Sora no Ato: Chapter 10
Summer Visitor: Foreign Gifts
July came to Seize bringing the summer heat with it. Noël looked up. The sun beat down mercilessly on the Timekeeping Fortress, and the sky held not one single cloud. Its clear blue dome looked hard, as if it too had been rendered dry and brittle by the heat, as if it would shatter if someone gave it a hard, sharp blow. Perhaps it was a day such as this, when the world became the way it is, that the daemons shattered the sky and brought death and destruction to all. But enough of that, she told herself. It just makes you feel the heat more, ...or takes your thought down paths you would rather not. She continued across the courtyard to the dining room where Filicia was handing out the mail Klaus had just delivered. There was a letter there for her, again from Aisha. She took it back to her room to read in private. This time Aisha wrote in Helvetian. It was a bit shorter than her typical letter.
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Dearest Noël,
I hope you are doing well this summer and that the heat does not bother you too much. Now that peace has returned, our army is bringing back an old tradition. Roman civilians typically take holiday during August. Now the army feels free to grant us leave then. I applied for it and was granted three weeks leave then.
In other good news, the doctors say my leg and other wound are fully healed. When I left, I remember you telling me I should come back to visit once I had healed. Would you still like me to come? If you want, I can come in August, if that will work for you. Please write back and let me know. I miss you.
Love,
Aisha
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Aisha reluctantly had not been able to take Noël with her when she had returned to the Roman Empire after finishing her convalescence here, for Noël still was serving in the Helvetian Army and assigned to Seize. On arriving back in the Empire, she was first sent to the Empress Maria Hospital for evaluation of her injuries. The doctors thought she had been well treated, but they would not clear her for normal combat duty for several months at least. Given this, the question of what her next assignment should be arose. Talking with an officer in the personnel department, she inquired about possibilities of a career in Helvetian Relations in the Army, possibly as a liaison. The new peace meant that there would be more talking and less shooting than in the past, so this would be a growing field. When he heard she had already been studying Helvetian on her own, he thought this would help on her application. He arranged for her to take a language test to measure what she'd learned so far. Motivation and immersion in the language had been wonderful teaching tools, and she was assigned to an advanced Helvetian class. All agreed that the Helvetian mission would be her career path. Approval for this was quickly forthcoming. The Language Academy in the capital was not far from either the Hospital or the Imperial Palace, though the latter seemed only an amusing consequence.
When Noël finished drying her eyes after reading Aisha's letter, she took out pen and paper, for there could only be one answer. She wrote briefly in Roman.
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Dearest Aisha,
Please come visit. I miss you too. It gladdens me to hear you are healed. I would far rather see you healed in person. Please come. I want to see you again.
Love,
Noël
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That evening at dinner, Noël asked when the next mail pick-up would be.
Filicia smiled knowingly, guessing why Noël would ask something she likely already knew. ``Well, Klaus isn't coming until next week. But if you would like to get your reply to Aisha out faster, tomorrow you can take the car to the station at Treize. They have daily service there.''
``Thank you. If that's OK.'' Noël colored slightly at her purpose being guessed. She continued in explanation. ``You see, Aisha wrote she was granted leave in August. She wants to come visit. ...if it would be OK.''
``Of course, Noël.'' Filicia was happy to help, and happy she guessed right. ``Aisha is always welcome here.
Kanata piped up, ``Aisha can come? That'll be great.'' She still felt a special connection to her after finding and saving her from the snow. Kureha was equally happy to see her come and also happy to hear she recovered.
Filicia's eyes twinkled with a bit of mischief. ``If she would like someplace familiar, she can stay here in the infirmary ...or she can even share your room, Noël, if you'd prefer.''
Noël turned bright red at this, for she lacked in neither imagination nor powers of reason. She nodded in silent agreement and thanks to Filicia.
Rio noticed her reaction and changed the subject away from Noël's embarrassment. ``Is Aisha's leave part of the new August Leave Program that the Roman Army is starting? Emperor Franz Leopold told me they were going to do that in one of his letters. It's another of the benefits we're seeing from peace.'' She grinned. ``We both expect it to be popular with the army, even though it is only for those forces which had been fighting Helvetia. On their return from leave, many will be deployed on the Frankish front, but at least they'll be able to enjoy August holiday with their friends and families.''
``Yes,'' Noël agreed. ``Her leave is part of that. Romans like their month of Holiday.''
Rio concurred, and her mind went back to Franz Leopold's letters where he told of his daughters' plans for the holiday. They were all going to a mountain retreat to enjoy the cooler weather and lovely scenery.
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Thus Aisha's return visit was decided on. Noël added a postscript to her brief letter telling Aisha that Filicia also invited her to come and stay here at the fortress for as long as she would like. Subsequent letters confirmed when she would come and which exact trains she would take.
ooo OOO ooo
Kanata bubbled with happy anticipation at breakfast on the day Aisha's train was to arrive. Noël was looking forward to her arrival at least as much, but only those who knew her very well could tell any difference from her normal taciturn demeanor. Though she most always wore the scarf Aisha had returned to her, she had taken special care today to make sure it was clean and neatly tied and that the rest of her appearance was the best she could make it.
Not long after they finished breakfast, the platoon took both of their cars and all headed out to the train station together. They arrived well before the train, but that was Filicia's plan. She knew Noël wanted to see Aisha as soon as possible, and Kanata's eagerness was also infectious.
They did not have to wait overly long before the train pulled into the station. Only a few people got off here, but Noël was still the first of all of them to spot Aisha. She wore a simple northern-style dress as she figured that would attract less adverse attention than her Roman Army uniform. She and Noël saw each other almost immediately and ran to meet. Aisha dropped her suitcases and the two leaped into each others arms.
``Welcome back, Aisha. I missed you,'' Noël said in Roman as she nestled her head into the crook of Aisha's neck.
``I have missed you too. It's so good to be back here with you.'' Aisha rested her head against Noël's, and the two quietly savored their closeness and the comfort of their embrace.
Filicia's gentle hands on their shoulders restrained Kanata and Kureha from rushing forward as the rest of the platoon stood back and allowed these two some privacy for their reunion. After a bit, Noël and Aisha loosened their grip on each other, returned from the special world which held only the two of them, and walked back to meet the rest of Noël's unit.
``Welcome back to Seize, Aisha.'' Filicia's smile was tender and inviting, though she spoke in Helvetian as she knew no Roman.
``Thank you.'' Aisha replied in Helvetian. She returned Filicia's smile and shared it with the rest of the platoon. When her gaze met Rio's, she dropped to her knee and bowed deeply to her, as to a sovereign. ``Your Highness,'' she greeted her in formal Roman.
``Please get up Sergeant Aisha. You don't need to treat me like that.'' Rio's cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she responded in the same language
``But, Your Highness, you are entitled to this courtesy ...in both Helvetia and the Roman Empire...'' Aisha trailed off, unsure how to continue or how to contradict a royal princess.
Kanata and Kureha grinned up at Rio, proud that she was treated this way and that they had such an exalted friend, though they only understood Aisha's behavior not her words. Filicia smiled indulgently over them all, amused at their interplay and pleased at how they had all grown.
Rio soon recovered enough to respond. ``Maybe... But while we are here, please treat me as just a lieutenant. ...You know Filicia does not use ranks here. So I am just Rio.''
``If that is what you desire... Miss Rio.'' Aisha hesitantly responded. This was an easy mistake to fall into as she had been taught protocol in the army, and her commander had told her specifically of Rio and her engagement when granting her leave request. When Rio answered with a pleased nod, she added, ``But, please accept my deepest thanks for all you have done to stop the war.'' Her face also colored a bit as she glanced at Noël and continued, ``To be able to come here and visit ...friends, in peace. It is a priceless gift.''
Rio's blush returned at the compliment. She glanced over at Noël, smiled, and continued in Roman. ``You have also helped me find a study partner. I need to learn Roman ...and I have to study hard to keep up with her.''
Noël's cheeks now joined the ranks blushing. ``You are too modest, Rio,'' she countered.
``No.'' Rio gently shook her head. ``My sister Iliya taught me some Roman as a child. Without that I could not keep up.''
``You both do very well,'' Aisha told them. ``Better than I do in Helvetian.'' She glanced at the others. ``But perhaps we should not exclude your friends and return to speaking that, even if it will be more work for me.''
Noël nodded in agreement, as did Rio after she finished parsing the complex sentence. Rio's answer in Helvetian of, ``Sure, but we should all speak slower. That will make it easier for you,'' earned her a grateful smile from Aisha and Noël, and even Filicia who had picked up the two language names from their discussion in Roman.
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Their initial greetings completed, Filicia gestured toward their parked cars. ``Lunch is waiting for us back at the Timekeeping Fortress. I hope you will like it, Aisha.''
``I know I will,'' she replied as they all left the platform.
The language issue was solved for the ride back with the three Roman speakers taking one car and the remaining three the other. Noël and Aisha were grateful to take up Rio's suggestion that she drive so the two of them could sit together in the back seat.
ooo OOO ooo
Back at the fortress Filicia and Kanata put the final touches on lunch while Noël took Aisha to her room and helped her settle in there. Their cheeks still carried a tinge of color from Filicia's invitation. ``Welcome back to the Time Keeping Fortress, Aisha. We're all glad to have you back here as a friend. If you and Noël would like, you're welcome to share her room. You're also welcome to the bed in the infirmary where you slept before.'' Noël and Aisha looked at each other and blushed furiously. They both knew Noël's room only had one bed. Filicia's gentle smile and nod said she knew exactly what her offer implied, and that she approved.
Noël and Aisha came back down just as Filicia and Kanata put the finishing touches on lunch. It was fancier than their typical fare but fitting to celebrate the return of their friend. Conversation flowed well, mostly in Helvetian but switching to Roman at need. Friendship and cooperation managed to overcome any language difficulties.
Aisha had brought a box of Roman delicacies for the platoon to share. ``I said it before. But thank you again for saving me,'' she told them as she gave the box to Filicia. She met everyone's eyes so they would know that she meant this for each and every one of them. ``You saved me from a broken leg and the snow. You saved me from the soldiers. You saved me from Colonel Hopkins. You nursed me back to health. I have so much to thank you for.'' If her eyes rested a bit longer on Noël as she said this, the others thought it was only right.
``Thank you, Aisha,'' said Filicia, taking the box, for such a gift could not be refused. ``Maybe we can all share these for dessert.'' Everyone seemed happy at this prospect. ``But thank you for all you have done for us.''
Aisha looked confused. What had she done?
Filicia smiled and explained. ``You've given Noël the priceless gift of friendship and also are helping her grow and heal.'' The two both blushed and mumbled denials at this. Filicia continued, ``And you also gave Kureha a goal in life. She's now studying medicine and is going to become a doctor.''
Aisha looked form Filicia to Kureha in confusion, so Kureha explained. ``My mother was a medic. When I saw you injured I really hated not being able to do anything. That's why I'm going to be a doctor, so I can save many people.''
Aisha nodded, understanding her motivation now. ``Your mother would be proud.''
``And also,'' Rio added, ``I hear your information helped Filicia and the others keep Colonel Hopkins from restarting the war. It was a very close thing there, and every moment was precious. I don't know if I could have stopped things if the fighting started before I arrived.''
``But they did the ...work,'' Aisha countered.
``Perhaps,'' Filicia answered. ``None of us could have done that on our own, but I also think that we could not have done it if any one of us were missing.''
Rio nodded in complete agreement, so Aisha had to accept this compliment as well. How could she argue with her Empress-to-be?
During the course of the meal Aisha grew more accustomed to being informal with Rio, though she still deferred to her as much, if not more, than Filicia. Knowing her as a person helped, and thankfully the two had a head start on getting to know each other as Noël had shared tales of each with the other during the course of her correspondence with Aisha and Roman practice with Rio.
ooo OOO ooo
In addition to her personal luggage, Aisha also brought a package and letter for Rio from Rome. That evening, alone in her room, Rio opened and read the letter. It was from Franz Leopold and began:
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Dear Rio,
I hope this letter finds you doing well in Seize. Thank you for your last letter. It was good to hear the story of Mishio's box and how Noël worked with her on repairing it, and I am glad they have each found new friendship this way.
And if we follow long chains of coincidences, the origins of this box I am sending you trace back to Noël as well. The link here is through Noël's friend, Sergeant Major Aisha Aldola. I'm sure you've heard the full story of her involvement in Seize, but I only became aware of this recently. She filed a report on the events in Seize and specifically those relating to her injury as is customary for soldiers wounded on independent actions. One of our hard-line army jurists happened to actually read this report when she applied to change her army specialization to Helvetian relations. He took exception to some of her actions and moved to court-marshal her for heading off on her own to Seize without specific orders and especially for her letting the Helvetians know of our possible attack on Seize and teaching your bugler the Roman cease-fire call. Fortunately sanity prevailed, and the court-marshal was never begun, as Sergeant Aldola's actions helped on the path to the peace we wanted and worked so hard for. I fully endorsed her actions and her new career path after this incident was brought to my attention. In case you are interested I'm including a copy of all the relevant matter in the package.
This was how I learned the details of the events near Seize, and found how thin the knife-edge was on which events teetered between war and peace. I had not realized quite how eager some there—on both sides—were to fight and to what extent your platoon needed to go to stop them. I also learned what risks they took in defense of peace. I knew them as good people from talking with you, but now I see I owe them more thanks for their part in the peace, and for the risks to their lives and their honor they dared for its sake. I have already given Sergeant Aldola the Monarch's Thanks for her part in this. I would also like to extend these Thanks to the rest of your platoon.
I have included the medals for presentation in this box. If you would be willing to again stand in my stead and extend my thanks and present these medals, I would be grateful. If you are reluctant to present them, Sergeant Aldola can do so, and I have included written orders and explanation for you to give her if you do not wish to make the presentation. In the event you should chose to make this presentation, I have also included your robes and circlet so you may do so formally. I will not order you to do so, nor should I, but I would appreciate it if you do...
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The letter continued with more about the presentation and continued with another page of simple news and chatting about what Franz Leopold himself was doing, just like he did in his other letters.
Rio looked over at her growing stack of letters from Franz Leopold and thought back over their correspondence. True to his word, he sent her a letter every fortnight, and she in turn had always written back to him. They had fallen into this schedule as it matched Klaus' regular visits. Both valued the communication, but they quickly agreed that there was no need to push couriers to make special trips for it: they could easily adapt to the couriers' schedule. Franz Leopold usually wrote something in the letter each day of that day's events, both ordinary and extraordinary, and each letter would also include a longer piece telling of himself or his family or the city and country. Rio wrote back similarly, sharing her past, her thoughts and her life here in Seize.
Not every event or thought they wrote was important in and of itself, but taken together they all were. In this way they shared their thoughts and their lives with each other across the miles. For how else do two people get to know each other, whether in the same room or in different countries. Rio smiled to herself. At first, she had to push herself to overcome her natural tendency toward privacy, but it became easier over time as she saw Franz Leopold trying to do the same. She also appreciated the initial insight she'd gained form meeting him and from Maria's letter. She laughed at Anna and Elanor's recent adventure with their kitten Schwartz. Thankfully the servant involved was unhurt, as were everyone else. The issues on the border with the Frankish Kingdom were unsettling, and she was touched that he asked her opinion on them. She would need to think on those. She shook her head. Last year, she would never have imagined being asked this ...or to be honest, even thinking much about these topics. Her horizons really had broadened. Maybe this was all just part of growing up. But if it was, then she had met many people older than her who had yet to grow up.
She looked over at the picture of Franz Leopold and his family on her desk, her expression now unguarded, and her gaze slid over to their engagement picture. Her initial respect and appreciation for Franz Leopold was changing. Not that she respected him any less now, but something felt different, and she couldn't quite put a name to it. Maybe Filicia would know the word, but ...somehow it seemed better to keep it to herself and savor the feeling without having to affix a label to it. She hoped that Baron Manteuffel would not cause Franz Leopold too much trouble. He deserved more happy times like the ones he related about Theresa's party in her garden.
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Rio pulled herself from this reverie and reread the first page of his letter, then opened the box and found the contents just as he had said.
Why is it that I always get hard requests in letters? Rio wondered to herself. Doesn't anyone ever ask a princess directly? She thought back to her father's letter begging her to save Helvetia. At least this one would be far easier to do, or even contemplate, than that request from her father. After all, this was only a one-time thing and if needed she could just grit her teeth against the embarrassment and it would be done. Still, she had to smile at Franz Leopold's diffident tone.
And if she thought about it, there really were two types of letters, those asking something of her, and those which did not ask but merely shared. Those were rare for her, but Noël got them from her professor and Kanata from her family. When she was younger she had even gotten some of that type from her sister Iliya. Then again, when she considered it, Franz Leopold's letters were of this type too. They were pleasant to read ...and when she thought about it, she really couldn't even complain about this one.
She spent some time going over the contents of the box, reading and rereading the letter as well as the other included materials. Rio began to see how she might just be the most appropriate one here to present these medals. That is, if she was willing to be true to herself as Franz Leopold's fiancée. She didn't really want to put herself up at the center of attention like that, but had to admit she had become less averse to it over the past year. She did feel complimented that Franz Leopold thought enough of her to wish her to be his direct representative. Anyway, she didn't need to decide tonight; she could sleep on it. So Rio refolded the letter and put it and the box away for now.
Rio awoke the next morning and smiled as she realized that this was something she could do for Franz Leopold, to make his life easier, to make him smile. So she decided and met together with Aisha and Filicia to make the necessary arrangements. She was able to get by with a minimal explanation that she simply wished to read a formal message from the Roman Empire. She was grateful Aisha's deference did not require her to explain any further than asking her to be present in her dress uniform to represent the Roman Army.
Aisha now understood why she had been ordered to bring that uniform with her on her leave. It was more than just practice for her new assignment to Helvetian relations, though this would still be good practice.
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On the decided-upon day, Yumina came up to the fortress as invited and stood together with the assembled ranks of the 1121 in the fortress square. Rio appeared before them, dressed in her formal robes and wearing the Roman circlet, just as she had in Nomansland when she commanded the fighting cease. Aisha stood attending her in full dress uniform and carrying a closed box. When Rio had given her this box to carry, Aisha's eyebrows rose in surprise, but she said nothing. She recognized the Imperial seal on the lid, but she kept any suspicions on the contents she might have to herself.
The whole platoon recognized Rio's robes and wondered what she had to do here that was cause to wear them. Surely all of them here knew of the peace treaty. Kureha thought the robes and circlet made Rio look elegant and pretty, a true princess, but she did her best to stand at attention and not let this show on her face. Filicia was proud of they way Rio carried herself, once more showing the regal carriage which was hers by right. Noël paid as much attention to Aisha as Rio, and thought she looked very good in her full dress uniform, while Kanata simply enjoyed watching her much-admired Rio.
Rio glanced at the piece of paper she had with her, then faced their ranks and in her commanding voice declared. ``I, Rio Kazumiya Arkadia, in the stead and by the command of Franz Leopold Karl von Wittelsbach, the Rightful Emperor of the Roman Empire, do herewith extend his Monarch's Thanks to you for your special efforts to bring this war to an end, risking life, limb and honor to ensure the forces near Seize did not resume combat in spite of the perfidious intentions of some. You have not only well served your own country, but also ours, and more than that, you have served the greater cause of peace. Please accept these medals as a small token and recognition of our gratitude. And know that your names and deeds will always be remembered with honor in the Roman Empire, and that you shall ever be welcome throughout it.''
Rio then walked to the ranks of her friends, and Aisha followed her, carrying the box holding the medals. She reached Filicia, first of all, and when she took the medal from the box Aisha bore, Filicia went down on one knee, bowing deeply as before her sovereign. Rio blushed, but after a momentary pause, simply hung the medal on it's ribbon around Filicia's neck.
``Captain Filicia Heidmann, arise and know that you have my personal thanks as well as Emperor Franz Leopold's. You have ...done well, and should rightly be proud of your deeds. We know you risked charges of insubordination and even treason to defend those in your care and ensure peace. Thankfully, those charges never came about, for you truly served the higher good with your deeds. Emperor Franz Leopold is rightly proud and grateful for those deeds, just as I am.'' She couldn't quite bring herself to use the words Franz Leopold had given in his example and say her old friend had ``served'' her. She found it hard enough simply accepting her obeisance.
And so Rio proceeded down the ranks. Each of the girls followed Filicia's example, kneeling and bowing deeply before her, and Rio blushed anew at each obeisance.
She got to Yumina, last of all. Yumina did not go down on one knee, but bowed, putting her hands together in sign of both prayer and blessing. Rio altered her words, too. ``Yumina, you are not a soldier, so a soldier's medal is not fitting for you. Furthermore, in the Roman Empire, our tradition says we may not give a soldiers medal to a servant of the church. But still know that you have our thanks for your part in this peace. And more than that, you have taken one of our soldiers and nursed her back to health, regardless of allegiance in time of war.'' Rio decided that the words about the one Roman God would not go over well with Yumina, so she skipped on. ``Therefore, accept this lifesaving medal in token of our gratitude. For though the churches and peoples of Rome and Helvetia may disagree on some things, in this they are in accord: that to save life and heal the sick and wounded is supreme good.'' This time, Aisha was the one who blushed at the presentation, and a hint of a happy smile crept onto Noël's carefully schooled expression.
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After the presentations were complete and the platoon dismissed, they all gathered together in the dining room to celebrate.
``You have grown, Rio,'' Filicia told her. ``You should be proud of yourself. I am. Last year, you would have done anything to get out of something like this, yet it seems you made this presentation willingly. And I should add that you did a very good job of it too.''
This produced yet another blush and stammers of denial from Rio. ``Who else was there to do it?'' she concluded, then grinned sheepishly. ``I guess even I can learn to do those things I can't escape with a little more grace, now.''
``You were wonderful, Rio-sempai,'' Kanata piped up, stopping herself from playing with her new medal. She still had trouble believing she had been given something like this, or who her friend had become.
Rio let the others' compliments and discussion wash over her; it was the easiest way to cope with the embarrassment. She also ran over the presentation and her friends' reactions in her mind, trying to fix them in her memory so she could include them, along with her thanks, in her next letter to Franz Leopold. He would be glad to hear how well the medals were received, and she figured he would also appreciate hearing that she had presented them the way he asked.