there's a lotta shit hurrrrrr son

[heartofarapier]

It was all very beautiful. It had taken precisely twenty minutes before Eirika decided she very much liked the Homestead. Vast land, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and the very fragrance of the woods. The only forests she had ever known had been claimed by the horrors of the Demon King and finding such peace and tranquility was something she'd not anticipated. In fact, it was almost frightening how at ease she felt. And it was a wonderful way for her 'vacation' away to begin.

Connor's people- she called them fondly, to herself -were good people. Kindhearted, selfless, and they certainly seemed to love Connor a good deal. Why shouldn't they have? From mere conversations, they made the native sound like a hero and Eirika was less than surprised. A matchmaker, a man of many skills, a being of the land, and with a heart as radiant as the very sun. Connor was certainly a hero in more ways than one, and his modesty topped it off perfectly.

Eirika's favourite people were Warren and Prudence. And perhaps that was in part to their son, for Eirika had been given permission to hold him once and fell utterly in love. Not that he was hers, of course, but that it wasn't difficult to picture herself with one. One day. Some day. Although she was certain she heard whispered rumours of just such a thing when she turned her back to rejoin the man responsible for giving her peace of mind. And either Connor didn't, or specifically ignored them. The whole sense of family seemed to be all about them, after all. Which did make her consider that perhaps he had no desire for children, for he already had a family of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, and so on.

There was something that caught her, however. The woman Connor affectionately referred to as Dobby. She and Connor seemed close and there really was no denying that Dobby quite plainly liked him. Adored him? She had no way of knowing, but there was a significant age difference between her and the woman who seemed quite able to hold her own. Without even really knowing it, a good deal of doubts flooded Eirika's mind. Likely because of her age. Her own capabilities. Her own position.

She really is more suited to him, she thought to herself as she wandered along, unsure specifically of where Connor had gone off to, though it was really Eirika who'd stumbled off for her own solitude and obsessive thoughts. And in the forest, there were plenty of things to get lost in. Like by those said waterfalls Eirika liked so much.

"Pretty, amusing, entertaining, capable," she recited aloud to herself. Hands slipping behind her back, Eirika's head tipped. "I think we couldn't compare."

For the level she is, is above me, regardless of rank and title. I wonder how he feels about her... Perhaps it is not my place to interfere in what she should want. I am still a woman, after all, and I know what eyes say. He may be better off with her than in my care, and I could accept that, even begrudgingly.

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[heartofarapier]

Oh.

It was an answer enough. Something about the way he didn't even say anything had her minutely captured. Caught enough that for many moments, she said and did nothing. Not because she didn't know what he wanted, but rather that she did know.

How far they had come.
How simple it was for her to surrender to him.

If Connor had been the enemy, then she all too willingly would have given up her country. All for the sake of love. And he could have destroyed her. Yet she knew well enough that who they were to one another would result in no such thing.

A kiss what what he wanted, and a kiss was precisely what she gave him.