[Fire Emblem 8] Unadorned
Nov. 6th, 2009 07:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runicloreUnadorned
Author: Amber Michelle
Rating: K
Warnings: n/a
Word Count: 823
Prompt: FE8: Seth/Eirika, fabric and/or textures
................................................................
Renais was so different after the war there were times Seth didn't recognize it. The fields beyond the capitol city, once a patchwork of vivid green velvets, lay brown and dark, some scorched, others abandoned to weeds. At the end of every week Eirika and the king consulted with the royal chamberlain on the matter of what could be sold to sustain the country a little longer - so an ancient bow went to Frelia, as it was relevant to their interests, and two priceless paintings found a new home in Rausten. The princess parted with her favorite silk ballgown.
"It belonged to my mother," she said the afternoon it was to be sent away. They sat at the dining table in the drawing room between her chambers and Ephraim's, an intimacy usually reserved for the family, and she poured tea into small cups with scalloped lips, painted with pink lines. "Did you ever see her wear it?"
"Unfortunately, no." Seth offered to do the pouring, and had to be satisfied with her succinct no - though even Eirika should know she couldn't ignore every convention of her rank or gender. "I would have been unranked at the time."
"Hmmm. I didn't get the chance to see it either." Eirika poured cream into her tea, just a spoonful, and stirred it in. It faded, dark red to milky orange. She watched it for the space of several breaths, while faint voices echoed from the other room, rustling, talking, gossiping, and a long sigh that might have been wistful before a loud, jarring friction made Eirika jump - hemp rope being pulled around the box to secure it. She smiled, not quite looking at him. "It's just a dress, though. We won't be hosting any balls for a while."
Seth left his tea plain and breathed in the steam, the burnt-leaf smell. He didn't know how many yards of peach silk composed that dress, but in good hands it would make two new dresses, or three, and the petticoats and chemise, whatever else women wore beneath that particular style - those would make other, less elaborate clothing. "We may be able to buy it back in the future," he said.
Eirika smiled again to acknowledge his lie and sipped her tea. The sunny afternoon shined through her window, her hair blue as the sky and glinting, dark as the oceans where it was caught in shadow. Plain, serviceable linen sheathed her body, and leather, and soft, snowy cotton, the only bow to rank she made in her wardrobe. Her skirt wrinkled where she sat on it. Her hands were bare of rings. He could have said it was a shame - she wasn't scarred anywhere visible, didn't possess any traits to belie the lady-like image she might cultivate if times were better.
But that wasn't Eirika - not anymore. There was strength hiding beneath her pale skin, muscles that would cord and tense and allow her to challenge him at running or fencing if she insisted. A solid kick from his princess would shatter kneecaps. Seth wanted to smile whenever the thought occurred to him.
"Seth." Eirika met his eyes now, her cup in both hands, halfway to her lips. A lock of hair curled over her shoulder, around a breast. "Are you going to drink? You said you liked this variety."
He liked the company and knew nothing of tea, but Seth did know when to keep his mouth shut. "Of course, princess. I was waiting for it to cool." Steam still curled from the ruby tea. It might scald his tongue - but she would burn his fingers, though he remembered how soft her hair was, how cool when it slipped between his fingers late at night.
She turned her face to the window, but her blue eyes slid to keep track of him. "You can drop the formalities when we're alone. Ephraim won't care."
Seth leaned back and sipped his tea. It was good - strong, the flavor roasted, nutty. "I will."
Eirika's gusty sigh stirred her bangs, but her lips quirked up just slightly, visible only because of the shadows cast by the sun. "You're so stubborn." She watched blue jays sweep past the window, breaking the silence with their off-key screeching. "You'd persist in calling me 'princess' and 'your highness' even if we were married."
If they were married, Seth wouldn't have to be grateful the table separated them - kept his hands from her hair, her soft cheeks. He would never touch her without her express consent, but--
"--why are you blushing?"
Seth made himself look out the window and watch the linden branches sway. "The tea is--"
But they both knew he was a terrible liar.
...
Author: Amber Michelle
Rating: K
Warnings: n/a
Word Count: 823
Prompt: FE8: Seth/Eirika, fabric and/or textures
................................................................
Renais was so different after the war there were times Seth didn't recognize it. The fields beyond the capitol city, once a patchwork of vivid green velvets, lay brown and dark, some scorched, others abandoned to weeds. At the end of every week Eirika and the king consulted with the royal chamberlain on the matter of what could be sold to sustain the country a little longer - so an ancient bow went to Frelia, as it was relevant to their interests, and two priceless paintings found a new home in Rausten. The princess parted with her favorite silk ballgown.
"It belonged to my mother," she said the afternoon it was to be sent away. They sat at the dining table in the drawing room between her chambers and Ephraim's, an intimacy usually reserved for the family, and she poured tea into small cups with scalloped lips, painted with pink lines. "Did you ever see her wear it?"
"Unfortunately, no." Seth offered to do the pouring, and had to be satisfied with her succinct no - though even Eirika should know she couldn't ignore every convention of her rank or gender. "I would have been unranked at the time."
"Hmmm. I didn't get the chance to see it either." Eirika poured cream into her tea, just a spoonful, and stirred it in. It faded, dark red to milky orange. She watched it for the space of several breaths, while faint voices echoed from the other room, rustling, talking, gossiping, and a long sigh that might have been wistful before a loud, jarring friction made Eirika jump - hemp rope being pulled around the box to secure it. She smiled, not quite looking at him. "It's just a dress, though. We won't be hosting any balls for a while."
Seth left his tea plain and breathed in the steam, the burnt-leaf smell. He didn't know how many yards of peach silk composed that dress, but in good hands it would make two new dresses, or three, and the petticoats and chemise, whatever else women wore beneath that particular style - those would make other, less elaborate clothing. "We may be able to buy it back in the future," he said.
Eirika smiled again to acknowledge his lie and sipped her tea. The sunny afternoon shined through her window, her hair blue as the sky and glinting, dark as the oceans where it was caught in shadow. Plain, serviceable linen sheathed her body, and leather, and soft, snowy cotton, the only bow to rank she made in her wardrobe. Her skirt wrinkled where she sat on it. Her hands were bare of rings. He could have said it was a shame - she wasn't scarred anywhere visible, didn't possess any traits to belie the lady-like image she might cultivate if times were better.
But that wasn't Eirika - not anymore. There was strength hiding beneath her pale skin, muscles that would cord and tense and allow her to challenge him at running or fencing if she insisted. A solid kick from his princess would shatter kneecaps. Seth wanted to smile whenever the thought occurred to him.
"Seth." Eirika met his eyes now, her cup in both hands, halfway to her lips. A lock of hair curled over her shoulder, around a breast. "Are you going to drink? You said you liked this variety."
He liked the company and knew nothing of tea, but Seth did know when to keep his mouth shut. "Of course, princess. I was waiting for it to cool." Steam still curled from the ruby tea. It might scald his tongue - but she would burn his fingers, though he remembered how soft her hair was, how cool when it slipped between his fingers late at night.
She turned her face to the window, but her blue eyes slid to keep track of him. "You can drop the formalities when we're alone. Ephraim won't care."
Seth leaned back and sipped his tea. It was good - strong, the flavor roasted, nutty. "I will."
Eirika's gusty sigh stirred her bangs, but her lips quirked up just slightly, visible only because of the shadows cast by the sun. "You're so stubborn." She watched blue jays sweep past the window, breaking the silence with their off-key screeching. "You'd persist in calling me 'princess' and 'your highness' even if we were married."
If they were married, Seth wouldn't have to be grateful the table separated them - kept his hands from her hair, her soft cheeks. He would never touch her without her express consent, but--
"--why are you blushing?"
Seth made himself look out the window and watch the linden branches sway. "The tea is--"
But they both knew he was a terrible liar.
...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-11-06 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-07 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-06 09:53 pm (UTC)I knew you could really work this prompt. :D
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Date: 2009-11-07 02:21 am (UTC)