Finley and Diana, Twins

“How about you introduce yourselves before laying any claims, hm?” Marie stepped forward, putting an arm in front of me for protection.

“Right, of course, how rude of us,” the man said. “We apologize for that.” He paused, as if waiting for something. When that something didn’t happen, he elbowed the woman next to him.

“Oh, yes. Sorry!” the woman said, snapping to attention.

In unison, they spoke as they bowed, “High Scholar Finley Caestra and Captain Diana Caestra, Crown Prince and Princess of the Andraste Empire, at your service.”

Oh, they’re siblings. Interesting, I thought. Then the realization hit me.

Wait, Prince and Princess?! Why are big shots like them out here?

“Ahem. I would like to have a conversation with the two of you. When you’re ready, and finished with all of that,” I gestured to the corpses, “please come to me.”

“Sure. Give us a moment to finish cleaning up,” Finley said before turning back to the corpse at his feet and performing his magic once more.

While they finished, I began to shuffle over to Sir Robert, who was resting against a tree, catching his breath. Marie brushed my arm, grabbing my attention. She silently pointed down at my feet.

I looked down. Dry dirt clung to the hem of my dress, marking it with a tan ombre. Oh. I guess I just… I bunched a few inches of fabric in my hands, hiking it up ever so slightly to take it off the earthen forest floor. Is that why princesses always carry their dresses when they run? Huh. We continued over to Sir Robert.

“Sir Robert.”

“Your Highness.” He leaned forward in a quick bow.

“Are you alright? I saw you got hit by that thing.”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but it wasn’t deep. I’m tending to it now.”

From a pouch on his waist, he pulled a small wrap of bandage.

“Will that be enough?”

“Enough?” He seemed confused. “My Lady, this is the best we’ve got. I certainly hope it’s enough.” He chuckled.

I waited a moment.

“Sir Robert, what were those things?”

His face darkened. “Scourge. A fine lady such as yourself should never have to be this close to them.”

“How on earth does-”

“Hello!” A woman’s voice interrupted me. I turned around. Diana stood next to her brother, the two of whom had made their way over to us. The monster corpses were gone. In their place, behind the siblings, were piles of fresh soil and dirt.

“Diana, must I keep reminding you to stop interrupting people?” Finley sighed.

“She told us to come to her. So we did.”

“I apologize for my oblivious twin sister.” He noticed Sir Robert against the tree, clutching his abdomen. “Ah, let me.”

Whoa, they’re twins? That’s cool.

Before the knight could protest, Finley knelt down and held out his hand. A ring on his finger began to glow — but this time, the light that emanated out was a fiery orange.

Sir Robert began to complain, “He- Hey! Sto- Oohhh… Ah…” He relaxed back against the tree as the spot where his armor had been punctured began to glow in the same orange as the ring. I watched as the wound closed. Magic for healing, too? It wasn’t back to normal by any stretch of the imagination, but the hole in his stomach looked like it had been opened a few days ago rather than minutes.

“That won’t do it completely, but it should help with the worst of it.”

Sir Robert growled, “I didn’t ask for you to use that mauvais on me. Don’t do it again. I can heal just fine on my own.”

“You Lumineusians and your taboos,” Diana tutted, “Was that battle not proof enough?”

“Keen on adding insult to the injury, eh?” Sir Robert began to get up. “I’ll show you proof-”

Marie intervened. “Right, thank you very much for the help, Prince Finley. Sir Robert, you ought to stay here and rest. We’ll talk with them by the carriage.” She bowed. Man, she’s good.

As we walked back to the main vehicle (I was careful to keep my dress off the ground, for the record), the unharmed knights were beginning to clean up and preparing to get back on the road. Ahead, a few lifted one of the smaller carriages while two more reattached a wheel. Others emerged from the woods with frightened horses in tow, fetching the ones that had been spooked and run off.

Marie opened the carriage door for me. I thanked her and climbed back inside.

“Please, come inside,” Marie invited the siblings in. They obliged.

Oh no. Margot’s still here.

My grumpier maid stared daggers at Finley and Diana as they sat down next to her, across from me. Jeez, chill, Margot. God.

In the light of the carriage, I finally got a good look at the two of them. Their outfits were diametrically opposite to one another in design. Finley donned a puffy-sleeved cream-colored doublet, a brown poet-sleeve shirt beneath, and a soft leather cuirass over everything. He had thick pants and high leather boots. The whole outfit was cohesive, color-wise — even the cuirass was stained in eggshell white. Shades of a pleasant blue in the accessories and linings adorned it all. Now that is some excellent fashion.

Diana, on the other hand, was in a full suit of armor. Covered in nicks and scratches, the silver metal followed the contours of her body, even the curves of her chest, as if to emphasize that she was, in fact, a woman. Each piece was finely engraved, with grooves painted in blue in designs I had trouble making out. A thick cloth sash in the same color as Finley’s cream shirt hung from her shoulder down to the opposite waist. The hip plates over her legs made it almost look like she was wearing a dress made of pure metal. Wait, why is she the knight?

As for their faces, their bone structures matched one another's perfectly. They both had dark red-brown hair; while Finley’s was only a few inches long, Diana’s hair extended down to her chest in a loose braid. Man, she’s pretty. Their pale skin illustrated their converse roles. Diana’s skin was rough, battle-worn; Finley’s skin was soft and cared for. He had a slight scruff of red-brown facial hair. I lingered on his face for a moment. Hmm. He’s kind of handsome, too. O-Objectively, of course! I’m not into men, but I can recognize when there’s an attractive one in front of me.

Diana spoke up, “Did you want to have a conversation or just ogle us?”

I snapped out of my reverie with a sheepish smile. “Sorry! I’ve never seen anyone like you two before.”

“It’s fine. I can’t say I’ve ever seen anyone like you before either — you’re beautiful. It’s lovely to finally meet you, princess,” Finley smiled.

I felt my cheeks heat up. Beautiful?

“A-Anyway, why are the two of you here? You said you’re the heirs to the Empire?”

“You don’t know us?” Diana asked.

I shook my head.

She seemed disappointed. “Hm. Well, Father told us that King Lumineuse was going to have someone important visit the capital for the Dawn of Spring, coming through the Cernnos Woods. It seems you all didn’t know about the recent outbreak here, huh? This forest isn’t safe anymore.” Diana leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees.

“The outbreak… of the Scourge thingy?”

“Correct.”

“And wh-” I stopped myself before asking the question, remembering Margot was also here. I don’t want her knowing I’m completely out of my depth, too. Not with how she keeps glaring at me. “Ahem. And why did the outbreak mean you had to come?”

“You don’t see it? Lumineusians don’t use magic. You wouldn’t be able to handle an attack with just caravan knights. You’d need one of those special regiments you all train,” Finley jumped in.

Diana grinned. “So we decided to meet the delegation early. And a good thing, too! You would’ve been bear food by now.”

A knock rapped against the carriage window.

“Your Highness, we’re all ready to continue. We’re only an hour or so from Cernnos Village. We should be safe there,” Sir Robert announced.

“Very well. Then get back in, and let’s get goi-”

“Hey, that’s not going to work,” Diana interrupted.

She really does like to interrupt people.

“Hmm? And why might that be?”

“Because we came from the village. Or, rather, what remains of it.”

“Huh?”

“It’s gone, princess. It’s been destroyed. We’re on our own out here tonight.”