Chapter 21

A king sat atop his throne, regal, his eyes full of promises he doubted he could keep...even if he knew, he had to try.

All of the chips fell exactly where he expected them to. All of the players, pieces, and circumstances had carried him to one fragile, but inevitable conclusion. They'd gone back home no richer for their attempts, but at least he could say he tried.

He had done the best he could, and this testament had been chiseled into the stone of his family legacy. The baby in his arms, she was the only proof he ever needed that all of his beliefs were his, and his alone. His wife at his side, further evidence that he was a man of honor, of power, and simply a person to take notice of. His kingdom, vast and thriving, a tip of the hat to his people, rested the question of his pure ability. Of what had been expected, achieved, and bandied about by his guards, servants, and even his many peoples...that this land was made great because of him.

So, why wasn't that enough? Why did it feel so unsatisfactory?

Many came to greet his child, bestowing her with gifts, and blessings…many of them awestruck by the small nobility that harbored such innocence. How was she to know, after all, that she would one day be called upon lead this overlarge populace in some way or another? How was she to understand this group of women who stood in a line to greet her with some sort of doodad or trinket?

Then again, Livius barely understood this attraction himself. Was he equally blessed by the people when he was born? He was brought to wonder...but he had no idea.

"Come forward." Neil beaconed to the next woman in line. Dressed as a street urchin, her clothing had seen better days. Still, she was an old looking gal, if her cracked walking stick was anything to go by. Of particular short stature, and slow moving, the visitors in the hall waited quietly for her to climb up the steps with great difficulty. When she made it to the top, her voice, ever so quiet, was one that was impossible to mistake.

"May I?" She asked.

Two simple words had never grounded his brain to a halt in his life. "You…may."

Nike had not heard the request, but watched as this elderly woman lifted the baby into her arms. A lock of white, braided in signature fashion fell into view, and so with it, the profile of an elderly cheek tearstained and worn from extensive travel. Nike dared not hope, knew it was impossible, and yet, this aged woman…it had to be.

"She is beautiful." The woman replied quietly enough to be heard only by the king and queen. She handed the small child back to her father. "She is strong." Content with those phrases, or perhaps because it was all she could say evenly, Livius wasn't sure. Even so, the woman turned to leave, descending the stairs just as quickly as she came.

"Wait…" Nike urged, standing from her throne. "Please stay…please…"

"Surely, a person such as myself, has no place at your table." She looked around then. No, she didn't belong here. Not in the slightest. "I wish you luck with the babe, you're going to need it. All wistful and stubbornness, that one. Ah, what sweet retribution it shall be." She began to walk once more, her stick clacking across the carpet as she moved slowly and steadily.

It was then that Neil caught on, and Mira too. She had been quietly standing off to the side. Her hand outstretched, she grasped onto the frayed white cloak. "Grandma, you fool, stop!"

Both women sighed at such length. Mira knew that if she were still a child, she would have been backhanded for insolence.

"I ask that you release me…"

"I ask you give it up!" Mira, upset and confused pulled the hood of the cloak down. "You should stay…"

By this time, the murmurs of the entry hall turned into a dull roar, and so Livius stood to his full height, clearing his throat. "Please, everyone do calm down. My loyal subjects, this is a time of celebration, because the woman who stands before you is worthy of greatness. A superior and honored guest. The matriarch of the Rain Dukedom herself, Tohara Lemercier. It is from her prestigious bloodline that Nike's blood hails, and it is her upbringing that has gifted you such a merciful queen."

"Please…do not…" Tohara murmured. "I am just an old woman…do not do this….do not make this more difficult for me."

"It is already impossibly difficult." Nike murmured, as she made her way down the steps. It wasn't as if Tohara could run away now, and shame her kingdom. Still, Nike dared not believe it. Didn't dare hope for a second that she might finally get some measure of approval. "You will not voyage on the seas tonight, they're too rough."

"You question my ability to calm them?"

"I question you to calm yourself." Nike could see, peeking around the corner, the children from the orphanage. She'd invited them personally, and waving a hand to call them out, the rather large gaggle of children gathered around. "Join us for tea, grandmother, please." Nike begged. "If it still displeases you so greatly, then I will send a boat away into the midnight if I have too, so please…"

"Nike…I am no more than an old woman…" She said quietly. "I have no more reason to be here than anyone else…and I will not be voyaging back."

"Then you will stay with us!"

"Nike…stop, child…just stop."

"I will not!"

"She most certainly won't…" Livius sighed, he could already feel a migraine coming on. "Nor will I allow it, even if she did."

"This is not up for discussion, you insolent little brat." The woman sighed from under her breath. "Nike, I've raised you better than this…and you too, Mira…the both of you girls show know better than to run wild. Here you are, two grown and married young women...yet you argue to me, in front of your people?"

"It is why they love me…" Nike said quietly. "Why I love them in return."

The children clung to Nike's legs, stood by her side as if they knew her well, and the older ones were not too far removed from the group. Tohara raised her gaze to several others who stood to witness this odd family spectacle. Outsiders viewing the private display, and yet, hardly shocked or appalled. It was as if they expected it, sharing deprecating grins, and trading shy looking shrugs…as if…this was normal…par for the course.

Tohara snorted then, because even back in her own homeland, it was. Nike had always been so troublesome that the common folk knew well of her…even if they were plucking her out of fishing nets and rescuing her from trees…she was loved for her mischief. Loved for her inability to know her station and respect it. Decorum was lost on her even now it seemed. Perhaps in that alone, it was enough reason to ignore Nike's tendency for small doses of havoc.

"You have always been such an aggravating youth. I try to quell you, you kick up a storm." Tohara muttered under her breath. "And now, you are even influencing Mira to do the same? It's a shameful sight Nike, a shameful one indeed…but it is the way you've always been…and the way, I suspect you will always be."

"Then you'll take tea with us?"

"Do you give me a choice?" Tohara shook her head. "Would you cease from acting on inclination? Promise not to start following me down to the port town? I know you better than that, child, you'll neglected to make such promises."

"You'll stay here…?"

Tohara glanced over to the king, and then to Nike. "You hold with you, possibly, the most precious treasure that this world has ever seen. And in spite of this, you expect me to merely comply with the fact?" The old woman tutted in dismay. "Nike, I'm surprised at you. Who's to say if you'll get this girl to sing all on your own? Heaven knows she'll be twice the burden you were, perhaps triplicate, and I will not sit idly by as such a gift dries away entirely..." She then turned to Livius. "We will be at odds once more, young man, should I find you incapable of nurturing this child's voice. Sun King or not, I'll run you through with every ounce of rainfall I'm able to produce. Do you understand this?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then you further understand why I cannot leave this child solely in your care, and since you four insolent brats leave me no choice…" She sighed again, too tired to really put up a fight any longer. "In spite of my sanity, in spite of my people, and in spite of all that is good and godly in this world and beyond…I have already brought my things…I'll be staying."

He smiled softly, offering his arm. "If you're a member of this household, then please allow me to show you to your new room…" It was as willing and as deep an offering he could give her, hoping, in some way, it might be enough.

"Fine then." Resolution in her voice, as exasperated as ever, she accepted the offer for what it was. They began down the hall, continuing to be a spectacle, so it seemed.

Nature, Livius once thought to himself, dictated a great many things.

He still thought this, even today. He had become a man of his people, well and truly. He knew this, just as he knew that the sun would rise and set within a predetermined amount of time. It was unchanging, and true to his predictions, as well as his many expectations. So in his mind, he knew, that he now fully understood the needs only a man could have.

He now stood, seeing the world as only a proper king could.

People could be reborn into a new image, he knew this now…because his dreams had come back to him after he'd gotten married. It was perhaps not a simple life, Nike tended to complicate it at every turn…but, it was a happy life. A life he least expected, twisting and turning around, this way and that way…and now, Tohara stood before him, caught in the whirlwind that only Nike could possibly instigate.

As if indeed, Nike held insurmountable power that would be passed onto the next generation. There was no greater proof than this. Ever the skeptic, he looked to the old woman on his arm, and then to the baby nestled in his other. His wife at his side, Neil and Mira at his back, and his subjects gaping like fish…he found he too could only smirk.

Somewhere, somehow, along the line, he had been made a believer of this thing called magic. Though, he doubted very highly it had much to do with the songs, or even the lyrics. He was sure now, in that gaze of comfortable green, that it was called spirit.

It was the soul, that cultivated such immense power…and, if that were true, he had no doubt that his daughter already held the entirety of the world in her tiny little hands. Unknowingly, and unrepentantly, as she dozed off to sleep.

A/N: And this is where I'll be leaving this new family…ending this story. I hope you've all enjoyed the journey, even if it's taken me a long time to finish. I've taken a lot of breaks on and off since beginning it. It's been a blast guys. So thank you to those who've been following, favoring, and reviewing since the beginning. Thank you to those who've been minding this story from afar, hidden beneath the layers of info-graphics. It's been a blast everyone. So, thank you.