Walkin' And Talkin' And Talkin' 'Bout Bonin'

You've barely gotten an hour down the road before Matilda and Roan decide that they are lifelong friends, the sheltered princess already treating your valet like a cherished older sister despite their nearly identical ages. Both women seem entirely happy to while away the passing hours in happy banter as you walk besides their horses, content to bask in the cool air and their conversation.

Roan thoughtfully drums her fingers across her belly, glancing sidelong at Matilda. "You know, Matilda; I lost my parents when I was terribly young, too. I never really got a chance to know them, either."

The princess makes a noise of sympathy. "Oh, truly? It is a bit odd, isn't it? Missing someone so dreadfully that you don't really remember very well."

Roan nods. "Yes, but I do, too. I'm sure I got the better deal of the two of us, though I didn't think so at the time. My uncle shipped me off to the prince's estate when I was five; old bastard said it was so I could learn to be a 'proper lady', but it was so obvious he was just afraid I'd muck up the new line of succession."

Matilda puts a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. "Oh, I almost can't bear to think of it; the poor little waifling shipped away by her cruel uncle. It's like something from a dreadful storybook."

Roan grins at that. "I won't say I wasn't a bit afraid. But I had my old Nan. And who'd have guessed the prince and I would wind up such good friends?"

You're struck by a memory of a a young you, just as serious-featured but quite small, being chased around by a significantly taller, coltish looking girl who could only be Roan trying to touch him with a frog. You guess 'friends' and 'bullies' can be two sides of the same coin with children, and decide not to chime in.

Matilda can't help but grin along with that, looking quite delighted. "Oh, you were childhood friends? Were you sweethearts?"

Roan blows a raspberry. "No, I was all knees and elbows and height and blech. The little prince only had eyes for all the proper ladies."

Again, you decide not to correct her but you know for certain that Roan is wrong. Horsedick's memories are close enough to yours now that you clearly recall being enchanted with the impish girl from the moment you started noticing boys were different than girls. She was just always so...spirited. So alive.

Matilda pouts at that. "Well poo." She brightens quickly, though. "Oh, but that is still romantic! Did he suddenly notice you one night? Was it at a party?!"

Your valet gives a curling, smug smile. "Well, if you must know yes, it was at my eighteenth birthday party." Matilda gives a giddy little grin as Roan's cheeks brighten,the fertile girl trying to retain her air of cool maturity. "I don't mind saying I looked ravishing. I'm quite surprised he didn't take me on the dance floor. If I had known all it took was putting on a dress, I'd have probably done it years ago and been the scandal of the castle."

Well she's not wrong about that. Despite Roan's low opinion of her looks as a younger woman, she was indeed a vision in that magical blue dress. Though honestly, the night had been sort of bust until the two of you found each other near dawn. Roan had never really been all that interested in frillier, more formal aspects of being a noblewoman, but had thrown herself headlong into this birthday for some reason. Though even now you remember that she didn't seem particularly happy. God, it broke your heart then and it breaks your heart now.

Matilda giggles. "Well that's more of a proper romance then! Sharing your first time after a grand ball? Oh, I'm so jealous Roan..."

Roan breezily waves her hand, projecting an air of aloofness that you immediate spot as an act. "Oh, well, it wasn't his first time but it was certainly mine. That sort of thing doesn't matter as much as the books let on really; it's good for someone involved to have some experience. And I don't mind telling you that -"

"That's not true."

Roan glances over at you, looking a little irritated that you interrupted her just as she was about to launch into a lurid account of your teenage fucking. "What's that?"

"That was my first time, too."

Roan scoffs, looking amiable enough though you certainly don't miss the tightness around her eyes. "Oh boo. I know your first time was with Lady Erin. Not that I blame you, she was hot, good at getting what she wanted, and you were a dummy then. But still, I do know, so no need for any extraneous myth-making, hmm?"

Lady Erin? You furrow your brow, trying to conjure this person up. Okay yeah, you definitely recall a young noblewoman with wavy brown hair whose quite alluring features were handily marred by her utterly unpleasant personality. What happened to her again? "Isn't she the one who got shipped away to marry some old count when she got a minstrel's kid?"

Roan purses her lips, not trying to disguise her vague irritation now. "That was your kid. She told me before she moved."

"What? Why would you believe her? Wasn't she always tormenting you?"

Roan beetles her thick eyebrows, trying to hold onto her irritation. "No, she knew I had feelings for you; why would she...."

She trails off for a moment, eyes taking a far-off look. Then she abruptly straightens, making a noise of mild interest. "Right; of course she was just harassing me. Well that's lovely, but as I said people really make too much of a bother about that sort of thing."

Well that's not what you expected. Roan cranes out of her saddle, peering off in the distance. "Ah, there's a coaching house up ahead. We should board there for the night. You are such a charming conversationalist Matilda, the hours have simply flown by!"

The princess smiles and happily nods, though you can't help but think you haven't heard the last of this conversation.