Chapter 10: The Queen of the Skies
Okay a more mushy gushy chapter with more cliffhangers to be wrapped up in the next and final chapter before the sequel.
Enjoy the new chapter!
"My lady Elincia! What are you doing up there?"
Elincia looked down from her perch up on a large boulder balancing on her toes in her now well worn leather boots, "Getting a better look at the northern cliffs!"
The five months with Tibarn and living in Phonecicis had been an adjustment that was for sure. Not only was it strange to be the only beroc in the area at first but the landscape and weather were different. The palace had a soft warm glow that radiated off the warm brown rocks it had been carved out and had a wild feel to it unlike the cold gray stone of the palace in Crimea.
It was different and just like the soft spoken Reyson, she had changed in this wild untamed land of high cliffs and warm wind. The constant sun had tanned her face, her hair having gone a shade darker but still was that stunning bright green.
Instead of the flowing and regal looking , but also a bit restrictive and she admitted it...girly dress, she wore a simple but decorative one of Phonecicis that allowed for movement such as running and scrambling over rocks.
Her worn leather boots pulled up the her knees where caked in dust and dirt from all the hiking and climbing she had been doing in exploring her new home. Phonecicis didn't favor someone without wings with the rocky landscape, ravines and canyons that cut through the land and the sheer cliffs that grew out of the wild landscape.
Elincia smiled closing her eyes enjoying the warm wind before opening them and leaning forward to look down. The sheer cliffs dropped down to jagged white foamed oceans far below, seagulls gliding on the breeze. She whistled in awe at the size of the cliffs her heart in her throat...and too think that such a jump was made by young hawks on their first flight.. It was even more amazing that one never fell to their death, their wings quickly finding the air.
She moved back from the edge turning to the nervous lady hawk behind her, "it is alright Saria. I was just looking over the edge. I wanted to see the drop that young hawks make...very impressive!"
Saria smiled slightly, "Your words are kind my lady," she said with a smile, "I remember your husband's first time..." she chuckles slightly, "He was afraid to jump his father couldn't pry him off the rocks for the longest time he was so afraid of flying!"
"Really!" Elincia asked with wide eyes as she moved down the boulder back down to the ground and away from the cliff edge, "He never mentioned that,"
"Ask him about it," Saria said with a giggle, "it is quite a tale I'll tell you that!"
Elincia smiled warmly at her attendant and her caretaker when she was out running about Phoenicisis like a little girl exploring whenever she could. It had taken a while to earn the hawk's trust, but now she knew many of them and had earned a place in their world.
Her booted feet touched the ground and she smiled at Saria, "Is Tibarn home?"
The hawk nodded, "Yes the lord came in just a few minutes ago my lady,"
Elincia's smile widened and she hiked up her dress slightly and took off running towards the palace now as surefooted as a mountain goat on the rocky terrain. A few servants looked up with a smile as the wild queen of the skies tore into the courtyard, gravel flying with her run, Saria close behind her.
She took the steps two at a time up to the main chambers and down the hallways of granite stone, the warm breeze coming in through the open windows bringing the scent of spice and the ocean.
Eventually she came to a stop smoothing out her hair and dress slightly before opening the door with a smile, "Welcome home my king" she said.
Tibarn turned shirt in hand with a smile as well, "It is good to be home my little rabbit," he answered back .
Another sweet smile bloomed onto her face as she came up behind him giving him a hug, "I missed you..."
"After only a day away?" he said jokingly one hand going to stroke her hair, "Next time you are going to come with me rabbit then. That way I know you won't be feeling lonely,"
Elincia hid a giggle snuggling a bit closer enjoying his warmth and the now very familiar scent, "I would like to see the Serene Forests during better times. Are Leanne and Naesala's young doing well?"
"Almost near their first flight," he answered pulling away slightly to move to his dresser to take out a clean tunic, "Their primary flight feathers will all be in soon,"
A small frown came to her face but she turned around quickly and moved to the balcony, now gazing over the city that surrounded the palace, "I wish I could give you a fledgling..." she said softly using the hawk laguz term for a child.
He paused turning to look at her seriously, "Now what brought this up rabbit?"
She wrapped her arms around her bitting her lip slightly, "It...it just seems like...I can't give you an heir...or a son or daughter to be proud of..."
Deep down she didn't want to admit that she wanted a child of her own. Seeing others with small ones following their mothers with wide curious eyes scent a pang of jealousy through her. It made her feel guilty.
Tibarn placed his shirt to the side and came up behind her putting his hands on her shoulder, "I didn't marry you for the kids rabbit...neither was it for that damn treaty they drafted up..." he paused leaning forward kissing her lightly on the top of her head, "I married you because I love you Elincia and never forget that,"
She nodded although the thoughts and feelings of shame remained. It wasn't fair to either of them. It just wasn't. How could a goddess who wished for Laguz and Beroc to produce young together want the laguz to loose what made them different?
The nation of branded had grown and so probably too, the percentage of laguz now unable to change making a sacrifice to loose their true animal form. Tibarn wasn't in the position to make that sacrifice being the king of the combined bird nations and a leading voice in the slowly awakening unity between the races.
He couldn't make it...but couldn't she take the penalty for the 'crime' that the goddess claimed did not exist? The more Elincia thought about it, the more that small thought grew and a fierce determination entered her features.
"What is on your mind now rabbit?" he asked looking down at her noting her determined stubborn expression.
"Nothing really. You are going to Begnion soon right? I wish to go. I haven't seen Sanaki in a long time," Elincia said with a smile looking up at him.
He frowned slightly, "I have no issue with you going to really anywhere except Begnion," he said, "There has been a lot of political tension building up and Naesala has heard whispers that there could be danger...I don't want to pull you into that,"
"Tibarn...troubled often finds me no?" she said with a giggle, "If it hadn't I wouldn't have ever ran into you,"
He smiled a bit,"Well you have a point there...if those brash invaders hadn't made you put that sword down and take on both of us bare handed I don't think I would've fell in love you in the same way,"
She giggled and turned to him standing on her tippy toes and planting a quick kiss to his cheek,"You would've never had your little rabbit,"
He gave her a wild grin pulling her close, "Don't even make me think of the thought of not having my rabbit!" with that statement he kissed her bringing a flutter of happiness to Elincia and banishing the darker thoughts of earlier. No matter what, it seemed that her hawk king could banish her times of unhappiness.
Her determination however doubled and when they parted she gave a stubborn look,"I'm still going to Begnion and you would have to tie me down to the bed to stop me,"
"Well...is it a possibility?" He asked with a grin and a wink.
"Not if tie you to it first!" she huffed, "I'll wake up really early and go to Begnion before you drag your lazy self out of bed!"
Tibarn laughed a bit sitting down on the bed," No you won't. You hate waking up early...you act like the living dead if you don't get your tea in the morning,"
"I will if you don't bring me to Begnion and if you don't you can sleep in the hallway," she said crossing her arms stubbornly with a challenging look.
"The hallway eh?" he arched an eyebrow at her, "and what do I have to fear if I come in and decide not to listen to you?"
Elincia tried to glare but a smile was breaking through, "Remember the frying pan darling,"
His wings arched a bit and unconsciously raised a hand to rub the side of his face, "Your swing is very dangerous with a frying pan for sure..."
"I didn't mean to...that was an accident...you just came in at the wrong time," Elincia said, "This time I'll be coming after you with a vengeance!"
"then I guess I have no choice but to bring you to Begnion no?" he said with a grin, "You make a very good argument. I don't want to be living with the fury of a woman cursed upon me,"
She smiled sitting down next to him lying her head on his shoulder, "I couldn't stay mad at you for long though. I would feel guilty,"
"You would feel guilty?" he snorted, "I would be the one trying to do anything to let me back into your good graces my queen,"
She only shrugged closing her eyes listening to the wind gently blowing the curtains at the balcony and the sound of the seagulls and other birds, not the laguz mind you, that made Phonecicis their home.
Two more days until she would be able to talk to Sanaki in Begnion and get access to the library. There where so many questions she needed answered...
~0~
Begnion was beautiful and the facade of peacefulness was kept up well for someone who couldn't notice the small hints of trouble. The increased guards in the palace and the nervous step of the servants tipped Elincia that something wasn't alright.
Tibarn had been right and she knew that. Begnion was dangerous territory with the senate being increasingly agitated, whispers of a rebellion already starting up again. It seemed that as soon as peace was found, people were content to shatter it.
Sanaki was pleasant, the slight lines of strain covered up with the smile she wore and Elincia continued to have good manners and accept the hospitality without mention of what was the underlying current of danger that surrounded them.
She looked up out the window in the library over the glittering city, that looked so splendid carved from gold and crystal but despite all the beauty, it didn't feel like home. It wasn't Phoenicisis or Crimea.
It seemed all that was natural in appeal had been routed out replaced with man-made beauty. She sighed and returned to her book propping it up glancing through the pages. The books on branded were very bias and some she couldn't even finish so disgusted at the vulgarizes of the writings.
A pile had started to grow next to her over the hours she had spent consulting the books. So far her questions where unanswered and they presented only more questions.
Elincia put the book she was reading to the side finding nothing of interest in it and got to her feet wandering back into the labyrinth of books one hand trailing along the spines of the dusty tomes. The books got older and older and in poor shape the farther she went in. She paused to look at some of the titles with a passing interest wondering if any one of them could hold her answer.
Her eyes came to rest upon a dusty tome tucked away between two larger ones and it was even in the wrong spot. Elincia read the spine out loud softly, "Legends and Lore of the Laguz"
It seemed an odd book to have in a library that was so bias against the laguz still even though Sanaki was doing much to help reverse this bias view in Begnion. She pulled it out wiping some dust off the cover and went back to her seat opening it.
She expected some light reading to take her mind off her worries but it seemed this book help more surprises. The hours past by with Elincia now totally immersed in the book, her mind turning over thoughts and facts she hadn't considered. The stories of how a laguz parent lost their powers in a mating with a beroc that produced an offspring where true and they where described in this book...but so was another story.
Her mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts and a spark of hope deep within her as she read on not even noticing Tibarn walk in with Sanaki, "So there is the little rabbit," he said with a grin, "Nearly buried in books!"
Elinica looked up quickly with a loud, "huh?" blinking her eyes in confusion before blushing in embarrassment slightly as she noticed them, "Oh. Sorry about that. I guess I just got lost in reading this book," she said apologetically.
Sanaki smiled, "Then it must've have been a good one if it ensnared you so well,"
She blushed a bit closing the book, "It was and if I may humble ask Empress Sanaki if I may borrow it for a bit?"
The young empress smiled, "of course you may! It is a small request and one I can gladly do for you," she said with a bow and a smile.
Elincia smiled at Sanaki, "You are truly a wonderful person and ruler. Begnion is lucky to have someone like you to watch over her,"
"Thank you Queen Elincia. Your words are very kind, " Sanaki said with an honest smile of thanks for the comment. It was probably a breath of fresh wind in the tense atmosphere she had been forced into.
Elincia gave one last smile and hug before following her husband out of the room, the book tight against her chest as her mind drifted over the legend she had read over and over again...
There was hope.
~0~
It was late. The full moon rose high in the sky above Phonecicis bathing the land in a silvery glow. The stars where masked and the few wisps of vapory clouds where dark blue swats against the silver sky. Elincia took a deep breath of the now cool air as she stood on the balcony to her and Tibarn's room in her nightgown.
It had been four days of close studying and taking apart the legends in the book and finally she had her answer. She was nervous though but...she wanted to do this...she wanted a child.
She took a deep breath and came back into the room with a smile as she watched Tibarn dress for bed or undress. Bird laguz had a higher body temperature it seemed, and he always striped down to some loose pants for bed.
Quietly she slid in next to him in the bed snuggling up close to him. He looked down at her with a smile, "Getting comfortable rabbit?" he asked as situated himself on his side tucking his wings behind him.
"Tibarn...do you trust me?" she asked looking up into his eyes.
"Of course Elincia! I trust you with my life," he gently kissed her forehead before looking at her more closely with his wild yellow eyes, "Why?"
Elincia moved closer and put her arms around his neck kissing him briefly, "Then trust me completely right now Tibarn...For tonight more so then ever."
He wrapped his arms around her waist a flicker of something behind those yellow eyes as he nodded, "I promise I will rabbit,"
She smiled and moved in for another kiss and met him halfway. The night continued on with the silvery tinge and the soft sound of the breeze moving through the canyons of the land.