#gadeth

Pairing: Gaddes x Eries Warnings: None  Word count: 

Summary - A very short and quickly written ficlet that I wanted to have up on NYE itself but delays happen! Gaddes escapes a party on NYE as he plans on spending midnight alone with his thoughts, Eries sees him slip away and worried she follows him. The two meet just before midnight. 

Gaddes made the decision early into the night that he would spend midnight alone. While the party ebbed away the night he would prefer to see in the new year without the company of others and content in his own thoughts.

So much had come to pass over the year that he felt he hadn’t had a moment to decompress and fully reflect on all that had changed. So to spend this time alone was a blessing to him.

Looking round at his crew, at Allen and Millerna, Dryden and everyone else who had gathered his heart swelled with love and pride. They drank and danced, ate more than they had in weeks and for the most part Gaddes had enjoyed this, laughing and making toasts. As music played on he felt warm inside and perfectly at peace for the first time in ages. 

He took his chance at 23:45 to slip away, it wasn’t so early that people would question where he was gone. And was too late that should anyone notice he’d left before midnight, they wouldn’t have time to find him. 

Gaddes didn’t travel too far, but rode up into the hills where he could enjoy the view of both the world below and the stars above. Though the air was practically frozen he’d wrapped himself up in a warm cloak and after all the food and drink did not mind the cold air. The grass underneath him glittered with frost, his breath danced in patterns as whenever he breathed out and finally he found the spot where he would rest.

While he had been riding he was sure someone had followed him, though whenever he looked over his shoulders there was no one there. He rest contented that it must have been his imagination in the darkness playing tricks on him. But as he sat and drank from his flask, the feeling creeped over him. 

He stood up and looked towards the rocks and mounds behind him, “Hello?” He asked taking a step forward, hand on the hilt of his sword. 

Gaddes heard soft breathing and then a familiar smell, one that he would never forget. 

“Princess?” He asked into the dark.

A few moments passed and then a figure emerged from behind the cover, her head was bowed as if trying to hide her embarrassment at being caught especially considering her position. 

Gaddes removed his hand from his sword and rushed forward to Eries, as he went to reach out to her and place his hands on her shoulders to make sure she was okay, he remembered his position and stopped short. 

Eries was visibly shivering, it appeared to Gaddes she had left in a hurry and without preparation. Without a second’s thought he removed his cloak and wrapped it round her shoulders.

“Here, this ought to help,” he said as he draped it round her. 

She looked up at him, ‘I hope you won’t think me foolish, I know I shouldn’t have left…but I saw you slip away and I was worried about you.”

Before Gaddes had a chance to respond she continued, “Parties have never been my thing anyway, too noisy and too many people. I much prefer this,” she gazed up at the night sky, a small and innocent smile played on her face.

Gaddes mulled over how to respond, in many ways he was speechless and yet there was so much he wanted to say to her. He and Eries had known one another for a long time and although they’d never been alone together like this, they often would pass one another or have short conversations, sharing in their thoughts and the occasional jokes. Gaddes had developed a fondness for her which he was sure would be unrequited, even if it wasn’t it would never be allowed and so he had never spoken a word of it to anyone.

“Me too,” he agreed, “It’s why I came here, to be alone.”

He regretted his words as soon as he spoke and on seeing Eries’ reaction, the familiar look of disappointment on her face he added quickly, “Not that I mind you being here, quite the opposite.” He could feel his cheeks redden as he made his confession. 

Eries smiled, “I am glad.”

“Come,” Gaddes said and took hold of her hand. He led her to the blanket he’d spread on the grass and helped her to sit down. Behind them her horse followed dutifully. 

Gaddes sat beside her and for a moment they enjoyed the peace in one another’s company.

“I…I…there was a reason that I…” Eries stuttered as she spoke, clearly struggling to get out the words she wanted to speak.

Gaddes turned to her, in a moment of unprecedented confidence that he wasn’t sure where it came from, he took hold of her chin, his thumb gently stroking her skin.

“It’s okay Princess, sometimes no words are needed.”

She gave a small laugh and nodded, this was a side of that Gaddes rarely saw and certainly never quite like this. It suited her, she deserved every happiness.

Gaddes pulled away, afraid he’d overstepped the mark, his hand went back to the blanket and the other grabbed the flask and offered her a drink. She took it gladly and after taking a sip asked, “So you came up here to see in the New Year alone? In a way I think that’s rather admirable and noble.”

Now it was Gaddes’ turn to chuckle, “Something like that, too much noise like you said. I love them all dearly and have had the most wonderful evening, but I find it is important to enjoy your own company. There are some moments in life where you just need space and time to think, to put things right in your mind and then start over, or something like that anyway.” 

She nodded, “Well I am truly sorry for disturbing you in that, I could go if you would prefer?”

Gaddes turned to her and shook his head violently, “No, please…stay.”

Eries smiled, her hand rested on the blanket, finger tips so close to touching Gaddes’ hand. 

Just then a firework went off lighting up the sky with golden rain for a second. 

“Midnight,” Eries said quietly, her finger tips now grazing Gaddes’ skin, “I’ve never been kissed at midnight.”

A moment later several more fireworks exploded and so the dance of colour & fire begun across the city and land. All the colours of the rainbow coming to life to greet the New Year. Eries placed her hand on top of Gaddes’ and squeezed. 

Gaddes’ heart thumped in his chest, just feeling her so close, “Happy New Year Eries.”