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schizoauthoressTitle: Promises to Keep
Author: D.L.SchizoAuthoress
Rating: PG
Spoilers: none
Warnings: fantasy AU, crossdressing (unwilling participant)
Word Count: 847
Summary: Escape was surprisingly easy. It's what comes after that will be difficult.
Note: Don't worry, I'll backtrack and this will make more sense later. Part of the Princess!verse.
Word of the Day: Cimmerian - adjective:
1. Very dark; gloomy; deep.
2. Classical Mythology. Of, pertaining to, or suggestive of a western people believed to dwell in perpetual darkness.
"Being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be."
--Princess Diana
Promises to Keep
"You will seek out my daughter and you will not return until you can return with her."
Bruce bowed his head. "Yes, my king," he intoned in a deep voice.
The situation was not quite so simple as locating a lost princess and bringing her home, and part of Bruce yearned to serve in a kingdom where it was that simple. But the Kingdom of Gotham was his home, and the family Wayne had served as knights for its kings for many generations. He would not leave this country -- he felt his fate tied to it as inextricably as the roots of the ancient oaks that grew around his family home.
"Go. Take one of the younger knights with you," King Jack pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Perhaps one of young men my Therese seems to have her eye on..."
Bruce hid a wince at that. Richard or Jason, that was who the King meant. And Bruce did not like either of them, his former squires, associating with the "Princess". But this was an order from the king, who would certainly wonder at Sir Bruce choosing a different young knight to accompany him.
"It shall be done, my king."
"Good. You will leave as soon as possible, my Dark Knight."
****
Stephanie was no stranger to hard work. She worked all her life as a servant of King Jack and Princess Therese, first as a kitchen maid, then as one of the princess's ladies in waiting -- seamstress and embroidery teacher, to be specific. (If anyone thought that her promotion had led to an easier life, they had never tried to teach the Princess of Gotham how to featherstitch!)
All the same, there was only so much difficulty that a woman could stand. The Princess had cried when Cassandra cut off his long hair -- with much apologizing, for even though he could understand the need for stealth and a disguise, he had been unprepared for the emotional backlash. The Princess had accepted the plain boys' clothes that Stephanie had procured for him, though he wore his 'silently suffering' face the entire time. The Princess had insisted on riding side-saddle, as he'd been taught, although the rough terrain of their escape route had made it an uncomfortable ride -- a fact he'd wasted no time whining about once the need for silence had passed.
And now Timothy -- Timothy and not Therese, he insisted, despite the fact that he was acting more like the girl his father had tried to turn him into -- was refusing to enter Rhu's Woods. The path was narrow and the trees thick, turning the forest floor into a gloomy place despite the bright, near-midday sun.
"It is the fastest way to Metropolitia, your highness," Cassandra said patiently. Stephanie admired the fact that her friend was not letting the Princess's spoiled behavior bother her.
"I don't care!" Timothy declared stubbornly. "Rhu's Woods are dangerous! The Dark Knight drove a pair of witches into those woods years ago... who knows what kind of foul magicks they've laid upon that land?"
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. She had sworn to care for the Princess Therese, and had indeed come to count Timothy -- the true person beneath the persona forced on him by his father -- as a friend, but there were some lines she would not let anyone cross. Her tone was far harsher now when she demanded, "You think Cass can't protect us?"
"Cass is a squire! She's not a full knight!" Timothy retorted. "Have you ever heard of anyone going through Rhu's Woods with less than a full complement of knights, and coming out alive?"
Cass brought her black gelding closer to Timothy's bay, and reached out to rest a hand against his arm. Her dark eyes were serious as she said, "I will not let any harm come to you. Trust in me."
"And in me!" Steph exclaimed. She let her grey mare come up on the other side of Timothy's mount, and patted one of his thighs -- grinning widely at the slight blush that action drew from him. It was a familiar reaction. "I will keep you safe, my prince."
Her last words obviously startled him, but slowly, a pleased smile spread over his face. He looked much better when he was happy. "I... thank you. Maid Stephanie, Miss Cassandra... I've been ungracious."
"Yes," Cassandra replied, in her usual blunt way, "You have. But I forgive you."
"As do I," Stephanie assured him. "So long as you don't repeat the behaviour, of course." She guided her mount toward the forest, careful to keep to the path. She glanced back at Timothy and Cassandra. "And if you disrespect Cass again, my prince, I shall throw a rock at your face."
Timothy gaped at her in frank astonishment for a moment, then blushed an even brighter red. "I would deserve no better treatment," he admitted, following Stephanie into the forest.
Cassandra laughed and shook her head as she brought up the rear. This was going to be an interesting journey for sure...
Author: D.L.SchizoAuthoress
Rating: PG
Spoilers: none
Warnings: fantasy AU, crossdressing (unwilling participant)
Word Count: 847
Summary: Escape was surprisingly easy. It's what comes after that will be difficult.
Note: Don't worry, I'll backtrack and this will make more sense later. Part of the Princess!verse.
Word of the Day: Cimmerian - adjective:
1. Very dark; gloomy; deep.
2. Classical Mythology. Of, pertaining to, or suggestive of a western people believed to dwell in perpetual darkness.
"Being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be."
--Princess Diana
Promises to Keep
"You will seek out my daughter and you will not return until you can return with her."
Bruce bowed his head. "Yes, my king," he intoned in a deep voice.
The situation was not quite so simple as locating a lost princess and bringing her home, and part of Bruce yearned to serve in a kingdom where it was that simple. But the Kingdom of Gotham was his home, and the family Wayne had served as knights for its kings for many generations. He would not leave this country -- he felt his fate tied to it as inextricably as the roots of the ancient oaks that grew around his family home.
"Go. Take one of the younger knights with you," King Jack pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Perhaps one of young men my Therese seems to have her eye on..."
Bruce hid a wince at that. Richard or Jason, that was who the King meant. And Bruce did not like either of them, his former squires, associating with the "Princess". But this was an order from the king, who would certainly wonder at Sir Bruce choosing a different young knight to accompany him.
"It shall be done, my king."
"Good. You will leave as soon as possible, my Dark Knight."
****
Stephanie was no stranger to hard work. She worked all her life as a servant of King Jack and Princess Therese, first as a kitchen maid, then as one of the princess's ladies in waiting -- seamstress and embroidery teacher, to be specific. (If anyone thought that her promotion had led to an easier life, they had never tried to teach the Princess of Gotham how to featherstitch!)
All the same, there was only so much difficulty that a woman could stand. The Princess had cried when Cassandra cut off his long hair -- with much apologizing, for even though he could understand the need for stealth and a disguise, he had been unprepared for the emotional backlash. The Princess had accepted the plain boys' clothes that Stephanie had procured for him, though he wore his 'silently suffering' face the entire time. The Princess had insisted on riding side-saddle, as he'd been taught, although the rough terrain of their escape route had made it an uncomfortable ride -- a fact he'd wasted no time whining about once the need for silence had passed.
And now Timothy -- Timothy and not Therese, he insisted, despite the fact that he was acting more like the girl his father had tried to turn him into -- was refusing to enter Rhu's Woods. The path was narrow and the trees thick, turning the forest floor into a gloomy place despite the bright, near-midday sun.
"It is the fastest way to Metropolitia, your highness," Cassandra said patiently. Stephanie admired the fact that her friend was not letting the Princess's spoiled behavior bother her.
"I don't care!" Timothy declared stubbornly. "Rhu's Woods are dangerous! The Dark Knight drove a pair of witches into those woods years ago... who knows what kind of foul magicks they've laid upon that land?"
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. She had sworn to care for the Princess Therese, and had indeed come to count Timothy -- the true person beneath the persona forced on him by his father -- as a friend, but there were some lines she would not let anyone cross. Her tone was far harsher now when she demanded, "You think Cass can't protect us?"
"Cass is a squire! She's not a full knight!" Timothy retorted. "Have you ever heard of anyone going through Rhu's Woods with less than a full complement of knights, and coming out alive?"
Cass brought her black gelding closer to Timothy's bay, and reached out to rest a hand against his arm. Her dark eyes were serious as she said, "I will not let any harm come to you. Trust in me."
"And in me!" Steph exclaimed. She let her grey mare come up on the other side of Timothy's mount, and patted one of his thighs -- grinning widely at the slight blush that action drew from him. It was a familiar reaction. "I will keep you safe, my prince."
Her last words obviously startled him, but slowly, a pleased smile spread over his face. He looked much better when he was happy. "I... thank you. Maid Stephanie, Miss Cassandra... I've been ungracious."
"Yes," Cassandra replied, in her usual blunt way, "You have. But I forgive you."
"As do I," Stephanie assured him. "So long as you don't repeat the behaviour, of course." She guided her mount toward the forest, careful to keep to the path. She glanced back at Timothy and Cassandra. "And if you disrespect Cass again, my prince, I shall throw a rock at your face."
Timothy gaped at her in frank astonishment for a moment, then blushed an even brighter red. "I would deserve no better treatment," he admitted, following Stephanie into the forest.
Cassandra laughed and shook her head as she brought up the rear. This was going to be an interesting journey for sure...