Thief of Princes (Kid Blink x Reader)

forty-four

𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 ankle jostled with every step the horse took, and you gritted your teeth as you tried to remind yourself that walking would have been worse. 

Blink should have just carried you, your brain whispered, and you had to squish the thought out. It was definitely too far. Plus you were still mad at him for not telling you everything. You snuck an unobtrusive glance in his direction to see that he was looking back at you. A tiny smirk sprang to his lips when he saw you looking back. Your cheeks colored and you snapped your head straight immediately, gaze dropping down to your horse's head. It snorted and tossed its head, as if it could feel your burning gaze. 

"Here we are." Meredith said as the three of you emerged onto a wide dirt road and turned left. 

You looked around, puzzled, not seeing much of anything besides the stable the horses were heading towards. It was a very large stable, to be sure, but... "Where, exactly, are we?" You asked in an attempt to figure something out while still remaining polite. There was a small river over there-- maybe you had to take a boat to get all the way to the village? 

"The village." Kid Blink replied, and you could tell he was grinning. 

"Well, obviously." You covered your confusion very well, but your next words betrayed it again. "...but where is it?"

"Right here," The prince said. When you looked back at him you saw he was dead serious. Or at least, pretending to be. 

"Gadewch lonydd i'r ferch dlawd, mae hi wedi'i hanafu!" An older woman-- another elf!-- scolded, appearing from the stable and bustling up to the horses. "A dweud y gwir,  tywysog?" 

"Sori Modryb." Blink said, looking semi repentant. 

"Nid fi yw'r un i ymddiheuro iddo." The woman replied as Meredith and Blind Diamond slid from their horses. She took the bridles and added in Common, "Go help your girl down." 

"Um, actually we're not--" You began, but the woman just winked at you and led the two horses off. 

"I'm interested to hear how you'll be finishin' that sentence?" Blink looked up at you, standing at the side of your horse. 

"Never mind. We'll go over it later." You swung your uninjured leg over the saddle, bracing your hands on the pommel and back, and slid carefully from the horse.

He caught you carefully around the waist, easing you to the ground. "If you insist." 

"I do." You said, attempting to stand on your own two feet like a strong independent princess but failing and clutching onto his arm in support. Blink picked you up bridal style and you decided to be a strong independent princess who could get a prince to do whatever she wanted instead.

"So where's this village?" You asked again, hoping he'd actually answer you this time.

"Look up." He told you, and you tipped your head back obligingly. At first you couldn't make anything out in the shifting branches of the trees, but bit by bit you glimpsed bridges and platforms, boards and ropes. 

A soft gasp left your lips. "It's... up there?" 

"Yes, it is. C'mon lover boy, we ain't got all day." Meredith answered you and sassed Blink in the same breath, strolling over to the base of a tree and tugging on a rope. 

A creaking noise sounded, and a wooden platform with enclosed sides descended alarmingly quickly to land in front of the three of you, ending up on the ground with a loud *thunk*. 

A muffled "Sorry!" Came drifting down from the trees above. 

"We've got an injured person down here so be careful!" Meredith called back, opening the door with a roll of her eyes. 

Blind Diamond carried you inside and sat down with you on the small bench that lined the wall. Meredith entered after you, closing the door and fastening it with a small latch. She took a seat and rapped sharply on the wall of the box. You let out a quiet squeak as the box started rising. 

"Are you sure this is safe?" 

"Generally yes, but it depends on who's on the other end." Blink said thoughtfully. "Who is it today?"

"Troy." Meredith replied with a grimace. 

"Oh dear." Blink held you a little bit tighter. "It should be fine, just a slightly bumpy stop." 

"Wonderful." You said, nodding slightly. Not entirely sure how you felt about this whole thing. At least you didn't have to climb stairs? 

The ride ended with an abrupt jolt, and you nearly fell off your seat. 

Blind Diamond picked you up again, despite your token protests, and Meredith opened the door and stepped out. 

"Right this way... time to see the Queen." Meredith smiled, and you internally groaned. How much more royalty were you going to have to deal with?