Authorbabble: Innes = pwn. XD

Tana thought the castle shook when he bellowed, "WHHAAAAAT?! Y-YOU AND... NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!"

She cringed as the veins in his forehead pulsed, and he slowly turned maroon. Tana mumbled, "Um... But... I really love him--"

"ALL THE WORSE!" howled Innes, pacing the room frantically and muttering to himself.

Tana quietly excused herself to the 'privy', still flinching whenever she heard the bellows of her brother. She sprinted to the barracks, flustered beyond belief. Bursting in the door, she shrieked, "VANESSA, HELP! INNES-- INNES-- HE'S-- AAH, VANESSA, HELP!"

Vanessa stood up, gasping, thinking that Innes was injured or sick. She replied loudly, "Oh! Princess Tana! What's happened, is Innes all right?!"

"NO! He's going to pop a vein or something! Ahh, help, I can't get him to calm down, you're the only person who's ever gotten him to hush up when he's in one of his rages... Please, please, come help me!" Tana pleaded, deep red from the sprint across the castle.

Vanessa hushed the princess. "Of course! But, er, what did you do to make him so angry?"

"Um... Hee hee, you know Ephraim?" Tana said, fingering the simple silver engagement ring on her finger.

"Oh, no! He'll be so angry! Hahaha! As long as you're happy, my lady, he'll get over it eventually, but I'll come help you, of course!" laughed Vanessa, running with Tana to Innes's chambers.

When they reached the fourth floor, they could hear him raging. Tana flinched as she heard something crash and break. "Oh, dear..." said Vanessa.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT EPHRAIM-- THAT MAN! GAH! AND MY SISTER! NO! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!" bellowed Innes, throwing the door open and brandishing a bow, apparently thinking of going down to Renais and showing Ephraim exactly what he thought of the idea.

Vanessa stood in front of Tana, and put a hand on her belly 'insignificantly'. "Innes!" she shouted back, but her tone was not angry, rather like one would shout at a child who'd thrown a tantrum.

He quieted immediately, but was still red in the face. "Vanessa! I see Tana went running for help... as usual."

Tana was about to retort, but Vanessa put a finger on Innes's lips. "Hush, silly. Have you seen the way he looks at her? You may not like him, but he is a different man near Tana. I do want our little boy or girl to have cousins, you know!" she laughed softly, both hands on her slightly larger belly.

Innes softened at the mention of his child. "I... I see. Tana. You truly love him?"

"Of course I do, Innes!"

"Fine. But if he hurts you, permission to shoot him in places that should never see the light of day?"

"No! Definitely not!" shouted Tana with a gasp.

"Innes..." said Vanessa, grinning at the prince. "You really care about Tana, don't you? That's why you don't want her to marry him; it wouldn't matter who it was, even. You just don't want her to get hurt. Aww, you softie! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! Hee hee!"

Innes flushed. "I-- Vanessa! That's not funny!"

Tana grinned and tackled her brother with a bear hug, knocking him into Vanessa, who caught them both. Innes grumbled, "Tana, lemme go. I give you my blessing, all right? all right? Stop hugging me!"

---

Tana was walking down the aisle, radiant in a gown of palest blue. Eirika walked on one side of her, grinning, and Innes and Hayden followed them, Innes shooting Ephraim a glare that could have cracked stone. As they ascended the castle steps, to the roar of the crowd, Innes smiled and waved at the Frelian citizens there, and the citizens of Renais as well. Tana blushed and laughed, waving too. Hayden laughed heartily with her, and as the vows were taken he spoke: "King Ephraim. I entrust my daughter into your care."

They kissed, and Innes glowered at them, then remembered he was in public and smiled benevolently down at the populace.

At the reception, Innes took Ephraim over into a corner and said, "Ephraim. I give you my blasted blessing, because I do care for my sister, but if you hurt her... Let's just be civil and leave it at the fact that I brought Nidhogg along with me, and I can castrate a man at two hundred paces."

Innes smiled kindly, and Ephraim was honestly cowed. He put a hand on Innes's shoulder and said slowly, "I know we've had our differences-- all right, both of us outright hated the other, I'll be honest-- but I see how much you care for Tana. I feel the same way. I hope that you could give me a chance, even if only for the reasons that we'll have to see each other more often now!"

Innes glowered. "I... do care for my sister. I do not want her to be married to someone like you. But maybe my impression of you was wrong. I will give you that doubt, and what you do with it-- whether you disprove me, or prove me right-- is your prerogative. I take my leave."

"Hey, wait! Just for old times' sake, would you want to have a jousting match?" called Ephraim after him.

"I would, but don't you have other things to be doing tonight? Instead of attempting to curry favor with me, go and make my sister happy. She likes daisies," said Innes with a glare, and then Ephraim swore he saw the faintest of smiles. Then the prince turned and walked out of the room, leaving King Ephraim scratching his head bemusedly.

"Wh.. what was that about?"