#galfrey

Said and Queen Galfrey 🥹❤️‍🔥

Queen Incognito

By Thespacecowboy

Part of the "Born unto trouble series"

This chapter is set in the early stages of act two

Enjoy :)

Rest was never something Gwendolyn was ever particularly good at. Even as a child Every time she so much as tried to close her eyes, she could hear the whispers of the unknown buzzing in her ear or footsteps all around her clicking into the ground like metronomes.

It was now twelve in the morning, and Gwen was wide awake trying and miserably failing to go to sleep she occasionally turned over to one side every few minutes in a vein attempt to settle itself the rest of camp was peaceful all drifting off into their own escape Gwen's mind was racing faster than a rabid dog.

"I, Queen Galfrey hereby announce Gwendolyn of Mendev the new knight commander of the fifth crusade"

Those words, those strange, momentous words have been stuck in her mind like a lingering echo for three days now. After the queen said it the rest of the week felt like a fever dream. There were some salutes here some nods there, or Gwen thinks so anyways. when she thinks hard enough, she remembers seelah offering her some wine. Or was it whiskey? She didnt know, nor did she care at the time as she still took a swing from the bottle the paladin offered.

Sometimes when she thinks hard enough, she remembers flashes of Darean making his usual snide jokes or woljif speaking about how their new mythic powers from the wardstone can let them open a circus act. The idea is at least a little enticing if a bit odd. But honestly knowing Woljif he was probably planning on scamming someone one the side. Probably everyone on the side if she were honest.

Oh woljif....

The sad part is she isnt even sure how shes supposed to lead an entire army. Nor does she understand why she should. Shes a peasant. A sad sick excuse for a cleric amd a vagrant from some run down monestary where-

NO. focus you idiot, the queen herself put you in charge and everyone is counting on you. Stop worrying...it'll be fine.

"Yes", she thought. Everything will be fine.

....

....

"Maybe if I take a walk around camp, I'll feel better"

Gwendolyn plodded along the encampment with her head slight lowered at the ground in thought. Every few seconds her ears would quickly dart up checking the entrance then the rear and everything in between. Sure the night watch was active but It couldnt hurt to check at least a little while she was relaxing or trying to at least....

After all she is the new knight commander so obviously she has to be vigilant amd if she cant sleep it only makes sense she has to do something with her time. Maybe she can check on the inventory to see if its up to par? Or see how the guards are doing. Maybe she can take up their shift for them? Gods know they must be exhausted.

"I understand that you feel this way I truly do however I think it's a bit of an exaggeration to tell me simply exploring camp is in your terms "a hazard".

"What was that?" Gwen contemplated. She has heard that voice before a few days- no, a few weeks ago back at the hearts defender when they were all celebrating the retreat of that coward Minagho and....and Staunton Vhane.

Even in her head that name felt like an open gash on her spirit that her own subconscious kept rubbing salt in day by day. it seemed like the man in camp, richard if she remembers correctly, was speaking to someone. The person next to them was tall for a human woman and had a fierce air about them. But shes seen that armor before. Last night a scout had told her to arrive near the southeast of camp and well she spoke to that same woman. It was Queen Galfrey in disguise as a green knight simply known as "kitrane".

She had no idea where Queen Galfrey had gotten the armor nor why she chose kitrane for a name but well that was a question to ask for another time she supposed. For now it was probably best if she just let

"Your high- kitrane i simply insist that wandering off in an unfamiliar camp is simply dangerous."

"So you claim, but I would like for you to remeber that even under disguise i am not made of glass"

"I never claimed you were it is just that-

"Is something wrong here" Gwendoloyn said

"Ah knight commander can you please tell your majesty thats shes being unreasonable"

"Unreasonable about what?"

"About the fact that apparently I am so fragile that I cannot even wonder off a simple camp sight on my own."

"Is that so? Well if it makes you and Richard feel any better id be happy to show you around camp myself"

"Really?" The disguised ruler had asked seeming to be in genuine shock at the offer. Which in it of inself was a surprise to Gwen. "At such late of a time?"

"Yes, it's not an issue for me. I enjoy having company anyways"

Queen galfrey. Or rather kitrane now tapped her finger in thought before determining her decision.

"Well since you are offering i see no reason to decline. You see Richard it is as i said. So commander Shall we?"

"We shall. After you"

There was a sort of...bizarre mix of dread and excitement for Gwen walking with queen galfrey. Its so odd because she never truly expected this woukd happen...ever she supposed she should given that she convinced her to come fight with the army but still. It felt surreal. Not only because they both seemed to be having a less then ideal day to say the least but also because well....she was honestly curious.

About Galfrey, the queen Galfrey. There are so many questions she could ask her about life. About her life. About what mendev was before the worldwound cursed the nation.

Wait- would that even be a appropriate thing to ask? The queen was born at a time before the war even manifested and Gwen could very well be bringing up scars from the past that have never fully healed. Scars that Gwendolyn herself may understand all too well.

"You are awfully quiet for someone who invited me for this outing. What ails you commander"?

Just then gwens head snapped back to galfrey not realizing she was spiraling. She hadn't known if galfrey noticed but she'd decided to play if off as if nothing had happened just in case.

"Oh, im sorry i was just wondering what that all about?"

"Richard, like all in my retinue is perhaps a bit too enthusiastic about my safety. He is a good man and a dutiful soldier but he can be quite the worrywart"

"Well, I imagine most would given you being royalty. After all if the queen dies well so does the kingdom."

Galfrey let out a sigh despite gerself and gwen could see a ghost of something melancholic appeared on her face.

And just as quickly as it arrived it had faded into smoke.

"Yes, indeed it would. In a sense his concern is rather apt. Yet again something in galfreys demeanor seemed well Gwen didn't want to say off but thoughtful? Yes thoughtful.

Galfrey spoke up again breaking up the temporary silence. "But that aside I am curious about something. No doubt that my reaction to make you the new knight commander was a bit of a shock to not only you but mendev as well. But I never had the opportunity to ask you whay do you think of my decision?"

Gwendoloyn despite her best efforts heres the all too familiar voice of her own voice rattling in the depts of her own subconscious. "It was a mistake, i am an idiot, a brute whos only actually talent is swing a sword around until I kill or get killied. I should not be leading this army and you should revoke my title before someone gets killed"

However, that would be a mistake. Even she could see that. To let her soul hang so bare? Especially to the one person who appointed this position to her? No. Never. So instead, she settles for her usual tactics. "Well, Kitrane I believe it will be like a luminous situation. Like the sun rising on the static shadow of life."

Kitrane- or rather not kitrane, stopped in her tracks and raised a single eyebrow at the cleric in disbelief over her ridiculous answer

"That is a very pretty response, commander. So pretty it in fact sounds like a rehearsed speech from a politician which unfortunately makes me believe you're hiding something". Her tone calm and precise, as per usual but something in her energy just switched in a way that Gwendolyn couldn't really ascertain. And if there's one thing Gwen didn't particularly was not knowing. But then again, it's not like she had any right to complain.

"Everyone has something bubbling beneath the surface kitrane thats just how the wind blows just the other day-"

"And you are doing it yet again. Commander if you did not want to talk to me you do realize you were not obligated to"

"No, it's not that I just...i can't tell you. I wish I could, but I can't."

"Well...im sure you have your reasons. So ill ask another question if you dont mind that is"

"I dont. Go ahead and I promise to answer like a normal person for once".

Somehow that got a small chuckle out of the monarch. Gwen didn't know why though. She wasnt really joking...

"I shall hold you to it. So, if you will not tell me how you feel about being the new commander, I am curious about something, you are a clearly devout follower of Sarenrae and as I'm sure you know she is Iomdeas closest ally. How do you feel about her having a more public front for this crusade?

Gwen took a moment to think about that. Truly think about it not just bide het time to come up with another vague response.

"I...never thought about that. I suppose they'll think that im some upstart that will throw the wind under their sails but other than that I dont know.

"You don't think they'll accept you?"

"I think they have no reason to"

"Well I first thought the same but I found that when I pored my merit on the battlefield they quickly changed their tone no matter what god they worshipped.

Gwen smiled at the encouragement. She still wasn't sure if Queen Galfrey was always this accommodating but if she was its truly no wonder how she gained such a following.

Maybe this wasnt going so bad after all.

Perhaps the queen sensed Gwen's growing comfort in the conversation or perhaps she was just reminiscing but she continued speaking. Which was more then welcome if at least to make the convo less about herself. Gwen. Wasnt the best at giving facts about herself.

"Come to think of it i actually have met a few clerics of the dawnflower myself over the years"

"You have?" Gwen asked just a little bit too excitedely. Just then a light hovered over gwendoloyn's eyes, like a child being asked about their favorite fairy tail. "Tell me about them what were they like"

"They were kind, bright, almost infallible in how optimistic they were. They were quite pleasant company overall"

"Yeah...they were like that to for me growing up. Being around people like that, it helped give me a reason to li-". Gwen had tried to not finish that thought. She always promised herself to never let a single soul see that side of herself under any circumstances. But judging by the

"Commander?"

"....Im sorry its...dawn approaches. Yes that's it and like a creeping shadow on the spirit one cannot ignore the upcoming storm-

"Commander"?

"And really you are the queen of mendev who am I to just distract you from your duties? Thats like an ant crawling along trying to distract a noble dove. That would be tantamount to a political castration so I think i-

"I enjoyed talking to you". The words were simple, blunt even yet cut through the air like a knife through flesh.

Oh.....

Gwen quickly shifted in genuine shock over that revelation. she never expected-no, now is not the time to think about that. "I....I did too. Listen I'm very sorry about today, whatever today was but if you want, we can talk again tomorrow"

"I do, and yes this conversation was rather strange, but it was still pleasant in its own way. Sleep well Gwendolyn"

Gwen's voice was now naught but a hushed whisper as for the first time this very night Gwen's warm cerulean eyes met the monarch's solid cool blue.

"Thank you. I will, I hope you sleep well to Galfrey".

Aurhors note # 1: okay wow so after what three weeks of switching from procrastinating and working on this its finally done. My first ever pathfinder oc chapter. A bit risky given that I havent made a chapter since literally January and im completely self taught but hey nothing ventured nothing gained. Plus ive been planning and plotting out this charcter since around March ish...so you know. Its only right that I do SOMETHING with her. Especially since im going on vacation next week and I would be kicked myself if this was unfinished while I was in Jamaica

But uhh what is the born unto trouble series? Its basically gonna be a series of chapter featuring my pathfinder oc/ knight commander GWENDOLYN a half elf cleric crusader subclass of Sarenrae. Amd why would I start in act 2 but not one? Well the thing is even though act 1 has a lot of moments that define Gwen's charcter some good and some REALLY bad I wanted to be a bit self indulgent. By that I mean that Gwen's love interest is well the titular character of this chapter Galfrey. Now put your damn pitch forks down I KNOW shes a controversial charcter but honestly shes one of my npc in the game. Her depth and pathos to me anyways rivals a lot of the companions in how they're written and once you get past her intial...issues shes actually pretty likeable.

So united fellow thirteen galfrey fans im one of you. I have been since I started playing the game in March. Now I must say this chapter was supposed to be a bit longer but between me not knowing where to put in the extra bits AND the somewhat satisfying ending I already have I think its best for me just to make a part two for this chapter that includes all the cut content. That seems like the smarter choice for me

HAPPY PRIDE i write hesham/gabriele fluff when im sad. you can have snippets of 1 and 2. (it will probably be part of a hesham first person pov fic thats crypsis prologue kinda. idk i just like writing him.)

And while he pointed at the stars, excitedly describing the patterns and meanings behind them, gesturing wildly with his one hand and squeezing the other in mine, I realized I loved him. I didn’t say it then.

and:

I didn’t open my eyes once I woke up. It must have been a dream. Instead, I found my hand to his bare chest and inhaled deeply. A combination of sweat, menthol cigarettes, and the lingering tang of his lemon cologne. It was him. Only him.

I shifted under the sheets and pressed my face in the crook of his neck, and inhaled again.

Gabriele stirred. “Cucciolino,” he mumbled. The early morning made his voice more raspy than usual. The early morning had become my favorite time of day.

I paused, finally opening my eyes. “Did you call me a dog?”

“No, silly.” His finger traced the bridge of my nose. “You’re sniffing me. Like a puppy. It’s sweet.”