Marble, cold marble, simple inscriptions their only marker. Dove was a strong young woman but on this day, this day of celebration and also remembrance, she allowed herself a few tears. One year it had been since the revolution, yet it still wasn't over. Sometimes Dove wondered if it would ever be over. She told herself that she was a good ruler, but she knew there were a lot of luarin who thought differently. Ulasim and Ochobus graves were but a reminder of the death, and so much death there had been. Dove straightened her chin; so much death could not be for naught. There was still work to do. As she turned around to leave she noticed a spot of colour outside and smiled. The orchids were sprouting again.
The crows cawed and cheered all day long. Aly stood on a high balcony taking a rare break from both her duties as spymaster and as a mother to the triplets. She could hardly believe it had been a year since the luarin were finally overthrown. The time had raced past what with organising and dividing land, finding foreign spies and sending them home, keeping a watchful eye on luarin who might cause trouble, pregnancy and now looking after three babies. Nawat flew joyfully through the air, his thoughts far from the revolution. Aly smiled, it seemed fitting that it would be on the one year anniversary that Ulasu, their youngest child, would finally sprout her first feathers. Aly chose to take it as a sign that finally things might begin to settle down.
They should have been there, Elsren and Mequen. Winnamine sat quietly at the window seat. It just was not fair, that she should have had to lose both the males in her life that meant the world to her. Petranne was growing up so fast and Dove the queen. How she missed her little son, and how she hated the past rulers for what they had done to him. And then there was her husband, he would have been so proud to see how Dove was ruling. She was a fair and strong queen, Winna was always amazed at how old and wise she seemed at such a young age. It was strange to think that just a couple of years ago she had had four children, then one left for love, one was murdered and one had grown up to be a young woman. Petranne entered the room and looked around, "Oh mama don't be so sad, we are supposed to celebrate."
"We are supposed to remember too sweetheart. That's what I am doing, remembering."
"I miss them too mama, I always will."
Winna rose to her feet and felt like sitting down again, Petranne had sprouted straight up; it was another reminder of how quickly things had changed.
The parade started in an hour, Taybur strode among his men, straightening a uniform here, giving a friendly word there. The soldiers were like sons to him, and he felt proud that they would be leading the anniversary parade. He was impressed with the event Dove had come up with; it was a tactful celebration and memorial at the same time. The parade would start at the waterfront and move through the city. When they reached the palace there would be a ceremony at the gates to remember and honour those who perished, then the gates would open and there would be a huge feast open to all in the gardens. The food would be free and delicious. It was another statement of how generous, kind and intelligent the queen was. Such a celebration was nowhere near as extravagant as the previous rulers and would show the people how fair and reasonable she was a ruler, and make them love her even more. It was with honour and pride that Taybur led his soldiers up the street. People cheered from the balconies as Queen Dovasary's horse rode by, flanked by her family and advisors. She smiled genuinely at them and waved in a clear show that she did love her people and loved being around them. Streamers sprouted into the air as the parade continued. The Kyprish Isles were a wondrous place to be once more.