Past the Point of No Return saberwolf || Sailor Moon

[Saber]

To say that Illyana wasn't pleased to see Cecil was a gross understatement. She borderline loathed him, but that was mainly do to his smug personality and air of elitism that seemed to seep from his very body. This was only proven when he would try and attain Dahlia's attention. When the princess walked off, something Illyana was more than accustomed to, she followed, and she heard Cecil call after the young woman. Her eyes rolled as the man jogged after them and Illyana kept walking, catching up with the princess before the young prince grabbed Dahlia by the arm to stop her. It took all that the knight had not to grab the prince, no one was to lay their hands on the princess without her permission, especially an over zealous boy. Green eyes narrowed as she glared at the man before turning away, letting Dahlia handle the situation on her own.

When Cecil suggested they tour the hedge maze, Illyana wasn't surprised that Dahlia agreed. The garden was one of the princess's favorite places to visit, and one of her favorite hiding spots when she wanted to lose her guards. The Knight Commander tried to ignore the flirtatious nature of Cecil, but it was wearing on her already thin patience. Having some fresh air was helpful as they exited the castle and wandered towards the gardens. When they finally reached them, Illyana hung back for a moment, trying to calm her already shredded nerves. As if learning she was the reincarnate of an ancient guardian to a goddess, she had to deal with the pompous actions of a prince who was trying far too hard to gain the affection of her princess. The knight shook her head, that was a troubling statement. Dahlia was only her princess in the sense that she was the heir to the throne, her charge to protect.

That's not to say she could block out the actions that Cecil took to get her princess's attention. She tried to ignore the ever-so-forward prince the best that she could. But when he reached forward and brushed a lock of Dahlia's hair behind her ear, the knight felt her blood pressure rise. She turned away, hands clenched into fists and a weight in her chest that was fueling her anger. Was she jealous? She huffed softly, jealous of a mere boy who had no accomplishments to his name other than being born a prince. The knight frowned and furrowed her brow. The last person she wanted to be jealous of was Cecil. When Illyana glanced over her shoulder again, Dahlia was flushed and Cecil was walking off into the maze.

When the prince was out of sight, Dahlia moved into the maze, a bit slower in pace and Illyana followed a few feet behind. It was a bit awkward, the silence, but Illyana was deep in thought. Seeing Dahlia react to Cecil the way she did, maybe that's what the princess was looking for. That would make sense after all, princesses were meant to marry princes, or at least that's what Illyana had been told most of her life. Royalty was meant for royalty and everyone else had to take what they could get. A soft sigh escaped the knight's lips as she glanced up at Dahlia. Of course people were allowed to pine after someone of higher status, is that what was happening? Was she pining? She hadn't pursued anyone since Lyra, and there was never pining, she and Lyra had always been close and open with their feelings. But how could a mere knight be open with how she felt about a princess?

As the two women moved slowly through the hedge maze, amazingly keeping Cecil ahead of them and not caring, or maybe not noticing they were so far behind, Illyana finally decided the break the silence. "Can we talk about last night?" She asked tentatively. The knight wasn't sure how Dahlia was going to react, but it needed to be discussed. There had been a massive misunderstanding that Illyana wanted to correct. "When you said I wouldn't have kissed you at all, you were wrong. Just because I wasn't seeing...right, doesn't mean I wouldn't kiss you as you." Illyana was blushing, she could feel her cheeks warming and she hated it. "I-I'm just...fairly sure I'm not allowed to kiss a princess, a princess that I'm supposed to be protecting."

 

[envogue]

Dahlia walked slowly, much slower than she'd realized. The prince was already a good ways ahead of her, and he seemed to be so enamored with the hedge maze that he didn't stop to harass her. Every now and again he would glance back at her, but he was content that she was walking alone. She would flash the prince a smile every so often, but her mind was elsewhere, on more important matters.

Dahlia was a prideful woman, but she worried that maybe she had been a little too rash the night before. She folded her arms behind her back, biting her lip and wondering if she should perhaps break the silence between her and Illyana. Dahlia was preparing to turn around and do just that. It took a lot for the princess to get over the feeling that she wasn't in the wrong, but she somehow managed it so that she could get to the bottom of it.

The words were about to roll off the tip of her tongue when Illyana spoke up first, causing the hair's on the back of Dahlia's neck to stand up. She was somewhat startled, but more relieved than anything to hear Illyana's voice. The hard part was over. As she listened to Illyana, she raised a skeptical brow. How was she to believe that Illyana would kiss her over a Goddess? The insecurity, which was new to the princess left her unsure of whether to trust Illyana's words.

"Aren't you the one that said that our relationship was inappropriate, or something of that nature?" Dahlia asked quietly. She didn't want to chance the prince hearing their conversation, so she continued walking forward, her eyes watching Cecil's back. When the opportunity presented itself, Dahlia spun around quickly and grabbed Illyana by the hand. She made a left turn into the hedge maze, in the opposite direction of Cecil.

"You don't need any more allowance than me kissing you back, Illyana," Dahlia said, as she stopped in a small clearing. The rules of courting were no mystery to the princess, but she wasn't interested in listening to them. No one really got into trouble for dating outside of their ranks, as far as Dahlia knew, but she had lived a very sheltered life. "Is that really all that's stopping you from going forward with this? What society thinks about our...relationship? How ever did our past selves manage if one was a goddess and the other a guardian?" She asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.​

 

[Saber]

Our relationship? Illyana blinked when the princess finally spoke and she was a bit thrown off when Dahlia had said 'our relationship'. The knight glanced up and past Dahlia to see Cecil still meandering through the maze. That didn't bother her one bit, the farther away he got the better. The Knight Commander sighed softly before combing her fingers through her hair and trying to keep any signs of her anxiety out of her expression. The princess's words were sinking in. Was the only thing stopping Illyana from showing Dahlia affection because she was only a knight? As many times as she'd said it to herself, she wasn't exactly sure if that was truly the reason. Maybe she couldn't accept that feelings had grown for the princess after their past interactions, and so suddenly.

Before Illyana could answer the princess, she was grabbed by the hand and dragged in the opposite direction of the prince that was still blissfully oblivious to the fact that Dahlia wasn't near him. What the princess had said next would ring in Illyana's ears for a moment, stunning her. From what she had interpreted was that Dahlia actually wanted something to happen between them. Either that or she was just goading the knight into something, and at this point, it was hard to tell. As far as Illyana knew, Dahlia almost despised her, more than ever after their mistaken kiss.

"Honestly, I've never seen far enough in my visions to see how their relationship bloomed." Illyana admitted as she rubbed the back of her neck and let out a soft sigh. It was true, she didn't know how Volana and Arian had become a couple, but she assumed whatever a goddess wanted, she would get. Perhaps it would be the same with a princess. "Does...that mean you would want something to happen between us, Princess?" The Knight Commander was curious now. Had that one kiss really changed Dahlia's mind so easily? She moved forward and gently took Dahlia's hand in her own, looking into deep blue eyes. "Would you want me to court you?"

 

[envogue]

After all of the imagined rejection that Dahlia had experienced at the hands of Illyana, she couldn't believe that Illyana would ever ask her such a thing. "C-courting?" The princess repeated, her voice cracking just slightly. Flustered was an understatement to how Dahlia was handling this whole thing, but she couldn't deny the tiny butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Were these her own feelings or the mysterious spirit of some Goddess beckoning to Illyana, to be reunited with her one true love? Everything seemed to be spinning and Dahlia sank back into the bushes behind her.

"I'm sorry," Dahlia said quietly, nearly breathless. She steadied herself on the same bush that broke her fall seconds before, and then looked up at Illyana. The knight commander appeared as the white haired guardian Dahlia saw in previous visions, and Dahlia groaned. Now was the worst time to be hallucinating, yet here Arian was, standing in Illyana's place. Arian looked just like Illyana, but her garb always gave her away. It's not real. Dahlia told herself. She closed her eyes, then slowly blinked them open. Much to her relief, Illyana was where she was supposed to be and Arian had faded from view.

"Before I answer that, I should tell you something..." Dahlia turned away, her back facing the knight commander. She had planned to tell the knight commander that she too had seen the visions of her past self, but saying it out loud terrified her. Dahlia had all these doubts and worries, that maybe it would change things. She didn't want to say that she was the reincarnation of some Goddess, but it was becoming more difficult to ignore.

"I've never courted with anyone before," Dahlia admitted, lifting her hair off of her neck briefly to unfasten the ribbon tied around her hair. "Others have tried to initiate it, of course, but I've always turned them away. My father never made me accept them, either." She turned back around, ribbon in hand. She took Illyana's hand, and fastened it around her wrist into a neat bow. "If we're to court, we will need to keep it a secret for the time being," Dahlia finally said. Her cheeks turned rosy, and a smile that was hard to fight was working it's way onto her lips.

Agreeing to court with Illyana filled Dahlia with more joy than she had expected. It felt right to say yes, to see where this would go instead of their usually strained romance. So much weight had been lifted from her shoulders with this turn of events. There was still the threat of Aroch and his allies, but Dahlia had one less thing to stress over.​

 

[Saber]

Cecil had noticed that the princess had been trailing behind him a bit, but he didn't mind. He felt he might've over stepped his boundaries with his small show of affection earlier, so some space might not have been a bad idea. Still, he had been aware that she was following him. That was, until he turned around and neither Princess Dahlia, nor Lady Artania was behind him. He frowned deeply, spinning in a small circle and trying to spot either the blonde or silver haired women. When he didn't find them, he started back tracking through the maze. He came to a split in the hedges and went straight forward where the path led to a small opening. That's where he spotted Princess Dahlia and her guard. He narrowed his eyes slightly when he watched the princess tie a small ribbon around the knight's wrist. Cecil cleared his throat before making himself known.

"I seemed to have lost you, Majesty." He said as she joined the two women in the clearing. His eyes glanced to the Knight Commander and flitted to the ribbon on her wrist. "I'm not sure if that's your color, Knight Commander."

Illyana hadn't had a chance to react to the news that Dahlia had actually agreed to court. As soon as the princess had finished tying the ribbon to her wrist, Cecil appeared and Illyana took a defensive half step away from Dahlia. The prince was eyeing the ribbon and Illyana glanced down at it before addressing him. "Unfortunately I caught a thorn on one of the rose bushes." She answered offering a polite smile to the smug prince. "The princess was kind enough to dress the minor wound for me, despite my arguments."

"She's far too kind to you." Amber eyes narrowed before Cecil turned back to the princess with a small bow. "I fear the weather isn't agreeing with our plans. May I suggest we move back into the castle." As if waiting for the princes to finish his statement, a soft clap of thunder rolled through the air and Cecil glanced up to see a large accumulation of dark clouds. "We might have less time than I thought." Cecil offered his hand to the princess to escort her back inside. "If I may, your Majesty."

Illyana had to keep herself contained as the prince continued to speak to the princess. He was laying it on rather thick, but he was a prince. He probably felt it was his duty to try and sweep Dahlia off her feet. Still, she did her best to ignore Cecil the best that she could. Though when the thunder sounded, she did agree that it was time to go inside. She felt one droplet of rain land on her head and a few seconds later, another one. It was a light rain, but with the promise of more as the smell of it filled the air.

"I believe it would be a good idea to head back into the castle before it starts to pour, Majesty."

 

[envogue]

Dahlia saw Cecil entering the clearing and casually dropped her hand down to her side. It was no surprise to her that Cecil would want to go looking for them, but he couldn't have picked a better time to interrupt them. She remained calm, smiling even brighter, as if happy to see Cecil again. Even if it was a slight inconvenience, Dahlia would rather Cecil catch them doing something innocent that could easily be explained away by the both of them. She was thankful that Illyana didn't freeze up, in fact, the knight commander was better at telling stories than Dahlia anticipated.

Before Dahlia could insert her own thoughts on going inside, the thunder clapped so loud that she nearly jumped behind Illyana. The Princess had never been a fan of thunderstorms. She much preferred the rain when it was calm and steady. Dahlia glanced up at the sky, before sighing. She was well aware that Cecil was holding his hand out to her, and that he wanted her to take it. She touched her index and middle finger to the center of Cecil's palm, though not lingering as she moved past the stunned prince.

"How about we take a stroll down to the library?" Dahlia asked, as she bounded up the stone steps leading back into the castle. "Well, that's where I'm going, at least. You all don't have to follow me."

The princess continued on down the halls, keeping to herself mostly. She had a soft smile on her lips, and appeared to be lost in thought. Cecil noticed this, since he was almost walking beside Dahlia. He wondered what she could be smiling about, and if it had anything to do with what he walked in on in the maze garden just minutes before. A thorn bush? Cecil's face scrunched up momentarily, and he discreetly turned his head, trying to steal a peek at the ribbon tied around Illyana's hand. He didn't see any blood, but he didn't see any reason for them to lie.

Cecil hadn't even realized they were in the library since he was fixated on Illyana's hand for most of the journey there. He paused briefly, then looked around the large room filled with massive shelves of books, as well as several busts of the royal family, including the late queen. The library was larger and more magnificent than the one in Incessum, or anywhere he had been, for that matter. "This is a very impressive collection, Your Majesty."

"Tell my father that. He would love to hear it." Dahlia walked over to the bay window that looked out into part of the garden, arms folded across her chest. Lightning lit up the sky and the wind howled against the castle walls, causing Dahlia to frown. "I'm afraid at this rate the roads will be flooded." ​

 

[Saber]

Illyana bowed her head as Dahlia passed her, Cecil in tow like a lost puppy and they both headed inside. The Knight Commander followed, of course, she knew the way to the library well. She spent a lot of her time there before she started guarding the princess. Though now she hadn't been there in several months with her new position and time spent in the infirmary. So she followed behind the two monarchs, a bit scorned that her time with Dahlia had been cut short. She was sure the prince had seen more than he should have, since he kept glancing back at the Knight Commander most of the way to the library. When they reached it, she watched Dahlia move to a large window and look out over the now rain soaked land. The mention of flooded roads made Illyana cringe. That meant that the prince and visiting king might not be leaving today. Or tomorrow, depending on how long the storm lasted.

"If the roads flood, my father and I might end up staying the night." Cecil hummed as his brow furrowed and a hand came up to cradle his chin. He was in thought, that much was obvious. Probably thinking of some other ways to get time in with the princess, but he wouldn't be able to spend every minute with her. Or that's what Illyana hoped, at least. "Of course, I would enjoy the extra time I could spend with you, Princess Dahlia."

The knight rolled her eyes as she turned away from the two, moving towards a plush, leather sofa. The royal library held almost every book in existence, or at least a copy of it. The knowledge was vast and Illyana had learned a lot about foreign warfare by studying. She sat down on the sofa with a soft sigh before letting her head fall back against the comfortable material. It was then that she realized how tired her body was. The leather felt like it was molding to her body, cradling it gently so no joint was taking more weight than the other. She could've fallen asleep then and there if Cecil hadn't continued to speak.

"You must have a tough job, Lady Artania." Cecil added as he glanced in her direction and Illyana lifted her head to look at him. "Following the princess around, getting cut by thorns. Perhaps you should take your leave and go see the healer? I can't imagine the strain you must be under."

"I'll give you credit, boy," Illyana chuckled, letting her head fall back again as she stared up at the intricate artwork on the ceiling of the library. "You've got your elite condescending tone mastered." She lifted her head once more and offered him a small smirk. "Maybe if you get a paper cut the princess would feel so inclined to give you ribbon as well. If you didn't faint first at the sight of your own blood." The Knight Commander got an odd sense of satisfaction with the shade of red that Cecil's face illuminated with. After all, he was still just a boy, prince or not, he couldn't be older than her youngest soldier. And even they had more respect than he did.

"If it's the princess's attention you vie for so eagerly," Illyana stood and moved over to the window where Dahlia sat. She bowed at the waist and brought her hand over her chest in a formal bow. "Then all you need to do is ask her to send me away. I am sworn to obey her every command."

 

[envogue]

Dahlia rolled her eyes at Cecil's remark. She'd learned by now that ignoring his comments was the best way to get him to turn his attention elsewhere. Unfortunately he often set his sights on Illyana, who was usually just minding her business. She sighed softly as the two began to bicker, closing her eyes and shaking her head. Best if I stay out of this one... Dahlia was watching the rain trail down the window pane when she'd heard the last bit of what Illyana had said. It seemed Illyana really was done playing around with Cecil, she wasn't pulling any punches and it showed on Cecil's face. She could see the embarrassment on the young prince's face clear as day, and he turned to Dahlia for some sort of answer.

The princess was hesitant to respond to Illyana, though it was Cecil who was truly waiting. This moment would tell him where they stood...Maybe it would make him try harder for her affections? Dahlia's expression remain unchanged, but she was unsure of what to say. Cecil was still royalty, there was a limit to how far she could push him away before it began to affect Lunaria's relations with Incessum. She turned to face the room. Her gaze lingered on Illyana's for a moment too long, before she looked at Cecil.

"I'm very sorry, Cecil. But you can not have a private audience with me without Lady Artania present - these are my father, the king's wishes." Dahlia said. A smirk flashed on her lips, before she turned back towards the window. "Though, I haven't minded her presence much as of late."

Cecil grunted, then folded his arms and leaned back against one of the nearby book shelves. He was beginning to loathe the knight commander, and Dahlia's final words on the subject made his blood boil. "I see." Cecil said through gritted teeth. He pushed off of the book shelf and started to walk away. His senses came to him for a brief moment. "Princess." Dahlia turned back around, and they both bowed, before Cecil left the library.

After the doors shut, blue eyes found Illyana's. "You don't have to participate in his games, you know." She said, a slight smile on her lips. "But I suppose I have no room to talk, hm?" ​

 

[Saber]

Illyana was only a little surprised when Dahlia answered the way she did. Even after agreeing to court, she knew the princess sometimes liked to be...difficult. Still, the knight couldn't help but feel satisfied with the answer, and the reaction it received from Cecil. The woman stood up again, watching as the prince left the library, surprisingly not throwing some sort of fit. When the doors to the library closed again, Illyana let out a soft sigh and relaxed her demeanor. When the princess addressed her, Illyana just shrugged and sat down next to the princess in the bay window.

"He wants to damage my honor." Illyana answered as she watched the rain fall over the grounds outside. The clouds blocking the sun made it look bleak outside, even though everything was still bright and colorful as far as plant life. "What sort of knight would I be if I let him? Besides." The Knight Commander leaned back against the window and shrugged again, that was pretty much all she could muster in the form of an expression for Cecil. "The young prince needs to be put in his place from time to time. A good ruler doesn't see themselves as better than anyone else, in my opinion."

The young woman glanced over at the princess and then back down to the ribbon on her wrist. It was strange to think of courting Dahlia, and the fact that Dahlia had never really courted before. Of course in all reality, Illyana had really only courted Lyra and that hadn't been much more than a formality. She wondered again if Cecil had seen more than he let on in the garden. Perhaps that was why he was jabbing at Illyana in the library. After all, as a prince, he would feel that Dahlia should be paying more attention to him. He might've been testing his boundaries with the princess to know what he could and couldn't say or do. The thought alone made Illyana uneasy. It wouldn't really be out of reason for Dahlia to consider courting the prince, it was a more...sensible match.

"He very much likes to see what he can get away with, Princess." The knight said finally, looking up from the ribbon to look at Dahlia. "Sometimes a bit too far for my liking. If I let him overstep just once I'm afraid he'll think he can all the time."

 

[envogue]

"The young prince needs to be put in his place from time to time. A good ruler doesn't see themselves as better than anyone else, in my opinion."

While Dahlia didn't agree with the latter part of Illyana's comment, she did believe that Cecil needed to be put in his place. He often overstepped boundaries, and Dahlia was sure that if she were actually a poor farmer's daughter like she'd joked before, Cecil wouldn't have been able to contain himself as well. The thought sent chills up her spine, and she looked over to Illyana, who was now staring at the ribbon Dahlia had gifted to her. She smiled softly, her ears and half of her face suddenly burning up.

"He very much likes to see what he can get away with, Princess." The knight said finally, looking up from the ribbon to look at Dahlia. "Sometimes a bit too far for my liking. If I let him overstep just once I'm afraid he'll think he can all the time."

Dahlia was stunned when Illyana looked away from the ribbon and up at her. It was as if Illyana knew that Dahlia had been staring all along. She swallowed and looked out the window, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Even though they were officially courting Dahlia still found herself weak in the knees whenever Illyana so much as breathed in her direction.

"Don't be paranoid, Illyana." Dahlia replied coolly, though her body language was far from cool. She hated to act flustered or nervous, and now that they were alone together the fact that things had changed between them gave her butterflies. Dahlia inhaled deeply, then smiled as she turned slightly to look at Illyana. She couldn't help but wonder how the Goddess Volana managed to be around Arian without her nerves getting the better of her. "I'm sure the prince knows now, since I've told him you won't be going anywhere." Her hand found Illyana's as she spoke, and Dahlia leaned in closer to Illyana.

They had already shared a passionate kiss and were courting. The hard part was over, at least Dahlia thought so. She couldn't muster up the courage to finish closing the distance between their lips, though. In fact, when Dahlia noticed that she was slowly inching closer to Illyana her face turned even redder. She glanced away from the silver haired woman as casually as possible, almost kicking herself for being such a coward. She bit down on the knuckle of her index finger gently, before taking a deep breath through her nostrils.

As if right on cue, Ella entered the library with a silver platter full of Dahlia's favorite snacks. "Princess," Ella said, as she stopped in her tracks. "I-I'm sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting...anything. I thought you might be hungry, since you missed breakfast." The handmaiden bowed her head low as she spoke, her cheeks turning red.

When Ella entered, Dahlia straightened up. She was thankful that nothing too intimate had happened before Ella walked in. Dahlia was possibly even glad that Ella had interrupted them before anything else could happen. Still, she was sitting awfully close to Illyana and she had only just realized her hand was still resting on Illyana's. She smoothly moved her hand away and back onto her lap. Hearing Ella's apology, Dahlia shook her head and smiled as naturally as she could. "You're quite alright, Ella. I was actually just telling Lady Artania that you make the best muffins. I see you've brought some for her to try." ​

 

[Saber]

Illyana was a bit surprised at the small affection Dahlia was giving her. She smiled softly as the princess's hand rested on hers and Dahlia leaned in a little closer. The knight tensed slightly, the way Dahlia was moving, it was as if she was going to kiss her. Even though Illyana and the princess had already shared a kiss, this was a bit different. The Knight Commander swallowed before Dahlia must've noticed how close she was to her and turned away, blushing furiously. A soft chuckle escaped the knight's throat before Ella made her presence known and Dahlia pulled away. The Knight Commander looked over at the blushing handmaiden before offering a calm smile.

"Yes, princess, I know how much you enjoy my muffins." Ella glanced at the Knight Commander and then back at the princess before clearing her throat and bowing. "I still have some chores to finish up, Majesty. I will be back in a little while to take the tray back to the kitchen." Ella wasn't exactly sure what was going on between Lady Artania and Dahlia, but the proximity they had been sitting in showed some intimacy. But that was absurd, Dahlia didn't have any reason to be so close to Lady Artania. From what Ella could tell, the princess didn't like the Knight Commander much. While deep in thought she noticed that she was still bowing to the princess. "If you'll excuse me, your Majesty. Lady Artania." With that Ella left the library and resumed doing her daily chores.

Illyana sighed as Ella made her exit and she turned back to Dahlia. She had been hoping that she would have more time alone with Dahlia, but she reasoned that you could never really be alone with a princess. Ella was her favorite handmaiden, after all, she always seemed to know where Dahlia was and got the softer side of the princess. Illyana sighed softly before turning back towards the princess and smiled.

"Ella is too kind." Illyana bowed her head slightly before continuing. "I'll have to thank her the next time I see her. And really I should be thanking you for not sending me away earlier. I'm sure Cecil would've enjoyed that too much." The knight moved forward, bringing her hand up to gently cup Dahlia's cheek and softly laying a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sure I'll find a proper way to thank you in the future." Illyana pulled away and smiled before looking back at the food Ella had brought. "Now, I think I'll try one of these muffins that you were praising." Illyana stood and moved over to the platter before picking out a rather large blueberry muffin. "Did you have an idea of what else you'd like to do today, Majesty?"

 

[envogue]

Dahlia sensed that Ella was suspicious of what she had just walked in on, but she knew her handmaiden well, and Ella wasn't the type for confrontation. If Ella did think something was going on, she would most likely try to explain it away, or discreetly try to bring it up in private when she was alone with Dahlia. Either way, Dahlia wasn't too worried about Ella. Her handmaiden was the most trustworthy person she knew. "Thank you," Dahlia gave the handmaiden a small nod, before Ella turned away and left.

When Ella was gone, Dahlia folded her arms in consideration. Hm. May not be so horrible to have someone who knows about us. She thought, and then turned back to Illyana, rolling her eyes at her little comment. "Hm?" Dahlia blinked up at Illyana as a hand cupped her cheek. She was not prepared for any of it, and it shown on her face with how red it got from the kiss. She would expect to be used to receiving affection from Illyana by now, but it never seemed to get any easier. A simple kiss on the forehead was enough to leave the princess dizzy, and she had to steady herself on a bookshelf while Illyana left to try a muffin.

Dahlia was able to regain her composure before Illyana could see the effect she had on her. She smiled casually, walking over to the tray of goodies and taking a cherry from a small dish. "Well, actually I was thinking I would go and see how far along they've come with my room." She bit down into the cherry, small beads of red trailing down her bottom lip. She rolled her lips together smoothly and licked it off, not thinking twice about it. "I've actually grown quite tired of my room in the knight's tower. It's so cramped...and is very much lacking in personal style. If Aroch destroys my room again I fear I'll have to end him myself," Dahlia said, with a slight smirk. "I guess we've been in the library for awhile now, anyway. Migrating may be best, before someone else finds us."

Dahlia almost frowned at the idea of leaving Illyana, but taking a small break for now seemed best. She reached for the knight commander's hand, giving it a tender squeeze, and then backing away slowly. "I'll see you at dinner, yes?"​

 

[Saber]

Illyana nodded as Dahlia spoke of going to see her newly renovated chambers. She couldn't blame the princess for disliking the knight's tower, it was only meant for knights and soldiers that were living in the castle. They weren't exactly big rooms, well, maybe Illyana's since she was the commander. But other than that, nothing that the princess would be used to. All the other chambers in the knight tower were small, a bed and bathroom, maybe a closet, if you got lucky. Still, the idea of Dahlia walking around without her and Cecil still being somewhere in the castle didn't put the Knight Commander at ease.

"I'm sure he'd be terrified to be faced with you again, Majesty." The knight chuckled when Dahlia made the comment of her ending Aroch on her own. But that put the idea of the man returning into the silvery blonde's head. A thought that she began to dwell on far too much. "But seeing your new chambers does sound like an excellent idea for you, Princess." Illyana smiled when Dahlia took her hand and the knight bowed as she gave it a gentle squeeze. "I will most certainly see you at dinner."

When the princess had exited the library, Illyana allowed her panic to set in fully. She began to pace and think. If it was true, which she was more than positive that it was, and she was the reincarnation of the Guardian Arian, she needed to figure out how to channel her power. The only person that knew more about this...event that was happening in Illyana's life was Cortana. So that's where the Knight Commander headed after she left the library. The walk to the infirmary was faster than normal, probably because Illyana was almost jogging. When she reached the healer's office, she poked her head in to see the elf at her desk reading the same book she had shown the knight earlier.

"Are you busy?" Illyana asked as she stood in the doorway and Lady Ashera lifted her head with a small smile.

"I was just about to come look for you." Cortana said as she looked up from the book and closed it gently. "But I'm assuming you have something you want to discuss with me since you found me instead. So, out with it. What do you want?"

"I...I need to be ready in case Aroch tries to attack again." The Knight Commander confessed as she shook her head and looked down at the ground. "I was so powerless last time, and I won't be again. I need to learn to use this new power. I need to be on his level the next time that we meet."

"You mean you can't just use it?" Cortana asked as she tilted her head.

"I'm not even sure how I used it in the first place." Illyana admitted with a heavy sigh and a shrug of her shoulders. "With that book and the knowledge you already have, I thought you'd be the best person to ask in this situation."

"Well I'm not a warrior, Illyana." The healer stood and rubbed her chin as she began to pace around the small space. "Though maybe, if we can recreate the environment of when you fought Aroch last, we can trigger you power."

"Meaning you want to kidnap me, injure me, and then try and kidnap the princess?" The knight sighed and quirked an unamused eyebrow at her elven friend. "I don't think we have time to recreate the whole situation, Cortana. I just thought there would've been something you learned in that book of yours."

"Not literally, just figuratively." Cortana finally stopped and moved towards the knight with a large smile on her face. "We have to recreate what you were feeling when you summoned that power. Not exactly the whole thing. Do you think you can do that?"

"Well I remember being enraged..."

"Ah, ah!" Lady Ashera raised her hands to silence the knight. "We need to find a safer place to conduct this experiment, lest you destroy this whole wing of the castle."

x--------x
​

Illyana found herself outside in the pouring rain in the training yard with Cortana. The elf didn't seem to mind at all that it was raining and had a small smile on her lips as Illyana stood across from her with her sword, about ten feet between them. The knight was more than unamused, but she was the one that went to Cortana for help, so she would take what she could get.

"What triggered the power last time?" Cortana, shielded by a very effective leather hood, asked as Illyana wiped the rain from her eyes.

"I don't really remember." Illyana answered as she shook her head and thought back on the fight. "I was just...angry!"

"Well, get angry!" The elf chuckled as she picked up a pebble and threw it at Illyana. The knight ducked and narrowed her eyes at her friend.

"Hey!" The knight shouted as she ducked another rock. "What are you doing?!"

"Trying to get you mad." The healer laughed as she kept throwing rocks, with surprisingly accuracy. "Is it working?"

A rock hit Illyana in the shoulder and the knight growled. "Well, I'm irritated, does that count?" The knight knocked a rock out of the air with her sword. Illyana wasn't angry enough to try to attack Cortana that is, but she was annoyed with the healer's actions. Still, she remembered what it had felt like when the power revealed itself. And she did indeed remember what she'd been enraged by. The moment that Aroch had threatened Dahlia, that was when Illyana had felt the power coursing through her body. It had been immense, and it had been sudden, but she didn't know if she could call upon it again.

Though the more she thought about Aroch and Dahlia, the more she felt her muscles tense and her blood boil. She never wanted that man anywhere near Dahlia every again and she wanted to be ready for him. The next time they met, she was going to kill him. That had been her decision. She wasn't going to keep giving him chance after chance to take Dahlia. He needed to die. Without even thinking, Illyana raised her sword and thrust it down. A bright white light like before came bursting forth and traveled along the ground towards Cortana, who just back flipped out of the way. Illyana blinked a few times before she felt the familiar fatigue filling her body and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Lady Ashera." She apologized as she made her way to the elf. "I...I wasn't thinking clearly. I didn't really have control over it."

Cortana was too busy inspecting the scars on the ground that Illyana's attack had made. She glanced up at the knight and smiled. "It looks like we found what triggered it. Whatever you thought about, we have to harness it." ​

 

[envogue]

Dahlia smiled to herself as she stood out on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Her chambers were at almost full completion and she planned to move in right away, regardless of what the workers said. It was still pouring rain, but the roof was shielding her, and she only had to worry about the wind blowing beads of water in her direction. From where she was standing, she could see everything. Her balcony extended around parts of the castle, so that she could easily walk along to get different views of Lunaria. She could see two people wandering out into the rain, and it didn't take long for Dahlia to discern that it was the Knight Commander. Her smile broadened briefly, but Dahlia scowled when she saw that Illyana was with another woman. It was Cortana, and that thought didn't seem to put the Princess at ease.

With a huff, Dahlia turned away from the balcony and walked back inside. She pouted softly and headed over to her bathtub, slowly turning on the faucet. The idea of taking a hot bath seemed to calm the blonde. All thoughts of Illyana with Cortana seemed to fade away when the hot water washed over her skin. "Oh. How I've missed this." Dahlia closed her eyes slowly, and drifted off for a small nap.

@---->---->

Days passed and Dahlia had fully moved into her room with the help of Ella and the Knight Commander. She hadn't had much alone time with Illyana since she was preparing for a tea party with friends, which was to be held in her room, and parts in the garden. It had been some time since Dahlia had met up with all of her friends at once, and with no balls worth attending, Dahlia had to take things into her own hands. "Ah. Just a final touch," Dahlia said melodically, as she spread out an intricate lace tablecloth over the round table on the balcony. There was plenty of fresh food all laid out on the table, and the decorations were very complimentary to her newly furnished room.

Ella peeked her head into the room, almost out of breath. "Princess, the carriages have arrived. George is sending them up right away."

Dahlia moved around the room quickly, finishing up any last touches on the room. She shuffled over to the mirror and gave her chest a small adjustment and pinched her cheeks. Just as she was taking a seat at the table, four ladies entered the room. Dahlia feigned her surprise as she stood up. "Are you all early? I hardly had time to get ready - I'm rather exhausted after all of the decorating I've done." In reality, Dahlia was dressed beautifully from head to toe in a powder blue sundress with wildflowers hand sewn into the fabric. The breeze that blew in through the open doors made her hair dance gracefully around her figure, and the chiffon silk to wave with the draft.

"Please, Darling.You spent an extra hour each for all of us here. You're not fooling anyone" Annalise said, with that smug look she often wore. She embraced the Princess and kissed her on the cheek, light laughter escaping her lips.

"You do look stunning, Dahlia." Princess Petra spoke up, as she moved to the forefront of the group. "B-but I'm not calling you a liar, or anything!" Petra quickly corrected, blushing and lowering her head. "Did you really do all this for us?" The shy princess wanted to get the possibly negative attention off of her, and went to sit down at the table. She appeared in awe at everything, even being used to luxuries herself.

Dahlia was already embarrassed by Annalise's comment and how easily she could see right through her, but she didn't take it personally. After all, Annalise knew her the best. After greeting Annalise, Dahlia turned to Petra with a smile. "Of course, Petra. I had Ella's help of course, and my body guard assisted me with some of the harder to reach places." Dahlia said, and then greeted the other two women in attendance, before taking her seat at the table.

"Oh? You got Illyana to help, or have you moved on from that one?" Annalise asked. Seeing how big Dahlia's eyes got, Annalise could only guess what Dahlia was thinking.

"M-moved on? Who is this Illyana?" Petra turned to Dahlia, then asked. The other ladies looked over as well, waiting for a reply.

Dahlia's lips parted and then shut several times as she pondered a response. Answering shouldn't have been so hard, but it was a very loaded question given the whole reincarnation thing and the fact that they were courting. "W-well, she's just...my bodyguard. Nothing to sound so eager over." The Princess replied, voice shaking. She looked over her shoulder at Ella. "Ella, tea please."
​

 

[Saber]

Illyana sighed as she stood in her chambers and looked out her window at the sun that was shining through the thick clouds. It was clear that the seasons were changing and that meant colder weather would soon be upon them. As of now, Illyana was donned in her armor, her normal attire for the day. Today she was to meet Dahlia in her reconstructed chambers to finish whatever needed to be. It was mainly moving furniture and rearranging to be done, but the knight hoped there wouldn't be too much to do. Her body was surprisingly sore from the days that had passed lifting Dahlia's furniture and moving it from one place to another. She hoped today would only consist of putting the princess's clothing away.

Green eyes glanced down to the light blue ribbon that was coiled up neatly in Illyana's hand. The corner of the knight's mouth lifted slightly as she moved and tied the ribbon to the hilt of her sword on her left hip. After she tied her hair back, she exited her room and made her way to Dahlia's room. The walk wasn't far, but she did slightly miss the ten or so steps it took to get to Dahlia's door. Still, it was best the princess was out of the knight tower, it was making the other soldiers a bit...nervous. When the Knight Commander finally reached the princess's chambers, she knocked softly, three times, and waited for a response. She thought she heard giggling, from more than one person and the knight's brow furrowed as she knocked again, louder this time.

"Majesty?" She said as she put her hand on the door handle and slowly opened the door. Illyana paused in the doorway, eyes wide when she saw the two other princesses that were in Dahlia's room. The knight bowed immediately. "Majesties." Illyana stood again and recognized Princess Annalise, but not the brunette who was looking rather shocked at her intrusion. "Forgive me for barging in. I was unaware that Princess Dahlia was having guests today." She turned to Annalise and bowed her head. "A pleasure to see you again, Princess."

"Lady Artania," Annalise smiled and bowed her head in greeting. She motioned towards the brunette and continued. "This is Princess Petra, another of our dear Dahlia's friends."

"Princess Petra." Illyana bowed and the brunette offered a small smile before bowing her head. "I hope I didn't intrude on anything secretive between the three of you."

 

[envogue]

Dahlia froze when she heard the knock at the door, her eyes shifting to the now four sets of eyes that were glaring at her questioningly. "Now who could that be?" She asked sheepishly, nervous laughter filling the air. The princess had an idea of who it could be, but she hoped that that certain someone wouldn't be showing her face. Of course, that was too much to ask for. The door creaked open, and Dahlia held in a groan as the Knight Commander finally entered the room, looking just as handsome as the last time she had seen her.

The Princess raised an inquisitive brow, standing up from her seat with a sigh."Knight Commander." She still had to keep up appearances, and knowing Annalise, the blue haired woman would find some reason to be suspicious. No matter how hard she tried though, there was no hiding the smile that often found her lips when she saw Illyana. While Illyana conversed with the princesses, heat was rising to Dahlia's ears. She was suddenly having a change of heart now that Illyana was ignoring her for Petra and Annalise. Her eyes happened to land on the blue ribbon that she had gifted to Illyana in the maze garden, and that quelled some of the jealousy building up. How thoughtful. Dahlia swayed side to side gently, her smile only growing the longer she stared at her delicate ribbon tied around Illyana's sword.

"O-oh. Certainly not, Knight Commander," Petra replied softly. She lowered her gaze and bit her bottom lip, almost embarrassed by the sudden introduction that Annalise had given for her. The brunette was easily flustered, and hated to be put on the spot for any reason. Still, she raised her chin and put a smile on her face when she realized she was staring at her hands, and not at the woman who had addressed her. "Lady Artania, won't you have a seat? I-I don't think anyone would mind?"

Dahlia's eyes went wide when she heard Petra tossing out an invitation to her bodyguard. Her cheeks puffed up briefly, and she sat down at the table. "Absolutely, Petra. Where are my manners?"

"My, Lady Artania. What a beautiful ribbon," Annalise said, a smug smile appearing on her lips. She leaned forward slightly, arm outstretched as she beckoned for Illyana to come closer. "Is that Elven silk? Why - I've only seen such delicate weaving a handful of times. How ever did you come across it, darling?" Annalise asked, perplexed.

Dahlia lifted her teacup to her lips, but when Annalise chimed in about the ribbon, her fingers began to shake and tea began to spill on the saucer underneath. "O-oh, what a pretty bird!" Dahlia cut in, panicked as she pointed towards the window. Unfortunately, Annalise just ignored her. Her worst fear was the Annalise would recognize the ribbon as her own, and put the pieces of the puzzle together.​

 

[Saber]

Illyana wasn't really expecting to be invited to join the women, but Princess Petra had been kind enough to offer and if the Knight Commander refused, it could be taken as rude. So the woman obliged and moved to the empty seat that was between Annalise and Petra, right across from Dahlia. The knight glanced up, locking eyes with the princess for a brief moment before Annalise addressed the ribbon that was tied to the hilt of her sword. Illyana tensed for a moment, glancing down at the blue ribbon and then back at the blue haired princess.

"I'm afraid I couldn't tell you, Princess." Illyana admitted as she bowed her head slightly and gently touched the ribbon. "It was gifted to me. Unfortunately my fashion knowledge is a bit lacking."

"Indeed," Annalise rested her chin in her hand before glancing at Dahlia and then back to the Knight Commander. "Well, you must have done something courageous, or perhaps this person was just overly generous, hm? Tell me, dear, who was it that gave it to you?" Illyana's eyes widened slightly as a sly smirk grew on Annalise's lips and the knight had to stop herself from looking over to Princess Dahlia. What was she supposed to tell Annalise? Dahlia had said she wanted to keep their courtship a secret for the time being, but Annalise was supposed to be one of the princess's closest friends. Surely she would tell her?

"J-just a keepsake of my late mother's." Illyana smiled kindly at Annalise before she poured herself a cup of tea and drank it slowly. It was a believable fib, but if there was one thing about Princess Annalise that Illyana had learned in the short time of knowing her, is that she saw through most things. "Did you ladies have anything else planned for the day?" The Knight Commander was desperate to change the subject and hoped someone else would chime in other than Annalise.

 

[envogue]

Dahlia had expected Illyana, at the very least, to acknowledge her outburst. After all, she was doing this for Illyana's sake, so that she could escape Annalise's prying. She resigned herself to silence when Annalise and Illyana continued to speak to one another. There was nothing Dahlia could do, her secret would come out sooner or later. Annalise would see right through it. Dahlia's heart seemed to pound in her chest, and she wondered if Illyana would be able to come up with an answer that would quell Annalise's curiosity.

"Princess, are you feeling alright?" Petra leaned over slightly towards Dahlia, and whispered. Her eyes darted between Dahlia, Illyana, and Annalise curiously. There was something going on here, but she had no clue about any of it. She had hoped that Dahlia would tell her, but it seemed unlikely.

"Me? Yes, I'm perfect, Petra." Dahlia answered, only giving the brunette a glance before her gaze settled on Illyana once more. She bit her bottom lip when Illyana started to answer Annalise's question about who had gifted her the ribbon. Much to her surprise, Illyana was able to give an answer that was both satisfactory and caused Annalise to back off. She exhaled deeply through her nostrils, her chest relaxing as she began to breathe again. There was no need to worry after all. Dahlia could have laughed right there for driving herself mad over nothing. The mention of Illyana's mother did prompt Dahlia to realize how little the two knew of each other, and how much more they had to learn.

"Oh... I was hoping that we would go horse back riding into town soon," Petra answered Illyana, a shy smile on her lips as she glanced around the table. "B-but if you all don't want to, I understand."

"That sounds so good, darling. A bit of fresh air would be much better than sitting around all day, no offense to this cute little tea party, Dahlia." Annalise added, as she stood up and set her handkerchief on the table. "We can always return to this later, have Ella brew us more tea and refreshments."

Dahlia fought the frown that she so desperately wanted to display for all to see how displeased she was. She had spent all of two days decorating and preparing for company, and to have them want to go outside was beyond upsetting. Dahlia calmed herself though, knowing very well that princesses were needy and sometimes fickle. She herself could be like that, and it would be hypocritical to be angry.

"Yes, Yes. Then let us go." Dahlia said, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. She stood up, turning to Ella. "Have the stable boy ready the horses, please. Lumina and Nocte of course, and two for Lady Annalise and Lady Petra." ​

 

[Saber]

The ride to Lucilla was fairly quiet. The princesses of course were chatting up a storm while their horses walked down the road. Illyana was trailing behind a bit behind the three women and was pleasantly surprised at the slow pace, along with the agreeable weather. The sun was shining and a few large clouds were wafting in the sky on a gentle breeze. It would take a bit longer to the get to the city at this pace, but it didn't seem like the ladies were in much of a hurry since it was so early in the day. The knight, however, wasn't looking forward to the trip. If there was one thing she had a hard time dealing with, it was shopping. Everything she'd ever needed was not only minimal, but basic. A new shirt every now and again, boots maybe and pants, but nothing that took her longer than twenty minutes at a shop. Dahlia, however, could shop all day and not actually buy anything.

"So, Lady Artania," The Knight Commander lifted her gaze to Princess Annalise as the woman looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Has my little Dahlia been much of a bother for you recently? She seems to have calmed down since the last time I've seen both of you." Illyana's eyes widened a bit in surprise at the question before blinking and clearing her throat. Annalise must not have heard what had happened in the past weeks, but perhaps that was better that way.

"Oh, well, she hasn't tried to ditch me in a while, if that's what you mean." Illyana offered a small smile before glancing at Dahlia, then back to Annalise. "Though I'm sure that's just because she hasn't had the opportunity yet. I'm afraid my company is lacking compared to yourself and Princess Petra."

"I'm sure you have a few war stories that would be quite entertaining." The princess continued as she glanced at Petra and then Dahlia. "The Slayer of Sorastus and now a dragon slayer. I'm sure any woman would swoon at those titles."

The knight knew that Annalise had a teasing, flirtatious personality, but wasn't expecting to be on the receiving end of it. She knew most women liked to hear about a knight's tales of battle and victory, but the war that had made Illyana famous had left scars on her body and mind. Hence why she rarely spoke of them. And the whole dragon fiasco was just a misconception of her skill since she hadn't indeed slain it.

"I'm afraid I don't have a lot of time to be speaking to very many women." Illyana cleared her throat and she was sure she was blushing as she spoke. She was never much of a talker about her personal life, not to mention her love life. "And I fear they would think I'm rather boring." The knight glanced at Dahlia, thankful that the princess wasn't facing her as she sighed and tried to relax her shoulder.

Thankfully, the city came into view as they went over the next hill and that of course, grabbed the attention of everyone. Lucilla was a beautiful city, named for the late queen and the king did an impeccable job at keeping the city pristine. Now that their destination was in sight, the ladies picked up the pace on their mounts and started trotting forward and Illyana nudged Nocte forward to keep up. When they entered the city gate, they found the nearest stable and dismounted, leaving their horses with the stable boys.

"Where would you like to start first, Majesties?" The knight asked as she adjusted her sword at her hip and glanced around at the other people walking around the city entrance. There were a few guards that were walking around that bowed their heads as they passed Illyana and the princesses.

 

[envogue]

Dahlia remained fairly quiet while Annalise and Petra talked and giggled about everything under the sun. She wasn't much in a chatting mood, and her mind was focused on other things, though nothing of importance. It wasn't until Illyana joined in on the conversation that Dahlia began to pay attention. The others would just assume Dahlia was still off in her little world, but her shoulders would rise and tense up, and her gloved hands would grip Lumina's reigns tighter during certain parts of Illyana's exchange with Annalise.

Their ride thankfully came to an end and Dahlia smoothly dismounted Lumina, leaving the white mare standing near Nocte. She joined the others, who were already a couple of steps ahead of her. "Hmmm. I don't know. Why don't you all decide?" Dahlia chimed in, removing her fan and waving it gently around her face to cool off. She probably would have selected a different outfit if she'd known that they were going to be walking, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

"Can we visit one of the bridal shops?" Petra asked, sounding smaller than usual. Her cheeks turned bright red, and she looked around innocently.

"Why ever would you want to go there, Doll?" Annalise said, almost terrified at the idea of stepping foot into one of those boutiques. The thought alone caused her to cringe.

"Oh, Annalise. And here I thought you were the wisest of us all," Dahlia added, and walking up to stand beside Petra. She placed a reassuring hand on the the brunette's shoulder, a bright smile on her face. The blonde couldn't hold her excitement in much longer, before she embraced the woman tightly. "Petra, I'm so happy for you. Of course, I could have thought of a much better way to announce an engagement, but it's...not my wedding."

Petra giggled lightly, a gentle hand going to cover her mouth as her smile began to spread across her face. "I-I know, but I didn't want to make it about me. I just...couldn't keep it a secret any longer. "

"Yes, well, you were always overly considerate." Dahlia said, as she grabbed Petra by the hand. "Come. I know the perfect place, and you can tell me all about how prince charming swept you off your feet." She walked along the cobblestone that covered the whole of the market square, with a little more pep in her step as she led Petra and the others down a street lined with boutiques. There was a store for everything it seemed, and Dahlia had to keep herself from taking any detours away from their destination.

"I couldn't tell you. I honestly couldn't find the words." Petra began, her voice oozing with contained excitement. "Tristan knows how I am about crowds and attention, so he stole me away when we were at his ball. He had the horses ready, and we rode out into night and stopped at this spring." Petra laughed, and looked to Dahlia, her eyes seeming to sparkle. "Oh, you all should have seen it. It was truly magnificent."

"So beautiful, darling. Did you let our dear Tristan pick your flower early, as well? I wouldn't blame you," Annalise cut in, laughing loudly to herself.

Both Dahlia and Petra gave Annalise the same incredulous look. Petra started to say something in defense, but Dahlia cut in swiftly. "And look here, we've already arrived!"

The shorter princess ushered the women in with a simple hand wave, lingering just long enough to shake her head at Annalise. When she made her way inside, a tall and slender man with extravagant hair greeted them. His cheeks were powdered to appear more rosy, and his eyebrows were angled sharply. He looked to be just around Annalise's age, and was quite pretty.

"Hello! Hello, your majesties." The man greeted, bowing to each of the princesses. " I've heard no news that Lunaria's princess was to be wed, or else I'd have prepared better for this visit. Please forgive me."

"We're just going to browse for awhile. No need to fret, just make sure my friends here find everything they need." Dahlia said, smiling up at the man. He seemed more eccentric and kind, something that Dahlia appreciated. "The blue haired one especially." She jested, as she curtsied to the man. Dahlia turned on her heel before she could hear Annalise's opposition, and walked towards the back of the store to search for something to gift Petra.

"Illyana, I want to find the perfect dress for you," Dahlia joked, assuming that Illyana was following behind her. "What color would you like?" She asked, once they reached the back. "Something to match your ribbon?"​