[Fire Emblem 7] The Engagement Party

[runiclore]

The Engagement Party
Author: Amber Michelle
Game: Blazing Sword
Gauntlet Theme: 28 - the stuff of lurid fiction
Word Count: 1095
Pairings/Characters: Pent, Douglas
Warnings: it's pretty pointless.

Notes: would have been for challenge #1 at fe_contest, but it didn't work well in under 500 words. Also, it's kind of silly.

Despite the title, the story sadly does not feature Louise. Maybe later. Right now I feel like making fun of Etruria.



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Crystal chandeliers glittered wherever Pent dared to look - above his head, to the right, the left; Douglas, standing at his right, may as well have been armored in mirrors for the way his plate shined. The violet of his surcoat did nothing to cover his arms or legs. "If it isn't the diamonds that blind me tonight," Pent said, lifting a glass to his lips and wishing fans had caught on with the men as well as women, "it will be your infernal costume. Who told you to wear armor? It's a party."

Rumbling low, Douglas's laugh was almost lost beneath the murmur of ambient noise, though his claim he must be protected from the mob of women after Pent's tail brought on a scowl, and his following question - how does it feel to be a prize piece of meat? - unfortunately did not go unheard, nor did it deserve a reply. The ballroom was crowded and colorful; Lady Elowyn had adorned herself in crimson satin and Lady Amelia had worn green, as if the clash of their dresses had been planned; Lords Russel and Johannan wore eye-bleeding shades of blue, the sort one only joked about or saw in chipped paint on a tinker's wagon. The wine wasn't strong enough to drown the bright, embroidered pink skirts of a woman Pent didn't know, and hoped he wouldn't be introduced to. Her fan frothed lace. When she held it to her face to conceal a smile in his direction, the flopping layers of white ruined her artful pose.

"Why did I agree to this?" Pent left his glass on a passing tray and grabbed another one to occupy his hands. The list of women he was supposed to greet was comprised of names known about the court - names even he knew, though he preferred his books to parties, and only attended palace gatherings like this one, when a direct invitation from the king made refusal impossible. "I'm too young to marry. I'll be a disgrace to whoever is unlucky enough to capture my attention."

Douglas did not have a drink, and he'd tucked his laugh away somewhere in his beard. Horrible thing - how could he stand it? "It will be a problem if Reglay bears no heirs," the knight general said, missing the point as usual. Then: "His majesty spread the word before he requested your presence. They've been talking about you for months."

A chill crept up Pent's spine, like grasping fingers. "I don't recall offending the king at any recent gatherings..."

"There have been rumors connecting you to extended trips south."

He looked over, and saw Douglas's eyes slide sideways to meet his. "W-well, as part of my training--"

"You muck about in the sand for interesting treasure." Douglas folded his hands at his back. "Which is not my concern, but the king thinks differently."

The injustice of it soured Pent's wine, but he drank deeply and said: "I'd rather chew sand in my supper for a month than attend a party." He could have sworn the ballroom shrank; more guests had arrived, unannounced, which meant the deluge of humanity was such the chamberlain simply couldn't keep up with the names. They milled across the dance floor, greeting each other, smiling behind fans, glittering with jewelry and adorned with lace; the light was starting to look yellow, though the walls no longer looked jaundiced beside the riot of lady's dresses lining the perimeter of the room. "My ancestors managed to marry themselves off before dying," he said, fighting a twitch in his cheeks that made him want to frown. "I'll manage."

Douglas snorted. "You'd marry your books if his majesty would let you."

"I'd like to!"

He heard Douglas's chain slither and shift beneath his surcoat, and his sorry excuse for a friend said, "I think Lady Carmilla has scraped up the courage to talk to you - there, in the yellow dress."

Oh blessed Elimine, not her. Carmilla sounded like a horse when she laughed - some said an ass, but Pent liked to be merciful in his judgments when he could afford it. "Douglas--" Right now he couldn't, not if she was one of the eligible ladies gathered for his perusal, no, no-- "Douglas, run interference for me, won't you?"

Silence greeted his request, and Carmilla squeezed between two couples, a mere twenty meters distant, her golden ringlets bobbing over her shoulders. She had lovely hair; as a matter of fact, she had a pretty round face just short of beauty, a pair of naturally wide eyes, and her dress was as tasteful as could be, considering her unfortunate choice in color. It was just-- the laugh. Her voice. He'd never managed to listen to her long enough to judge how stupid she might be.

Pent turned to Douglas, ready to beg-- only to find empty space where the knight general had stood mere moments before.

You fiend, he muttered under his breath, looking around. A dark figure that could have been Douglas slipped through the crowd toward the back of the room, but moved too gracefully to be burdened with armor. He must have left to attend the king, who had yet to arrive, and yet his timing was abysmal as usual. Pent refused to believe the general had abandoned him on the battlefield. No-- he gaped at the brightly-colored crowd and suppressed the urge to whine Douglas's name like a child searching for his nursemaid.

"Ah, Lord Pent! How nice to see--"

Why? Why him? "Carmilla." He turned to meet her and took her gloved hand. Maybe she would be insulted by the lack of honorific and leave. "What brings you here? Besides an invitation, that is."

Her abrasive laugh was short, thank the gods, only a giggle. "Lord Pent, everyone with a name and a bit of property has heard you've decided to marry. I was hoping you would allow me to introduce my sister..."

"Of course." He released her hand. "Lead the way, why don't you?"

She smiled behind her fan, coy and pretty, and Pent swore silently he'd return his trouble to Douglas two-fold. The knight general had yet to marry, after all. Maybe he would be interested in Carmilla's sister! Surely she would be interested in him. Pent returned her smile, offered her arm, and followed.


.

Comments

[disposableninja.livejournal.com]

XD XD That was a fun read. Louise or no, it's fun seeing a different side of Pent. 8)

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm glad! XD Thank you!