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Gale pulled her into his embrace, breathing in the scent of her and familiarizing himself with the feeling of her against him. He held her there for a moment, eventually pulling away and kissing her. "I'm stationed here now, which means no more worry about that death notice. More focusing on us, less on ev-" He cut off at the sound of a cannon getting fired, Gale flinching at the sound as his hand flew to the handle of his sword, gaze darting around with panicked eyes before his cheeks tinted red with embarrasment. "Sorry just, half of me still thinks it's still there." The man muttered, wiping the expression away though he was still somewhat nervous. "Back to what I was saying, less on everything else, more so on what we couldn't do all the years I was away." Gale murmured, keeping her close. |
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Selene sunk into him, her arms wrapping around him for the time that he held her in his embrace. God, how she had missed the way it felt to have his arms wrapping around her, drawing her in and holding her close. All they had ever been were friends, but deep down she had always wished for more. She hadn't known then that they'd marry, but she had been so happy to know she'd get to be with her best friend for the rest of their lives. His kiss caught her off guard, but she recovered quickly, her lips softening against his as she reciprocated his affections. Heavens, she had needed that just as bad. She listened to him attentively, more than relieved to hear that he was stationed and safe for the time to come. She tensed at how quickly he reached for his sword, but she didn't shy away from him, her expression twisting with concern before she shook her head. "You've gone through things.. it's alright to be a little nervous," she murmured reassuringly, not wanting him to believe she thought any less of him. War changed people. She knew that he wouldn't be an exception. "But that sounds delightful to me. It is all that I have wished for aside from your safe return. Now we have all the time we need to do however and whatever we please," she spoke softly, more than happy to focus on their relationship once more, whatever it may be. |
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He smiled warmly, resting his forehead against hers for a moment before pulling away. "Lots of things we could do but, first we should get some breakfast, haven't ate since I think last week." Gale explained, his stomach growling in agreement. Taking her hand in his as he always did, walking down the hall and having to be guided a time or two as he'd forgotten the layout of the palace, Selene correcting him the times. He walked into the dining hall, the scent of fresh baked bread and more filling his nostrils. "Mm, must've made some fresh bread." He mused, grabbing a slice and realizing how good it was. "Has uh, has it always tasted like this?" The man asked, somewhat astonished by how sweet and fluffy it was. Though at the sound of a commander's voice he snapped to attention, along with the other knights in the room. "Sweetbane, you're back?" He asked, teasing Gale with the nickname. "Sure am, sergent let me go home, war is letting up so, finally got a break and I took it. Get to see my wife, friends, home, all for the first time in three years. Always a surreal feeling. Oh yeah, I also get to have some good bread for once!" He chuckled, the commander wrapping up and walking away. "Always loved that guy," Gale murmured |
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Selene enjoyed the moment, the touch and affection she'd been deprived of for three years. She knew it would never feel like enough, at least, not for a long time. "Well, let's get you fed then," she chuckled, passing off the flowers to one of the maids so that she could put them in some water and in her room. Her fingers laced with his as they walked, his hand dwarfing hers. It felt surreal to walk those halls with him again, but she was thanking those lucky stars that she had prayed to each night.
"Mmh, I believe father has it made fresh every morning now, at least one batch," she nodded, chuckling as he marveled over the flavor and texture of the bread. She snagged a piece for herself, figuring she should probably eat a little too, despite the fact she rarely at in the mornings. The bread was the same as always to her, but she doubted they could get good, fresh bread on the battlefield. Her attention turned to the conversation between the two men, a content smile still warping her features. "Sweetbane, huh? Do I need the explanation behind that one?" She questioned, wondering how he came to gain the nickname. Her gaze wandered briefly, landing on her father who was watching her intently with disdain. He'd probably lecture her on appearing with her newly returned husband and making a scene if he got the chance, but truth was very few even paid them any mind. |
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"Sweetbane? Oh my, it's a long story. They started calling me 'Bane' since i'm an absolute machine on the battle field, then i'll come back to you and be all nice or something stupid like that. So they just added 'sweet' to it and now i'm Sweetbane, simple as..." He trailed off, seeing her father staring at them and freezing slightly before looking back at her. "He's not a big fan of us, now is he?"
Gale asked quietly, skeptical as he grabbed another piece of bread.
The man readjusted his gaunlets, one of them pinching on of his fingers before loosening one of his pieces of armor, for it was tightly pressed up against him and leaving marks. |
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Selene was listening to him, ignoring how she could still feel her father staring at them. She did suppose the nickname was rather fitting, as she could see Gale being a menace on the battle field. She had watched him train before, after all. As for the sweet part... well, he was always sweet in her eyes. She stiffened as he mentioned her father, a sigh escaping as she ran her free hand through her hair. "It isn't necessarily us, so much as it is.. me. I mean... he can't be unhappy with us, considering he arranged the marriage, but he's probably not happy with the fact that I've finally graced the dining hall with my presence at your side after.. two years?" She admitted, cutting the king a positively dirty look before returning her gaze to Gale.
"That looks like it hurts... Wouldn't you rather wear something more comfortable now that you're home?" She asked curiously, frowning as she saw the marks and pinches from it being so tight. She knew he might need to be ready for trouble at any point in time, but she did hate to feel as if he might be uncomfortable. |
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"I mean... not that I really have anything else, all got either stolen, destroyed, or i've just misplaced it during battle. Besides, always have to be prepared and... habits, I guess. Only thing drilled in my mind is ; wake up, put on my armor, grab my sword, go to war, come back, sleep for a few hours, repeat it all over again." Gale explained somberly, the man getting a blank look in his eye as he remembered it. Slowly the chatter of the hall faded into yelps and yells, the crackle of something getting cooked in a pan nearby turning into the sound of fire, and the people around them becoming those who he'd lost. "Help!" "For the kingdom!" "When can we go home?" The voices all overlapped one another, Gale blinked, the dining hall flickering between the blood soaked battle ground and the hall. His eyes widened slightly in panic, his vision blurring at the edges as his heart started beating quicker, his breath coming quicker. He turned, pushing through the crowd until he got onto the balcony, opening the door and taking in big gulps of fresh air, the echo of fallen soldiers screams still pulsing faintly in the back of his mind. His ears rang, silencing everything else besides it until the noise eventually faded. Gale was shaking slightly, hands gripping the railing so tight his knuckles were white. "Must be a war veteran, c'mon son, let's give him some space." A mother said to her child, taking him by the hand and leading the boy back inside. Gale watched as they went, running a hand over his face as he tried to make himself believe he was safe again. -The battle's done, you're done fighting, Selene is somewhere, go find your wife and you'll forget all about it. Suck it up, you're fine.- He thought, staring off into the distance with a thousand yard stare. |
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Selene grimaced inwardly, regretting even asking. She had forgotten that he'd taken pretty much all of his belongings with him, leaving nothing let at that castle for him except for her. Not only that, but it had been insensitive to the war he had spent years fighting in. She cursed herself left and right, especially when he went nearly silent before pushing through the crowd, leaving her there wondering how badly she must've just messed up to bring on such a bad episode of memories. He must despise her right then.. but she knew she still needed to go after him, to offer comfort or whatever a friend and wife would. Only, there was a hand on her shoulder before she could even take two steps towards the balcony. "Selene. Father wants a word with you," Celeste, her older sister stopped her, making Selene flinch and bat her hand away. "Father can wait," she snapped, starting to walk off, only to have her wrist grabbed again. "No. In his office, now," the older of two demanded, glaring as Selene jerked her wrist from her grasp with considerable force before she finally stalked off towards her father's personal office. No doubt he'd lecture her for bringing him there, for allowing her newly returned husband to come to breakfast and put on a show when they should have been taken in privacy to avoid "embarrassing" herself in court. She'd have to apologize to Gale the moment she could leave her father's presence. Selene didn't even knock, her simply walked inside, her arms crossing over her chest as the door slammed behind her. "Well? I'm here, father, what is it that could not wait five more minutes when I've been waiting for you to speak more than a single word to me for the past three years?" She asked, clearly irritated with the king, who bore a similar expression. "You know why you're here. Making a scene, in breakfast?" He scoffed, scrubbing a hand across his silver stubble. "Why, you haven't bothered to grace us at mealtimes in ages, but now-" She cut him off with a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Now my husband is home, and he was hungry. So yes, I went to breakfast with him where almost no one noticed us but you!" They'd continue back and forth for a short while, spewing venom to one another at a volume that could be heard if one was right outside the door.
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A few other knights from his battalion came up to him, the group all standing in silence for a moment before one finally cleared his throat and spoke. "So Sweetbane, glad to finally see your wife? That sweet is coming out I see," He mused simply, as though Gale wasn't having almost a full on PTSD attack. He stayed dead quiet for a moment, the only sound being the rustle of armor, the sound of leaves gently swaying in the wind, birds chirping, Gale's heavy breathing, and soft chattering coming from almost every direction. "Uh... yeah, real glad." Gale muttered, gaze flickering every which way and what as he searched for any danger, to which he found done as he shfited on the dirt ridden, lightly cracked, dark cobblestone balcony they all stood on. His fingers curled around the stone railing, turning white as the texture from the rail branded itself on his calloused palms. He still heard the yells and such, but mostly his sergent barking commands at them. "I'm glad to be back, get to see my family again. And better yet, my friends." Another knight murmured, the rest of the group nodding, a few 'yeah's and 'for sure's being handed around as well. Gale still stayed quiet, vision restoring itself around the edges as he slowly calmed. By the time some of them were telling jokes, he wasn't nessecerialy laughing but he was smiling slightly at a few, talking more, and not gripping the rail like a lifeline. |
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Selene fought to cut the argument short, her worry for Gale growing, her need to check on him overwhelming. It had been the worst timing, but she knew it had been done on purpose. Her father lectured her about being a good and proper daughter, and about respect, and she couldn't take it any longer. "I have better things to be doing than standing here and listening to you gripe when my husband needs me," she hissed, turning on her heel and storming out even as he demanded that she come back. Of course Celeste was waiting right outside to try and stop her, but Selene shoved her out of the way and gave her a pointed, one finger gesture that made the other princess gasp from the vulgarity. As Selene returned to the dining hall, she actually did attract some attention with her reddened, blotchy cheeks and the look of pure anger on her face. The crowd parted easily as she came through, not wanting to risk her ire as she made her way to the balcony to be where she belonged. She worked on her breathing as she walked, calming herself as she geared up to apologize profusely for not being at his side. It helped a little to see other soliders there, but it sucked beyond reason to know they had to try and help him when it should have been her.
"Excuse me.." she murmured, sliding between the soldiers until she was beside Gale, her hands sliding onto the railing to grip. "I'm sorry I took so long.. Are.. Are you alright?" She asked tentatively, her voice quiet as glanced up at him, nervous guilt swirling with hints of her boiling anger. |
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Sunny
