[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HudoK9b.png[/img]
Collab between [@c3p-0h], [@Dark Light], [@PrinceAlexus], & [@The Muse]
[sub]Location: Outside the Jail[/sub]
[i][h1]Part III[/h1][/i]
[hr][/center]

Hearing the door, the brown-eyed guard turned and quickly stepped aside. 
[color=FA8072]“Your Highness,”[/color] he greeted, offering a formal bow. 

Amaya’s pulse jumped.

Flynn gave a curt nod but said nothing. His gaze moved past the guard, sweeping over the entire group before settling on Amaya. A brief moment of relief loosened its grip around his lungs at the sight of her—safe, flanked by guards—only to tighten again at the look in her eyes. 

Subtle, but he’d seen it before.
Whatever invisible thread that bound his heart to hers pulled taut. 

His gaze shifted to the guard she faced. The dark-haired man was unknown to him, but based on the armor, Flynn recognized the weight of his station. 

Stepping forward, Flynn began to close the distance. He didn’t rush, each step measured and deliberate—acutely aware of how many eyes were watching. 

Pausing in front of the female Lunarian guard, he drew the iron cell key from his pocket and offered it back to her. [color=337d71]“Thank you, Daphne.”[/color] He said, voice low and sincere.

Daphne took the key with a polite nod and a small smile, maybe not perfect decorum but she was respectful and a surprise in her violet eyes as he remembered her name, a Lunarian no less? Returning it to her pocket she realized she had to guard the fool still and … return to the room, the lack of her magic. It was unsettling. [color=f49ac2]Thank you my Prince, Princess Amaya is fine, I gave her a snack but I humbly recommend a hot meal to help with the ill effect of the jail on the less experienced , it is unsettling even to me.” [/color] 

Flynn gave a short nod of acknowledgement, noting the care in her tone. A faint smile ghosted across his lips as his eyes glanced toward Amaya, then faded just as quickly.

Daphne hoped she did not cross a line but she thought whatever it was, something had affected the woman and she felt responsible for her care even if only temporarily. She gave Amaya a nod, no reason to really need to be involved in court stuff, she had no baseline for perception of the Princess like this. 

[color=f49ac2]”A good day to you, Any additional orders to the Prisoner?”[/color] She added the last bit a little more formally and gave him a Cadian salute putting her fist to her breastplate. 

Daphne really hoped she had not crossed a line but concern had won, plus she was needing clarification of the details of the man's confinement. 

[color=337d71]“The prisoner does not deny his regicidal aspirations against the Aurelian crown. But there are no new orders, for now. He is to remain in his cell.”[/color] 

Daphne just nodded at the unchanged situation, they were stuck baby sitting the man with too much talk for his own good. Regicide was serious but he really felt more foolish and serious? How was he going to upend two Kingdoms, alone?

So they would have to keep him locked up, that was not good but not terrible. Maybe a migraine.

Continuing forward, Flynn set his gaze on Amaya once more. He wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it, but the air felt sharper—colder with every step towards her. He studied her expression intently in the brief seconds it took to reach her. She looked… calm. But still. Too still. 

She didn’t lean into him. Didn’t reach with her cold, empty hand for his warmth. She didn’t acknowledge him at all, in fact, even as he burned at the edge of her senses, commanding her attention. Instead, Amaya kept her careful distance from Flynn and the flame he held beneath his skin. It brushed against her careful control, her struggling walls as she tried to contain herself. 

Standing beside her, Flynn turned toward the group. [color=337d71]“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced,”[/color] he said, his attention lingering on the man. [color=337d71]“May I ask your name?”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]”Your highness”[/color] Aliseth quickly offered with a stiff bow. There was a slight delay as he pulled his nervous gaze off the princess. He had seen her powers before and was still now weary of them, and he wasn't afraid to let it show either.

Answering the prince he continued, [color=goldenrod]”I am knight Kain, Seluna’s blade-sworn protector of her high grace, the princess of Lunaris, and eternal servant of the moon's divine will. Second regiment.”[/color]

[i]Kain.[/i] It sank into Amaya like a splinter embedding itself in an open wound. [i]This[/i] was how she learned the guard’s name. Ice crawled over it, sealing it within her.

He spoke with all the etiquette one would expect when addressing the highest authority around for over a thousand miles, yet still, in a way only he could muster, he pronounced the prince’s title like it held less status than a lowly latrine boy.
Of course, there was no evidence of such things.

Not letting a pause fill the frigid air he quickly adds, explaining himself. 
[color=goldenrod]“I am here to join in guard rotation and assist with regular town duties for a time. My first post is the prison. I was not aware royalty were… in the area.”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”Knight Kain seems we are working together then, Squire Daphne, im part of my lords household and retinue. Formerly of Capital Veteran Lance Company.”[/color] She said politely offering an introduction to fill in the blanks in a quiet spot when appropriate. 

He seemed decent, so she showed him the respect he had earned, which was a fair amount. He seemed a good egg and she had been taught to trust her feelings and her instincts. Though her rank was not the highest, duty had forced her into service far sooner than some and the insuring chaos of the endless Knight meant the “Knight in training” already had been deployed before she could even serve her time in court. 

[color=d15e5e]“He was there yesterday,”[/color] came Amaya’s soft voice, carried by wisps of fog. The storm of her magic swirled, wild and restless inside her at the memory. Flynn’s warmth pulled at her, but still Amaya kept herself in place. She couldn’t afford to melt, to fracture, to weaken her grip. Unseen, tiny crystals crept from her nails and into the crescent moons she was cutting into her own palm. She couldn’t use her pain to anchor herself anymore — it was swallowed by the numbing cold. [color=d15e5e]“I owe him a great deal.”[/color]

Flynn raised a brow, casting a brief glance toward Amaya before returning his attention to the Knight. Ordinarily, he would’ve offered his gratitude without hesitation. Kain had risked his life to protect her. Royal Guards were sworn to do so, but these days, their oaths were so rarely tested. And even more rarely fulfilled. 

Kain had proven himself a more dedicated soldier than most. For that, Flynn would be eternally grateful.
And yet… 

He could feel the frigid wall that Amaya was building between them.
Something was off. 

[color=337d71]“I—”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]“You owe me nothing, your highness.”[/color] Aliseth interrupted, turning to face her and squaring himself up as he started undoing his right gauntlet. Then, he brought himself to kneel before her. [color=goldenrod]“You are the divine grace, by birthright and Seluna’s blessing. I would gladly sacrifice a thousand lifetimes to your service. There is no greater honour you can give than to allow me to pledge my services once again.”[/color] Head bowed, he spoke with a renewed vigour, reaching out his bare hand open and upturned inviting hers so she might take it. Flakes of snow soon settling in his open palm. An eager pledge sitting on his lips.

Flynn’s gaze lingered on Kain—green eyes steady, quietly assessing the display.

Daphne was tense as all manner of things went on, pledges, history, jeez? What kind of situation has she found herself in the middle of again as she stood near the princess, easier but still alert and fully able to react. She could not help but watch awkwardly as pledges, oaths and ceremonies broke out in the middle of a clearing next to a half built jail… like really was this normal? Was this even legal?

He was on light duties and now a household Guard, was that not the opposite of that? This was just plain strange?

Shifting slightly, Flynn lifted his gaze to Amaya. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes searched hers, waiting to see how she’d respond—hoping she’d look at him at last. 
Just for a moment. To give him something. Anything. 
Long enough to understand what might be wrong. 
To know if she was okay. 

She moved away from him. But just before she stepped away, before she left the warm shadow he — a brush of her icy hand against Flynn’s, for the briefest moment. 

He stilled at the contact. His hand twitched at his side—a reflex to reach for her, to stop her retreat—but he forced it still. His gaze dropped briefly to her hand, then lifted to her face, doing everything he could to keep the worry from showing.

Stepping forward, Amaya didn’t let herself look away from the guard — didn’t let herself turn to Flynn and his steadiness, or catch the eye of Daphne, who’d offered nothing but openness and care. She felt the loss of them immediately, the vast [i]emptiness[/i] that surrounded her, as her magic surged and strained against the boundaries that made her with each step. The falling snow tilted in the air after her. Amaya moved slowly — carefully — until she stood before Knight Kain. 

She was struck, for a moment, by the image they made — a Princess and her Knight, kneeling in the snow. She could feel the weight of every gaze that fell against her skin like a brand. Amaya thought that perhaps she could hear every heart that still beat surrounding her, fragile things too easily silenced.

Too easily stilled.

Her breaths came out in quiet, shallow puffs, as though she were afraid of breathing too deeply, displacing too much air. Amaya looked down at his hand, snowflakes collecting in his open palm. They didn’t melt.

Amaya couldn’t feel her own hands beyond the blistering cold and the pain it lanced through her. They were frozen in place. A twitch of her fingers was like fracturing a layer of ice, a layer of skin and muscle down to her bone, and she broke herself apart to lift a hand. It shook with cold. 

She flicked her eyes away from the knight, finally, [i]briefly[/i] to look down at where her palm was turned in towards her. Ice crystals bloomed from the center of her hand, delicate geometry following the curves of her frigid palm. The cold sapped the color and warmth from her skin — the tips of her fingers were ashen, the blood drained near completely. 

And there, in the middle of the icy stain, were a series of crescents cut into her palm, dotted red with frozen crystals of blood. It was as though her magic had leaked through the opening she’d cut into herself — or perhaps had flooded the wound to try and seal it shut. 

Amaya looked back to Knight Kain’s open palm. Her heart pounded in time with her restless magic as the air only grew colder. 

[color=d15e5e]“This is a grave thing you would pledge,”[/color] she murmured as she cast her gaze to his bowed head. The air shaped itself around her words as she looked at the knight and his open hand, still waiting. [color=d15e5e]“Sacrifice… death.”[/color] 

[i]Lives.[/i]

Amaya thought of Sir Abel, and the unnamed corpse that lay beside him in the temple.
She thought of her mother, long cast out to sea.
She thought of Daphne and what she’d shared — long dead meat, and stories of a people falling to ruin.

All that was lost. All that she [i]could not lose.[/i]

All the souls she couldn’t count, desperate to survive this endless night.
Elara, gentle and full of light hidden behind her careful shadows.
Flynn… Flynn who carried the weight of the dawn on his back.

A fractured whisper slipped out of her, more honest than she’d meant to be.

[color=d15e5e]“I do not want it.”[/color]

Ice strained against her control as she fought to keep her expression even. The frost blossomed ever further on her hand. Heat burned behind her eyes.

Amaya pressed her lips together for a moment, hand painfully curling inward at her chest. 

One heartbeat. Two. Then Amaya forced herself to move again. 

Reaching with shaking fingers, clumsy with cold, Amaya pulled a silk handkerchief out of her sleeve. Careful to not bloody it, she traced the familiar patterns of gold and indigo with her eyes. Her heart clenched.

It’d been a gift from Elara.

Amaya placed it gently in the knight’s waiting hand. She kept her touch away from him, her trembling fingers and creeping cold. The silk shined in the silver moonlight and flickering torches, a royal favor that draped over his palm like the black mourning cloth that now covered Sir Abel. 

Then she drew back. 

[color=d15e5e]“Rise, Knight Kain,”[/color] she said, backing up a step. [color=d15e5e]“Rise as a member of my personal guard, if I am worthy of your service.”[/color] Amaya secured her mask more firmly in place, the weight of the moment — of all the lives surrounding them — pressing into her. 

[color=d15e5e]“If life is more worthy a pursuit than noble death.”[/color]

He did not rise… not immediately anyway. Instead staying down on his knee, in the snow, staring in horror at the piece of fabric where he expected to find a hand instead. [i]‘are we so far beneath you that you can't even bare our touch …’[/i] 
The gesture struck him near speechless. 
[color=goldenrod]“Th.”[/color] [color=goldenrod]“Thankyou. Your grace.”[/color]
He finally stammered as he came to stand, but he could not bring himself to look her in the eyes, afraid she might see the thoughts that dwell on his mind. 
[color=goldenrod]“Now, if I may take my leave, I shall return to my designated duty.”[/color]
His voice was weak, his eyes scanned around for Daphne and then the prison door.

His intent to leave was made clear but he didn't move without permission. Tucking the royal gift -still unsure what to do with it-up his sleeve and holding his gauntlet under his other arm.

A long billow of fog passed her lips as something loosened its hold around her heart — but it didn’t ease its dizzying pace. 

[color=d15e5e]“You may,”[/color] she breathed out, her nerves buzzing. Another trembling exhale. [color=d15e5e]“I will speak with Commander Volkov about your new assignment.”[/color] Her eyes flickered down, lingering on the corner of the handkerchief sticking roughly out of his sleeve. And just below that, his ungloved hand, fingers loose and bare. Her own hands curled around each other again, stiff and painful from her own frigid magic. 

Amaya took another step back, out of the knight’s path and into the halo of Flynn’s warmth. The falling snow tugged after her.

She still didn’t look at him. And it bothered him more than he’d admit. 

[color=d15e5e]“Thank you for your service, Knight Kain.”[/color]

Before Aliseth could turn away, Flynn’s voice cut cleanly through the air. 

[color=337d71]“Knight Kain.”[/color] 
He held the man’s gaze. 
[color=337d71]“For what you did—you have my deepest gratitude.”[/color] 

A brief pause. 

[color=337d71]“Dawnhaven is honored to count you among its elite. And I owe you more than words can repay.”[/color]

Amaya’s throat tightened as she held herself still, his words ringing deep within her.

Whatever tension lingered in the air, whatever fracture had begun to form, Flynn would not let such loyalty go unacknowledged. 

[color=337d71]“If there’s anything you require here, anything within my power to meet… you need only ask.”[/color]

With that, Flynn gave a respectful dip of his head—the kind of gesture few received from an Aurelian royal. 

[color=337d71]“Thank you for your service.”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”Congratuations Knight Kain, if all is done Your majesties, i shall hand over to your escort, and please my Princess please take care after that place….”[/color] Surprised ice blue eyes found her, finally pulled away from the knight. She said the last words with a grimace, the magical effect was unnerving and honestly felt like part of her own self was missing. Daphne did not relish having to enter that place. She added that directly to the Princess, concerned she could not hide and mask.[color=f49ac2]”Its not a weakness. Just … takes time to restore your whole.."[/color] She added, it was no shame, to be pulled from something part of you was difficult. Amaya was not weak for what Daphne perceived and understood as being affected by the jail. Daphne wanted to throw up for the first time. 

Amaya blinked, something in her guarded gaze shifting… almost softening. She held Daphne’s eyes for a breath. Then she gave a small nod, turning her attention back to the newest member of her guard.

Aliseth took his full height and stood like a proud royal guard. He gave the prince and princess the customary salute, a faint glimmer of gratitude in his eyes as they briefly connected with Flynn's. 

[color=goldenrod]“I wish only to serve.”[/color] He replied humbly. Ready to leave, he paused mid step, face filled with hesitation. It was clear he wanted to speak but was unsure if he should. Finally the internal conflict came to an end as boldness won out, with a forced confidence he added.
[color=goldenrod]“Actually, there may be something...  Your grace.”[/color] He says thoughtfully. [color=goldenrod]“A means so I may better serve. Such things can be discussed at a time more to your convenience and comfort though.”[/color] 
With that he gave a deep bow and quickly moved on.

[color=337d71]“Of course,”[/color] Flynn said, nodding in solemn acknowledgement. [color=337d71]“I’ll send for you. We’ll speak of it soon.”[/color]

He let the words settle, watching Aliseth as he made his way toward the jail entrance.

[color=337d71]“Squire Daphne,”[/color] He turned, meeting her uniquely violet eyes with a warmer expression. [color=337d71]“thank you for your service over the past two days as well—and for your care that goes beyond mere duty.”[/color] A faint smile of gratitude followed, brief but sincere. [color=337d71]“You carry your position with honor.”[/color]

Another nod—this one granting permission to go and return to her post with Aliseth. 

Then, Flynn turned his gaze back to Amaya, the flicker of warmth in his eyes already darkened by concern. 

She held herself still as winter, bare wisps of fog signaling every shallow breath. Her hands still shook — the ice still stole any warmth from her skin, leaving only a piercing, aching numbness. Flynn was a beacon of golden heat beside her, threatening to thaw every invaluable layer of her walls. She couldn’t lose them — not yet.

Amaya desperately fought to hold herself together beneath the eyes of the surrounding guards. She listened to the crunch of footsteps, out of sync with the pounding rhythm of her heart, as Daphne and Kain walked back into the prison — beyond the wards.

The iron hinges slid against each other as wood slid once more against the slurry of mud and snow on the ground. And when the door slid shut, the sound reverberated through Amaya like the first tremors on a mountainside before an avalanche.