Crossing the Broad Border

 Marie had tried to go and sleep in a ball next to a campfire, but I refused to let her.

“If you don’t have a place to sleep, then you’ll sleep with me,” I insisted.

And before you say anything weird, it wasn’t like that. I was close to her, but the more time that passed, the more she felt like a sister to me. I didn’t want her to have to languish outside in the cold with those gruff knights. There was plenty room in the camper-carriage with me. Besides, her presence helped me feel far safer.

Though she made a surprised face, she didn’t speak out against the idea. Perhaps a similar situation had occurred between us in the past.

The next morning, I awoke to an increasingly familiar weight on my chest and a nest of hair around my head. Today, however, I also felt something in my hand. It was another hand.

Did I… grab Marie’s hand in the night? That’s a little embarrassing.

Marie’s soft breath told me she was still asleep. I gently tried to let go of her hand. As I released my grip, however, she squeezed back tightly. I hadn’t really considered it much at all, but she must have had a horrendous day yesterday, too.

Ah, well, what’s five more minutes? The sun’s barely up, anyways.

And I returned to the realm of dreams.

The next time I awoke, Marie was nowhere to be found. I leaned up and rubbed my eyes. With the morning well underway, the caravan was packing everything up and preparing to set off. Diana and Finley both helped stamp out fires, roll up beds, and saddle the horses. They really aren’t so bad.

I didn’t see Margot anywhere. Huh. Where’d she go? But before I could wonder any longer, a knock came at the cabin door.

I was still groggy. “Yes?”

“Your Highness, would you like breakfast?”

“Oh, yes, Marie! Thank you!” The promise of breakfast kicked me into gear. I opened the door to let her in.

“I’ve prepared a fresh dress for you as well. Then you may eat.”

“Okayyyyy,” I sighed.

Marie helped me get changed in the privacy of the carriage, then fetched a plate of a few breads and meats. I was particularly partial to the croissants — somehow without a hint of stale-ness despite being on the road with us, I presumed. Unless Marie literally went and made these this morning. But that’s impossible… Right?

Croissants resting in my belly, I got out of the carriage so Marie could transform it back into a road-ready vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the Imperial royals, Sir Robert, and the two maids — Hey, when did Margot get back? — climbed back inside with me, and we got back on the road.

Today’s trip was supposed to be longer, a solid eight hours to our destination. I wish I could tell you about the beautiful landscape as the dense canopy thinned out and let sunlight stream through on our approach to the border, but I fell asleep against the window the minute we started moving. Yesterday had really worn me out. Seeing monsters crawl out of the depths of hell will do that to you, I guess.

Marie (bless her) gently nudged me awake when we got to the border. A guard post stood between us and Andraste, blocking the road ahead. One guard leisurely approached us for a routine inspection.

His face changed the second he glanced in the window, seeing Diana and Finley in the carriage with me. Suddenly, he snapped to attention, eyes wide, straightening his back.

With the door open to let the two out (thanks, Marie), the royal twins disembarked temporarily to give the man a rundown of the situation. Sir Robert and Margot stepped off, as well, to verify that the carriage actually was from the Kingdom. I listened from inside.

“Ser Diana! And Master Finley! I- I- I didn’t know you’d be- I apologize for-”
“Altaich, soldier. It’s not an issue,” Diana eased him.

“Did Duncan not tell you we’d come through?” Finley asked.

The guard looked away. “Ah, um. Well, yes, he may have, but-”

“Alright, alright, I understand,” Diana sighed. “We crossed over two days ago to find Princess Lumineuse. They sent her though without knowing about the dubhgheadas.” She shook her head.

Literally what on earth is she saying?

The bashful guard peered into the carriage. “Hello, Your Highness.”

I gave a small wave and smiled.

“If that will be all, then,” Sir Robert interjected, “we’ve still a long ways to go, I believe.”

“Right, sorry about that. We’ll check over everything and let you on your way.” The guard jogged back over to the tower and returned with a few other men and a ledger of some sort. The group, as promised, took a quick look at our carriages and asked Sir Robert and Margot for a list of cargo, which they supplied. Yes, yes. Three bushels of wheat, seven days rations, eight bottles of wine, and one princess. All accounted for. Shortly thereafter, we were back on the road, apparently now in Andraste.

“So, do you feel any different now, princess?” Diana grinned at me.

“How so?”

“Well, you’re on Andrastian soil now. Surely the abundance of pure vitality throughout the land is much more rejuvenating than-” She was stopped by a gentle bonk on the head from her brother.

“You never know when to keep it shut, do you, sister?”

These two were a veritable comedy duo.

I spent the next while looking out the window, watching the forest grow thinner and thinner until we were surrounded by grasslands.

The rest of the carriage ride proceeded without issue.

What? It’s a road trip, you want me to regale you with the details of every bump in the road? Give me a break. Let’s get to the good stuff.

After some hours on the road (I wasn’t counting — no watch), we arrived at the city gates. If I had been looking out the window before, I was basically glued to it now. I wanna soak in every detail.

But I was unimpressed by the capital. Modest in size, sandstone bricks made up both the streets and the buildings, none of which looked larger than two stories tall. I guess engineering is hard in a fantasy world, I dejectedly thought.

My imagination had led me to believe the city we were going to was a sprawling medieval fantasy metropolis, lively and vibrant. This place, however, was almost barren. The wide streets rarely gave way to any interesting shops, and people simply trudged about. Everyday life isn’t as exciting as being a princess. Still, I would have loved to have seen some magic. Not a single blue glow graced my eyes during our journey through the town.

Moreover, I didn’t spy any place that looked even remotely festival-like. Maybe my idea of a festival is skewed. Could mean something completely different here.

“Umm, Finley? Diana?” They turned their attention to me. “There’s supposed to be a festival happening, right?”

Diana looked puzzled. “Uh, yes, why?”

“Where is it?”

She remained confused. “In the capital?”

“...Huh?”

“Huh?”

Finley interjected, Diana and I both looking at each other in bewilderment, “Princess, do you perhaps think that this is the capital?”

I shied back. “Is it not? You said that’s where we were headed.”

He covered his mouth with his hand in a quiet chuckle. “Ah, no. This is merely another stop along the way. A small town called Nemasus. We’ve still got another day to go. Besides,” he looked out the window, “the festival starts in three days. We’ve plenty of time.”

So this little municipality isn’t our final destination. Maybe I’ll get to see more magic yet.

“Do the people here know you two?” I asked.

Finley nodded with a smile. “We try to put our best faces forward, of course.”

Diana, however, wore a darker expression, muttering, “They love this one, in fact.”

He sighed. “Not now, Diana. Not in front of the princess.”

She raised her hands. “I yield.” In an instant, her demeanor shifted back to the jovial one I had grown accustomed to. “How far away are we from the lodging, anyways?”

As if on cue, the carriage stopped.

Finley glanced out the window. “I’d say we’re just about there.”

That night, we stayed in a humble inn, the tallest building in town (a staggering three stories!). The middle-aged owner was ecstatic to see us, practically bending himself over backwards to ensure the best experience possible. He seemed especially diligent to give Finley the VIP treatment, even offering his own bedroom up for him. Finley gently refused. The guests in the dining hall all smiled when they saw the twins, raising their glasses in respect or bowing as we passed by.

While it wasn’t anywhere near as comfortable as the royal bed I had spent my first night in, I was still very much thankful to doze off surrounded by four stable walls and a roof, on a platform that was meant first and foremost for sleeping.