Shidge
Mideval AU
I'm fuckin tired
Probably NSFW
Idk yet
Depends on my mood when I get to that point.
But you've been warned
Queen! Pidge
Because fuck it
Knight! Paladins

"My queen..?" A soft, concerned voice spoke as they approached on horseback.

The woman he spoke to sighed, sitting on the back of her own horse. "Is there an emergency..?"

"N- no, your majesty." He bowed his head. "Just... People are concerned about you, Pidge."

She breathed deeply. "I'm fine... I just needed a moment... I'm tired of being coddled..." Pidge looked down at the flaxen mane of her chestnut mare. Her horse huffed softly, back leg cocked and ears low as she relaxed. "She doesn't coddle me... She only comforts me... As well as the sunset... So you can return home, Rover..."

Rover gulped and gently urged his horse forward to stand beside hers. "Pidge... I cannot return without you..."

Pidge closed her eyes. "Right... I'll be just a moment."

Both stood still, the gray gelding Rover sat on shifting slightly.

"Okay..." Pidge shifted, grabbing the rope around her mare's neck. This caught the horse's attention. "We can go back now..."

Rover nodded, turning his gelding. "I still don't understand why you never put a saddle on Jade..."

Pidge hummed. "Neither of us need one... Just this rope, and we can go anywhere... Do anything..." She spoke softly, tilting the rope to guide the horse.

Jade knickered softly, swishing her tail.

"I don't understand..." Rover looked ahead. "But, I suppose I'll never be able to, anyway. You're a complex being, your majesty."

Pidge smiled and looked to her advisor. "You understand me the most of everyone else around me..."

Rover chuckled and nodded. "I suppose I do..." He looked back to her with soft green eyes. "It's nice to see you smile..."

"It's nice to finally be able to..." Pidge sighed and looked ahead to her castle. "It's been so long..."

"I know, Pidge... But, you're allowed to grieve. Just as everyone else."

Pidge nodded. "Yeah... I suppose so..."

~

She couldn't help but stop and stare as she passed a particular portrait. The faces made her chest tighten. The memories made tears fill her eyes.

"They were great people."

The voice beside her made Pidge gasp and jump. She spun on her heal. "Shiro!"

"I'm terribly sorry, your majesty." The kmight bowed down on one knee. "I hadn't meant to scare you."

Pidge gulped and motioned for the older man to stand. "It's alright... I was so deep in my own thoughts, anything would scare me."

Shiro looked up at her, then stood back up. "My knights are all waiting in the cousil room, your majesty." He spoke softly, offering his arm to her.

This man used to make her heart flutter and her hands shake. She used to get tongue tied and nervous, but she felt nothing anymore. She was empty and cold.

Pidge placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to lead the way.

"So, what brings you here so suddenly?" She asked softly, drawing his attention down to her. "You haven't been to the castle in nearly a year, so why now..?"

Shiro sighed, placing his hand on hers. "I... I suppose I was distracted far too long... Kept myself on the borders of our kingdom, keeping enemies out... And I forgot what was most important..."

Pidge hummed. "Yes... You certainly did..."

He frowned deeply as she took her hand away and walked ahead of him.

"Kathryn."

She stopped dead in her tracks at her given name.

"You can't push me away forever..." Shiro kept his steel gray eyes on her.

Pidge turned, gaze meeting his. His breath caught as he spotted the tears in her eyes. "Why not?" She asked, voice smooth and soft. "You seemed to have thought you could..." He nearly flinched as she turned her back to him and kept walking. "And, I will not ask you again... Do not say my name... You lost that privilege long ago."

~

Lance and Keith bickered at each other from across the table, Hunk sighing deeply from his chair.

Pidge sat up straight in her own seat, hands folded in her lap. She stared at the surface of the table, the voices of her knights muffled.

"Your majesty?"

She quickly snapped out of it as Rover placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

Pidge breathed deeply looking up to see the four knights staring at her. "I'm sorry. I seemed to have spaced... I need some air..." She stood and walked out to the balcony connected to the room.

The young queen gripped the railing, tears beginning to sting her eyes once again.

"Pidge..?"

She looked back to see the Red Knight- Keith. Quickly, she rubbed her eyes with her sleeve. He reached over and gently took her hand. "Pidge, what is it..?"

"I..." She gulped. Keith waited patiently. "It's been a year... Today is... It is Matthew's birthday..."

Keith looked down and nodded slowly. "Right... I almost forgot..."

"Keith... He was supposed to be King... I'm not... I'm not good enough to have the crown. I can't do this. I can't, Keith..." Pidge's voice started to crack, a single tear slipping free.

The knight cupped her cheek and gently wiped away the tear. "Pidge... You are plenty good enough. You are over qualified for the crown.'' Keith spoke tenderly. He breathed deeply, looking into her amber eyes. "I know that you weren't supposed to be queen, but... You were very lucky to have been with us during the attack... I don't know what we would have done if we lost you, too..."

Pidge whimpered and wrapped her arms around him. "I just... Miss them so much..."

"I know... I do, too..." Keith swayed slowly, rubbing her back.

"I'll never be as good as they were..."

Keith sighed and pulled back to look into her eyes. "Pidge... You don't have to be... Who never, maybe you'll even be better..." He tried to sound encouraging.

Pidge shook her head. "No one will be a better ruler than my father... He was the kindest man... Most generous king..." Her voice started to trail off.

"Pidge... You'll still be a wonderful Queen... Once you set yourself, you become the best... I've seen it before... You can do this..." Keith smiled as he spoke.

She breathed deeply. "I... I can try..." She muttered, looking up at him.

Keith nodded, kissing her forehead. "That's all I'm asking of you..."

~

"Zarkon sent a declaration of war."

Pidge pivoted on her heel, eyes widening slightly. "What? War?" She hurried over to Rover as he read the parchment he had just received.

Rover gulped. "He attacked the border town, Liesel, and declared war... It says that if you do not agree to his terms, he will lay waste to our kingdom..." Rover gripped the parchment tightly.

"Does... Does it say his terms..?" Pidge inquired, hands starting to shake.

"No..." Her advisor looked over to her. "We have to go to his palace to meet him and hear his terms..."

The Queen breathed deeply, looking down. "Call the paladin to the palace... Send troops and supplies to Liesel... I must prepare to trek to Daibazaal..." She muttered, clutching the skirt of her dress as she walks out of the throne room.

Rover fumbled and hurried after her. "Wait! Your majesty!" He shouted. "You can't just- you can't go!"

"I must."

"No- no, you musn't!" Rover grabbed her arm and halted her, bringing her to a stop as well. "If you are hurt over there, New Altea is without a leader!"

Pidge looked up into Rover's frightened eyes. "Whatever Zaekon wants, he'll only tell me. I have to go or he will attack..."

The advisor breathed deeply and lowered his head. "I don't think it will work... You could be hurt- even killed."

The queen sighed and took his hand into both of hers. "I'll have the paladins with me... Besides, I know how to fight as well. I'm not defenseless..."

"I know." Rover sighed, then straightened up. "I'm coming with you."

Pidge raised a brow, but smiled. "I'd love that." She mused and turned back around, letting him go to walk to her room.

~

"You aren't going."

Pidge blinked, then turned to face the Knight. "Takashi..."

Shiro walked over, knuckles white from his tight grip on his sword hilt. "You are not going to Daibazaal."

The young queen scowled. "You can't tell me what to do."

"Do you hear yourself?" Shiro scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "You sound like a child."

Pidge grit her teeth and narrowed her eyes. "I am your Queen. You cannot disrespect me like that, nor can you tell me what I can or cannot do." She straightened up as she spoke, not breaking eye contact.

Shiro clenched his jaw. "Going through Daibazaal is too dangerous." He lowered his voice.

"Did you forget that I used to be one of you!?" Pidge snapped, shoving him back and straightening her shoulders. The paladin's eyes widened slightly, taken aback. "I used to fight right beside you! What makes this so different!?"

Jade started to pace uneasily in her stall, ears back.

"I-"

"Is it because my entire family is dead?" Tears built up in Pidge's eyes as she glared. "Is it because I don't look like a little boy? Or are you still so pissed off at yourself for abandoning me when I needed you most that you can't stand to look at me any longer than a tic?" Her voice started to shake as she demanded an answer.

Shiro stared down at her, tongue-tied.

The young woman breathed deeply and returned to her pack. "I am going to Daibazaal... Nothing you can say or do will stop me from protecting my kingdom..."

~

Pidge tightened the girth of her saddle and sighed, making sure her packs were attached well enough. "Alright, Jade..."

The mare knickered softly, ear twitching. Pidge smiled and stroked her neck.

"Do you have everything, your majesty?" Rover asked as he approached, fastening his rapier to his belt.

The queen nodded, checking the breast collar. "Yeah. Just making sure Jade is comfortable. She rarely has a saddle on..." She muttered and stepped back, pulling her hair up into a ponytail.

Rover chuckled softly, tracing the whorl in the middle of Jade's large star. "You actually put a bridle on her... But still no bit."

"I told you she doesn't need one." Pidge smiled, checking the bridle.

The advisor smiled and shook his head. "We leave in just a few tics. The other paladins are ready."

Pidge nodded and sighed. "Guess it doesn't matter if I'm ready or not... We have to go..."

"Yeah..." Rover took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "We'll be fine... Your determination has inspired me." His smile widened and it made her chest lighten.

"Thank you, Rover... I don't know what I'd do without you." Pidge murmured and grinned as he helped her up onto Jade.

Rover chuckled softly, making sure she's situated. "You probably wouldn't be able to drag yourself out of bed."

"I definitely would not."

~

Pidge relaxed in her saddle, feet dangling beside the stirrups. Her reins rested on Jade's neck. Rover rode his gray gelding beside her, relaxed as well.

Shiro and Hunk rode just behind them, Keith and Lance behind them. Keith and Lance both ponied two other horses carrying extra supplies and the tents.