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By Pristine_Pencil 20/03/2025 10 views 6.17 KB Text (Quill+ Format)
You have just completed the daring rescue of a princess from a dragon... almost. The beast chased you here, to a series of caves, and clawed you in the side for good measure, but you should be safe here for now. Your princess tends to your wounds and insists you get the rest you need and deserve for such a heroic act.
[Two sets of running steps on a wet rocky floor. The metal clank of armor. The sounds of movement and panting breath is echoed sharply off close, rocky walls, and down long caverns.]
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(Out of breath) I don’t think… I don’t think it’ll be able to get down this cavern. Too small. We should be safe here, for now. Can’t stay here forever, of course, but I think we both could use a rest before we continue. Does that make sense to you?
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[There is a clatter of armor, as if the wearer has staggered and crashed against a wall.]
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What..!? Are you all right?
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(Indignant) Just a scratch? Give me your torch. Let me see.
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(She gasps) Your cuisse is all red with blood! That’s more than a scratch.
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[The sound of fabric tearing]
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My skirts are better used for bandages than protecting my modesty right now, good knight. Without you alive, I’ll be left a modest corpse in this cave. I’d rather be scandalously underdressed, but alive, thank you.
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Looks like his claws caught you between chestplate and backplate. Here, I’m just going to unbuckle you…
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[The sounds of leather and buckles as the armor is undone]
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(She hisses in sympathy as she catches a glimpse) It should be sutured, but I certainly don’t have my sewing things. (She chuckles darkly) I’ll just bind it as tight as I can… and pray, I suppose. I’m hoping if we take time to rest it will clot enough that we can move on without aggravating the wound further.
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(She takes a breath, girding herself.) All right, grit your teeth. This won’t feel good. (She grunts with exertion as she wraps his chest in strips of cloth from her skirts and pulls them tight and ties them off)
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(soothing) There, it’s all over. I’m all done for now. I’ll add another layer later if the blood soaks through too much.
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(She laughs brightly) Oh, sir. If women passed out whenever we saw blood, we wouldn’t get very much done at all. Still, I could not have rescued myself from that… dragon? Was that actually a dragon?
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(She swallows, audibly) Thank you. I’d be dead without you. And I will be still, if you don’t survive. Here, put your head down on my lap and rest.
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Oh yes, quite improper, but your honor is known throughout the lands. I’ve no fear of you taking advantage. And the least I can provide after you saved my life is a soft place to rest your head for a few hours, surely.
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[A little clanking of metal from the remaining bits of his armor as he lays down next to her]
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(Her voice is quiet and soothing now, trying to ease him to sleep) There. Be at rest, good Sir Knight. You have done daring deeds on this day, and you’ve no need for your armor at the moment.
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I’ll keep what watch I can through the light of the torch, and I promise to wake you should I see anything of concern, but for now, my concern is you. I don’t think we’ll get far on the morrow if you don’t actually sleep now.
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So… let your heart slow. Breathe deeply and relax, as I run my fingers through your hair and soothe your brow. You have been the epitome of selfless heroism, and you have earned a righteous slumber. When you wake, I’ve no doubt we’ll find our way safely from these caves and you will earn yourself a hero’s greeting in my kingdom.
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It’s a lovely place, have you spent much time there? All green rolling hills and gentle curving rivers. Fluffy sheep in the meadows, and fluffy clouds in the blue, blue sky. Golden fields of grain that look like they go on forever. I would love to show it to you.
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I’m sure my father, the king, would grant you a boon, should you ask it. A little plot of land by a bend in the river, a comfortable home… it could be a nice place to hang up your armor, on a rest, or permanently when you retire.
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You must think I’m silly talking of a home when I live in a castle, but… I think everyone needs a space that is just theirs. At least a room of one’s own. A place to be themselves, away from the gaze of propriety or duty or anything else that is imposed upon us. Don’t you think? It makes behaving as you should the rest of the time possible, I think. A little rest from the world.
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No, you’re fine. Your head isn’t heavy at all. I can sit here all night, quite content. Your hair is quite soft, you know. It’s not quite like petting my cat, but it’s still very soothing, if you don’t mind. Are you in much pain?
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Good. I’ll try to keep you from moving too much in your sleep, just in case. You seem much more relaxed now. Jaw and shoulders at ease, brow not furrowed. Breaths slow and deep. Eyes going heavy lidded. That’s good. That’s just as it should be. Everything is alright for the moment and *will* be alright. Rest, my brave knight.