My knight ficlet/update is obviously delayed but here have the excerpt you all really want: Caitlyn and Vi reuniting after she saved Vi. Updates are almost done though!
Caitlyn pauses doing up her cloak as her mother approaches. It feels as though she has aged her parents ten years in the span of a few days. Caitlyn tries not to shift her weight as she stands there. Her mother is her sovereign, but she’s also her mum. And the past few weeks with her have been a kindness Caitlyn never thought she would get. But it makes this next bit harder. So much harder. There is a part of Caitlyn that just wants to throw herself into her mother’s embrace and never leave. Even if they have just fought over whether or not she will be shuffled around. They look at each other for a moment before her mother moves forward and wraps her arms around her. It’s a tight embrace, but for once there are no words that accompany it. No warnings, no reminders, just a tight squeeze that Caitlyn sinks into. She buries her face in her mother’s shoulder like she has not done since she was a child, since she had to push up to do it instead of curving her neck down.
“I’ll see you soon,” she says, when they finally must pull apart.
Her mother nods as Caitlyn fights the burning that has spread from her ribs to her throat. It’s never easy to watch her mother take her place as the queen, but this time it hurts even more. All of the other Knights who wear her face look equally emotional, they always do. It’s a kindness concocted by someone in her line, someone who realized it was probably a step too far to ask the heir not to be emotional at every parting. But this time it is harder. This time Caitlyn feels the weight of parting even more. It aches through her as she is absorbed by the crowd. Everyone here would lay down their lives to protect her. Guilt burns through her as Caitlyn aches with the knowledge she has very nearly rendered their sacrifice irrelevant with her selfishness. Even if one of them was shifted to take her place, they would know. Her mother would know. Caitlyn has no-one to blame for that but herself. Even though she held on, even though it didn’t happen. The longer time spent with her mother, the harder parting—all of it feels like some kind of punishment she deserves. Caitlyn can feel the sob building even as she pushes it back. Her parents are watching. It’s hard to hear a few of the others sob but Caitlyn tries not to. This time it’s a losing battle. She’s one of the first at the gates. This feels like running away and leaving a part of her behind. A part of her soul, perhaps.
Because the gates opening and Caitlyn knows it’s not her heart.
That is already elsewhere.
The name tears out of her as Vi whips around. Her eyes go wide at the sight of her. Caitlyn barely notices the shadows under her eyes, the unkept length of her hair, the white knuckled grip on her sword—all of it falls away as she throws herself through the half opened gates. Vi’s arms are open and that is all it takes for Cailtyn to fling herself into the embrace. For all her shock, it only takes a moment for Vi’s arms to lock around her. In that moment Caitlyn can hear the pound of her heart, the catch of her breath, but then she hears the sigh of relief as Vi’s arms clutch her back. Dimly Caitlyn can hear the chaos surrounding them, but it flies by as though happening to someone else. The only thing that matters is the way Vi tucks her head against hers as she holds her close.
“Gods, Cait—“ she breathes and Caitlyn just tries to press herself closer.
Vi lets out a weak laugh instead of arguing. She buries herself closer and only Caitlyn can hear the choked half-sob that leaves her. It makes Caitlyn clutch her back even tighter. Vi smells horrible, but somewhere under that smell of stress and worry is the smell of Vi. And that’s what matters. Especially as the adrenaline and relief make Vi sink into her embrace. They shift somehow from Vi holding her up to Caitlyn returning the favor, both of their knees embarrassingly weak. But Caitlyn’s side reminds her that she’s healed but not entirely. And the idea of dropping Vi isn’t one she’ll entertain.
“Let’s get back to the inn,” she says. Vi nods against her, “when did you last sleep?”
Vi pulls back with a weak sound that might be a laugh and Caitlyn gets her first real look at her in weeks. Everything in her aches at the sight as she takes in her appearance. She begged them to send word to Vi, but it’s clear that wasn’t done. Caitlyn reaches out and touches Vi’s cheek. She turns her face into her hand, her breath coming down Caitlyn’s wrist. But when she opens her eyes, she manages a weak smile.
“You can’t go worrying about me,” she says, “you’re the one who almost got yourself killed.”
“Then why do you look as though you’re dying?” Caitlyn asks helplessly.
Vi doesn’t have to answer. It’s the same reason Caitlyn knows her heart was not left in the palace. That it hasn’t been there for years now. It’s why Vi lets her lead her back to the inn and get her into the bath. Why even though Vi is exhausted and Caitlyn’s ribs are aching, they won’t sleep for hours. There’s nothing to catch up on, it’s not as though they have done anything for the past weeks. But neither can quite believe this worked. That they are back together when everything from tradition to logic says they shouldn’t be. But for now, Vi smiles and shrugs and even manages to wink like they are fresh of that muddied field where they first met. And just like back then, when Vi also had no business winking and smiling, Caitlyn cannot help but smile back.
Together they leave the palace behind.
