Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Aquil had always thought Danaya was the most beautiful of the four Sanggres. ‘Sila namang lahat ay ubod ng ganda’, he thought, as he watched over the three of them argue about the latest of the never-ending threats from Hathoria to their beloved Lireo.

But Danaya’s allure lay beyond that perfect face. The face drew attention,yes, but her loyalty and devotion to the kingdom and to her sisters were even more admirable. She would have made a great Hara. She was clever and fair although a little too impatient as she had always been.

She was also a stunning fighter. It was mesmerizing to watch her in combat and he was pretty sure that’d get him killed someday. He did realize that Danaya picked up the bastons as her weapons - weapons that weren’t sharp but needed precision and strength to inflict serious injury - out of sheer spite to prove him wrong but he couldn’t imagine anyone else wielding them. It made him proud to say he taught her. He was proud to fight alongside her and to protect her, even when she only begrudgingly let him so.

He accepted that all of those were excellent traits and only a fool would try to claim that Danaya, as a Sanggre, was anything less than ethereal. But this was getting out of hand. Emre knew he was trying his damnest not to think about whatever this was. In the middle of an impending war was certainly not the right time to dwell on Danaya's alluring qualities.

As the Sanggres’ exchange got more heated, he also realized that he had picked up the subtle nuances of Danaya’s behaviour. They were very subtle that only a keen observer (or a creep) would notice them. Dread and panic started to set over him.

He had come to know that the tick of her jaw and the glimmer in her eyes meant whoever she was annoyed with would rather wish to be sent to Balaak than face her wrath. That the pursed lips would be followed by cutting remarks. She was never one to mince words after all. And he also knew that the chin lift and the minute raise of her eyebrow meant he better intervene soon or this meeting could end very badly.

“Mga Sanggre, kung inyong mamarapatin ay imumungkahi kong kayo muna ay magpahinga sandali. Magpulong tayong muli pagkatapos ng tanghalian. Hindi makakatulong kung tayo ay mag aaway-away lamang,” Aquil said. He glanced at Danaya and saw her took a deep breath as she looked down on her fists to calm down.

“Sumasang-ayon ako kay Mashna Aquil. Magsasayang lang tayo ng oras kung ipagpapatuloy natin ito," Amihan agreed. "Magpulong tayong muli kapag nandito na ang Inang Reyna." She gathered her skirts and stood up, signalling to the others that the meeting would be adjourned for later.

Crisis momentarily averted, Aquil bowed in deference to Amihan and Alena as they left the council chamber, praying to merciful Emre that Danaya would follow suit. The god must had been busy since she moved not an inch from her seat. Instead, she sent her irritation his way with daggers in her eyes.

“Bakit?! Alam kong malapit ka ng mapikon at alam ko ring pagsisisihan mo ang masasabi mo.” He didn’t know why he felt defensive. He was definitely aware it wasn’t the right way to talk to a Sanggre but they had been talking like this in and out of court for so long now, it had become natural to him, to them. She glared at him some more but he noticed the colour creeping up her cheeks. He knew what that meant too. She knew he was right but hell if she'd admit it.

“Ayokong magpahinga. Masyadong maraming tumatakbo sa isip ko. Anong gagawin mo bago magtanghalian?” Danaya asked. Aquil understood what she was not asking.

“Walang hindi pwedeng ipag utos sa isang kawal. Hihintayin kita sa silid sanayan.” He put his right fist on his chest and bowed his head.

Danaya nodded and glanced at Aquil again. The poison of her stare was gone, replaced by a softer one that made her brown eyes sway. That too he knew. Danaya had always found it hard to put voice on her emotions but her eyes would always give her away. Not many knew that but he did. He knew her well and he knew he was well and truly fucked.

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Danaya couldn’t remember the first time she realized that the Punong Mashna of the Lirean army was a handsome engkantado.

It could have been that time she accidentally saw him taking a bath in the falls when she was still a Diwani. It was certainly when she realized Aquil was a man, and not just their strict combat mentor. Or maybe it was when she saw him fight real enemies for the first time. He was breath taking. Gracefully deadly, precise and incredibly strong. That dark look on his face made her feel things she didn’t understand. She told herself it made her want to fight better and to take the Mashna’s lessons more seriously. She was glad she did.

Anyhow, she was aware of Aquil’s fine physical attributes long before she realized what that could mean. But she learnt how truly attractive he was as she assumed her role at court.

Aquil had been serving their kingdom for a long time. He was not only a good fighter but a good leader. She had always found it fascinating how he could command the vast network of soldiers in the kingdom. Despite his skills and position though, he was never arrogant. He always had kind words and sound advice. Aside from her family, Aquil inspired reverence and loyalty from all ranks. Those were very appealing qualities in Danaya’s book. Not that she was thinking about his appealing qualities.

Aquil was also the closest to a friend she got. Of course, he was older by a few diwatan years but Danaya never felt that gap. She guessed it was because they had now met in the middle of their lives.

She always found it hard to say how she felt, she preferred showing it. And Aquil seemed to understand that. When her temper was about to get the better of her, he had always known how to quell it. Their combat practices helped a lot although she’d rather eat dirt than admit that she also enjoyed seeing Aquil worked up. The look suited him well.

Yes, she found him attractive. There was no use denying it. Everybody with eyes could see he was a fine specimen of an engkantado. He was attractive, yes, but he was also the Punong Mashna and she had a duty to Lireo. He couldn’t be interested in her anyway. She knew she was difficult to deal with. He even said how he pitied her future husband.

Well, whoever he could be, the best of luck to him since she had no plans of making it easier for him.

Chapter Text

This is set wherever you think it fits in the timeline. I'd say during the brief respite in Amihan's reign while Lira/Mira was growing up.

Danaya hated being out of depth. She needed to know and to be absolutely sure. She loathed not knowing; not knowing what to do, how to act, how to feel, what to say. She detested second guessing, relying on anyone was simply outrageous. She should only rely on herself: her capabilities, knowledge and skills.

This was why she liked rules. Rules she could memorize and follow. Protocol was familiar, comforting and unchanging. Laws were laws, they didn’t require emotions. Emotions were cumbersome, laws were unquestionable.

She was not unfeeling, no. Her love was brimming for her sisters and niece. All of them, even aggravating Pirena. She loved Lireo equally if not more and she would give up her life into service for Encantadia. But she preferred to show her love through devotion and action. She was good at that. And she was determined to do a good job. She mostly did a good job.

It would have been so easy, so perfect, if the Punong Mashna and his infuriating beautiful face could just stop undermining her carefully crafted logic and willpower.

Could he stop looking at her under those damn long lashes or bowing stiff at her and reverting to Sanggre Danaya instead of just Danaya when she bit his head off so she could stop her heart from aching? She wouldn’t be so annoyed with him anyway if he’d just stop being smug and if he could maybe dim the sparkle of his eyes a bit. If he could also stop making sense during council meetings, that’d be great. For Emre’s sake, could he stop clenching his jaws like that when the advisers were being disagreeable? 

And one more thing, how did he know the right words to say or just the right thing to do when she was angry or sad? How could he just press a hand on her forearm to quell her temper? How did he always seem to know what she feels and why could she hide it from everyone but him? How did he become so good at reading her?

Danaya didn’t think Aquil would be good at anything else other than combat training when she was young. Even her Inang Reyna would give them training reprieve from time to time. But him? No! Rain or shine they had to be down at the beach and beat up the poor soldiers assigned to each one of them. When she was old enough, she then gained the privilege of beating the crap out of him. Well, she definitely tried her best until she finally could. She must admit though, she enjoyed that part of their training the most. She liked that he always challenged her, pushed her to her limits, gave her his best, even though, at that time, she wasn’t good enough or strong enough to match him.

Now, she wouldn’t spar with anyone else. Nobody else wanted to do it with her anyway because, well…she drew blood. Aquil would actually let her color him purple and occasionally tear skin. But he refused to do the same to her which just annoyed her and only added force to her blows. They now had a standing score of 253-251 in her favor.

When they finished, he would let her take her time to heal all the bruises and wounds she made. After that, she would bring her defences down and stop pretending that everything he did irritate her. They would talk, banter and eat together. They would be friends and they wouldn’t think of their social standing or duties for a few hours. And finally… finally, she would let herself accept that this was her favorite part of the day.

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Aquil found Danaya’s strong-willed nature equally admirable and frustrating. Sometimes, he'd catch himself missing the mischievous Diwani who didn’t want to train and refused to take her duties seriously. She was more carefree in giving her smiles and laughter then. She had always been stubborn but there was less resistance in accepting his aid and guidance then. Nevertheless, he trained her and her sisters well. He trained them, her hard. Perhaps he had a hand at shaping her into this infallible leader. Did he regret it? Definitely not. Would he like to change her? No. As a soldier and subject, no. But as Aquil…

Even as Punong Mashna, her being a Sanggre would always put her above his station. He had to differ to her decisions…or convince her his’ made better sense. He didn’t have a problem with that, of course. She was obstinate, not unreasonable. In fact, they often found themselves agreeing to either one’s ideas. They worked well together. Danaya thought strategically which immensely helped them build their military defence. He didn’t mind her interjecting and overturning his commands.

But he liked being in control too. He was commander in chief after all. He didn’t like it for the power. He wanted it for the benefit of being able to decide how to help. He thrived on responding to the needs of the kingdom, from royalty to smallfolk. He preferred to be the one to shoulder the burden. He liked being needed, the one to give support and offer solutions.

So, at times, when he offered Danaya words of comfort, a helping hand, a friend to talk to or a shoulder to cry on and she would resist, he'd feel utterly incompetent and it was maddening how his heart squeeze in dejection.

Despite all that, those times when she didn’t succeed in putting her walls up, when she’d gift him her soft smiles, put her head on his shoulder or hid her tears on his chest, he’d feel Devas singing, all the other exasperating times she didn’t, worth it.

There was one more thing that was all worth it and that he’d gladly pay in blood for.

He didn’t mind getting knocked about every combat practice if it meant having the exclusive rights to witness this version of Danaya. Her hair was escaping wild from her braids as she spun away from his attack, eyes blazing and chest heaving to catch her breath. The sheen of sweat covering her made her glow.

The very image of an ethereal warrior goddess.

He could feel her bastons vibrating, her earth gem making the floor beneath her tremble. It never bothered him that she was way more powerful than he was. He trusted her to keep her strength under control lest she murdered him. If this was the session that he actually dies, though, he thought he’d go happily. But maybe not quite yet.

He wouldn't mind all the body aches and healing bruises in varying stages any day, every day if it meant having Danaya ghostly run a hand all over him after their practice while her gemstone scanned and healed all the injuries she inflicted on him. She was always meticulous and would sometimes do it again until he’d tell her he felt better. It was a sacred ritual they follow to a tee. After that, the best part of his day would begin.

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Aquil felt exhausted to the bones. He and Danaya were both sitting slumped in the middle of the empty practice hall after she made sure he was all healed. Nobody dared to enter the hall when they were there. The soldiers said they were not sparring; she was actually trying to kill him for real which was terrifying to witness. All the better for him that they didn't since Danaya seemed to feel more relaxed and carefree after their sessions when nobody else was around.

He peaked at Danaya who was busy untangling her messy braid. She didn’t even seem winded. She was not even sweating anymore while his clothes were soaked through. He was now glad they decided not to wear their battle gears even though it meant he was more battered than usual. She caught him staring at her and grinned. He automatically grinned back.

“Let’s go. I’m hungry,” she said to him, shaking her hair. It tumbled down her back, cascading in dark silky waves. He need not remark on her fine appearance anymore but with her hair down and unbound like this, she was bewitching, it’s painful.

She stood up after she finished and gave him a pointed look. He, on the other hand, didn't want to move. He's so damn tired. He was content watching her run her hands through her hair.

“Yeah…just…give me a minute.” Food in his system would be nice but right now what he’d like to do was to lie down for a bit. So, he did.

“No!” her pitch was hiking, so unlike her usual low biting tone. She picked up his right wrist and dragged him up.

“Come on! I’m starving!”

He fought the smile forming. He couldn’t get used to Danaya initiating physical contact. She was always proper and formal at court that this unreserved Danaya was so different, so rare and so bad for his heart. He’d like to prolong this moment for as long as he can.

He made himself heavy and let her tug on his arm some more. She could easily lift him up if she wanted to but he knew she’d never abuse her gem like that.

“Our food’s going to get cold if you don’t move now. Aquil!” He finally laughed at the annoyance in her voice. Now that was typical Danaya.

“Alright, I’m up,” he conceded. She groaned, pulling him up and rolled her eyes at him but he noticed the upward quirk of her mouth that she was trying to temper.

She kept holding his wrist so he assumed they were going to use her evictus to get to wherever she wanted to have her meal. They usually had them in the west wing kitchen near her quarters. To his surprise, she strolled towards the adjacent army mess hall. He trailed behind her, dumbfounded.

A few soldiers were eating or hanging about when they walked in. They all scampered to their feet and bowed to the Sanggre. She smiled to them and waved her hand dismissively. They also tried to do their salutations to him but he quickly stopped them. A Sanggre eating in the mess hall for soldiers was definitely an unprecedented event even when the said Sanggre had the Punong Mashna in tow. He could feel their eyes on her hand still holding his wrist. It was a perplexing sight, he knew that. She probably didn’t notice or she didn’t give a crap what they thought. Either way, his heart was jackhammering in his chest but he’d rather die now than not feel her warmth touching him.

She walked on to the head of the long table where her Damas laid a hearty meal for two. Her grip eventually loosened and her hand slowly slid down his palm before finally letting go. He instantly felt bereft and followed the trail of her fingers longingly. She scanned the whole arrangement, picked up a slice of fruit and bit on it before sitting down on a chair. She made a sound of delight and pointed to the platter before she realized he was not beside her to eat.

Aquil blinked himself back to the present and quickly plopped himself down. He grabbed whatever was nearest him and stuffed his face with a big bread. Danaya looked at him oddly, putting the goblet of sweet wine wordlessly near him as well.

He eventually pulled himself back together. And like their usual post practice meals, she was more animated and less inhibited. It was like combat practice had released all her pent-up emotions and she broke free from her self-imposed protocols and rules. What he would give to spend more time with this side of her.

But he knew that tomorrow, when they were back at court, they would revert back to being Sanggre and Punong Mashna. So, he would savour every minute of the night when they were just two beings, enjoying a meal, having a laugh and occasionally brushing shoulders.

After they had their fill, they agreed that he’d walk her back to her quarters. Before they could leave though, Muros and Abog walked into the mess hall with a few of the soldiers in their regiment. Abog spotted them and quickly made his way to them.

He bowed to the both of them in excited greeting. Muros and the others soon followed. If they were wondering what a Sanggre was doing in the militia's side of the palace, they didn't dare ask. They told them instead that they were planning to have a few drinks since all of them would be off duty tomorrow or wouldn’t be back on rotation until later in the evening. They did this from time to time to allow some form of stress release. And then, Muros had the gall to invite Danaya to join them.

He couldn’t believe his ears! He didn’t know Muros had this impudence in him to ask a Sanggre to drink with the soldiers. He did realise Danaya spending time with him was not exactly court proper, but still this was going overboard. He had not reprimanded Muros for a long time but he couldn’t let him get away with this.

“Muros—" Aquil started.

“Okay.” Danaya agreed with a shrug.

The soldiers fell silent. Muros was probably not expecting her to accept his invitation as he gaped at her for a minute before barking an order to the serving staff to get them the finest wine in the cellar.

“Are you sure?” Aquil inquired incredulously when they sat back down.

Danaya inclined her head to him. “Why not? I want to get to know my people. This is a good time. I can do that, can’t I?”

“Of course!” he readily agreed. “Of course, you can,” he repeated more quietly. It’s just that it was their night and now it wasn’t.

The soldiers were understandably a bit wary at first. Conversations were stilted. Aquil, Muros and Danaya carried most of the discussion until, with enough wine in their system, the others started to loosen up. Abog was surprisingly boisterous when drunk. He started sharing about his family back home and how he was excited and proud to carry on his father’s legacy as a Lirean soldier. Danaya asked everyone about their families, how they got in the forces and if they liked their positions. He was glad to hear that everyone appeared content and satisfied despite threats still being present. The men clearly approved of the Sanggre taking the time to talk to them. He soon forgot his disappointment in how the night had turned out.

At some point, he remembered that he had not changed clothes and must reek of sweat. So, he excused himself to find a fresh tunic. He had to be up again before sunrise tomorrow to join the first shift but a gathering like this was scarce that he was willing to sacrifice a few hours of sleep to enjoy this with his comrade-in-arms and especially with Danaya who was having a lively discussion about the crops growing in the south boarder of the kingdom when he left.

His mood soured at what he came back to. He heard Danaya’s distinct melodic laugh first among the chorus of others. Muros was gesticulating something while refilling Danaya’s wine goblet. Aquil brows knitted angrily. He's happy to see her cheerful like this, except that she was a shade too flushed for his liking. She looked fine when he left but she must have had a few by now.

He stalked back to his chair, their spirited conversation continuing. He perched his arm up on the back of Danaya’s chair while he looked across the table trying to catch Muros’ eyes. Muros was determined to ignore him. He was really getting on Aquil's nerves this evening. Aquil was getting increasingly irritated by the minute when he felt her hair on his arm. He shifted his attention to her as she slouched on her seat and practically rested her head on his forearm. She suddenly went quiet and he was positive she truly had too much wine at this point.

She played with the stem of her goblet on the table and was picking it up again. Aquil lightly laid a hand over hers.

“Danaya…” his voice gentle. Her eyes were glazed and slightly hooded when they landed on him.

“Maybe that’s enough for tonight. Hmm?” He didn’t want to make the decision for her. She wouldn’t like that. She could stay if she wanted to and he would stay with her for however long that was. If she was enjoying herself and she'd like to get drunk, he'd stay by her and make sure she'd get back to her chambers safely. He'd do whatever she wants.

She only stared at him. Danaya often glared at him and occasionally shoot him mischievous looks. She would never really look him in the eyes like she could see the depth of his soul and the affection he was miserably trying to hide. It terrified and excited him at the same time.

The warm flames of the candles were dancing on her eyes. They held him captive while they swayed around him, he couldn’t look away. He didn’t care that the room had quieted down and murmurs began. He didn’t care. He couldn’t bring himself to care what this looked like to his men around them. Not tonight. All he cared about now was his hand on hers, the soft strands of her hair brushing his arm and the captivating eyes watching him.

They could be staring at each other for all eternity and he couldn’t care less, honestly. After a few minutes or a billion years, she sighed and slowly blinked. With a nod, she straightened up.

She stood from her chair, steady on her feet. Everyone stopped and sobered.

“Gentlefolks, I enjoyed spending this time with you all. Thank you for the invitation. But I must bid you good night now. Do carry on.”

Everyone got on their feet and bent their heads with their fisted hands on their chests. Aquil was a step behind her. The merriment continued as soon as the doors closed.