Chapter Text
Farrah was tired. Rosalind was relentless, their lessons and training escalating every day. Not that Farrah had half so much to complain about as the other students. Her and her friends were in their twenties. Technically graduated from the school, but they stayed behind on Rosalind’s crusade. Becoming some sort of soldier teacher hybrid.
Farrah taught two lessons to mind fairies during the day, after that she attended a private lesson with Headmistress Rosalind. Now she was finding her way to the greenhouse. Their groups unofficial meeting place.
When she walks in Ben is hunched over some sort of flower, it glows yellow and purple with flecks of white in the center. His glasses are mere centimeters away from the petals.
Andreas jumps up as she walks into the room, “finally! Someone besides Ben, he’s been practically making out with that plant for thirty minutes now.” The relief shows in his blue eyes. Andreas was acting funny, again. The first time had been shortly after graduation when his plans had shifted. Instead of returning home to Erakylon to rule, he had decided to stay and help train the specialists. Allowing his advisors to continue ruling his realm in his stead.
Saul had joked he was going to miss them, but Farrah had seen the twinkle in his eye when he had looked towards her. It was something else. It had unsettled her for awhile, his mind was closed off to her. She couldn’t access it, just like Rosalind’s.
But after only a short time he had returned to being their friend. Forgetting to stare off in the distance thinking of the kingship he was shirking. This past week though, he had been acting weird in a completely different manner. He was excited to see Farrah.
It sounds crazy when she thinks it. They were friends why wouldn’t he enjoy her presence. But she was haunted by the feeling there was something more in his eyes. It didn’t help he had been distant from Saul. They were best friends after all, and even had been roommates in school. Now they give each other hard looks and a cold shoulder.
Farrah gives him a weary smile, “Rosalind was restless today. Where is Saul?”
Andreas’s face falls at the mention of the other specialist.
Ben coughs, “him and Andreas had a spat. I believe he ran...” he motions towards the barrier, “that way.”
Farrah sighs, turning on her heel to go find the other man.
“Farrah he’ll be fine,” Andreas calls after her.
She just sets her shoulders and leaves the greenhouse.
He is staring into the woods surrounding the school as she stands next to him in the dim light. “What happened?” She asks her voice soft.
His hands are in his pockets, he just shrugs as if he doesn’t know. She turns to look at him, her eyes flashing white as she uses her powers to assess is emotions. Sadness, hurt, longing.
“Andreas is distant,” he says. An attempt to clarify what she picks up on.
“I know, but he still means well.” Farrah says giving him a smile.
“I just never thought it would come to this,” Saul’s voice is filled with remorse. “Us not getting along, it’s like we have nothing in common outside the battlefield.”
Farrah puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder, “you’ll always have me. And Ben.” He seems to bristle under her contact, or the mention of their friend group.
“Yeah,” he says voice hard. “We do. Let’s head back. Maybe play a game of cards before we turn in for the night.”
Farrah nods tightly, following him back to the greenhouse. Not sure what she had said to upset him. But she can feel him trying to mask it, anger and sadness blended together in him.
She hopes it has nothing to do with the change she has seen in Andreas.
Saul tries his hardest to smile for the rest of the night. Trying to forget the words Andreas had spat at him before Farrah’s arrival. He can’t remember them exactly just that he had blamed Saul for the distance between their group lately. Claiming it was his futile attempts to get into Farrah’s pants that had their group on edge.
Not that Saul had ever tried anything, not since they were in school when he had tried to ask her out. And she had misunderstood his meaning and ended up tutoring him in runes. Since then he had just watched and waited hoping one day she would feel something too. He had no doubts she knew what he wanted, he left his emotions bare for her to sense at any time after all.
Andreas and Ben are stiff. Neither of them knowing what had brought Saul back and in such a good mood at that. After he stormed out refusing to dain his majesty with more than a sneer and jab at his title.
Farrah laughs her eyes twinkling as she takes a sip of the whiskey Andreas had pulled out. Their cards all but forgotten on the table.
“But the look on the kids faces was priceless,” Ben says. Finally finishing the story of how he had convinced the students to stop coming to the greenhouse to have sex. A couple poison Ivey vines laid over every flat surface.
“My students only ever try to steal alcohol,” Andreas says. “But I make it really hard. The key is always on me or strapped to the light in Rosalind’s office.”
Saul laughs, “you should see their faces every time he reveals the new location.”
Farrah frowns at them, “are you encouraging teen drinking?” The lilt in her voice light.
“Only if they are good enough to get the key,” Andreas says. “Think of it as rewarding them for being light on their feet and fast with their minds.”
Saul nods, “specialists need all sorts of skills. And if I remember clearly Farrah you got yourself plastered once a week your first year.” His eyes twinkle as he watches her splutter.
“Only because you two,” she points accusingly at the specialists, “assumed I could hold my alcohol. Forgetting I was sixteen and never had a sip till I met you.”
Andreas laughs, “you make a cute drunk though.” His voice is low.
Farrah clears her throat uncomfortably, “anyways, I better head off to sleep.”
Saul groans, “come on Farrah there’s no classes tomorrow.” He basically pouts at her.
“One more drink?” Andreas asks.
“Fine,” she says, “but only one more.”
Andreas pours them one more drink. His eyes glued to Farrah, Saul can feel the anger rise up in him. He squashes it down, knowing he has no right to be jealous or protective of Farrah. She’s her own woman and can make her own decisions.
Her eyes dart between the specialists. “After another thought Rosalind wanted to see me in the morning. So I best be off.”
Saul can see the worry in her eyes as she looks at him and then Andreas. “See you boys tomorrow.” She gives Ben a quick kiss on top of his head, “tell Rose hello for me.”
Andreas and Saul both stare after her as she leaves. After a second Saul puts his glass down. While Andreas tips his head back taking the whiskey as a shot.
“I’ll be leaving too,” he says after putting his empty glass down.
“Not so fast,” Ben scolds. His tone catching both the other men off guard. “I know what’s happening here and it’s not good. You need to give her space and stop fighting.” He levels then both with a hard stare his eyes boring through them. “If you can’t be friends and have feelings for the same girl maybe you should talk it out.”
Saul gulps, “Farrah? No, definitely not.” His lie sounds flat to his own ears.
“What he said,” Andreas says voice hard and commanding. “I’ve got to go.” He leaves without another word.
Saul stands up and starts to help Ben clear everything away. “It’s not so bad.” His voice sounds weak. Ben just pats him on the shoulder.
“If it’s any consolation I believe all you’d have to do is ask and she’d give it a shot,” Ben offers him a soft smile.
“Yeah, if I believed that it still wouldn’t change the fact Andreas’s feelings are on the line as well. And even if he’s being a jerk right now, he’s still my friend.” Saul can hear the sadness in his own voice. He knows he wants Farrah, but at what cost. Their friendship. Andreas. Not to mention Rosalind who has been giving Saul disapproving looks every time she sees him. Ever since Andreas had joked about him having the hots for her favorite fairy.