Reinne 13
Just after Halle had died, Basille had made a request for more roses to be planted in the palace gardens. She’d been able to see the gardeners as they got to work fulfilling her request, and had gone down to see the bushes as soon as they were in the ground. They hadn’t been blooming when she’d gone, but she’d made plans to see them as soon as they were. Because of the king’s orders and her later injuries, however, this was the first time she was actually seeing them in all their beautiful glory.
She was finally healed enough that the king had granted his permission for her to leave her rooms, and the moment word had come, she’d gathered her skirts, excitedly looking to Malak in anticipation. He’d laughed and called for her maids, to her disappointment, but she knew he was right. It wouldn’t do to make the king think he was being shamed by her waltzing about the palace grounds in peasant’s clothes. She was still the queen, after all.
The moment she’d stepped foot outside, hair curled and properly dressed, she’d made a beeline for this corner, Malak having to trot to keep up with her.
The gardeners had gone above and beyond with the request, and the beautifully arranged buds nearly brought tears to her eyes. Halle would have loved them, she thought. The myriad of colors was all the memorial she ever could have hoped for.
Carefully, she stepped onto the wood that encircled the plants, lifting her skirts with one hand to prevent herself from tripping. With the other, she cupped a particular blossom, stroking the petals softly before all at once burying her nose in the center and taking a deep breath. Immediately, she sneezed, pulling back to avoid ruining the flower as she sneezed again, then again, all in quick succession.
Behind her, she heard a familiar laugh, and turned with a smile to see Reinne approaching. “I’ll thank you not to laugh at your queen.”
Reinne bowed deeply, the smile still plain on her face. “Yes, your majesty.”
“What brings you?” Malak asked, looking at his partner in confusion. To Basille’s knowledge, her guards weren’t meant to switch until after dinner, and by his expression, she assumed he was thinking the same.
“General Byron requires your presence,” she said as she straightened. “He’s a few men short on his patrol. I’ll take over your duties until tomorrow morning.”
Malak nodded sharply, then turned back to Basille, bowing just as Reinne had. “Excuse me, your highness. I am required elsewhere.”
She smiled fondly. He really was an earnest man, seeming much younger than he was at times. “Of course. I wish you safety.”
“Thank you, your highness.”
As he left, Reinne assumed his position, hands clasped behind her as she watched Basille turn back to the flowers. They stood in silence for a few moments, Basille smelling the blossoms at a safer distance this time, until Reinne suddenly spoke.
“Are these for Halle?”
“Yes,” Basille answered, smiling happily down at the latest bloom, a dark purple that reminded her of the shirt Reinne usually wore. Following the thought, she turned around, squinting at the shirt in question before holding out a hand. “Come, I want to compare these colors.”
Reinne furrowed her brow, but stepped forward, allowing Basille to take her by the arm and hold her sleeve against the richly-colored petals. The match was slightly off, the flowers a little bluer than the cloth, but it was still close enough to make her grin in satisfaction.
“You know, Halle’s sister was Banamoran,” she said suddenly, letting Reinne have her arm back. “They had different fathers, and Halle came here in the hopes of finding her sister’s father. He was a nobleman from their country.”
“Did she ever find him?”
“No, I don’t think so. As sad as it is, he had likely passed on before she took her station. Didn’t you say that your grandfather was from Banamore?” Reinne nodded, and Basille continued, happily tracing a finger over the petals of the rose. “Perhaps the two knew each other. They would have been of an age, I’m sure.”
“I doubt it,” Reinne said with a grin. “My grandfather was a foot soldier. He’d have had no reason to know a nobleman.”
“You’re a foot soldier,” Basille commented. “And I’m the queen. Yet, we have met.”
Reinne laughed, the sound clear and bright. It always brought a smile to Basille’s face, and she found herself suddenly entranced by the flash of the other’s smile. She took a step forward, suddenly, leaning in to smell the flower Basille held. Her softly curling hair brushed Basille’s wrist, and she shivered.
“I’m not a foot soldier,” Reinne said, voice still holding a smile as she pulled back. “I could have you brought up on charges of treason for disrespecting the king’s decrees.”
“Oh, could you? I’d like to see you try!”
“I think you’ll find it’s my duty, woman,” Reinne said, biting back further laughter and stepping back into her position of respect.
“Woman?!”
“Was I mistaken in my assumption?”
Basille snorted, shaking her head as she suddenly said, “You know, I think that if I had known you better while Halle still lived, the two of you would have been great friends.”
“She seems to have been quite the woman,” Reinne commented quietly, but when Basille looked up, she was smiling.
“The two of you have that in common.”
“Thank you, but--”
“No buts,” Basille said sternly, considering the flower for a few moments before beginning to pick off the first few thorns. “Do you have a knife?”
Reinne snorted, pulling a hunting blade from its sheath at her waist. “You know, in addition to being your friend, I am still a palace guard. Why do you need a knife?”
“In addition to being the queen, I’m holding a flower that I’ve just de-thorned, Reinne.” Basille couldn’t stop her smile growing as she looked back at the other. The combination of the sunshine, the company, and the flowers were putting her into a better mood than she’d had in months. Despite still being behind the castle walls, she felt free. “Take your best guess.”
Unable to hide the laughter in her eyes, Reinne stepped forward, taking hold of the flower and slicing it neatly just below her hand. Basille, still smiling, dropped her grip to overlap Reinne’s, entangling their fingers around the stem as she said, “For you.”
Something unrecognizable flashed through Reinne’s face, her smile softening for a split second before her whole body stiffened. Confused, Basille let go of her hand, allowing the other to take the flower. Reinne couldn’t seem to look up from the petals, and Basille watched a war fight across her expression.
“Thank you, your highness.”
Basille wasn’t sure what to say for a moment. She was unsure what had just happened, but knew she didn’t like the other pulling back, using her title when they were clearly alone and refusing to look her in the eye. “Please, Reinne, call me Basille. As far as I am concerned, we are equals.”
Reinne took a deep breath, finally looking up from the rose but still not quite making eye contact. “Basille.”
She wasn’t sure what to say for a long moment, but finally settled on, “What’s wrong?”
“Ah,” Reinne said, glancing into her eyes for a split second. “It’s been a long day, is all. I’m quite tired.”
“If that’s all it is, we could go inside. You can sleep in my room.”
She was surprised to see a deep blush appear on Reinne’s face, but the other spoke quickly, her laughing tone at odds with her wringing fingers. “I’m sure if an assassin breaks in, I would be alerted to his presence by the sound of your dying screams.”
“I will choose to be assassinated silently, then, if it will allow you to rest.” A flicker of a smile flashed across Reinne’s face, and Basille shook her head. “Please, Reinne. What ails you?”
This was unlike her, and Basille knew she didn’t like it. Reinne was nothing if not straightforward, and the very fact that she didn’t seem to have the words at her ready was worrisome in and of itself.
Reinne swallowed, again staring at the flower. When she spoke, her voice was breaking. “Your highness, I find myself at quite a loss.”
“Yes?” Basille prodded, watching her carefully. She still didn’t like being called an honorific, but she let it slide, not wanting to discourage Reinne from her thoughts.
“I am… W-when I had just come of age, there was a boy in the city, the son of a friend of my father’s. He was kind to me, and Karlen let me make my own choices, so I allowed him to court me.”
Not having the slightest clue where this could be leading, Basille just watched her.
“There was nothing wrong with him, you see, but I just… he was not…” Reinne seemed frustrated, reaching up to push the fingers of one hand through her own hair as the other arm wrapped itself around her chest, rose still held tightly in her grip. “I-I…”
“Reinne, it’s okay,” she said, stepping forward. Almost of their own volition, her hands jumped to cup the other’s face, and she smoothed her thumbs over her skin. “Whatever it is, it’s okay.”
There was a long moment where they just looked at each other, Reinne’s brown eyes filling with terrified tears. “Basille, I… I have grown too close to you.”
Despite the pain in her chest, Basille asked, “Did Tyrrel hurt you?”
“No! No, that’s not…” Reinne took a deep breath, looked up to the sky in an attempt to get her tears to fade. “The king has not touched me.”
Basille just watched her, slowly letting go of her face and reaching instead to lay her fingers on the other’s arm. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I wish you nothing but happiness, Reinne, and so long as you have that…?”
“I prefer the company of women, your highness.” The words seemed to burst from Reinne’s lips, shame coloring her face as Basille’s eyes widened in surprise. “And I seem to have fallen in love with my queen.”
The words lit up something inside of Basille’s mind, puzzle pieces fitting together to make a picture that, in retrospect, was embarrassingly obvious. It was… gods, it made so much sense. She’d never even considered it. It was incredibly uncommon in Saibhadha, a crime worthy of execution. She supposed she could be excused for not realizing--
“I know that what I am is against the law,” Reinne was saying, words flying from her mouth more quickly than Basille had ever seen her speak. “But I needed to tell you, before I left. I am putting you in danger, Basille, even by standing at your side. I have kept this secret for so long, but I have never had reason for it to be--”
“You’re leaving?” was all she could think to say, mind still rushing.
“Y-yes. Yes, I-I… I am going to go to the king tomorrow, ask him to transfer me to the company of the Banamoran ambassadors. But I did not want to just abandon you without reason, so I--”
“Oh, you…” The words to describe the other’s stupidity didn’t immediately spring to mind, and she glanced over her shoulder. There was a gardener, far out of earshot but not out of sight, and Basille let her hand drop from Reinne’s arm. Then she turned, gesturing quickly and beginning to walk towards the palace.
After a moment of hesitation, Reinne followed, accompanying her through the halls, passing servants and guards until they arrived at her rooms. Basille’s heart was pounding, and as they entered, she jumped at the sight of the maids, arranging her sheets and chatting quietly as they worked. At the sight of her, they all stopped, and, more severely than she’d intended, she barked, “I require the room!”
They exchanged glances, then quickly filed past her, the last of them scampering through and Basille catching Reinne’s arm as she started to follow. “You stay.”
Reinne’s face was growing pale, but she nodded, and Basille gathered her wits about her as the other closed the door behind them and set her rose on the dresser. For a long moment, Basille was frozen, and Reinne just watched her.
“Your highness, I know that I am a traitor to the gods,” she finally said, voice coming out a broken whisper. “But I do not wish to hear that from you.”
“Oh, Reinne…” Basille murmured. “I could not fault you for it if I tried.”
The other’s brow furrowed in confusion, and Basille held out a shaking hand. “When I came of age, I did court men. I have never found fault in their gender alone, but as you spoke, I… Reinne . I am so sorry.” She was understanding her previous hesitation, now, a lifetime of following unfeeling gods stopping the words before they could leave her mouth. “Please don’t leave on my account.”
Reinne’s head inclined, and she said, “Basille, I appreciate this. I thank you for your kindness, but I don’t think you understand. I have to.”
“I think that I understand better than you know,” Basille said, finally summoning her courage and stepping forward, taking Reinne’s hand in her own and lifting it to her lips. She felt the other’s fingers light on her shoulder as she pressed a kiss to her other palm, and Reinne’s breathing grew uneven.
When Basille looked up, the other was staring at her in disbelief. How could Basille explain? That her words had put meaning to the feelings that had been growing inside her for so long? That even from the first moment Basille had seen her, there had been a sense of admiration she had never before experienced. That she…
“Reinne, in the event that you choose to stay,” Basille murmured, “I should hope that you believe me when I say it would bring me great happiness. I would never think to betray you.”
Letting out a short laugh, Reinne shook her head, wide eyes staring into Basille’s own. “I want to protect you.”
“I don’t think even your leaving would do that,” Basille said dryly. “You put me in no more danger by staying than I would be in without you. Can I ask you, instead, to stay by my side?”
“Basille…”
“It’s a request, not a command,” she said quickly. “As much as I… your life will be in danger. It’s selfish of me to even ask, but… Reinne, I think that I may be in love with you.”
Reinne blinked, long and hard, brows raising, then laughed again, disbelievingly. “What?”
“I love you,” Basille repeated, and she knew that she meant it. “I knew that I felt strongly towards you, but I hadn’t had the words to describe it until you said it. You love your queen? Your queen finds herself returning those feelings.”
They just looked at each other for a long moment, Basille’s heart pounding in fear until she saw the smile growing over Reinne’s face. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Pulling her hand from Basille’s grip, Reinne cupped her cheeks with shaking fingers. “And you want me to stay?”
“You make me happy, Reinne,” Basille answered. “Of course I do.”
“This could end very badly.”
“It won’t end well,” Basille said. “No matter what happens, there aren’t many happy endings, and if you do choose to go, you take my heart with you. I won’t fault you, and you are always welcome here when you return to Saibhadha.”
Wildly, Reinne shook her head, starting to laugh as she leaned forward. She hesitated, then drew her into a tight hug. “I thought I had already made my decision, but damn it, Basille!” Reinne pulled back, reaching up and holding her face, laughter creasing her eyes. “How could I go? You really want this?”
“Yes,” Basille said, starting to laugh herself. “How many times must I repeat it?”
“At least as many as it takes to convince me this isn’t a dream.” Reinne leaned closer, searching her face carefully. Her smile didn’t seem to want to fade, and she slowly shook her head. “I would die for you in an instant, Basille. I always would have. And this would… it would bring me great joy, even if it does end badly. Of course I’ll stay.”
Smiling, Basille leaned into one of her hands, looking up at her and wishing that Reinne didn’t have to make such promises. “Reinne?”
“Yes?”
“Would you do me the honor of a kiss?”
Reinne’s eyes grew soft, and she nodded, moving forward to close the distance between them. Their lips met, a gentle press that burned through her like fire. Basille’s grip went to Reinne’s hips, and she felt one of the other’s hands slip down her jaw to rest at the curve between her neck and shoulder.
Breaking apart, Basille felt her face flushing red, and Reinne seemed equally affected, only looking at her for a moment before she buried her face into Basille’s hair.
“I love you,” she said, and Basille couldn’t help her smile.
“I love you, too.”
