Nixiesocean: So, I was reading my reviews… NO THIS IS NOT THE END! I'm so disappointed that you would think I would end the story without some sort of ending (no, Tristan being cold is not an ending!). At least when my story killed off my main character(s), I let everyone know they were dead. Okay? I'll change status to 'complete' if and when this is over. Yay, it's not, so, y'know, have fun reading!
Oh, and, yay for Chapter 10! Thank you all who stuck with me from Random Encounters? to my long interlude of no updates to now. You guys (or gals) are great!
And, for stickin' with me, this chapter is a combined chapter. It still applies to the story, but in the middle the main characters switch from Ditri to Fria, her daughter. She is still part of the story 'The Fatal Mistake' but I had to get a new M.C. BTW, I'm still figuring out Fria's personality, so bear with me.
Chapter 10: The Secret Female Language
Her mind was racing. They said the wound wasn't fatal. Why was he cold? Was the window open? How could they lie to her? What would they tell her if she asked? Why was he cold? He couldn't be… dead! Fria needed him! She needed him! Auszin needed him! Tears streamed down her face as she clutched his hand. The nurse saw her.
"Lady Queen?" She asked, looking worried. "Is something wrong?"
"He's cold! He's dead!" Ditri broke into a harder bout of tears. "He's dying!"
"No, my lady." The nurse said. "That is the herb. The doctors had to chill him to slow the blood flow. He'll regain his warmth in an hour or so." Patting the queen's head, the nurse left. Not dead? Of course he wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead! How could she have been so stupid? The nurse said he would regain warmth in an hour. She would keep holding his hand until then.
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"She freaked out when she found out King Tristan was cold." The nurse informed the doctor. "She said that he was dead."
"A normal side-effect to the absence of common sense." The doctor turned and walked away. He went to Ditri's side; she was clutching King Tristan's hand to her chest.
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Someone woke her. "Queen Ditri?" It was the doctor. "How was your sleep?"
She yawned, keeping the warmer hand on her chest. "It was good. Thanks." She finally realized that Tristan's hand was warmer than before she had fallen asleep. "He's warmer." She said absently. "Is he going to live?"
"We won't be sure until he wakes up, we've kept him under while we operate." He replied sadly. "There was the point of a sword stuck in the wound, it seemed like the sword was cut off at the skin, though I know of no way a metal sword could be cut…" My transportation. It cut the sword at the tip! I've been hurting Tristan this whole time! "It actually kept the wound from being infected, it blocked up the wound…" What? I helped him by transporting him at that time? "So, however it happened, it helped." The doctor patted Ditri's hand, which was wrapped around Tristan's hand. "You're regaining strength quickly, he may need to be here a little longer than you." I won't leave until Tristan is awake and healing correctly!
"What about Fria? May I see her?" Ditri pleaded. She wanted to know her daughter was okay before she went back to sleep.
"Yes, I will bring her out when you wake back up, but right now you need sleep, okay Queen Ditri?" As if the doctor needed a response! But, she wanted to see Fria, so she wrapped her other hand around Tristan's hand and tried to sleep.
"I demand to see my granddaughter!" - "No, I'm sorry, but she's unavailable. Come back when she is awake." - "I am here now! Do you know how long I've been traveling?" - "I'm sorry to hear that you've traveled such a distance to see her… but she can't be seen now. She's asleep." - "Then go wake her up, I'm here now, she'll want to see me when she hears I'm here."
"I'm awake." She called to her grandmother. "I'm alive." Tristan's hand had regained its normal warmth. His face was a normal tanned face he hand and he slept peacefully. She smiled at her lover and looked at the wizened face of the past queen of Guen.
"Oh good, I was just telling this gentleman how you would like to see me once you heard I was here!" Ditri smiled and nodded, allowing her grandmother entrance. The assistant grudgingly let her by. The assistant shut the curtains that now blocked her from the rest of the infirmary. They hugged and her grandmother sat in a chair. "How have you been?" That was the secret female-language saying 'How did the teleport go?'
"Good, all except for this lack of energy." Again, female-language: 'Not so well, I'm totally drained.'
"Huh. Anything interesting happened?" 'Did anything go wrong?'
"Not really. You already know about Fria and Tristan." 'No.'
A doctor poked his head in. "I was under the impression you were here on matters of grave importance. Not small talk."
Ditri's grandmother laughed and poked the doctor. "You don't know women. These are matters of grave importance." The doctor groaned a left after Ditri gave him a 'I'm-the-queen-so-you-better-get-your-ass-out-of-my-business' look. "How is the baby?" 'Does the child have the gift?'
"I don't know; they won't let me see her yet." 'It hasn't shown yet, I'll let you know when it has.'
"I trust you haven't been in any trouble lately?"
"Other than the Crown Prince's evil twin brother trying to brutally murder us in our sleep and me nearly dying of fright from an idiot's decision, no."
"This trip to Auszin has changed you, Ditri-dear." 'What do you mean by that?'
"No, maternity has." 'I mean what I said.'
"Ah, the joys of motherhood." 'Who is the idiot?'
"If the doctor would let me see her, you'd be able to see the little baby." 'The doctor.'
The doctor once again poked his head in. "You must be leaving, your highness. The queen wants to see Fria."
"Let her stay. I told her she could." It was something like 'Please stay, I'll lose my sanity if you don't,' in the secret language taught to daughters by their mothers.
"You did?" The doctor appeared confused, but at another look by Ditri, he brought Fria in. She was the same. "Ah, yes, of course."
"She's beautiful!" her grandmother said. 'She's Beautiful!'
"Thank you." Diri said. "She has your eyes though." 'She gets it from you.'
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Outside the curtain, a nurse was crying. The doctor came out. "Why are you crying?"
"It's just so beautiful!" Talking came from inside Queen Ditri's area. "Oh! Oh my!" The nurse started crying. "I wish I had a daughter." The nurse smiled through her tears of happiness. "I suppose I should get back to work, right?"
"Uh-huh." The doctor said grinning. Whatever those women said, obviously it had certainly affected his nurse.
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Ditri cuddled the little Fria to her chest. She had slimmed down after Fria had been born. It was hard to look at Fria. She was a beautiful mix of herself and her husband. Which only reminded her of what was still denied to her. Tristan. Her grandmother had long left, leaving Ditri lavishing love upon her only child. She embraced and kissed her forehead, softly singing to the one-year-old. The same doctor poked his head inside the still curtained-off area.
"My Lady Queen, I must take Princess Fria. You need to sleep." He informed the queen.
"No, I don't. I'm fine, really. I want to see Tristan." She demanded, holding Fria ever closer to her chest. Fria had fallen asleep during her mother's interludes of singing. "Please?"
"All I can allow to do is watch him, he is still unconscious."
"I understand."
"And he will be for at least another day."
"I understand."
The doctor, against his better judgment, allowed the queen to visit her not-as-active husband. She sat by him in a wooden chair holding their child. She softly stroked Tristan's short cut, brown, curly hair. It was, she hated to say, oily today. Then again, he hadn't taken a bath today… so really couldn't have blamed him. She spoke in soft undertones.
"I know you can't hear me, being under the effects of those dratted drugs, but, Fria is here with me and she's fine. We both love you very much, Tris. I wanted to let you know that the sword is out of you now, my teleport kind of sliced the sword at your skin, so it was harder to get out, but the doctor says it helped the wound from getting infected. I can't really say if that's true, since I have no medical knowledge, save a few herbs, and all. But, I really want you to heal, but I know you can't and that you have to heal at a normal rate. But maybe you could… you know? Once you wake up, of course. I think that's all right now." Ditri stood and gently kissed Tristan's lips. His eyes twitched. He reached out a hand and put it on her head, pressing the hair to her scalp. She was so surprised she broke the light kiss.
"I love you, Ditri." He whispered before falling back asleep, overcome by the power of the herb. Touched, Ditri let a single tear drip down her cheek and onto Fria's small forehead. The baby giggled, now awake, and rubbed the salt water around. She laughed, her baby voice warming Ditri's heart. She smiled and left Tristan's bedside, happier now that he had spoken to her. One hour later, the doctor released Ditri, but she refused to leave until Tristan was conscious and able to leave himself. With reluctance, the next day, the doctor released Tristan. They stayed in Ditri's old room, due to the fact that Ditri's parents hadn't moved out of the royal quarters before they'd left to go to the coronation.
Word got around that his brother, Prince Perhin, had attacked King Tristan and there was a grand search in both countries for the fugitive. It was futile. By the time the search had started, Perhin had found sanctuary in some secluded part of Furde, though the royals didn't know such vital information. Slowly, the threat of Perhin faded into Myth…
---------------------------------------------Twenty Years Later---------------------------------------
"Fria!" My mother called. my red-gold hair (courtesy of my mother) bounced into my face. "Fria Lily d'Cuyno!" Mother always was impatient. I quickly pulled my overly-fluffy hair into a ponytail (I hate having my hair done for an hour only to get mussed when I went riding) and left.
"Coming!" I said down the hall. My pastel green summer dress made a swooshing sound when I walked. After what felt like two thousand "swoosh"es, I arrived at my mother's room. I curtsied. "What did you want, Mother?"
"You're being sent to Aludn. There, a prince waits meeting you. Try to get along for once. You are now twenty-one. I was married by eighteen." I didn't bother to mention that my mother had an arranged marriage that turned out correctly. "He'll meet you at the gates." Her little speech meant: 'You're being stuck with some random prince because I was. Your marriage will turn out just fine!' or something along those lines.
"If that is your wish, Mother." I had to be polite. Just because I am the Crown Princess of Auszin and Guen didn't mean your mother can't send you to your room. 'Sure, whatever,'
"Oh, and take your brother with you." Great! Now have to take Brennin with me! He'll ruin everything "You'll be leaving tonight." Tonight? "Tell your brother before getting some handmaids to help you pack. Luckily, my tutors had taught me to contain my emotions. My bright green eyes didn't show the immense dislike for men, nor the shock of what my mother had just said.
"Yes, Mother. I will tell Brennin. What will Serah and Jemina do?" Serah was fourteen and Jemina, fifteen. Both were already flirting with the nobles' sons.
"That is my concern, be off with you. I know you'll take a while to pack, I know I do." Little did she know how little I was like her. I hated needlessly complex things, such as dresses. But, I had to wear them. Think of the shock the nobles would get if their Crown Princess were to wear breeches and shirts! Though, I would rather shock them than disappoint them. Who knows? They might start a rebellion… what a terrible thing that would be for Auszin and Guen alike. I walked down the lavishly decorated hallway to my brother's room. He, on the other hand, liked girls. He dressed like a prince. I didn't dress remotely like a princess.
"Brennin, Mother says you're to come with me to Aludn." I said curtly. Mother probably wanted him to come because of his protectiveness of me. Which annoyed me to say the least.
"I know." He said. He looked like Father, who was away doing peace treaties with some western countries. Father had the bright eyes, like me, and the light brown curly hair.
"You know?" I was shocked. Mother had only just told me.
"Yes." He said absently. He never looked up. He had already packed. His stuff was by the door. I was about ready to curse.
"Fine. Whatever. I'll be ready in a half-hour. We're leaving then. I want to get away A.S.A.P." I ordered. He knew better than say no. I was the Crown Princess… "Do you need so say goodbye to any noble daughters? After all, I suppose I could wait…"
"You sound like you want to go, Fria." He noted, barely even looking me in the eye for his position on his bed. "I was under the impression that you wanted to stay away from Auldn. Unless, of course, you like a boy for once?"
"In your dreams, Brennin. I'd rather jump into a raging river than fall for some idiot. I hate men and I don't know why I have to marry one just to take the throne. What idiots though up that law? Wait, don't answer that." I amended. He probably knew too. I hated history. History is crap. That's why it's history. Not present. Duh! "Well, say good bye to any chick you happen to be courting. I'll be ready in a half-hour." I turned on my heel and left. I called a maid to help me pack my summer dresses. I also, after she left, packed my riding clothes. As good as my word, I had packed in twenty-nine minutes flat. My things were contained in one trunk. After all, I didn't pack all that frippery that normal princesses wore. I hated them. They itched, they hurt my ribcage and my breasts were just fine as is.
"Brennin!" I called down the hall, dragging my truck behind me and hearing thumps as I went down the flagstone stairs. "I'll meet you by the stables." The trip to Auldn, I had figured, would take a week or so to make it to Auldn's capital, Denai: five days out of Auszin and two or so days to reach Denai. Secretly, I knew it would take less. But, not because the horses were fast, but because I had inheirited my mother's gift: Teleportation. And, I was stronger in it than her. So, I could carry a sleeping Brennin, the two horses and the footman about a hundred miles and be tired. I would have to time it so that the footman would suspect anything. And I did. By God, I did. The prince of Auldn would get a surprise, and a merry surprise at that. I did it a few times a day.
-In the Royal Palace-
"Sire. You must hurry. The princess and her brother have arrived faster than we thought." A butler had hurried into his chambers to inform him. Prince Kyne pulled on his doublet and headed to the door. How was it that the Auszin/Guenian royals seemed to arrive faster? When King Tristan had come by himself, he had come at a slower pace. Yet, when the women came, it moved faster. Maybe they insisted on not stopping, that would be the most logical thing to do. But wouldn't they want to take baths, do their hair et cetera in the morning like normal women? Bah! All this thinking made his brain itch. He wanted to get the introductions over with. Now.
Upon arriving at the palace gates, Kyne was surprised to see that the coach wasn't here yet. He was lucky, he guessed. Smiling to himself, Kyne decided to take a seat. Just as he started to sit, the coach (complete with royal engravings and gold) came around the bend that led to the doors to the palace. He guiltily jumped up and smiled at the coach. He walked up to it just as it was pulling it up. He wished that fleck of coal-black hair would get out of his face. He sighed and opened the door, holding out his hand for the princess to get out. The woman that climbed out wasn't the woman he'd envisioned as Fria d'Cuyno.
-Fria-
I took the awaiting hand and gracefully climbed out of the car. Dispite the princely garb, I ignored him. I hated men with a passion. There were two men in my life I didn't hate: my father and my brother. Any other man would have to deal with my aloof style of dealing with them. I did manage a look at Prince Kyne as Brennin was getting out. He was, if I wasn't interested men, would be called handsome. His tanned skin and hazel eyes matched perfectly with his coal-colored hair. He was slightly shorter than Brennin, who wasn't short by any standards, yet taller than me. I smiled at him as he introduced himself. Titles flew; I didn't pay them much attention. I introduced Brennin and myself while seemingly absently fanning my face. Auldn was slightly hotter than Auszin had been when we had so suddenly left.
"If you would follow me, Crown Princess Fria and Prince Brennin" He held out his hand. I ignored it until Brennin gently tapped my shoulder. I grudgingly took it. He steered us to the guest quarters, informing us how to use the different bells for different services (he seemed very proud of such a contraption). Brennin was shown his room and Prince Kyne told us dinner would be at the fifth bell the local cathedral would ring after the noon bell (which had already rung today). I opened my trunk and rung the 'maid' bell. She appeared and helped me to unpack my light summer dresses. She smiled, showing me the wardrobe where the prince had stocked some dresses (all of which were not summer dresses, but dinner and ballroom types. The kinds I hated). Mother probably told him, I concluded. Only she would betray me to such ends.
"This is the one the prince wanted you to wear for dinner tonight." She said, pointing to an emerald-green dress that matched my eyes so perfectly I wondered if Mother had sent it for me to wear. Sighing, I relinquished my claim on what I was to wear tonight. At least he would think he could dictate what I could wear. Then, I would spring it on him, when he was least expecting it. When it would embarrass the hell out of him. When he would look terrible in front of his friends. If he had any. I grunted as the maid pulled the strings on the corset tighter. That, if any, was the reason I hated fancy dresses. Corsets. Finally, she (the maid) put the dress over the corset. It showed more chest than I would've liked, but my trap had to be perfectly laid. I left my room. There, as always, Brennin sat waiting to escort me to dinner. He said nothing about my low neckline, but he had no choice today in what I could and could not wear. It was entirely the king, the queen and the prince's choice, being their guests and all. I sighed. It would be a long dinner. Very long indeed.
Okay. I know I'd rarely change generations in a story. But, hey, I can do what I want. : - P Neener. Yes, neener. Fria is meant to be a tomboy, but a girly tomboy. She doesn't mind dresses, but hates men in general (except her brother and her father). She hates having her hair done, but likes to ride. Kyne is, as of now, trying to be kind. Fria is kind of aloof to him. This, as you would guess, will come as a shock to Kyne, being a prince and all. Brennin is a younger brother, but still wants to protect his sister. He is a duplicate of Tristan, looks-wise. He is meant to be around twenty, as Fria is twenty-one. Kyne is twenty-one/ twenty-two. She, as she promised, would try to be nice to Kyne, but her prejudices tend to over-come promises. As you will see!
You get a preview of next chapter just cuz you do! P.S. Reivew! I'm doing this cuz you little reviewers are so polite and nice!
I entered the dining hall with Brennin at my side. I could hear Kyne gasp, though he tried to hide it. I grinned to myself.
"Is there something that you find amusing?" Brennin asked Kyne, using his 'she's-my-sister-so-you-better-not-think-anything' voice. It made me grin to myself, again.
"No, Prince Brennin. I'm only looking at the delicate food. I thought something had moved." He was an excellent liar, I must admit. He forgot one thing: it was a salad.
He totally set himself up. "Oh good. For a second there I thought you were looking at my breasts. But I know a nice and kind prince like yourself would never think of something as immoral as that!" I said laughing internally when Kyne barely managed to hide a blush. As I went to my seat (Brennin sat to my right, Kyne to my left) I whispered in his ear. "It's a salad, my dear prince." I sat, gracefully eating the salad without getting anything on my dress or my chin. This would be an interesting dinner.