Deadly Beautiful (SuperCorp Medieval AU)

Part 16

or the one where I abuse a trope and Maggie and M'gann are keeping an eye on things  

 "So, do you think this Lena and Kara thing is going to be a problem?" Maggie asked M'gann as she watched the older woman work. The embroidery work she was doing on Lena's dress was beyond anything Maggie had ever seen before.

"Based off of what I saw during Ms.Danvers' fitting, it's a definite maybe. The two of them have been getting closer but I couldn't say for sure if it is a real problem yet. We should just keep an eye on them for a while." M'gann advised without looking up from her careful work on the skirt.

"We have to do better this time. I'll have a word with the princess. You remember what happened with Sam." Maggie said softly. "It took such a long time for the Lena to come back from that and I don't want anything to happen to Kara, either, I've gotten rather attached to the new girl. You know that for all of Lena's toughness, she still has a tender heart."

"I know... I want them to be happy as well, but I don't know if they would ever be able to have that together here." M'gann replied her voice breaking a little as she stood to her full height, turning to face Maggie with a sad smile.

"You also know full well Lena won't ever leave. Not for anyone. She is just as married to the kingdom as her brother. Our poor princess feels beholden to her people." Maggie's voice held a hint of pride, despite how much she wanted better for her friend.

"Well, whatever is going on between them, no one can ever know. We can't allow another Sam problem." M'gann's voice was serious. "I doubt Lena would be able to recover second time."

"I know and I'll do better this go-around," Maggie promised. "They don't even know what they are to one another and I doubt Kara would ever make a move, despite her feelings. She seems terrified someone will try to make her leave. The little one still sees herself as less than."

"You know the effect Lena has on people." M'gann reminded her.

"That I do." Maggie scoffed. "I wouldn't be half of who I am without her."

"Exactly. Who knows what Kara could become under her influence." M'gann replied. "Are you ready to get the night's work done?"

-----/////-----

Despite the guards having already checked the rooms quite thoroughly, Kara insisted on running her own sweep before allowing Lena to go in. The princess was exasperated but humored the other woman nonetheless. She didn't want Kara to feel any less capable due to her injury. The princess fell into her bed, more tired than she would have ever expected after their day.

"Are you going to bed, my lady?" Kara asked, standing in the joint doorway, her palm held over her injury.

"I might read for a moment beforehand. Why do you ask?" Lena replied, working to undo her skirt.

"I just wanted to be sure everything was well in here. Do you not need anything? I know today can't have been easy for you." Kara's words were measured as she assisted the princess as best she could. Lena had already dismissed Maggie for the night.

"It's alright. I can take this from here." Lena said with a half-smile. She took a seat at her vanity and began to brush out her long dark hair. Kara started to head into her own room, but the princess grabbed her by the wrist before she could. "I, uhm, I do not want you to leave, Kara. Stay, please, I don't think I can be alone tonight. Just wait with me until I fall asleep, please."

Lena looked more vulnerable than Kara had ever seen her before as she stared up into her face with wide eyes and pink cheeks. She didn't like seeing Lena like this, with none of her usual confidence and casual grace. She hated that Lena seemed scared to ask her. Kara was meant to protect her. She didn't care about the form that protection took.

"Of course. I will stay with you however long you would like for me to. Just allow me to get changed and I will be right back." Kara said with her softest smile, taking the hand that had grabbed hers and gently replacing it in the princess' lap. If she lingered a moment too long, neither of them acknowledged it.

Kara left the door open just a crack, enough to hear if anything were to happen and still grant them both privacy. She grabbed her gladius to bring with her and lifted it with her left hand, hating how clumsy it felt. Her right couldn't begin to take the weight. Frustrated, Kara tossed it onto her bed. Something dislodged from her pillow and she cursed under her breath. The necklace had not been there when she had gotten up that morning. Kara picked it up and let it dangle from her fingers.

The emblem was diamond-shaped, with an 'S' shape encased within. Before they had passed, it had been the chest of the Zor-El family. Kara had gifted the necklace to her sister before trading herself to the gladiator's life. Underneath her pillow, Kara also discovered a sketch-book and a charcoal pencil. No one else would have gifted her these things. Alex had found her.

Kara shuddered and gasped, replacing pencil and book underneath her pillow. The necklace, she looped over her throat and pulled a clean sleeping shift on. Kara's breaths came in short gasps momentarily before she gathered herself and took a seat beside of Lena's bed quietly; arranging her sword across her lap and leaning back against the wall.

"You are not sitting on the floor all night. Get up here, you goof." Lena scoffed. "Just to sleep, don't worry your pretty head."