merryfortune

100ships - #95 Champagne

Title: champagne coloured

Ship: Sully/Sumia

Fandom: Fire Emblem Awakening

Word Count: 1,476

Rating: T

Warnings: No Warnings Apply

Tags: Canon Compliant, Fluff, Proposals

   Sumia squealed with laughter as Sully gave the reins a good stir. The horse they shared, a beautiful darling with a free spirit and a champagne coloured coat, gave a buck. Its excitement roused by how Sully commanded it, it huffed and snorted as it continued to race through the countryside.

   Sumia’s arms tightened their embrace around Sully’s midsection. She was stocky and warm, it made Sumia smile as she buried her face against Sully’s back, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the ride. She felt the sun on her back and every rock to the horse’s gallop.

   No matter the time of day or how frequently she rode, Sumia never got sick or bored of the sensation of riding a horse or pegasus. In tandem, sitting in the saddle behind Sully, she could never tire or grow dull of that. She adored spending time with her beloved, being whisked away over hills and moors that she would not typically explore by herself or with her own mount.

   The picnic basket that Sumia had packed rattled and jangled against the saddle. Her stomach growled, too. It felt like they had only been out and adventuring the verdant countryside for a handful of minutes but maybe it had been a lot longer than Sumia had guessed. Enraptured by the fun and excitement truly made it last, Sumia felt. She tapped Sully’s shoulder and Sully turned her head slightly.

   “Hankering for lunch, are ya?” sully asked, her voice razed by the wind that they were dashing through.

   “I am a little peckish.” Sumia replied.

   “Don’t worry ‘bout it, there’s a lovely little gully nearby. We’ll set up camp there.” Sully assured her.

   Sumia beamed, “I can’t wait to see it then.”

   “Heck yeah,” Sully raucously replied, “c’mon boy, giddy up, we’re almost at our rest stop, bud.”

   She gave the reins another jostle and then held them back tight to warn her horse not to over exert itself. Sumia felt the pace shift and took the time to lean out over the side of the horse. She watched as more of the landscape became known to her. Clean, trickling creeks and mossy trees on their banks choked and cluttered with all sorts of blooming wildflowers. All whilst under a demure and cloudy blue-grey sky.

   Sully had the horse halt up ahead and dismounted with ease - and all without giving Sumia an accidental smack with her leg, too. She tied the reins to a branch and pet the nose of her companion mount, whispering to him that he get his rest whilst she and Sumia had their lunch.

   Sumia dismounted next. Her foot tangled with one of the stirrups and so, her awkward dismount ended in a flop. Sully screeched and Sumia whined that she was fine, even though she had face-planted into the soft ground. At least it was soft.

   “Are you okay?” Sully asked as she helped Sumia to her feet.

   “Y-Yeah,” Sumia brokenly replied as she tried to wipe dirt off her face, “its very cushiony here.” She even bounced on her heel to emphasise.

   “Yeah, unexpected benefit of all that good rain we’ve had recently, I s’pose.” Sully replied.

   Under the discarded and swatted away muck, Sumia did look fine. No broken nose or anything, not even a busted lip or a little bit of blood. Sully sighed with relief but she decided to unhitch the picnic basket from the saddle instead of Sumia, lest she drop it, too, or worse. Sumia didn’t mind, she appreciated the courtesy and instead pulled the rolled up blanket free from where it had been fixed upon the saddle.

   Sumia trotted around inquisitively as she looked for a good spot to unveil the blanket - it was thick and tartan, and was unlikely to get messy anywhere regardless of where it was placed - but she still wanted to choose the best spot. The best spot, she decided, was adjacent to the tree that Sully had affixed their horse to. She sprawled it out and as soon as the fabric settled on the ground, Sully plopped down the picnic basket, popping it open.

   “Let’s dig in, eh?” Sully asked.

   “Sounds good.” Sumia smiled.

   She knelt down softly and perched herself upon the blanket. Sully’s hand fished through the contents of the picnic basket: Sumia had packed them both a verifiable feast. Sandwiches, pies, and fancy looking drinks, too. Sully could hardly choose where to start. However, given that Sumia had chosen a sandwich first, Sully thought to do the same thing.

   Sully tucked into mashed egg sandwiches and cold meat sandwiches, too. At least three at a time and ate with much gusto. Sumia could hardly eat her own as she was so entranced by the enthusiasm that Sully had for the food that Sumia had made for them both. All her hard work was most certainly satisfied by watching Sully so eagerly eat. So, not wanting to be left behind in Sully’s crumbs before she charged onto the second course of the dessert pies that Sumia had made, Sumia made some effort to eat at least half as heartily as Sully.

   Somewhere in between the sandwiches and pies, they also poured themselves some drinks that Sumia had brewed herself. Cold tea with sparkling water, flavoured with all her favourite berries and fruits. It was all so very delicious, bright and vivacious.

   Sumia had done well to pack just enough food between them to leave them more than content. Sully laid down by the empty basket and bottles of drink, staring up at the sky. Though it was murky with clouds, there didn’t seem to be a hint of rain. It was just dim but cosy, only in the way big, thick clouds of white and grey could be. All because here and there, great shafting sunbeams peeked out from behind those blanketing clouds like glimpses of heaven.

   Sumia laid down beside Sully as well. She stole a glance at Sully and slowly inched her hand closer to Sully’s. Their pinkie fingers entwined. Sully beamed whilst Sumia felt the pitter-patter of her heartbeat increase. Even Sully’s pinkie finger felt sturdy and tough, just like the rest of her, it was comforting.

   “D’you think there’ll be a good harvest this spring?” Sully asked.

   “I would hope so. We’ve had a good winter for it.” Sumia replied.

   “Yeah, I think so, too.” Sumia agreed. “I reckon I’ll give a hand where needed. Its nice, this peacetime thing.”

   “It really is.” Sumia murmured.

   “Then, when everything’s done an’ dusted, we’ve put down all the shears and reaped all what we’ve sown, we’ll have more food than we’ll know what to do with, don’t ya think?” Sully asked but her question sounded rhetorical.

   Sumia only hummed there, letting Sully continue to speak her stream of consciousness as she admired the sky.

   “Since we’ll have so much food, and everyone’ll be so tired, I think having a huge shindig with all the Shepherds would go down a treat.” Sully said.

   Sumia shifted her head slightly, her eyes were sparkling, “Just for the occasion of a good harvest?” 

   “Nah.” Sully replied and she turned her head too, her eyes were sparkling with excitement. “The occasion will be a wedding. Ours. Whaddya think? Sumia, will you do me the absolute honour of being my wife?”

   Sumia felt every nerve in her body alight. She propped herself up, reefing her hand from Sully but Sully got up as well. She smiled a cheeky smile whilst her other hand rummaged through a pack at her rear, attached to her belt. She pulled out a little black-purple pouch of velvet and there was only one thing inside of it. 

   Sully offered the ring to Sumia, “Well?” she prompted her.

   “Well, what? Of course, I’m going to say yes, dummy.” Sumia replied, tears of joy already spilling out the side of her eyes as she embraced Sully into the biggest embrace of either of their lives - and hard enough to crack Sully’s spine by the feel of it.

   Sully laughed from the bottom of her belly and she hugged Sumia back, keeping a careful hold on the ring. It was just a plain little band of champagne coloured gold. It didn’t have a gem atop it nor did it have any inscriptions. It didn’t need anything like that and neither did Sumia or Sully. The way Sully saw it, it was going to get beaten and scuffed by everything Sumia did with her hands, thereby imbuing it with a lifetime of love better than any jewel could ever signify.

   Slowly, Sumia let go and she gave her hand to Sully. Her eyes were soft but determined as she slipped the ring onto Sumia’s finger. It was a perfect fit and Sumia’s thrilled expression was one that Sully would sooner die than forget.