Dance of the Moons

by RyuuNoOkaasan

A collection, added to irregularly, of one-shots for Obi and Ilena from "The Missing Princess" series. I want a place to put muse thoughts and ideas that don't fit in the story line that are still fun or heart pulling reads. If you are enjoying my novels about Obi, you might like to come visit here occasionally.

14. Off the Cutting Floor: Julie and Ilena

[T]

Off the Cutting Floor: Forcing Julie on Ilena

(Edited from The Missing Princess Book 3)

From Book 3, Chapter 20 through 22. Originally I liked the concept that Julie could be used to help them take care of Ilena while Obi was in Tarc. (I still do - it's not completely out of the picture yet.) I thought at this point that Shirayuki could spearhead that effort. However...it went bad to worse until Ilena could finally explain the piece of her that made it not work. I put in 'notes to self' at alternate endings to the family time together, but because I still couldn't resolve that one issue, it had to be scrapped. Later on, as I continued writing, Ilena herself presented the solution to me (of who would help her when Obi wasn't there), to my great surprise.

---

Julie nodded slowly. "Then, you like their true selves...except Lady Ilena?" She raised an eyebrow in question.

Kirk sighed. "Well, I can't say I dislike her. I am still trying to get used to her. As you say, she has a very forceful personality. In the office, she and Obi are called 'wild' and it fits well. But when they are being royal, they are most definitely noble, with little to fault. ...They know it also, and do try to restrain themselves as much as possible, but because we are all the 'royal family' they do it less with us."

Julie was thoughtful. "So...this 'family' Lady Shirayuki spoke of...because it is the royal family, and you are part of the servants within it, ...you have a responsibility that is great enough that you really do have to be family."

Kirk nodded soberly. "Yes. Even to the extent we share the same quarters." He shivered. "At the moment that is almost as bad as it sounds. They are building a more appropriate building that should be ready by the spring, or sooner, where we will actually have separate rooms, like we should."

"You sleep in the same room as the Regent and his wife?!" Julie was aghast.

"Not quite," he said with an internal groan, "but almost. It is an old facility and they are renovating it even now in the hopes we can all survive until the new building is done."

Julie squeezed his hand. "Well, I hope for your sake that part gets better."

"Thanks," he said. "All of us, too." He looked away again, wondering where to go next in his ramblings. He took a breath, then looked down at their joined hands. "You asked me why Princess Shirayuki asked to talk to you." He looked up at her. "I can't say for sure, but I have a guess." Julie nodded she understood. "I think she wants to call you up."

Julie's mouth gaped and Kirk wanted to smile, but he couldn't. This was going to be difficult. "Wh-what for? Does she have a pet fetish?"

Now Kirk did smile. "You could put it that way." He paused, not sure how much to tell her, since it really wasn't his to say. "She has an entire small wing of them. But the most important one is the falcon. They are looking for an assistant handler."

"Kirk, I'm sure there are more experienced falconers that could be called on to aid the royal mews." She was lightly impatient.

"You are also a researcher, and female. I think those two things in addition are what has made her decide it."

Julie bowed her head. "Even though I dealt with them for the research, I'm not sure I understand how to handle them well enough to be an assistant. It was a painful learning process." She lifted her head and looked at him. "Why would they want someone they don't even know? How would I be of any use?"

"Because you've already had that painful learning process ...and that is more than anyone else they've seen so far. They will see you are properly trained."

Julie looked away, her expression pensive. "What about you?" she finally asked turning to him again. He raised an eyebrow, needing clarification. "Do you think I would be of use?"

Carefully, he said, "If you wanted to be."

She looked at him impatiently, like he had expected her to. She was patient when he rambled. When he spoke carefully, she wanted the information quickly. "What does that mean?"

"You are intelligent, Julie, and well used to researching now. If you wanted to be of help, you would learn how to do what was required to the best of your ability, until you were satisfied." He had already seen it in action - with her and with Shirayuki. Shirayuki had his admiration. She had worked so hard to get where she wanted to be. And...even he knew Ilena had been the force behind her, gently pushing her forward. Ilena had done it for Obi, too, and still was doing it, it looked like. Ilena would do the same for Julie, if Julie wanted it. Kirk had no troubles believing it would happen if Julie chose it.

Julie looked at him with an expression he hadn't seen before and she turned away suddenly, her cheeks red. He tipped his head to see if he could see more of it. She held still, as if poised for flight. He waited patiently, but his heart squeezed just a little. He didn't want her to take flight. He looked down at their hands again. He wasn't going to let go. He couldn't - not yet.

"Would it mean I have to live in their laps also, with the rest of the family?" She hadn't turned back.

"Not until the new building is finished. You would be in the other wing until then." He ran a thumb over the back of her hand gently. "It is spacious and has access to the hills outside the castle." He was relieved when Julie relaxed a little.

She turned back to him slightly, another question on her face. "What other animals would I take care of?"

Kirk looked up at the tree again. She was going to be angry, most likely, when she learned the truth he was hiding. "Wild stallion, large cats, foxes, dogs, and rabbits."

"Well, I can't do horses, but I can do cats and the rest." Kirk smiled a small smile, keeping it from her. She was thinking about it seriously and just that much made him happy.

Julie nodded again, thinking further. "You say you like following Lady Shirayuki, but you wouldn't follow Lady Ilena…," she frowned and he held his breath just a little. "How would that be any different for me? I don't want to work for a house I'm wishing to be free of all the time."

"...You wouldn't have to stay...if you hated it. They won't force it," he said quietly, and he didn't look at her. Even he could hear the weakness of his own heart in the sound of his words and he ground his teeth at it.

Julie looked at him in the face now. "What is it, Kirk?"

"I've done them a disservice in complaining to you. You haven't had the opportunity yet to see it for yourself. Only you can say what you'll be willing to stay for."

"Well, that's true, but...I don't think that's what is troubling you."

He paused, then decided that there really wasn't any 'good' time to say it. "Julie, I have a selfish reason for deciding to go with you to hear the story, and it's the same selfish reason that makes me want to ask you to please accept at least a trial time to see if working for Princess Shirayuki is something you will choose to do." He stood, still holding her hand, but made her keep sitting. He looked down at her, his feelings deep but his heart pounding. "I, too, expected to hear the story as we heard it, or at least I hoped to." He went down on one knee in front of her. "Julie, will you please consider my request? If you are willing, please come with us, and think on me kindly. If you will stay, please stay with me by my side. Even if we are not brother and sister, I would be even happier if you were wife to me and I your husband. ...But if you cannot abide it, then I won't make you stay."

Julie stared at him, her face showing her shock. She finally turned away, her face going red. "Kirk...you have been my brother...it's rather difficult to suddenly find such a proposal not ridiculous." He waited, still holding his heart in his mouth. He knew that this day was full of complex things for her. He hadn't asked her to say 'yes' to him after all - not yet. But he had needed to say it now, before anyone else could confuse things, or steal his words from him.

Julie sighed and dropped her head. "All of a sudden, this has become a strange day and I almost don't know myself. I have a parent I never knew I had, have lost a brother, and been told he has been picked up by the highest royalty of the region to leave me to my sorry state. Then been told that rather than that, those same royals want to pick me up and take me with them all because of my personal research, and an unplanned side note within it, and now to be told by that same man he'd rather be my husband than my brother...who is it that sits here?" She lifted her eyes to look into his and they were rather glazed and looking far away, he had to admit.

"Julie Ulmer Inule, researcher, and my friend who has held me from drowning over and over again in the depths of my own sorrows." Kirk answered solemnly.

"You, Kirk? I've kept you from your sorrows? Isn't it the other way round?"

Kirk shook his head, "Perhaps I've been able to help you also. That's good if so. But always you were able to cheer me when I came to you from the depressing presence of my family. ...I've missed you, and until I was tapped by Lady Shirayuki, I was drowning without you. I still miss you."

Julie sighed. "I miss you, too, Kirk. I'm always looking for you when I'm walking the streets. It was so surprising to be rewarded today."

Kirk looked down in embarrassment. He knew Ilena hadn't been walking them in her area without purpose. He wouldn't tell that to Julie just yet, though. Not until she understood Ilena for herself. "I'm glad you saw me," he finally answered. "I did want to see you today."

"How long do I have?" she asked a little wearily.

"I think Lady Shirayuki will ask you at dinner. We are here for another three days before moving on. ...We'll go to father's barony from here for lunch on the fourth day, so you could still return home to see your foster parents and let her know by then, perhaps. As for me," he shrugged, "as long as you need to decide. I can wait." He wanted to warn her about Ilena, but maybe he would let someone else do it. To jade her any more himself wouldn't be wise.

She tugged on his hand and he rose and sat next to her again. Finally she sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'll think on it, and perhaps ask my parents for their advice, as you suggested earlier. They won't be offended if I ask for a postponement?"

"No," he answered gently. "They are very kind people, really."

"...Well, that is true. I did notice that."

It occurred to Kirk that Ilena's requirement that he let Julie get to know them as just people first had been, indeed, wise. He sighed. She was wild and difficult, so how could she be right all the time? It was perhaps the thing that got under his skin the most. He closed his eyes, enjoying having the first love of his life, after his mother, resting closely by his side.

-o-o-o-

Shirayuki watched Kirk and Julie walk off into the crowded market street, then turned and faced the others. "Obi," she called, her serious tone ringing with nobility.

"Yes, Mistress?" Obi stepped forward and bowed formally to her, his hand to his chest.

"Zen has told me that Ilena is to be looking for someone to act as your assistant to watch over her." Ilena went very still, but Shirayuki didn't look at her.

Obi paused slightly, then nodded briefly, still holding to the formal. "Yes, Mistress. Miss Leah is a tamer and so are Henry and Petroi. They are too strict when she becomes difficult. Miss Rio and Marcus are not strict enough when it's needed, the same with Thayne, though he can sit as a handler when necessary. Grandfather is acceptable, but we are trying to let him retire."

"I see," Shirayuki nodded at him, dismissing him. She looked over to her husband. "Zen, I need to speak with you. Let's all return to the inn for now."

"Very well," he agreed mildly. He walked to her and took her hand, tucking it in his elbow. She walked beside him, unable to relax out of her learned nobility. She could feel Ilena and Obi falling in behind them and the rest of the guards took up positions around them, helping to part the flow of bodies in the market. She was glad that they knew her well enough to do it politely. Rough and rude behavior from her guards would have made her angry today. She took the time of their walk to the inn to try and figure out why.

When they arrived at the inn, Shirayuki set Leon, Sam, and Brian on the door to her and Zen's room and ordered Ilena and Obi to stay nearby and call all their household to them, if any were out of the inn.

Zen sat at the foot of the bed, one leg under the other, his hands in his lap, and looked at her. "What is it, Shirayuki?" he asked her, his eyes watching her calmly.

Shirayuki paced to the chair that faced the foot of the bed and sat down, sitting up straight. She folded her hands together in her lap and looked him in the eye. "Even though Obi and Ilena are yours, you've given them to me, isn't that right?"

"Yes," Zen said calmly.

"In bringing them into the household, that is a thing I desire. You've not yet said one way or the other."

"I don't have an opinion on the matter, though I do like having them around." He said it in such a way she could tell it was a considered answer.

Shirayuki hesitated, trying to put her feelings into organized thoughts. "How do you use Obi in the position as handler?"

Zen raised an eyebrow slightly and took the time to consider his answer. It was rather complex, actually, once he finished explaining it to her, though it had seemed simple from the outside. Shirayuki carefully thought about his answer and her desires. "Until this time, Ilena has been a guard and a guide to me, but I think if they are to come into the household at my request, that can no longer be sufficient. She also needs to be able to properly answer to me." Shirayuki was firm on this point. She could feel it was so as deeply as she had felt her choices of nurses would be critical to the future of her children. "Who is chosen as her assistant handler needs to be able to ensure that she will." She took a breath and looked at Zen firmly. "...I will choose that person, and that person will answer to me the same as Obi answers to you."

"Are you thinking of asking Julie?" Zen asked.

"Yes. As a female researcher, she has the capacity to learn whatever is needful, and to experiment until she understands what works best, not to mention it's a point of commonality for all three of us. She'll also be able to give proper concise reports to me. Her having a familial relationship with Kirk helps as well. She will not feel so much a stranger and Ilena will have something to hold her interest until the patterns are established. It will also be a good test to see if Julie has the strength to withstand Ilena's matchmaking, one of her strongest and hardest to restrain tendencies." Zen had his eyebrow raised. Shirayuki explained, "I believe that though Kirk said they are half-siblings, it's something more than that. At the castle, his eyes said it was so. He'll tell me tonight and then we'll know." Zen nodded, his question being sufficiently answered.

"The other things that have made me decide it include that she already has experience with real raptors, she is as of yet still unattached to a house, and she has the patience to deal with Ilena."

"You could see that in the short time we were with her?" Zen asked, surprised.

"It's not just in the time she was with us. For someone to be able to deal with an injured animal and nurse them back to health, particularly when they can't complain and tell you what is wrong with them, and they bite unexpectedly because of it - one must have great patience. I think if she only sees Ilena as a woman she won't have so much patience, but if Obi can train her to see Ilena for who she is, then I think she will."

Zen sat quietly, then asked, "How will you test her?"

Shirayuki considered it. Slowly she answered, "I think...it's in what Obi said. If Leah and Rio together find her acceptable then she will have sufficient qualities of both. ...Henry already approves the idea. I could tell from the way he read the passages. If he and Marcus together listen to the testing and are also in agreement then Julie should have the proper necessary balance to be Obi's assistant."

Shirayuki sighed and relaxed slightly. "Zen, I have thought this far, but there is one other thing that is needful. Please help me."

Zen nodded and listened to his wife's request. With great relief to Shirayuki, together they were able to come up with a solution to put her plan into place. She would have thought it extreme, but she knew they were working with an extreme personality and needed to make a lasting impression that left no doubt behind it.

Shirayuki opened the door to their room. "Leon, fetch Ilena, and then Leah, Rio, Marcus and Henry. I'll see Ilena separately first. Sam please come in." Leon trotted off and Sam stepped into the room, Brian taking the guard position. When she was done with Sam, and had released him, Ilena was let into the room.

Shirayuki was still in the chair, Zen sitting behind her in another chair, one leg resting on the opposing knee, his chin in his fingers, watching. "Ilena, does this inn have a conference room or secondary banquet hall?"

"Yes, Mistress Shirayuki, it does. It's above the main dining room. There is a main entrance for the guests and a secondary entrance for the servers to bring food to the room, if desired." Ilena had bowed formally upon arriving in place in front of Shirayuki and now stood at rest attention.

"I require it for our dinner tonight, and that it be arranged specifically to my requirements." She picked up a piece of paper that was in her lap and handed it over. "See that this is how it's done." Ilena took the paper and bowed slightly. "Because I will need all of my guards tonight, see that the proper number of castle guards are sent for to guard the doors and to stand watch over Zen."

Ilena glanced over the diagram, which doubled as the invitation list. "Is it a Court of the First Princess, Mistress Shirayuki?"

"Yes," Shirayuki kept herself calm. Ilena had been sharp enough to see it immediately, of course.

"Do you wish for enough castle guards to stand the wall as well, then?" Ilena didn't waver from her formal servant's attitude and Shirayuki was glad for it.

"They are all of those who have sworn loyalty to Zen, and are loyal to me in their hearts?" Shirayuki asked. She really couldn't make herself call them the 'Shirayuki Fan Club'.

"Yes, Mistress Shirayuki," Ilena answered.

"The minimum necessary then, please." She didn't want too many extra ears around, but it was likely necessary anyway, and that set would be discrete.

"Who will be your voice?"

"Sam."

"Who are to be your guards?"

"Leon and Brian."

"Dinner before or after?"

"Before."

"Do you have a menu request?"

"No."

"Is there anything else?"

Shirayuki looked at Ilena closely. Ilena was still calm and her face impassive. She really was very good at fitting to whatever role she was called to stand in, and this role was her Steward's face. Shirayuki wanted to relax just briefly to make the inner Ilena show, but this would be a really bad time to do so, it seemed to Shirayuki. "No. That will be all," she said instead.

"Very well." Ilena bowed formally again and left the room.

Shirayuki took a breath and relaxed for a moment. That had been the hardest part of what she needed to do for the preparation. Brian knocked on the door one more time and it opened to let in the four of Ilena's she had requested. This would be an easier interview. In this one, she was looking for co-conspirators, though she still had to stay formal for it and give out orders.

-o-o-o-

"Obi." He turned towards his wife-now-Steward and listened politely. "Go to the barracks and retrieve all of the castle guards. We will need two on the exterior of each of the upper banquet room doors, one on each of the interior of the same doors. One more on the wall of the door walls, two on each free wall, and two behind Master Zen. They will either need to eat early or eat late. It will be dinner followed by a Court of the First Princess. Please be sure they understand and arrive at the proper time and perform a thorough security check of the room. You should be gone only long enough to pass on the orders. Thayne, stay with me."

"Yes, Ilena," Obi bowed and left immediately, Petroi following him.

Ilena began walking again, her new shadow with her, since Shirayuki had her usual two with her. She arrived at the concierge' desk. "The First Princess requires the upper room tonight for the dinner meal and for the rest of the evening after it. Please send the staff who will be setting it up to me immediately. I'll be in the kitchen." She left as soon as she got a nod, uncaring if they were going to have to oust anyone else or not.

Arriving at the kitchen, she commandeered the head chef and ordered a specific formal meal, then gave orders to the butler for specific wines to be served. He would have to send a runner for them, most surely, but there was time. If she was going to be tethered one notch tighter tonight, and Shirayuki didn't care what was served, she was going to see it was what she wanted. The staff had been sent by then, so she went up the back stairs from the kitchen with him to explain the arrangement the room needed to be in at least one hour before the time the royals and their guests arrived for dinner. She informed him someone from her staff would be arriving at that one hour mark to confirm it was done correctly and afterwards no one was to go in or out of the room until they were ready for the meal to be served.

Ilena's next stop was at Delia and Maria's room. "Mistress Shirayuki is holding a Court of the First Princess tonight, directly following dinner. See that she is dressed appropriately to receive the Second Princess. You are also required to attend both functions. It will be in the upper room of this inn, with assigned seating. Here are your positions." She pointed to their seats on the chart Shirayuki had given her. They looked at her with eyes just a little wide but curtseyed appropriately. She turned and left their room to cross the hall.

"Rutherford, Justinian, Mistress Shirayuki is holding a Court of the First Princess tonight, directly following dinner. See that Regent Zen and Lord Obi are dressed appropriately for her to receive the Second Princess. It will be held directly following dinner in the upper room of this inn. Both of you are required to attend both functions. Here are your seats." She pointed to their locations on the page. When they nodded, she turned and left.

Ilena paused briefly. She had further similar orders to give, but her two, who were next, had been with Shirayuki herself, last she'd known. There was one other to prepare as well. She closed her eyes and sent out a query by Family whisper and waited. When Leah answered her, she went to their room - Leah and Rio's. "You already know, it, but hear it again anyway," she started. She gave them the same orders she had given the others. Then she paused. "Miss Julie will also need to be prepared. Does Mistress Shirayuki want part of the test to be before the dinner, or will she be left untested until the dinner?"

Leah and Rio didn't quite look at each other before bowing. "Will you let her be tested before?" Leah asked.

"No. I will eat her. She has no practice being a maid and today I have no patience for it. If you still want her on the wall, I may be willing to ignore her, but she must be readied first."

"That would be acceptable," Leah said, though Ilena caught just a hint of disappointment. Ilena knew she wasn't wrong. To have one of Julie's tests be if she could actually perform as a maid now would be a frightful fail, even if Ilena wasn't feeling petulant.

When she walked out of the room, Marcus and Henry were back again, though Thayne still stood waiting as well. She showed the three of them where they were to sit, and also ordered them to be dressed appropriately. She had told the three of Shirayuki's on the door their orders when she had walked out of the room to begin with. She calculated, then nodded. "Come with me," she said to the three and led them out of the inn. She sent non-stop messages through the town in the local Family code, receiving reports as they went as well. Some of them led her to the residential district.

The couple resting on the bench under an old tree with wide branches that shaded the bench and much of the street in front of it, stood when they were close enough to recognize who was coming towards them. Ilena noted that Kirk didn't release Julie's hand, and Julie appeared nervous but was doing her best to stand firm. Her look was still one of slightly guarded friendliness, and when Ilena stopped in front of them, she looked piercingly into Julie's eyes. Julie continued to look back as she had before, then she curtseyed slightly. "Princess Ilena."

"Julie." Ilena looked away and into Kirk's eyes. He was more nervous that Julie was. "You've not told her the full truth, have you Kirk?" His eyes dropped. "Very well. We'll let Princess Shirayuki surprise her." She looked back at Julie who was looking concerned now. "If you don't like your surprise, see that Kirk is punished for it." Julie blinked and looked like she wanted to scold her, but didn't have the words. Ilena let a small smirk come on her face. Henry made a disapproving noise and she calmed down.

"Kirk, Princess Shirayuki is holding a Court of the First Princess tonight directly following dinner. Brian has your seating arrangements and orders. Please return to the inn with Thayne and prepare yourself properly. Julie, you will come with me. She has required that you also be present; therefore, you must be made properly presentable, and we have little time to do it in." Julie paled slightly. Ilena could see Kirk squeeze her hand, then finally release it. He bowed to Ilena and began to walk away, Thayne following with him. Julie looked after him, but Ilena was positive Kirk did not turn back for her. "Come," she said shortly and turned on her heel.

Julie trotted at her side, Ilena's angry strides being slightly longer than the shorter girl's. "Ah, um, Princess Ilena…," Julie finally had the courage to speak up, "..thank you for earlier today." Ilena looked at her sideways, raising her eyebrow. "I'm glad you were all willing to let me spend time with you without titles, and thank you for your kindness to Kirk." That last surprised Ilena and she looked directly at Julie.

"Is that how you saw it?" she asked, but not with Izana's bite of testing, rather with Obi's just wanting to know.

"Well...he said that you were holding yourself back for his sake then. I do see that as kindness." Her look was clear.

Ilena allowed herself a small smile. Julie had just scored a point, all unknowing. She looked away and slowed down just slightly. "I was." She looked back at Julie from the corner of her eye. "Does it bother you that I'm not anymore?"

Julie hesitated. "Well...since I don't know you, I can't say that you are or are not. Surely royalty is often more standoffish due to their positions and the prior was more unusual behavior...though," she looked away slightly embarrassed, "Kirk says that it isn't the case."

"Surely it depends on the situation, Miss Julie," Ilena said calmly.

"Ah, surely!" Julie quickly agreed, then subsided. "Um…," she tried again and Ilena looked at her sharply from the corner of her eye.

"You are talkative normally? Or just question everything because you are a researcher?" Ilena asked.

Julie paused and actually considered the questions seriously. Ilena found that hilarious, but she didn't let it show. This was becoming as much fun as if she were really Izana. Surely being recognized had given her one unanticipated benefit. She relaxed her shoulders and allowed Julie's slower pace, because she was thinking hard, to slow her down just a little more, though she kept going at a fast enough pace to keep Julie moving. They really didn't have much time.

"I think it's the latter," Julie finally answered. "I've alway been inquisitive, though. The two go hand in hand, I think."

"It is natural, I suppose," Ilena agreed coolly. She picked the pace back up now that the thinking was done. She wanted to know how long Julie could go, so she let the silence go on and counted. Since it had been pointed out, it was a while, but before they reached the market district again Julie was ready to ask her question again. Ilena wondered if it was the same question or if she'd forgotten it in the interruption.

"Princess Ilena, will you tell me what Princess Shirayuki wants to call me up for?"

"He told you at least that much, did he?" Ilena said dryly.

"Well, he said he could only guess it. He also said that it was to be the assistant to take care of her many pets."

Ilena's eyes went dangerous and Julie stepped back her words and searched her mind. "Well, er...I guess I asked jokingly if I was wanted to take care of pets. Kirk didn't actually use that word. He did say it would be to watch over a falcon, who was most prized, a wild stallion, large cats, foxes, dogs, and rabbits. I told him I wasn't qualified to do anything with horses. …." She cut herself off. It seemed she was also talkative, but had some sense of reservation - or self preservation.

"Hmm...well, I see where he stopped telling truth and went for half-truths, at least." Ilena finally said, once she'd digested the strange words and decided to not be so angry about them. She thought about it some more. "I suppose he wants you to hear it from Princess Shirayuki herself." She looked at Julie hard. "And you will. No more questions of those sorts."

"Yes, Princess Ilena," Julie said humbly.

They had reached the market and Ilena led them directly to the highest class clothiers on the street. Julie almost couldn't enter it, having to take a deep breath to cross the threshold. "Allison, this is Julie. She is being presented before the First and Second Princesses today, in the presence of the Regent. She needs proper attire. Please fetch it at once. We are late already."

The lady Allison looked Julie up and down carefully, turned her around once, then bowed to Ilena and disappeared. Ilena looked at Julie carefully as well, then turned her around and finger combed her hair. Julie held still, surprised by the handling and sudden close contact. By the time Allison had arrived with a dress and it's parts, Ilena was just finishing with a complex series of braids. Ilena pulled the thong holding her braid out and wrapped it around the end of Julie's braid, then turned to look at the dress Allison was holding. It looked passable. She motioned to Allison and the lady held it up in front of Julie so Ilena could confirm the size and coloring.

"It will do. See that another just one step lower and three two steps lower are sent to the inn by tomorrow. She will also need travelling clothes, though I suspect her own will do most of the time for that. For tonight, at least, I will require proper accessories as well." Allison bowed and handed the dress and its parts to another clerk to wrap and headed to an enclosed counter. She brought back a necklace, bracelet, earrings, and hair comb. Ilena looked at them all, then nodded. "Thank you, Allison. Payment will be as normal."

"Yes, Mistress Ilena. Thank you for coming today." Allison said, curtseying.

Ilena motioned to Marcus, and he took up the packages and Ilena led them out of the building. Julie weaved slightly and her eyes were blinking, like she was having trouble seeing. "Breathe, Julie," Ilena commanded. That seemed to help a little. "It's a formal court, even if small. You have to be properly presentable."

"Ah, thank you," Julie said trying to be polite and express her gratitude.

"It isn't something to thank me for. I have done it purely out of selfishness." Ilena rejected the gratitude, wishing just ever so slightly she could reject the person.

"Um…," Ilena waited patiently, "why will it be a formal court? Can't Princess Shirayuki just ask me normally?"

"It isn't for you, any more than the clothing." Ilena's frustration finally came out in a scowl. "It's her first, and likely her only ever court." She looked away from Julie, not wanting to see her.

"Um...why?" Julie's question was so innocent.

Ilena sighed. "She is doing it to make a point...for my benefit." Julie was waiting for further explanation. "She is trying to show me her determination." Ilena slowed her steps just a little again, suddenly wanting to explain this part. She looked at Julie directly. "I am a Princess of two countries, and fully capable of being Queen...of any country. I'm Izana's rival. For Princess Shirayuki, who was born common, to stay ahead of me, she has to be very determined and fight hard. I have helped her get to where she is, until now. She is ready to set our positions as the King and Regent have set them, with me being the lowest on the rung of the royalty of Clarines."

Ilena's eyes flashed. "...I will fight her every step of the way and she knows it, because that is how I have trained her until this time. If she cannot put her will forward and show she has enough strength, then I will not give way. Only in this way has she been able to be placed where she is today. Zen is her ally and has surely been the one to recommend she do it this way. They were in conference for nearly an hour this afternoon after you left us and before giving us the orders we have been following since then."

Julie looked like she had another question rising to the surface, but Ilena wasn't done. "The relationship between Obi and I and Regent Zen and Princess Shirayuki is extremely complex. Please do not ask about it. You will learn it as you go. When we are relaxed, we are friends and close family. That is what you saw at the noontime. When we are formal, it is so complex as to be changing even second by second." Ilena looked away. "I like it that way. It keeps me entertained - a difficult thing." She looked back at Julie. "They will all tell you that a bored Ilena is a bad thing." Julie blinked her amazement away and took a breath.

Ilena let her get out the question this time. "Is that why you're angry?"

Ilena blinked, then smiled again. Another point. "Yes," she let the smile stay. "It's been hard enough to submit myself to everyone I've had to so far. To have to take the final step and submit to her...and to you who I do not know...has made the Queen in me rebel - quite a lot really."

Julie was quiet, and they had reached the inn. Ilena stopped them and turned to face her directly. "From this point on, you are to be silent and only speak when spoken to, save for pleasant conversation at dinner with your neighbors. If you have any more pressing questions, ask them now."

Julie looked at Ilena calmly for a moment, then slowly raised her hand and lowered it over Ilena's eyes, covering them. Ilena stiffened and held very still, drawing in a breath to hold it, then remembered she had to breathe and let it out slowly, her ears listening very closely, her eyes unfocused on the palm in front of them. The scent of the other woman entered her nostrils and teased her, not settling on a flavor, though Kirk was intermixed with it. Somehow it seemed a strong yet gentle hand, though.

"Princess Ilena," Julie said quietly, "I'm sure it's difficult to have things change for you, but I think that it's likely, since you are friends and close family, that they only do things for you because they care about you. If Princess Shirayuki has chosen to do a thing, surely it is only to your benefit. Everyone was very kind to me and to each other today, even you. I hope you can let your anger go, and trust them."

Ilena stood shocked. She blinked a few times, then finally sighed. "You've just sealed your fate, girl. Good luck. If I don't eat you in the next month, you might survive the year. May the Gods help us all. I'll calm down for the moment, but I don't expect it to be easy for some time to come. You will see me in reverse from everyone else. ...Ask Obi what that means when he starts training you." She snapped her mouth closed. That was all the warning she was going to give. The hand didn't move and Ilena breathed a few more times to finish calming, then nodded. The hand finally moved away and she stared into Julie's eyes.

Julie looked calmly back at her, then suddenly started and looked completely horrified.

"Back up," Ilena said calmly. "Review again the results of the experiment, and hold on to the data. Your opinion and the opinions of others, even me, are irrelevant. This is why they want a researcher."

Julie blinked, calmed down, though she was still breathing a bit hard from her moment of panic, and did as she was told. Puzzlement came over her face. "...Really, Princess Ilena?"

Ilena nodded, completely serious. "Really." Julie stared at her. "I will not answer any more questions at this time. Once the formalities are completed you will learn far more than you can hold on to." Ilena turned towards the porch and the door. "I am, after all, a professor."

CHAPTER 22 First Princess's Court

Ilena led Julie to Leah and Rio's room and left her and the package containing her clothing for the evening with them. Then she went to her room. "Where is Obi?" she asked.

He arrived shortly after the question left the room. She took his arm and sat him in one of the chairs in the room, then sank down onto her knees next to him and put her arms and head in his lap. After a moment to put things in order, Obi began to pet her head, the braid beginning to come undone now that it wasn't tied. He rested his other hand on her arm where it lay across his legs. Ilena shivered slightly, then said quietly. "Report."

"The soldiers are preparing themselves and will arrive at the proper time." He paused, then picked up her braid and began to untwist it so it would lay loose, finger combing it as he went.

"I've set the inn to its proper preparations." Ilena began her report. "The room will be set up an hour before the dinner is to begin so that it may be inspected for correctness and secured. The food and drink have been ordered. All of the attendees have been invited and informed of their seating and the proper decorum for the events, as have their servants. It's possible that you will have to go and see to the security of the room in my place as I've only just arrived and the maids are preparing Miss Julie first before they come to prepare me." Ilena shivered again and buried her face in his lap.

Obi paused in his hair ministrations and gently put one hand on the back of her head. "What is it, Ilena?" he asked gently.

It took some time before she had an answer. "The Queen is not ready to die and is grieving."

Obi considered her answer. "You even still harbored a belief you would become a Queen of the realm someday?"

Ilena nodded, not lifting her head. "It is my pride, I suppose some would say. I know I can be a Queen, and only Izana is my rival. To have to let it go...it is very difficult. She fights it more so because she argues against Mistress Shirayuki who is only a peasant and only reached her heights because I chose to push her to them." Ilena sighed. "It's a difficult fight, and I can't reach yet the Ilena who is proud of her student for reaching this final test. She will succeed, too, but I'm fighting against the Queen who wants to sabotage it and make it fail. ...Of course, it will only be me in the end that fails if that happens. The only thing I stand to lose for Mistress Shirayuki winning is that pride of the Queen." Ilena bit her lip. "But...somehow...it makes me feel like I'm giving up and admitting I'm not as good as I am or can be - like I'm cutting off my own feet."

Obi was thoughtful for a while. "Do you stand on the feet of the Queen, or of the Princess?"

Ilena considered it. "The Queen. I cannot carry myself with surety as the princess. The Princess has failed too many times and must rely on others."

Obi sighed and went back to petting her head again while he thought. "...Can...the Queen...retire? Become like the Dowager Queen Mother, who still retains her strength and grace, but relinquishes the responsibilities and powers?"

Ilena was very still as she thought about the possibility. "The moving of the mantle…," she murmured. Finally she sighed and relaxed. "Yes. That is possible, with acceptable results." She suddenly seemed as if she would fall asleep right then. She took Obi's hand that was resting on her arm again and kissed it. "I love you, Obi." When Obi would have taken it back, she gripped it and held on tight. When the fingers of Obi's other hand brushed lightly on the back of her neck as he ended the current petting motion, she shivered and her breathing increased.

"What is it?" Obi asked her again, pressing the hand that was holding his encouragingly.

"I don't want to lose you." It was fear.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said calmly. "You are still mine. That will not change."

"I don't want anyone else," she answered him petulantly.

Obi stopped petting her. Finally he asked her, "Do you understand why you need another?"

Ilena angrily turned her head sharply away from him. He lightly rested the fingers of his free hand on her arm and considered her. "Did - did it not occur to you that another would be necessary?"

Ilena shook her head rapidly and unhappily. Obi picked up a strand of hair and ran it through his fingers, lacing it through over and over while he thought, then lifted it to his lips. "Tell me, Ilena, what path leads to it and why it is necessary. If you haven't thought of it before now, you must do so now."

Ilena buried her face in his lap again, but was relaxed, thinking it through. "The simplest answer is that Mistress Shirayuki needs to have one who is in the same position between her and I, that you are in for Master Zen and I, though I don't like it. I would rather she just had the strength on her own to stand there. I know that Leah and you both feel that I will need one when you cannot be present, but I argue that it will be uncommon and brief. I do not want to have to learn to bend for one more person."

"Hmm…," Obi answered. "It's pride again. Who carries that pride?"

Ilena went still, surprised by the question. She considered it. "It is not the Princess...I think. Certainly not the Steward? Not the wife." She sighed. "It is Ilena. Why, Obi?"

It made sense now that it was discovered. She already knew very little about herself as a person - just Ilena. "Is it the Ilena who believes she must be able to stand on her own feet and fight for her own freedom and self, who finds it difficult to see friends in the world around her?"

Ilena nodded. That was the nine-year-old self. Obi put his hand under her chin and made her sit up and look at him. When he had her gaze, steady and calm, he said firmly, "Thailena, you are not alone in this world. To have those around you who are a strength to you is to have strength within you also. You have learned this by pulling to yourself many who are a strength to you already. You are stronger because of their strength. There is no weakness in relying on others as it is necessary." He held her eyes and waited for the message to be accepted. The older Ilena did understand this.

When the two parts of Ilena had reconciled, Obi continued. "Why do you chose to bend to others?"

A brief pause, then, "Because they protect my path."

"Mmm...trust," Obi translated softly. "I would wish for you to trust those of us who are asking this of you. It may not be possible for you to understand it yet, why we see it is necessary, if you cannot already see it of yourself. But, it's for the same reason - because we wish to protect your path."

Ilena tipped her head and Obi saw the fear flare again. "Is it like my placing Mistress Shirayuki and Queen Haki in their places?"

Obi reached out and ran the backs of his curled fingers along her cheek to her ear, then cupped her face. "Ilena, do you expect to die?"

She paused, then said quietly, "No."

"I don't plan on dying either." Obi paused. "But does that mean we shouldn't set precautions in place that can be useful in other ways as well?"

Ilena could not hold his gaze. "Obi...I did not like that answer." Her face crumpled.

Obi pulled her up into his lap and held her as she cried. How could she have not thought it and understood it already, having set up the three of them, and all her Family, with secondary supports for the same reason? He already knew how hard it was to face that reason. Everyone who had seen it from her had felt the same as she felt now. He had merely forced her to acknowledge it. "Ilena, we all want to know that you are protected from the unexpected, so that we can rest easy and not worry so much for you," he said gently. "We will not leave you for having that protection in place. We will stay and you will still be ours. We do not want to give you up either. Rather it is part of protecting you more firmly in the place you belong."

Obi ran his fingers through her hair over her ear and down the length of it, then kissed her gently. "Please, bend for us."

Ilena continued to sniffle for a bit into his shoulder, then nodded. "I will try, Obi...but I think it will be difficult. The five year old Ilena doesn't want to see a repeat of the loss of those she trusted and loved the most."

Obi put his hand on her head and held her close. "No, I'm sure you don't want to. We don't want it either." He kissed her forehead.

There was a knock on the door. I am sorry Master Obi, Mistress Ilena. It is time to get ready.

Obi moved his hand to cup her jaw and looked into her eyes again, carefully restraining himself. The innocent, unguarded, and trusting Ilena was also difficult for him to resist. "Is it enough?" he asked her.

Ilena took a breath and let it out, closing her eyes. When they opened again, she was more in control. "It will have to do for now. I can't find anything else so quickly. Perhaps the worst is taken care of, however."

Obi nodded and helped her stand, then stood as well. "Come," he called to the waiting servants. He leaned down and wrapped his arms around her, holding his hands together behind her just where her hair ended. He kissed her deeply and long, not caring that the door had been opened and their servants were entering. He would need them to let her go, but he needed to have her just long enough to not go crazy before dinner. The warmth of her arms wrapped around his shoulders and her response to his kiss comforted him. "Ilena," he whispered in her ear, "please, never run and hide from me. I'm still not able to stand without you."

"I'm here, Obi," she answered him. "I am yours, and I will not leave you."

Obi could feel the guards approach. They recognized the symptoms. He felt Ilena turn her head and look at them, and they stopped and waited. He closed his eyes and carefully breathed himself to calm. He was glad she understood that today was different. When he was centered, he gently released her. She ran her hands down his arms until they were holding hands. He held on tightly for a moment, reaching for the next level of strength, receiving it from her calm steady stance. When he was ready, he looked up into her eyes.

When their eyes met, they both smiled wryly. They shared the same expression of weakness and need, love and tenderness. Ilena pulled on his hands to make them close their distance and kissed his cheek, then went back to their previous distance. "I suppose we shall just have to accept it's Obi and Ilena for a while, then," Ilena said with a smile. "I would think that allowing it for a time would be okay. We are supposed to be on vacation, after all."

Obi grinned a shy grin at her. "Well, I guess that'd be alright by me."

Ilena pressed his hands and released him but didn't pull away. He held on to her hands just a moment longer, then let go except for the fingertips on one hand held on to her little finger. He took one more deep breath, then let go. He looked into her eyes a moment longer, then nodded once. Ilena smiled, took her own breath, then nodded once back. They looked at the others in the room.

The guards took their time making sure they'd stay separated, then stepped back to the door and the wall to wait. Both Obi and Ilena judged their clothing and appearance at the same time, nodding when they were satisfied. The servants waiting to dress them were next and they were also each subjected to the judgement of their master and mistress. When they were approved, Rio and Justinian held out their hands for their respective charge. Ilena took Rio's hand, but Obi carefully did not take Justinian's, only moving to the space Justinian wanted him to go to, unbuckling his sword as he went.

Obi carefully paid attention to helping Justinian do his office, not demanding to do it himself. He was ready first, even with the hair combing and pinning of his badges and the Second Princess's jem. A circlet being placed on his head surprised him though and he raised an eyebrow at Justinian. He received a firm look and left it at that. Justinian stepped back, done with his handiwork. Obi looked around at his wife. She was in her dress and was having her hair brushed by Rio. He smiled. That was his favorite part to watch. Ilena had her eyes mostly closed in rapture, as usual, and Rio's sure strong and long strokes from scalp to ends made the length of Ilena's hair more accented and beautiful. "Rio," Obi said softly, "for me, will you leave it down tonight?"

Rio looked up briefly in surprise, then nodded once and attended to her work again. Obi could see there was a circlet for her on the bed as well, and his gaze settled on it for a moment, then he looked up at the brown haired woman standing against the wall on the opposite side of the room. She was looking at him. He assumed his words had caught her attention. He nodded to her politely, then subjected her to the same judgemental scan he had the other servants.

"It's from a different house," he commented.

"Um-hm," Ilena said in a murmur. "It's local. I don't have many of her works myself, but I have gifted a few to Leah and Rio."

Obi looked at them again. "Rio's is from the same hand, but not Leah's...no Leah's is from the house in Wilant."

Leah nodded. "Your eye is very good, Master Obi," she said calmly.

"From a past bad habit, I'm afraid," he said lightly. He turned away, and looked at Justinian's clothes again, then tipped his head. "I didn't think he would have had time to get anything from the Wilant house?"

"She sent it with the Tarc clothing. If he's wearing it, he found it in the luggage we brought with us. Good man, Justinian." Justinian blushed slightly, making Obi smile.

Ilena sighed and Obi looked back at her. Rio had put the brush down and was pulling her hair back from her forehead to make a small circlet of hairs from either side, pinned together in the center of the back of her head. Obi walked around to stand in front of Ilena, watching Rio settle the medallion of the Second Princess around her neck and then the circlet on her head. Ilena opened her eyes and looked into his and smiled. He smiled back and reached for her hand. She gave it to him and he helped her stand, then kissed the back of that hand. And, like that, they were the Second Princess and the Consort.

There was another knock on the door and Petroi walked in, leaving the door open. "I have secured the upper hall and the guards are properly in place," he said calmly.

"Thank you, Petroi," Obi said, taking the lead on purpose. "Please call for Kirk to come and escort Miss Julie, then we'll send him back to retrieve Master and Mistress at the proper time. If their dressers are not finished, have him wait for them so that they may all come together."

"Yes, Master Obi," Petroi bowed and left the room again.

It wasn't too much longer and they had processed up to the reception hall and were standing in their proper places. Shirayuki and Zen didn't make them wait much longer either, walking in with their guards shortly after the rest were in place. Shirayuki's guards peeled off for their seats, standing with the rest until Shirayuki and Zen sat. Then the rest sat and the guard on the serving door allowed the servers to enter.

-o-o-o-

Shirayuki had placed herself and Zen at a head table with only his castle guards standing behind them. The remainder of their household was seated to her side of the head table, on Zen's right as he faced the room. Ilena and Obi were seated slightly in front of everyone else, but to Zen's left. Behind them were the rest of their household. Julie was seated between Leah and Rio with Justinian on the other side of Rio. The four guards were behind them.

Delia, Maria, and Rutherford were set equal to the servants behind Obi and Ilena. Shirayuki's guards were set behind them, equal to the other guards, with Kirk being placed on the edge closest to Ilena's guards so he was as close to Julie as he could be placed.

The food was castle formal, delicate, and delicious. The wine matched, and Obi raised his glass briefly to Ilena. She accepted his praise with a silent tip of the head. "You have a castle bred chef here in Lyrias," commented Zen.

"Yes, Regent Zen," Ilena answered calmly. "I must be prepared for all contingencies, after all, at least as best I am able." That last comment earned her a longer look from Zen than necessary, but she continued to eat calmly. "It has always concerned me that I might have to suddenly host King Izana in the hometown of his Queen wife on a family visit. ...The nightmares didn't subside until I had a proper chef in my employ." Obi had to hide a laugh, and even Zen almost choked on his food.

"Surely," Zen tried to recover but was having difficulty succeeding, "such a remote possibility would not have kept you sleepless and your nights full of nightmares?"

"Well, considering that it has come true even to this level, I think it was not ill advised to follow through on it," Ilena said practically.

"Well, no perhaps not," Zen allowed.

After a pause, Shirayuki asked, "Is the chef the same as the one that cooks for this inn regularly?"

"Yes, Princess Shirayuki," Ilena answered.

"Is he content with it? The difference in cooking styles seems so different."

"It is, and he is. I was able to procure him based on the promise that he would only have to cook castle food when absolutely necessary. He was ready to move on to learning and enjoying other techniques. There is enough diversity of peoples here in Lyrias he has learned a wide repertoire, though in the main he must cook what the clientele of the inn wish to eat. He was quite willing to turn his hand to castle fair again after so long a time of being away from it."

"He hasn't lost the touch, I see," Shirayuki commented.

"No. I'm pleased to see it as well," Ilena agreed.

The conversation calmed in favor of eating again for a while. It had opened the floor for the servants of the households to begin to converse quietly, however, and the testing of Julie had begun. The four royals kept an ear on it so they would understand as well, though they didn't directly focus their attention on it in order to not have her feel the weight of so much attention. They also didn't let their own conversation lag into uncomfortable silence. That would have been the height of rudeness, after all.

When the dinner portion was completed and the dishes had all been removed, Obi motioned to the guards on the walls and they quietly and efficiently removed the dining tables to the walls of the room. As they did so, Zen stood, making everyone stand briefly, his guards moved his chair back a step and slightly farther left of Shirayuki. Zen sat again and his guards returned to their positions. Everyone else sat again except Shirayuki's guards. Leon and Brian went to stand behind Shirayuki, one to either side of her, and Sam stood in front of her to her right, in the voice position. Kirk moved his chair up to sit with the three servants of the household, putting him level with Julie now, but not alone on his row. Shirayuki looked calmly at the people in front of her, then nodded to Sam.

"You sit before Prince Zen, Regent Wilant, and First Princess Shirayuki of Clarines, at the Court of the First Princess," Sam said calmly and in a normal tone of voice. This wasn't a great hall that needed shouting after all. "Listen well, attend to her words, and obey." He gave the obligatory pause, though everyone was already paying attention and quiet. "The First Princess calls Kirk Leander."

Kirk rose from his chair and walked to stand the proper respectful distance before Shirayuki and bowed formally. "I have promised to tell you my story," he said to her. "Do you wish to hear it now?" Shirayuki nodded her head once gracefully. He stood at formal rest in front of her and began. "The beginning of our story you've already heard to some degree. I was the one who gave Julie the infant rabbit that died and began her search to understand how to treat animals. Because I was as sad as she was, I encouraged her in her desire to learn it, and I was as surprised as she was when my father forbade it upon discovering it. However, I stood in her defense and entreated her to go to Lyrias when she was ready to leave the barony."

"My defense of her earned my father's ire and he sent me to Wilant castle as my punishment. When I found Mistress Shirayuki studying in the library, it reminded me of Julie and I found myself wanting to help her also. There, my father couldn't prevent it, and I felt the same joy and exhilaration at her steady progress that I had felt for Julie's."

"When Mistress Shirayuki asked me to stand as a guard and aide for her, I was willing because I already knew she was studying to become Regent Zen's Princess. It's a Lord's duty to support his liege and in helping her to become a strong and intelligent Princess I felt I would have properly supported you. I knew my father would disagree, but I had already determined we would always disagree on this point. It would be sufficient redress to my father if he felt I was serving the Regent directly, particularly if he didn't know to what extent I had been helping Mistress Shirayuki."

Kirk paused before continuing. "There is another piece to understand from the beginning. My father set aside his first wife for being unable to bear children after five years of effort. His second wife was a researcher he met while visiting in Lyrias. After the first two years of trying to create an heir, she did what all researchers do. She went and visited the first wife and asked her many questions about why no heir had been produced, and asked if she would do an experiment. That is, find a man to marry and try to get pregnant again. The first wife sent a letter to the second seven months later saying she was pregnant."

"When the second wife attempted to explain that the reason my father had no heirs was because he was not capable of producing them, he was very angry with her and nearly set her aside at that time, but she repented and said she would try again with him. He was satisfied when nearly a year later a son was born. Within two years another son was born, and again he was very satisfied. Nearly three years later I was born...but I was born almost two months later than my father expected."

"My older brothers look like my father, but I look like our mother. He had been allowing her to return regularly to Lyrias to continue at the University, but after I was born late, and looking different, he became suspicious and sent one of his men to follow her whenever she went to Lyrias. He was unable to find anything out at the time. Then mother became pregnant a fourth time and our father became suspicious once again. She assured him time and again that it was his child and apologized for it being a surprise for them both, but he already would not believe her. He finally sent her away back to Lyrias, telling her to go and see if the man who she had been laying with would keep her now."

Kirk's face twisted in wry comic grief. "She returned with an infant girl several months later, saying it was his child and he should therefore care for her. My mother left that child at the barony, and my father gave her to one of the couples on his estate to take care of. Because I was already under suspicion, I was interested in who this sibling of mine was and spent many hours, days, and years with her until she left the house for Lyrias also. My older brothers would not spend time with me anyway, learning from my father and his third wife to turn their backs to me. My father and his third wife have also never had children, but my father is content as he believes the heirs he does have to be sufficient."

Kirk paused again. "I don't think my Mother took a lover, but merely, as a researcher who needed to complete a requirement, found a way to meet that requirement. As with most researchers, she was married to her research first, her husband second, though she did desire to be obedient to him. Julie asked me to go with her today to meet with my mother and her current husband so that she might ask for the truth one more time, thinking my presence might help my mother to open up a little more. It was sufficient to bring her out to be questioned, and she finally allowed her husband to answer to Julie's existence. I am personally content with my own past as my mother has explained it already."

"The story we heard today from Mister Inule was that he and his first wife took in my mother when she was sent away pregnant to Lyrias, as they had been friends from her research days. Mister Inule's wife was also pregnant with their first child. On the day they gave birth, my mother's child was born deformed and already dead. Julie's mother died in childbirth on that same day. Mister Inule requested of my mother that she claim Julie as her own child and send her to be taken care of by the baron. She did so, though she warned him that Julie's life might not be any easier. Mister Inule has apologized and he and Julie have reconciled and promised to reunite whenever possible."

Kirk shifted ever so slightly. "I had hoped to hear such a story and after we left the house, I spoke with Julie privately about my station and position openly, as well as my future prospects and hers. I have requested that she think kindly on me and to someday answer to my request that she become my wife, though I am content to wait upon her decision for as long as she needs to properly consider it." He lightly stressed the last. Everyone in the room could feel Julie's embarrassment, but they politely ignored her so she could recover. They all knew it was important for Kirk to share it openly, and why, even if she didn't.

Shirayuki looked over at Ilena sternly until Ilena bowed her head slightly. Once she was content she'd received a sufficient promise, Shirayuki looked at Kirk. "Thank you, Kirk," she said. He bowed and returned to his seat.

Shirayuki looked past Obi and Ilena, polling the testers. She received sufficient answer, then nodded to Sam. "The First Princess Calls Lord Obi Melick and Second Princess Ilena," he intoned.

Obi had already been holding Ilena's hand. He rose, lifting her with him and they moved to stand in front of Shirayuki. Obi bowed and Ilena curtseyed at just the correct amount for their relative stations. Her eyes were locked on Shirayuki, and her face was neutral, though her eyes showed a little strain. Shirayuki looked first at Obi, taking strength in his calm face, so familiar to her. She sat up even straighter and pulled nobility to her like a cloak, then looked into Ilena's eyes and her face became set and her eyes firm. "Ilena," her voice rang and was as firm as her eyes, "who do you belong to?"

"Master Zen and Obi," Ilena answered back her usual obedient response, and her eyes firmed somewhat.

"That answer is incomplete, Ilena," Shirayuki responded firmly, not taking her eyes off Ilena's eyes, nor backing down from the flare the words brought. "Who did Regent Zen give you to?"

Ilena pulled back her head slightly and blinked. She stood still for a moment, then answered, "Obi…," she finally bowed her head to say, "...and Mistress Shirayuki." She raised her head and looked at Shirayuki again, but she was not fully obedient yet, her eyes still holding a challenge, though muted.

"Then say it again, Ilena. Who do you belong to?" Shirayuki stressed the question, requiring obedience but not fiercely.

Ilena took a breath and her eyes unfocused. Everyone in the room felt the sudden surge of energy that welled up in Ilena, then seemed to explode from her, though she neither moved nor made a sound. To the soldiers in the room, it felt akin to a killing intent. In another breath the energy had dissipated and Ilena bowed. "Master Zen, Obi, and Mistress Shirayuki." When she rose from her bow, Shirayuki was pleased to see calm receptiveness in her eyes, though her face was still impassive. There was something a little sad in it for her. Just that slight waver caused Ilena's gaze to sharpen, however, and Shirayuki quickly set her resolve again.

"Yes, Ilena, that's correct," Shirayuki said calmly, but still with ownership in her voice. "Until now, however, you have not learned to come to my call, save when it suits you. This cannot be allowed to continue from this time, for I wish to call you and Obi into my household. In order for that to be possible, you must be able to answer to me as you do to Regent Zen. Just as he set Obi to help you answer to him, I will set one to help you to answer to me." She saw Ilena flare again and she paused and held Ilena's eyes, her face set with her resolve. "You will allow it, Ilena. ...I need you both at my side."

Ilena took a breath. "Princess Shirayuki, do you understand what that really means? Are you prepared for the full consequences of taking me as your own?"

Shirayuki paused. Carefully she answered, "I am sure you will teach me what I may not have understood; however, I do understand that to take you as my own is nearly equivalent to telling King Izana he must answer to me." While she recognized it to be true, her own heart quailed just saying the name she most feared in such a blasphemous way. Though, she had already told him once a thing he needed to be obedient to, and he had chosen to be. It had surprised her, but he'd said that if he didn't, he wouldn't be properly trusting and using his people the way he should.

Ilena turned her head slightly and stared at her out of one eye, as if trying to determine if she believed her or not. Finally she turned back to look at Shirayuki directly, her face set in a scowl. "It is insufficient," she said with finality. "You do not comprehend sufficiently, nor can you withstand the consequence. I didn't put you where you are, only to have you tear yourself apart trying to hold me."

Shirayuki felt a flash of anger and she went with it. Zen had warned her Ilena would test her and that she would have to pass the test for Ilena to bend to her will. All of the things Ilena had taught her, and all of the things she had learned from Zen flashed through her mind, her mind catching and holding those things that were relevant to this moment. She rose from her chair slowly and walked with deliberation over to stand in front of Ilena. She even folded her arms, a thing she rarely ever did, and she let her anger show in her eyes. Ilena watched her, calmly, but still with her face set.

"Ilena," Shirayuki said, "I appreciate that you are still wanting to protect me from harm, even if from yourself, however...you - did - not - put - me - here." Her eyes were spitting fire. "You helped me only when I asked, and I only did that which I saw fit to do. I put in the effort to get where I am." She paused to reign in her anger enough to continue speaking properly, taking a breath. "I appreciate your help and concern, and it is true that you made the way easier, but do not take credit for what you did not do."

Ilena looked at Shirayuki impassively a moment longer, then bowed slightly. "My apologies, Mistress Shirayuki, for taking all of the credit wrongly." She stood back up and looked at her calmly, "but, Mistress Shirayuki, you really do need to learn how to have strength and a backbone without being made to be angry first. I hope you will learn it soon. I am quite tired of having that as the only way to push you to it."

Shirayuki blinked, then put her hands on her hips. "Ilena, that is what I was doing before. It was not necessary to push me to anger if you had been obedient before." Ilena looked away evasively. Shirayuki finally let her scowl show. "Down, Ilena!" she pointed to the floor. Ilena looked at her a bit surprised. "Now. I am going to explain it to you." Ilena blinked, took a breath, then bowed her head, and knelt on the floor gracefully. She did not let Obi's hand go, and the loose hand went into her lap in a relaxed curl. She looked up into Shirayuki's face, waiting.

Shirayuki moved back to her chair and sat again. She nodded to Sam. "The First Princess calls Julie Ulmer." Obi stepped to the side, but stayed close to Ilena holding her hand still.

Julie came to stand in front of Shirayuki and curtseyed a little awkwardly, but it was acceptable. "Julie," Shirayuki called her, and the young woman looked at her with some trepidation.

"Yes, your Highness?" she answered.

"I have need of you." Julie's eyes widened. "Ilena is mine," Shirayuki explained. "Zen has given her to stand with me at Obi's side since we discovered her, but we will lose Obi for a time this fall while he is on Zen's errand. She is still as of yet untrained in how I expect her to answer to me, as evidenced here this evening. Will you come with us and be trained by Obi to be his replacement during the time he is gone, and so that you may train her in what behaviours I expect? Other than he, only Zen and I can handle her, and we have other duties to attend to. You have already proven to those who understand that you have the capacity necessary to stand in that place. You will report to me on her progress, and I will expect at your hand to see positive results." Shirayuki was very firm on all the points important to her.

Julie blinked and clasped her hands in front of her skirt. "It is most strange to me, Princess. Never in my life would I have considered that my charge would be a human, not an animal. It's difficult for me to reconcile myself to it, though Princess Ilena herself warned me, and Kirk also to some degree." She paused and looked down at the floor in front of her, then looked back up at Shirayuki with a small wry smile. "However, I must admit my mind has already been caught by the curiosity of it, and the possibilities I see in being able to accomplish your goal. I can't say at this time if I'm the best person for you to select; however, ...I am willing to try my best." She bowed. "I will come if you ask it of me." The light in her eyes when she rose was the light of a researcher bent on a new project and Shirayuki smiled slightly.

"I will require you to be gentle, as well," Shirayuki warned her. "She is not merely a research subject, but my beloved sister also."

Julie blinked, her expression going soft. She nodded. "Yes, I have understood that also. The kindness all of you had towards me earlier today, and towards each other, has already taught me it."

Shirayuki smiled fully now. Julie did have the combination of qualities that were needed, it seemed. "Very well, consider yourself called up as of now." She turned to Ilena, her expression going serious again. "Ilena, do you understand that because you are not willing to recognize when I have been sufficiently firm for obedience, I have called Julie to teach it to you?" Ilena nodded obediently. "I have chosen her because she has the combination of qualities necessary to help you in the best way, both with gentleness and with firmness, and with a mind to quickly understand what will work to help you learn and what will not. And, also," Shirayuki paused, then added with a sigh, "because she has the patience to work with wild animals." She tipped her head at Ilena. "Ilena," she said firmly, "Do you understand me?"

Ilena bowed deeply from her kneeling position, "Yes, Mistress Shirayuki." She held it for a moment, then sat back up, her face and eyes calm.

Shirayuki looked at Julie again. "Thank you. Ilena, you may rise," Shirayuki said calmly.

Julie bowed to Shirayuki, then walked over to stand next to Ilena on the other side of Obi and they all bowed. Shirayuki nodded her head and the three returned to sit in their places, though Henry brought up his chair from the back for Julie to sit on the other side of Ilena, then took one of the empties from the back for his replacement.

Shirayuki nodded at Sam. "Is there any further business before the Court of the First Princess?" he gave the obligatory question.

Ilena stood and bowed. Shirayuki raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "If it please the Princess, I have business with the Consort that needs to be completed before the Regent." Zen sat up and Obi looked up at Ilena.

Shirayuki nodded. "You may state your business," she allowed in the formal way.

Ilena walked to the front, just left of Shirayuki, towards Zen, then turned to face the small assembly. "Lord Obi, please come forward," she requested.

Obi rose and walked up to face her, bowing formally. "Please state your determination towards your manservant."

"I have accepted him," Obi said simply.

"Are you pleased with his current progress?"

"Yes."

Ilena nodded. "Please stand to the side," she requested, and Obi stepped to the side and waited at parade rest. "Petroi, please come forward." Ilena watched as he walked to stand in front of her. He bowed deeply and formally. "Please report on the progress of your students."

Zen sat forward and listened very closely as Petroi reported that all of them had learned Tarc sufficiently for the study of the law to begin, that Justinian had passed their testing of him to Page, and he was already well on the way to Agent. They had all learned to ride their horses acceptably, and were well into the practice of warfare from horseback, focusing on defense, and would be ready to receive from her the plans she had thought of as they began the next leg of the journey.

Also, they had all learned the braids and were in the process of mastering them at various levels, with Justinian being the farthest along. "We've determined that he must know them the best as it will be his protection if he is captured." Petroi told them, and Ilena's pleased reaction made Zen wonder what could be worse, then decide he didn't want to know.

Petroi also gave a numbered report of the speed by which they could take down and set up the tent. "Does that include the time to get it tied on to the horse?" Ilena asked him.

Petroi paused. "No, I've forgotten to add that time in."

Ilena nodded. "Please continue to work hard on that. It isn't yet sufficient." Petroi bowed. "Is there anything else?" Ilena asked him.

Petroi paused. "We 've learned that Justinian's skill set is quite large, and also includes small hand blade and hand-to-hand combat. We've been training him to strengthen those skills and adding to them slightly. Master Obi requested that he practice slight-of-hand attacks with the hand blade, contrary to the traditions of the Tarc, so that we might have that much more the advantage over them."

Ilena raised an eyebrow. "Do you see this causing more problems with his defense if he should be discovered?"

Petroi carefully answered. "As long as he continues to practice, I intend to test him before we enter Tarc. If he can't be discreet enough I won't allow him to do it. If he's learned to not be noticeable sufficiently, then I'll allow it."

Ilena slowly nodded. "I would see it," she said.

Petroi bowed. "We are ready for your testing when it is possible to show you," he said.

Ilena looked from him to Obi, then at Justinian and Thayne. "I look forward to seeing what you have to show me." She looked back to Petroi. "Thank you." Petroi bowed and returned to his seat. Ilena looked to Justinian again thoughtfully, then began to rapid fire questions at him in Tarc. He sat up and answered them in Tarc as best he could, then she suddenly stopped and switched to the castle local Family code, so that to those who didn't know it, it appeared they suddenly went silent for some time, though she continued to look at him with the same piercing look. Finally she put her lips together and paused. "Very well," she said. "Consider yourself Agent already, though they'll correct the few errors you had. Why you want it I have no idea."

Justinian bowed from his seat. "Thank you, Princess Ilena," he said quietly, with a satisfied look on his face.

Ilena turned to Obi and saw he had a small jaunty smile on his face and he was looking at her. "I think that was the best gift you could have given him today," Obi said in response to her querying look.

Ilena looked at him in surprise, then her look fell somewhat. "Oh, dear. Is that what it is?"

Obi grinned at her. "Yup."

Ilena sighed. "I'll see to it later, then."

Obi nodded at her. "See that you do," he said cheerily.

Ilena asked him if he any further business and he shook his head 'no', then paused. "Ah, actually," he turned to Zen. "Master, Mistress," he tipped his head at Shirayuki as well, "I've been considering Ilena's request to me that I test her knife skills. Petroi has told me that here in Lyrias there are two fighting competition rings, one for hand-to-hand combat, one for knife skills. She is still not healed sufficiently for hand-to-hand, but I think she may be able to perform well enough in the knife ring. I also would like to practice with her in doubles of the same, though I'm perhaps a bit weaker there. We haven't had the opportunity to work side by side yet in that manner. May we be allowed to enter a doubles tournament there while we're here?"

"Will it lead to injury of either of you?" Zen asked.

"We are both very good," Obi said.

Ilena shook her head. "It doesn't need to, even so. We can enter and exit the tournament at any time. If we only wish to reach a level of practice, we can remove ourselves at the point at which only the good fighters are left, then let them continue to the top level. I never lose, so I occasionally will follow that pattern so as to let the other competitors not give up early."

Shirayuki blinked at Ilena's bald proud statement, said so calmly. Zen stared at her. "Well, then, do that," he finally said. "I desire to be present, but Shirayuki has already requested to sit it out."

Ilena and Obi both bowed. "Also," Obi added, "I would like to practice with Petroi and Thayne in a three-on-three tournament in the hand-to-hand combat. We've fought each other, but not together. I think it's necessary for us to do so at least one time before we enter Tarc. If Ilena would be willing to set up such a thing, may we participate?"

Zen nodded immediately. He already knew Obi's skills and trusted them. He'd already won several tournaments on his own. They looked at Shirayuki. She looked at Ilena. "Ilena...are you really not fit to fight hand-to-hand?"

Ilena looked at her in surprise. "I can, but only in a limited fashion. The muscle and tendon are still weak, in comparison to those who will be fighting in the ring."

"I think Zen needs to see that as well, though."

All three others raised their eyebrows at Shirayuki. Ilena blinked, then looked at Obi. "I can schedule in an exhibition round, where only you and I fight to whatever level we want to. There is no reward for it, other than the entertainment of those watching, and an opportunity for the fighters to practice against each other."

Obi nodded slowly. "I haven't fought you standing yet, as I recall. That would be acceptable to me." He looked at Zen. Zen paused, then nodded.

"Please get it all out of your system for a long time," Shirayuki said to Ilena.

Ilena raised a surprised eyebrow at her. "Has it been so bad even you have seen it?"

Shirayuki sighed. "Yes."

Ilena's mouth went round in an 'oh', then she shrugged. "It's Obi's fault," she said simply. She looked at him. "Is your business complete?" Obi nodded, giving her a bland look. She returned it, then turned to Shirayuki and bowed. "My business before the Court of the First Princess is completed." She went to her seat, Obi following, and they sat. Sam closed the court and everyone sighed and relaxed, but most of all Shirayuki.

CHAPTER 23 A Family Evening

Ilena took off her circlet and handed it to Leah, then lifted Obi's from his brow and handed it to Justinian. She got raised eyebrows and shook her head. She waved vaguely at the soldiers on the wall. "It's so they'll relax. We're done with the ultra formal. They could at least be allowed to go to watch instead of formal stance."

Shirayuki reached up and took her circlet off as well with a sigh. Zen paused then took his off and twirled it around his hand. "That's fine with me," he gave permission and the guards relaxed to the level Ilena had suggested. "However, that sounds like you aren't done, Ilena?"

"Well, since the topic of the fighting lists came up, I thought I would expound just a little more...like explain the rules."

Zen stood and motioned for his two personal guards for the night to move his chair back next to Shirayuki's. Ilena and Obi decided that was a good idea and shifted their chairs to be perpendicular so they could see both Zen and Shirayuki and everyone else. Ilena paused and looked at Julie, than nodded her head towards Kirk. Julie blushed faintly, but obediently took her chair over next to Kirk, receiving his sparkling smile gratefully. There was a bit of shuffling of other chairs as well as everyone got comfortable.

Obi turned to Ilena and opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, Ilena sighed. "More drink?"

Obi grinned. "You've both properly read my mind, and properly discussed it first. Yes, please."

Ilena turned to the guard on the server's door and motioned to him. He opened the door and quietly ordered evening drinks for the room. Ilena absently pulled a section of her hair on the right side of her head around to the front and began to plait it. Obi recognized it as the Kir'nah braid. "Well, we haven't quite completed the business Mistress Shirayuki's guards brought up. Will they eat me if I expound?" She looked over at them with a raised eyebrow. She got shrugs for the most part.

"Alright then. So...there is a House of the night walkers - that is, thieves, pickpockets, assassins, etc. - that I use to gain information so that I know what's going on among those types of people. After all, most internal problems are going to come from that part of society."

Ilena finished her braid and began another small one, this time the next level, or Manak' braid. "The House I use is called the House of the Queen of Knight, or formerly Queen of Night." Her eyes were on the four guards, testing to see who might react to the name. Sam raised an eyebrow, but the others were still. Ilena shrugged. "I'm the Queen. I own the house and run it. One of my businesses here in Lyrias is the two fighting arenas, one for knife and the other for hand-to-hand, because those are the two skills I need to hone and they are the two all of my Agents and above use, both day and night sides, in their own tasks. So, in effect, they're my training grounds. However, since it's also a business, they are both open to anyone who wants to play...until they decide to get ugly. Then they get tossed out."

Ilena looked down at her braid as she was coming to the end of it. "That includes the castle guard and all the rest of you." She had the interest of a larger group of people now. "So...you all need to know the rules." Ilena paused while the servers brought in the drinks and glasses and they were poured for the guests and hosts. When they were done and had left the room again, Ilena continued.

"First, the knife arena. Most of the time, it's one-on-one. You pay your fee, once per day per arena, get added to the list of competitors, wait for your name to be called, fight to first blood only - no killing allowed, walk off and wait again. It's considered polite and good form to only draw lightly. No need to cause significant injury. You can win and lose all day if you want, but...if you win and keep winning, your award winnings goes up. If you are still winning, you can stop, or you can wait until your first loss, then go get your earnings. There are occasional tournaments, but mostly when I'm around, since I like to see who's on top and give them special assignments, which means bonus money for them. It's the same rules for hand-to-hand, but not to the blood, and certainly not to the death. That's wasteful and pointless, after all. I can't use dead people. It's until there is a clear winner to the bout, or one yields to the other."

"Um...since it's open to anyone, there are people who participate from other countries as well, so that makes it nice if you want to learn other battling styles, hard if you've never seen their style before. In particular, the people I am protecting here in Lyrias from Tarc and Selicia find it a place to keep their skills up. We occasionally get others from other countries, though. The arenas are getting better known outside Clarines, which is helpful for business as well."

She paused to take a sip of her drink, then began the third braid, this time the P'rathna. "When I announce the tournaments, there is usually a set time, like half-an-hour, for teams to form up, if it's teams, and for people to register specifically for the tournament. Once registration is closed, they make the order up...to my specifications if necessary...and run it 'til it's done. I'm not the only one that can request exhibition matches, but they don't happen often." She considered if there was anything else. "The lists are underground, meaning literally and figuratively. The fighting list is at the base of a surrounding amphitheater that surrounds it. Just around it is the seating for the current registered fighters. Ah, yes. Betting is encouraged and handled by the house. When I show up, it's a bit too easy, so I often pull out early, as I said before."

Ilena looked at Obi. "Actually, I'll let the Lieutenants know you're doing the three-on-three. They'll probably come and face you as a physical test. That should make the betting pretty fierce and the tournament that much more exciting." Obi blinked at her. She thought a moment longer, then changed topics slightly. "Is the plan to do this tomorrow or the next day?" Ilena looked at Zen and Shirayuki.

They shrugged and she looked at Obi. "Tomorrow's just as good," he shrugged, reaching out and taking a length of her hair on his side. He began braiding a wife's braid in that section of her hair.

"Okay. So tomorrow, two of the castle guards will need to arrive at the inn early to escort Mistress Shirayuki. Six will need to come to escort Master Zen. The other six can participate if they want. If more than that want to participate, draw straws. We'll still be here another day. That will free up the personal knights to do what they need to do in the day. Mmm...let's do the knife arena in the morning and the hand-to-hand in the afternoon. I suppose the guards could trade out at lunch if there's a mix of interest and skills." Ilena named the price to register to fight so they would all know it ahead of time, then asked for questions.

Justinian raised his hand. "Am I allowed to participate as well?" he asked queryingly. Ilena looked at Obi. Obi nodded, and Justinian settled back thoughtfully.

"Shall we meet up for lunch?" Shirayuki asked.

There were nods around. Ilena named off a few places in that area they could eat at, and Obi and Shirayuki selected one they had liked from their time in Lyrias before. "Thayne, set up seating arrangements and security, please," Ilena requested as she took another sip of her drink and Obi took up a second section and began a Second's braid. "Mmm, Obi make two of those, ...and would it be okay, Master Zen, if the guards wore civic clothes instead of their uniforms? It doesn't matter that much, but it will draw less attention in the restaurant and if they participate, they'll be hit harder if they're in uniform."

"It won't matter in the audience?" Obi asked.

Ilena shook her head. "No. Everyone's likely to recognize Master Zen anyway. It would just make sense to them he'd be surrounded by uniforms."

"Why six?" Zen asked. It seemed like a lot.

"Well...because it's a room full of fighters, and because it's mostly for show? High ranking people should show a display of power? They all know you're the master of the Queen. How could I not provide such a thing for you?"

"But they are my guards," Zen protested.

"Yes, and Obi has taken all the guards I would provide for you. Unless you want people you don't know and your personal knights don't either?"

Zen sighed. He really did hate this part of being Regent - though this was because he was Ilena's master, which was a different thing to her. "Fine," he said grumpily and took another drink from his cup and requested a refill.

"I think I'd like mine not in uniform," Shirayuki said. "My friends probably won't care much, but I'll be able to relax a little better."

Zen nodded, approving her request, the head of the detail bowed slightly to him to acknowledge he'd received that order. After a bit of consideration, he sighed. "I guess if it's a display of power and position to the underworld, I'd better have my six in uniform, as much as it's a restriction I don't like." He put his chin on his hand and pouted a bit, though only internally. "Those not on duty don't have to be in uniform."

Ilena nodded, and so did the head guard. Ilena had started in on another braid, more complex than the others. Obi took a look at it. "What's that one?" he asked.

Ilena frowned. "Petroi, he has to know this one, too. That's what he's going up to prove."

"Ah, sorry. We haven't gotten to that one, since he's the only one who's going to wear it, and we just got done with the Seconds." Petroi apologized.

Obi had her turn her head further so he could see it better and Justinian ghosted up to watch as well. "It's the Head of Clan braid," Ilena explained. She finished it and began another one.

"Why do you have two of those and two Seconds?" Justinian asked quietly.

"I have two head of house braids, one for the Family, one for the House. I have a Seconds braid for Obi's house, Falcon's Hollow, as his Steward, and another for Master Zen's house."

"Oh. Is that common in Tarc?"

"Not at all," Ilena answered archly. "I'm the only one, though Obi gets two Seconds, one from me and one from Master Zen."

"Oh. ...Um...I've been practicing braiding Master Obi's hair, but we aren't sure it will get long enough to add in the markers before we go into Tarc." Justinian pointed out the trouble they had with Obi's fairly short hair.

Ilena reached over and turned Obi's head and ran her fingers down the length. She turned to face him, one leg tucked up, and began to braid the Kir'nah. "Hmm, well." She considered his hair with her eyes half closed.

"I think if we could give him half the length of Potroi's hair they'd balance out instead of both look funny," Thayne said with a laugh in his voice.

Ilena looked sharply at Thayne. "We could, but Petroi worked hard to grow his hair that long. We could give you half of mine, though."

Obi looked at Ilena aghast. "Never. I like your hair long. Besides, how would you give me anyone else's hair?"

Ilena reached behind her head and gathered a small section of hairs from the nape of her neck and under the main part of her hair. She measured out a length, then drew her knife and cut that length off and let the hairs fall back to cover the shorter section, though it was still long enough to go a third of the way down her back. "Trade me places, Obi," she said, putting her knife back in its sheath.

Obi was unhappy she had cut even that much of her hair, but it was done, so he stood and switched. Ilena took the section of Obi's hair for the wife's braid in one hand, divided the strands, holding them between the fingers of that hand. Then she placed one smaller part of her hair on top of each of the sections in that hand, holding them together. Suddenly it looked like Obi had shoulder length hair for that section. Going slowly, but with a firm steady hand, she showed Justinian how to braid her hair in with Obi's so it wouldn't slip out, ending with a proper length braid by the time she was done. Because their hair was identical, it really looked like Obi's hair.

Obi reached up and felt along the braid. "That's rather amazing. But it would be terrible to have to take out, have the hair fall all over the place, and have to cut more off for every time we needed to rebraid it. I'd never take them out, you know."

"I suppose you could. It's only a month. It will grow out a bit, and that might be noticeable. But, you'd be sleeping on it and messing it up, so it would be better to rebraid them. Justinian wouldn't lose very many hairs. He's careful."

"I suppose we could use horsehair from the manes and tails," Thayne commented dryly. Obi scowled at him.

"I'll think on it a bit," promised Justinian. "I think this method would be nice."

Ilena nodded, then rubbed Obi's head. He took her hand and kissed it, then continued to hold it, sitting back into his chair. "Well, now that she's given me this much, make sure it always goes in the spouse braid."

Justinian gave him a small smile. "Yes, Master Obi." He bowed slightly to them and sat back in his chair, sipping delicately on his drink with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Princess Ilena," Brian spoke up, "we know that Regent Zen and King Izana have claimed you as their missing cousin...but we don't know your story. May we hear it?"

Ilena raised an eyebrow and looked to Zen and Shirayuki. Shirayuki looked around at all the people who'd been collected since they had been made princesses, and considered it. "I think, ...that just like we needed to know Kirk's story, that it would help the household if everyone understood Ilena's. It would particularly help Julie in her role, I think."

"Well...we don't really have everyone, though," Ilena said slowly. "I think Kiki and Mitsuhide heard it when Obi told it to the Family at the gathering, but Tairn and Dane haven't heard it either, and there are a few others…," she trailed off and looked at Shirayuki.

Shirayuki thought about it some more, then shook her head. "This is a good time, while we're here sitting together. The others can hear it another time."

Ilena sighed. "You want the full story, don't you?" she sounded depressed, in a dramatic sort of way. Shirayuki nodded firmly. "Alright. Obi, you'll help, right? They may as well hear your side, too, since she wants both of us in the household."

Obi sighed. He was just as un-fond of telling his story as she was of hers. "Okay. I'll tell my part. Why don't you get to the landslide, at least?"

cut their story - you've read it already multiple times.

Ilena looked at Brian, Kirk, Sam and Leon, her gaze also passing by Julie, Maria, Rutherford, and Justinian, who was sitting upright in shock. The others were sitting soberly, respectful of her and Obi's past pains. "This is our story. I don't like telling it, nor does Obi, I think. It's what has made us, but that doesn't mean we wish to remember it."

Shirayuki blinked. "I think I didn't know half of that, Ilena," she finally said, a bit breathy, "...though Obi told me the part about you being the lost princess from Selicia."

"Have I not told it to you?" Ilena said, though her tone was rather disinterested. "I hope this telling was sufficient."

Shirayuki nodded. Zen reached out and took her hand in his and he rubbed his thumb on the back of it to comfort her. She squeezed his hand back and turned to look at him. "You already knew it?" Zen nodded soberly. Shirayuki looked at him a moment more in her shock, then finally sighed and relaxed. "Thank you for telling it to us, Obi, Ilena," she turned back to them. They nodded soberly at her.

Ilena sighed. "Who ended up with the bottle of port? I am done with wine for the night."

Julie brought it up when it was found and poured it for her. "How much alcohol can you take?"

"An entire bar's full, if my stomach were large enough," Ilena said dryly. "Alcohol is not an escape for me. It is the same for Obi." Julie glanced at Obi and he nodded once, then lifted his glass for some of the port as well, and she poured it, then returned to sit next to Kirk again, shyly taking his hand.

Kirk looked down at their hands and interlaced their fingers. He looked soberly back up at Ilena and Obi. "This is why you are both dark and light." Ilena nodded.

"It is why you're fierce," added Brian. Ilena nodded again.

"It is why you love Princess Shirayuki and Regent Zen," Leon said. Ilena smiled slightly and nodded once more.

Sam sighed. "It is why King Izana has asked me to watch over both Princesses and be immediately obedient to Princess Ilena if she should order me."

Ilena managed to give him a slightly larger smile. "Yes. He knows my actions from the time I came under his notice...probably about the time I was made Steward. That was a thing he would have taken note of - why a seventeen year old girl would all of a sudden be placed in such a position. I'm not sure who he sent to research my background, but I am sure it was very interesting reading for a while. He even decided to have me become a correspondent, though it is infrequent at best now."

"Did you tell him who you were then?" Zen asked curious.

"No. We played the guessing game. You know he likes that kind of entertainment. He wasn't in a hurry to know, after all, so he could afford to have it be a diversion for a while. I also wasn't in a hurry for him to know either, as you well know, so it became for me a game of how long I could keep him from knowing for certain." Ilena paused, then added softly. "I knew he knew when his letters became soft. We didn't communicate for too long after that, though. Things got too busy for both of us after that." She drank another sip of her port, then swirled the glass

Obi ran his hand down her hair and she leaned into it and closed her eyes halfway, then sighed. "Obi, who hasn't Julie seen yet? She saw the Steward earlier when I went to fetch her. She's seen the Princess, falcon, and Queen here. Also Just Ilena, and wife, before we came here. We're still missing Mother, right? Anyone else?"

Obi pet her again, then wrapped his hand into her hair and pulled her back and kissed her. "It doesn't have to be everyone all at once, you know," he scolded her lightly. "She probably isn't even going to know which is which for a while."

"No...I think she needs to see all of them to get the baseline. Then she'll know how to sort each data point."

"It won't be kind."

"Obi…," Ilena rolled her eyes towards Shirayuki and Zen and he released her, but kept his hand on her back. "Mistress Shirayuki, do you think your household needs to see it, or just Julie?"

Shirayuki looked up from her cup, then smiled. "Ilena, that's my favorite part of you."

"Even publicly?" Ilena raised her eyebrow. Her eyes narrowed. "Are you drinking alcohol again, Mistress Shirayuki?" She unfolded herself from Obi and walked over to Shirayuki. "We don't have Kiki and Mitsuhide here, so no one is watching you properly." She took the glass from Shirayuki and sniffed it. "How much have you had already?"

- Ending C goes here: Shirayuki has NOT been drinking b/c she knows Ilena is still going to test her.

"It's just the one glass, Ilena," Shirayuki said with a smile. "I'm just trying to get my tolerance up, you know."

"No. You really should stop. Please stick to juice only. You have to start very young, and you are past the age for your body to learn it."

"No, really Ilena, I think -"

Ilena cut her off by putting her hands on either arm of her chair and leaning down very closely. "Mistress Shirayuki. If you do not stop drinking alcohol, the next time you do it...I will kiss you very passionately, right on the lips. And I know you will remember it, because you are a drunk that remembers everything. I think it will be a very effective punishment."

Shirayuki put her hand up. "Ah, no I wouldn't like that, I think."

"Then don't do it again." Ilena was very firm.

Shirayuki finally nodded and Ilena stood back up, taking the cup with her. Ilena paused in front of Zen and looked at him very closely. "And how many have you had, including at dinner?"

"Ah, one at dinner and I'm nursing the second one after, so not yet to three," he answered her immediately.

"And will you stop there?" she asked menacingly.

"Yes, Ilena," he answered obediently.

"Thank you, Master Zen," she said firmly. "Please give your cup to me when it's empty."

Zen stared at her, then shut his mouth into a smile and nodded. "Yes, Big Sister."

Ilena nodded once and headed back for Obi, handing him Shirayuki's glass. Obi downed the remaining wine in it so as not to let it go to waste, then blushed. Ilena grinned at him, and leaned down to whisper in his ear, "What? An unexpectedly enjoyable indirect kiss, Obi?"

He blushed harder and glanced over at Zen. He'd heard it also and was trying to hold himself without looking at Obi. Ilena made a show of looking over at Zen, and Shirayuki looked at the three of them, confused. Ilena took the glass back and poured juice into it and took it back to Shirayuki. Zen made a grab for it. Ilena paused with the glass just outside of his reach and looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Really, Master Zen? After all these years of telling poor Obi 'no'? You'll finally say 'yes'?" Zen subsided in shock, then could only grind his teeth as Shirayuki took the glass from Ilena and drank from it, thanking her.

As Ilena walked past Zen again, she looked at him with a glint in her eyes. "When she blushes very hard tomorrow morning, tell her it's my gratitude for the lot of you. ...and a reminder warning to not touch the alcohol again."

"Ilena Polov Wisteria," Zen fumed. "I shan't tell her at all."

Ilena looked back at Shirayuki, who was sitting up straight and looking at them. "Then don't. She heard me."

Zen growled at her. "You really are worse than Izana, you know."

Ilena smirked at him. "You've finally remembered."

She walked away from him to return near Obi.

"You didn't need to remember that part of you," he complained.

"Of course I didn't 'just' remember it. Julie very kindly reminded me of it on our walk today. It was quite fun to be reminded that there was one good thing to come out of the formal acceptance." She looked up at him blandly. "I get to test and tease all I want, to my heart's delight." She turned her head regally and looked at him from under her lashes and from the corner of her eyes, "...or punish as necessary. After all, I am now a full Wisteria."

- Ending B: Obi recognizes the Queen and steps in

Zen groaned. Obi stared at her, aghast. Ilena met his look with the cold neutrality of King Izana. Obi bent his head, put his hand to his eyes and sighed. He held out his other hand, without looking at her, and motioned for her to come to him. When she was near, he pointed to the floor. Ilena paused, then knelt in front of him, her expression sober, her eyes on his covered face. Obi took a breath, then put his hand down and looked her in the eyes.

He had transitioned to Lord Consort and his expression was firm, his eyes hard. "That is enough, Princess Ilena." He clearly emphasised the title. "You have made your displeasure sufficiently understood. You still have an obligation to your Master and your Mistress, and you made me a promise. Do you intend to break it?"

Ilena waited the appropriate time to consider her answer carefully and speak calmly. "No, Obi. I do not."

"What is it, then?" he asked her firmly, his eyes requiring her to continue to hold to her calm and respectful communication requirements.

Ilena took a deep breath, then sat calmly until she had relaxed. Then there was further time for her to put her words together. "The Queen will not go quietly. There is a thing left unsaid, undone, and not understood. It seems dangerous to let it continue to go unsaid at this time."

"Is it true?"

"I believe it to be."

"Can it be said respectfully?"

"Not very well."

"Because it is words from the Queen?"

"Yes."

Obi paused. "Then Ilena must tell them to me."

Ilena considered again. "It is in what I said to you earlier and again now. ...It has been forgotten who I am, and the complacency of that forgetting will tear the fabric of Clarines apart, and Mistress Shirayuki will be destroyed for it - for being allowed to think she can handle a Polov-Wisteria without understanding it."

Obi considered her words carefully. "What have we not understood?" he finally asked.

"It has not been understood, 'Why does Ilena want to learn obedience?' It has been forgotten, 'When is Ilena obedient and to whom?' These things forgotten have led children to believe they can stand with adults."

"What was it you said to me earlier that means this?" Obi asked fairly quickly, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.

"I am Izana's rival." Obi remembered that when he had thought of he and Ilena in that sense, it was that they would push each other to greater heights in abilities through competition. That did not seem safe, or sane, on a national scale.

Zen stood from his chair and walked over to stand behind Obi, where he could also see Ilena's eyes. He crossed his arms and looked at her sternly, then nodded shortly, and Obi, looking into Ilena's eyes nodded as well. Ilena turned her gaze to Zen's eyes. Slowly they changed from receptive to piercing depths, but they still held open willingness to communicate. "Ilena is obedient to whom she choses to be obedient to, when she choses to be, or when she has learned it's the proper time to be." Zen answered her. "Tell me, why does Ilena want to learn obedience, other than so that she can face the Lord of Tarc?"

"So that Ilena does not become ruthless and cold hearted. So that Ilena has the desire to become Queen subdued sufficiently that she doesn't topple the current rulership of Clarines. Only if there is sufficient strength before her can she be willing to be silent and not take that which she has the capacity to take and rule over well. Mistress Shirayuki and Julie are insufficient and insignificant. If only Izana is before Ilena, then Ilena only sees a rival to overcome. Master Zen still needs to learn further strength, even still, for having forgotten. Obi and Leah need to be punished for having forgotten, though they were kind in their thoughts. This is the complacency. There is none to restrain the Queen today, save Ilena."

Obi felt a shiver go down his spine and Zen stiffened behind him.

Ilena opened her mouth again, then snapped it shut, disallowing the words to come out. Zen rewarded her with his eyes briefly, then went back to his original firmness. "What is Shirayuki lacking? Why is she insufficient?"

"Shirayuki has a strong will and strong desires, but she lacks the subtle handling of the master player, completely lacks a board - though she is gathering her pieces, and has no capacity to stand between myself and Izana as our equal. It should have been obvious to her at the beginning that I already knew when she wanted my obedience. Because I was able to push her all the way to anger again, she has learned nothing. Julie is irrelevant, therefore, in this matter."

Obi shifted slightly and Zen nodded. "Is this why you said you would rather have Mistress stand before you directly?"

Ilena nodded. "Then I would be able to teach her directly, or she would have the opportunity to learn it."

Zen thought for a moment. "Can Shirayuki learn it?"

Ilena was silent until he gave her permission to speak. "I think Master Zen and Mistress Shirayuki should spend hours thinking over and coming to an agreement on if she should."

---

When I used ending B, and Obi nipped the Queen in the bud early I was able to continue further in the story, but in gong back and re-reading just this section, I realized that Ilena had given (me) the same warning multiple times throughout it. With that many warnings, it just had to go. At this point Shirayuki still isn't ready to stand before Ilena like this. Just her own reaction to her thought that, "...'I do understand that to take you as my own is nearly equivalent to telling King Izana he must answer to me.' While she recognized it to be true, her own heart quailed just saying the name she most feared in such a blasphemous way," said it as well. She may have reached the point of knowing that some day soon she'll have to control Ilena, at this time she isn't there. To force it shut down the story flow.

Rewriting this section took out the Court of the First Princess, so that part of the weaving had to be redone, and we don't see as much interaction with Julie as I would have liked, therefore. It also took out the 'indirect kiss' and Izana-like teasing Ilena is perfectly capable of but we don't see much in The Missing Princess because she is working hard to be good. This cut version shows her Royal Dark Moon side rather well.