=== Timerra & Merrin === --- C --- [Merrin] ... [Timerra] Hey, Merrin! You look like you're lost in thought. [Merrin] Ah. You could say that, Princess Timerra. [Timerra] Well? What's on your mind? [Merrin] I was thinking about why I left my village. [Timerra] Ah, yeah. You didn't want to become the next village matriarch. [Merrin] Yes, that's right. [Merrin] It was decided I had to take my mother's place, but I had always dreamed of being a knight. [Merrin] The whole thing was...unreasonable. So I left. [Timerra] You were a free spirit, even back then. [Merrin] I wouldn't call myself a free spirit. Not really. [Merrin] But after traveling on my own for a while, roaming with nowhere to go... [Merrin] I met a fearless woman riding on a wolf. Now she was a free spirit. [Timerra] Hehe! Who, me? [Merrin] "Free spirit" may not even cover it. You took on an entire gang of bandits by yourself. [Timerra] And out of nowhere, you charged in to help. I'll never forget that day. [Merrin] Neither will I. [Merrin] I didn't realize it then, but...that chance encounter would change my life. --- B --- [Timerra] Y'know, sitting with you by a toasty fire...it feels just like the good old days. [Merrin] Yes. We shared many a night like this after that first encounter─our scuffle with the bandits. [Merrin] Back when we were just a couple of travelers roving the queendom together. [Merrin] At the time, of course, I had no idea my princess was actually a princess. [Timerra] You never asked. Honestly, I assumed you'd piece it together. [Merrin] Listen, Princess Timerra. [Merrin] Most royals don't sneak out of their castles to rain justice on unsuspecting bandits. [Timerra] Yeah, well. I'm not most royals. [Merrin] Haha, no argument there. [Merrin] But really. Do you remember how shocked I was to learn that you were the princess of Solm? [Merrin] I had just gotten through telling you...basically my whole life story. [Merrin] How I had always dreamed of becoming a knight, but my lineage made it impossible. [Merrin] I told you that was the reason I ran away from home. [Merrin] And then, you... [Timerra] I asked if you really, truly wanted to be a knight. [Merrin] And I said, "Yes. With my whole heart, yes." [Merrin] You placed your sword on my shoulders, one after the other, and said... [Timerra] "I hereby deem thee a knight of the queendom." [Merrin] And I laughed! I thought it was all in fun. [Merrin] But you weren't laughing, my princess. You were looking at me like you meant it. --- A --- [Merrin] I'll never forget the look on your face when you knighted me. So serious. [Timerra] Well, yeah! I was dead set on it. [Timerra] After all our time on the road together, I could see what a good person you were. [Timerra] I'd have been crazy not to pin you down as soon as I could. [Merrin] Hahaha, my princess. You flatter me. [Merrin] Though I do wish you had revealed your identity beforehand... [Timerra] This again! It just slipped my mind, that's all. I told you right after, didn't I? [Timerra] We even went to your village together. [Merrin] Yes, that's true. [Merrin] The way you bowed your head before my mother, the village matriarch... [Merrin] And then boldly asked if she'd give the knighting her blessing. [Merrin] I've never seen her so shocked. But she agreed on the condition that I return to lead one day. [Timerra] Your mother's a good woman. She could tell our hearts were set on it. [Merrin] Haha. [Merrin] From then on, I was yours. [Merrin] That was the day the clouds opened and my life filled with sunlight. [Timerra] And you called me a flatterer. [Merrin] So help me, your radiant luster will never dim. [Merrin] That, my princess, is why I devote myself wholly to your service. [Timerra] Thank you, Merrin. [Timerra] I hope you'll stay at my side, now and forever. My knight in shining armor. My friend. --- S ---