#number 11

> Yara was overjoyed to have you with her again. She personally introduced you to her blooming court. You met Mel, Owen, Leah, Nick, among others.

> Reader is unmarried and is uninterested in getting married. She and Yara have a deal that when Yara gets married, Reader will become her Chief Court Mistress which does not require a woman to be wed.

> Reader is an old school lesbian in the 8th century. She had a lover when she first arrived to be Yara’s lady, she fell hard and fast. Then the girl she was with was married and sent off to another country. The girls had a tearful goodbye. They were able to keep writing to each other until the girl was forced to stop because of her husband being suspicious.

> Four years after Reader arrives is when Abby, Manny, and Nora arrive at Sera Castle.

> Abby, Manny, and Nora are relatively new to the castle. Abby was hired to replace Knight Owen. Manny and Nora were hired at the same time. Manny is the second Knight to Lev. Yara approved Nora to be another one of her Ladies, in order for Nora to practice Medicine at the Castle.

> Reader is required to be at the official dinners when things are being celebrated or they have royal guests, but she often finds a way to escape. Her favorite spot in in the library in one of the alcoves. This is where Abby first talks to her.

> She randomly came upon the hiding spot while exploring the castle in her first week. She turned the corner and saw you hidden from the corner of her eye. You were sitting in the alcove, knees up to your chest and book balanced against your thighs. You didn’t notice Abby at first, your attention completely taken up by the book you were devouring at a speed that impressed the new Knight. Abby watched silently as you must have reached an intense part in the book, your hand worrying at your lip, suddenly supporting a furrowed brow that Abby desperately wanted to smooth out. A noise down the corridor startled you and your eyes met Abby’s, the girl embarrassed at being caught practically leering at you.

“Hello,” your voice matched your face. Pretty and warm even if you just said one word.

You continue to look at Abby, a small smile growing on your face.

The Knight coughed. “Hello, my Lady,” she bowed her head.

“You don’t need to do that, I’m nothing special,” you wave her formality off.

“I beg to differ,” Abby responds immediately, her face warming under your gaze.

“Oh,” you feel your own cheeks warm. “Thank you. I’m sorry, I don’t know your name?”

“I’m Abby. Abby Anderson. I’m a Knight.”

An look of realization crosses your face. You close your book, turning your body towards Abby, feet now on the ground.

“You are Lev’s new personal Knight, correct? I heard you came with others. How are you settling?”

Abby was flustered. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Then she made what she thought was a noise similar to “yes” but sounded like she was choking. Which led to her coughing. She was choking on her own embarrassment.

And yet there you were, suddenly next to her, palms up and eyes wide, trying to help.

This time she gets to wave you off, “I’m — Okay. My apol-apologies.”

You let out a laugh of relief, smoothing your tunic down with your hands. “That’s good. I thought I was gonna have to call for the Physician!” You joke. Abby laughs at it, which makes you brighten.

“Well, Knight Abby, the dinner is about to end and I am to help Princess Yara get ready for bed. Excuse me.” You walk back to get your book, but Abby blocks your way.

“Before you go, what’s your name?”

You tell her. Abby remembers Princess Yara mentioning you in her introduction. You were the Princess’s First Lady in Waiting. In fact, just from what Abby was told, Yara is extremely fond of you and thinks of you more as a sister. Which means you hold a lot of respect within the Kingdom. Something you do not show off, based on you hiding from a formal dinner, in an alcove, reading a book.

Abby softly repeats your name back to you. The way her voice pronounces your name brings warmth to your cheeks, you subconsciously hide your smile in your shoulder.

“Good Night, Knight Abby.” And you walk away. Abby waits until you’re further away to take a last look at you. Unfortunately for her and her subtlety, you just happen to turn your head to look at her. For a split second you guys lock eyes, then you’re around the corner.

> Soon, Abby and Reader begin to regularly meet in that library alcove when they can get away from their responsibilities. What started as an awkward greeting changed into a comfortable bubble between two people.

The tall knight sneaks down the empty corridor. Everyone else in the castle is loudly celebrating in the dining hall. But not Abby. And not you either. In fact, in the past few months, you and Abby have met up during the busy celebration dinners the castle hosts. You meet up near the castle’s library and either curl up on chairs in front of the fire together or wander the empty halls. You’ve lived here longer than Abby and know most if not all of the secret tunnels. She’s just trying to catch up.

> Abby starts to fall for the Reader, who comes off a little closed off romantically. The Reader eventually tells Abby about their first love, another lady in waiting who they wanted to run away with, but were both separated when the girl was married off to a Lord in another country. They tried to stay in touch, but fell out of touch. While this happened two years ago, Reader is still sad about it and feels like she will never love again. Abby promises reader that she’ll love again (foreshadowing).

> Abby and Reader continue to meet up and Reader finds herself falling for Abby. Abby is going to compete in a tournament in the South of the kingdom and will be gone for a month. Reader is devastated by this and realizes she does love Abby and wants to tell her before she leaves.

> The night before Abby leaves, Reader requests a walk in the garden with her. There, in the middle of the blooming flowers, Reader gives Abby a token of her favor for the tournament in the form of an embroidered handkerchief she made specifically for Abby. Abby is extremely touched. Reader wants to kiss her, but chickens out. But the meaning of giving the gift is enough for both of them to know that the affection is mutual.

> Abby leaves for the tournament with Whitney and Manny the next morning. The entire royal court bids them goodbye and good luck, but Abby only has eyes for Reader who smiles at Abby with love in her eyes.

> Abby wins the tournament with your token carefully placed between her body and her armor.

> When they come back to Sera castle, Abby requests a council with Yara almost immediately and asks the soon-to-be Queen if she can court Reader formally. Yara, of course, says yes because she totally knows about them.

> Abby then runs to find Reader and they kiss in the library alcove where Reader was waiting for Abby to return.

> The kiss is warm and soft and perfect.

> It says everything.

a/n: heyyy umm *clear’s voice* SO SO SO SORRY this is over a year late 😮‍💨 i loved the idea but coming up with the scenes and putting them into words was just not in the plans. i stitched this together from two different documents so if you see stuff repeated let me know and i’ll tell you whether that’s on purpose or not LMAO

i hope you like my humble offer, abby stans. ily and hope you’re having a good day <3