plurk meme { 2018 } au august

[iluvroadrunner6]

Completed: 31/31
Running Word Count: 63,180

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august 12: royalty | barry & iris | 1,971

[iluvroadrunner6]

Sir Bartholomew Henry Allen, Paladin of the Speed Force, Shield against the forces of evil that railed against the Central Kingdom, has never been so flabbergasted in all of his life.

And he finds himself flabbergasted quite often.

“Lady Lance,” he tries to stammer, drawing the attention of Lady Dinah Laurel Lance, the Black Canary, lady of Starling City and betrothed of Sir Oliver Jonas Queen of the Order of the Arrow, and giving her a bit of a confused look. “Is that not Princess Iris?”

It is Princess Iris Ann West, only daughter of King Joseph of the Central Kingdom, and object of Barry’s affection since he was a young boy, so in all actuality, the question is a dumb one. He knows very well that it is Princess Iris, but he’s hoping that he’s wrong and it is some trick of the light, for if the princess is here, then this is not going to end well for anyone.

“I believe you are astute enough, Sir Allen, that you don’t need me to answer that question for you,” Laurel teases, coming over to rest a hand on his shoulder gently.

“Does the King know about this?”

Laurel cringes for a moment, before shrugging. “Yes and no?”

Barry just blinks at her. “I don’t believe that is a question where the answer can be both, milady. With all do respect, the king either knows or he doesn’t.”

“What Lady Lance means to say is that I threatened him with it, were he to force me to marry Eobard Thawne,” Iris speaks up and Barry’s attention is suddenly rapt, just as his heart sinks at the prospect. He remembers that announcement. He was present in the crowd when it was announced. While part of him knows that marriages are often political, especially for the higher courts, he can’t help but think that it’s a bit personal, given that her betrothed is his mentor, and his mentor was very aware of his feelings.

Barry’s mouth works for a moment, as he finally catches up as to why the answer to the question is both yes and no. “So while he is aware, he has not necessarily given permission.”

“Correct,” the princess beams at him, and Barry’s heart leaps for a moment. “You were right about him, Laurel. He does catch on fast.”

Barry straightens a bit at that, glancing over to where Laurel is standing. “You’ve spoken to her about me?”

“Well, who else would I ask to keep her safe,” Laurel replies with a small smile. “It isn’t so much that the king doesn’t know, but that he can’t know. Eobard is forcing his hand, and we need time to negotiate and make this right. And until then, we can’t trust him by keeping the princess within easy reach.”

“Because Eobard can’t be trusted.” Barry is all for the princess being safe from the clutches of Eobard Thawne. “You have my word, I will keep her safe.”

“I know you will.” Laurel kisses him on the cheek briefly, before returning to her horse. “Open roads and safe travels, Sir Allen. I will send word when things are safe, but please don’t return to the palace before that.” As she mounts the horse and rides off, Barry isn’t entirely sure what he’s agreed to, but he will keep his word. No harm will come to the princess in his care. He slowly turns to face her and she seems so happy to be free of the place, even for a little while, and he can’t help but smile in return.

“Is it true that you are friends with the Legends?” Her excitement is almost palpable. “Is there a chance we may meet them?”

Barry isn’t sure that that’s the best idea. The Legends, a roving band of knights who often cause more trouble than needed and aren’t exactly the stealthiest, but then again, hiding the princess in the chaos of the Legends might be the safest thing he could do. They may not be conventional, but they would protect the princess with their lives.

“Indeed, your Highness,” he says with a small smile as he moves to fetch his horse. “In fact, I may know exactly where to find them.”

If the princess wants an adventure, than an adventure she shall have.

- - - - - -

The Waverider is a tiny tavern halfway between the boundaries of Starling City and the Central Kingdom, and is often a haven of less than favorable people, or people who don’t have the kind of honor that people would expect. Still, Barry knows that the members of the Legends who run the bar are loyal to the crown, and the princess will be safe.

At the same time, that doesn’t stop the greeting of broken beer bottles, blades and bow staffs.

Still, the princess holds her own in a way that Barry has come to love about her. She talks back with the best of them, is more than capable of holding her own ground in terms of both words and drink. When she decides to try and clean out Mick Rory, one of the hardest bandits Barry has ever met, Barry retreats to a nearby table with his own mead, and Leonard Snart, the second in command of the group, comes to join him with a smirk.

“You know, when Sara told me that you spent most of your time making heart eyes at the princess I thought that was rather predictable of you,” he drawls, bringing his own mug to his lips. “Now I’m starting to see what all the fuss is about.”

“That’s because you think all royalty is worthless,” Barry points out. “And once you’ve come to a conclusion, it is quite difficult to change your mind.”

“That is a rather harsh assessment, Sir Allen.” There’s a pause. “But a fair one.”

Barry smirks, glancing over to the poker table to follow the happy cry as Iris leaned forward to scoop up her winnings, much to the disgruntled faces of the men and women at the table. “Perhaps for most of them you’d be right, but Iris is different. She always has been. She cares about her people and about … being informed. She’s stronger than anyone would give her credit for.”

Snart is watching him and Barry wonders what it is he gives away that makes him so easy to read by others, but not the one who needs to see it most. “Perhaps you’re right,” Snart muses. “If that is the case, I hope she will continue to be a great queen one day.”

“I know she will be,” Barry says softly. So long as she isn’t forced to marry a man by the likes of Thawne. She needs a king that will give her the space to be queen, who’s ego isn’t bigger than his love for her. When Iris gets up from the table to return to Barry, Snart pushes up.

“That’s my cue,” he murmurs softly, and before the princess is in earshot: “Don’t count yourself out, Sir Allen. A noble heart counts for much more than you realize.” He gives a small bow to the princess as he offers her is seat, which she takes with a nod and a small thank you. Iris looks curiously between them.

“What were you two discussing?”

“Matters of the heart, I’m afraid,” Snart says with a bit of a smirk. “The young knight here is in love, but is worried his lady doesn’t return his affections.”

“Nonsense,” Iris says with a small smile. “Sir Allen is the most honorable man I ever met. His lady would be foolish not to feel the same way.”

Barry’s eyes meet hers, trying to see if there’s something that he’s missing, but before he can say anything, the door to the tavern is blown open, and all of them are on high alert – blades, bottles and bow staffs alike. This time, however, the paranoia is warranted when Hunter Zolomon, the Black Knight of the Speed Force and Eobard’s second in command, steps through and greets them all with his most charming smile – or at least it would be charming, were it not for the way it splintered, sitting not quite right on his face.

“Sir Allen,” he begins, setting eyes on Barry. “Thank you so much for finding the princess for us. Her betrothed has been just … beside himself with worry.”

Mick spits. “Betrothed my ass.”

Hunter rolls his eyes before turning to Mick. “Also for the apprehension of Mick Rory, one of the most dangerous criminals in the seven kingdoms.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding what’s happening here,” Snart says. “We are all well aware of what you’re after. And as far as we’re concerned, the princess isn’t leaving unless she wishes to.” His eyes roam over the room to where Iris is standing behind Barry. “Your Highness?”

Barry also looks to Iris, and though she’s clearly overwhelmed, and knows the threat in front of her, she holds her ground and shakes her head. “Absolutely not.”

“There you have it,” Snart smirks. “Guess we’ll be seeing you.”

“Very well,” Hunter draws his sword and tips his head to the side. “We do this the hard way.”

It’s after that moment that the phrase “all hell breaks loose” takes on new meaning. Barry backs Iris towards one of the walls, before reaching down and grabbing one of the swords off the wall and handing it to Iris. “My lady, just in case.”

Iris looks up, surprised. “You’re giving me this?”

“I’ve seen you train,” he replies. “And it will be easier to defend you if you are able to defend yourself. We can work together?” He looks over at her hopefully, and she tightens her grip around the hilt and nods.

“Together.”

- - - - -

The battle rages for the better part of an hour, with the Legends giving everything they’ve got and eventually back up arriving from the King including Sir Queen and the other half of the sister Canaries. By the time they arrive, Barry has continued to fall back with Iris, with Hunter hot on their heels. Before they can make it to the safety of the Starling City borders, Hunter manages to knock Barry to the side, swinging the blade wide towards Iris, but Barry is fast, given that the speed force is as strong in him as it is in his fellow paladin. He pushes to his feet and charges forward, passing between them just in time to get Iris out of the way, but not soon enough to avoid the slice of steel against his skin.

“Sir Allen!”

He drops to the ground, already feeling himself bleeding badly from the wound, but he struggles to reach for his sword, not willing to go down quite yet. He struggles to his feet, but just as he gets there, two arrows slice through Hunter’s chest and the larger knight drops to the ground. Barry blinks in surprise, before following his eyes over to Oliver, who is standing just outside of the trees, bow still drawn.

“Oh good. You’re here.”

He glances back to Iris to make sure she’s safe, and she takes a step forward, kissing him softly in response. “That is a thank you, for saving my life.”

“Always, your Highness,” he says with a small smile. “Though, it’s rather undignified of me, but … I believe I’m going to pass out now.”

And he does. He knows that Oliver and Iris will find him a cleric, and he will be fine, in the end, but for the moment, as far as he is concerned, if this is how he is destined to leave the Earth, he is more than capable of dying happy.