Fion

“Bast has returned!”

“Gracious!” Lady Ruth springs up with remarkable agility. “Come, my girls, we must hurry to greet them. Quickly, now!”

I do not hurry, but walk in measured, dignified strides as my mother taught me, my head high. I step out behind the other women into a brilliant golden sunset from which I must shield my eyes. After taking a few seconds to adjust to the light, I become aware the camp has split down two sides, leaving an aisle for the heroes to walk through in a sort of parade.

Though I am determined to remain aloof, I cannot help but eye the men with curiosity, and try to pick out the one that took me from the parapet this morning, this gallant knight who, if the stories are to be believed, has searched for me and loved me faithfully for so many years.

With a nervous, fluttery feeling in my belly, I think I pick him out. It isn’t his great height or the span of his powerful shoulders that makes me think he’s the dragon I met earlier today, but his hair the color of snow and his impossibly blue eyes that seem to pick me out of the crowd almost immediately.

I swallow a little nervously, feel my heartbeat quicken as he clears the ground between us with great, eager strides, seemingly deaf to the cheers and accolades ringing out all around him, his eyes only for me.

He’s really— very— handsome I think as he comes to stand before me, armor gleaming in the sunset, his white hair tossed gently by the wind. Rugged but also gentle somehow, he’s well groomed, clean-shaven with thick dark eyebrows and soft pink lips. More, much more than Victor, he has the air of a gentleman, of a true knight.

A hush falls over the crowd and my eyes widen in quiet astonishment as their champion takes a knee before me, and all around me others back away to give us space. Somehow it feels like we are the only two people in the world. I extend my hand to him slowly, and he grasps it and kisses it, gazing up at me with a look of wonder and almost worshipful adoration.

“My Lady Endellion,” the deep, warm tenor of his human voice puts a small tickle in my breast. “Your knight has returned victorious from the field of battle.”

My knight, is it? I think, continuing to watch him coolly amidst of a veritable whirlwind of mixed emotions.

“It is my an honor to welcome the champions who have fought valiantly on behalf of all Lusamine. Allow me to congratulate you on your victory, Sir Shrike.”

“My lady,” he continues to grasp my hand and look to me with adulation. “It is with great pleasure and greater humility that I say this: the world to which you have awakened is experiencing a rebirth at our hands. The hour of evil is at last coming to its end. Now together, let us create a new era; an age of light, order and peace. Please say you will do this with me, my lady,” he says, and he grips my hand even more fervently.  

It almost sounds like a marriage proposal. But that is not his intention, I’m sure. This moment is ceremonial. I preside over it as a sort of high priestess I suppose, given my status in this era as a legendary individual. Everyone looks to me for confirmation of the feelings they already have. There is so much hope and expectation in the air; it is tangible even without my ability. Then, for the sake of the mood, and for morale, I will go along with this impromptu unofficial ceremony. 

“As you say, Sir Shrike. Let us usher in this new era together, that Lusamine will flourish again.”

A cheer goes up from the crowd as Sebastian bows his head to me and kisses my fingers once again. Then, by chance sensing the dormant seed of the gladiolus blossom in the ground, I coax it up with magic, and everyone gasps as they watch the white flower bloom before their eyes. Am I being too showy right now? I wonder as I pluck it and bestow it upon Sebastian as he rises. He clasps it in his gauntlet, his eyes shining with tears as he gazes down at me. I sense incredible pride from him, vindication and satisfaction, as though his whole life has been culminating to this exact moment. I don’t know why, but it makes me smile. 

“May I have the privilege of escorting you to the banquet, my lady? It is being held in our honor.”

“Your honor, surely, Sir Knight.” 

“It is our day,” he assures me, putting out his arm to me. I clasp it lightly and he escorts me to the banquet table set out on the field. We are offered the highest seats after Ruth and Katalin, and if there was any doubt left in my mind, I quickly learn for certain my escort is the toast of the evening. He accepts their praise and celebration of his accolades with words of humility but also with a healthy measure of satisfaction, soaking it all in with the air of a true hero. 

I eat heartily of the dishes provided me, this being the first proper fare I’ve enjoyed since my awakening. It is early autumn, so even a feast held in a camp like this is plenteous and delicious. There are stuffed birds and savory and sweet pies of every kind, not to mention bread and cheese and fruit in abundance. I am served a deliciously crisp apple cider, and I must resist the temptation to drink more than my limit, else I will surely make a fool of myself in front of all these people who so clearly hold me in such high regard.

Sebastian is mindful of me in all things, happy to serve me anything I desire. He looks to me often throughout the meal with expressions that make me blush and feel self-conscious. He makes no attempts to hide his desire to be closer to me. Really, the way he acts and the way everyone treats us, it’s almost as though they assume we are engaged already. 

“So you found your sleeping maiden at last,” a drunken stranger comments. “How long before we hear wedding bells, eh?”

“Please, Lord Burnham, you will embarrass the lady.” 

“With this you have achieved all you’ve set out to do in your life, Bast,” comments another drunk lord. “All that’s left is to slay the witch and begin your reign over Lusemia with the maiden of legend at your side.”

“What are you saying, Lord Paulin?”

“You will be the new Braxtus, our high king! All the island will unite to follow you!”

“You know I am loyal to my Lord Boyd. You mustn’t say such things, even in jest,” Sebastian corrects the man, bowing his head apologetically to Ruth who only smiles good naturedly.

“They will sing your praises throughout history! The legend of the dragon knight and the sleeping maiden will be heard throughout the land! Three cheers for Bast! Three cheers for Lady Endellion! Hup hup—”

“Huzzah!”

Sebastian looks to me with an apologetic smile as the noise continues all around us.

“This scene is too rowdy for you too, my lady, is it not? Perhaps you would prefer a walk to cool your head?”

“That would be most agreeable, Sir Shrike.”

“Please,” his brilliant blue eyes soften faintly with the gentlest smile, “I wish you would call me Bast like everyone else.”

“Then,” I say, cheeks coloring slightly, and not just, I think, with the alcohol, “Sir Bast. It would be my honor to walk with you.”

“The honor, I assure you, my lady, will be all mine.”