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The Crestlands were beautiful, Agnea thought, even at night. While the rest of the group slept, she danced in a small clearing not far from them, and by tomorrow they were likely to reach Merry Hills. Her chest tightened; the Grand Gala, where Dolcinaea awaited her.
As she danced, she mouthed the lyrics she had composed for her "Song of Hope." She would've liked to sing out loud, but she didn't want to disturb her sleeping companions. Leaves in shades of red and orange fell around her, gently fluttering in the breeze. Her mother had likely traveled this same path to Merry Hills while traversing the eastern continent, before eventually settling in the west.
Her foot caught on a stiff root and she shut her eyes tightly, unable to brace herself before hitting the ground, but instead she felt a firm arm catch her around the waist. She opened her eyes, and Throné stared down at her. "Oh, thanks, Throné!" she said, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks.
"Couldn't sleep either, hm?" Throné said, and she released Agnea once she had steadied herself.
She giggled, and the warmth of Throné's arm around her waist lingered. "I'm just excited to reach Merry Hills soon!"
A faint smile came upon Throné's lips, and she touched her bare throat; Agnea still wasn't used to the sight of her without that dark collar, but she was also glad to see it gone. "I'm looking forward to watching you dance too," Throné said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Agnea's breath caught in her throat, and she couldn't miss the longing in Throné's gaze. After leaving Lostseed, a somber air had lingered over the group, despite Throné finally having the true keys to unlock her collar. However, as they continued to travel, she had begun to smile more, and in those smiles was a sincerity that made Agnea's heart feel warm. "W-Well, I could dance now!" she said without thinking. "A special show, just for you!"
Throné's eyes went wide in surprise for just a moment, but again she smiled. "Yes, I would like that very much."
Agnea let out another giggle, and she bowed with a flourish of her skirt as Throné took a seat on a large fallen log. "Now, watch me shine!" she exclaimed brightly.
With Throné watching, Agnea followed the opening steps of her dance, hearing the beat of the music in her head. These steps had grown as familiar as breathing, upon weeks and months of practicing. Leaves of autumn continued to fall around her like a rain of flowers, and she summoned just the smallest bit of wind magic to ruffle her skirt, a trick her mother had taught her so long ago. Everything was as it usually was, and yet her blood burned with an unfamiliar kind of passion.
All the while, Throné simply watched, her stormy eyes seeming to pierce straight through to Agnea's heart. Agnea's cheeks grew warm; she had danced for individuals before, but the way Throné stared at her was something else entirely. When she had danced for Throné in Winterbloom, wanting to lift Throné's spirits after what happened with the Father of the Blacksnakes, a warm longing had lingered in her chest, and in that moment she had thought that she would do anything to make Throné smile. Now, she found herself drawn once again to that enthralled expression on Throné's beautiful face.
A longing stronger than anything she had felt before filled her, a longing that threatened to consume her, a desire to simply reach for the beautiful, strong woman before her.
Suddenly overwhelmed, Agnea stumbled again, and once more Throné dashed forward to catch her. However, this time Agnea took Throné down with her, and they both hit the ground. With a groan, Agnea lifted herself onto her hands, and found herself pinning Throné beneath her.
Swallowing dryly, at first Agnea could do nothing but stare. A faint blush crossed Throné's cheeks as her lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know what, and Agnea couldn't stop her eyes from trailing downward to Throné's ample cleavage. Throné's breasts rose and fell with each breath she took, and Agnea felt her entire body grow hot; Throné was so beautiful and elegant, the kind of mature woman she had always dreamed of.
Finally Throné spoke again, a simple and careful, "Agnea?"
Throné's voice jolted Agnea out of her hazy thoughts, and she quickly scrambled to her feet. "S-Stumblin' twice in one night, huh?" she stammered with a weak laugh. "Well, better now than—"
Before Agnea could finish that thought, Throné's lips were on hers, kissing her deeply.
In that moment, Agnea's mind went blank, and she could think of nothing but how soft Throné's lips were. Desire bloomed within Agnea like a flower, and when Throné took her lips from hers, she closed the distance between them again, putting her arms around Throné's back as she kissed Throné just as passionately.
How long they kissed, Agnea couldn't say, and a part of her wished they could stay like this forever. With Throné's chest pressed against hers, she could easily feel how Throné's heart raced. Throné's hands around her back were warm and protective, holding her close, and her entire being longed only for Throné. Over and over they kissed, and soon Agnea could no longer tell her heartbeat from Throné's.
Eventually their lips parted and they sat together on the fallen log, their fingers entwined. Silence fell over the two of them, as if they feared speaking would shatter the spell that lingered over them. Agnea tried to raise her head, her gaze settling on Throné's bare, slender throat. Throné had gone through so much, and right now, Agnea wanted nothing more than to grant her happiness.
Throné touched her throat, and she finally broke the silence with a heavy sigh. "It's a strange thing, this freedom. All my life I've desired it, but now that I'm free, I can only think about what it cost me."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Agnea said, giving Throné's hand a gentle squeeze. "If you let it go to waste, then everything you've done will be for nothing."
"You're always such a kind girl." With her free hand Throné caressed Agnea's hair. "If not for you, I don't think I could've come this far."
Agnea bit her lip. "I just want to dance. Compared to you and everyone else, my dream isn't as important—"
"Your dream is just as important," Throné said firmly, lifting Agnea's chin, and their eyes met. "Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise."
With Throné staring so intently at her, Agnea's throat went dry; this was the woman she loved, for whom she would make the sun rise for if need be. "I… I want to make you happy," she found herself saying.
Throné pulled Agnea into a tight embrace. "That you can love someone like me has made me very happy, Agnea."
"You're wonderful too, Throné!" Agnea let out a quiet giggle. "Watch me shine at the Grand Gala, all right?"
"Of course." Throné smiled and pressed her lips to Agnea's.
In the morning, they would continue onwards to Merry Hills, and Agnea couldn't wait. With Throné by her side, she would shine brighter than the stars.