Chapter Text
Later that night, a hush descended over the Royal Palace of Eternia. The party had wrapped up an hour ago and all members of the House of Randor retired to their respective chambers. Adam invited Castaspella to his room for a nightcap and her eyes lit up at the prospect. Teela couldn’t help but be delighted at seeing her reaction and could have sworn she saw magic swirling around those blue irises, brightening their hue. Bidding her Prince and his lady a good night, she met Adam’s questioning look with a nod of approval. For as many ups and downs their friendship had endured over the years, she was proud of him this day. The new couple walked inside for what was definitely going to be a sleepless night, for all the right reasons. With Casta otherwise engaged, Adora had returned to their shared guest room alone. Though she made no secret of the fact that she was expecting an after dark visit from a certain frisky feline.
With all of her protectees seen safely to bed for the night, the Captain had one last duty before she herself could call it an evening: brief the Lieutenant in charge of the Night Watch and officially hand over command of the Royal Guard. Ileena had accompanied her through all of these tasks. Now that the life of a military officer awaited her, it was vital that she maintain the same hours as her trainer, As Teela had explained. “First rule of the Guard: you don’t get to end your day until the Royal Family ends theirs.”
The pair walked down the corridors slowly and in silence. Ileena was making a point to keep her eyes forward. Teela glanced at her student, who seemed strangely preoccupied. Her mood was sullen, clearly irritated by something.
Speaking softly so as not to disturb the surreal silence of the Palace, the redhead tried to engage her friend. “I was talking with Princess Adora quite a bit tonight. She likes you and wants to go a few rounds on the mat with you, help out with your training.”
Still not casting so much as a glance towards Teela, the blonde replied. “I would be honoured.” Ileena’s words sounded hollow and perfunctory, as if the significance of Adora’s endorsement hadn’t registered.
The pair rounded a corner and continued into the next corridor before Ileena broke the silence. “So…you and the catgirl…”
“Kittrina? What about her?”
“I didn’t realise the two of you were going steady. When should we expect the wedding invites?” In all their years of friendship, Teela had never heard Ileena have a cross word with anyone. Now, her tone was sarcastic and mean-spirited.
“Wedding inv-? What are you talking about?”
The normally gentle, sweet girl then became downright spiteful. “I was about to ask Snout Spout to turn the hose on her, it looked like she wanted to start rutting with you on the landing floor.”
“Woah, hold it right there!” Shocked and appalled, Teela grabbed the arm of her recalcitrant student and stopped her mid-stride. Keeping her voice low to avoid waking anyone, but still forceful. “That was completely uncalled for! What’s gotten into you?”
Like a petulant teenager who had been called on the carpet for her misdeeds, Ileena looked away. “I didn’t like the way she was crawling all over you.”
Though she normally preferred to employ a kinder, encouraging style with her trainee than she did with regular Guardsmen, Teela saw that an old-fashioned dressing down was needed here. “Well, let me set you straight. Kittrina is my friend, I haven’t seen her in nearly a year. Yes, she gets very close quarters and touchy-feely with the people she cares about. She’s a cat, that’s what they do. I’ve made a lot of allowances for her for one simple reason: when our Wind Raider was shot down over Snake Mountain and I was knocked out, she saved my life. So if letting her sit on my lap and rub her face against mine is all she wants in return for her loyalty and friendship, then I’m certainly not going to tell her ‘no’.”
Ileena’s jaw dropped. The realisation that she had insulted someone who had kept Teela from harm took the wind out of her sails. Almost instantly, she was visibly filled with regrets. Still looking away, but now out of shame. “I…I didn’t know, I shouldn’t have said any of that, I..I’ve been so horrible. I apologise…to you and her.”
Teela put a hand on her student’s shoulder and seeing the remorse in her expression, spoke in a more conciliatory manner. “Apology accepted. Listen, to say we’ve both had a rough time of it lately would be an understatement. I know you wanted to get right back to training and I wanted to get right back to duty, but clearly it’s not doing either of us any good. Once I finish my rounds tonight, what do you say we take a couple of days off? Just relax, get our heads clear. If you do want to get physical with Adora, just have fun, you won’t be under any pressure from me. Sound good?”
Still unable to look the redhead in the eye, Ileena simply nodded. “Okay.”
“Tell you what, since she’s here for a while longer, what do you say to meeting Kittrina tomorrow? Help you get used to her ways. I’m sure she’ll love to be your friend as much as she is mine.”
“After the way I’ve acted, it’s the least I can do.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Teela gave her friend a nudge. “Maybe this time, I’ll be the one who has to pry her off you .”
A ghost of a smile formed at the corner of Ileena’s mouth at the little joke, then quickly faded.
Teela could see that something was still bothering her friend and was determined to get to the bottom of it. “Other than that, did you enjoy the party? You’ve certainly become very popular around here. Almost every bachelor in or around the Palace was lining up to ask you out.”
“And several married men, too.” Ileena pointed out in a flat voice.
“How do you know they’re married?”
Ileena shrugged. “I was raised by a widower. I know what it looks like when a wedding ring has recently been removed.”
Teela was at once impressed by her student’s observational skills and appalled at the attempts to involve her in marital infidelity. “Don’t tell me Stratos-”
Ileena shook her head. “Oh no, Lord Stratos was an absolute gentleman and not just because Lady Delora was standing right there. They truly do love each other…” She had a distant look as she contemplated the carpet pattern.
“I think I know who these married men are. Some of them thought they could pull that stunt with me when I came of age…until I knocked a couple of them into the dirt. Do you want me to have some words with them?”
If the blonde student had heard the question, she gave no response, seemingly lost in reflection.
Concerned, Teela tried again, “Ileena?”
At that moment, Ileena decided that she could remain silent no longer. She visibly let out a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead. If her mentor’s reaction to the truth turned out as bad as she feared, then she would find a way to live with the consequences. Queen Marlena said she had guts, now was the time to prove it.
She raised her head to look at the woman who was her everything “That’s alright, Teela. If they try anything like that again, I will talk to them. I’ll tell them their wives don’t have anything to worry about. There’s only one person around here that I’m interested in, who I want to share myself with.”
Not quite catching on, Teela flashed a wry grin. “Oh really? If you don’t mind me asking, who is it?”
Ileena took a step forward and looked deep into the redhead’s eyes. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Not to me, it isn’t.”
Deciding to take the chance, Ileena reached out for both of Teela’s hands and cradled them in her own, her thumbs caressing the slender fingers.
Teela looked down at this tender act, then at the blue eyes filled with longing. Realisation dawned. “I mean, it wasn’t…” Then a broad smile lit up her face. “Until now.”
Breathing a sigh of relief once she saw that her gamble had paid off, Ileena felt the need to get everything off her chest. “For about as long we’ve known each other, I’ve had these feelings for you. I’ve always been grateful to be your friend, but at the same time, I dreamed that we could be more. I kept quiet about it because I was scared that if I said something, you might not want to train me anymore, or even send me away from the Palace. But then…Arcadia…”
Teela nodded grimly at the significance of that single word. She returned the affectionate gesture, taking hold of Ileena’s hands. “You don’t need to worry. I made a commitment that I would train you to the same standard that others trained me, and I'm going to see that through, no matter what. Tell you the truth, Ileena, ever since your first day here, I’ve felt the same way about you. I started to notice how beautiful you are, how sweet you are, how much you care. I realised that I’m absolutely crazy about you. But I felt that as your teacher, it would be wrong to make a move as then you might feel I was pressuring you to repay me for…” She looked around the extravagantly decorated corridor. “All of this. But then, as you say, Arcadia changed everything. I may have given you a lot of things since you came to live with us, but now I owe you a far greater debt…I owe you my life.”
Ileena smiled, her mood brighter than it had been for days. “You know what, Teela? Since it causes us nothing but trouble, why don’t we just forget about who owes what and call it even?”
Teela grinned back. “Works for me.”
The two of them looked down at their intertwined hands for several seconds. Even though they had confessed their feelings and were relieved to find their affections were returned, both women were strangely nervous about making the next move.
At last, Teela spoke. “So…those things you said about Kittrina…”
“I was jealous of her…sorry.”
Teela’s hand migrated to Ileena’s arm. “It’s alright. When it comes to jealousy, I have no room to judge anyone. Not that I want you to be jealous or anything, but it is strangely flattering, in a way.”
“I guess.” Despite being forgiven, Ileena was still slightly embarrassed.
Something else occurred to the redhead. “Wait a minute, those nightmares you’ve been having, calling out my name…”
Ileena nodded, in visible pain as she recalled the terror of her dreams. “It wasn’t because of anything happening to me. We were back in the slum and they were…doing things to you…and I couldn’t stop them. You were screaming and I was begging, pleading with them to do it to me instead, if they would just leave you alone…but they just kept on…and you kept screaming…and I couldn’t save you…I just wanted you to be safe…” Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Teela closed the gap and brought her companion in for a hug, Ileena’s head resting on her chest. “It’s alright, it’s alright.” She murmured over and over.
Feeling better for the emotional release, Ileena raised her head to sheepishly smile at her paramour, who reached out and carefully wiped the tears from her face. “Now you know why I haven’t been any fun since we got back.”
“Ileena, there’s something else I need to tell you. Something I told Adora back at the party and what you’ve just said reaffirms it.” Teela put her thumb and forefinger under Ileena’s chin to hold her full attention, looking deep into her eyes. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re more than just my student. You are a warrior, you are a protector and most importantly…you are my hero.”
The blonde warrior was in awe of such praise from the woman she had idolised for so long, yet a part of her felt she didn’t deserve it. “I am only what you have made me.”
Teela shook her head. “Not so. My lessons give you part of the puzzle, and you’ll need them to form the whole picture, but the most important part…” She touched two fingers over Ileena’s heart. “Has always been right here.”
Overwhelmed, Ileena said nothing and let the moment speak for itself. Teela then leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Thank you…for everything.”
As she withdrew, Ileena’s mood changed. Looking at Teela with naked desire, biting down on her bottom lip. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
Ileena then tilted her head, her eyelids heavy, as she moved slowly forward, inch-by-inch, towards Teela’s lips. “Since your schedule just got a little lighter, there’s something I want you to teach me…something that has nothing to do with fighting.”
Teela likewise began moving inexorably forward, her voice low and husky, coming ever so closer to her new lover. “That’s a lesson I would be honoured to give…but…”
Concerned, Ileena halted her advance. “But?”
“A couple of very special women taught me a lot of things in a very short time, but I’m still just a novice.”
Relieved, the blonde resumed her approach. “That’s alright, I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun figuring it out together.”
The pair of them were now practically nose-to-nose, each able to feel the other’s breath. Teela threw out one last quip before taking the plunge. “Don’t think this means I’ll go easy on you in P.T. I’ll have to drive you twice as hard from now on.”
“Worth it.” With no more words, Ileena closed the gap and pressed her lips against Teela’s. The kiss she had seemingly waited a lifetime for. She wanted to take this moment and never let it go. So she didn’t. Pressing Teela back to the wall, hands reaching to the sides of her face, Ileena followed one kiss with several, one after the other in rapid succession.
Teela began to feel overwhelmed as the tip of an eager tongue made its presence felt. She heard a moan come from Ileena’s throat. A furtive plea, one she couldn’t deny even if she wanted to. Teela parted her lips to welcome her partner in…and instantly felt like she was being devoured.
Huntara’s kisses had been slow, assertive, confident. Making Teela feel secure enough to cede control and let her more experienced lover take the lead.
Right now, Ileena’s kiss was just the opposite. Frantic, inquisitive, eager and desperate all at once. As if this were a moment long dreamed of, that she thought might be taken away in an instant. It took Teela a couple of seconds to realise that a couple of days ago, it very nearly was taken away…forever.
Needing air and separation, she put a hand to Ileena’s chest, pushing her back slightly to break the kiss. “Ileena…stop.”
The blonde was wide-eyed and breathless, worried that she had made a mistake. Teela responded with what she hoped was a reassuring look. “Slow. Down. I know I gave you a scare the other day, but I’m not going anywhere. You said you wanted to be taught…let me guide you.”
Still unable to speak, Ileena simply nodded.
Wrapping one arm around her waist and the other going to the back of her neck, brushing through that long, golden hair, Teela slowly manoeuvred the both of them around so that her partner was now pressed against the wall of the corridor. Taking control, the redhead moved in for a simple kiss on the lips. Savouring the taste, drawing it out for as long as possible, before slowly retreating.
She smiled seductively. “See? Like that.”
More such kisses followed, as she felt Ileena relax in her embrace. Sensing the time was right, Teela probed with her tongue and Ileena’s lips gladly parted to allow entrance. The two of them fell into a slow rhythm as Ileena came to understand the elegant, sensual dance taking place inside her mouth was far more enjoyable than her wild, fearful efforts. Allowing herself to melt into the kiss, she stopped thinking and let the warm fog of pleasure settle over her mind. Feeling bold, Teela’s hand slid down behind Ileena’s thigh and pulled her leg up to hip height, the arms of her beautiful lover wrapped around her neck for support.
“Teela…” Despite being deeply immersed in a haze of passion, she would recognise that stern reproach anywhere. Teela broke off the kiss and flew back from Ileena. Both women were stunned to see Man-at-Arms standing a few feet away with a dour look on his face. “I’m very disappointed in you, my daughter.”
The two of them stammered out explanations. “Father, I-I can explain.”
“Man-at-Arms, sir. Don’t blame Teela for this, it’s my fault, I started-”
He held a hand up to cut them off. “You’ve heard me tell Prince Adam over and over again: there’s a time and a place to do your courting and the corridors are not that place. I don’t want to see either of you picking up his bad habits.”
Both Teela and Ileena suddenly felt like kids all over again.
“Sorry, father.”
“Sorry, sir.”
“I should hope so. Remember, the two of you are heroes and heroes should set a good example.” He nodded towards the corridor behind them. “Now go on, do your duty and hand over to the Night Watch. Come on, Captain, snap to.”
Officer and civilian hurriedly turned to leave when they heard. “Oh and one more thing.”
They cautiously turned back. The strict facade of Man-at-Arms had given way slightly to Duncan, allowing them to hear a small degree of amusement and a hint of pride in his tone. “Once duty is done, both of you enjoy the rest of your evening, just…be a little more discreet.”
The two women nodded and set off down the corridor once more. Once they had rounded the bend and were out of sight, Ileena spoke in a hushed voice, barely above a whisper. “That was awkward.”
“It was, but look on the bright side: at least we know my family accepts my new girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend.” To Ileena, hearing the redhead call her that felt pleasantly surreal. “Now there’s a word I can get used to.”
Teela grinned. “So can I. After this is finished, do you still want to continue the lesson?”
Ileena gave an earnest reply. “More than anything.”
“Remember, you’ve still got a date with a Princess lined up. Shall I tell her you’re too tired?”
Ileena smiled at the playful remark. “Not a chance. I’ll still have enough energy left to make Adora sweat, so long as you don’t consider it cheating.”
Teela shot her a sultry glance. “It’s not cheating if I’m there to watch.”
The two partners in adventure and passion chuckled softly as they headed for their last stop before bed.
Meanwhile, as he walked towards his own quarters, Duncan couldn’t help but shake his head and grin at what he had just witnessed. “That’s my girl.”
The End…and a New Beginning.