Farah frowned slightly, but she was surprised to hear that Gwen was already a hunter and half way to becoming a warrior, as this man – presumably Corvin – explained it.
"Your Highness," the knight began, but she practically bit her tongue at the mistake. "My apologies… Gwen. I was sent to find you and bring you back. And honestly, I'm in no rush to return myself. If I may, I shall stay here with you as protection. Though I doubt you'll be needing it," she added quickly.
Gwen let out a breath to calm down as Corvin explained but she blushed as he mentioned her latest accomplishment. “Corvin…” she whispered.
“What? It's true. You just made your first hunt.” he laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder in a half hug.
She raised a brow at the knight’s offer, surprised that she would even say such a thing. “You would do that?” she asked softly.
Farah arched her eyebrows. Her first hunt? Just how long ago was it that she disappeared, and now she's already completed her first hunt? As she watched the father-daughter dynamic the pair had, Farah felt an ache in her stomach. Her father had been her trainer, and the memories she had of him during training sessions were… not good.
Still, she shook the feeling and dipped her head. "Yes, I would. My service is to the crown, and whether or not you accept the title, it is still yours. You have my loyalty, Gwen."
Gwen nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have the knight stay with her. It might even look better to let her take her back when the time is right.
“You would be treated as an outsider by our tribe.” Corvin warned. “But if you are sure that you want to stay, you can stay with me and my family.” he offered.
“Don't be silly, Corvin. Rhes is still expecting and Jeim takes up enough space in your tent as it is.” Gwen giggled. “I have more room in my tent.”
Farah nodded at the warning. It couldn't be anything worse than she'd already experienced back in Olarien. "I am sure," she agreed simply.
Her eyes darted between Corvin and Gwen as they spoke, debating where Farah would stay. "I appreciate your offer," she said politely, directing her words to Corvin. "Though if the prince– Gwen has more room in her tent, I feel I should stay with her. It may even give me a better chance at protecting her, should the need arise."
“You’ll have to get used to letting me fight my own battles.” Gwen smirked. “But I appreciate your dedication.”
Corvin nodded at the decision and looked up at the sun to gauge the time. “We should start heading home. It’ll be a longer hike taking your first hunt with us.” he pointed out since the buck was no doubt going to be heavy.
Farah lifted her chin slightly, eyeing the woman across from her. Then she dipped her head in acknowledgment. "As you wish." She eyed the buck, then Gwen with a surprised, yet awe-filled gaze. "This is the product of your first hunt?" she asked incredulously.
“Well, my first official hunt.” Gwen blushed as she moved to pick up the front hooves. “I've been on a few hunts with the others before but more as a student.”
Corvin joined Gwen by the animal and grabbed the back legs to help lift it. “I was just here to observe this time.” he explained. “But Gwen is a fast learner so I knew she would do well today.”
“Corvin!” Gwen said as her blush darkened under the paint.
Farah listened to the pair and moved closer to the buck as they lifted it. "Do you need any extra assistance?" she asked, glancing between Gwen and Corvin. Though their words again seemed to set something off inside of Farah. This time, it showed a bit on her face. The hurt that came with the memories and the longing for a healthy relationship with a parent.
“If you think you can manage to grab the middle…” Gwen shrugged. “Might make a good impression on the tribe that you're there to help and not cause trouble.”
“What's your name, by the way?” Corvin asked. “I’m sure you guessed but I’m Corvin. And I’m the one who's been taking care of Gwen and teaching her everything she wants to learn about the tribe.”
Farah nodded and moved to help lift the middle of the buck and relieve some of the weight Gwen and Corvin had to carry. "Yes, I assumed," she replied kindly. "My name is Farah." She purposefully left out her last name – Dowling – just in case Gwen remembered her parents. Though her first name might also do the trick. Farah hoped not.
“Farah. That's an interesting name.” Corvin noted. “Is it common in Olarien?”
Gwen shook her head. “I don't think so. It sounds like a name you would remember but… Did we ever spend any time together before I left?” she asked, directing the question to Farah.
(So… this is long, but welcome to Farah's traumatic past lol. And sorry I haven't responded much today. I've been busy as hell)
Well, shit. If Farah told the princess of the last time the soldier had seen her, it was highly likely that Gwen would remember her. "No," she answered Gwen after a moment of dead air. "At least, not directly. During my days in the palace, I was mostly training.”
And then a memory struck her, so vivid and intense that it drew her from the current moment and back into her haunted past.
Her body hit the floor, and it took her a moment to push herself up onto all fours. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her blurring vision and spat on the ground. A red splatter appeared. Blood. A familiar iron taste in her mouth.
"Get up," a steely voice ordered.
She was panting, unable to draw in a breath. Her stomach was tight, and for a moment, she thought she would retch in the middle of the training floor.
"Get. Up," the voice repeated.
Slowly, painfully, she rose to her feet. Once she was standing, her body began to sway slightly. By the gods, she was so lightheaded…
There, across the floor from her, stood her least favorite trainer, a long staff in his unrelenting grip. Her father.
"You take hits like that in battle all the time." His cool voice rang in the sweat-stenched room. "If you take that long to get up, you're finished. Nothing more than a dull, unimpressive soldier."
She swallowed and set herself to defend against another of his attacks. Suddenly, the door opened behind him. In walked her mother, dressed in her absolute finest gown and makeup, along with the king and queen, and trailing them in a fine gown was the crown princess – Gwendolyn. She and Gwendolyn locked eyes, and neither broke the gaze until a ruthless hit across the face caused the soldier's head to whip back, and she collapsed cold to the ground.
This time, when her body hit the floor, she didn't get up. The world had gone dark.
(It's ok. I've had those kinds of days too.)
Gwen sighed at the answer and nodded. “I'm not surprised… but I am sorry.” she told the knight. “I… I was never on much of a name-based relationship with most people at my father’s palace.” she admitted, trying to remember the few names she did learn. It wasn't very many in the first place but now the names of her tribal family were the first ones to come to her mind.
Farah was pulled from her memory by Gwen's voice, speaking again. "Don't be," she assured the other woman quickly. "I understand. If I had the choice, I wouldn't have been either." Her eyes widened at her own words. Curse her stupid tongue! Talk like that was blasphemous.
“Excuse me?” Gwen questioned, casting a glance over her shoulder. “I hate that I don't know their names! If I had a choice, I would make sure to learn and remember the name of every person I met in that palace. Not knowing… is haunting.” she explained. “Like a hall of faceless ghosts.”
Farah blenched at the question. "My apologies," she said quickly, trying to cover up her words. But in some ways, knowing them all is worse. You know every person's pain and suffering as well as your own. And they know yours, but they only truly know half of it. It's the events that happen behind closed doors that make it unbearable to look the people you know in the eye. You know them, but you don't. And you wish that they never knew you.
Gwen sighed as she calmed down from her tirade. She was glad of the freedom to finally speak her mind compared to the shy silence she had lived her life in before. But sometimes her tone said too much. “I’m sorry too.” she nodded as they continued walking.
Farah shook her head slightly and used the move as an excuse to glance very briefly at Corvin. Maybe when she and Gwen were alone, Farah would tell her of the last time she had seen the princess in the castle. Maybe she'd even tell the princess who her parents were…
"How much further is the walk to your village?" she asked, hoping to change the topic.
Corvin noticed the look and raised a brow in return. Gwen may not be his daughter by blood but he and his wife had accepted the former princess into their lives easily. Especially when she had asked to become part of the tribe. “Just on the other side of this forest. We should be there soon.” he informed.
“I can already smell the stew Rhes is making for dinner.” Gwen smiled, glad to be talking about her adoptive family.
Farah gave a short nod at his answer, then she noted the joyfulness in Gwen's tone as she spoke. She really was happy here. "Rhes?" she asked softly, looking back at Corvin again. "Your… wife?"
“The love of my life.” Corvin nodded with a smile.
“She’s an amazing woman.” Gwen chimed in. “Great cook. Good mom. You’ll like her.” she assured before pausing a moment. “Though she does have this… I don't know if it's a mom skill or just her, but she has an uncanny way of reading people.”
Farah's expression broke into a smile too at his words. "That's sweet," she said earnestly. But Gwen's words made her worry a bit. There was so much Farah was desperate to keep hidden – physically, mentally, and emotionally. "Well, it must be just her because my mother never had such a talent," she remarked, trying to keep bitterness out of her tone.
“Thank you.” Corvin nodded slightly, as he smiled. He really did consider himself lucky to marry Rhes. She was just a wonderful woman and he could go on about her for hours.
Gwen shrugged simply, trying not to jostle the buck too much. “I wouldn't know personally but it wouldn't surprise me if it was just her.” she agreed.
Farah took note of both Corvin's thanks and Gwen's response. In all honesty, Farah was beginning to feel nervous about meeting Rhes. She'd never had a strong motherly figure in her life. Though she had a mother, the only time Taristia cared for her was when there was some grand formal event that Farah had to dress up for. Then it was all…
"That dress doesn't flatter your breasts. Pick a different one."
"Gods, why did you have to make my daughter so tall?"
"Stop moving. I'm trying to make you look acceptable. You need to attract a proper man at some point in your life, Farah."
And those memories, just like the ones with her father, Farah preferred not to think about. Eventually, she realized she was being silent for too long and panicked about something to say. "I can't wait to meet her."
Gwen raised a brow at the delay but chose not to comment on it for now. “I'm sure she’ll like you. Once she knows that you're not taking me away.” she added as an attempted joke.
"I hope so," Farah remarked. Against her will, a light pink embarrassed flush appeared on her cheeks. "Of course… how much further?" She was eager to sit and catch her breath. Not that the deer was too terribly heavy, but she'd been traveling non-stop for days upon days. The woman wanted to rest.
“We’re there.” Corvin answered as they broke through the treeline to a medium-sized encampment full of lively people, and family, though perhaps it was more peaceful than the busy streets of Olarien.
There was a small gathering waiting for the new hunter and her mentor near the center of the encampment. Gwen held her head up higher in pride of her hunt as the group headed toward the chief’s home first.
Farah jumped a bit in surprise as the village seemed to materialize through the trees before her eyes. She was immediately on guard, despite not wanting to be. She had just been trained so rigidly that her body automatically straightened and her eyes darted around, looking for danger.
She noticed the small contingent waiting for them and immediately was wary. Of what? she tried to tell herself. These people know Gwen now. They mean no harm, especially should she defend you!
And if she doesn't? another little voice jeered in her mind. Farah quickly pushed away the thought.
Gwen didn't notice Farah’s reaction as they set down the stag near the group. But she did catch sight of a familiar nuisance watching both her and Farah and glared back at him.
Corvin on the other hand did see Farah’s reflex and gently put his hand on her shoulder. “It's alright. No one will hurt her or you here.” he assured.