Disclaimer: Should I even bother with this anymore?
So sorry for not updating sooner! Its been a long time...but then again, this is a long chapter so...read and review please!
Happily Holidays!
---
11.
Selena sighed and stared at the ceiling. It had precisely eighty-one, large, square, grey tiles.
"Milady, hold up your arms, please." Goody Sewer said through a mouthful of pins. Selena raised her arms and rolled her eyes.
"Selena, darling, that wasn't very Princess-like," her mother informed her with a smile.
"I know," Selena huffed. "Ouch!" She yelped as a pin slipped through the fabric and poked her.
"I'm sorry, dearie."
"It's alright." Selena sighed again and thought of the pictures that had been drawn of the dress and decided that all this nonsense would be well worth it.
Her dress was made from the finest scarlet silk from Lamar. Crown-Prince Alejandro had sent it several weeks ago, to the dressmakers' delight. The bodice was decorated with rubies and sapphires, all of the finest qualities, and embroidered with many intricate designs. It was complicated, tedious work for whoever was working on it, but it was looking splendid. The skirt swirled out from a high empire waist that was uncomfortable in Selena's opinion. However, it looked nice, so she put up with it.
"Selena, my darling, you look wonderful!" Shari smiled at her daughter.
"Oh, just smashing," Michel commented dryly from the doorway.
"Thank you for you loving support, oh-brother-of-mine." Selena smiled sweetly.
"Anytime, dearest one." Michel stood straighter. "Mother, I just wanted to let you know, I'm going out for a ride."
"That's fine, Michel. Have fun." Shari smiled distractedly at her son.
"I wish I could go," grumbled Selena.
"You can't, darling, you have to get this dress finished in time!" The various ribbons that she had been looking at no longer distracted Shari.
"I know, Mother!" Selena laughed, albeit a bit bitterly.
"All right then," Shari smiled and went back to discussing the colors of ribbons with another dressmaker.
Selena sighed again, and turned introspective, thinking of Mirian and wishing that her sister could attend the wedding.
Michel jogged to the stable, enjoying the crisp fall air ruffling his hair. "Hello, Kelvin," he greeted the stable hand that waved cheerily.
His horse, Quicksilver, welcomed him with a snuffle. "Hey, boy," he patted the black stallion fondly on the nose. "How about we go for a run today?" Quicksilver bobbed his head and snorted.
"Here's your tack, your highness," Kelvin said, handing Michel the saddle and hanging the bridle on the stall door.
"Thanks," Michel said, placing the saddle gently onto Quicksilver's back. He tightened the girth with expert speed, smacking the stallion's stomach to get him to exhale. After he put the bridle on, Michel led the stallion outside and mounted up. "I'll be back by dark, probably."
"That's fine, your highness." Kelvin bowed. Michel smiled and kicked Quicksilver into a high-stepping trot.
He wandered through the woods, enjoying a break from the palace and its restrictions. He had been deeply troubled by the events of the past months. His father's death had shocked everyone greatly, and Michel missed him dearly. Mirian's disappearance had also cut him deeply. He missed his older sister and the morning rides that he had gone on with her.
A sharp crack of a breaking branch jolted him out of his ruminations. Quicksilver too, seemed to have been startled; the stallion's ears swiveled around alertly, listening intently.
"Hello, Prince Michel. It's a little dangerous to be riding alone in the woods, isn't it?" Michel turned around in the saddle, trying to see who was speaking.
"Who are you?" he shouted, urging Quicksilver forward a few steps. "Show yourself! I demand it!" He gripped the reins tighter in his sweating hands, conveying his nervousness to the edgy stallion.
"Oh, you demand it, do you?" He heard a dry chuckle. "In that case, I had better show myself, shouldn't I?" The trees behind him parted to make way for the man on the black stallion.
"Who are you?" Michel asked again, forcing Quicksilver to spin around in a tight circle.
"I am one of Three," the man said cryptically.
"What in hell does that mean?" Michel inquired, confused.
The man sighed. "It means," he spoke slowly, so there was no mistake about what he was saying, "That I am one of the Kalid-Na'in."
"You stole my sister!" Michel said furiously.
"No, I didn't. Thayer would have, if it had been truly stealing, but she had been promised to him years ago." The man sat on his horse calmly, stolidly ignoring Michel's outrage.
"Who are you?" Michel demanded for a third time. "What is your name?"
"My name is Garrod." The black stallion suddenly pawed the earth as if anxious to go. "Ah, we should talk quickly."
"About what?"
"It is floating around the market places that your younger sister is getting married to Crown-Prince Alejandro of Lamar. When does this wedding take place?" Garrod soothed his stallion with croons and caresses.
"When the moon is hidden." Michel calmed his own stallion in a similar manner.
"Will it be held in Lamar or in Wythin?" Garrod asked, examining his horse's mane intently.
"Lamar. Why do you want to know all this?" Michel asked suspiciously.
"Well, we're coming of course!" Garrod smiled as if he had known Michel all of his life. "Mirian will be in attendance too, you know. She's been complaining about missing it. Whining, now that I think of is, is quite the more accurate description." Garrod raised an eyebrow. "We have to know when and where if we are to go."
Michel fumed, letting his exasperation with the other man clearly show. "Fine. Come, all three of you! I hereby invite the Kalid-Na'in to my sister Selena's wedding in Lamar-Kith at the time of no-moon. Mirian," he paused slightly, "is already invited, of course."
"Naturally, she would be." Garrod inclined his head, the first sign of subservience he had shown. "I'll be on my way then, your highness. Next time, however, I don't want to meet the future King of Wythin alone in the forest." Garrod grinned recklessly and dug his heels into his stallion's side. "Yah!" He cried as the stallion rushed past Michel in a black blur, tossing his head and churning up the ground.
Michel's mount, Quicksilver, threw his head up in protest as the other stallion passed so closely, rising off the ground with an irritated snort. "Easy, laddy-boy." Michel calmed the stallion down, and then set out for the palace. He noted, with some amusement, that the sun was just barely above the horizon. He clucked to Quicksilver and the stallion broke into an excited gallop.
Selena watched from the window as Michel rode up looking excited. He looked up at her and waved with much enthusiasm. The book in her hands was forgotten as she raced down the stairs and into the stable yard, searching for Michel.
"Selena!" She whirled as Michel called. "I'm over here!" She bunched her skirts in one fist and raced toward him. "Guess what!"
"What?" She asked, panting from her run.
"Mirian will be coming to your wedding!" Michel picked up his sister and hugged her tightly. "We're going to see Mirian!"
"You're serious, Michel?" Selena gasped, overjoyed. "She's coming!"
"Yes, Selena, she is!" Michel paused and grinned. "We must tell Mother!"
"Yes, let's hurry!" Selena grinned as well, catching onto Michel's enthusiasm. She picked up her skirts again and they dashed across the courtyard. Flying up the stairs to see the Queen, Selena couldn't stop laughing with joy. She would see her sister again!
"Mother!" Michel burst into her room, not bothering to knock.
"Michel?" Shari looked at him with a raised brow and smiled at her son.
"Mother, Mirian's coming to my wedding!" Selena announced happily. "Can you believe it? We're going to see Mirian again!"
"Oh, darlings, that's wonderful news!" Shari hugged her children tightly to her, overjoyed. "Come, tell me how you know this." The Queen sat down on the nearest couch with Selena next to her. Michel seated himself on the floor, rather ignobly in Shari's opinion.
"Well, when I was out riding, a man came up to me and demanded to know when the wedding was, and where. When I asked him why, he told me, 'we're coming.' I asked him who 'we' were and he said that he was with the Kalid-Na'in who took Mirian. I told him, and he said that she would be coming! Oh isn't it wonderful Mother!" Michel leapt to his feet, alive with the excitement he felt at seeing his sister again.
"Yes, Michel darling, it is. Now," Shari turned matronly, "Sit down before you break something!"
"Oh, can I tell everyone?" Selena asked, wide-eyed.
Shari paused, and considered this for a moment. "I believe," she said slowly, "That this would be better kept to ourselves until the day of the wedding and Mirian is there." She stroked Selena's head and smiled. "I know, you want to tell everyone now." She chuckled.
"But why mustn't we tell, mother?" Michel asked her impatiently.
"Well," Shari started out, not quite sure of what she would say. "I would think that if Mirian did not come and everyone's hopes were raised that there would be a great disappointment among our people. That wouldn't be good at all, now would it?" Shari smiled at her children. "One day, when you have ruled a country, you'll understand the reasoning behind this," She laughed wryly at the distaste in her children's expressions when she told them that they would understand 'someday'.
"Fine." Selena said, pouting slightly. "I won't tell anyone." She looked pointedly at Michel, "Will you?"
Michel looked offended, "Why would I tell anyone? Mother just told us not to!"
"Not even Petra?" Selena asked suspiciously.
"Not even Petra," Michel declared to her solemnly.
Satisfied, Selena sat back, leaning against her mother, who was laughing. "Why are you laughing?" Selena demanded childishly.
"You two," Shari chuckled, "Can be like the worst old women in the square haggling for a goose on the market."
"Oh," Selena said, brightening. "Well, I'll be in my solar if you need me." She smiled, not taking any offense at her mother's analogy, and running off to her private rooms to rejoice.
"Well, mother, should I go too?" Michel stood, stretching.
"If you wish." Shari shook her head fondly, knowing her son would do whatever he pleased at this moment of elation.
"I'll be…somewhere," He said with a grin, and trotted out of her rooms. Shari watched him go, and then rang for her dinner.
--
Garrod galloped through the forest, aware of Dagger's exhilaration. He whipped the reins across the stallion's flank, urging him onward. He wanted to be back at the Castle before night was truly come.
"Get up, Dagger, that's m'boy." Garrod burst through the last copse of pine trees and into the clear field that bordered the Castle itself. Dagger bugled loudly and raced faster still, his great strides easily gaining ground. Garrod was crouched over the stallion's neck, the black mane whipping his face, and feeling the wind rush through his own hair.
As the pair neared the edge of the open expanse, Garrod slowed the pace to a rapid trot, calming Dagger down, bit by bit.
"Ho! Garrod!" Garrod smiled and settled Dagger into a walk. The horse hung his head, acting the exhausted horse.
"Thayer." Garrod never stopped walking even as Thayer reached them.
"What is the news, friend?" Thayer rested a hand on Dagger's shoulder. "You worked him, didn't you?" He asked with a whistle.
"Yes, we ran most of the way." Thayer rolled his eyes at his companion's idea of fun. "The wedding will be held and the time of no-moon. The boy said at Lamar-Kith. Will we be going?"
Thayer's brow was furrowed in thought. "I don't know. It depends on how she acts, I think."
Garrod laughed, "You are disciplining her?"
"She needs it, it seems." Thayer smirked at his friend, "You've heard her complaining."
A walk around the stable saw Garrod dismounted and Dagger untacked. Garrod cooled him down by hand as he and Thayer continued talking.
"You know, I would worry about taking her to the wedding," Thayer said thoughtfully. "Someone might try to take her back."
"True, but what are the chances of them succeeding?" Garrod countered.
"Slim yes, but I don't want to cause a scene. Under the usual circumstances, I wouldn't mind, but since this is a wedding, and a royal one at that, I would like to remain as discreet as possible." Thayer sighed, not sure what to do.
"It would be nice for the guest and probably for the girl's sake as well to not make a fuss," Garrod mused. "They might get us thrown out, and not just out of the wedding." His words contained an ominous note.
"My fear exactly." Thayer scuffed his foot on the ground. "If the most powerful country on Rhynne will not accept our aid or seek us out for mercenary business, than which of the remaining three will?"
"Syrlan might, since Syrlan is known to be at odds with Lamar now. Of course, we don't really know how long that will last, and besides, can Syrlan afford it?" Garrod pointed out.
"Oh they can afford it alright," Thayer said in a wry tone of voice. "The next thing is will there pride let them hire mercenaries to do the work for them?"
Garrod thought for a moment. "Well, if Prince Corbin came to you before, and asked for your help, then obviously, their pride does allow them to."
"Corbin," Thayer said in a measured tone, "Is not a typical Syrlandan. He is of the noble class, and he only wants the money that comes from winning the war."
"Are you sure?" Garrod asked, a surprised not in his voice. "He didn't seem all that bad to me?"
Thayer laughed derisively, "You were not many of the times that he was arguing with me. He is quite the insolent little brat at times, but I must give him credit that he does have some idea of how to rule a country."
"Oh?"
"Yes, he has a good head on his shoulders at times. I believe that he will be a great battle commander." Thayer shivered and patted Dagger. Then, lightly, he said, "Let's go inside and discuss this further. I'm sure Dagger wouldn't say no to a hot mash, either."
Garrod grinned and led the black stallion to his stall humming a tuneless tune.
--
As soon as Thayer stepped inside the doorway, Mirian pounced. "Am I to go to Selena's wedding?" She demanded to know.
"It depends," Thayer said, enjoying greatly the array of emotion that flitted across her face.
"On what?" She asked, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "She's my sister for Sky's sake! I have to go to her wedding!" Mirian glared at him, her hands planted stubbornly on her hips.
"It depends," Thayer said, drawing out the words, "On your good behavior, or lack thereof."
"You," She said, walking up to him and shaking her finger in his face, "You," she said again, still pointing at him. "You are the most…despicable man I have ever met in my whole entire life!" She finally whacked him on the nose with the finger and he flinched.
"That's one count against going," he said calmly.
Mirian screamed in vexation, storming back and forth across the small entryway.
"You have until three days before no-moon to prove to me that you are worthy of going." Thayer stood; stoically ignoring the muttered curses and dark glances she threw his way.
"Selena is my sister, and I deserve to go to her wedding, whether you think I am worthy or not!" Mirian walked back over to him, glowering. "I think-"
Thayer cut her off with a sweep of his hand. "I thought you knew by now, I don't care what you think."
Mirian stopped her tirade, mouth hanging open. She stuttered for a moment, and then regained her composure. "Fine." She caught sight of Garrod standing in the doorway, laughing quietly. "I'll leave you to your lover," she said spitefully as a parting remark.
"Oh, that was low," Lohen said from his place by the doorway.
Mirian, enraged that all three of the men were laughing at her, kicked Lohen in the shins with the tip of her pointed shoe. "Bastard," she muttered as she walked away uttering oaths and insults in any language she could think of.
"That's at least five against you." Thayer called to her as she stalked away.
Mirian turned around and stared at him, and said, "So now it's a threesome, is it?" She continued on her way, not looking back again.
Lohen glanced at Thayer, whose eyes were wide with the range of insults she had picked from. Then, his eyes went to Garrod, who had sunk to the floor, wheezing heavily from his laughter. "So," he said, suggestively wiggling his hips. "You want to make it a threesome?"
"I'm sorry, my dearest, but I have a new love," Thayer said tragically, motioning to Garrod.
Garrod would have said something, but he was to busy laughing to be of any use to anyone.
"She does have spunk, I'll admit," Lohen said, dropping the romantic pretext.
"Oh, and plenty to spare, I think," Thayer said dryly.
Garrod, again, would have added a comment, but was still to absorbed in trying to end the fits of laughter that over took him.
"Should we let her go?" Thayer asked.
"Let's wait and see what she does tomorrow. If we have to ride at least three days ahead of time, and it's only just past this no-moon, then I think we wait till tomorrow." Lohen yawned loudly. "For now, though, I think I'll go to bed."
"Good idea. Can I come with you?" Thayer sidled over to Lohen and sluing an arm around his shoulder. "You know how lonely I get at night."
"Drop it already," Lohen said good-naturedly. "Anyways, I'm too tired for it tonight. Maybe tomorrow." This sent Garrod into a fit of laughter again, and so, that was where Lohen and Thayer left as they went to their rooms to sleep.
--
Mirian lay in her bed, unable to sleep. She sat up and brushed her hair again, wishing with every stroke that she could go to Selena's wedding. Her dark hair lay heavily on her shoulders and she sighed, hoping that she might finally be able to go to sleep. She stretched and arranged the blankets over her once more, only to find that she was no more tired than before.
"Oh, Sky this is not good. I want to go to sleep!" She mumbled to herself. Her eyes turned to the window, and the moon caught her gaze.
It was barely more than a tiny sliver of light that pierced the veil of night. She sighed and decided that if she were to do something in the dead of night, he might as well stare at the moon.
Her eyelids started to drop, and she nestled her head onto her crossed arms. The edge of the windowsill dug into the flesh of her arms, but she paid no mind to it. All she watched was the moon and thought of how many more night it would be until she was on her way to see Selena at the wedding.
As she dropped off to sleep, she smiled, knowing that she would see Selena no matter what.
---
-A/N- Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So sorry for not updating sooner! I hope an extra long chapter helps make up for that! :oD If anyone is wondering, no, the mercenaries are not gay. I have plans for them, romantically. (At least, I think i do...) Well, please review, i give you fair warning though, any rotten fruit or other projectiles thrown at the author will be used for torture purposes, although not on anyone who reviews of course...O:o) Anyway...thank you for putting up with me!
MapleRose- i don't know yet how Fiacha fits into all this...i just that she's in there somehow...
ac_bworm-thank you for telling me which one you like, even though titles aren't always that important...:o)
Ko-Shani- The update may have taken a while, but here it is! I bet there will more questions after this...haha...
Happy Holidays!!
EvenSong
So sorry for not updating sooner! Its been a long time...but then again, this is a long chapter so...read and review please!
Happily Holidays!
---
11.
Selena sighed and stared at the ceiling. It had precisely eighty-one, large, square, grey tiles.
"Milady, hold up your arms, please." Goody Sewer said through a mouthful of pins. Selena raised her arms and rolled her eyes.
"Selena, darling, that wasn't very Princess-like," her mother informed her with a smile.
"I know," Selena huffed. "Ouch!" She yelped as a pin slipped through the fabric and poked her.
"I'm sorry, dearie."
"It's alright." Selena sighed again and thought of the pictures that had been drawn of the dress and decided that all this nonsense would be well worth it.
Her dress was made from the finest scarlet silk from Lamar. Crown-Prince Alejandro had sent it several weeks ago, to the dressmakers' delight. The bodice was decorated with rubies and sapphires, all of the finest qualities, and embroidered with many intricate designs. It was complicated, tedious work for whoever was working on it, but it was looking splendid. The skirt swirled out from a high empire waist that was uncomfortable in Selena's opinion. However, it looked nice, so she put up with it.
"Selena, my darling, you look wonderful!" Shari smiled at her daughter.
"Oh, just smashing," Michel commented dryly from the doorway.
"Thank you for you loving support, oh-brother-of-mine." Selena smiled sweetly.
"Anytime, dearest one." Michel stood straighter. "Mother, I just wanted to let you know, I'm going out for a ride."
"That's fine, Michel. Have fun." Shari smiled distractedly at her son.
"I wish I could go," grumbled Selena.
"You can't, darling, you have to get this dress finished in time!" The various ribbons that she had been looking at no longer distracted Shari.
"I know, Mother!" Selena laughed, albeit a bit bitterly.
"All right then," Shari smiled and went back to discussing the colors of ribbons with another dressmaker.
Selena sighed again, and turned introspective, thinking of Mirian and wishing that her sister could attend the wedding.
Michel jogged to the stable, enjoying the crisp fall air ruffling his hair. "Hello, Kelvin," he greeted the stable hand that waved cheerily.
His horse, Quicksilver, welcomed him with a snuffle. "Hey, boy," he patted the black stallion fondly on the nose. "How about we go for a run today?" Quicksilver bobbed his head and snorted.
"Here's your tack, your highness," Kelvin said, handing Michel the saddle and hanging the bridle on the stall door.
"Thanks," Michel said, placing the saddle gently onto Quicksilver's back. He tightened the girth with expert speed, smacking the stallion's stomach to get him to exhale. After he put the bridle on, Michel led the stallion outside and mounted up. "I'll be back by dark, probably."
"That's fine, your highness." Kelvin bowed. Michel smiled and kicked Quicksilver into a high-stepping trot.
He wandered through the woods, enjoying a break from the palace and its restrictions. He had been deeply troubled by the events of the past months. His father's death had shocked everyone greatly, and Michel missed him dearly. Mirian's disappearance had also cut him deeply. He missed his older sister and the morning rides that he had gone on with her.
A sharp crack of a breaking branch jolted him out of his ruminations. Quicksilver too, seemed to have been startled; the stallion's ears swiveled around alertly, listening intently.
"Hello, Prince Michel. It's a little dangerous to be riding alone in the woods, isn't it?" Michel turned around in the saddle, trying to see who was speaking.
"Who are you?" he shouted, urging Quicksilver forward a few steps. "Show yourself! I demand it!" He gripped the reins tighter in his sweating hands, conveying his nervousness to the edgy stallion.
"Oh, you demand it, do you?" He heard a dry chuckle. "In that case, I had better show myself, shouldn't I?" The trees behind him parted to make way for the man on the black stallion.
"Who are you?" Michel asked again, forcing Quicksilver to spin around in a tight circle.
"I am one of Three," the man said cryptically.
"What in hell does that mean?" Michel inquired, confused.
The man sighed. "It means," he spoke slowly, so there was no mistake about what he was saying, "That I am one of the Kalid-Na'in."
"You stole my sister!" Michel said furiously.
"No, I didn't. Thayer would have, if it had been truly stealing, but she had been promised to him years ago." The man sat on his horse calmly, stolidly ignoring Michel's outrage.
"Who are you?" Michel demanded for a third time. "What is your name?"
"My name is Garrod." The black stallion suddenly pawed the earth as if anxious to go. "Ah, we should talk quickly."
"About what?"
"It is floating around the market places that your younger sister is getting married to Crown-Prince Alejandro of Lamar. When does this wedding take place?" Garrod soothed his stallion with croons and caresses.
"When the moon is hidden." Michel calmed his own stallion in a similar manner.
"Will it be held in Lamar or in Wythin?" Garrod asked, examining his horse's mane intently.
"Lamar. Why do you want to know all this?" Michel asked suspiciously.
"Well, we're coming of course!" Garrod smiled as if he had known Michel all of his life. "Mirian will be in attendance too, you know. She's been complaining about missing it. Whining, now that I think of is, is quite the more accurate description." Garrod raised an eyebrow. "We have to know when and where if we are to go."
Michel fumed, letting his exasperation with the other man clearly show. "Fine. Come, all three of you! I hereby invite the Kalid-Na'in to my sister Selena's wedding in Lamar-Kith at the time of no-moon. Mirian," he paused slightly, "is already invited, of course."
"Naturally, she would be." Garrod inclined his head, the first sign of subservience he had shown. "I'll be on my way then, your highness. Next time, however, I don't want to meet the future King of Wythin alone in the forest." Garrod grinned recklessly and dug his heels into his stallion's side. "Yah!" He cried as the stallion rushed past Michel in a black blur, tossing his head and churning up the ground.
Michel's mount, Quicksilver, threw his head up in protest as the other stallion passed so closely, rising off the ground with an irritated snort. "Easy, laddy-boy." Michel calmed the stallion down, and then set out for the palace. He noted, with some amusement, that the sun was just barely above the horizon. He clucked to Quicksilver and the stallion broke into an excited gallop.
Selena watched from the window as Michel rode up looking excited. He looked up at her and waved with much enthusiasm. The book in her hands was forgotten as she raced down the stairs and into the stable yard, searching for Michel.
"Selena!" She whirled as Michel called. "I'm over here!" She bunched her skirts in one fist and raced toward him. "Guess what!"
"What?" She asked, panting from her run.
"Mirian will be coming to your wedding!" Michel picked up his sister and hugged her tightly. "We're going to see Mirian!"
"You're serious, Michel?" Selena gasped, overjoyed. "She's coming!"
"Yes, Selena, she is!" Michel paused and grinned. "We must tell Mother!"
"Yes, let's hurry!" Selena grinned as well, catching onto Michel's enthusiasm. She picked up her skirts again and they dashed across the courtyard. Flying up the stairs to see the Queen, Selena couldn't stop laughing with joy. She would see her sister again!
"Mother!" Michel burst into her room, not bothering to knock.
"Michel?" Shari looked at him with a raised brow and smiled at her son.
"Mother, Mirian's coming to my wedding!" Selena announced happily. "Can you believe it? We're going to see Mirian again!"
"Oh, darlings, that's wonderful news!" Shari hugged her children tightly to her, overjoyed. "Come, tell me how you know this." The Queen sat down on the nearest couch with Selena next to her. Michel seated himself on the floor, rather ignobly in Shari's opinion.
"Well, when I was out riding, a man came up to me and demanded to know when the wedding was, and where. When I asked him why, he told me, 'we're coming.' I asked him who 'we' were and he said that he was with the Kalid-Na'in who took Mirian. I told him, and he said that she would be coming! Oh isn't it wonderful Mother!" Michel leapt to his feet, alive with the excitement he felt at seeing his sister again.
"Yes, Michel darling, it is. Now," Shari turned matronly, "Sit down before you break something!"
"Oh, can I tell everyone?" Selena asked, wide-eyed.
Shari paused, and considered this for a moment. "I believe," she said slowly, "That this would be better kept to ourselves until the day of the wedding and Mirian is there." She stroked Selena's head and smiled. "I know, you want to tell everyone now." She chuckled.
"But why mustn't we tell, mother?" Michel asked her impatiently.
"Well," Shari started out, not quite sure of what she would say. "I would think that if Mirian did not come and everyone's hopes were raised that there would be a great disappointment among our people. That wouldn't be good at all, now would it?" Shari smiled at her children. "One day, when you have ruled a country, you'll understand the reasoning behind this," She laughed wryly at the distaste in her children's expressions when she told them that they would understand 'someday'.
"Fine." Selena said, pouting slightly. "I won't tell anyone." She looked pointedly at Michel, "Will you?"
Michel looked offended, "Why would I tell anyone? Mother just told us not to!"
"Not even Petra?" Selena asked suspiciously.
"Not even Petra," Michel declared to her solemnly.
Satisfied, Selena sat back, leaning against her mother, who was laughing. "Why are you laughing?" Selena demanded childishly.
"You two," Shari chuckled, "Can be like the worst old women in the square haggling for a goose on the market."
"Oh," Selena said, brightening. "Well, I'll be in my solar if you need me." She smiled, not taking any offense at her mother's analogy, and running off to her private rooms to rejoice.
"Well, mother, should I go too?" Michel stood, stretching.
"If you wish." Shari shook her head fondly, knowing her son would do whatever he pleased at this moment of elation.
"I'll be…somewhere," He said with a grin, and trotted out of her rooms. Shari watched him go, and then rang for her dinner.
--
Garrod galloped through the forest, aware of Dagger's exhilaration. He whipped the reins across the stallion's flank, urging him onward. He wanted to be back at the Castle before night was truly come.
"Get up, Dagger, that's m'boy." Garrod burst through the last copse of pine trees and into the clear field that bordered the Castle itself. Dagger bugled loudly and raced faster still, his great strides easily gaining ground. Garrod was crouched over the stallion's neck, the black mane whipping his face, and feeling the wind rush through his own hair.
As the pair neared the edge of the open expanse, Garrod slowed the pace to a rapid trot, calming Dagger down, bit by bit.
"Ho! Garrod!" Garrod smiled and settled Dagger into a walk. The horse hung his head, acting the exhausted horse.
"Thayer." Garrod never stopped walking even as Thayer reached them.
"What is the news, friend?" Thayer rested a hand on Dagger's shoulder. "You worked him, didn't you?" He asked with a whistle.
"Yes, we ran most of the way." Thayer rolled his eyes at his companion's idea of fun. "The wedding will be held and the time of no-moon. The boy said at Lamar-Kith. Will we be going?"
Thayer's brow was furrowed in thought. "I don't know. It depends on how she acts, I think."
Garrod laughed, "You are disciplining her?"
"She needs it, it seems." Thayer smirked at his friend, "You've heard her complaining."
A walk around the stable saw Garrod dismounted and Dagger untacked. Garrod cooled him down by hand as he and Thayer continued talking.
"You know, I would worry about taking her to the wedding," Thayer said thoughtfully. "Someone might try to take her back."
"True, but what are the chances of them succeeding?" Garrod countered.
"Slim yes, but I don't want to cause a scene. Under the usual circumstances, I wouldn't mind, but since this is a wedding, and a royal one at that, I would like to remain as discreet as possible." Thayer sighed, not sure what to do.
"It would be nice for the guest and probably for the girl's sake as well to not make a fuss," Garrod mused. "They might get us thrown out, and not just out of the wedding." His words contained an ominous note.
"My fear exactly." Thayer scuffed his foot on the ground. "If the most powerful country on Rhynne will not accept our aid or seek us out for mercenary business, than which of the remaining three will?"
"Syrlan might, since Syrlan is known to be at odds with Lamar now. Of course, we don't really know how long that will last, and besides, can Syrlan afford it?" Garrod pointed out.
"Oh they can afford it alright," Thayer said in a wry tone of voice. "The next thing is will there pride let them hire mercenaries to do the work for them?"
Garrod thought for a moment. "Well, if Prince Corbin came to you before, and asked for your help, then obviously, their pride does allow them to."
"Corbin," Thayer said in a measured tone, "Is not a typical Syrlandan. He is of the noble class, and he only wants the money that comes from winning the war."
"Are you sure?" Garrod asked, a surprised not in his voice. "He didn't seem all that bad to me?"
Thayer laughed derisively, "You were not many of the times that he was arguing with me. He is quite the insolent little brat at times, but I must give him credit that he does have some idea of how to rule a country."
"Oh?"
"Yes, he has a good head on his shoulders at times. I believe that he will be a great battle commander." Thayer shivered and patted Dagger. Then, lightly, he said, "Let's go inside and discuss this further. I'm sure Dagger wouldn't say no to a hot mash, either."
Garrod grinned and led the black stallion to his stall humming a tuneless tune.
--
As soon as Thayer stepped inside the doorway, Mirian pounced. "Am I to go to Selena's wedding?" She demanded to know.
"It depends," Thayer said, enjoying greatly the array of emotion that flitted across her face.
"On what?" She asked, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "She's my sister for Sky's sake! I have to go to her wedding!" Mirian glared at him, her hands planted stubbornly on her hips.
"It depends," Thayer said, drawing out the words, "On your good behavior, or lack thereof."
"You," She said, walking up to him and shaking her finger in his face, "You," she said again, still pointing at him. "You are the most…despicable man I have ever met in my whole entire life!" She finally whacked him on the nose with the finger and he flinched.
"That's one count against going," he said calmly.
Mirian screamed in vexation, storming back and forth across the small entryway.
"You have until three days before no-moon to prove to me that you are worthy of going." Thayer stood; stoically ignoring the muttered curses and dark glances she threw his way.
"Selena is my sister, and I deserve to go to her wedding, whether you think I am worthy or not!" Mirian walked back over to him, glowering. "I think-"
Thayer cut her off with a sweep of his hand. "I thought you knew by now, I don't care what you think."
Mirian stopped her tirade, mouth hanging open. She stuttered for a moment, and then regained her composure. "Fine." She caught sight of Garrod standing in the doorway, laughing quietly. "I'll leave you to your lover," she said spitefully as a parting remark.
"Oh, that was low," Lohen said from his place by the doorway.
Mirian, enraged that all three of the men were laughing at her, kicked Lohen in the shins with the tip of her pointed shoe. "Bastard," she muttered as she walked away uttering oaths and insults in any language she could think of.
"That's at least five against you." Thayer called to her as she stalked away.
Mirian turned around and stared at him, and said, "So now it's a threesome, is it?" She continued on her way, not looking back again.
Lohen glanced at Thayer, whose eyes were wide with the range of insults she had picked from. Then, his eyes went to Garrod, who had sunk to the floor, wheezing heavily from his laughter. "So," he said, suggestively wiggling his hips. "You want to make it a threesome?"
"I'm sorry, my dearest, but I have a new love," Thayer said tragically, motioning to Garrod.
Garrod would have said something, but he was to busy laughing to be of any use to anyone.
"She does have spunk, I'll admit," Lohen said, dropping the romantic pretext.
"Oh, and plenty to spare, I think," Thayer said dryly.
Garrod, again, would have added a comment, but was still to absorbed in trying to end the fits of laughter that over took him.
"Should we let her go?" Thayer asked.
"Let's wait and see what she does tomorrow. If we have to ride at least three days ahead of time, and it's only just past this no-moon, then I think we wait till tomorrow." Lohen yawned loudly. "For now, though, I think I'll go to bed."
"Good idea. Can I come with you?" Thayer sidled over to Lohen and sluing an arm around his shoulder. "You know how lonely I get at night."
"Drop it already," Lohen said good-naturedly. "Anyways, I'm too tired for it tonight. Maybe tomorrow." This sent Garrod into a fit of laughter again, and so, that was where Lohen and Thayer left as they went to their rooms to sleep.
--
Mirian lay in her bed, unable to sleep. She sat up and brushed her hair again, wishing with every stroke that she could go to Selena's wedding. Her dark hair lay heavily on her shoulders and she sighed, hoping that she might finally be able to go to sleep. She stretched and arranged the blankets over her once more, only to find that she was no more tired than before.
"Oh, Sky this is not good. I want to go to sleep!" She mumbled to herself. Her eyes turned to the window, and the moon caught her gaze.
It was barely more than a tiny sliver of light that pierced the veil of night. She sighed and decided that if she were to do something in the dead of night, he might as well stare at the moon.
Her eyelids started to drop, and she nestled her head onto her crossed arms. The edge of the windowsill dug into the flesh of her arms, but she paid no mind to it. All she watched was the moon and thought of how many more night it would be until she was on her way to see Selena at the wedding.
As she dropped off to sleep, she smiled, knowing that she would see Selena no matter what.
---
-A/N- Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So sorry for not updating sooner! I hope an extra long chapter helps make up for that! :oD If anyone is wondering, no, the mercenaries are not gay. I have plans for them, romantically. (At least, I think i do...) Well, please review, i give you fair warning though, any rotten fruit or other projectiles thrown at the author will be used for torture purposes, although not on anyone who reviews of course...O:o) Anyway...thank you for putting up with me!
MapleRose- i don't know yet how Fiacha fits into all this...i just that she's in there somehow...
ac_bworm-thank you for telling me which one you like, even though titles aren't always that important...:o)
Ko-Shani- The update may have taken a while, but here it is! I bet there will more questions after this...haha...
Happy Holidays!!
EvenSong