighting style suits me better anyway."

The tactics remind me of how spies and assassins defend themselves… who is Gemna, anyway? Reyna stares at the road ahead in thought. So many surprises, and secrets…

After a moment, he sighs, turning to look at Eir. "Why do you do this?"

"What, sneak out? Take jobs for villagers?" The princess sighs. "Because it gets me out of that stifling environment. And…" Eir hesitates for a moment before continuing. "…it makes me feel useful."

Useful? "I'm not sure I follow Ei—Kris…"

Eir side eyes Reyna. "You wouldn't, you're a man." She looks back to the road with a scowl. "Tell me, would you even think twice about me going about slaying beasts if I were a prince, instead?"

"…I suppose I wouldn't. Though I also wouldn't expect most princes to go alone."

"Well, I don't have the luxury of an entourage, with the sneaking and all that." Eir slows her steps, looking at the ground in front of her feet. "But no, my only duty is to look nice for a future husband whom I'll undoubtedly hate. There's no need for me to take the risk of leaving the castle, or learning to defend myself… not when there's a knight to protect me."

The princess smiles at her knight, but it's not bitter or chiding—it just carries a hint of sadness.

To think she goes through all this… Reyna walks beside her in silence. What can I even say? It'd only ring hollow.

Eir stops. "The castle is close. I can't simply walk to the gate like this, so go around another way. I assume Gemna gave you a cover when she sent you out to find me?"

"Ah, yes…"

"Very well, then. We have an early day tomorrow, ser knight, be sure to get your rest—"

Reyna grabs Eir's wrist before she turns away. "Wait."

"Would you stop grabbing me already!? I'm still a princess—"

"I-I'll go with you, from here on."

"I don't need your protection."

Reyna shakes his head. "I know you don't. But maybe… someone to watch your back?" She shouldn't be alone…

"Clever of you to throw my words back at me." Eir huffs, removing her wrist from his grasp. "…Very well. I'm sure Gemna would be ecstatic… but we need to get back, we can speak of it another time." The princess walks into the brush without another word, leaving Reyna alone on the road.

The knight sighs. Yes, certainly an early grave…

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