Swordsman who really puts the "bastard" in "bastard sword".
Lunaeris' mood had worsened in the days since she had been informed of the prophecy.
She hated that her life was not her own, she hated that she was bound to marry some fool she had never met despite her efforts to the contrary, and she especially hated her giant handsome oafish rugged stuffy beautiful knight for making her feel so much worse about the whole thing and not even noticing.
Really, how dense must one be not to notice!
Lunaeris had found out on the second day that her knight's full plate wasn't everyday wear, and unless some other ceremony occurred or the demon kings armies were at the gates, she would have to be subjected to her kissable idiot bastard face and her unreasonably large arms on a regular basis. Gods what she would give to feel those arms around her.
Unacceptable, unacceptable was what it was.
At least it wasn't just her, Kallixenia seemed oblivious to everyone's reactions to her appearance. Lunaeris had observed, completely by chance, when she was sitting in her room scrying on the hall outside for no reason in particular, one of her handmaidens making a pass at her knight and being brushed off entirely.
Served her right, the traitorous shrew.
But how could she not notice how she felt!? Yes she did her best to hide it, yes she distanced herself from her as much as possible, but she should know! She should know and apologize for doing this to her!
The elf glowered silently over her cooling cup of tea. She had been convinced that she should let her knight spar with the other royal guards to keep her well-practiced, and so she found herself sitting in the shade watching while her knight continued to make her feel things that she would be much better off not feeling.
It was something to behold, watching her paladin fight. At the start, she had been content to simply crash through her opponent's defenses by way of being huge and having a huge sword (A regular sword to her, she supposed), a display of raw power that made Lunaeris weak in the knees. But, as the royal guards lined up to duel her adapted to the lumbering brute routine, she shifted into something else entirely.
She had been toying with them. She was so fucking hot it was unfair.
She unfurled her wings and suddenly the lumbering brute was faster than she had any right to be. She didn't fly, rather using them to shift her momentum independently of the rest of her body. You moved to dodge her swing, and suddenly with a single wingbeat she had twisted to catch your new position. You parried, and while your arm was still reeling she had twirled into an attack from the other side. You somehow defended against all of this and got in past her shield, and with a powerful gust she was outside your reach in an instant.
It was infuriating to deal with, and absolutely fascinating to watch. The strength of a giant combined with the grace of a bird in flight. Lunaeris was almost more interested in what magic allowed those wings to carry her so effortlessly than she was in the narrow strip of exposed back between them that flexed delectably as they moved.
She had gone mad, right? This was what madness felt like? She had seen hot women before, none of them had turned her into... this. Perhaps the disruption in her routine was getting to her. Perhaps the prediction of an attempt on her life had scared her more than she thought.
Perhaps these were the death throes of her heart.
She wasn't uninterested in love, despite her efforts. She had always liked to think that maybe, eventually, a suitor would come along that she actually really liked. Someone who really understood her. Given enough time there was bound to be someone out there.
And now there wasn't any time left. Fate had chosen for her.
It wasn't fair.
"I think we've wrapped up here, Princess, if you wanted to leave."
Kallixenia was back at her side, glistening with sweat and panting slightly from exertion.
She wanted to climb her like a mountain. She wanted to lick the sweat off her abs. She-
She stood abruptly, knocking over her chair.
"We," She hissed, pushing those emotions down as far as she could, "Are going to go see what can be done about this prophecy."
"We're so honored to have you visit, Princess! You hardly ever come to see us." An old sage said, leading them down the halls of the temple.
"It's not often that your prophecies concern me so... Directly." Lunaeris said.
"Oh yes, dreadful business, that. At least we know you'll come out unscathed."
"Well that's why I'm here actually," Lunaeris said, steepling her fingers in front of her mouth. "Are we absolutely certain that this prophecy is about me?"
"Oh, certainly Princess! After all, it says the hero and the princess are to be wed, and all your sisters are already married."
"Okay, but does it mention me specifically?" She asked, and the sage stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Well, not in exact terms-"
"So it could be some other princess."
"It specifies a princess of the Elven kingdom."
"There are a lot of us."
"And all but you are already wed, as I said-"
"Their husbands could die."
"Well, that would be very sad indeed!" The sage said, flabbergasted. She was getting nowhere with this.
"But it would be possible?"
"Yes, yes I suppose. The only exact descriptors we have are the demon king, a princess, and the hero with the blade of sunlight that she is to marry."
"A princess of this kingdom." Lunaeris reiterated.
"Yes." The sage said. "I really wouldn't worry yourself, Princess. You're going to live! All will work out fine."
"Yes, so people keep telling me." She muttered. "Thank you for your time, oh wise sage."
She walked back to the castle in silence, her knight following dutifully behind every step of the way until they reached her chambers once again.
"Princess, may I speak with you privately for just a moment?" Kallixenia asked her as she opened her door, and the princess hesitantly beckoned her inside. She only just stepped inside the room, eyes glued to the ceiling, as if the whole thing were a delicate work of art she dared not look upon.
It was... mostly just messy, but Lunaeris appreciated the respect for her privacy.
"Forgive me for prying, Princess, it's just..." The knight hesitated, not sure how to proceed without causing offense. "You seem awfully concerned about a prophecy that guarantees your safety. Is there some hidden meaning I've missed?"
Lunaeris didn't answer right away. It was stupid. She was going to be in actual mortal danger and she was upset that she might not like her rescuer. All she would get were more platitudes about everything working out for the best.
"I'll help however I can, I need only know what worries you."
"I..." She started, hesitantly. This was good, really. The paladin would dismiss her fears and it would sour their relationship. Things would be better this way. "I have no desire to marry. At least, not some hero I didn't choose."
"Oh."
"Yes." She said, folding her arms. "Quite vapid, really. Nothing for you to concern yourself with."
"...These prophecies, they always come true?"
Lunaeris shrugged. "In some way or another."
"But you think that you can... Trick it? Somehow?"
That didn't make sense. Was she being taken seriously? Nobody took her seriously.
"I think that prophecies can be... open to interpretation."
"And so you wish to..." The half-giant quieted her voice. "To kill one of your sister's husbands?"
"What!? No!" Lunaeris yelped. "...Why? Would you?"
"I would never do such a thing of my own accord." Kallixenia said, fidgeting and still refusing to look at her. "However, I am bound to you above all others. Above all laws of the land. Should you ask-"
"Okay, okay hold that thought, we can- I don't want to talk about that. There are- There are less gruesome options." The princess was pacing now, gears turning in her mind. "But you mean it? You'll help me try and cheat fate? Just because I don't want to get married?"
"Of course, my lady."
"Why?"
This made no sense. Nobody cared that she didn't want an arranged marriage, it was her duty to the kingdom. The prophecy essentially changed nothing, even without it she could never be free to pursue who she wanted. Why was her knight helping her? This wasn't at all necessary to keep her safe.
"Because it's what you want, Princess." Her knight said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ohh, oh Kallie, you-" Lunaeris was giddy, she was giggling she was so fucking overjoyed, even if she could never have her it was so amazing to have somebody actually care about her being in control of her own life. "Kallie you giant, amazing, beautiful- I could kiss you!"
Kallixenia flicked her eyes downwards.
"Princess?"
"IT'S AN EXPRESSION. IF THAT'S ALL YOU WANTED TO ASK YOU CAN LEAVE NOW BYE."
