"Good-bye, Father." Avalanna stayed behind the boys to speak with her Father a moment longer, "Please take care."
"Of course." Her father smiled at her, "You worry too much about me, Child."
"I wouldn't have to if you would worry about yourself." She smiled back.
He laughed but it quickly died, his expression turning serious, "Lanna… I am so proud of you."
"Father…." She began in protest, knowing where this was leading. Any mentions of what she and her brother were about to set out and do made her cringe; however, she was the Princess… and she had a duty to her people to uphold. If there was a chance of peace, then it was worth taking. She felt like she was being sold and she hated it. Hated not having the option of choosing who she wanted to marry but it was something she had known had a high probability of happening her whole life. She couldn't afford to love who she wanted. The price of being a Princess… It made her sick girls dreamt of such things. If they only knew the responsibilities, the sense of duty… everything…
"No, Lanna… Listen to me. I'm proud of you and Noctis both, but particularly of you. You have been my biggest gift."
She scrunched her face up slightly, "Don't talk like that." She said more firmly than intended. "Noctis will be back soon with Lady Lunafreya." Her voice lightened up, intending to take away the initial harshness, "And…. I'll… be back to visit as soon as I can." She attempted to smile but her mouth was not cooperating.
"Yo! Lanna… Let's go!" She heard her little brother calling for her, which made her roll her eyes.
She ignored him, "Father… I love you. I'll see you as soon as I can. Please take care of yourself in the meantime, okay?"
Dantos stepped beside him, "I'll be there to guard him, Princess, do not worry."
Avalanna glared at Dantos, never much caring for him, "You better." She was brash and couldn't keep the displeasure out of her voice or eyes.
"Lanna…" Her father started, breaking any animosity between the two, "Go and be well. Live as happily as you can."
She hugged him, "You should be more worried for others, Father."
She heard him chuckle softly, "I certainly do not envy those that stand against you but I mostly fear for the men waiting for you in the car."
She smiled but could feel tears threatening their development, and knew she had to go now. Avalanna hadn't told anyone, but she had a feeling this was the last time she would ever see Insomnia, at least, not without quite some time passing… and not without everything being wholly and completely altered.
Avalanna bowed her head slightly to her Father before turning and making her way to the Regalia.
She slid into the car between her brother and best friend, "Took ya long enough." Gladiolus commented beside her.
She shrugged and Ignis spoke, "Everyone ready?"
"Ready as ever." Noctis sounded bored but she knew he was just as nervous as her. Their normal life, if their life could ever be called that, was behind them as soon as Insomnia was.
"Whoo! Altissia, here we come!" Prompto yelled and began driving… which certainly meant their doom.
"Whose brilliant idea was it to let Prompto behind the wheel?" Avalanna asked with disdain.
Prompto turned around, looking at her, "Awww… come on, Princess. Don't be like that. I'm an excellent driver!"
"Yeah… that's why you are looking at the road IN FRONT OF YOU right?" Her reply was sassy.
"Oh!" Prompto straightened and faced the way he was supposed to, swerving, and narrowly missing an on comer, "Ha ha! Oops!" He ruffled his hair with his free hand.
"Fuck, Prompto. Come on." Gladiolus smacked him in the back of the head, "You have precious cargo in here."
"Oh, shut the hell up." Avalanna chimed.
"I wasn't talking about you, Princess." Gladio nodded towards Noctis who was, somehow, falling asleep.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head in response but peered at Gladio out of the corner of her eye. He was doing the same. She closed her eyes and sighed. Needing to move but not able to, she slouched and put her hands behind her head, feigning sleepiness instead of uneasiness.
Avalanna may be uncertain what exactly awaits her in the future… but she knew one thing… This trip would be life changing and stretch the limits of her self-control to the end.
