dance with me
songthis was the place she thrived in, lived in. around her was the clash of metal, it was a symphony in her ears; a dance she mastered. there was no place else the eldest princess of eden felt more at home, even as she lay against the remains of a stone house that burned behind her. her banner lay in the mud, trampled by the invading forces. her fingers, once so strong, clasped the polearm weakly with a surge of desire to keep her kingdom’s banner raised high. it was the least she could do her dearest sisters, for her father, their mother that passed, and her people. a final testament to her will and her love for eden.at this moment she thought back to her father’s foolish wish, the balls they had to attend while the kingdoms and nations around them prowled, waiting for the moment to strike. when eden was at its weakest. how often she fought with her father on his decision, she didn’t need to find love to save her home. as long she was on the battlefield, eden would never fall. the knight was certain she could will her desire into the world. it was foolish, she knew. the idea of a girl that couldn’t come to terms with what happened before her eyes. there was no stronger desire in her than her desire to see her sister’s safe and happy, a smile always on their faces and love in their hearts. she didn’t need love herself, no matter what her father said. she choked and felt warmth flow down her face, she wanted to see her father again. to apologize, to be his precious daughter once more. her gaze was foggy but she saw the red staining her armor.ah, she thought, dahlia will be angry she got her uniform dirty. there was more wet, warmth flowing freely down her cheeks, she could feel the grim and dirt wash away. she tried to breathe but it sounded like a wet gasp as every nerve in her body protested any movement. even a simple breath was a struggle. she felt weak and pathetic and filled with so much regret that it threatened to pour out of her. but her sisters didn’t need to know of this- no they would hear of this, but they didn’t need to know that failed them so pathetically.she hoped that her father’s silly wish would come true, that dahlia, clover, bryony, anemone, violet, that all of them would find their true love amongst those suitors, those troublemakers that made her life lighter despite her best efforts to not find amusement in their antics. her mind stopped at one in particular. a foolish man that she couldn’t bear to see with anyone but her at his side. waves of regret washed over her again, she never felt so ignorant before. she’s brought back to the last ball and feels angry, why didn’t he dance with her? a stupid thought, she would have declined, she thought with a somber laugh. a body-racking cough followed and she saw more of that red stain her armor and spread to her clothes. lyra was right, she could be blind sometimes.but even now, she felt a sense of peace. they may have not danced that night, but plenty of times where it counted. out here, on her true stage.resolve settled deep into her bones and she gripped the pole with renewed strength. this was not how she planned to end it, on the ground, weak and alone in a losing battle. eden would survive long after this day.“princess!”“your highness!”the shouts from above the hill called to her, lyra and lowain. he must be there too. those three she could trust to protect her kingdom and her sisters. but she couldn’t let them or her men see her so weak. against every nerve that told her to stay, she hefted herself to her feet, the butt of the polearm dug into the ground to hold her weight. her legs rallied against her, but she was the eldest princess of eden and she could force her will into the world. slowly, shakily, but with her head held high, she made her climb to the top of the hill. the mud was slick and with every inch she got, she slid back two.anger bubbled in her as she glared at the ground, she watched each step and dared the mud to let her slip back down. her breathing grew shallower and her other hand joined the first to grip the banner as a lifeline. she smiled at the thought, it was, not just for her but for her people.she crested the hill just as he, lyra, and lowain reached her. any other time she would laugh at the worry on their faces, the look of utter despair as they raced to reach their leader after she was the eldest, nothing could stop her. but she didn’t, instead, she smiled with blurred vision and collapsed.“laurel!”ah, she thought when strong arms caught her and the weight of the banner left her hand. he’d never be as strong as she was, but it was nice to rest in the warmth of her favorite knight’s embrace. she could even ignore the panicked shouts of lyra above her and the dread emanating from lowain. she could just focus on the warmth that blossomed in her chest and the love she felt at that moment.