Chapter Text
Aryna rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She should have known Paula is not that easy. When has she ever been?
Aryna starts to slowly gather her belongings and notes and places them in the folder they are supposed to be in. She considers just going into the tent and seeing what Paula would say, it is Aryna’s tent after all, but Aryna decides against it. She is not giving into Paula that easily, that would just feed her ego, which is the last thing Paula needs. Instead, Aryna decides to get some tasks done around the camp. It is always good to be seen to keep the work moral among the soldiers high and their beliefs in the mission up.
Aryna even makes her way to the medical tent. She wants to see what Paula meant when she talked about these two. She finds the two men holding each other close in their arms.
Aryna steps into the tent and looks at them for a while until they notice her. The one with dark hair sits up and straight and tightly wraps his arms around the ginger one. He seems to be protecting him.
“Hello” The dark haired guy then says quietly.
Aryna smiles slightly. “Hello” She says too. So far she has no reason not to trust the other guys, but she wants to make absolutely sure.
“I … I am Carlos and that is … Jannik” The guy, Carlos says. Jannik is very quiet in his arms, Aryns is not even sure if he is awake.
“I am Aryna.” Aryna then answers.
Carlos nervously nods and licks his lips. “I … thanks for taking us in” He then says with a gentle smile.
“As long as you're peaceful I take everyone in.” Aryna answers. Her camp is open for everyone who is peaceful and open to her mission. Then for a millisecond, Aryna twists her wrist to slow down time. She can do that without making the skies go dark if she wants too. It is just the three of them inside the tent, so the slow down of time can easily go unnoticed by the two men. Aryna watches them closely, while the ginger one, Jannik, seems to be frozen, Carlos answers her normally: “We are no danger.”
Aryna just nods, not trying to show any obvious reaction, but what is more important right now is that Paula was right. Carlos does have powers, he does not seem affected by Aryna’s behaviour at all.
“Where are you from?” Aryna asks and lets the time speed up again, before Carlos notices. Aryna has to be in control and she needs to make sure that whoever these two men are, they are not spies from Velmaria.
“Small villages, I am sure you have not heard of them” Carlos whispers. “They were in … they used to belong to Noctys.” Carlos then says. His eyes fill with tears and maybe also memories. “But … you know what happened and … we both ended up in the ownership of the lord.” Carlos explains. Jannik, who seems to be half asleep, whines and clinches to Carlos when he hears these words. Carlos immediately looks at him and gently runs a hand through Jannik’s hair, rocking him back and forth in his arms.
“So you fled” Aryna points out.
Carlos nervously chews on his bottom lip but he nods. “Yes” he whispers. He looks down at Jannik in his arms. “Please don’t send us back.” He then begs. His eyes are teary as he meets Aryna’s. “Please” He repeats.
“I won’t” Aryna says. “If you are honest with me.” She adds. She considers herself fair to everyone, as long as these people do not abuse her kindness.
“I will, I promise. I … we can work, we are both good workers and we don’t demand much, just don’t send us back.” Carlos says quickly. “I can work as a blacksmith, I used to do this back at home. But I can also do any other labour and … Jannik is stronger than he looks.”
“What is your power?” Aryna asks instead of answering to what Carlos’ said. Carlos should not be the one who decides in what direction this conversation goes.
“What?” Carlos asks, surprised.
“You have powers, what are they?” Aryna clarifies. Maybe Carlos does not realize Aryna knows, but it should be clear that he has no advantage over her.
“I …” Carlos clears his throat. Then he lifts his hand, Aryna feels a cold shudder against her skin as very suddenly a necklace she has been wearing slips from her neck. It just hangs in the air, before it slides through it to Carlos. Carlos turns his fingers and slowly makes the metal of the necklace change shape, wrap around his fingers and then go back to its original shape. Carlos picks the necklace out of the air and then smiles.
“You control metal?” Aryna wants to know. She has not met someone with that power before.
“Yes” Carlos says. “I … like I used to work as a blacksmith, it runs in my family.” He explains.
“Mmh” Aryna makes. Her hand moves to her dagger and she realizes that they are surronded by metal weapons and even if they were not, Carlos could form a weapon out of any metal. Her dager is no use to her. Carlos could take her out in a heartbeat. “Why did not you … use your powers to fight us?” Aryna asks and raises an eyebrow.
“What?” Carlos wants to know.
“If you can control metal, you could control everyone.” Aryna explains. “You could have taken us all out with a coin”
“I am not looking for any trouble or … fights. I just … Jannik and I just want to live in peace. I don’t care about power.” Carlos explains. “I would never use my powers for something. I just want to protect Jannik and build a life for us.” He says and his eyes fix on the redhead in his arms again.
“Why did not you use your powers to escape then? Why were you both injured?” Aryna asks next. Even though Carlos seems honest, she needs to be 100% sure and know all details. If he can control metal, why did he never manage to escape or kill the lord?
“I can … I can only control a certain amount of metal and … my powers only works when … they put me in special cuffs, ones created with posion, to make sure I could not make use of my powers.” Carlos whispers. Aryna looks at his wrists, even though his arms are wrapped around Jannik. She can some bloody wounds.
Aryna nods to herself. She has heard of people whose powers could be controlled by certain other tools or poisons. Maybe that could happen with hers too, Aryna is not sure. Usually powers that are drained from the earth could be controlled in certain ways. Andrey’s powers could never be controlled and if anyone tried, he would know beforehand anyways. Only someone with equally strong powers could control Andrey and maybe surprise him. However, the fact that Carlos did not use his powers in any way since he has been here, seems proof enough that he is no danger and he and Jannik can stay.
“You will have to pass a conversation with my first general Andrey, but if he says you are clean you can stay.” Aryna says. She can only see what other people tell hre, but Andrey can see inside their minds. He will be able to tell if Jannik and Carlos can stay or are a risk.
“Thank you” Carlos exclaims happily and a big smile forms on his face.
Aryna just nods and makes her way to the door again. She has spent enough time with these two and she does not want to be without Paula any longer.
“Wait” Carlos quickly says.
Aryna turns back around and looks at the other man. “Yes?” She asks.
“Who are you?” Carlos whispers nervously. “This camp is big, so many people follow you and I … I have never even heard of this … whatever this is”
“The rightful queen of Noctys” Aryna says with a smile and then leaves the tent.
Aryna thinks that she has given Paula enough time for her bath and also has given herself enough time to keep Paula waiting. So, she decides to walk back to her tent. Who knows what Paula and her can be up to tonight.
When Aryna comes back to the tent, there is some sort of makeshift curtain separating the bathing area from the rest of the tent. Aryna frowns, she doesn't even know where Paula found the material for that or why she put that up. She was completely naked in front of Aryna like 5 hours ago.
“What is the curtain for?” Aryna asks. She kicks her uniform boots off and sits down on the bed. “Are you ready?” Paula just asks in return.
“For what?” Aryna wants to know. Another one of Paula’s weird deals?!
“Just say yes or no” Paula demands and Aryna can imagien how she is rolling her eyes right now.
Aryna sighs. “Fine” She says. “I am ready” She adds. In the end, Paula would not let it go until Aryna says “yes” anyways.
Paula pulls the curtain away and smiles at Aryna. She is wearing a nightgown which Aryna has never seen before. It is white and made out of lace and see through material, hugging her curves in the right places and showing off a lot of naked skin at the same time. Paula’s hair falls freshly washed and in slight curls over her shoulders. Her skin is smooth looking, her lips slightly red. Who knows where Paula found the color for that?
She looks amazing and Aryna is pretty sure she knows it. Paula places her hand on her hip and grins. “How do you like it?” She then asks casually. The fire in the middle of the tent is casting a lovely glow on her whole body.
Aryna swallows and lets her eyes wander over Paula’s body again. That nightgown looks sinful on her and at the same time Aryna just wants to rip it off of her.
“Cat got your tongue?” Paula wants to know teasingly and slowly walks over to Aryna. The dress swings around her hips and the closer she gets, the more Aryna can see.
“No” Aryna says. “I like it” She places her hands on Paula’s hips and looks up at her. “I like it a lot” She clarifies. From this perspective Aryna can see up close just how perfectly the sheer material hugs Paula’s body, how the lace softly stretches over her breasts. Perhaps the fact that she was raised to be the perfect trophy does pay off.
aula smiles, she shifts closer and then slides into Aryna’s lap. “I guessed so” She whispers and places her hair over her shoulder. Afterwards Paula leans in and kisses Aryna’s neck. Again, Aryna is pretty sure she has done that before and Aryna is filled with the urge to figure out who the lucky person was.
Aryna closes her eyes and lets her hand wander over Paula’s body. Paula’s lips against her neck feel soft and ticklish, probably leaving a trace of red behind. She should not be the one in control, that was never the plan and yet Paula is. She is in control and leaving obvious traces of it on Aryna.
“Paula” Aryna gasps when Paula’s mouth travels even further and gently touches her skin. She is a idiot for interuptting something like that, but Aryna just has to ask a question. Sh needs to be clear on one thing.
“What?” Paula wants to know with a smile and pulls back a little.
“Have you ever?” Aryna wants to know and raises her eyebrows at the blonde girl.
Paula looks back at her and draws her eyebrows together. “What?” She wants to know.
“Have you had sex with someone?” Aryna clearifies her question. Paula does seem experienced but who knows how far she has gone?
Paula starts to laugh and runs her fingers through Aryna’s hair. “Oh my dear” She says. “You think I have never been with someone?” She then asks and grins.
“I … I mean” Aryna starts. Yes, she had thought Paula never had been with someone, at least not as close as having sex. Paula just … seemed like a sweet innocent princess who has always been kept in her little golden cage. She is promised to someone else after all, Aryna doubted that her father would allow her to be with someone!
Paula grins and bites her lips. “I have been with someone” She then says, which does take Aryna by surprise.
“Really?” She wants to know. Maybe Paula is just mocking her again, Aryna would not be surprised.
“I used to have an affair with my old maid.” Paula explains and shrugs her shoulders.
Aryna starts to laugh and shakes her head. “You had?” She asks, unsure if she should actually believe it. Paula and an affair … well, she certainly knows she is sexy and also knows how to use her own body to get what she wants. So maybe Aryna should not be surprised by that after all. But … Aryna remember sthat Andrey told her Paula was travling with a maid or something when they kidnapped her. A thought forms in Aryna’s head, one she does not like but needs clarification on.
“Oh yes” Paula says at the same moment. Aryna does not like the little smirk she has on her face while she says that.
“Wait … did you still have this affair with her when … when you came here?” Aryna wants to know and takes her hands off of Paula’s hips. If the answer is yes than all of that is just a game, a trick Paula has been playing on Aryna.
“No, she stopped being my maid eventually and so our affair stopped too” Paula explains. One of the straps of her nightgown is sliding off her shoulder and is revealing more and more seducing skin. After Aryna has heard that she knows all she needs to. She suddenly grabs Paula by the hips and manhandels her around so she is lying on her back with Aryna over her.
“Do you think this is the proper behaviour for a princess?” Aryna wants to know.
Paula looks up to her and bites her lip. “What are you gonna do about it?”