Nightingale and Eagle; Legendary
This is the 5th offshoot story from the original Nightingale series. Again I do not own the rights to the character, that belongs in Top Games game “Evony; The King’s Return.”
I just kind of borrowed the character and ran with her.
Nightingale watched, again. Duke nailed it, earlier, he really did, and, admittedly, it annoyed her.
Eagle shuffled as he slept, and she stayed perfectly still. She told herself that doing this was to keep her edge sharp, trying not to wake someone who was sleeping, but she knew the truth. It just felt right, her watching over him. It felt peaceful, content.
She smiled as she thought about what had happened earlier.
Eagle, himself, led a group of children through the palace, pointing out the various pieces of architecture and the various trophies won in the battles he’d fought in, but then, in the war room, he stopped. “Let me ask you guys something. What do you know about the legend of the Royal Thieves?”
Nightingale looked briefly at Nell and Duke, trying not to show how much the “legend” was real. Still, one girl raised her hand and Eagle called on her. “My mommy told me the Royal Thieves are a group that can steal anything from anywhere.”
Eagle smiled at the girl. “And how long ago did they start?”
The girl smiled back. “Something like 500 years ago.”
He went on. “So they can’t still be around, can they?”
The girl thought for a moment, then shook her head. Eagle went on. “Yet the legend continues. The thieves kept stealing, but what did they do with what they stole?”
A boy raised his hand excitedly, so Eagle asked him. “Someone told me that they give it to the poor of whatever village they come to.”
Eagle nodded. “So, what do you think makes the stories continue?”
The children seemed confused, so Eagle clarified. “Yes, the stories of the Royal Thieves started 500 years ago, but people don’t live 500 years. Yet the stories went on, stories of three people who could steal anything. So why do they keep going on, even to this day?”
At that, Eagle flashed a quick wink at Nightingale. It has been a year since they came to work for him as personal security guards. There had been “reports” that someone had caught the thieves almost every other month, but she knew the truth. Of course she knew.
A girl raised her hand. “What if they’re only pretending to be Royal Thieves? What if someone just took on the name because they sound cool?”
Eagle appreciated that response as another boy raised his hand. “What if the Royal Thieves is a gang, and they recruit new members over the years?
Eagle seemed impressed that they came up with this on her own. Nightingale had to admit, she was too. It was rare that children were allowed to think on their own and use their imaginations.
Eagle winked at her again. “Let’s take a look at another possibility. What do you think of the idea that the original thieves just can’t die?”
The children looked at each other for a moment, then started laughing, saying that it wasn’t possible. One girl had to point something out. “Everything dies, Your Majesty.”
Eagle nodded, agreeing, and then they went on. Nightingale had to admit, it was a stroke of genius, telling them the actual truth, and they dismissing it out of hand.
But it was just a moment later when Duke slid up beside her. “Who would’ve thought it?”
Nightingale didn’t look at him. “Thought what?”
The glee in Duke’s voice was unmistakable. “The great Nightingale, the fearless leader, finally has something she’s afraid of.”
She didn’t look at him but smirked at the challenge. “And what would that be?”
Duke surprisingly hit the nail on the head. “You’re afraid to tell Eagle you’re in love with him.”
It caught her off guard. Here it had been, about six months, since she first snuck into his room at night to admit her feelings for him. She thought it would be enough, but she kept going back.
And here she was again, watching. Was she being foolish? He would eventually die, not coming back. And they’d never have an heir for his kingdom. She was about ready to turn when something surprised her. “Hello Night.”
She spun, her hand near her throat. “Oh...uh...hello.”
Eagle shifted to sitting up and she moved closer to him. “So what gave me away?”
He laughed, inviting her to sit next to him. “I’ve known you’ve been doing this really subtle protection scheme for a while now. Honestly, it’s a good idea, having a secret way in to make sure nobody can come in and harm me.”
She laughed. “Yes, but, if someone ever did learn of that….”
He put a hand on her arm, sending that electric shot through her arm. “That’s why we don’t tell. Not even Nell and Duke.”
She laughed, touching his hand, thrilling at it for the moment. Did he know?
Did he know that every time he talked to her he sent butterflies through her stomach? Did he know that she couldn’t help but smile every time he looked at her? Did he know that his touch sent her heart into overdrive?
Did he know how he made her feel?
Still, they talked. It seemed like for hours, laughing for a minute at the deflection he had with the children earlier. It seemed like a paradise to her until he said what he said. “You know, you’re one of my best friends Night. I’m so glad you’re still here.”
Friends? Was she nothing more than a friend to him?
Were all those times he called her beautiful just a description for him? Were all these flirts unintentional?
But what about the other side? What if he was trying to say that because he knew that, if he did feel the same way, it wouldn’t be anything? What if he knew that, despite how they felt, he’d never have an heir and he’d be only there for a short time?
She was so confused.