Side Eighty-Four – Princess Eleanor Elizabeth Diana Windsor

Side Eighty-Four – Princess Eleanor Elizabeth Diana Windsor

“You sure about this then, princess?” Sarah asked, leaning on her large shield, looking unusually pensive. “Ye’ll be rather defenceless for a good while, aye?”

“I told you to call me Eleanor. We’re friends now, right?” she sighed, not for the first time. “We’ve been working together a good while now, haven’t we?”

“Aye, that we have.” Sarah agreed. “Still, I cannae quite believe I’m here in this situation, despite everything.”

“Oh, enough bullshit.” David sighed. “You’ve been talking a lot of shit recently Sarah, and it’s annoying.” His heavy mace was slick with evaporating gore, silver ribbons drifting up from it. “You should be more like the boy, he adapted quickly.”

At that Donovan looked away, blushing, which seemed to amuse Sarah, as perhaps David intended. Sure, we argue a lot, and at first I was worried about working with them, but now... well, who would have thought I could get used to battle? “He did, didn’t he? How many girls is it now?” She chuckled, and his blush deepened.

“It’s not like I’ve promised any of them anything.” He said at last. “But they are all very nice, I feel bad letting any of them down.”

“Rich too.” Sarah agreed, reaching over to ruffle his hair playfully, until he batted her off, tired of her teasing.

“I am glad we are all relaxed.” Mary-Jane waved her staff, continuing to heal Aditi, who had taken an unlucky hit from a goblin arrow, her arm pierced. “But really, is this the time, Miss McLaughlin?”

“As much a teacher as ever, aye.” Sarah smirked. “But I get it. I was just tryin’ tae lighten the mood, right? This is a big moment, no?”

That it is. She looked at the group of heroes her grandmother had gathered for her. Sir Arthur, mighty sword in hand, looking younger and more vigorous than ever, the battles nothing to him, as though he truly was a knight of old. Sarah, her heavy shield a bulwark against all their foes, her fiery temper and hot teasing a match for her brilliant hair. Donovan, a young pretty-boy who apparently was the hottest property on the London dating scene amidst the wealthy. Sarah-Jane, a matronly schoolteacher, who had mastered blessings and healings, calm in every situation. Aditi, a quiet, diffident archer who was always reliable. David Reckless, a loud-mouthed and brash martial artist, whose mace had killed more goblins in this version of London than anyone. And lastly... me. She looked at her reflection in the glass of one of the windows nearby, and was amazed at what she saw.

“Admiring your reflection?” Sir Arthur noticed. As Sarah, David and Donovan bickered, Sir Arthur put a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder comfortingly. “Well, it’s a good one. You’ve really grown to fit that armour, Green Knight.”

“Oh please. Compared to you or David, I’m still a liability.” She said self-deprecatingly. Even so, I have grown, definitely. Not that I ever wanted to grow as a fighter, but grandmother was right. I don’t have a choice. The armour seemed more comfortable on her somehow, and strangely enough, she found battle less stressful than everything else that came with the job, such as the endless socialising. As a princess I should be more used to it, but I was always one to spend galas and balls by myself. My father knew that and never pushed it, but now...

“It’ll be all right, princess.” He continued, and she flashed a weary smile.

“I’m sure I told you to call me Eleanor, Sir Arthur.”

“No, not a chance.” He grinned back. “I know you wish to be less formal, but unlike these fine people, I’m an old-fashioned man. And I’ve known you since you were a little girl. I’m too old to change how I address you now. Besides, you do call me sir, right?”

Guilty as charged. You have me there. “Look, everyone, it’s time.” She said, clapping her hands together, green and bronze gauntlets ringing. “Sarah, yes, it’s a risk, but one we have to take. After all... it’s why you are all here. Positions of honour and lavish salaries are earned for precisely this.”

“Do not be like that, Eleanor.” Aditi protested. “I am here because I admire you and want to help my country!”

“But you still take the money.” David broke in nastily, and Sarah cuffed him on the back of the head, causing another argument.

“Of course she does.” Mary-Jane said as they bickered, exasperated. She had finished healing Aditi, and was now leaning on her staff, resting. Yes, her healing and blessings take a lot out of her, it’s more tiring than our combat, for sure. “No matter how much you like your job, you take a fair wage for fair work. That’s the British way, and what I teach the children. Oh, by the way, thank you for introducing me to that... gentleman.” Her face twisted a little, which was unusual, as Mary-Jane was usually faultlessly polite. “I cannot say I was taken with him personally, but... the money will fund an orphanage and school for disadvantaged children.”

“Max Power? That guy?” David stopped his argument to spit angrily. “Don’t like the prick, nor his foundation. Still, I guess money has no sin, right?”

“Yes, he... well...” Donovan stammered. “... he knows a lot of people.”

“Girls, right?” Sarah laughed. “Anyway, aye, he’s been bothering me a little too, but he seems harmless enough, ye ken?”

“...incess. Princess. Are you all right?” Samuel was asking, and Eleanor blinked, the surroundings snapping back into focus. Tasting bile, she shook her head.

“Sorry, I think I’ve overworked myself. I should probably take a break. Please forgive me.”

“No, there’s nothing to forgive. You’ve worked as hard as any of us, and God knows it isn’t easy, what we do.” He smiled reassuringly. “We’ll go mix with the other teams, and maybe a celebrity or two. There’s some really famous faces here. Come on, gang.” He said, and with that they moved into the mass of people at the party. Eleanor went to leave, before looking back over her shoulder, only to see the older woman watching her, and for a moment her vision blurred again, and all she could see was her face wreathed in shrouded shadows, only her eyes visible. Blinking, she looked again, only to see that the woman had turned away.

She was looking at me, right? Well, I guess that makes sense. I am a princess, I suppose. Ugh, my stomach hurts... With that she rushed to the toilet, in a rather undignified hurry...

********

This truly is hell. I hate this... The party should have been winding down by now, but dozens of guests still remained. She looked around for Sir Arthur, Mary-Jane or anyone else she was close with, but couldn’t see any of them. David sloped off earlier with a girl from one of the new parties, right? Donovan too, I think. As for the others... wait, there.

Grateful, Eleanor made it through the crowds to where Aditi was, standing by one of the buffet tables, a plate in hand. On seeing her approach, she brightened, raising a hand in greeting.

“Eleanor, are you all right? You look pale.” Aditi fretted, putting down her plate.

“I’m fine, fine.” She declared, though she didn’t feel fine. It felt like someone was watching her, and when she looked around, people were looking at her, but no more than was usual. I’m just jumpy today, that’s it. Getting pushed back by the creatures there must have rattled me. “I just hate these events, and I had to meet more people than usual.”

“I understand.” Aditi commiserated. “I am uneasy in such circles too, though some, like young Donovan, have taken to it well.” She smiled fondly, remembering the youngest member of their team.

“I’m glad someone has.” Eleanor complained. “So, where are the others?”

“Mary-Jane went off with Sarah and that Max Power fellow.” She said, frowning. “Apparently his foundation is interested in setting up additional orphanages countrywide, and was talking about getting additional staff and teachers. It was rather beyond me, I am afraid.” Aditi apologised.

“Well, Mary-Jane does love children.” Eleanor mused. “And for a supposed philanthropist like Max Power... no, I don’t feel he’s that charitable. Do you think he is doing it with ulterior motives?”

“Well, of course he is.” She replied, and Eleanor was surprised.

“Wait, really?”

“Yes, really.” She echoed. “Just how easy is it to get close to a princess? Such an opportunity cannot be bought. I mean, there’s your cousins, right? But other than them... and of course, there is more.” She lowered her voice. “After all, are we not heroes protecting the country? You are doubly important. The fact you are very pretty does not hurt, too.”

At that Eleanor felt her face heating up. Pretty? I guess so, but... “You think he’s trying to get closer to me?”

“I do. And the Queen, she desires you to make allies, hence all these gatherings.” She chuckled. “Perhaps this man is indeed a charitable sort, and wishes to help Mary-Jane with her dreams, perhaps not. But well, he would be a fool to cause you trouble. After all... are you not able to crush him one-handed, if you wish?”

“Oh Aditi, don’t tease me.” She found herself smiling, her troubles momentarily forgotten. “Though I guess that’s true. Did you ever wonder just why we get stronger the more we fight?”

“Of course. It puzzles me greatly.” She said. “I do wish Arjuna had been more clear with me, but I thought I was dreaming at first, and then... well, I was terrified. Me, chosen by such a famous hero that I thought mythical. But I do remember, he did say that only through battle shall you gain the strength to survive. It is very like a game, no?”

“A game? I suppose so.” Eleanor was hardly an avid gamer, though she was not so sheltered as to not understand her point. “I played a few as a child, Final Fantasy, Zelda, that sort of thing. It does seem that we level up as we defeat enemies. But life isn’t a game...”

“Maybe not.” Aditi agreed. “But we have fought monsters that could only exist in stories, and we are clearly growing stronger. I can think of no other explanation, other than we seem to be drawing something out of the foes we defeat. After all, we gather that energy, that ether, and it is drawn into our Avalons, creating strange wonders. Remember how mine repelled those fish-creatures with bright blasts of energy?”

Eleanor nodded, remembering. They had fallen back to safety, and then the press of merfolk slammed into the mysterious barrier that protected them, before being blasted apart by volleys of brilliant light from the strange towers that had sprouted in Aditi’s Avalon. I guess it does make sense, as much as anything does. Really, what we need more than anything is knowledge. I know grandmother has tasked the Prime Minister with setting up a diplomatic core to deal with foreign nations regarding this... even so...

Talking to Aditi was relaxing her, and fortunately everyone else was keeping their distance. From time to time she felt the gaze of people on her, but not being alone, it was far more bearable. Next time... next time we’ll reach the Palace. We grow stronger, and Sir Arthur says we are more skilled, so... next time, we won’t fail!