Fantasy Intertwining Kingdoms (Closed)

[freakie]

When she heard his footsteps she went back to her seat and smiled some since she was excited to have more moments with him. She had made sure it was a simple candlelit dinner but not overly romantic. Remembering the comments he made on the rose petals.

He sounded so casual and it helped her relax since she was hoping he would want to be more informal. "There you are..I was wondering if you had doozed off or something.."She teased gently and she nodded some. Sipping some of the wine as she started to eat "I did. As much as I like to feel safe I don't need him behind me all the time"She mused softly.

Tucking in as she relaxed more "I feel like this may be our only time to be alone. When we are at the castle there will be staff everywhere.."She breathed out. " I want to seek you out before its too late."She half smiled as she gazed up at him and noticed the distance of the table. "Hopefully I wont have to shout across the table at you.."

 

[Axty]

Archie leaned back slightly in his chair, his tone laced with that familiar teasing edge he reserved only for Florence. He raised a brow as he watched her, the flicker of curiosity dancing in his blue eyes.

“Seek me out? And why exactly would you want to do that?” he asked, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. There was a playful challenge in his voice, as if daring her to give an honest answer.

He turned his attention briefly to his plate, effortlessly cutting into the steak with the precision and ease of someone who’d spent more years wielding a sword than a dinner knife. It was almost second nature—the same controlled strength, the same sharp intent. Then, without looking up, he added with a chuckle, “What—missing your husband already?” The question, though lighthearted, carried a warmth beneath the surface, a quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to feel the same pull toward him that he was starting to feel for her.

 

[freakie]

Florence watched him and she breathed out some as she looked at the table decorations and sipped more of her wine. Seeing that playful look she knew now she had been a tad too honest and it did make her feel like she had to now follow through with her tease.

When he asked she blushed some and shook her head slowly "Because when we are in the real world you will be busy and I shall be busy..."She replied honestly "our time to bond will be short."She had made some of her feelings clear last night but she had the excuse of wine then. Now she was trying without such a blanket.

"Fine..."She bit her lip some as she watched him before she stood and picked up her plate. Moving to sit on the chair to the right of him instead across from him at the head of the table. She set her plate down and her cup of wine before she sat there. "If we are to be honest...informal then at least I will be close. Because perhaps..a tiny part of me did miss my husband"She finally let slip.

Her heart was fluttering somewhat, Archibald was matching her fire and she was happy to keep exploring it. She wanted to see if he could really make her happy.

 

[Axty]

Archie’s cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink as her words hit him with a wave of sincerity he hadn’t been expecting. He quickly averted his gaze, turning his head to the side while raising a hand to partially cover his face—a subtle attempt to mask the way his composure faltered.

“A-At least you’re honest,” he mumbled, his voice quieter now, carrying a certain vulnerable softness that rarely escaped his lips. It wasn’t like him to be caught off guard, but something about the way Florence admitted she sought him out stirred a feeling in him he hadn’t quite figured out yet.

After a few heartbeats, he gathered himself, cleared his throat, and picked up his utensils again, resuming his meal with renewed focus. Yet, the flush in his cheeks lingered, a quiet reminder of the moment. Between bites, he glanced back up at her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “So, Queen,” he began, the teasing tone returning to his voice, “do you know what to expect in that position? Or are we both just figuring this whole ruling-a-kingdom-together thing out as we go?”

 

[freakie]

Florence got a small rise out of his reaction, he had challenged her and yet she had proven herself and pushed him into that honest space. Maybe through their teasing and play they could actually see if they liked each other like that. She had paid him many a compliment outloud and hidden half a dozen in her heart. But he had yet to call her pretty or beautiful. She laughed slightly "I see I have won. you will think twice before challenging me again"She hummed before eating her dinner nice and slow.

Using her fork to get a bite of each thing as he called her queen she smiled some more "Ah so am I no longer Princess "She raised a brow slightly but she heard his question and she thought slowly on it. She had been provided what was sought needed to be a lady in this world. But a Queen was something new. "I know that I am more so in charge of our new home...the village and small folk. Hosting events and so forth. But in practice I will need to take it a step at a time."

She glanced over ar him "I suppose you will do the same. When we are corrinated everything will change. You do realise this?"She wondered if he had thought on it. As Prince he could be married and not expect certain preassures. But as King he would need an hier..a few years they may be able to get by but soon they would be seen as weak. "Sorry Archie..I did not mean to be so blunt...It is a far distance from today"

 

[Axty]

Archie smirked, a glint of mischief flickering in his tired blue eyes as he popped another bite of food into his mouth. “I’ll call you whatever I damn well please,” he said, his voice light and teasing. There was a comfort now in how he spoke to her, casual and honest, like the sharp edges of their past conversations had softened into something that felt more like home. He leaned back slightly, resting his weight into the chair with a sigh that bordered on dramatic. “Still, let’s not pretend I’m going to be lounging around. Between morning drills, knight evaluations, and training skirmishes, they’re going to run me into the dirt.” He shook his head, poking at his plate as if the thought alone had worn him out.


His tone shifted ever so slightly when he brought up the subject of diplomacy, his teasing grin giving way to the mild grimace of someone who had been handed too many expectations too quickly. “And God forbid they start dragging me into peace talks,” he muttered, tone laced with barely disguised irritation. “I can barely sit still long enough to read my own correspondence—imagine trying to smile at some stiff from the West who just called me a savage under his breath.” He let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head again. “No, I’ll take swordplay over peace play any day.” He meant it too. The battlefield made sense to him—it was brutal, yes, but honest. There were rules, even if they were unspoken. Politics, however, were like smoke and mirrors.


He stabbed his fork into another bite before adding with a smirk, “Honestly, I love Mother, truly—but I might just dump some of the paperwork on her desk next time she comes around with that ‘delegation builds character’ speech.” He let out a small laugh, clearly amused by the idea. “Besides, she’s got that noble grace and political charm. I’ve got… well, the ability to make people nervous just by entering a room.”

 

[freakie]

Florence heard him and she shook her head again before she rolled her eyes in a playful way. She hadn't meant to slip the nickname but if he was calling her names she could play ball. For once it felt like this was just a normal dinner between a couple that may of been together a while.

As he spoke she hummed softly and could tell he wasn't looking forward to it "Hmm sounds so riverting.."She joked gently as she listened more. But as he admitted his preference she was a little taken back, did he really prefer bloodshed to talking? It was hard for her to understand and it strike a dischord within her and her own views.

"Hm well maybe you could learn some things from her to make the transition easier.."She replied and noticed he had not made comment on what she brought up earlier. A small feeling hit her, almost like she was sinking. All those bastards do is kill and celebrate with crude trophies. She heard Neros voice. Breathed out a small sigh as she finished her plate.

"I will take my wine to our room."She stated, for once he was seeing her in a way that was strict. She didn't like to be angry or distant but she couldn't quite get over what he said. She headed up the stairs and rubbed her face. Tonight should of gone better as they were doing so well. But she had to remind herself that they were still learning and there would be set backs.

She slid into their room to see the fire lit and candles burning and sat on the bed. Sinking into the mattress ever so slightly as she finished her drink. A small knock could be heard, a girl peeking her head in "Anything I can get you before slumber?"She asked. "Water.."Florence responded and was left alone once again.

 

[Axty]

“Our bed?” Archie repeated softly, the words catching on his tongue as if they were unfamiliar, foreign in a way that tugged at something deep inside him. The phrase lingered in the air, quiet but heavy. He wasn’t sure why, but the way Florence said it struck a chord in him—an odd mixture of surprise, hesitation, and something far gentler than what he was used to. As she turned to leave, his hand instinctively reached out, fingers wrapping gently around her wrist—not tightly, not to stop her, but to ask her to stay, just for a moment longer.

“Wait, Florence,” he said, his voice quieter now, more earnest. He swallowed as he met her eyes, unsure of how to phrase what he was feeling without ruining the tentative peace they’d built between them. “Do you… want me to come to the bedroom again?” The question was careful, almost nervous, like he wasn’t just asking for clarity but for reassurance. “I mean, I can,” he added quickly, as if he didn’t want her to think he was trying to avoid her. “I just… I don’t want to assume. I know things are still new between us, and I’m trying to respect whatever pace you want to go at.”

He let his hand fall back to his side, not wanting to overstep. His gaze dropped briefly, before lifting again with that same softness that had started to appear more and more often in her presence. “It’s not that I don’t want to,” he admitted with a faint, almost sheepish smile. “I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable. If this… if we are going to be something real, I want it to be because we both choose it—not because tradition or expectation forces our hands. So… if you want me there, I will be.”

 

[freakie]

Thinking back to when she had taken her leave. She was looking at her ring as she heard him ask. She hadn’t meant to put weight behind those words but he couldn’t sleep in a chair again. Her nativity was showing once more. She could tell because the look on Archie’s face softened and changed and she was a little taken back.

Being asked was nice and polite and knowing all she did now she had expected it of him and she slowly nodded. But as he continued she was trying to think on what she wanted. She wanted love. Reassurance. Safety and passion. She didn’t want to lay waste her feelings and wait for the right time. It seemed there wouldn’t be one. Just a lingering question on their lips that both never ushered into existence.

Once he’d done she looked towards the stairs and then turned her head slightly to him “you do not make me uncomfortable. As much as we are still learning.”she breathed out and smiled a little “we chose our fate. With each other. I did not dismiss the staff and light the candles for us if I did not have some hope Archie”

Now she was in their room she felt some sense of anxiety. She went to the adjoined room and slipped on a night gown and let her hair down like usual and freshened up more. She remembered sitting in front of a mirror with her mother and their maids and knowing how to do hairs and small make up. It was nice to put time into herself.

Slowly she headed back to the bed and touched the sheets gently as she waited. She did her best to not let her mind wonder too far.

 

[Axty]

Archie lingered in the moment, standing in the middle of the room as Florence turned and began to walk away. His eyes followed her, a flicker of hesitation softening the sharp line of his jaw. Something in him stirred—an ache, quiet but persistent. He watched her disappear behind the door, and for a brief second, he remained frozen, unsure whether to follow or let the distance settle. But the silence that followed wasn’t peaceful; it was heavy, and it pressed down on him until he couldn’t bear it anymore.

With a quiet sigh, he decided to take a bath first, hoping the warm water would give him a moment to gather his thoughts. It was a quick soak—his mind had already made its decision long before his body had settled into the tub. He wanted to be near her, not out of duty or expectation, but because being in her presence was starting to feel like something he needed. He dried off quickly and slipped into a black robe, the silky fabric clinging softly to his skin. His hair, still wet, clung to his forehead in lazy strands, giving him a disheveled, almost vulnerable look.

With every step toward the adjoining door, he could feel his heartbeat quicken—not with fear, but with anticipation and quiet hope. He raised his hand, gently pressing it against the wood. “Florence?” he called softly, his voice muffled by the door. He paused, his hand resting on the handle for just a breath longer. “I’m coming in,” he added, his tone careful but sincere, as if asking permission and announcing his presence all in one. And with that, he slowly turned the knob and stepped inside.

 

[freakie]

Florence had taken a sip of water as she thought on such. She couldn’t quite explain her feelings. In one way this man was someone new to her. In another it was Archie. He was as if touch and carved from the moon itself. Painted by night. And she had felt his arms around her and it felt right. He had carried her and shown her only the upmost respect. She had heard gossips before talking about men and what their wandering eyes could lead them to. Was she good enough?

It was too late she was his wife. But then did he feel the same pull that she did? Did he yearn to breathe her in and hold her hand as she did. When she had said they were like Fire and Water it was true. They were opposites. She was kissed by the sun and he a shadow. They could burn together of drown. But she just wanted to grow alongside him.

Once his voice spoke her heart jumped into her throat only for her to breathe out “of course” it was strange for him to ask when they had both shared wine here the night before. But tonight was thick with a new aura. Something being woven that even she couldn’t contemplate. She glanced at the door only to see him in the robe and she looked away incase he didn’t wish to be seen just yet.

 

[Axty]

Archie stepped through the door with a quiet kind of uncertainty, his movements deliberate and cautious, as though afraid to disturb the fragile calm that lingered in the air. The soft glow of the moonlight spilling in through the windows bathed the room in silver hues, casting long shadows and making everything feel just a bit more intimate, a bit more vulnerable. The faint, lingering scent of rose petals from the night before still clung to the air, sweet and delicate, wrapping around him like a gentle reminder of where they were and what this space now meant.

He found his way to the same chair he had occupied the night before, easing into it with the same hesitance he felt in his chest. His robe shifted slightly as he sat, the black fabric a stark contrast against the gentle candlelight flickering across the room. He looked at her—really looked at her. Florence. The woman he barely knew and yet was now tethered to by vows and circumstance. His blue eyes, luminous even in the low light, met hers with a searching softness.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable with me here?” he asked quietly, his voice calm but edged with sincerity. He wasn’t just asking for the sake of it—he needed to know. For all their shared moments and growing closeness, he still held a deep-seated respect for her boundaries, for the space she might need. And in that question was a promise—that he would never cross a line she didn’t welcome him over.

 

[freakie]

Florence gallery moved to lay down. Shifting the soft covers to the side so she could rest her feet there. She hummed before she finally looked over at him. She kept focused on his face as she thought over last night and how she felt awful that he had slept in the chair.

“Archie..enough”she almost scolded when he asked the question again “I wouldn’t have said so. But you want us to try to be real. So do I..we have the same fate” she rubbed her face when he had asked for the third time. She simply wished he’d believe her.

The girl hummed “are you not comfortable with this?”she finally asked back since she wanted to show the same respect. She had been careful with him before. And the previous night she spoke highly of him and paid him compliments it seemed he had no cared for them so she didn’t wish to make him uncomfortable again.

 

[Axty]

"I… I don't know how I feel," Archie admitted, his voice low and sincere, like the weight of his words had been sitting in his chest for far too long. He shifted slightly in the chair, still hugging the same pillow he had clung to the night before, the gesture childlike and vulnerable in a way few had ever seen from him. His eyes flickered toward Florence, not in search of judgment, but understanding—an anchor in the middle of the uncertainty spinning through his mind.


"My entire life, I hated being close with anyone—physically, at least," he continued. "Even as a child, I would shy away when people reached for me. I never liked it when anyone outside of my family touched me. It made my skin crawl, made my heart race, and not in the way it should." He paused, glancing down as if the words were too heavy to maintain eye contact. "But with you… I don’t mind. In fact, I think I want it. I want to be close to you. That’s new for me. Strange, even."


He exhaled, resting his cheek briefly against the pillow. “Is that how I’m supposed to feel? How should a husband feel?” he asked, more to the room than to her, like he was peeling back a layer of armor that had protected him for years. “Should I even be trying to feel like a husband yet? We’re practically strangers, tied together by ceremony and war, not time and love.” He looked up again, this time his gaze more steady. “So if that’s the case… what should a stranger feel?” There was no anger in his tone—just quiet confusion, the rawness of a man trying to make sense of the emotions that had begun to bloom despite the thorns left behind by a painful past.

 

[freakie]

Fiddling around with the ring as the words hit her slowly that he was still at war with himself and it resonated gently with her own feelings and she bit her lip some. She glanced at the covered before finally looking at him. They would have to face this together and she shouldn’t shy away from it.

“I wouldn’t be lying if I said I was sure of my feelings.”she replied and listened some. “I do not wish to push you..to make you feel like I don’t understand..”she fiddled with a small strand of sunkissd hair. Wrapping it around her finger as she tried to soothe herself. “Archibald..they are just another title. And when we stepped foot here we agreed to not be held to them. I am just Florence as you are just Archie.”she murmured some as she thought deeper into it “I never really missed anyone. Alive that is. I genuinely loved my solitude but with you here. This place. I’ve come to look for you in ever room I’m In.”she admitted

“We don’t have to act. We can simply take time. And if you wish to simply lay beside me. Or sleep separated we can. There is no timeframe..”she tried her best to reassure.

 

[Axty]

Archie sat still for a moment, lost in his thoughts, before slowly lowering his gaze and burying the bottom half of his face into the soft pillow he still clung to. His voice, quiet and somewhat muffled, broke the silence like a hesitant breeze slipping through a window left just barely ajar.


“I want to try,” he said softly. “To sleep in the same bed, I mean.”


There was a pause, long enough to let the vulnerability in his words settle into the space between them. He wasn’t asking to be comforted or reassured—just heard. Understood.


“But…” he added, his voice a little more fragile now, “if possible, could you please not try to touch me without warning?” The muffled tone carried the weight of a boy who’d spent years building barriers out of instinct, now cautiously letting one fall, brick by brick. His blue eyes peeked out just slightly over the pillow, searching not for pity, but simply for patience. It wasn’t rejection—it was trust, delicate and still forming.

 

[freakie]

The woman knew this would be the first of many hard talks between the two and it would either make them stronger or splinter them. She was a little surprise at the fact he wanted to. She nodded some gently as she glanced at their bed and it was big enough to leave a gap. “I understand”she murmured some as she yawned gently.

“How about. Any physical touch..you shall act on it. And I will not so that way you’re in control of your boundary..”she didn’t want to ask him and presssure him all the time so she felt like it was the easier option “we will leave space. If you want to use pillows then be my guest.” She slowly laid her head on the pillow as the candles almost burnt to their ends.

Laying her head on the pillow only let her body release the weight of today and earlier and she sunk in to the mattress trying to be comfortable. She hadn’t shared a bed either “goodnight. Husband”she said gently before she let her eyes close.

 

[Axty]

Archie gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, the kind that carried more weight than words could. He rose from the chair with slow, deliberate movements, as if each step toward the bed were unfamiliar terrain he was learning to walk for the first time.


Slipping under the covers, he settled on the edge of the mattress, intentionally leaving a respectful space between them. The quiet between them wasn’t uncomfortable—it was thoughtful, like a silent agreement to take things one breath at a time.


He lay on his back, eyes fixed on the ceiling for a moment before he turned slightly, positioning himself so his back faced Florence. The tension in his shoulders softened as his eyes closed, though his posture still held a hint of guarded caution. This wasn’t about fear or rejection—just a boy learning how to exist beside someone new. And in that quiet moment, under the weight of silence and soft candlelight, Archie began to let his walls down. Just a little.

 

[freakie]

As the night progressed Florence was still. She didn’t move too much and only rolled over occasionally. But as dawn broke her face started to twist slightly. A silent agony covered her as her breathing quickened.

Her mind replaying an old memory of childhood. When her and her brother used to share a room in the cold granite castle. They laid there still and asleep before loud noises were heard. The crashing of swords to metal and bone “No..”she said quiet. Urgent. Like a scream was trapped in her throat tightened by fear.

Shadows etched into their room. Both awake as they heard their guard slump and the door crack open like a whip. Men masked and daggers armed. Now they had simply been monsters in her mind. Morphed from age. Grabbing her by her hair as she cried “pl..please!”she whimpered some as the fire burned her scalp due to how high he held her up.
Her little body desperate to get to Nero to safety. But he was suffering the same. Daggers to their throats as she cried further and begged to live.

She couldn’t wake from it. Her body tensed and twisting before it went stiff with fear. She hadn’t had night terrors in a while but with all the recent stress it was plaguing her more. The girl seemed so strong and put together on the outside but she didn’t always show how deep the memories cut her

Small sobs and cries for help were muffled by her pillow.

 

[Axty]

Archie’s eyes fluttered open to the quiet sound of distress beside him. Even in the dim light of dawn, he could see the tension in Florence’s face, her brows knit tightly together, her breathing uneven and shallow. The sight struck something deep within him—a shared pain, an echo of his own haunted nights.


He sat up slowly, careful not to startle her, and leaned over, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Hey,” he whispered gently, trying not to sound panicked. “Hey, wake up. You’re just dreaming.” His voice was soft, patient, but despite his efforts, she remained trapped in whatever fear was holding her.


With hesitation giving way to instinct, he pulled her into a tight embrace, wrapping his arms around her protectively. His body curled around hers in a way that was unfamiliar but felt necessary. “Florence,” he murmured, his cheek resting against the top of her head, “you’re alright. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”


His heartbeat was steady, firm against her back, a quiet anchor in the storm.

 

[freakie]

Florence couldn’t feel anything for now as she tried to escape the darkness. Her body fighting it before it laid still. Frozen but her heart still thumped loudly and soon the darkness faded to a white light. Her mind puzzled as she couldn’t quite focus on it.

Florence.

You’re alright. You’re safe. I’ve got you.

The voice cut through her misery as her eyes opened wide at first in shock before she felt it all at once. His warmth and his arms keeping her still and pressed to him. His heart. She tried to focus in on it to anchor her and she buried her face closer to it with a small sniff.

She hadn’t meant to wake him or even show him. She hadn’t expected them to get so close and open so fast but in this moment she was glad he held her. Glad she could let herself feel weak and rely on him for such comfort. Gradually her breathed calmed and followed his rhythm.

“I…I’m so sorry Archie..”she murmured gently slightly muffled as she stayed pressed to his chest. “I didn’t mean to wake you..”she closed her eyes tight hoping to forget about it quickly.

 

[Axty]

Florence stirred gently in his arms, and Archie instinctively adjusted his hold, still protective, still warm. His voice was soft but steady, barely above a whisper as he brushed his thumb along her arm in slow, calming strokes.


"It's fine, I wake easy anyway," he said, offering her a small, reassuring smile despite the shadows still clinging to the edges of sleep. He didn’t want her to feel guilty for something beyond her control—if anything, it only made him feel closer to her. They shared more than a bed now. They shared the weight of sleepless nights.


He pulled back just enough to look at her, his expression gentle and sincere. "Are you sure you don't need anything? I could go get water?" There was a softness in his voice—concern without pressure, care without condition. It wasn’t just about offering comfort. It was about letting her know she didn’t have to face her ghosts alone.

 

[freakie]

As he adjusted she stayed calm and still in his embrace and just soaked in all the warmth from him and his voice. She breathed gently as she felt his touch on her arm. It was still in their room and nice and peaceful now that she was aware of her surroundings. She realised she mirrored his sleep the night before and she sighed “I guess we are both tormented souls…“She murmured softly being careful not to move since she didn’t want to spook him with unwarranted touch.

“I am fine…I will try to sleep again until it is actually light outside…“

As much as she enjoyed being so close to him like this she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable and she watched him as he spoke to her and faced her she felt finally seen for who she was and it was hard to imagine that they could do that. The power of a connection. “I’m ready to try again at that. Would you like me to move?“She asked softly. Not in a way to pressure him but she was seeking that reassurance to see if he wanted her close by and was ready.

(Should we skip a few days after they rest again? To when she is attacked and he gets hurt?)

 

[Axty]

(Sure we can start at the beginning of that day, want me to right the skip?)

 

[freakie]

Yes please))