Title: Reference
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Rating: PG
Length: 1,600 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Random Medieval Nonsense Au Again!
Summary: In the aftermath of a battle, three women are hoping to enter the service of Queen Emeraude, but they have no one to speak for them...

oOo

The pavillion erected for the Queen was right at the centre of the camp, but there was a clear space between it and the nearest of the tents and the campfires - enough space that conversations inside could not be overheard. Hikaru followed the Marshal inside easily enough, but Umi hesitated on the threshold, and glanced back at Fuu. Fuu shook her head, just slightly, glancing towards the men-at-arms who were stood about the pavillion, all wearing the white hart which was the personal badge of the royal household.

Umi nodded understanding, and stepped through the opening.

Inside, the large tent was split into three by hanging curtains, one side currently fastened back against the tentpoles, and there were large rugs keeping the damp from underfoot. On the left there was a private space set up with a cot, and several beautifully carved chests, as well as a stand which held the Queen's arms. The righthand side was hidden behind the drape of cloth, but must have been about the same side again - space for the Marshal and the Queen's Guard to stay? Or somewhere with a desk and the papers which must be needed to organise this fighting?

The central section, however, was the one in use at the moment, and held a large table with a well-drawn map, several people still in full armour, and the Queen, sat on a large wooden chair and wrapped in a large fur-lined cloth over the mail she had yet to take off.

Up close, she was smaller than she had seemed in the middle of the fighting; tired, and drawn. But when she looked up, there was something in her gaze which pinned one in place until she was done looking at you. She looked at the three girls now, as they were ushered to one side of the space, and then passed on without comment to look at the Marshal. "Well, LaFarga? How stand the enemy? Will they be able to reform?"

"No, my liege." LaFarga bowed his head to her, and the tension in the room faded with a clinking of armour as people's shoulders lowered. The Queen sighed, raising one hand to her face as LaFarga continued. "We managed to pursue them across the river, and my patrols on the other side have confirmed they have been hit too hard to reform in the woods there, as half their people have scattered too far to be recalled. They need time to rest and reorganise themselves. I would estimate at least a week, but can say with certainty it will be several days."

"Thank you, LaFarga." She lowered her hand, and looked to the knights about the table. "That being the case, I believe you may all go and get some rest, and see to your people. I shall call for you again in the morning, and we shall take council over how best to proceed."

"Yes, my liege." Came the quiet, thankful chorus, and the heavily armoured figures all clanked out of the tent - with the exception of the Marshal, who remained where he was, and the tall man who wore what even the girls recognised now as a priest's robes over his mail and plate. He turned to a low table set beside one of the charcoal braziers which were doing their best to keep the damp and the chill from the air, and poured wine into a goblet which he set beside the Queen, before pouring one for himself and moving to stand by her shoulder.

All the while he was moving, Queen Emeraude watched the three girls, closely, and Umi shifted slightly where she stood - the Marshal glanced back as soon as she did so, and she was careful to keep her hands by her sides and in plain view. They had been asked to surrender their swords before coming into the presence of the Queen, but had not been checked for other weaponry.

"Would you step closer, please, that I may see clearly the women who I owe a debt of gratitude?" Said the Queen, and both men seemed to sigh, but did nothing to protest as Umi followed Hikaru and Fuu to stand the other side of the table from her. They bowed, each of them, and she inclined her head gracefully in return. "May I ask the names of those who came to the aid of my soldiers, and why you came to be of such assistance?"

Hikaru spoke first, smiling across the table, and they were all a lot more comfortable with the language used here than they had been when they first landed on the shore, all those months ago, but they still came with a rhythm not quite the same as those who had spoken it all their lives. "I am Hikaru, and these are Umi and Fuu. We were lost at sea, and came to your land almost half a year ago. Your people were kind to us, and so when we learned there was a war, we wished to do what we could to repay that kindness. The rest was luck, to be in the right place to be of use."

"You have indeed." Emeraude said, softly. "And what do you intend to do now?"

"To offer our services to you." Hikaru said it simply. The Queen looked at her, and then Fuu, and Umi, as if measuring the worth and the truth of each of them in turn. She nodded again, once, slowly, and looked up at the Marshal.

"I am inclined to accept this offer, but not until it has been discussed further - and I shall not do that until my guests have been fed and allowed to rest a while. Will you have a supper sent for, LaFarga? For yourself and Zagato, as well - and for the Chancellor, should he manage to return. Did your patrols see any sign of him?"

"No, my liege, but we were not expecting him before nightfall. I shall send someone out along his road if he is not in sight." The Marshal said, and departed. As soon as he had gone, two servants bustled in with more wine, and pulled up stools by the table for the three girls, who sank onto them gratefully. There was food not long after, and they were all ravenous; the Queen spoke quietly to the Priest while they ate, deliberately not bothering them with questions, and Umi took the chance to murmur to Fuu in their own tongue.

"Are we doing the right thing, do you think?"

"I believe so." Fuu said, slowly. "If she will accept our service. But beyond ourselves, we have nothing to offer her; she may not feel the need for a mere three knights that none here know or have much reason to trust?"

"After today, though-"

"One fight is not much of a reference! We could have been sent to win our way into her ranks, send information to any of the other forces now invading-" Fuu said, and then stopped as a draft announced the doorflap behind them being pushed back.

The Marshal came in first, a small smile on his face, and a slighter figure behind him. "Our errant Chancellor has made it safely back, my Lady." He announced, relief clear in his voice, and all three girls looked back to see the newcomer, in mud-splattered clothes and no armour at all, pulling a sodden cloak from over his shoulders with a weary sigh.

"My apologies for my tardiness, but I had to abandon the road twice, and-"

Umi had stood at the first words, stool falling back, and he looked up at the short sound she made, blinking - and then staring. There was no mistaking the man who had found them on the beach, who had offered them shelter - and helped them start to learn his language.

The man whose hospitality they had abandoned with no message when they heard of the fighting, and he was not there to tell them more.

"You!" Two voices spoke it at once, in two tongues - and then she was crossing the space between them, not quite sure what she was doing, but needing to touch - to be certain this was no apparition she was seeing, but the arm she grabbed onto was solid under the wet clothing. "When I heard you had left, I thought I would never see you again - I did not think to find you here!" He was saying, staring at her.

"Nor did we!" Umi blinked at him, still bewildered - and they only stopped staring when the Queen's quiet laugh broke through the quiet.

"I see you have met my lost Chancellor before?"

"Yes - they have, though it is a long story how." Clef said, as Umi flushed, letting go his arm and stepping back. Food was being brought in for him, and another stool - he walked to the Queen's side first, and bowed to her. She stopped him with a hand on his arm, far lighter than Umi's had been, looking up into the slightly muddy face.

"I should like to hear that story. But first, you are not injured? You did not run into any of the enemy?"

"No, I ran myself into the bushes several times in order to do so, but none spotted me. I am fine, merely tired, and very damp. How have you fared here?"

"Well enough that we have time to hear this long story of yours. These three women have aided me, today, and have offered their services. I should like to hear how you know them."

Clef glanced back, and smiled slightly as Umi took her seat again, her hands shaking a little as she realised that he could be their reference, who could confirm their story, and perhaps persuade the Queen to take them in. "Then let me change into something a little drier, and you shall."