She is the one, and I have a purpose:

[lumeria]

The "Knight"/"Prince/ss *" Meme * that's gender neutral It's fairly simple, really, no royalty required. One of you is the "princess:" sweet, gentle, possibly energetic, always full of life and innocence. The other is the "knight:" stoic, or at least serious about protecting that one special person, dedicated, strong, a fighter. And the two of you are in love, even if one...less expressive than the other. Together romantically or not, there's something that connects you, most likely a driving need to protect. But don't let the normal conventions full you, the "princess" (or "prince," as it may be, because the terms here are gender neutral) is just as important. Someone has look to the emotional well-being and happiness of the "knight," and often, those "knights" need a lot of help. Comment with your character and preferences. Be sure to include which role you'd like to play. Reply to others.

Comments

[long_live_the_queen]

[Around almost anyone else, she'd have continued to bluster and bluff her way through until she ran out of excuses and chose silence for the next six hours.

Around Historia, it...felt safe, to admit to things. To pull her armor away, and expose what she would have otherwise dismissed as pointless weakness until it festered and snapped.]

...I was sleepwalking again. I didn't know where I was when I woke up.

[Kaede kept staring off at the wall, but she was talking.]

All I saw were enemies.

[martyrerkomplex]

[Historia frowns in concern, but doesn't draw away from her. She scoots a little closer, even, though she tries not to crowd her too much.]

Do you remember anything about it?

[long_live_the_queen]

[The presence close to her side was reassuring; enough that her voice softened and quieted, turning almost thoughtful.]

A...bird kept calling my name. Or someone with the same horns as me, it...changed. I don't remember their face.

[Kaede closed her eyes, trying to comb through all of that day's thoughts for the faint whispers of the dream.]

...and a house, lit inside. There were people in it, laughing. I hit my head before I found out who they were.

[martyrerkomplex]

[Historia listened, and waited. For the moment, there seemed to be little else to do.]

Do you think the dreams mean something?

[long_live_the_queen]

...I don't know.

[Now that she'd started talking, the words kept spilling out.

Even ones she probably didn't mean to say.]

They stopped when someone hit me with a chair this time.

[martyrerkomplex]

Do you know how long you were dreaming?

[Tentatively, she reached out to touch the other girl's arm.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede glanced down at the touch on her arm; should she...touch Historia's hand, too? Would that help?

While she hesitated, she continued to speak.]

No. I was in the castle when I fell asleep, then in the barracks when I woke up. They said I was in the city sometime in between.

[She sighed, a tired sound. The few scraps of memory she could dredge out had been exhausted already.]

...sorry. I don't know what else to tell you.

[martyrerkomplex]

[Maybe she was asking too much. It couldn't be easy to talk about, after all...]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push -- thank you for trusting me with what you can.

[long_live_the_queen]

Why are you sorry? It's not your fault.

[Kaede finally stops hesitating, curling her hand over Historia's.

It...helped, though. Having someone who'd listen to these kinds of things without dismissing them as silly or pointless or weak, which she was...afraid of others doing.]

[martyrerkomplex]

If I was pushing too much for answers. I want to understand for you, I just thought maybe I hadn't been giving you enough space...

[long_live_the_queen]

[That...hm.

Kaede squeezed Historia's hand, both like a silent thank you and don't leave.]

I don't mind. You're...listening to me.

[Goodness, the prickly perpetually-angry knight got awfully squishy suddenly.]

[martyrerkomplex]

Of course I am.

[She squeezes her hand back, always gentle.]

I like listening to you.

[long_live_the_queen]

[Whoa, whoa, calm down heart. She was getting all giddy and full of butterflies. Historia was just being...Historia.

But that was important on its own.]

...no one says that to me.

[Kaede's voice was still quiet, if a little jittery from how wobbly and light her chest felt.]

[martyrerkomplex]

People aren't always very good at listening.

[No one has listened to her real thoughts a day in her life.]

[long_live_the_queen]

No, they're not.

[Her commander was better at shouting, listening mostly to news or reports. They certainly wouldn't have bothered with anything like this.

When Kaede had calmed down some, she glanced over at Historia.]

Are they asking you to do anything today?

[martyrerkomplex]

There's a party to greet a new ambassador in a few hours' time. I should probably get ready soon.

[But not just yet. She's comfortable where she is right now.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede exhaled a disgruntled sounding sigh.]

...they'll probably want me down there at some point too.

[So she could stand off to the side for a few hours and look intimidating. And try not to doze off or yawn extravagantly in uniform like she had last time.

And after they'd put something on her eye and visible bruises to make them less obvious. Brushes on her face always tickled and either amused or frightened the servants depending on how cranky Kaede was at the time.]

[martyrerkomplex]

Well, they won't want me coming down without you.

[She wasn't made of glass, but good luck convincing anyone of that.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[She hmphed this time, finally starting to seem less cranky.]

As if I'd leave you.

[Kaede leaned to the side, bumping Historia's shoulder with her own.]

[martyrerkomplex]

[Only Kaede could sound less cranky than before while harrumphing like that.]

[It was nice. On her worst day, Historia still couldn't afford such open displeasure, and it was oddly thrilling to see Kaede express the things she couldn't.]

I know. Thank you.

[long_live_the_queen]

['Thank you.'

No matter how many times she heard it, the reaction was the same; Kaede felt like she could smile. And she did, this time. It was safe to let her mouth curve and her eyes soften.]

What were you working on?

[Historia had set something aside when she called Kaede over; she'd almost forgotten to ask.

Feelings could awfully distracting.]

[martyrerkomplex]

Nothing important.

[She picks it up again -- a delicate handkerchief held in an embroidery hoop, with an intricate flower pattern underway.]

I'm supposed to make a favor, to give whoever wins the tournament next week.

[long_live_the_queen]

[While Historia was distracted, Kaede leaned in further to kiss her cheek. Just a brief, small one.]

It looks pretty.

[martyrerkomplex]

...Do you want this one, when I'm finished?

[She doesn't know why she's saying it. She doesn't even really like the thing, herself. But if Kaede likes it...]

[Somehow, for some reason, she rather wants her to have it.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Historia hadn't shooed her away, so Kaede stayed right here, where her breath could tickle the other girl's cheek.

Obviously she was just looking at the embroidered flowers, it definitely wasn't about staying close to Historia.]

If it won't trouble you.