Chapter Text
I’ve made a mistake.
Just those four simple words, accompanied by a scribbled set of initials: KLP, done in the hastiest cursive. It wouldn’t take a scholar to decipher this, to decide from whence it came and what it meant, but Barbara understands why the letter was meant for her hands, because they’ll spur her to action, the kind that the other knights might not contrive of by themselves.
She takes only a minute to decide who to approach first and only another minute to hurry from the main hall to Maria’s chambers. There is no great matter that needs attending as far as the rest of the realm is concerned, so she’s like to be found amongst her books of strategy, using the time to study techniques.
“Lady Maria,” she murmurs with the slightest sardonic edge, dropping in half a curtsy despite currently having no skirt on to curtsy with. “May I beg a bit of your time?”
“Certainly,” replies Maria, who is seated. “What is it?”
Barbara approaches, laying the letter out on Maria’s desk and raising an eyebrow. “Do you understand what this means?”
Maria glances at it, then looks up at Barbara. “Perhaps? Do you?”
“I do,” Barbara says grimly. “It’s a clear call for help.”
Maria frowns. “Kara went off to marry her intended a moon or two ago, did she not?”
“Correct, and the wedding has yet to transpire,” Barbara agrees. “But when one is betrothed, living in the castle of one’s intended, ‘mistake’ almost certainly means…”
“Disillusionment?” Maria asks. “But you seem far too ill at ease for that. What are you thinking?”
“If she’s disillusioned with the man she’s to marry, what does that say for the marriage?” Barbara counters. “And to share it in a letter so terse it’s as if she expects a spy to be making note of her suspicious correspondences? She’s seen the man for his true self and wants none of it.”
“Fair points, all,” replies Maria. “What do you aim to do about it? I know you care for her.”
Barbara’s gaze falls. In truth, she has affections for all of the women she’s come to know at court, but she’s long suspected those she holds for Kara are somehow different, more complicated; she has no way of knowing if that was the other reason the letter came to her, but it’s a clear possibility. “Yes,” she murmurs. “I propose we mount a rescue.”
Maria chuckles. “Our queen may have some remarks about that.”
“You say that as if she not only approves but endorses Kara’s marriage,” Barbara replies dryly.
“Oh, I have no doubt that she is indifferent at best towards the match,” says Maria. “She might, however, have some objection to one of her knights gallivanting off on a quest driven by her heart.”
That word, heart, causes Barbara to flinch, almost embarrassed. “It’s not in the queen’s best interests to allow her courtiers to make a match with such an odious suitor,” she retorts. “Word gets out of one such match made and every philandering sycophant within a week’s ride will swarm us.”
Her reply makes Maria snort unselfconsciously. “And whatever would we do then,” she muses. “Still, I suspect this is not something we will want to inform the queen of. Perhaps another...excuse must be fabricated to explain your absence.”
“Mine, and that of whoever will accompany me,” Barbara says archly. “Even I am not quite dashing enough to manage such a rescue on my own.”
“Of course,” replies Maria with a smile. “And who will that be? Her majesty will become suspicious if too many of her knights all leave together.”
“From the way you say that, I suspect you won’t come along,” Barbara muses. “I dare not ask Isabelle, nor even tell her, lest she relay the information.”
“What about Daisy? She is newly appointed, eager to prove herself.”
Barbara nods. “This is as good a mission as any for the princess to test her skills.”
“Yes. Her majesty would not argue sending her off for that reason.” Maria thinks a moment. “And perhaps Melinda? She has been in service even longer than I.”
“They would balance each other, you mean,” Barbara smirks. The older woman has been responsible for the bulk of the princess’ training, as well.
Maria laughs. “Yes, I suspect it will go easier for you if Melinda accompanies her charge.”
“Perhaps Daisy could be our supposed reason for going,” Barbara suggests. “Teaching her what it means to travel as we do.”
“Yes.” Maria’s nodding, as if she’s thinking. “Perhaps you could travel to her mother’s court on the return journey, and tell Her Majesty that you merely found Kara seeking refuge there and offered to bring her home.”
“Brilliant,” Barbara exclaims. “Once again, your logic saves us.”
“Hush,” says Maria with a roll of her eyes. “Flatterer.”
“One of my greatest talents,” Barbara replies, grinning.
“Do you have something to say?” Melinda asks. Barbara’s been watching her clean her daggers for far too long for her liking.
Barbara raises an eyebrow. “There’s a matter I would discuss with you, yes.”
“Oh?” Melinda doesn’t look up from her work.
“How would you like to undertake a rescue mission?”
“That sounds dramatic,” remarks Melinda. “Of what sort?”
“One of our own has reached out for help,” Barbara says.
Melinda glances up, the first time she’s looked at Barbara since she spoke to her.
“You understand who I mean,” Barbara murmurs.
“I’ve never liked the man who asked for her,” scoffs Melinda. “I cannot say this shocks me. What do you need from me?”
“I intend to retrieve her, but I would not be foolish enough to do so without reinforcements,” Barbara says. “I expect you understand?”
Nodding, Melinda says, “I will accompany you. Is it to be Her Majesty’s entire band of knights then?” She’s smirking.
“Her Majesty will not know our intentions,” Barbara replies, shrugging carefully.
“Oh. Very well. When will we depart?”
“As soon as we’re able,” Barbara says. “I do not want to give the man a chance to do anything worse to her than he already must have.”
Melinda winces. “Indeed. Allow me to finish this task and gather my things, then I shall be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”
“My sincerest thanks,” Barbara says warmly.
Daisy doesn’t notice Barbara immediately, as she’s too busy attacking a straw dummy.
“Have you bested it really and truly?” Barbara asks wryly, trying not to laugh.
“I think I have,” replies Daisy with a grin, “although perhaps I ought to have sent it flying. Do you need something?”
“Are you at all interested in an adventure?”
Daisy’s face brightens. “What sort of adventure?”
“A rescue mission, in fact,” Barbara declares. “One of my own design.”
“Rescue?” Daisy’s excited expression changes to one of concern. “Who will we be rescuing?” She thinks a moment. “Is it Lady Kara?”
Barbara nods, expression grim. “I’ve had a letter,” she explains, drawing it from her pocket and unfolding it so Daisy can look it over. “You see how simple, how flat it is? How nondescript?”
Daisy nods. “Strange, for Kara to be so laconic. You suspect foul play?”
“I suspect she is unhappy, and it would be wrong not to amend that,” Barbara says. “I suspect that if she has not been hurt, she fears she may be.”
“And so we must go rescue her!” replies Daisy, looking more serious. “I would be honored to go with you.”
“And I in turn would be honored to have you along,” Barbara says, smiling softly. “It would be us and Melinda on the journey, and there’s one more favor I would ask of you.”
“Oh?” Daisy seems surprised.
“I’ve spoken with Lady Maria, though she will not be joining us, and she suggested we might be able to use your mother’s court as an excuse,” Barbara explains. “Claim we’re going to pay a visit and found Kara seeking refuge, instead of going to pull Kara from that man and stopping in to see your mother after.”
“Oh!” Seeming uncertain, Daisy hesitates. “I...I suppose I could write to her, yes. I’m sure she’d want to see me, and meet those I train under.”
Barbara frowns. “If you would rather keep your lives separate, I understand,” she says. “It just seemed the most likely explanation.”
“No, I will...I will deal with it,” replies Daisy. “It is practical. You will just have to get used to my other name.” She smirks.
“A small task,” Barbara scoffs playfully. “I think Melinda and I are clever enough to manage.”
“Very well. When do we leave?”
“Will you need to inform your mother of our travels much in advance?” Barbara asks. “Melinda and I will be ready any time you are.”
Daisy chuckles. “I will send a letter before we leave, but she would be happy to see me, notice or no. None will dare question the queen.”
“In that case, we need only to gather our things and make our excuses to our queen,” Barbara says. “Could you be ready to leave in two days’ time?”
“Of course!” Daisy smiles. “I should not be excited, since this is hardly a happy occasion, but I confess I am.”
‘Your excitement is well-placed, I think,” Barbara muses. “We’ll be paying a visit to your mother and we’ll be bringing Kara home. I think those are perfectly happy things.”
“True enough,” Daisy says. Then she smirks. “I’m sure the second of those will make you very happy.”
“Ensuring her safety and well-being? Of course,” Barbara says archly, ignoring the very obvious implications.
Chuckling, Daisy replies, “Yes, those are important as well.”
It isn’t often that Jemma has company in the apothecary: most of the ladies at court have little interest in such things, which is no strike against them but simply a fact, so unless someone has come looking for her she is often alone with her plants and chemicals. She doesn’t mind it: Queen Victoria is a gracious benefactor and has supplied her well, and she’d be glad to while away the hours experimenting.
Sometimes, though, she steps into the spare room given to this purpose and finds she isn’t the first one to be struck with the urge, and when that happens, it’s more likely than not that the other party is Barbara.
“Dare I ask?” Jemma murmurs, arms folded and eyebrow raised.
“Dare I tell is the more important question,” Barbara replies. “If some of us were planning to do something that involved, how shall I phrase it. Telling half-truths to your guardian the queen in order to achieve a noble goal. If that was the case, would you feel compelled to tell her the rest?”
Jemma frowns. “What noble goal could you be sneaking behind Her Majesty’s back to accomplish that involves poison?”
Barbara glances down at the items in front of her. “With anyone else, I would be able to get away with making this unnoticed,” she sighs. “We - I - had a letter from Kara.”
“And if you’re making a poison, I assume the tone of said letter was disheartened,” Jemma muses.
“We mean to help her escape her situation,” Barbara explains.
“And while said escape would not offend the queen, the methods you may have to employ to allow it would,” Jemma suggests. “Or at least they might make her have to act offended.”
Barbara nods. “I oughtn’t to tell you everything, lest you’re asked -”
“I could manage to feign ignorance!” Jemma interrupts, looking indignant.
“Perhaps, but I would also spare you the worry,” Barbara continues. “It will be Melinda, Daisy and I on the journey.”
“Oh.” Like that, the air seems to go out of Jemma’s lungs. It isn’t that she doubts the selection, but Melinda and Barbara are some of the most formidable fighters she’s seen and Daisy - well, Daisy is formidable in her own way, but she has considerably less experience. She doesn’t doubt, but she worries.
“I assure you we’ll keep her out of harm’s way,” Barbara teases.
“Who?” Jemma asks, hardly demonstrating the ability to feign ignorance she claimed a moment ago.
“Your princess, of course,” Barbara says.
“Well, I’m sure she’ll keep you out of harm’s way, too,” Jemma retorts quickly.
“We wouldn’t ask her along if we didn’t believe that.”
Daisy tries to sleep the night before their journey, she does, but she finds herself too anxious to do so. Pleasantly so, but all the same she won’t be sleeping for a while, if at all. Since the rest of the court is quiet, she finds herself wandering out into the garden, hoping perhaps the night air will help calm her.
She’s not expecting anyone else to be there, but neither is she surprised to see Jemma walking slowly down one of the small paths, as if half-asleep or lost in thought. “Jemma!” she calls, her heart fluttering.
Jemma bites her lip as she stops. Even without looking she knows it’s Daisy. She would know that no matter what. “What brings you here?” she asks, trying for lighthearted.
For a moment Daisy is dumbstruck. Partially because she’s unsure of how to explain herself, since Barbara told her it was a matter of some secrecy, and partially because Jemma looks especially lovely in the moonlight. “Erm,” she says. “I...I’m leaving in the morning.”
“I know,” Jemma murmurs.
“You do?”
“I caught Barbara in my apothecary,” Jemma explains. “She didn’t tell me exactly what you were doing, but she told me you were going to rescue Kara. I think it’s incredible.”
Daisy flushes a bit. “Thank you,” she murmurs. “I...it’s not even my idea, but I’d like to help.”
Jemma steps closer. “I’m sure you will,” she says. “All of you will do wonderfully, but I - well, the first thing I thought was worry, but not because I don’t believe you’re not capable. I know you can take care of yourself. I just don’t know that I could take the risk of you going off without…”
“Without…?” Daisy’s not ignorant, but she doesn’t want to overstep her boundaries or make assumptions.
“I wouldn’t want you to go off without my having said how much you mean to me,” Jemma whispers. “I couldn’t take that risk.”
Daisy gasps, even though this shouldn’t be a shock to her. “I...I feel the same way,” she stutters, suddenly nervous for a different reason. “About you, I mean.”
“I know I must seem fickle,” Jemma says suddenly, gaze falling, “fawning over Barbara one day and Lady Anne the next, seeming to lose my senses just hearing stories of Queen Margaret’s reign, but it’s different with you, Daisy. That must sound horribly trite.”
“It doesn’t,” Daisy reassures her, “but...how is it different?” She’s more curious than anything.
“You must admit, we’re surrounded by beautiful, incredible women,” Jemma says, smiling coyly. “But while I can see that, while a kind word from any of them can lift my spirits no matter, with you I feel… I see you and I feel my heart start to race, but at the same time I’m calm as I’ve ever been, like I just know. You’re right.”
Her words awe Daisy, in a way she’s never felt before. “Yes,” she murmurs, “I would never have put it so well, but that’s how I feel too. You’re... I wish to be worthy of you.”
Jemma can’t help it, she actually laughs. “You’re worried about being worthy of me?” she exclaims. “Which of us is the princess?”
“I am a princess in name only,” scoffs Daisy. “Hardly suited for the title. A true princess would not run off to train as a knight. And you, you are so clever and learning to do useful things in the apothecary - I am merely one of many who serve Her Majesty.”
“A true princess would do whatever suited her, I think,” Jemma suggests. “And all the better if it can help others. I think that’s incredibly princesslike.”
Daisy smiles, glancing at her feet shyly. “You’re very kind. And...beautiful,” she adds, before her mind can caution her against it.
Jemma lets out a happy sort of hum. “I’m very flattered that you think so.”
“I do,” replies Daisy, meeting her eyes and then glancing away again. “I...I would like to kiss you, if I may.”
Very shyly, Jemma takes Daisy’s hand. “You may,” she agrees.
And so Daisy, a bit hesitantly, leans in and kisses Jemma on the lips.
“I’m not going to break,” Jemma whispers teasingly.
“Oh, it’s not you that I’m afraid of breaking, lady,” murmurs Daisy, smiling wider. “It is merely that I keep expecting to awaken from a dream.”
“If that is the case, we must be having the same dream,” Jemma says. “I would enjoy it while we have a chance.”
“I said you were clever, and you prove me right again,” Daisy replies, drawing Jemma close for another kiss.
“Gods,” Jemma breathes out. Her arms go around Daisy’s waist and she rises on tiptoes so that their foreheads may touch. “You’re so wonderfully soft.”
“I might say the same of you,” says Daisy, slipping her own arms around Jemma. “I admit I have little experience in these matters, but I had not imagined you’d be so…” She falters, closes her eyes in contentment.
“So sweet? So enthusiastic?”
“So perfect,” Daisy finishes, finally.
“We ought to sit,” Jemma says faintly, nodding in the direction of one of the benches. “I confess I’m beginning to go a bit weak-kneed from your attentions.”
Daisy laughs. “I thought that was merely an expression. You flatter me, Jemma.”
“Until tonight, I thought it was as well.” Jemma takes Daisy's hand to pull her toward the bench, smiling almost coyly. “I hope you understand that everything I say to you is truly meant.”
“I do. And what I say as well.” Daisy follows Jemma and they sit. “You are...not quite what I expected to find here, Jemma. But I’m all the gladder for it.”
“You are not quite what I expected to find anywhere,” Jemma admits. “Even surrounded by such good, such beautiful, such strong women, I never imagined one like you would want me.”
“Well, I didn’t think a woman like yourself would want someone so uncouth as me,” says Daisy, smirking. “I am hardly befitting of the company of a fine lady such as yourself.”
“Exactly what do you consider ‘fine’?” Jemma asks. “As princess is your title and nothing more, lady is mine.”
“Yes, but you are...you are cultured and refined in a way that I am not. You have talents in music, you have so much knowledge. I am merely learning how to hit things with a sword.”
“And ride horses, and strategize, and do all number of things,” Jemma adds. “Do not sell yourself short, or make so much of my compulsion to fill my mind and hours with whatever I may. Hitting things with a sword may save lives. Mastering the harp entertains guests at a party, if that.”
Daisy shakes her head. “And you should not underestimate yourself either. Your talents are just as useful as mine, for where would we be without the potions you and those who share your skills concoct? And music may bring comfort and joy to its listener.”
“What I mean is, I am no finer than you for my talents,” Jemma murmurs, reaching to brush back a strand of Daisy’s hair. “I happen to think that you’re one of the finest women I know.”
Flushing again, Daisy leans to kiss Jemma’s cheek. “You are sweet, lady. I think much the same of you.”
“I think,” Jemma says, “that I could exchange sweet words with you for hours and not grow tired of it.”
“Yes, I think so as well,” says Daisy, but then she glances at the sky and sighs. “But perhaps I should retire and try once more to sleep. Much as I would rather sit here gazing at your beauty, I suspect Barbara would be unhappy were I to be less than at my sharpest when we leave.”
Jemma hesitates, seeming to will herself to speak, but finally she says, “My bed would be large enough for both of us, if you would consider falling asleep beside me.”
“Why Lady Jemma,” replies Daisy playfully, “are you suggesting something untoward?”
“I am suggesting that for the night you imagine me your bedmaid,” Jemma exclaims, feigning indignation. “That we might sleep in each other’s arms, hearing the other’s breath and heartbeat. I would do nothing more than that, for you need your rest.”
“Well, I would not object to the other things as well,” replies Daisy, eyes gleaming, “but that also sounds wonderful.”
“In time,” Jemma declares. “I would have our first time at the other things not be so rushed.”
Daisy leans over to kiss her once more. “You make a very good argument, lady. Let us retire?”
“Please,” Jemma agrees, rising. She offers a hand and a tiny smile to Daisy.
And Daisy takes it, giving Jemma a smile of her own. “Forgive me if I was too forward,” she adds. “My mother says I sometimes talk before I think. I suspect she sent me here in hopes I would learn better.”
“You were not,” Jemma promises. “I am the one who invited you to share my bed so soon after our first kiss, after all.”
“True enough,” Daisy laughs. “But how could I resist you?”
“Incredible willpower?” Jemma suggests, grinning.
“More than I possess. You are...you are enchanting.”
“Hardly,” Jemma scoffs. “There’s no such thing as magic.”
“Then explain how I feel so happy right now,” replies Daisy, only half-serious.
Jemma shrugs. “You’re happy because you’ve gotten something you wanted, because things are going well,” she says. “Because, I presume, you enjoy my company and I enjoy yours.”
“Oh, very much so.” Daisy squeezes Jemma’s hand. “Truly, it will make it all the harder to leave.”
“You’re doing something important,” Jemma says. “You and Melinda and Barbara are going to do one of the most important things you can, quite possibly save the life of one of our own. I wouldn’t dream of interfering.”
“And yet I will find myself unable to keep you from my thoughts,” murmurs Daisy. “And counting the days until I return to you.”
“Let’s hope for everyone’s sake that your rescue does not take overly long, then,” Jemma teases. By now they’ve entered the castle, but they have yet to drop hands.
Daisy’s about to reply, but then she hears some muffled noises down the hall and pauses. “Do you hear that?”
“Hear…” Jemma wrinkles her nose in concentration. “Coming from Lady Sif’s room? I’m not sure I…”
“I think I do,” says Daisy, a look of mischief coming over her face. “You haven’t heard the stories?”
Jemma shakes her head.
“Well.” Daisy draws herself up, ready to tell a story, as she continues down the hall. “You are aware of intimacy born of deep affection and love, of course.”
“Of course!” Jemma declares. “I think I’ve stumbled on nearly everyone either in the throes of such or about to be.”
Daisy snickers. “Yes, as have I. But others...they partake of such intimacy despite, or perhaps because of, their passionate disdain for each other.”
“What’s your point?” Jemma asks.
“Oh, that the Lady Sif and Lady Lorelei are one such pair. Most of the court knows it, though they would prefer we did not. But how are we to avoid knowing, when they are hardly discreet?”
“I thought it was only a rumor,” Jemma muses. “Sif is so often practical, not…” She makes a face. “They’re oddly matched.”
“They are, but it seems to be an arrangement that works for them.” Daisy shrugs. “Far be it from me to condemn.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of doing,” Jemma agrees. “Just that it seems… odd.”
“It does to me as well,” Daisy confesses. “I couldn’t imagine embracing someone I despised, let alone...well.” She smirks.
“There are a great many things about others’ intimacy that seem unimaginable to me,” Jemma says. “I think I’m used to that and then…” She nods in the direction of Sif’s room.
Daisy chuckles. “There are a great many ways to love, it seems. Luckily, you needn’t worry too much about others’ ways, only your own.”
“And yours,” Jemma murmurs. “I would be much aggrieved if yours didn’t match mine, at least enough that we may be… something to each other.”
“Oh yes,” whispers Daisy, leaning in for another quick kiss. “I hope that as well. You are...I wish to stay by your side, if I may be allowed.”
“You may,” Jemma agrees, squeezing Daisy’s hand. They reach her door and she motions Daisy inside. “Before we retire, might you allow me to brush your hair for you?”
Daisy nods eagerly. “I cannot imagine anything nicer.”