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#thirain x reader
loopylou0a0 · 1 year
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Just one dance
Since it's so hard to find any fics for Lost ark characters I like I figured I’ll just have to go and make one myself.
This is a one-shot scenario I’ve been thinking of lately so hopefully it works out well.
Feel free to change anything character wise in your head to suit you or your oc since I’m basing the MC as my insert/character, though I will try to keep it as neutral as possible.
Be aware, I’ve only just started playing again after quite a few months of having no time for the game and am only just nearing the end of the Rohendal quest line so if things don’t look cannon to the story it’s because I’m not there yet.
This is a Thirain x Reader/oc fic with a lot of mutual pining since we all know our boy is allergic to saying how he truly feels.
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The day the invite arrived you were simply sailing, setting off from a small adventure on Lagoon island. The hawk you had trained as a messenger was spotted in the distance as you watched the horizon trying to gather your thoughts, it had been a long time since you'd started searching for the arks and though you had now acquired four of the seven it still felt as though there were more problems arising than solutions. There was still no trace of Armen, your heart ached for the person you called a close friend, a companion you had once envisioned finding all the arks with had gone with that demon and had not been seen since. The memories of that day on the cliff were clear in your mind, reminding you how you and Thirain tried to stop him from walking through the portal but it was too late. There were just so many regrets from that day. Before your thoughts could spiral any further the site of a lone bird caught your attention and the faint traces of your magic was felt.
When the bird got close enough you raised an arm up and the small friend landed, chirping a greeting to you after not seeing you in some days. Giving him a snack you carefully untied the letter attached to him before gently moving him to the ballast of the ship. Without having to check you knew who the letter would be from, Thirain, the only person that would often communicate with you through your little messenger system and the one person you would keep in touch with most during your travels. It had been some days since you sent over your most recent letter updating Thirain of how your journey was going, having promised to do so before leaving the land of Luterra. Opening the letter you read its contents.
{ (Name), my dear knight.
I am glad to hear that you have been in good spirits as of late and that your mission to collect all the arks is going well even with the interference of the demon commanders.
I pray that when you do face the enemy that you will come back unharmed and please do not do anything too reckless in the quest for the arks.
I have been counting the days to hear from you again since your last letter, which felt so long ago. 
Things here have been fine. There is still much to do to rebuild Luterra and to strengthen our defenses from any other possible attacks by the demons, since with you on the seas visiting other lands has left us much weaker than even I would like to admit but we all know that you are needed elsewhere, even if all the citizens of my kingdom miss your presence greatly.
As much as I wish to continue writing about the most recent events that have happened here in the castle, I am hoping that you will be able to hear it all in person soon.
A ball will be held here in the castle on the eve of the harvest moon to celebrate all that Luterra has accomplished since the Kingdom of Knights was reclaimed from Scherrit’s and the demon's hands.
Since you were the main reason for our victory it would be truly devastating if you were not here to celebrate alongside us all.
I know your journeys have taken you far and have kept you busy but I do hope you will be able to attend. 
I don’t think I could possibly enjoy the celebrations without you here with me.
I wish you well until we next speak.
Your friend,
-Thirain}
Once you finished reading the letter you softly smiled, happy to know everything seemed well back in the land you left so long ago. However, the invite to the ball was something you felt you needed to think more on. You knew you would have more than enough time to sail back to Luterra in time to attend and see everyone you missed but could you risk taking a detoured stop to attend or would the next ark be claimed by the demons in that time? You needed to think a little more on this.
It was some time later and you had docked, ultimately having decided that returning to Luterra and joining in with the festivities would do you some good after all the troubling sights you had seen during the last few adventures you’d been on. Totally not because you couldn’t say no to Thirain’s request even if it was only through a letter. 
The trek from the docks back to Luterra castle was refreshing, some things still needed a lot of work to recover from the demon attacks and monsters were still lurking near villages in great numbers but the people looked more hopeful. It was only when you’d step through the gate at the entrance of the Dyorka Plain that you noticed how busy it was, there were lots of people on the streets and more knights patrolling, since there was only a day left until the ball, the final preparations were being dealt with. “The Kings Knight!” “The Kings Knight has returned.” “She’s back” “She must be here for the ball.” Whispers came from all around as knights, merchants and civilians alike took note of the presence of you walking towards the palace.
Luck was on your side though, as the gossip of your return had yet to reach the king's ears so when you set foot into the palace and Thirain finally spotted you walking towards him the expression of pure surprise and joy was clearly visible. This made your own grin widen. “(name) you’re here!” He called, stepping away from an advisor he had been speaking with to meet you half-way. “Your letter arrived on a good day, no demon commanders to deal with and few leads on the next ark so I had some spare time to visit, my King.” You joked in response, mocking a bow before quickly going in and hugging him. “It’s really good to see you, Thirain.” Thirain in turn wrapped his arms around you, the metal of his armour was cold to the touch but something about it was still comforting. “Yes, I’ve missed you too, my friend.” The two quickly separated, you stepping back first since you knew others were watching.
“It looks lively out there today. I take it that preparations are going well? Need any help with things?” You asked, noticing that there was still a lot of movement even inside the palace. Thirain nodded. “Yes, it seems everyone is excited for tomorrow night. But there’s no need for you to help, you’ve just returned, I can’t ask you for anything more than just being here.”
“You know I don’t like standing about whilst there is work to be done, besides I’m offering.” The face Thirain pulled at the offer definitely said he was not going to allow you to do anything there to help out if he had his way. Before he could get another word out another voice chirped up. “King's Knight! What a surprise to have you back in time for the ball! I wasn’t expecting you to be able to make it back with how busy you have been in the other Kingdoms.” Meehan exclaimed, coming from behind and giving your back a couple heavy pats. “Ah Meehan, it's good to see you again. You're looking well, hopefully a certain someone hasn't been giving you any trouble.” Meehan laughed as you nodded in Thirain’s direction whilst the man rolled his eyes playfully in response. 
“Nothing to complain about really. Just a lot to do to get Luterra back to full strength but we're getting there.” He paused then turned to face Thirain, becoming more serious. “And speaking of having a lot to do. My King, don’t you have a meeting to attend?” The realization of having other things to be doing washed over Thirain, he knew he should leave you to return to his duties but he wanted to stay by your side a little longer, he wanted to hear you talk of your adventures that he desperately wished he could have been beside you to experience. “Yes, though I am sure it can wait a little longer, Meehan. (name) has only just returned. I can't simply go and leave her here.” He tried to argue, it was a weak reason and he knew it. Before Meehan could counter or Thirain could dig himself a deeper hole you jumped in. “It’s fine Thirain. You have your duties and I understand that. Go, it’s not like I won’t see you later or tomorrow now is it?” 
You spun the man around and began pushing him to walk away. “But-” “No buts! I need to speak with some others I haven’t seen in a while anyway so get moving” The two of you ended up laughing as Thirain finally gave up and left the hall to actually do what was needed of him. Meehan chuckled, exasperated by the effect you had on the King. “I wish you would have let him know you were coming in advance. He might have actually done all his work before you arrived and wouldn’t be looking like a kicked puppy now that he has to leave.”
“Cut him some slack Meehan, anyone would be happy if their friend returned after so long. Besides, if i’m to be honest, I wasn’t sure I would even be here in the first place but with the world as it is but I think even I needed something to lift my spirit, even if only for a day.” You turned around to face the knight once more. “Now, what is there left to be done? And please save us both some time and don’t tell me there’s nothing cause I can see a lot of people scrambling to finish their tasks, besides, I will just find Cassleford or someone else and ask them how I can help.”
“I’m glad to see you as helpful as ever. I'll take you to someone who needs help with their tasks and let you do your thing. But don’t forget that you should be relaxing too. Oh, you have got something to wear as well right?” Meehan waved for her to follow him and the two started walking from the palace hall. “Ummm, this doesn’t class as something to wear?” You asked, gesturing to your everyday clothes. “Gods no!” Meehan exclaimed, looking at you like you’d said something outrageous.  “This ball is hosting not only the nobles and common folk of Luterra but some of our allies as well. This is to celebrate our progress and hopes for peace. You may be the King’s Knight but you don’t have to look like you’re prepared to fight at a moment's notice.”
You briefly thought about it and agreed with what he said, he’d shown you where your help would be needed and left you to it. As you got on with helping prepare for the ball Meehan could only stare for a few seconds. “Regulus, give me strength. Those two are as bad as each other. Let’s hope the king doesn’t get too distracted now she’s back.”
The day quickly turned to evening as you helped sort out final preparations for the ball, by time you finished moving the last crate a merchant needed help with the sun had almost set. You’d been lucky enough to find a more suitable outfit for the ball and had even managed to catch up with a few others when you came across them. Before you could even go and look to find an inn to stay at for the night one of the knights had found you and brought to back to the palace to speak with Cassleford who’d informed you that you had a room in the palace to use and that you’d been asked to join the King for dinner as well as him, Meehan and some others.
The night went well, you spoke with Thirain and recounted some of what happened when looking for the arks as well as mentioning the lack of progress locating Armen's whereabouts. They shared similar stories and confirmed that they’d heard nothing from scouts looking for the priest either. The sombre mood that had ended the night off quickly became more joyous the next day, the day of the ball. 
Vendors selling wares to newcomers and small shows in the plaza, it seemed everyone around was having a great time. Laughter and singing was heard throughout the castle grounds, only becoming louder as time passed into the evening when the main event of the ball began. As the sun fell over the horizon the halls of the palace filled with people from Luterra and further afield. The chatter grew as everyone discussed recent events and the latest gossip, like your presence at the ball.
Inside the palace you kept mainly to yourself as you normally did, tasting the different foods they had to offer and nursing your drink of choice as you watched everyone enjoy themselves in the centre of the grand hall, some gathering around officials whilst others listened to the musicians playing. There were some entertainers and dancers making others join in, it was lively, much more lively than what you last saw when you were here but it was nice. It seems things were looking good for Luterra and if all went well in their future repairs you could see the Kingdom being one of the first to reach true peace.
“King's Knight! I was wondering where you were. Enjoying the festivities?” Cassleford asked as he spotted you in the back of the crowd, near the tables lined with food. “Yes, I am. It’s nice to see everyone so happy after everything they’ve been through. How’s the patrols been? Hopefully you and the others have had no troubles and can enjoy yourselves a little as well?” Cassleford stood beside you looking over the crowd of people like you had been. “Good, it’s been quiet for the most part. Had a few drunken fools fighting but nothing serious. Most of my men are with their families but they're getting the job done so there are no complaints there.” 
“Have you seen the King tonight? He and Meehan should be together but I’ve not seen them yet, patrols and such.” He asked. You nodded and pointed to the other side of the grand hall. “He was last over there speaking with some officials from what I saw.” Cassleford raised a brow. “You haven’t spoken with him yet?”  You shook your head a little. “Not yet. He’s been busy with talking with the crowd and other dignitaries. I wouldn’t want to get in the way.”
All Cassleford could think in response to that is that Meehan must be thanking the gods that the King hadn’t been distracted by you and was actually doing something to strengthen the bonds with other lands. He thanked you and excused himself to find his king and update him on the progress of the patrols, leaving you to go back to people watching. Every so often you would fiddle with the fabric of the thin jacket that acted as a partial dress over your nicer looking trousers and shirt, this was probably the most dressed up you had been in a while which was weird but even you thought you looked decent. At least you were comfortable and could still fight if anything were to happen, as even at the ball you refuse to drop your guard.
After grabbing a new cup of your drink of choice you figured you’d walk around a little, see if there was anyone else you knew who wasn’t too busy. Humming along with the beautiful sounds of string instruments as another song began, by now a lot of people had begun to dance on the dancefloor in the centre of the hall with their partners, it was sweet. Just as you were about to return to the food table to watch the people dancing, a very familiar voice came from behind and grabbed your attention. “(name), I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Cassleford said you’d helped him find Meehan and I… Why didn’t you come find me sooner?” 
Thirain came up to you, pouting at the thought of you avoiding him. The crowd of people moving out of the way as their king walked past, the hushed whispers of the onlookers then began.  “Well, you did look busy Thirain. I didn’t want to interrupt you whilst you were speaking with those lords.” He sighed. “Even if I was chatting with others, you still should have come over. Your presence is far more enjoyable than their stuffy politics.” Now that he was in front of you, you could finally take him all in. Not wearing the normal bulky armour but a very fancy looking suit and jacket with gold accents on the black fabric and small pops of navy. “Well don’t you look dashing my King. The ladies must be swooning at the sight of you.” You teased, bowing mockingly as you said ‘my king’ like you’ve done since his day of his coronation, which made him chuckle a little.
“You look stunning as well (name), I still find it hard that I managed to miss you in the crowd with how well you’ve cleaned up. And don’t start with that, Meehan has been begging me to interact with one of the lords or dignitaries' daughters all night.” The two of you laughed a little at this. “Well don’t forget, stealth is one of my best weapons. But thank you, I was feeling a little underdressed in comparison but at least I know I don’t look terrible.” He rested a hand on your shoulder. “It’d take a lot for you to look terrible, you know.” He answered back, his gaze soft and only speaking the truth.
Quickly removing his gaze and his hand he turned his attention to the crowd so that his cheeks would have a chance to cool a little. “So, how’ve you been enjoying yourself so far?” He asked, trying to change the topic before he could say something that would overstep and ruin the mood. “This is probably the first ball I’ve ever been to. But even without something to compare it to I can honestly say this is truly wonderful and some of the most fun I have had in a while.” Thirain hummed in understanding, remembering that you’d once told him that your memories were hazy from before you began your quest for the arks. “What about you, been able to enjoy yourself whilst hosting?”
“It’s been fine for the most part. Though speaking with you now is already making the night more bearable.” He paused, an idea coming to mind as he looked over the crowd. “But there is one thing that would make this night far more enjoyable though.” You raised a brow. “And what would that be?” Thirain grinned. “I would love it if you would join me for a dance.” He had turned his gaze to you and offered his hand. Your eyes widen in surprise and you step back.
“I can’t dance.” Was your quick reply. “Don’t lie to me (name). I’ve heard how you’ve danced in the plaza before, so don’t make that excuse.”
You then shook your head as you looked anywhere but him. “That was different. It was more of a jig you’d do at the pub. Not one like that.” You pointed at the people dancing together on the dancefloor. “I can’t do that in front of so many people.” Thirain shot you a look that asked if you were serious before laughing. “Of all the things you have to be scared about and you are frightened of dancing in front of a crowd?” You growled a little and elbowed him in the ribs. “Shut it! I fight not dance you git. I just don’t want to go make a fool out of the both of us by stepping on your feet or tripping up. You forget that you have to make a good impression on potential allies too.” 
Thirain held his side where you’d elbowed him and continued to laugh. “Well if that’s what you’re worried about then that’s no real problem.” He started, gently resting a hand on your shoulder and standing directly in front of you. “I can teach you how to do it. You’ll be fine, everyone respects you for everything you’ve done for us. Nothing you can do will tarnish that image. If you trip I’ll catch you and I don’t mind if you step on me.” He was making some good points but that innate fear was still holding you back. “But-” “No Buts. All you’ve said are excuses. You haven’t said no. If you don’t want to dance with me that’s fine, all you have to do is say so.”
You hesitate, so tempted to say yes but could you do it? You had so many eyes on you and dancing with the KING no less would have everyone at the ball analysing everything you did. Thirain could see you breaking a little. “Please” The small pout and puppy eyes then came out. “Just one dance.” With that you had lost your internal battle. “Just one?” “Just one dance.” You paused and he grinned. “And you won’t get upset if I step on your toes?” He chuckled. “Step on them all you like, I can handle that, no problem.”  You sighed in defeat. “Fine. But if I suck and embarrass the both of us it’s your fault!” You exclaimed and pointed at him accusingly.
Once more Thirain offered you his hand, this time you took it and he then led the two of you to the dancefloor. People stepped out of your way as you walked by, more and more eyes on the two of you. The whispers that spread like wildfire were overwhelming and you were starting to regret your decision. Before you could run off and out of everyone's line of sight, Thirain turned, letting go of your hand and then placed one on your back. He took your left hand in his right and smiled at you softly as you reluctantly placed your right hand on the side of his arm. The music changed as a new song began. “Now all you need to do is follow my lead. I’ll move one foot forward, you move yours back with it and then when I move one back you follow. Simple right?” You rolled your eyes. “Sure, simple enough when you have enough practice but I don’t” You hissed a little. “Well to be honest, I haven’t danced since I was a boy so I’m a little rusty.” Again your eyes widen at this revelation. “You what?! I thought you-” “And lets go.” He butted in, gently nudging you back as your feet stumbled to match his movements. 
You were looking at the ground for a short while, trying to see where you should move your feet next, suddenly you felt a loss of warmth on your back and then felt Thirain gently turning your head up to look at him. “Keep staring at your feet and your movements will stay rigid.” You then stumbled a little. “How will I know where to put my feet and which one to move if I can’t look at them?” Thirain moved his hand back to its place, he pulled you a little closer. “Just let me lead and you’ll figure it out. You just need to trust me (name). You trust me right?”  You almost wanted to laugh at that question, was he serious? But as you looked into his blue eyes you relaxed a little and spoke with all the emotion you could muster. “Of course I do. I trust you with my life.”
“Then follow my lead. One foot back, then the next one. Now one forward.” He trailed off as he clearly telegraphed his movements for you, shaky steps on your part became more fluid, even with a few toes stepped on and sorry’s in the process. “There you go, already got the hang of it.” He cheered, encouraging you more. “Barely. I hardly feel graceful either. I must’ve looked like a fawn trying to walk for the first time.” By now you were more relaxed and back to your more playful self. It was then that the song that had been playing came to an end. Just as a new one was going to start you went to separate from Thirain but he pulled you in closer by the waist. You shot him a questioning look. “What happened to ‘Just one dance’, hmm?”
"That one didn't count, I was just teaching you how to do the steps, now you know what you're doing I'd say that technically this would be our first proper dance, right?" The cheeky little grin he was trying to hide didn't go unseen to you but you had to admit that you enjoyed dancing with Thirain, even if most of Luterra was watching the two of you. "Well look at you, seems you've learnt something from all those diplomats. Getting another dance out of me because of a technicality. I'll play along but it's just this one dance now, got it?" The two of you shared a quiet laugh as Thirain led you into the next dance.
It felt as though the rest of the world faded as the two of you stared at each other, there was a comfortable silence as the two of you got used to the new song and moved around the dancefloor. When there was a new move to be added, Thirain would give you a quick heads up and let the flow of the music do the rest. It was Thirain that broke the silence first. “I know you’ve already gone over most of your adventures but I’m curious about one thing.” This piqued your interest. “And what would that be?”
“It’s about the conditions of the lands you visited. From what you wrote in letters and told me it sounds like they’ve all had trouble with the demons like Luterra has. I want to know if there is anything we can do to help them rebuild in any way.” This was a bit of a surprise to you but then again the man you danced with was compassionate and a great ruler who cared deeply for his people. It seemed he wished to spread that compassion across Arkesia. “Tortyk has been overrun by pirates for some time now, even with my intervention there they seem to still have a large base there which makes it dangerous for the Mokoko that live there. So some aid in clearing the shores there would do them some good.” You started, thinking about all the places you’d visited in your quest for the arks. 
“Anikka for the most part is doing well, they’ve had to recover from a betrayal of one of their strongest fighters but their grandmaster is a strong leader. They’ve been lucky with their land so the effects of the demons should fade with a little time, plus they have a sidereal on their side. Arthetine is in the control their parliament, with Bastian and Sasha being the best people in charge, so I can see things improving with a bit of time. But their land is mostly barren so even an offer of aid when it is most needed would go a long way for the Cykins.” Taking another pause to gather the rest of your thoughts you sighed a little. “I’ve only had the chance to visit North Vern so far but their Queen Ealyn has been doing well for them. They have  suffered at the hands of a necromance that has been now been dealt with so they should be nearing full strength once more, well I assume so.”
“Then there is Shushire… They need the most help after everything done at the hands of the demon commander Akkan and the corruption that Vrad had caused.  The land is suffering due to the lack of fertile soil and people have been turned to slaves for simply not being able to survive. Madnick, is a great leader now he has taken rule from Vrad but it is going to be a long time until they recover even slightly. I doubt they’d have the strength to fight another demon attack on their own.”  Thirain’s expression was one of sadness as he pulled you in closer, almost into a full on hug. “I’m sorry you’ve had to see so much of that on your own… It must have been difficult.” 
You hummed in agreement. “Yes. This quest has been a hard one, since it hasn’t just been demons that have been the problem. Sometimes it was the greed of mortals that has been our greatest downfall. I just try to think of the positives on the hard days, the friends I’ve made and the hope that the people have been given again.”  You then laughed a little to yourself. “What’s so funny?” Thirain asked. “Ah, I just remembered something from Shushire, that's all.” He raised a brow. “Well don’t keep me waiting.”
Another small laugh came from you. “I just remembered that for some people living there, there is more hope for the future than fears... It was after the daybreakers and I celebrated our victory and I was preparing to continue on my journey, a young lad, probably our age who’d helped me a great deal at the time. Well he proclaimed his love for me.” You paused and smiled at the memory before muttering out. “Sweet lad.”
Whilst reminiscing you didn’t take note of the more serious frown Thirain had. “Really? What did you say?”  “Well I obviously told him I couldn’t accept his feelings at the time.” Another small sting to Thirains heart. “Oh, at the time? Do you plan to go back to him then?” You looked up and raised a brow. “Wow, someone's curious today. But if you have to know, I only told him that to spare his feelings. He’s young, he'll find someone better for him than me. And even if I did return the sentiment, it would have been cruel to string him on like that when I don’t know when I could return… or if I’ll even make it out of this ordeal alive.” Relief washed over Thirain a bit knowing your heart had yet to be claimed for the most part, yet a sombre mood fell over the two of you as you acknowledged a worry that was always at the back of his mind. That there may be a day you would not return to him because of you losing your life, it was a painful thought to have.
“Don’t sell yourself short. Anyone would be the luckiest person in the world to be able to call you theirs. You’ll live to see the fate of a new Arkesia, I’m sure of it. You are the strongest person I know. Who else could single-handedly save six lands and gather half of the arks?” Your face reddened slightly from embarrassment at his overly kind words. “Easy there Thirain. Keep speaking about me like that and I might get a huge ego. And you know as much as I do that I have had people helping along the way. I couldn’t have made it as far as I have without people like you at my side.”
At this point Thirain had pulled you in so close that your chests were touching, having done so when you were speaking. It felt like you had been dancing for hours but the song playing was only half-way done. The eyes of some nobles bore into you but you chose to ignore it and for once enjoyed yourself without feeling guilty for not working. 
There was a comfortable silence between the two of you when Thirain spoke up. “(name), after you return to your quest I want you to know that you are always welcome back in Luterra. You don’t need to do all of this on your own.” You looked at him somewhat confused. “I know that. Why bring it up?” “It's just that I want you to view Luterra as a home whenever you return. And hopefully a home you will stay in once your quest is over.” You wanted to respond but the words were caught in your throat. Before you could say anything Thirain once again gave you a heads up. “Alright, I’m going to let you step back for a twirl now.”
You followed his instruction and spun, then returned to his arms. “Was that really necessary?” You asked. “Of course it was.” You pulled a face as Thirain tried to cover his grin. “Oh sure it was, mister ‘That last dance didn’t count because of a technicality’, I bet you just wanted to show of how 'rusty' you are.” You both chuckled. The mood was once again cheerful as you both reached the end of the song, speaking about random topics that popped to mind. When the song reached its end Thirain asked if you trusted him once more. Like before the answer was yes.
Just before the final chords were played Thirain had you lean back and did an almost romantic dip. You both stared into each others eyes, so many emotions welling up which remained unsaid. And once the song finished you were pulled up once more. A light dusting of pink on both your cheeks from how close you had both been. Stepping back you mocked a bow. “Thank you for the dance, my King.” Thirain laughed, and bowed his head down in turn. “The pleasure was mine, my most loyal Knight.” 
You both left the dancefloor and were approached by others in the crowd, Meehan back at Thirain’s side trying to coax him into dancing with at least one of the lord's daughters but he said he felt more like mingling than dancing. The night went on and the festivities continued, with you close to Thirain whilst chatting with other attendees, sadly not always by his side like he wanted but for now it was the best he could ask for. It was only into the early hours of the next day did you retire to your room, the celebrations having come to a close not long before you did so. Just as you made the walk to your room you and Thirain bid each other a good night, there was some hesitance before you left but without another word you turned and walked away.
When the sun had risen later that day and many had woken up, the cleaning up of the palace and streets began. Thirain was up somewhat early for a meeting with a few of his advisors and once he was finished he asked anyone he saw if they’d seen you. All responded to that question with no, suggesting you were still asleep from the long night and the fact you’d been helping with setting up the day before something you'd done without him knowing which was just like you he thought. Leaving it a little longer and after another hour of you not being seen he went to investigate. He’d asked a maid that came from your room's direction if she had seen you but like everyone else she said she hadn’t.
Standing outside the room you slept in he took a breath to compose himself, not wanting to wake you up if you were still sleeping but still worried in the off chance there was something wrong. He knocked on the door a couple times and heard nothing. “(name)?” He knocked again and there was still no reply. “(name)? It's Thirain. Are you alright?” He asked and knocked for a third time with you still not responding. “I’m coming in.” He announced after a few minutes of hearing nothing on your end. The door opened and he walked into the room to see nothing, the bed was made and the drapes open to let in the light but there was no sight of you. On edge, he walked the room and noticed the window was slightly ajar from not being locked from the inside. Looking outside he didn’t see you at all, turning he went to investigate further but an envelope caught his eye.
Sat atop the desk in the far corner of the room was an envelope, he picked it up and saw his name written in the handwriting he saw every time he received a letter from you. Leaning against the table he hastily opened the envelope to read the letter.
{Thirain,
I assume you found this letter whilst looking for me.
I’m sorry but I had to go, my mission can’t be put on hold forever and there are still people that need my help. There are still demon commanders to be stopped and we still have to find Armen.
Last night was wonderful, though I can’t believe you made me dance in front of everyone with you.
I am thankful you invited me along, after seeing so much darkness in the world it was a refreshing change of pace, even if for just one night. It feels like I can take on anything now.
I don’t know if you remember much from all of our conversations last night but something you said has been bothering me.
You said you hope that one day I could view Luterra as a home to return to once my mission for the arks is complete and Arkesia has been saved.
At the time I didn’t know how to properly reply to this but now that I have had some time to think I want you to know the truth.
Luterra is my home, maybe not the home I was born in, grew up in or learnt how to fight in. But, Luterra is where I long to return to.
It is where my quest began, it is where I found my courage to fight the army of demons that grows ever stronger. It is where I have made friends who actually accept me for who I am, even if there are those in the world that will continue to hate my kind.
It is where I have had some of the happiest and saddest days.
It is where I met you, before you had become the king of a land I have grown to love dearly.
I do not know the next time I will be able to return here but I hope that when I do that the quest to gather the arks and protect Arkesia would have gotten closer to its end.
Knowing it may be some time before I can set foot here again, I will continue to miss Luterra greatly.
Even if my quest is not complete when I next return, I hope that I will return with good news at least or if the fates allow it, Armen will come home as well.
Now don’t go moping around now that you don’t have an excuse to slack off, you have your duties and I have mine. Plus I think Meehan is becoming tempted to whip you into shape if you don’t do your best.
But even if your duties require a lot of you don’t work too hard and please take care of yourself.
Do not worry I will continue to write and I hope you will as well, your letters always make the days at sea less lonely.
I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, but I did not want this to feel like a final farewell. It would have been difficult for the both of us.
Instead, let's just say that even though we are apart we shall continue our strong friendship, goodbyes sound more final and like we will separate for long with no way of telling if we will see or hear from each other once more.
Instead, I will say until we meet again, be it on the seas, in another kingdom or when I return home to you here in Luterra. I do not know what the future holds or if I will be successful in my quest but I am certain that we will meet again.
Yours,
-(name)}
As Thirain was reading your letter with a sad smile, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “I should have known she’d leave. My stubborn Knight.”
At the same time Thirain was reading your letter you were already on your ship, staring out at the land of Luterra as it began shrinking from the distance growing between you and it. You had left Luterra castle not long after you retired for the night, you’d written that letter then left through the window and disappeared into the night. Like Thirain, you too had a sad smile, already missing him and the place you thought of as a home. Yet your resolve to find the arks and stop the destruction waiting to happen by the demons was stronger than ever.
In the castle Thirain took the letter you had written and returned to his study, placing it in a small draw along with the rest of the letters you had sent before looking out the window in the direction of the port. “Your right (name) this isn’t goodbye. Until we meet again. And maybe next time if the situation is right, maybe we could have just one more dance.”
You held a letter in your hand, a draft of the one you left for Thirain that you didn’t want him to see. It was too wordy and had some embarrassing parts you knew you couldn’t say. Tearing it up into pieces you let them drop over the side of the ship, the wind picking it up and spreading it over the ocean. “Until we meet again Thirain. I pray you stay safe.” There was a pause and you grinned. “Next time there's a ball, maybe we can have more than just one dance.”
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Bloody hell I wrote way more for this than I expected. Hopefully it was alright for my first proper fic and Thirain wasn't too ooc in this.
Now back to catching up on the game.
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ayasstories · 2 years
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"What does it take to be queen?" - 2
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King Thirain (Lost Ark) x Reader
Summary:
A simple, innocent question, really. You were just doing a favour for one of the townsfolk, you had no idea how much it would affect your friendship with king Thirain. How it would crack open the geode of admiration you held for each other, and show the glittering insides.
Chapter 2 - Make Sure You Come Home Safe
The clopping of your horse’s hooves against the forest floor was a welcome sound to your ears. Every day, you would go a bit farther, aiding the still recovering farmers and fighting against the few factions of bandits and heretics that still lingered in the aftermath of Scherrit’s tyrannical rule.
The farmers had complained about a rogue group of bandits ransacking their farms in the night-time, so after snooping around the forest for a bit, you finally managed to pinpoint the location of their hideout. As far as you knew, this was a smaller group, so taking them out shouldn’t take too long. Despite being a skilled fighter, taking so much time off to relax meant you were a bit out of practice. That’s why you made sure to take your time, before you left to continue your journey for the next piece of the Ark. That, and you would miss Luterra.
Your thoughts raced in your head, as you came closer to the hideout. Armen would come along with you for the journey, but Thirain was king now. He would have to stay, which meant your contact would be limited to letters or the occasional visit from you. Your lips tightened into a small grimace.
Going from spending every day together to perhaps never seeing him for months – or years at a time? The thought didn’t sit well with you.
In fact, the weird ball of emotions that welled up in you, distracting you from noticing how close you now were to the hideout.
You only snapped out of it as an unexpected pain bloomed on your back.
-
Finally, he could breathe a sigh of relief. There were many more duties to take care of today, but finishing the restoration plans for the ruined farms in the east had been weighing on his mind. Now, it was finally done, and the orders for the work to commence had been handed to a messenger, who had left mere minutes ago. His calloused fingers rubbed at his temple, easing out the tension.
It was never quiet in the main hall of Luterra castle. People were flocking around, busy with their duties for the day. Guards were positioned along the walls and some stood by his side, ready to jump into action should anything happen. Despite the overwhelming workload that came with rebuilding a kingdom, the air in the hall was filled with a feeling of contentness. Times were still hard, but things got better bit-by-bit, and the people were more than willing to put in the necessary work. A smile graced the kings’ face, as he took in the jovial people around him. Turning to face the advisor at his side, he was interrupted by the sound of heavy steps, as anxious voices filled the air. Thirain looked back down at the hall, searching for the source of distress and his eyes fell on someone unexpected.
If you could describe what went wrong with one word, it would simply be “everything”. The bandits had gotten the jump on you due to your distraction, and after that, well… You had managed to beat most of them, but a small group had managed to evade you and escaped into the forest. Due to your injures, you wouldn’t be able to follow them and be sure to beat them, so you retreated to the nearest village. Figuring you could send a message by dove to call for reinforcements, only to be told that all the doves were currently already in flight or out of commission due to a sickness that had spread. It was shortly after that, that a villager had ran into the village, screaming about a HUGE group of bandits, sporting the same emblem as the ones you had just fought. It seemed they had called in their own reinforcements, and they would be coming soon. Wasting no time, you sped off on your horse, towards Luterra Castle. If you couldn’t get a messenger, then you would deliver the message yourself, despite your battered state.
Luckily, the guards near the entrance to the city had taken your message and assured you that troops would be sent out immediately. One of the older guards in particular had been very adamant that you would most certainly NOT be joining the fight in your current state, and had ordered you to visit the royal healer, Borgen, in the castle to get your injures treated this instant. He gave you the impression of a worrying dad, and you had found yourself unable to oppose his orders.
And that was the summary of how you ended up dragging yourself through the hall of Luterra castle with heavy steps. You faintly registered the voices from around you, some asking if you were alright, but they were promptly ignored. The exhaustion had hit you, just as you had gotten off your horse, and you could barely keep focus on your task to find the healer. That’s why you almost jumped a feet into the air, as someone gripped onto your arms, their worried voice reaching your ears, but their words were unintelligible to your tired ears. With the last of your energy, you managed to croak out: ‘’Need the healer. ‘m gonna pass out.”
You didn’t hear a reply, only muffled voices around you, as you sagged against the one holding onto your arms. They all sounded worried, and you’d have felt bad for their panic if your brain weren’t currently shutting down. A strong arm wrapped around your back, another hooked behind your knees, and you suddenly found yourself hoisted into someone’s arms. You no longer fought against the exhaustion, feeling incredible comfortable in the arms of the person, whose face you still had not gotten a proper look at. Your last action before succumbing to the darkness was glancing upwards, seeing Thirain’s face, his eyebrows knit in worry as his mouth moved. But you did not catch what he said, as your eyes closed.
-
“Now, just take it easy for a few days and you should be alright. You’re the Kings Knight, so I expect you to not make the same mistake many rookie soldiers do and go back into action before you’re fully healed.” The healer Borgen gave you an expectant look, which made you shrink back slightly. Surely he must have had many patients disregard his orders for rest, given how ready he seemed for you to argue with him. The tension left his shoulders as you gave him your positive answer, “Good, good. I would hate to be forced to argue with our national hero. Now!” He clapped his hand together loudly, “You have a visitor, who is very eager to see you. If it weren’t for his status, I would have chased him out of here with a broom when he first brought you. Honestly, I need my space to work.” The last part was muttered under his breath, as he stepped out of the room. Possibly to bring in your mysterious visitor, whom you were fairly certain wasn’t so mysterious actually.
You shifted on the stool; it was fairly uncomfortable to be sitting up again, your body sore all over, mixed with stings of pain. Just as you considered moving over to the bed, where you had awoken, you heard the door open again.
“Oh, good! You look much better.” Came Thirain’s voice, as he hastily walked to stand in front of you. You had to tilt your head upwards to look at his face.
“Borgen sure took his time. Of course, I don’t doubt his abilities, but the wait was terrible. How are you feeling?”
You hadn’t paid much attention to it before now, but you supposed you felt a lot less pain than you might have expected. Guess Borgen wasn’t the royal healer for nothing.
“Borgen must have spent that time productively, because I hardly feel any pain. I’m just very sore all over.” You twisted your arms around a bit, showing that you were indeed fine.
The tension seeped out of Thirain’s posture as you spoke, “You don’t know how glad I am to hear that. I… Oh! Your shoulder…”
“Hm? What about it?” You looked down at the side he was looking at, and noticed a spot that went to your back.
“It seems there is a wound Borgen has missed. Please, sit still.”
Dragging a chair with him, the king placed himself behind you. Glancing over your shoulder, your eyes met those of Thirain’s, his hands preoccupied with the gauze to dress your wounds.
“Thanks.” A small smile graced your face.
He let out a quiet laugh, “It’s the very least I can do for you. Even now, after you’ve helped me reclaim the throne, you’re still out there fighting for the good of the people of Luterra.”
He had begun to clean your wound as he talked, gently wiping it with what you believed to be disinfectant. It stung slightly, and he would pull his hand away when you hissed, muttering an apology.
“…It scared me to see you in such a state. Even after our fight with Scherrit you were less wounded than now. What happened?” He inquired.
You hesitated, slightly out of embarrassment, but mostly because Thirain needlessly worrying about you was the last thing you wanted. It had just been a mistake, it’s not as if you were usually that careless.
“…I suppose I let my guard down. I’ve had a lot to think about, about the Ark. They just took me by surprise, but I was able to send them running, and came here to seek assistance.”
That wasn’t the truth, but for some reason you could not bring yourself to tell him about your actual thoughts.
You shifted your body to give Thirain space to wrap the gauze around your shoulder, “I understand your quest is of tremendous importance, but there is a time and place for everything. You simply must not get so distracted when you’re in battle. Things could have gone much worse.” He spoke with a slight edge in his voice. Your ego felt a bit bruised by that, as if you were a child being scolded.
“I’ll be fine! I’m a warrior, you know that. There’ll be more times like this one, but I’ll survive, just like I did today.” Honestly, there was nothing to argue about. You’d be more careful next time, but every battle brought with it the chance of death. These were the conditions both of you had accepted, when you chose to fight for peace.
You could sense the gears turning in his head, even if you couldn’t see his face. His fingers glided over the bandages, making sure they were smooth and tight.
“…I must apologize. I understand that you accept these tasks of your own volition, and I certainly am not in position to chide you, when your help has been so crucial to me. Just…”
The movement behind you grabbed your attention, as Thirain’s forehead came to rest against your shoulder.
It was then you felt something soft and warm pressing gently to your skin, just besides the wrapping. You involuntarily shivered. Did he…?
He let out a soft sigh, before he spoke.
“Next time, make sure you come home safe, okay?”
Home. Where was your home? The quest for the Ark had forced you on a journey that would surely take you across the world, and it could NOT be ignored. It would mean the end of the world. Till the quest was done, and the world was saved, you were effectively a nomad – sort of. What would you even do, when peace had been restored? Regretfully admitting to yourself that you had tried not to think about that at all, worrying that it would hinder your progress for the Ark.
Thirain’s hair tickled your shoulder, his thumbs rubbing comforting circles on your skin. You could feel his steady breathing down your back, and how you had unconsciously synced your own breathing with his. His hand was warm on your bicep, as your own came up to cover it. You hummed in response to his question, before slipping into a peaceful silence, letting yourself lean into his hold.
Fights were exhilarating; riding through the fields of Luterra was thrilling. It invigorated you, made you feel so alive, ready to take on the whole world if it came at you. This moment, the silence only broken by the faint chirps of birdsong heard through the window and the soft breathing of Thirain – how would you describe it? You weren’t sure, but you did think one thing:
When you eventually did find a place to call your home, you wanted it to feel like this.
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sxpphicsunshine · 2 years
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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Lost Ark (Video Game) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Thirain/Reader, Thirain Lost Ark, Thirain x Reader, Thirain/Main Character, Thirain/Assassin, Thirain/Knight Characters: Thirain | Silian (Lost Ark) Additional Tags: Fluff, Smut, Fingering, Graveyard Sex, I wanted to be first, Dominant Thirain, clear consent, Unprotected Sex Summary:
After an extended period away the Guardian of Luterra returns. A more mature Thirain, now married and fully committed to his throne, starts to waver as the assassin outsider returns to his shores once more.
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seychann · 2 years
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Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Lost Ark (Video Game), thirain (lost ark) - Fandom, armen (lost ark) - Fandom Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Thirain (Lost Ark)/Reader, Armen (Lost Ark)/Reader Characters: Thirain (Lost Ark), Armen (Lost Ark), Blackfang (Lost Ark), Meehan (Lost Ark), Cassleford (Lost Ark) Additional Tags: Romance Summary:
The thought of his favored knight leaving Luterra finally opened King Thirain's eyes to the realization that he's fallen in love with her. He makes a desperate move at the last minute, but is their relationship strong enough to weather all the barriers and hardships coming their way? What happens when they find out where the 7th ark is hidden and they're forced to make a decision that could destroy everything between them?
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ayasstories · 2 years
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"What does it take to be queen?" - 1
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King Thirain (Lost Ark) x Reader
Summary: 
A simple, innocent question, really. You were just doing a favour for one of the townsfolk, you had no idea how much it would affect your friendship with king Thirain. How it would crack open the geode of admiration you held for each other, and show the glittering insides.
Chapter 1 - Just a Question
The battle for Luterra castle was finally over. Had been for a few weeks actually, and yet you still could barely find the energy to leave Luterra Castle and continue on your adventure for the Ark. Instead, you spent the days exploring the city and conversing with the townspeople and the soldiers, whom you had fought alongside with on the battlefield. Your evenings were spent at the tavern, drinking and eating delicious food and enjoying the happy atmosphere. You deserved the break after all, you had helped save a kingdom, so you could take a few days to yourself. It was on one of these particular evenings, that you fell into conversation with the barmaid Vivian.
As your laughter from the story Vivian had just told you quieted down, she suddenly grew silent and eyed you with a look you couldn’t place.
‘’Actually, you’re rather close with king Thirain, aren’t you? Oh, don’t give me that look! We all know you fought against Scherrit alongside king Thirain. Of course you must have some kind of bond! I’ve actually got a favour to ask of you.’’ She leaned closer to you, her hands clasped together as if she was discussing a business proposal. You almost felt compelled to mirror her pose, but you just couldn’t help feeling vary from the intense gaze in her eye. The dim lighting from the torches on the wall gave her face an almost sinister glow, as a sly smile appeared on her face.
‘’You see, I have a lot of great ideas that could really benefit this kingdom, so I think I’d be the perfect fit for a queen!’’
“Okay.” You drawled, “But why would I bother to do that? I’m plenty busy with my own things, why would I spend time trying to set you up with Thirain?” You were fishing, and she knew it.
“…What do you want?” She took the bait.
“My mug is awfully empty, and I seem to have left my wallet elsewhere.” You waved the empty mug in front of her face for extra emphasis.
She let out a groan, “Ugh, fine! I’ll get you an extra round, but only if you promise to do this for me!” She grabbed your mug out of your hands, as you laughed at her obvious displeasure.
“You got yourself a deal, Vivian!”
The great hall in Luterra Castle was lit by the sunlight streaming in through the huge windows. It gave the room a warm glow, a feeling of home surrounded you, as you made your way further into the castle. The very first time you had been here, it had been in the heat of battle. Grey walls painted with sinister shadows, a cold air seeping through the solid stonewalls. It had made you feel as if the building could crumble at any second, so heavy was the pressure of it all.
You had faith in Thirain. He had proved himself more than capable on the battlefield, as a fighter and as a fit leader for the people. He was strong, you knew that. And yet, a sting of panic forced it’s way into your body, as he went to find Scherrit. It had been your choice to face off against the Guardian, which had blocked your path up the stairs, and let him progress further. But it was a battle, and one is never guaranteed to win a battle, no matter how strong one is.
…But that didn’t matter now. The war for the castle was won, and you were safe. Scherrit dead by your hands, you had made sure of it.
Shaking your head to clear your thoughts, you finally approached the throne, Thirain standing in front of it. He was currently talking to a knight by his side, before his eyes fell on you, as you approached. A smile grew on his face, as you came to stand in front of him. The knight discreetly made himself scarce.
“You’re here. I take it you’ve spent a few days to rest, as we talked about. How did you like the city? I’m sure the citizens must be happy to talk to the hero who saved Luterra.” Thirain greeted you, obviously pleased to see you again.
“I’d like to think you helped a bit, Thirain.” At this, he laughed.
“Right you are, but I still firmly believe that the war might have been lost, were it not for you and father Armen. It still feels surreal to me that Scherrit would go as far as side with demons… but I’m getting caught up in the past. It’s so good to see you again. Every day since the battle has been so hectic, there’s still so much to take care of. I honestly wish I could take a few weeks off myself. I’d have liked to show you around town, but it seems you’ll have to be the one to show me around instead.”
“It seems that way. But I’ll be happy to do that when you’re finally free.” You just smiled back at him. You had missed him during your last few weeks. It had been hard to adjust, from spending almost every day together in the field, to suddenly having minimal contact for weeks in a row.
As if awoken from a trance, Thirian gave a small cough, breaking eye contact with you. “Was there anything else you needed?” He asked you.
“Actually, if you have the time, I have a question I need to ask you.” You had almost forgotten your deal with Vivian.
‘’Oh? I’ll be sure to answer to the best of my abilities then.’’
‘’What does it take to become queen?’’
It lasted mere seconds, and yet you noticed a multitude of emotions flashing over Thirain’s face, as he opened his mouth and made no sound. His eyes darted around the room, sometimes settling on your face before quickly looking elsewhere, as a slight blush of red began to grow on his cheeks. Why did he look so nervous? Had the question somehow embarrassed him?
‘’Oh, well, I- um, haven’t really had to think about that for a long time. I, uh.’’ He paused to take a quick breath before continuing, ‘’I’ll be honest, I’m unsure of the more formal requirements for the position as a royal consort, but gaining the king’s favour is no doubt the most important, and, well, you…’’ He fumbled, before your conversation was interrupted by a cough from the guard standing besides you, close enough to hear your whole conversation.
‘’Your majesty, if I may. I believe Anessa would have all the answers for the knight’s question.’’
Thirian’s rigid posture seemed to relax just a bit. “Ah, yes of course, you’re right Meehan.’’ He answered, before turning to you, “Anessa would surely be able to teach you more than I would. In fact, I’m sure she would be happy to teach you. You’ll find her just at the room on the right at the end of this hallway.’’ He spoke, giving you a kind smile.
Why were his cheeks still tinted red? Was he getting sick perhaps?
“Great! I’ll go ask her now then. Thank you for the help Meehan. I’ll see you later Thirain.” You shot them both a smile, before heading down the hallway to meet with the mentioned lady.
As your form disappeared around the corner, Meehan noticed how the king would take a sharp breath, opening his mouth, before shutting it tight again. He watched Thirain repeat this process a few times, before words finally managed to leave his lips.
“Meehan, do you… have any idea why the adventurer would ask such a question?”
If Meehan could have gotten away with it, he would have let out his frustration with a sigh, but alas, he was a knight in proximity of his king. Such disrespect would not be acceptable.
‘’My king, I must unfortunately declare myself unable to guess the motivations the King’s Knight had for asking such a question. Might I suggest asking them?”
“Yes, well…”
The sentence faded out into nothing, as Thirian’s eyes were set on the door at the end of the hallway, his attention seemingly drifting elsewhere.
Meehan really wanted to go home.
It was a few hours later that you found yourself back at the tavern, the sun setting outside, people slowly returning to their homes for rest after another fulfilling day.
‘’A convoluted greeting? Really? How snobbish is that? What, no, show it to my anyway! If it’s what it takes to be queen I’ll do it!’’ You were surprised at how quickly Vivian was back on the horse, after you had delivered the info she requested. She stopped to take a small sip from her drink, before getting into your face once again, ‘’I know I can be a good queen, and that my ideas will help the people of Luterra! If you find out anything else on how to become queen, you’ll share with me, right? Promise me!’’
You let out an amused chuckle, before you put your now empty mug down on the table and pushed out the chair to stand. ‘’If it’s really that important to you, then yes, I will. But I’m thinking of doing some quests outside Luterra Castle tomorrow, and I don’t know when I’ll be back, so it might be a while before I find out anything new. Sorry.’’ Your apology wasn’t exactly sincere, but Vivian would just have to live with that. You were the King’s Knight after all, you had much more important things to see to, like getting yourself to bed now, before Vivian bought another round for you, in order to get you to stay.
‘’Hmpf! Fine, but be careful so you can come back and keep your promise! I’m counting on you.’’ She huffed and puffed at your departure.
Turning your head to look over your shoulder at her, you replied with a quick Of course, before hastily making your way up the stairs.
You knew your quest for the Ark would change the course of your life in ways you couldn’t even imagine, but it still felt strange to you, this time of change after Luterra Castle was reclaimed. Thirain had had his fair share of struggles on the battlefield, and even though the battle was mostly over now (there were still a few groups opposing Thirain’s rule, but you’d take care of those soon enough), he still had so much on his plate. To think that he’d have to worry about marriage too someday. In that regard you were happy for the freedom you were granted, despite the entire world literally depending on your efforts. You already did so much for Luterra, and yet, you wished there was more ways for you to help carry the burden that rest on his shoulders.
You knew Thirain wanted to travel the world. A secret desire he had expressed to you many times, wishing he could travel alongside you and see what lay past the kingdom of Luterra. You had made the promise to send him letters regularly and tell him of your travels, whenever you would return to him.
As your eyelids grew heavier, the thought entered your mind that you would miss Thirain, once you had to leave Luterra.
Meanwhile, in the castle, the knight Meehan’s patience was growing thin. It was one thing to listen to his king constantly talking about the benevolent traveller, who had fought for the people of Luterra. How much their contributions meant and how much he would miss them once they left to continue their quest. It was a whole ‘noter thing to watch the king spend the whole day in a daze, barely paying attention to his duties, as he stared longingly into space. Meehan knew damn well what his king was thinking about. WHO he was thinking about.
Honestly, he was too old for this. Young love was an amazing thing to witness, but it was just slightly less amazing when it rendered his king, of all people, an un-concentrated lovesick boy after just a question.
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ayasstories · 2 years
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"What does it take to be queen?" - 3
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King Thirain (Lost Ark) x Reader
Summary:
A simple, innocent question, really. You were just doing a favour for one of the townsfolk, you had no idea how much it would affect your friendship with king Thirain. How it would crack open the geode of admiration you held for each other, and show the glittering insides.
Chapter 3 - The Dawn of a New Day
It had started growing long before it was noticed. Much like a small flower grows from a hidden seed to a colourful flower, basking in the sunlight, strong feelings of affection had sprung roots into his heart and a dark rose-red had coloured his cheeks at the realization.
He had been surprised from the first meeting. A priest and an adventurer suddenly appearing to help the troops, his initial wariness had been beat to the ground much like the assassins that were after his life had been. The surprise had quickly been forgotten however, as more pressing matters appeared at every second. It had been easy to lose himself in work again, forcing all his concentration onto the fight against Scherrit, despite the brief moments of doubt that he could not stop. It was in one of those exact situations, that the adventurer had once again surprised him.
“Are you trying to make me feel better?” He chuckled. The adventurer had nodded their head furiously in return.
To lead his people in battle, it was of outmost importance to be their pillar. A strong, unwavering leader, whose orders’ they could trust. Although he had many friends alongside him, he had not wished to burden them with his troubles – they all had enough to worry about already. Opening up to the adventurer had been a spontaneous action in a vulnerable moment. And yet, he was never given the chance to regret it. The small act of understanding and compassion had only been the first of many. Both father Armen and the adventurer had proven themselves to be important assets in the fight for justice. He felt a strong trust towards both of them, how they both assisted the people around them and were willing to put in the effort to see the work get done. A great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. With the duo on his side, many obstacles that had seen so daunting were overcome with relative ease. With each passing day, the journey to the throne became so much shorter, as land was reclaimed and citizens were freed.
Of course, it wasn’t a painless journey. Despite how strong the adventurer was, and how hard he himself and his men fought, they always lost someone. Sometimes, they were too late to arrive, and civilians were killed, and other times, it was the soldiers. Each death weighed heavily on his mind, but none hit as hard as the old mans – Sir Bernards’ death.
It was then that his doubt gripped him tightly, how could he ever hope to win this, when he lost everyone around him, and Vanguard still did not shine. As the light had faded from Sir Bernards’ eyes, so had all of Thirains’ courage. They needed to continue advancing, but in the dark, damp room of Medrick Monastery, he found himself utterly lost.
The notes of the Song of Valor drifted into nothingness, as the adventurer put down their instrument. That song… It was the old mans’ favourite.
“Thank you. You’re always around to help me out.”
The grief wasn’t gone. It would linger till Thirain had the time to let it out and experience it fully. For now, he knew what he needed to do. And he knew you would stay at his side through it all.
It was soon after that Vanguard finally shone in his hands. The fight with the demon had been something he didn’t expect, and yet it paled in comparison to the fight for Luterra Castle. This was the final fight. If they lost there, he had no doubt that they would be annihilated, and Scherrit would continue to sit on the throne.
Everyone had been tense, and it was understandable. Even the most seasoned warriors recognized the risks, what was at stake if they failed. He had looked to you, and seen the determination in your eyes, as you made your way to one of the battletowers. And then, you were out of sight. It somehow only came as a minor surprise to him, that you had been the one to take out the mages blocking the door with their magic, which had allowed his troops to enter the castle grounds. From there, the two of you had made your way towards the castle, and then separated momentarily, as you stayed behind to fight the guardian.
And then suddenly, the battle was won. And he could finally breathe.
To think that Scherrit had sold his soul for demonic power – and even then, you were able to take him down, while he himself could not even rise from the floor. Truth to be told, Thirain had seen Scherrit as his duty to take care of. He was the true heir to the throne after all, the task of defeating the unworthy ruler fell on his shoulders, and yet. It was impossible for him to feel any negative emotions, as Scherrit’s body fell to the floor, the adventurer standing victorious over the corpse.
Even when your victory was interrupted by the demons making another appearance, you handled them just as well, despite already being wounded from your fight against Scherrit.
After Armen had taken care of his and your wounds, the three of you had made your way outside the castle. The fight was over, but the tragedy was not.
“How can we call this a victory? Every drop of blood spilled here belongs to a Luterran.”
While he had been lost in his thoughts, you had not hesitated in your actions. He soon found you standing before him, holding out a banner out to him, wordlessly imploring him to take it.
His fingers had brushed against yours, as you handed over the banner to him. His eyes had found yours then, and he had felt the words wanting to spill out – how grateful and relieved he was, and how would he ever be able to repay you?
But then you had looked at him, really looked at him, and he felt the sounds dying in his throat. The feeling in your eyes had mirrored his own, relief and gratefulness. It was then that it became an undeniable fact that you had wanted this has much as he had – to see the end of a tyrannical ruler and the suffering that had reigned alongside him. And that you were just as honoured to have fought by his side, as he was to fight by yours.
Sitting on the throne had never been his greatest wish. Power and fame did not motivate him, as it had Scherrit and many other foolish people. If he freely could have chosen his path in life, he would have wanted to be an adventurer. To see the world and all its wonders was a fascinating thought that he rarely had time to indulge himself with. He wondered where you would go from here, when you eventually had to leave. Nights by the campfire had been filled with stories about your journey, and tales from your home country. The prince had been delighted as he listened to your words. How your eyes would light up upon recalling certain events, or the mischievous smile upon your lips, as you told him of the pranks you had pulled as a kid. He had almost felt embarrassed to talk about his own childhood, but you had asked him with such an earnest face, he really didn’t feel like he had a choice. In the end, it had one of the best nights in recent memory, as he let the rest of the world fade away in those precious hours.
In that moment, where his glowed, worn hands were touching yours, a hard-earned moment of peace where he could finally truly appreciate how kind your smile was, a small green bud broke through the dirt beneath your feet.
Grasping the metal pole of the banner in his hands, he turned to face the city of Luterra Castle, his subjects, soldiers and civilians looking to him as he spoke. A ball of grief and relief twisted in his chest, as his eyes flitted over the citizens mourning the loss of their loved ones, clinging to the corpses of the soldiers recently departed as they wailed. No more. He would never let this happen again, the dark skies would eventually clear for the sun to shine. The kingdom would grieve, and so would he, but someday, they would be happy again.
The small bud twisted in the dirt, as the first rays of sunlight broke through.
“Behold, the light you have restored.”
Roots spreading further.
“The dawn of a new day!”
Looking over his shoulder, he finally let himself return the smile you had given him.
Petals unfolding, greedily reaching for the warmth of the sun.
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