Or at least some fragments of it. Much rambling/scattered ideas below the cut
NPCs involved: Frey, Allon, Ereve, Luanna
Word count: 2,415
TL;DR
Allon and Ereve were raised together with the expectation of Allon becoming her knight, but they first regarded each other as best friends. Due to their own obligations to the city, they gradually drifted apart.
Luanna and Ereve grew close after Luanna begins to address Ereve by her first name rather than her typical title, but they also knew of each other even prior to adulthood.
Frey met Allon and Ereve at an event held by the nobility. There, they quickly bonded (as children usually do) before parting ways. During the next few reunions, Frey only meets with Allon, and the two of them gradually grow further and further apart until they're no more than polite acquaintances. It's only until after Allon's corruption that the two of them grow closer, as Frey spends a lot of time alongside Allon's bedside as he recovers.
I've talked about Frey and Allon being in a friendly/romantic relationship often on this blog, but it came to me that I really don't know how that'd happen exactly. I've always imagined that their relationship is somewhat distant in current day, mostly due to them parting ways in the past and no longer sharing interests at present.
This was pretty much influenced by Frey stating that their relationship is a bit complicated, and I feel like the desire to reconnect (but not really being sure how to/if the other person wants to at all) would be kind of involved in that discomfort. Plus the whole "the world is doomed by the presence of the BM returning" ordeal.
Of course, their backstory is completely up in the air, so I'm taking it upon myself to develop them. I'll be talking about Ereve and Allon first, because I think it's important to give context for them specifically.
I headcanon that Ereve was born as a mortal child that just happened to get the Goddess of Light's power, as she was the best "vessel" to be contained in. But since Ereve is of royal blood, she'd be assigned a personal knight.
I'm not sure who was the knight prior Allon (probably his dad), but Allon was definitely attached to Ereve at the hip. He was raised with the expectations to protect Ereve and be her companion until he retired/died, but Allon being like 4-5 years old basically paid no attention to that.
Likewise, Ereve didn't pay much attention to Karl's teachings when she was trying to fill the role of empress left behind by her mother when she passed (during childbirth, which is what I headcanon). The two of them would often sneak out of their duties to just spend time together, whether it be playing tag in the garden or exploring the giant city.
Of course, time and expectations change people. As they grew older, Allon was officially sent off to training to become a proper knight. Ereve would often be alone in the palace, left with only books to study and lectures to listen to as the days moved on. She found comfort in the prime minister's cat, Cordelia, as well and later befriended Luanna, a priestess in training. While Allon wasn't far from the palace itself, he rarely had the time to visit his best friend for long. And when Allon befriended Mason during his training, he eventually stopped visiting.
When Allon finally returns to Ereve's side, things are different. To her, things have become too formal between them. When he greets her every morning, his voice seems stiff and unnatural. Every time he addresses her, he uses honorifics. Your Majesty. Your Highness. Empress. She misses her friend-- the one that used to cheerily greet her at her chamber door, the one that used to call her by just her first name. Even if he's standing right beside her, things aren't the same anymore.
Allon isn't happy, either. When he was younger, he always knew that he would be by Ereve's side, protecting her. He saw it as a good thing-- after all, who wouldn't want to be with their best friend all the time? Protecting her, no less. Of course, he didn't realize exactly what knighthood entailed.
It meant throwing your life away to protect the one you serve. It meant absolute loyalty to the empire and the crown.
And while Allon was willing to follow the footsteps of his father, he began to question himself. Was he willing to die for the empire, even if the sacrifice would be in vain? What of Ereve when he falls in battle? What would happen to her? Of course, these thoughts were quickly dashed by ruthless drilling by his sergeants. It was the knight's honor to fight until one's last breath, loyal to the kingdom.
But more importantly, his purpose wasn't to protect Ereve. It was to protect the empress. It didn't matter who stood in her place, and Allon gradually took those words to heart. When he met with her again, he addressed her formally for the first time.
Ereve was uncomfortable. She laughed it off, reassuring him that it wasn't necessary to call her that. And yet, he continued, even against his empress's own wishes. He had a role to fill, after all. Their relationship has changed, and so has their dynamic. They're no longer on equal ground, and the two of them know it. Allon was her knight, and Ereve was his empress. Nothing more, nothing less.
Still, Allon cares deeply for Ereve. It's hard not to, considering they grew up together. In the event that Ereve would be in danger/hurt, Allon would appear to "break character" as he rushes to her side shouting her name. When she cries, he comforts her in the best way he knows how.
To him, Ereve being happy and in good health is what truly matters. He hates seeing her riddled with as the kingdom falls apart around her, and his assignment to Shadow Gate doesn't alleviate much of his worries. He just wants to stay by her side-- not just as a knight, but also as a friend.
Still, there still holds an air of formality between him and Ereve. Unlike Allon, however, Luanna eventually grows close enough to address Ereve by her first name-- something that she hasn't heard in quite some time. At this point, Ereve realizes how much she missed having someone address her with familiar terms. But this time, it seems a bit more intimate than usual, as Luanna only truly refers to Ereve by her name when they're in private. In public, she still refers to her with her titles.
This closeness gradually leads to the two of them falling in love.
... So, how does Frey fit into literally any of this? Where was he the entire time?
We're hopping back to when they were all kids again, around six or seven years old.
Like Luanna, Frey wasn't really part of the noble class. Rather, he was part of a line of blacksmiths-- specifically, royal blacksmiths. Still, while he wasn't considered noble class like Ereve and Allon, his family was still invited to more upper-class ceremonies. Whatever it is, I'm not sure, but let's just say that Ereve and Allon are both there and it's kind of boring.
It'd be the first time that Frey attended one of these, so Allon takes interest in meeting up with him. Frey, always being the more reserved one, was a bit hesitant with opening up while Allon pretty much barraged him with a load of questions.
Eventually though, Allon managed to figure out that Frey was part of the royal blacksmiths. He's totally stoked about it because he's really into the armor and cool weapons that knights use, and Frey's kind of taken aback because he's not used to someone being so interested in it. He's pretty happy with this change however, so he and Allon talk about armor and stuff for a while.
It's a little bit into their conversation that Allon interrupts the conversation to bring Ereve over. Frey has no idea who he's bringing back, but she comes over, Frey's rightfully awestruck by the fact that Allon knows the empress of all people.
Of course, this gets looked over pretty quickly because Ereve's also pretty excited to hear about the blacksmithing (Allon managed to sweep her into his interests after talking about knights so much with her). The three of them become swift friends (as children usually do) and talk a bunch about things like armor, weapons, animals, and miscellaneous cool things.
At some point, Frey admitted that he actually wanted to become a guard. Allon was reasonably excited about this idea and tells him that he wants to be a knight. They bond over that and get hyped over the fact that maybe they'll be able to see each other more often, but when the ceremony is finally over, they hardly see each other again (at least for a few years).
When they reunite for the second time, I imagine that they're both training together, squires and cadets alike. They bunk together and have a nice old time reconnecting and catching up, but as the training for the opposing factions grows more divided with time, they soon have to part ways again.
After they've both officially graduated from their respective jobs, they meet again as guard and knight. Allon is out on one of his assignments, and Frey's transferred from Tria over to wherever Allon (and the other knights) are as reinforcement. There, they reconnect a bit but remain somewhat distant due to Allon already being quite close with Mason from their time in training.
Frey, inversely, grew up more or less alone and spent most of his time with his captain, Condor. Unlike Allon (who became more or less disillusioned with knighthood), Frey gradually became more dedicated to his role as a guard, and his studies/training was more important to him than relationships would ever be. Somewhere down the line, Condor chose him to be the next guard captain-- the greatest honor Frey could probably have.
When both Frey and Allon have received their titles as captain, the ceremony (inauguration??) would be their third and last reunion. Not because they part ways again, but because they'd be working alongside each other until their duties are done and over with.
At this point, the two of them merely regard each other as "friendly acquaintances". While they do still hold conversation outside of work, it rarely lasts for long.
For Allon, it's sort of a lingering regret for not being able to talk to him and Ereve as often as he'd like. Even though he had made friends during his time in training, he still sometimes wishes that he made more of an effort to reconnect. But with him being so far from Tria now and with so little to say to them, Allon figures that maybe there was a reason why they drifted apart anyhow.
For Frey, he'd been used to being alone for quite a while now, and he's quite content with it. Still, seeing Allon stirs some fonder memories within him, and when Allon had left to maintain the Shadow Gate, Frey couldn't help but feel a bit lonely for the first time in a while without him there. But as always, duty comes first.
This would be their relationship for a while, at least until one of them gets hurt. I'll be using a theoretical future scenario where Allon is recovering from the corruption that overtook him post-apocalypse arc.
While Allon is recovering in the hospital/being cured, he notices that besides Luanna (for obvious healing reasons), Frey is usually the one visiting him by his bedside. At first, he's a bit confused. While he knows that Frey has a tendency to check up on any injured, it feels a bit strange to be tended to by someone like him.
It's even stranger to him that Frey would take so much time out of his schedule to even stay by him. The visits aren't much longer than an hour, but Allon understands that time is precious, especially within the context of Frey's own line of work.
When he asks about it, Frey simply responds that he just wants to make sure that Allon is doing well and that someone is standing in his place as he visits. Of course, things are a bit more complicated than that.
Even though the two of them have grown distant, there's still a part of him that worries about Allon. He was his friend, and he's still his ally. And while Frey never truly says it out loud, Allon realizes this and feels the same sentiment.
During the initial visits, the two made small talk about their work as they usually did. Reports on Shadow Gate and its status. How the glutamine pill development was going. Their conversations didn't last much longer than that, but still Frey stayed.
A few days into recovery, Allon asks if Frey would bring a chess set the next time he came. Frey agrees, a rare smile appearing on his face.
"Always the strategist."
Their conversations gradually become more familiar with every game, and Allon finds himself voicing complaints for the first time in a long while.
He's growing tired of lying in the hospital bed. His recovery's going smoothly, but he doesn't feel like it's going fast enough. He doesn't have anything to do while he lies in his room, and the television bores him half to death.
Frey doesn't make much remarks on it during their time together, but the next day after, he brings Allon a small journal with a few pens.
"You told me once that you liked to write. I hope this will suffice."
And for once, Allon finds himself speechless.
He hasn't told anyone about that in some time. After all, why would he? He's rarely found the time for it between his hectic schedule, and even less so to make a close enough bond with someone to talk about their hobbies. It's been years since he was last able to do that with someone.
And a few years later, Frey still remembers.
"This means a lot... thank you."
Those words were insufficient, to say the least.
The two of them grow closer as the days pass. Allon starts to journal the passing hours in the journal that Frey gave him, writing down his schedule as well as any plot ideas he may have come up with during his time alone. Eventually, he stops journalling his routine and starts to write about his meetings with Frey.
He begins to look forward to his visits now. Whether it be just for another talk or if Frey brings something novel to just keep Allon company, he appreciates it. And while Frey does notice, he doesn't mention it.
After he's released from the hospital, Allon makes sure to visit Frey to thank him for being there for him, even if it wasn't necessary.
Frey just smiles back.
"Of course."
AAAAND that's all I can really figure out right now. The writing at the end kind of dwindled off because I don't think there's much to talk about + it's built around a scenario rather than the actual relationship, but I hope that was a decent read for y'all :"D
