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Alistar stares at the water alongside their boat, Ren had forced them both to rest since he believed they were halfway in their journey home, and as so a little stop would not hurt them. Alistar knew realistically Ren probably intended to take charge of the oaring since her sudden sleeps had become closer between every one another and as so, Ren probably fear that it was gonna crash them both as if they would allow such a thing to happen.
As if she had not been like this ever since they met. But Alas…
It was… Good still to take a second to breathe after everything they had just lived through, what an adventure they had ended up on and all… For Cherri or Apo to not even come back with them… Not that it mind that too much, Gods knew how far better it was for the Princess and Apo to be somewhere slightly safer than Soluna currently was.
“How are you feeling, my good man, Alistar?” Ren asked, as he put his crown down and let it fall into his sack. “Are you gonna head to bed?”
Alistar started to remove Ren's cape, since it knew that he probably wanted to relax a bit before actually going to sleep as well as wanting to be less clothed when he eventually ended up asking to oar.
“I'm not sleepy.” Was her eventual response. “I need to keep guard”
Ren chuckled loudly, and put an arm around their neck, which made it hard to keep on removing his cape, when she glared at him, he was only looking at her with mirth.
“Hmmm, even when I have time and time again tell you I can use a hiding spell? And that we both could just fall asleep without care?” His hands came to finish undoing the cape ties and shrugged it off without care, then they moved back to be around Ali's neck.
Alistar was still amazed at being allowed to see it's King in such a way that no one really got to, even if said King was not considering how dangerous their lives were and how Alistar cares for him the way she did because of it. But obviously Ren could be rather stubborn when he settled his mind into it.
“I will end up waking up because I think someone is there… You have used your magic a lot today, milord.”
Ren rolled his eyes and he started to move his fingers ever so slightly on the back of Alistar's neck which definitely sent chills down it's back, “What nonsense you talk, my Knight, I'm old in age, but this magic does not die down easily”
Right, how silly for Alistar to worry when they could come back to Soluna to be in ruins in their absence, so silly to be worried when they had today fought with a being that seemed more powerful than any mortal man that Alistar had seen in her time.
They stayed in silence for a while, Ren did not stop his caring touches, he seemed to be in a mood, definitely still more than happy about what had happened today; about the progress the Princess had managed to make all thanks to family something that unlike Alistar, the King took as very dear.
He said then, as he had scooch closer and his face was just millimeters away from Alistar's. “Alistar, my Moon Knight… Don't you trust me?”
He said that as if he didn't know her at all.
“I trust you with my life and more, with the darkness of my heart for you to bring the light it needs to shine, but even then foes are never that predictable at the best of times, milord”
Ren scrunched up his nose. “For one, as I have told you time and time again, there is no need for titles when we are alone…” He licked his lips, before his left hand moved to cup Alistar's face. “And alas, my dear Alistar, do you not see how beautiful today was? By the gods, I don't think even if we managed to be spotted by damn Thornhelm I know you, my best of knights, will be able to fight alongside me”
And when had that become alongside and not for?
Apo had definitely left a spin of doubt in Alistar, after all, if as Apo had said Ren had accepted her into knighthood –had knighted her today even– no matter what he knew of her origins, of her past. And as merciful and lawfully good as he was, would he share that same kindness with Alistar? With a spy and a betrayer?
“That's exactly why I can't go to sleep.” It bites back, unsure as to what else to say and knowing they could not linger too much in their thoughts.
“You literally just fell asleep in my hands.” Ah… It had not… Uhm…
“Only for a moment… I do that”
Ren chuckled again before he went to press a small kiss into her lips, the sucker, and moved to finally hug Alistar completely and made her more aware of just how little space they had to move in this damn boat.
“You're alright, common, if you fear for us to be attacked so much how about alongside my great spells I cover us in my cape? I think it should work more than enough to make us see as a ghost boat”
And Alistar must be too tired for that to sound like a great idea… But alas.
“Alright, I surrender then, I can not fight you on this forever.”
Ren of course instantly smiled and started kissing their face as he told them how glad he was that she was finally letting him take care of them and make them both go to sleep.
After a bit of shuffling around, of getting a bit tangled and of Ren making Alistar take off her chest armor; they were finally cuddling against one another. The star filled the sky, their roof looking down upon them as if giving them the comfort of how they were safe because the full moon could be seen alongside.
A good minute or two passed, and Alistar expected for Ren to already have fallen asleep in their arms, but suddenly he said, sounding just a little bit too emotional.
“Do you think my daughter will eventually come back to us?” Because even as supportive as he had acted today, Alistar knew he still wasn't fully on board with what had happened today, just like it was not too happy about Apo staying behind even as much as it made sense for her to do so.
“I believe that if we give her time she will,” She moves to press it's head alongside Ren's shoulder. “She is a fierce knight and what little magic she could do today gives me hope that even if only to train, she will come back to visit her old man”
Ren laughed before he turned his head to rest on top of Alistar, which definitely wasn't comfortable for him, and yet he did nonetheless. “You always know just the right thing to say, my dear Knight, there is a reason why I bringed you on this journey.”
Of course and even then… Alistar could not get to open up about their past, about the secrets they had held for far too long in their chest… Right? Not even if from what Apo said she could see that maybe Ren would even extend that kindness to it.
She…
“May I speak freely, my King?” Ren grumbled once again about titles, before he nodded and encouraged Alistar to do so, and she really should, right? Should confess their sins, it's horrible past and yet. “I don't understand why you showed so much interest in the damn rogue that looked like a frog, did he truly deserve your attention?”
Ren's hand came to tug Alistar closer, and he was truly holding back a laugh as he said. “Are you jealous, my knight? I'm speaking in truth when I say he was merely an interesting creature that I wish to know more about, and definitely do not intended to invite to become my personal Knight and replace you-”
Alistar was shoulding Ren as soon as he started to jester; he really was in a good mood to be teasing her in such a way! My Sun! And he of course giggled like a child before he turned to be face to face with it and said looking at Alistar as if she was just as bright at the shining sky of stars above them.
“Don't get angry, my life, you know I hold you more dear than most.” And… That was the only truth that mattered was it not? Alistar was loved and trusted even when it was who it was.
“I do, my lord, I do.”
And that was all that mattered for them both now.