Step Together--Miledy/Guinevere, 893 words
Mar. 8th, 2013 11:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rosageWritten for Professor-Tammi on tumblr, who gave me the prompt of Miledy/Guinevere--they ride Miledy's wyvern together for the first time. That didn't end up quite being what the fic is about but I hope you like it anyway! This is set after chapter 13.
Wind buffeted Miledy’s cheeks as she flew. Since the moment she’d walked in on Guinevere clutching a sword to her chest, her heart hadn’t stopped racing, and she’d felt it twist when Guinevere backed away from her. Only when Guinevere took tentative steps toward her did she allow herself to feel relieved by their reunion. Pushing the memory aside, she stole a glance at Guinevere’s arms around her waist and called back.
“Hold on tight. I have to take us higher if we’re to stay out of the ballista’s range.”
Guinevere’s grip tightened, the only reassurance Miledy had that the wind hadn’t stolen her words. She felt Guinevere’s head press into her back as they climbed and felt sympathy for how uncomfortable the flight must be. However, there was nothing she could do except keep her safe.
Scanning the ground, she located the enemy—Bern’s enemy, not hers. Separating herself from Bern seemed impossible until she remembered that the alternative was separating herself from Guinevere. Already it seemed impossible that they’d spent so long apart. The knowledge that Guinevere herself had chosen that distance burned in her gut.
A thought occurred to her, awful and daring. If she disregarded Guinevere’s orders, she could take her away from the danger on both sides. The thought only lasted an instant. Guinevere had a noble goal, and Miledy would do anything to help her fulfill it. To even think of kidnapping her as her brother had…
She shook her head. There would be time to admonish herself later. Swooping down, she approached the general her had so much faith in. The image of Guinevere plummeting to her death stayed with her after she handed the princess over to Ostia’s caravan and took to the sky, all the while aware of Guinevere’s absence at her back.
xxxxxxx
As soon as the army set up camp, Miledy headed for Guinevere’s tent. After so much time apart, she felt uneasy having Guinevere out of her sight for even a moment, even though she knew the princess would not turn to ash without her. As she approached, the guard posted outside cast her armor a suspicious glance. Glad the army was taking Guinevere’s protection seriously, she moved to announce herself and was stopped by a familiar voice.
“Miledy. There you are.”
Miledy turned and bowed. “Princess. I apologize for not calling on you sooner.”
“No, it’s fine. I wish to discuss something with you.”
“What is it?”
Guinevere glanced toward her tent. “If you wouldn’t mind, my feet…”
Miledy inclined her head. “Of course.”
They settled inside the tent, Guinevere’s skirt crumpling on the dirt underneath her even as she smoothed the top. She smiled thinly when Miledy’s eyes caught the movement.
“I’ve had to get used to nobody caring if I dirty my clothes. It’s ironic; I’d finally come to terms with not frolicking with forest animals, and now…” Her smile wavered. Miledy thought of a story she’d heard about a fox and felt her heart twist.
“It’s all right. You don’t have to force a smile on my account.”
Guinevere’s smile hesitated before collapsing. Her chin drooped to her chest, and her hands trembled as they wrung her dress. “I finally see my brother again, and…”
Miledy dug her thumbnail into her skin to stop herself from reaching out. Had Guinevere kept speaking, Miledy would have offered her counsel, but Guinevere only breathed heavy breaths. It finally struck Miledy that her princess was there, in the flesh, her pain raw and visible. The hurt of knowing that Guinevere hadn’t come to her lessened. In its place came the question of how she could best support her now that she finally could.
It didn’t take long for Guinevere to collect herself. “Are you sure you don’t need more time?” Miledy asked.
Guinevere shook her head. “The people my brother is oppressing are suffering worse than I am. I can’t stop to think about my own situation until I’ve helped them.”
Proud of Guinevere and ashamed of herself for even fantasizing about charioting her away, Miledy nodded. “Then I’ll do anything in my power to help you do so.”
Guinevere’s smile this time was not so thin. ‘Thank you, Miledy. As to that…”
“Yes?”
“When we were flying earlier…I’m afraid I wasn’t prepared for it. The air is so bumpy, and my stomach kept lurching. It was all I could do to hang on.”
“Forgive me. Were we in different circumstances, I would have taken more care.”
“No, you kept me safe, and even abandoned your comrades to do it. It’s just that, now that you are escorting me, I thought I should get more used to flight.”
“I see. In that case, anytime you want to practice, you need only say the word.”
“Thank you.” Guinevere hesitated. “Miledy…” Reaching forward, she squeezed Miledy’s hand. “I’m glad for your support.”
Miledy released a breath she’d been holding ever since she’d first learned of Guinevere’s escape. Bringing Guinevere’s hand to her lips, she felt unexpected calluses brush chapped skin. “My princess, I vow to see you through to the end.” Never again would she falter for even an instant in guiding Guinevere down her chosen path. If Guinevere was willing to fight for what she believed in, Miledy would be right beside her, preparing her for anything that came her way.
Wind buffeted Miledy’s cheeks as she flew. Since the moment she’d walked in on Guinevere clutching a sword to her chest, her heart hadn’t stopped racing, and she’d felt it twist when Guinevere backed away from her. Only when Guinevere took tentative steps toward her did she allow herself to feel relieved by their reunion. Pushing the memory aside, she stole a glance at Guinevere’s arms around her waist and called back.
“Hold on tight. I have to take us higher if we’re to stay out of the ballista’s range.”
Guinevere’s grip tightened, the only reassurance Miledy had that the wind hadn’t stolen her words. She felt Guinevere’s head press into her back as they climbed and felt sympathy for how uncomfortable the flight must be. However, there was nothing she could do except keep her safe.
Scanning the ground, she located the enemy—Bern’s enemy, not hers. Separating herself from Bern seemed impossible until she remembered that the alternative was separating herself from Guinevere. Already it seemed impossible that they’d spent so long apart. The knowledge that Guinevere herself had chosen that distance burned in her gut.
A thought occurred to her, awful and daring. If she disregarded Guinevere’s orders, she could take her away from the danger on both sides. The thought only lasted an instant. Guinevere had a noble goal, and Miledy would do anything to help her fulfill it. To even think of kidnapping her as her brother had…
She shook her head. There would be time to admonish herself later. Swooping down, she approached the general her had so much faith in. The image of Guinevere plummeting to her death stayed with her after she handed the princess over to Ostia’s caravan and took to the sky, all the while aware of Guinevere’s absence at her back.
xxxxxxx
As soon as the army set up camp, Miledy headed for Guinevere’s tent. After so much time apart, she felt uneasy having Guinevere out of her sight for even a moment, even though she knew the princess would not turn to ash without her. As she approached, the guard posted outside cast her armor a suspicious glance. Glad the army was taking Guinevere’s protection seriously, she moved to announce herself and was stopped by a familiar voice.
“Miledy. There you are.”
Miledy turned and bowed. “Princess. I apologize for not calling on you sooner.”
“No, it’s fine. I wish to discuss something with you.”
“What is it?”
Guinevere glanced toward her tent. “If you wouldn’t mind, my feet…”
Miledy inclined her head. “Of course.”
They settled inside the tent, Guinevere’s skirt crumpling on the dirt underneath her even as she smoothed the top. She smiled thinly when Miledy’s eyes caught the movement.
“I’ve had to get used to nobody caring if I dirty my clothes. It’s ironic; I’d finally come to terms with not frolicking with forest animals, and now…” Her smile wavered. Miledy thought of a story she’d heard about a fox and felt her heart twist.
“It’s all right. You don’t have to force a smile on my account.”
Guinevere’s smile hesitated before collapsing. Her chin drooped to her chest, and her hands trembled as they wrung her dress. “I finally see my brother again, and…”
Miledy dug her thumbnail into her skin to stop herself from reaching out. Had Guinevere kept speaking, Miledy would have offered her counsel, but Guinevere only breathed heavy breaths. It finally struck Miledy that her princess was there, in the flesh, her pain raw and visible. The hurt of knowing that Guinevere hadn’t come to her lessened. In its place came the question of how she could best support her now that she finally could.
It didn’t take long for Guinevere to collect herself. “Are you sure you don’t need more time?” Miledy asked.
Guinevere shook her head. “The people my brother is oppressing are suffering worse than I am. I can’t stop to think about my own situation until I’ve helped them.”
Proud of Guinevere and ashamed of herself for even fantasizing about charioting her away, Miledy nodded. “Then I’ll do anything in my power to help you do so.”
Guinevere’s smile this time was not so thin. ‘Thank you, Miledy. As to that…”
“Yes?”
“When we were flying earlier…I’m afraid I wasn’t prepared for it. The air is so bumpy, and my stomach kept lurching. It was all I could do to hang on.”
“Forgive me. Were we in different circumstances, I would have taken more care.”
“No, you kept me safe, and even abandoned your comrades to do it. It’s just that, now that you are escorting me, I thought I should get more used to flight.”
“I see. In that case, anytime you want to practice, you need only say the word.”
“Thank you.” Guinevere hesitated. “Miledy…” Reaching forward, she squeezed Miledy’s hand. “I’m glad for your support.”
Miledy released a breath she’d been holding ever since she’d first learned of Guinevere’s escape. Bringing Guinevere’s hand to her lips, she felt unexpected calluses brush chapped skin. “My princess, I vow to see you through to the end.” Never again would she falter for even an instant in guiding Guinevere down her chosen path. If Guinevere was willing to fight for what she believed in, Miledy would be right beside her, preparing her for anything that came her way.
