The Woods Between Worlds, Archenlandish side [Saturday morning]
Cor had insisted upon accompanying Aravis as far as the edge of the Woods, an act for which she was grateful even if she declined to admit as much. She’d said goodbye to Hwin and Bree, as well as the rest of the court, back at the castle, and the two had started off on foot, with Aravis leading Trenor.
The past week had been a week of shyness, and awkward moments, but the few stolen kisses and brushed hands had more than made up for as much. Aravis and Cor hadn’t managed to actually talk about what was happening, though Aravis wondered if they needed to. Part of her suspected that this was just how it was always meant to turn out, and that when it came time to discuss things, they would do so. For now, she was content to smile when he reached for her hand as they approached the Woods quietly.
“Well,” he said awkwardly.
“Well,” she echoed, giving him a small smile.
“…I’ll, um, see you. When you’re back,” Cor said, fidgeting.
And that, somehow, wasn’t what Aravis had wanted to hear. It wasn’t any sort of promise, or pledge to wait, or any assurance that he would write to her.
“You will,” she said, her voice a little less warm. “Can I count on you to write?”
“When I’m able,” Cor said, and if Aravis had stopped to consider, she might have noticed how forcibly casual he was being. “We are busy here, after all. You will be, too.”
And now she was just more upset. “Too busy to write?” she asked, glaring and dropping his hand. “It wouldn’t take you longer than a moment to write, ‘Dear Aravis, I’m still alive, perhaps I’ve removed my head from betwixt my legs long enough to miss you.’ But you’re too busy for that?”
“I meant -" Cor started, looking a bit helpless, but Aravis was too raw, and too vulnerable to listen. Somehow she had thought things were changing, but instead, he was still the same, immature boy who was leagues behind where she had thought he was. And she was left standing there, looking a fool.
Not for long. “I don’t much care what you meant, Highness,” she said, getting angrier by the moment and turning away to swing herself up onto Trenor’s back, ignoring Cor’s attempt to help. “Clearly, I have been a fine entertainment this past week, but worry not, because I shan’t bother you any longer, nor keep you from your very important business. Good day. I’ll see you in summer.”
And without waiting for a response, she flicked the reins, and took off towards Fandom.
[NFI, NFB, but OOC welcome like always.]