Put Another Log on the Fire

Edlyn opened the solar's wooden door with a creak, letting out a sigh as she stepped into the great room. The moon was visible from the skylight, a sliver of white surrounded by small specks of stars.

"Three years here and I never get used to that view." Edlyn thought to herself as she turned her attention to the fireplace. In front of two cushioned chairs, a small flame flickered in the hearth, heating and illuminating the room. Edlyn grabbed a log from the woodpile, its rough grooves allowing for an easy one-handed grip.

The retainer undid the straps of her armor as she trekked to the fireplace. Her bronze chestplate and pauldrons fell to the floor beside her chair. Her tassets followed suit, and Edlyn squatted in front of the fire. The log revitalized the flame, and Edlyn watched as the fire hungrily consumed it. Standing for a moment, Edlyn sank into the chair as the fire crackled.

"Lauren must still be in the stables," Edlyn thought to herself as she rubbed her eyes, desperate to stay awake.

Her thoughts wandered, and she saw herself going back through the years.

-

"Haah!" A young Edlyn slashed at the training dummy with her wooden sword. Her nostrils flared as she made impact, imagining Lauren's stupid face on the dummy as it took her swings. Lauren's voice rang through her head, remembering her training partner's insults.

"Poor girl, charity case, inferior, the servant quarters are on the other side of the castle, good for nothing," Lauren's voice grated her ears as Edlyn unleashed a barrage of strikes on the dummy. Edlyn had imagined meeting lords and ladies and knights ever since she could remember, and Lauren had ruined her impressions in a single day. With one final slash to the torso, it toppled to the ground. Straw spilled from its cloth stomach, and Edlyn tossed her sword to the side, satisfied. 

"Excuse me, Edlyn?" A soft voice came from behind her. Edlyn balled her hands into fists as she let out a sigh, turning to face the Duke's daughter.

"What do you want?" Edlyn spat. "Did you come back to make fun of me some more?" 

"Actually..." Lauren looked to the ground, her face matching her hair color. "I came to apologize for the way I treated you." Turning back to meet Edlyn's glare, she continued. "Your mother came and spoke with me. I was wrong to judge you and say those things. Actually, I got something for you." Lauren extended her arm, opening her hand to reveal two colorfully wrapped candies.

"Your mother told me these were your favorite. I know this doesn't make us friends, but I don't hate you. I was wondering if we could...start over?" 

Edlyn's heart thumped. Her gaze softened as she eyed Lauren's peace offering. Slowly, she raised her hand and took one, the wrapper crinkling as she unwrapped it and popped the chocolate sphere into her mouth. Edlyn could feel her anger melt away like the chocolate on her tongue.

"Okay," Edlyn sighed. "We did get off to a bad start. But don't expect me to be bowing when you enter a room or calling you 'Lady Duval,' okay?" 

Lauren huffed as she put the other candy back into her pocket. "I can live with that."

-

"That was almost twenty years ago..."

As Edlyn could feel her eyes shutting, the door to she'd come out from earlier opened, and out stepped her liege.

"Lauren!" Edlyn shot up and glanced over her shoulder. Goddess above, she looked radiant. Lauren's hair was brighter than the flames at Edlyn's feet, her smile made Edlyn's heart melt. Edlyn internally nodded. Tonight she was going to tell her liege how she truly felt.

"I see you've already made yourself at home," Lauren remarked as she removed her aqua colored coat, placing it on the table in the middle of the room. "It's been a long trip, I'm surprised you haven't gone to sleep."

"I wanted to make sure you made it back safely. Everything go okay?" 

"Yep, I handed off the letter and my father should be handling everything now. Thanks for coming with me."

"Of course! It's always a pleasure to spend time with you." Edlyn gave a small smile. 

Lauren raised an eyebrow. "Even the boring diplomatic trips?"

"Well, yeah that was pretty boring."

A smile crossed Lauren's face. "Alright, I'm gonna tuck in for the night. I'll see you tomorrow 'Lyn!" And with a bow, she turned towards her bedroom door.

Edlyn gave a small wave before turning back to the fire. She blinked, and a small voice inside her welled up. "Hey, you're blowing it!" The thought chided her.

Edlyn shot up from her chair. "Actually, I wanted to speak with you about something. Do you mind sitting with me?" Edlyn motioned to the chair next to her. She rubbed the back of her neck, expecting to find drops of nervous sweat.

Lauren stopped as she reached her doorknob, turning back to Edlyn. "Of course." Lauren gave a nod as she sank into the chair, resting her arms on the chairs' own as she sat down.

"What's the matter, 'Lyn?" Lauren placed a hand on Edlyn's, who was still watching the flame.

"Well," Edlyn dragged her gaze to meet Lauren. "I just-" Edlyn sighed. She could feel her heart beating faster as she formed the words. "Do you remember the day we were knighted? The night I became your retainer?"

Lauren nodded her head. "Of course, how could I forget? You don't forget the time your best friend pledges her life to you."

"Y-yeah," Edlyn stammered, feeling her face heat up as the memory crossed her mind.

Calm down, Edlyn.

She sighed, allowing herself time to grab the words she wanted to say as they bounced around her brain.

"Lauren, you've done so much for me. You were the first person I told I was trans. You accepted me as your retainer, you don't judge others based on their birth, but by their merit."

Edlyn's voice softened to a whisper. "You're what anyone should aspire to be. And I know I've offered my life to you, but if you would accept, I can also offer you my love."

Edlyn braced herself for the worst, watching Lauren's face with intent.

"You... love me?" Lauren's mouth was agape.

"I do." Edlyn could feel the tears crawl down her cheeks as she opened her heart to the woman she loved.

Edlyn felt Lauren's grip around her hand tighten, and the redhead's other hand clasped it as well.

"I love you too, 'Lyn!" Lauren laughed lightly as she got up from her chair and squatted in front of Edlyn, never breaking her gaze. The fireplace behind her gave her hair the appearance of a wild flame.

Edlyn slumped from the chair and into Lauren's arms as the two embraced, their only audience the crescent moon in the sky.

After several minutes, Edlyn broke the embrace with a yawn. "It has to be past midnight.."

"Would you like to sleep in my room with me?" Lauren asked as she glanced back to the fireplace. The flame had died down to embers, as if it too had retired for the night.

Edlyn helped Lauren up off the ground, and the two strode into Lauren's bedchambers, hand in hand. Their stray armor in the solar could wait until morning.

Lauren's room was smaller than what was expected for the duke's daughter. A bookshelf with books lined edge to edge stood on the right wall, next to a small window. A small circular table stood on the right wall under a window, with a map of Orthea rolled out on it. The bed extended from the far wall, its purple sheets almost glimmering from the window's moonlight.

Edlyn slumped onto the bed, resting her head on a feather pillow as Lauren pulled up the soft velvet sheets. Lauren snuggled up besides Edlyn, wrapping her arms around her newly beloved. 

"I just realized, this is gonna be a shock to everyone, isn't it?" Edlyn gave a short light laugh as Lauren shook her head.

"It's okay, I'm glad you told me. Maybe-" Lauren covered her mouth as she gave out a long loud yawn. "Maybe we can talk more in the morning. G'night, 'Lyn..." Lauren placed a kiss on Edlyn's forehead and shut her eyes.

"Good night, Lauren..."

Edlyn drifted off, and slept the soundest she'd had in a long time.