A/N: Man this one's kind of long, maybe I should break it- NAH. LONG CHAPTER! Hehehe. But also only one this time.

Thank you to Sentinel07, Byakurai Maikaze, and SubZeroChimera (haven't I seen you around DA?) for the reviews! Glad I was able to pick out the errors last time. And yes Az is totally losing it, but he is most of the time, eh? Ah, and for kids, the world's problems are simple to solve. 8D

Chapter Twenty

"There, now? Do you feel any better, Ka Trine?" Althea sat on the floor in the cargo ship. She still had her arms wrapped around the little Selkie girl who sat in her lap. She and the child had taken a seat in the hallway outside the cockpit while Layle scavenged around the ship for some water for her. As he had hoped there were a few bottles and some supplies for the pilots. Their water and rations were now the tot's lunch.

"Hmn!" She nodded to Althea the bottle still to her lips.

The Queen held fast to the little girl while Layle looked on from the cockpit doorway.

"Hey," Keiss called to his partner. The Guild Master looked over his shoulder as Layle glanced back to see what he wanted. "They okay?"

"Just fine."

"Great… Come in here for a second. Close the door."

The Crystal Bearer pushed off the door frame and smiled to Althea. He didn't actually say anything to her or the girl as he closed the cockpit door. Layle walked over to the copilot's seat and fell backward into it. "What's up?"

"…Today was a close call, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Layle stretched his arms up and put them behind his head before raising his feet to put them on the console before him. He caught Keiss shaking his head out the corner of his eye. "What?"

"How can you just say 'yeah' and act like it's nothing?" The red head turned to look at him. There was nothing but miles of desert before them. He didn't need to keep looking forward.

The Clavat turned to face him, "Because it turned out alright? Why make a fuss over it?"

"But what if it didn't?"

"Yeah, but it did."

"Arg! Layle, but what if it didn't!?"

"But it did! Keiss, why are you making a big deal out of this? You act like we haven't had close calls before."

"Why am I?" He scoffed, "Why aren't you?" The red head rolled his eyes, "Layle if it was just you and me, sure. Fine. I would take your nonchalant attitude about this with a laugh, as usual. But it's not just me and you. It was the two of us, Althea and a kid. How can you not feel like this was too close? Weren't you worried, even just for a second?"

"Worried?" As the Clavat said the word the side of his lips slightly curled upward. As if he had just been forced to swallow some horrid medicine. He continued to look at Keiss as the day rolled over in his head. He was never worried about anything. The Selkie knew that. He hadn't had the thought to worry about what was going on around him since he was a child. He hadn't worried about the little girl because they didn't even know she was missing. How could he fret over something he had no clue about?

And he didn't worry about Keiss because, well he was Keiss! He was the Guild Master. Was Vaigali's right hand until he deserted the Guild. He could fight better than anyone he knew, and he was a Selkie. They handle things solo, as they say. And he hadn't worried about Althea, because he could protect her. Which he did. He found the Az's hide out, found her, rescued her…

He didn't once feel unnerved at the base. He knew she was there, and safe, because the warp point brought them there. If she hadn't been there, it wouldn't have worked. He supposed if it didn't work that would have been a concern. He supposed if he ever didn't know where she was that would have bothered him.

But only once all day had there been that moment when he didn't have an answer. When he didn't listen to Amidatelion's warning. But was he worried then? When it hit him that their plan had been to separate them from the start? That it had worked? Everyone else had freaked out about it; Sherry made it clear she was beyond worried and more enraged. Certainly, he wanted to find her. He knew it was urgent. He was a bit cross with himself for messing up… If something had happened past that-

"I don't know." He cut off his thoughts and shrugged. "I guess."

"You guess." The Selkie narrowed his eyes at him. That answer was clearly unacceptable to him. "I swear does anything get through that thick skull of yours?" Keiss turned his attention back to the front. "Layle, you have to start thinking about the fact that you're not just looking out for you anymore. You have to look out for Althea too."

"I know that, Keiss. That's why she hired me."

"Well why don't you act like it!" He snapped at him. "You can't just run in without a thought any more. You can't just take off with an inkling of what's going on or what you're going to do- How were you going to get out of there if you hadn't brought me along?"

"Yeah, but I did bring you alon-"

"But what if you hadn't!" The Selkie rolled his head back. "For crying out loud will you just listen?" Keiss turned his head to Layle and frowned at his partner. "I know you brought me, because I think of things like that. Even if you didn't actively think of that fact, you instinctively do it. Constantly. You leave the planning to me. Or to someone else. And you just act. You cannot do that anymore. You just can't!" The Clavat stared at him, he didn't say anything and Keiss just sighed. "…Layle if something happens to Althea, what are we going to do?"

"Nothing is going to happen to her so long as I am here."

"Okay… But what do we do if you're not here? If something happens to you?" The Selkie muttered, "What am I going to do if something happens to you?"

"…Keiss…" Layle lowered his arms and legs and leaned forward. "You know out of everyone, it's least likely for anything to happen to me."

"Yeah, I know…" The red head lowered his head, but Layle could see he was looking at him out of the corner of his eye. "But I have to ask myself, constantly, what if? What if? …And I think you should start asking yourself that too. I know it's not in you to do it. But you should. Even if it's just you in the fight, and Althea is safe… You know I- all of us, have been waiting for you for so long. And now you're right back to risking your neck, but you could actually fail. I never thought about it before…But things could go wrong."

Layle continued to watch the Selkie as he spoke. He had to admit, he never thought things could go wrong. Though, he guessed today they kind of did. For at least a good hour, things had gone wrong. Az had opted to keep Althea alive, but… what if…

"Okay." Layle nodded to him. "I'll try to ask myself, 'What if' a bit more. But I don't promise to always do it."

Keiss smirked and leaned back in his chair. "You know, sometimes I wonder how I've tolerated you for this long?"

"Simple!" Layle leaned back again, "Because I'm the only one willing to tolerate you."

By the time Keiss had flown the stolen airship back to Leuda, the siege of the city had been brought to a halt.

The leader of Leuda had relented to Sherry command of the counter of attack to defend the Selkie home land. With the added aid from the Lilty naval vessel, the army was quickly able to drive back the rebels and assist the town's people in taking back their streets.

When the Guild Master landed the cargo ship on the dunes just outside the Selkie city, they were greeted by a host of soldiers from the Queen's army, the Leuda leader, and the High Commander. The old pirate had a bandage over his nose from where Sherry had broken it earlier. Keiss and Layle led Althea and the young Selkie out through the cargo doors, smiles on their faces, though the red head was expecting it was his turn to be punched out.

"Guild Master, Crystal Bearer," Sherry stood before the doors with her arms crossed and her soldiers waiting. "So glad you could rejoin us."

"Well you know," Layle shrugged at her, "We had a rescue mission to carry out." The Clavat stepped to the side and let Althea step down from the ship.

"Your Majesty," the pink haired woman walked forward smiling. She started to bow to the younger Lilty but was pushed aside suddenly by the old Selkie.

"Ka Trine!"

"Uncle!" The little girl squirmed in Althea's arms and the Queen set her down. She ran to the man who picked her up shocked to see her. "Uncle! I rode on an airship!"

"K-Ka Trine, what are you doing out here!?"

"She was kidnapped by Az when he took Althea." Keiss spoke up. "He threatened to harm her. Althea offered him the throne in exchange for the little girl's safety."

"You did what?" The High Commander looked over at her startled.

Althea nodded, "Its true… But, Ka Trine's more important than I am." She turned to Sherry, "The people of our kingdom, of the Selkie Tribe, and of the Yuke Nation are what's important, High Commander. Especially the kids. When we're gone, it will be Ka Trine and her friends who look after this island, and who will have to try and strengthen the relationships between our tribes."

She turned her attention back to the little girl who was excitedly explaining to her Uncle about looking out the ships windows, and getting to hold Althea's crown, and the rest of her desert adventure.

"…I see," Sherry looked over at Layle and nodded to him. "Glad to see you were able to complete your task."

"That's it? No good job? No thank you?"

The pink haired Lilty frowned at him, "You managed to pick up the pieces of your mistake. And for that, I won't put you in jail with the Lilty Nation soldiers we captured. You should be thanking me." With that the High Commander put her hand on Althea's shoulder and nudged her forward to start walking. "Come, your Majesty. Let's joint Belle and Admiral Fitzroy in the city. They're finishing up the coordination of securing the prisoners."

"…Admiral?" Althea looked up at her confused. "One of our ships is here?"

"Yes, the Selkies so graciously accepted my offer to let me call in the closest naval vessel for back up…" Sherry led Althea away, the guards following right behind them. Layle crossed his arms and sighed as he followed. He figured that between him and the High Commander things were just always going to be strained.

As the Clavat walked off, Keiss moved to follow him and the rest back into the stabilizing Selkie city. However he was stopped by the Leudian leader calling out to him. The old pirate walked up carrying his niece. She was still excited, but now that she was back in his arms fatigue was starting to show on her face. Her cheek was resting against his shoulder and he was rubbing her back.

"Keiss, I want to talk to you about the Lilties."

"Oh?" The red head nodded to him. "What is it?"

"…When the city is- is a bit calmer, and after things have gotten cleaned up. Invite Queen Althea back. To speak to the elders again."

"You mean that?" He tilted his head forward, "You're not going to have me drag her out here just to dress her down for being a kid again are you?"

The old man hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "When I sailed the seas with Vaigali on board the Izymael, I never thought there would come a day I would thank an onion for anything. But between that Queen, and that sea viper she calls her High Commander… I think I have had my old convictions on them turned on their head."

The Guild Master nodded, "Well don't say it to me. Come, tell that to Althea. She'll be happy to return. And I am sure Sherry will be happy to arrange for a few of Alfitaria's ships to stay close by and help defend your islands." The two Selkies started walking back into town.

The man with the orange beard put a hand on Keiss' back, "I must admit, I thought you were making the wrong call… But I can see it a bit, what you see now. I am sure Vaigali is proud to have someone with such vision leading the way for us."

"…" Keiss shook his head, "I don't do it on my own. And that's really what we all need to learn. We can't do this on our own."

Down at the docks of the Selkie city, Althea and Sherry had met up with Admiral Phaeolen Fitzroy. Like most Lilty nobility he was short, probably only an inch or two taller than Althea. This meant of course that the High Commander and the Selkies of the islands stood over him. However, his short stature did nothing to dissuade him from the fact that his presence deserved command. He was giving orders to Lilties and Selkies alike when the group arrived, and the men were scrambling to do as he said. Occasionally a few Selkies looked at him with question, wondering who he thought he was to give them orders. But their doubts were quickly put aside when his commands were followed up with a forceful shout.

Fitzroy wore a blue jacket assigned to all naval officers. The left breast of the coat was decorated with medals and honors. He wore a black cap on his head that covered most of his yellow and green hair, and three long dry looking brown leaves hung out from under the brim in the back.

"Admiral Fitzroy!" Sherry called to him as the group approached. The Lilty turned to greet them and smiled.

"High Commander Sherry, you've returned." The man's attention shifted to Althea, "And with Her Majesty, no less." The Admiral walked up and gave a flourishing bow to the Queen. He took her hand before raising his head and kissed the back of her knuckles. "I must say, I almost did not recognize you, Queen Althea. It would seem your experience has been a bit overwhelming." He stood up straight and continued to smile at her. "But you are at least back safe and sound."

"Yes," Althea took her hand back and nodded to the Lilty, "Thanks to Layle." She glanced over her shoulder at the Clavat. He had been watching the exchange between the three nobles. He hadn't said anything to draw attention to himself. No comment on the Admiral's obviously showy display of loyalty, though he had a few.

"Of course, the Crystal Bearer." He moved towards Layle and smiled. The Naval officer held out his hand to him. "I've read quite a bit about you in the papers… I must say, I am glad you live up to your tabloid exploits. If anything had happened to the Queen-"

Layle took the offered hand and shook it, "Nothing will happen to Althea so long as I am here." He couldn't help but notice the officer was squeezing his palm, almost as if he was angry. Of course, Layle had to return the gesture.

"Yes, that is why she hired you, isn't it?" Fitzroy withdrew his hand and continued to smile at Layle. From his expression alone, it appeared he was being civil with him. However Layle had been around enough people who thought themselves better than him to spot a lie in an expression. Sherry might have found him annoying, but from the handshake he already got the feeling the Admiral found him unnecessary.

"Admiral Fitzroy," The High Commander spoke up, "How are your efforts going?"

"We've almost secured all of the prisoners. With a little help in coordinating the Selkies from Miss Belle, we've been able to round them up and lead them down to the docks. The city will be free of enemies within the half hour."

"That's excellent news, Admiral." Althea took a deep breath and smiled. "However the island itself is still in danger."

"Quite." Sherry nodded to him. "We need to radio out for another ship, even take yours around to the north end of the island, Az has a base there. I want investigated right away and as many of his soldiers rounded up as possible."

"Of course, but-" He looked at the Queen, "What of her Majesty. If the island is not safe, she should not stay. Wouldn't it be best to have my ship escort her off the island? We can call in another; we will ensure that the scoundrel does not escape the island."

Althea shook her head, "Its fine, Phaeolen; I don't care so much if he escapes right now. I'm just worried about the explosives. I don't want that leaving the island… I don't want that kind of threat out there."

The officer nodded to the Queen, "Do not worry, Queen Althea, we will protect these islands till the last man if it should come to that. You can count on me to ensure that." He reached out and offered his hand, "But let me ensure you are safe first. My ship can transport you and the High Commander back to Alfitaria-"

"We will take the Queen's vessel, Admiral Fitzroy." Sherry spoke up, "You will stay here and investigate the island."

"…I see, well then. At least allow me to make sure you are secure, safe, and sound on your ship before I carry on with my duties."

"That's really not needed," Althea raised her hand and shook her head. "After all I have Layle to-"

"To protect you, yes. But I am sure the roundup of prisoners would go faster if he assisted Miss Belle and the Selkies." He reached out for her arm and took it under his own. "The faster they are all locked up in the ships hold, the better for the island, isn't that right?"

"Well…"

"I really don't feel like losing track of the Queen again today." Layle crossed his arms and eyed the shorter man. "So, I think I'll wait with her on her ship. Don't you agree, Sherry?" He looked to the pink haired Lilty. Considering the reprimanding she'd given him earlier, he knew she would agree he should stay with Althea and do his job.

"I think the Queen will be safe with the Admiral by her side."

"…Are you serious…?" Layle narrowed his eyes at her.

"Go on, Admiral. I'll take over here at the docks; you stay with Althea on her ship."

"But-" Now the Queen spoke up as the Admiral agreed with Sherry and started to walk Althea down the pier to her ship.

"Why are you separating us?" Layle turned to Sherry, "After everything that just happened."

"She will be safe on her own ship. And the Admiral is a capable fighter. And unlike you, he won't get distracted."

"Well I'm not helping round up anyone." He shook his head at her, "I'm not taking orders from you, just because you're mad over one little misstep."

The woman scoffed, "One little misstep? That one little mistake could have ruined this country if things had gone wrong."

"Well they didn't!"

"But what if they did?"

Layle opened his mouth to retort to her, but his sentence caught in his throat. There were those words again. 'What if?'

"That's what I thought…" The High Commander turned her back to him. "If you're not going to help here, then at least go get Clause from the upper levels. If nothing else, you owe him an apology for his injury." With that she walked away. Layle shook his head at her. He was never going to get along with that woman.

"What's wrong?" Belle walked up to him crossing her arms. She glanced back at Sherry moving towards the soldiers that had arrived on the ship. "You look like a fenrir wolf just took a dump on your shoe."

"Nothing is wrong…" He watch the High Commander walk away and then looked back over towards the Queen's ship. "That Admiral, what was he like when he got here? Annoying? Condescending? Insistent things are done his way?"

"What?" Belle looked down the docks and then turned to Layle, "You mean like most Lilty nobles? Yes. He was like that… Probably born like that. Pretty sure it's a genetic thing. Being a Crystal Bearer must have canceled it out in Althea. Why?"

"Maybe you're right," Belle blinked a few times startled that he suggested her answer was correct. "I guess I'm just so used to spending time with Althea I forgot most Lilties of the upper echelons are assholes."

Layle reluctantly left the docks to make his way back up to the higher levels of the city. On his way up from the waterfront he passed by Keiss and the Leudian leader, he was carrying the now sleeping Ka Trine. The Selkie looked like he had something to say to him, but Layle kept walking. The faster he got Clause, the faster he could be back at the ship.

The brown haired Clavat was being kept in an undamaged house half way up the rise of the cliff city; it was being used as a temporary hospital to treat the wounded. There were a few of the admiral's men posted there to ensure the victims' safety. When Layle entered he found Clause sitting just inside the door. The entire front room was filled with Selkies receiving treatment for cuts, burns and gunshot wounds. The blond was sure the rest of the rooms looked the same, with a few Selkies that had learned healing spells darting back and forth between their brethren to treat them before their injuries became infected or worse.

"C-Crystal Bearer," Clause raised his head to him. His leg had been treated and bandaged. "If you are here, then Queen Althea-?"

"She's alright, Clause." Layle held out his hand to offer it to the other Clavat. He took it with a smile and allowed himself to be pulled up. Clause stumbled for a second; his leg was still tender from the injury. The Selkies had been able to heal him, but they weren't as good as a Yuke. There was still some pain, and would more than likely be some scaring. "Come on," Layle pulled his arm up so the other would lean on him, "Sherry's getting us ready to depart."

"That's for the best I suppose…" Clause walked with Layle as they exited the building. The Crystal Bearer didn't say anything for a while. The other kept looking around the city taking in the sight of the damage. "Amazing… Amazing just how much has happened today."

"…Yeah. It could have been a lot worse."

"Worse?"

"Az's hideout was full of explosives. So yeah, it could have been a lot worse."

Clause studied Layle's face, trying to discern what emotion the other was feeling. "You know this fight wasn't your fault, right?" Layle looked up at him surprised that was the topic he picked. "We're all very grateful to have you hear, you saved the Queen. You saved this island…" Clause reached down and rubbed his leg. "I wish I could have done something to help."

"Clause," Layle shook his head. He certainly didn't blame himself for the destruction that took place that was unavoidable. However, "Clause, I'm sorry about your leg. What happened to the city, it probably would have happened no matter what. But if I had been with Althea, you wouldn't have had to try and fight Az."

"N-no, no, don't say that," he held up his hand smiling. "I would have tried. I may not be a warrior like Keiss, or a hero like you, but she, the Queen… Althea has always been kind to me… I would have tried, no matter what."

The Crystal Bearer chuckled, "You know, maybe I was wrong on my initial thoughts about you."

"W-wrong? What were your initial thoughts?"

"Ah, just forget it." Layle shrugged. "When we get back to Alfitaria I'm sure you'll have your hands full trying to figure out how Az filled up that old port with explosives anyway."

"-Old port?"

"Yeah, north of here," Layle's brow creased as he remembered he had seen the port before. In one of Clause's books. "Hey, was Althea looking at re-commissioning that place once the deal was done here?"

"Ah, there were several ports she wanted to do that with, you'll have to point it out to me." Clause shrugged, "But if it was one to the north, probably not. There were a few up there that had problems with pirates and raiders… The raised cliff face around them disrupts the radars. Ships can sail in and not be detected until the last moment…. Why?"

"Hmn," Layle didn't answer him. He just nodded. A base where he could sail in and out undetected was a good hideaway. But who had told Az about it? Not to mention how many nobles were backing him while smiling to Althea's face. He supposed that would have to be something Clause and the High Commander figured out. And from the way things were looking, the Admiral would be included in that search as well.

By the time the sun was setting, the Queen's boat was pulling away from the Lynari Islands. The leader of Leuda had come by to speak with Althea once again about the Selkies and Lilties renegotiating their trade policies. Of course, as Keiss said she would, Althea agreed to return. The young woman held no ill feelings towards the Selkies. She even invited the leader and his niece to come to the capitol sometime before then so she could show them the airship yard. She was sure Ka Trine would enjoy it greatly.

As the boat pulled away from the cliff city, the light of the setting sun reflected in the Selkie Tribal Crystal.

High Commander Sherry looked out over the railing of the boat watching the city and its crystal slowly pull away. Unlike the Lilty Tribal Crystal, the symbol of the Selkies did not shine over head in the sky above their crystal. The symbol reflected upon the ocean's surface, making it only visible at night or when the sun was rising or setting. Sherry leaned with her arms folded over the rails of the ship taking in the slow reveal of the symbol of the Selkie tribe. Like everything about them, it was a whirlwind. Unlike the succinct lines and points of the Lilty symbol that conveyed the image of a crown and a knight's helm, the Selkie Tribe's sign looked as if it was painted haphazardly with a frayed brush. To the High Commander the largest part of the symbol reminded her of a crescent moon. A large circle with splayed ends on one side and a triangle pointing out and upward on the other sat in its arch. She often found herself trying to figure out if that arrangement was meant to represent a sun sitting in the moon, or the head of a bird. The base of the symbol is what reminded her of the wind, two thick lines slanted down from the moon and another twisted arch dragging down to a point.

Keiss had once told her it represented change. Selkies were ever changing: their home, their ways, their ideals. So their symbol was unstable, like they were. Free to change and grow and chase whatever life had to offer them. Unlike the Lilty, set in their ways of war, conquering and ruling.

"Az… Even at times of peace we're plagued with people that want nothing more than to subject us all to a war."

"Here you are," the pink haired Lilty turned her head to see Keiss walking up smiling and waving at her. "Althea was trying to figure out where you were."

"Ah, just up here, thinking… Watching the water."

Keiss leaned on the railing next to her and smirked, "I heard you knocked that old pirate for a loop. Belle says she wished she got it on camera."

"…I'm not proud of that. I know you said not to get into an altercation with him- but at the time-"

"Sherry, relax will you." The guild Master pat her on the shoulder, "I think your blow knocked some sense into his head. Imagine what state Leuda would be in if you hadn't called in help?" He watched as the woman let out a sigh and lowered her head. "Why are you so upset that you made the right call?"

"…I guess it just doesn't feel right. I feel like it shouldn't have happened at all. We should have been more prepared. What if we lost Althea today?"

"Layle is never going to let that happen."

The woman moved Keiss' hand from her shoulder and frowned, "Why do you trust him so much when he continues to make such mistakes?"

"What? Layle?" Keiss shook his head. "Layle is inherently a mistake maker. He's trouble. It's how he works."

"Well it needs to stop." The woman pushed off the railing, "Today was too close, Keiss. I don't want it to happen again." The red head opened his mouth to reassure her that his friend didn't want that either but she kept talking. "He constantly abandons his post; he makes a scene somewhere in the castle almost every day; he frequently removes the Queen from her guards' presence… If I didn't know any better I would say he's trying to get her killed."

"Hey," Keiss crossed his arms, "Sherry, that's a heavy accusation. Even in jest."

"Who says it's a jest?" She turned to Keiss, "He always knows where Az is, he's moving about somehow without explaining it to us. He seems to constantly have inside information on what's about to happen-"

"I know how he's able to do and know all of that." Keiss shrugged.

"How?" She leaned forward, "How does he do it?"

Keiss shook his head at her, "I-I can't tell you. It's a matter of confidence." The woman narrowed her eyes at him and then turned back to the water.

"Then, I won't drop my suspicions about him."

"Sherry-!"

"I won't, Keiss!" She looked over at him as he leaned back down on the railing. "If you think he's so trust worthy, then you take over as High Commander, give him free reign to do as he pleases."

"You know I can't…"

The two stood there in silence for a few minutes. The Selkie Crystal was almost completely out of sight now.

"Yes, but sometimes, I really think you should. You always seem like your one step ahead of me on the matter. Certainly more trained at dealing with all of this mess; today would have gone a lot smoother with the Selkies if you were High Commander, don't you agree? What good is a High Commander that can't keep things in line?"

The redhead watched her and shook his head. "Don't say that. You're doing a great job. No one thinks otherwise."

"No one knows the truth." She leaned forward on the railing again. "No one but you and I. And I dread that with every mess up that happens, finally someone will realize that Althea made a mistake asking me to take this position."

"If you continue to think you've made a mistake, then it will turn into one." He smiled at her. "Besides, Althea's not the only one who has confidence in you to help her guide this kingdom to safety. You know that, right? There's a reason she picked you. And it's the same thing for Layle. There is a reason she picked him."

"…Yes, of course." She didn't say anything after that. Though the Guild Master was trying to be reassuring, it didn't really calm her any. The day had left her on edge, and filled with worry. The only thing that would ease her mind would be Az's capture, or an explanation from the Crystal Bearer.

Until then she would continue to worry over the safety of the throne and her ability to protect it.

Below deck Layle and Althea were sitting in her room. The Queen was petting Mia and listening to the Clavat apologize for losing track of her today. To be honest, Layle hadn't thought about apologizing when he first entered the room. He really just came down to talk to Althea about the events of the day. The kids, the dealings with the Selkies, the Admiral. But somewhere in there he found himself apologizing. It wasn't some long drawn out thing; he didn't feel the need to explain himself; to explain why. He just said it, in the middle of their conversation.

"I'm sorry." He had interrupted her, and honestly the suddenness of the statement left her confused.

"Sorry?" Althea looked up from her pet. "…You mean for today? You shouldn't be. I'm not upset…"

"Why not?" Layle leaned back in his chair. "I kind of messed up today, you know. You could have died."

"But I didn't." She smiled. Was she really not bothered? Everyone else in her group was. "Az was never going to kill me. It's not what he wants. Not right away."

"…Still, Sherry is, and I can't believe I'm saying this, right. I didn't do what you asked me to."

Althea studied Layle. For a moment their eyes met and she smiled, "Didn't you go back to save Ka Trine's friends?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Then you did what I wanted." Althea set her pet on the ground so she could run about freely. The creature made a beeline for Layle as it usually did when he was in the room. "Yes, you're my bodyguard. But Layle, I asked you to stay with me because I couldn't think of anyone better to protect my kingdom. And my kingdom doesn't consist of just me. It's of my friends, the court, the people, their children, their homes…" She shrugged. "I know, Sherry was mad when you disappeared at New Shella. And I'm sorry she struck you today, but I'm not sorry you saved those people. I never am."

The Clavat leaned forward and reached down to pet the head of the creature trying to climb up his leg. He couldn't help but chuckle. "You really are an odd noble you know that?"

"Odd?"

"Yeah, nothing about you is like other Lilties," Layle picked up Mia, "But I guess that's one of the reasons I enjoy being around you so much."

Althea smiled at him. She didn't know what to say. It was an unusual compliment. Not that Layle hadn't paid them to her before, but this one was more personal. He was directly admitting that the way she was made her someone unique to him. She hadn't ever thought about that before. She knew that for her, Layle was unique. Yet there were a host of reasons he was different to anyone and everyone that met him. She couldn't think to say thank you, so she just smiled while the Clavat raised his arms and let Mia scale his shoulders and race out to his hand.

"…You were worried, weren't you?" She spoke up and he glanced at her. "That's why you're apologizing. You were worried."

Layle started to shake his head, but then stopped. He rolled his eyes slightly, "Maybe for a moment."

Althea held her hand up to her mouth and laughed. "Well, now you know how I felt on the train."

Layle smirked at her, "Touché. I guess I understand why you were upset then. …But not now?"

"You told me then, everything would be okay. That we'd get through this together. And I believe you." Her face lit up as if something had just dawned on her. "I believe you, when you say it's going to be okay."

There came a knock at the door and the two hesitated for a moment. Finally Althea called for the individual to come in. Belle swung the door open and then looked back and forth at the two of them.

"Say Althea, I wanted to- Oh, never mind, it can wait-"

"Nah, its fine." Layle stood up, he passed Mia off to Althea. "I'm sure Keiss wants to get on my case one more time." The Queen reached up to take her pet. As soon as the white ferret was out of his hands, Althea found the Clavat had grabbed one of her's and slightly pulled her forward. It was just barely two seconds, and almost in passing really, but he still kissed the back of her hand before pulling back and walking out of the room with a quick 'later' to the two women.

Belle leaned backward out the door as he left eyeing him before she shut it. The brunette Selkie grabbed his chair and turned it around so she could lean over the back while she spoke to the Queen.

"And just what were you two talking about?"

"Oh, Layle was just, apologizing."

"Apologizing? Did he upset you?"

"No," Mia sat in Althea's lap while the Queen rubbed the back of her hand with her fingers. "Not at all actually."

"I see…" Belle looked back at the door and then to Althea.

"I think I have an answer." The Queen looked up at her friend. The photographer was making a questioning expression. "About what you asked me earlier today. I have an answer. A proper one."

"Oh? About Layle and the train?"

"Yes," Althea nodded. "I know it will seem strange to say, but I guess, because I enjoy having Layle close by. Something about him, puts at ease the things that trouble me." She shrugged with a smirk, "Maybe because I know he'll always be able to come out on top. Or maybe because Layle himself is just- just so calm in the face of everything that goes on. But even today when I was taken, I wasn't worried. I didn't feel scared I could die, because I knew Layle was somewhere on the island looking for me."

"…Scared you were going to die?"

"Yes," Althea took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "At Shella I was afraid that others could perish. I was afraid then, but I wasn't today. Because he told me everything would alright. That's why I didn't want to move. I don't feel afraid of the fact that, we face death all the time. When Layle is near, all I really think about is, the fact that we have to keep going. We have to still be here tomorrow, so that those that come after us can have a kingdom better than our own." She rubbed the side of her face. "Does that make any sense?"

Belle nodded, "I think it does. But honestly it's a more complex answer than I was expecting."

"Oh?" Althea chuckled. "What were you expecting?"

The Selkie female shrugged, "I don't know. Just not something so deep… I guess I was just thinking, you didn't move because, why pass up the chances to have someone cute sleep on your lap?" Althea stopped rubbing the side of her face and stared, startled at the girl. "What?"

"B-belle! Belle, what? No- no, no. No I assure you that's not it." She shook her head and waved her hand back and forth. The other girl laughed at her.

"Ah, I see. It was just my mistake." She crossed her arms over the back of the chair and continued to laugh. "I guess you just don't think about it like I do."

"Like… you do?" Althea hesitated.

"Hmn. Come on. It hasn't ever crossed you mind? Not even once, that Layle is pretty attractive? He's always with you… I can't believe you don't see it."

"I-I never said that he wasn't. It's just, not on my mind is all." Althea nodded to her friend. "I don't even really know what makes him, attractive to m- to anyone. But I mean, there's nothing wrong with him."

Belle closed her eyes and smiled. "It's fine. I understand your answer. Actually, it's kind of a relief to me."

"I, well… I'm glad." Althea took a deep breath and looked back down at her pet. She ran her fingers over Mia's fur. As long as she had Layle, she felt like she could face anything. That was all she wanted him from him. The courage to face anything that came her way. The fact that Belle implied there was any other reason she desired to have him around left her feeling a bit uneasy. It was just the absurdity of the question, and of Belle's thoughts behind it. She should have known someone as forward as Belle would interpret their relationship that way.

But that just wasn't the case here. Between her and Layle, it was a bond that gave her strength. It made her confident. It made her happy. Because having him close by made her happy in a way that having the others around didn't. The Queen nervously pet her ferret's back trying to reason with herself. Belle's 'simple answer' was really more of complex question to Althea.

One she wasn't really sure what the answer to was.