Sunlight streamed through the high windows of the Royal Library, casting long, warm rectangles onto the plush carpet. Cassandra, adorned in a simple blue dress that belied her warrior spirit, knelt before a towering bookshelf, her brow furrowed in concentration. She combed through a heavy tome filled with intricate royal etiquette diagrams, a sigh escaping her lips.
Lady-in-waiting duties – something she hadn't missed one bit. The protocols for teacup placement seemed as baffling as deciphering Zhan Tiri's ancient scrolls.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the book she was peering at. Cassandra flinched, her hand instinctively reaching for the hidden dagger strapped to her thigh.
"Whoa, easy there, Rapunzel's favorite warrior!" A familiar voice chuckled from behind her.
Cassandra relaxed, her eyes rolling upwards. Standing behind her, a mischievous glint in his eyes, was Varian. He sported a more subdued outfit than usual, a simple tunic replacing his usual lab coat, but a streak of soot on his cheek betrayed his tinkering tendencies.
"Varian," Cassandra acknowledged, her voice laced with amusement. "What brings you to the royal library? Looking for a book on... proper etiquette?"
Varian raised an eyebrow playfully. "Actually, I was wondering if you needed any... assistance with those oh-so-fascinating diagrams."
He gestured towards the book, a hint of sympathy in his voice.
Cassandra sighed again. "Honestly, Varian, I would rather be facing down a horde of drugged-up gnomes than trying to decipher the proper way to curtsey."
Varian chuckled. "Well, how about this? We strike a deal. You help me brainstorm some ideas for my latest invention – something that's completely un-ladylike, of course – and I'll help you navigate this labyrinth of royal do's and don'ts."
A genuine smile touched Cassandra's lips. The thought of Varian's inventions, always a chaotic explosion of creativity, brought a welcome break to the monotony of etiquette lessons.
"Deal," she agreed, closing the hefty book with a thud.
Varian pulled out a stool and sat beside her, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright, so I'm thinking of a self-stirring cauldron..."
As they launched into their unlikely collaboration, the sunlight streamed through the library windows, illuminating not just dusty tomes and forgotten knowledge, but the spark of a connection that transcended the expectations of courtly life. In that quiet corner, surrounded by whispers of history and the promise of future inventions, Cassandra and Varian found a space to connect, a space where a fierce warrior and a goofy alchemist could be themselves, and maybe, just maybe, discover something far more delightful than the perfect curtsy.
Sunlight danced playfully across the polished floor of the library, weaving between towering bookshelves and illuminating the unlikely pair working diligently at a table. Cassandra, her brow furrowed in concentration, traced a finger across a particularly confusing illustration of a royal bow.
"Alright, so according to this," she muttered, "a proper curtsy requires a slight bend at the knees, no more than a..."
She trailed off, her gaze flickering to Varian beside her. He hunched over a sheet of parchment, his brow furrowed as he meticulously sketched a design, but his cheeks were flushed a brilliant shade of red and his brow furrowed in something far more intense than concentration.
A playful smile tugged at Cassandra's lips. "Varian," she began, her voice barely a whisper.
Varian's head snapped up, his goggles perched precariously on the bridge of his nose. He met her gaze, his cheeks deepening to the color of a sunset.
YOU ARE READING
Forever and Always
FanfictionVarian has always had a crush on Cassandra. When Cassandra gets grumpy because of her Lady-in-waiting Duties, she is a little mean to Varian. But little does she know she means more to Varian than she thinks
