The doors open... 

Revealing Noras standing outside. Bethan has vanished, sprinting through the halls to reach the secret door she will use to slip inconspicuously into the hall. A brief flash of panic crosses Noras’ face as all eyes in the hall swivel in her direction, but he forces his features into neutral, straightens, and strides down the hall, as rehearsed in the days leading up to this.

There are whispers as the attending nobles watch Noras’ every move, a few murmuring amongst each other, whispers of “do you recognise him?” and “he’s so short” drifting from the crowd. Elias on the other hand, makes sure to keep his face straight as he realises that Noras is wearing makeup, and that his hair has also been “fixed”.

As he walks, Noras keeps his eyes steadfastly on Elias, trying not to think about all the unfamiliar, piercing gazes. He sees Elias’ lips twitch ever so slightly as his eyes fall on Noras, and Noras tries, with his own eyes, to convey the promise of a slow and painful death, while keeping the rest of his face perfectly placid. He arrives at the base of the platform and slowly goes up the stairs, coming to kneel before Elias.

Elias stands, and the entire room bows, save for his sisters. He looks down at Noras: Shahīn, do you pledge yourself to the de Perez royal family, and in turn, the country of Astarus?

As rehearsed, Noras stares down at the marble and solemnly says: I do.

Elias: Do you vow to keep me safe, regardless of your own [hesitates]… health and safety?

Noras: I do.

Elias: Do you vow, that from this moment on, you shall be an extension of me, as my knight?

Noras: I do.

Elias: Do you vow to be merciful, kind, and forgiving? For a man who cannot forgive, cannot be forgiven.

Noras: [after a beat] I do.

Elias lifts his sword, and gently taps it on both of Noras’ shoulders: Then, by the power of the Divines above, I bestow the title ‘Knight’ upon you. Rise! [he lowers his voice so that only Noras can hear] Sir Noras, the Knight of the Phoenix.

Noras blinks—knight of the what now?—and stands. The moment their eyes meet, he can feel Elias’ magic, late nights by a fireplace and rain, swimming through his eyes and into his soul. He nearly stumbles at the feeling—he is no longer quite alone in his soul—but keeps his balance.

Elias smiles: We are now connected, until fate dictates.

Noras frowns very slightly, but then his expression clears, and he smiles and bows his head. He can feel Elias right in front of him, and there’s a shadow of an emotion that feels something like happiness. But there’s a little something extra to it, something he can’t quite pinpoint.

The room fills with polite clapping as Elias hands the sword to Noras, giving him a nod: A symbol of our bond, a symbol of your status. Use it wisely.

Noras takes the sword, looks at it for a long moment, and slides it into its scabbard. He returns Elias’ nod but finds himself unable to say anything.

Elias gives him a small, nearly unnoticeable smile before his face returns to neutral, addressing the spectators: The ceremony is over, you may leave now.

There’s a sudden rush of noise as people start talking to each other, most leaving, but a few come up to both Noras and Elias to offer their congratulations, barely hidden intentions of status and bribed goodwill in their eyes and words.

Eventually, the only people remaining are Elias, Noras, Bethan, Valainya, and Princess Giana. Bethan, who had been standing behind Valainya, leans around her to give Noras a tiny thumbs up. He gives her a small smile back.

Valainya rubs her eyebrows in annoyance: “The ceremony is over, you may leave now”? You really are very dry - do you ever make an effort to have these people like you?

Elias, trying his best not to rub off his makeup: You don’t like these stuffy ceremonies any more than I do, besides they only came to curry favour … [he pauses realising that Giana is still in the room, shuffling awkwardly to the side] Ah. Shahīn, come. [He walks over to her, bowing slightly].

Noras follows behind him, mimicking Elias’ posture. As he does so, he takes in this next member of Elias’ family, taking note of her appearance and demeanor.

Unlike Elias and Enzo, Giana is blonde, and fairer skinned, although she shares Elias’ lithe figure. She offers a gentle smile to Noras, completely unthreatening, returning the slight bow. A ways behind her, a broad man in armour watches Noras, offering a nod of acknowledgement, which Noras returns after a moment’s hesitation.

Elias: Sir Shahīn, this is my elder sister, Princess Giana.

Giana: [nodding to Noras] A pleasure to meet you. That was quite lovely, how are you feeling?

Noras, raising his head: A pleasure to meet you, too. I feel - well. [He casts a lingering glance at Elias] Yes, I feel well. Better - perhaps - than I thought I would.

Giana giggles softly, bringing her hand up to cover a smile: I heard from my own knight - Sir Warner [she gestures to the man behind her] - that the bonding felt extraordinary, I’m quite sorry us royals cannot feel it as well.

Noras gives her a short smile in response, not quite meeting her eyes.

Elias smiles at her tenderly: I am thankful you attended today, Giana. I’m afraid however, [he sighs] that I have work to catch up on, so Sir Shahīn and I must take our leave.

Giana blinks several times: Of course, I -

Before she can continue, the doors open and a man steps in. Blonde, fair, and with a scowl on his face that twists what would otherwise be noble features, the man stalks up to Giana.

The man: [hissing] What are you doing here?

Giana shrinks on herself: I was simply giving our brother support.

Behind her, Sir Warner makes no effort to hide the roll of his eyes, nor his scowl.

The man huffs: You know you were forbidden from attending. [when Giana doesn’t reply, he turns to Elias] Elias.

Elias bows his head respectfully, monotoned: Otis.

With another huff, Otis grabs Giana’s arm and drags her from the hall, Sir Warner and another two people in armour trailing after them.

Noras watches them go with a frown, feeling a sudden, faint pang of hurt that confuses him until he realizes it’s coming from Elias. He shudders slightly at the realization, but tamps the feelings down—both his own, and Elias’.

Noras turns: [softly, to Elias] Are you alright?

Elias sighs: I’m alright, I’m used to it. [he turns to look at Noras and gives him a small but forced smile] You’ve nearly met the entire family at this point.

Noras: There’s more?!

Noras feels the hurt dissipate as Elias laughs: Oh, yes. You’ve met Valainya, Otis, Giana, and Enzo. You’ve still got my second eldest sister and my father to go.

Noras: Oh, great. Are they more like Otis, or are they also melodramatic like Enzo and - [his eyes stray briefly to Valainya and he immediately looks away and looks resolutely at Elias, turning the end of his sentence into a cough]

Elias takes a moment to think: Rosalla is more like Otis, [with a sighed laugh] I don’t think anyone I know is as melodramatic as Enzo, and my father [he hesitates, his body going cold at the thought of his father] - my father doesn’t compare to anyone.

Noras shudders again at the emotions coming through the bond, half from the fact that they’re there, half from how strong they are.

Noras: Should we… go somewhere? Do something? It’s only the morning.

Elias is silent for a moment, watching as the door to the hall finally closes, and the cold ebbs slightly. He shifts to look at Noras when he remembers that both his sister and Dame Bethan are still in the room, watching them.

Elias: [coughs] Yes, let us return to my quarters. I must make a schedule for the week, and we need to practice your magic.

Noras’ eyes light up slightly at the mention of his magic. He starts to move, and then stops short, waiting for Elias to walk ahead.

Elias gives a short laugh, turning to bow to his sister and her knight: Thank you for this morning, I - we shall retire to my chambers for the day.

Valainya, staring at him in thought: Hn.

Noras bows to Valainya and gives Bethan a small grin, receiving, this time, two small thumbs-ups in response.

Elias, satisfied, heads out, followed closely by Sir Noras.

Bethan, calling under her breath: [with a suggestive lilt] Have fun~

Neither of them hear her, but Noras feels his shoulder blades prickle and resists the urge to turn around and scowl at someone.

Once they’re gone Valainya and Bethan look at each other.

Valainya: [thoughtfully] Have you ever seen Elias as happy as he is with that boy?

Bethan: [lightly, smiling at Valainya] No, I don’t believe I have.

Valainya, looking to Bethan and returning a smile: He’s finally found someone… [her face falls as she looks back after them] I hope… [she shakes her head] Never mind.

Bethan looks slightly quizzically at Valainya for a moment, one eyebrow raised, and then turns to face the same direction, looking at the door, and smiles slightly.

Bethan: ...Bet you 50 gold they get married in the end.

Valainya turns to look at Bethan with a scowl: I’m not taking that bet, you always win… [her eyes widen] Wait.