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XX Derynxx#403A60
This will be the first time Deryn has seen Bertrand in nearly five years, and she would be lying through her teeth if she said she wasn't terrified.
Not of Bertrand, of course- she loves Bertrand. She's missed him so dearly. She still remembers how giddy she felt riding in this same carriage, bouncing up an down with excitement at seeing the one person who always treated her like another kid rather than a Princess. Bertrand treated her like he treated his own sister- as a force to be respected, to be loved, to be teased relentlessly and have frogs be snuck into her pockets. Bertrand is the only one who has ever understood her.
(Well, Callum did too, once upon a time. But times have changed. He has changed, has changed so much, and Deryn firmly believes that it was not a change for the better.)
The carriage rattles as it rolls over bumps in the road, and Deryn closes the book she's been trying to distract herself with, setting it in a case with the others. Her nerves are getting the better of her, her fears bubbling to the surface as they get closer and closer to Prendre L'air. Her new home.
Deryn isn't afraid of Bertrand, never has been. But is afraid of her marriage to him.
The problem isn't Bertrand, not really. Deryn loves Bertrand. He's always been like a brother to her. And perhaps that's the problem- he's only ever been a brother. Deryn didn't understand what marriage meant as a child, and the idea of spending every day with Bertrand had never been bad. She understands marriage is now, and still, the idea of spending every day with Bertrand isn't bad. It's what being married to a King entail that makes Deryn want to fake her own death.
Consummation. Fornification. Sex. Deryn has never been so disgusted by something so common. She's read so much about sex that she knows she wants absolutely nothing to do with it.
Bertrand never showed any interest in her when they were kids beyond wanting to play together- and the "make mud pies and throw them at each other" kind of playing- and Deryn knows for a fact she's never shown interest in him. But Bertrand is grown now, and Deryn is scared she won't recognize the man he's become. She's not afraid of Bertrand, but she is afraid of marrying him.
Deryn can hear the soldiers speaking outside the carriage and she knows when they're getting close, can see through the window as the forest gives way for rolling hills and tiny houses in the distance. The carriage rolls to a stop, and Deryn just breathes. She gathers her wits about her.
As a child, or even a teenager, Deryn would throw herself from the carriage into Bertrand's arms and laughingly endure her mother's scolding. Now, her ankles wobble as she climbs to her feet.
"Welcome home! We're so pleased to finally have you." She hears a warm, familiar voice.
And there he is, unmistakably Bertrand. He's taller, now- a man. His hair is tamed and his clothes are crisp and he stands with the authority of a future King. But that smile - that wide, dorky smile - hasn't changed one bit, and Deryn finds herself smiling back. A real smile. She takes her friend's outstretched hand and steps from the carriage, gripping him tight to still her shaking fingers.
"It's nice to be back again."
Deryn is still scared. Scared of what her duty as Princess entails, scared of the responsibility of being a Queen, scared of sex. most of all. But she is not scared of Bertrand.
And this place, this beautiful kingdom, truly does feel like home.
XX Callumxx#6C3F39
Callum falls back as the caravan approaches the palace, riding at the back of the carriage instead of directly next to it. The palace is in full view now. As they come even closer, the royal family of Prendre L'air also comes into view- with Bertrand standing front and center.
Callum has long since come to terms with the fact that his first love will forever be far out of his reach. It no longer hurts to think of Bertrand's smiling face or remember how soft his fingers were in Callum's own. It no longer hurts. But when Callum sees Bertrand, even at a distance, he can't stop himself from staring. This is someone he's missed for five years, someone he's dreamed of in the dark of night. This is someone Callum once loved- who he, deep down, still loves dearly.
The carriage rolls to a stop before the palace and the caravan stops with it. Callum climbs down from his horse and hands the reigns off to another soldier. He doesn't move to help the Princess.
Deryn emerges from the carriage as an image of perfect beauty. She takes Bertrand's hand and climbs with graceful steps onto the stone courtyard, and Callum sees her smile for the first time in a long time. She may not talk to him anymore, but he can still tell when she's nervous or upset.
Prince Bertrand and Princess Deryn trade greetings and make their way toward the palace stairs, and Callum follows at a distance, not wanting to crowd the two. He bows in respect to the King of Prendre L'air and the other soldiers follow suit. Callum rises and steps back from the King, reaching into his rucksack to pull out a small leather pouch, which he offers to King Merle.
"A gift from King Jannon of Pellem Vero, your Majesty. Quartz crystals from a kingdom to the south. His Majesty King Jannon hoped they would be fitting as dowry for the Princess."
This will be the first time Deryn has seen Bertrand in nearly five years, and she would be lying through her teeth if she said she wasn't terrified.
Not of Bertrand, of course- she loves Bertrand. She's missed him so dearly. She still remembers how giddy she felt riding in this same carriage, bouncing up an down with excitement at seeing the one person who always treated her like another kid rather than a Princess. Bertrand treated her like he treated his own sister- as a force to be respected, to be loved, to be teased relentlessly and have frogs be snuck into her pockets. Bertrand is the only one who has ever understood her.
(Well, Callum did too, once upon a time. But times have changed. He has changed, has changed so much, and Deryn firmly believes that it was not a change for the better.)
The carriage rattles as it rolls over bumps in the road, and Deryn closes the book she's been trying to distract herself with, setting it in a case with the others. Her nerves are getting the better of her, her fears bubbling to the surface as they get closer and closer to Prendre L'air. Her new home.
Deryn isn't afraid of Bertrand, never has been. But is afraid of her marriage to him.
The problem isn't Bertrand, not really. Deryn loves Bertrand. He's always been like a brother to her. And perhaps that's the problem- he's only ever been a brother. Deryn didn't understand what marriage meant as a child, and the idea of spending every day with Bertrand had never been bad. She understands marriage is now, and still, the idea of spending every day with Bertrand isn't bad. It's what being married to a King entail that makes Deryn want to fake her own death.
Consummation. Fornification. Sex. Deryn has never been so disgusted by something so common. She's read so much about sex that she knows she wants absolutely nothing to do with it.
Bertrand never showed any interest in her when they were kids beyond wanting to play together- and the "make mud pies and throw them at each other" kind of playing- and Deryn knows for a fact she's never shown interest in him. But Bertrand is grown now, and Deryn is scared she won't recognize the man he's become. She's not afraid of Bertrand, but she is afraid of marrying him.
Deryn can hear the soldiers speaking outside the carriage and she knows when they're getting close, can see through the window as the forest gives way for rolling hills and tiny houses in the distance. The carriage rolls to a stop, and Deryn just breathes. She gathers her wits about her.
As a child, or even a teenager, Deryn would throw herself from the carriage into Bertrand's arms and laughingly endure her mother's scolding. Now, her ankles wobble as she climbs to her feet.
"Welcome home! We're so pleased to finally have you." She hears a warm, familiar voice.
And there he is, unmistakably Bertrand. He's taller, now- a man. His hair is tamed and his clothes are crisp and he stands with the authority of a future King. But that smile - that wide, dorky smile - hasn't changed one bit, and Deryn finds herself smiling back. A real smile. She takes her friend's outstretched hand and steps from the carriage, gripping him tight to still her shaking fingers.
"It's nice to be back again."
Deryn is still scared. Scared of what her duty as Princess entails, scared of the responsibility of being a Queen, scared of sex. most of all. But she is not scared of Bertrand.
And this place, this beautiful kingdom, truly does feel like home.
XX Callumxx#6C3F39
Callum falls back as the caravan approaches the palace, riding at the back of the carriage instead of directly next to it. The palace is in full view now. As they come even closer, the royal family of Prendre L'air also comes into view- with Bertrand standing front and center.
Callum has long since come to terms with the fact that his first love will forever be far out of his reach. It no longer hurts to think of Bertrand's smiling face or remember how soft his fingers were in Callum's own. It no longer hurts. But when Callum sees Bertrand, even at a distance, he can't stop himself from staring. This is someone he's missed for five years, someone he's dreamed of in the dark of night. This is someone Callum once loved- who he, deep down, still loves dearly.
The carriage rolls to a stop before the palace and the caravan stops with it. Callum climbs down from his horse and hands the reigns off to another soldier. He doesn't move to help the Princess.
Deryn emerges from the carriage as an image of perfect beauty. She takes Bertrand's hand and climbs with graceful steps onto the stone courtyard, and Callum sees her smile for the first time in a long time. She may not talk to him anymore, but he can still tell when she's nervous or upset.
Prince Bertrand and Princess Deryn trade greetings and make their way toward the palace stairs, and Callum follows at a distance, not wanting to crowd the two. He bows in respect to the King of Prendre L'air and the other soldiers follow suit. Callum rises and steps back from the King, reaching into his rucksack to pull out a small leather pouch, which he offers to King Merle.
"A gift from King Jannon of Pellem Vero, your Majesty. Quartz crystals from a kingdom to the south. His Majesty King Jannon hoped they would be fitting as dowry for the Princess."