Beginning Commentary: Once again, if you feel offended by any of the oriental names I use, feel free to tell me so in either a review or a PM. I may not come up with a better name, but I'll definitely try to change it. (In fact, I'd actually recommend for you to give me a better name so I can then edit). As for why I have to continue separating names with the comma, well, that's how the localized version of Awakening likes to play. So if the name sounds ridiculous in its entirety, I don't blame you.

Excerpt Nineteen: Clair de Lune

Three months had passed since I arrived to the palace, and I slowly paced myself to getting used to my new life. Ninon did as well, but surprisingly better than me. Maybe Gryphons are better socializers than I originally thought them out to be.

I still had to eat with a fork and knife (with the occasional spoon for soups), but I still tried to eat with chopsticks to show that I was willing to learn. Along with this, I decided to wear a light green (almost light blue) robe that Say'ri offered me. I still wore my boots and Plegian robe, but it definitely felt very soft. (I decided to wear it when it started getting warmer, though; I'm still cold blooded and the robe doesn't offer that much warmth).

Say'ri wasn't always my sparring partner for sword training, as it was shortly replaced by Lieutenant Qiang'wei. The man looked average, doting muscles similar to Vaike or the Pirate King and a scar running cleanly across the bridge of his nose. His messy, black hair ran down to his shoulders, which I thought was a nice bonus since it matched his long goatee running down his pointed chin. His voice was also nice…when he wasn't yelling. He definitely reminded of Lon'qu and Frederick, what with his very stern and stalwart attitude. If I missed even one part of the training dummy, he would angrily tell me to try again. If I was late to training, he would make me give him thirty push-ups. My arms weren't strong to begin with, so he decided to "encourage" me by saying that I could definitely do better than my pathetic attempts. Thank the Gods he spoke Millan so that I wouldn't further his rage.

Was he truly angry? It was hard to really tell.

"Aye, he is quite the drill sergeant," Say'ri sighed when I discussed my concerns with her. "However, he has made Yen'fay and myself quite the Swordmasters, so I should not fully complain."

"I've grown tired of strict teachings is all…" I explained. "I learn my lessons, mind you, but… With Chalard and all…"

"Yen'fay made it very clear to Lieutenant Qiang'wei about what has happened with you. He may be strict, but he is never abusive."

And I started to believe that when I saw him outside of training. In fact, he was very considerate of me, asking how I was feeling whenever we had the opportunity to talk and even playing with Ninon when our lessons tired me out.

He said he reminded me of a young boy he used to train. Wait…

"Was he named Lon'qu?" I asked.

Qiang'wei's eyes widened.

"How do you know of him?" He questioned. "Is he not dead?"

"No, he's still alive."

"All this time…"

As far as Chon'sin language lessons went, Ten'shi realized he was in for more than he asked for.

"How do you not recognize the difference between 'me' and 'ne'? It is quite simple!"

"Going from Millan and Graal letters to Chon'sin characters is tough!" I explained. "Especially because there are so many different variations!"

"There are only five!"

"And you're teaching me all of them at the same time! I need to learn the basics first!"

Ten'shi groaned, saying how this interrupted his advisor duties.

"I can show you war strategies to compensate," I offered. "That was I was training to do while I was waiting in Ylisse."

Ten'shi hesitated at first, but ultimately agreed.

I showed him my map drawing skills that Virion taught me and we went back and forth on how we would deploy our units near the ocean. Ten'shi said that he would prefer it if the Soldiers became sailors and started defeating the units where they were most vulnerable, and I liked it when our forces set up an ambush once the enemy was on land.

"You are quite the maniacal type," Ten'shi remarked.

"You're pretty cynical yourself," I laughed. "I mean, leaving them to be buried at sea! Good Gods, man!"

We also discussed some of our favorite literature and plays when I started making progress on recognizing Chon'sin characters.

"I love reading about philosophy," Ten'shi sighed. "It is always fascinating to know what other great minds think about."

I also became friendly with a kindred handmaid named Ju'mei. She was my age, but she was much more nervous than I was. In fact, I think we bonded so quickly because of how anxious the both of us were. Ju'mei was just starting out to be a servant, so she was always worried about messing things up and being thrown out of the palace forever. Her hair was lavender and it barely passed her ears. She also grew her bangs out to the side. Maybe I should try that, mine were starting to bother me.

"I was so very thankful when Lord Yen'fay agreed to keep me," she explained happily. "He is very forgiving of my actions."

She also played an instrument known as the flute. It was a woodwind, meaning the music came from her breaths. She was quite talented.

Aside from those three and the royal siblings, nobody else really talked to me. Old Oda was too busy making meals to even notice my presence, and even Pheros wanted pretty much nothing to do with me. I understood, so I tried my hardest not to bother any of them.

When the cold weather started going away, Ju'mei and Say'ri joined me outside to simply chat, drink tea, and enjoy the beauty of nature. White and pink flowers were starting to bud on the big tree that was in the backyard. Ju'mei would play her flute when she was done with her tea. It was really something to behold.

But what about Yen'fay?

As he stated from the beginning, he was very busy. I only saw him in the mornings when Say'ri, Pheros, and I ate breakfast. He listened more than he talked, and he always ate very quickly to get back to his business.

"I don't know, Ju'mei," I sighed as she brushed my hair for the evening. "I feel more like a house guest than I do a suitor."

"Perhaps you could try invoking his interest?" Ju'mei suggested. "Join him in his free time and let him know you are concerned about this."

"But what if he tries to seduce me? I don't think I'd be able to handle that. I'd probably freak out and ruin everything!"

"Is it because of your attack back when you were young? Because if you addressed this to Lord Yen'fay, I believe he would understand."

"I hope so… When is his free time, anyway?"

"Maybe it is before his bed time?"

Gods, never mind that idea… If I caught him that late, he'd think I would be trying to seduce him!

"Or in the late afternoon. It is hard to tell, really."

That might work.

Grima still appeared in my dreams now and then, but it just became routine for the two of us. He would try to scare me, and I'd try to fight back with whatever little confidence I had stored within. We were acting more like a bitter old couple than we were mortal enemies. But I always tried to bring up one subject:

Who was that human from before? The old man?

That is none of your concern, whelp.

He sounded like you.

Are you deaf? I said it does not concern you!

I would then wake up afterwards. Clearly he was trying to keep this secret. But I knew I couldn't get the answer out of him if all I did to talk to him was sleep. And when I was awake, he would only talk from here to there, never fully responding to anything!

If only I could find another way…

Now that it was May, I thought I could get enough confidence to talk to Yen'fay one-on-one. Gah, this made me nervous as all hell. Why did I have to choose the night?! What was wrong with me?! I snuck around the palace as best as I could, making sure little to none saw me.

When I got to Yen'fay's door, I took deep breaths.

He'll never forgive you, you know.

Oh shut up.

Here goes nothing… I slid the door gently open.

"Um…Yen'fay?" I squeaked. "Can I…talk to you for a second?"

The room had a very powerful scent, as small scented candles were scattered around. Yen'fay also had a bed similar to the one I had back in Ylisse, which made me wonder why I didn't have one like it now. He was not in his bed, but rather in front of it. He sat down with his legs crossed, arms lowered to his core, and eyes closed. His hair was also down. Wow, it looked beautiful out in the night sky.

Was he praying? He almost looked asleep…

Maybe I should-

"Anne, what are you doing here?"

GAH!

"I…wanted to talk to you, but you're busy, so I'll just leave now. Sorry!"

"No, hold for a moment!"

Why did I listen to him!? Why wasn't I moving?!

He walked up to me and held my right hand.

"Did one of the staff mistreat you?" He seemed quite concerned.

"N-no… I wanted to talk about me being here and all… What were you just doing, though? You looked like you were really focused."

"I was meditating."

Medi-what?

"But that is not of the main concern." He sat me down in front of him. "Do you not feel welcome here?"

"No, that's not it either. I…don't really feel like your wife, though."

He looked confused. Okay Anne, phrase this carefully.

"Well…when I was told that I was to be your wife, I wasn't really expecting to live like this. I thought that I'd have to go through a bunch of tests or… I don't know, be an actual wife. I feel more like a house guest."

"I see…"

"And I don't mind. Not at all! I mean, it's wonderful here! But…if you really do want me, then… I don't know."

I REALLY don't want him to assume that I want sex or power out of him. Especially sex. The very thought of that made me shudder.

Yen'fay started snickering to himself.

"W-what?" I asked.

"It is funny, you seemed to be the only one truly concerned about this. You expected a traditional marriage of Eastern culture, yes?"

I nodded.

"Pheros is the complete opposite of you, then. She wanted to see me only a few times when she first arrived, so I left her to her business."

"You two seem to get along, though. You kiss her on the lips."

"It is what she is comfortable with."

"And yeah, don't we usually have to fight for your attention?"

Yen'fay's gentle smile turned into a frown.

"May I be honest with you, seeing as how you have been honest with me?"

"Of course."

"I have no time to be concerned with my love life. My people need a leader who will not be so easily influenced by petty romance or anything of that concern. Ten'shi and the Council demanded that I have an heir before I pass on, which is why they arranged for you and Pheros to be my wives. However, the way that I see it, being my wife is only a title and even a hindrance. I would not be able to be with the child as it grows up, and it is a miracle I can still be around Say'ri. The only time I have freely, I selfishly use it for meditation…"

"That's okay, though," I spoke up. "The meditation part, at least. You go through a lot of stress, so it's only natural that you want to calm yourself down before you go to sleep."

"I still feel guilt for it."

I found something we have in common: guilt. Now it was my time to snicker.

"Trust me, I feel guilt for things I haven't even done," I said quietly.

"Because of the Fellblood?"

"Yeah…"

Yen'fay leaned over and kissed my forehead. Oh gosh, the moonlight made him so pretty.

"See, this is the kind of thing I was talking about," I said as I wrapped my hands between his. "Just quiet exchanges between the two of us, nothing too crazy or too intimate. That should be what this marriage is about."

Yen'fay stroked my hands with his thumbs, even though he had difficulty with the dragon hand.

"If you would like, you may come join me in my meditations. They relieve and cleanse the soul," he offered as he pulled me closer to an embrace. He was warm, and his heartbeat was soothing…

"You wouldn't mind me?"

"If you had offered three months ago, I would have. But you clearly want to spend time with your husband, so I shall not oppose this."

"I'd like that…"

We spent the rest of the time in silence, just looking at the full moon and whatever else could be visible outside. Yen'fay offered for me to sit on his lap, to which I only agreed if I was sitting on his thigh. My head rested on his shoulder as my right arm slung around his neck, and he held my left hand with his. His right arm was gently around my waist, but his right hand stayed clear from me.

"Maybe our first step to our relationship should be us comparing the other to something pretty," I broke the silence, but not too abruptly.

"Such as?" Gah, his voice was heavenly.

"Well, you can be my moon, since your hair is the same color as it and it's very pretty…" I placed my hand against his chest when I said this, which made me want to immediately remove it, but Yen'fay placed it back there.

"In that case, you can be my sunlight, as you seem to brighten up my day with your presence."

Was this real? …Yes. Thank the Gods.

I was starting to get tired, to which Yen'fay caught on quickly and lifted us up. He was holding me like how a brave knight would hold his princess in a fairytale book.

"You know I can walk, right?" I said.

"Aye, but I prefer holding you," Yen'fay smiled. He walked us back to my room.

"Am I too heavy?"

"You are fine."

"I don't want you to throw out your back because I was too much for you."

"I am stronger than I look."

"But just let me know, okay?"

"I will, I will."

We made it to my room, to which he opened quietly the door and placed me on my "bed". Ninon was sleeping by the pillow.

Yen'fay and I focused on each other's faces. We must have been blushing like we had fevers once we looked into the other's eyes. Something like a fever did come over us, though. In an instant, we gave each other a kiss…on the lips. It was short, but it definitely didn't feel forced like when Chrom kissed me. This felt…natural. Almost wholesome were it not for the fact that I was about to fall asleep.

"Good night, my sunlight," Yen'fay whispered as he pulled away from the kiss.

"Good night, my moon," I responded quietly.

He finally left the room.

…

AH, HOW COULD I FALL ASLEEP WITH A PERFECT MOMENT LIKE THAT HAPPENING?! HE WAS SO SWEET AND SOPHISTICATED AND HE DIDN'T TRY TO SLEEP WITH ME LIKE A DISGUSTING PERVERT! WE GAVE EACH OTHER CUTE PET NAMES AND NONE OF THE STAFF OR ANYONE ELSE CAME IN TO MAKE IT AWKWARD! GODS!