Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ but it would be a lot cooler if I did...
AN: Hmmm took me 4 months to finish this last chapter. I don't know why. But it's finally here. Hope you've enjoyed the journey.
Vegeta sat on a bench in the garden in his armor on cool morning. It was not necessary to wear it in the palace of course. Yet after being in it for so long over the past year and half or so he felt comfortable in it. It even kept him warm against the frigid cold of winter as the snow fell to the ground. All he wore over it was a simple fur lined black cloak.
He opened the cloak hesitantly and felt for what was missing. He no longer had his tabard. He was no longer a Knight of the Celestial Blade. His public audience before his father had gone so fast. He was so full of emotion that he casually removed his tunic when asked.
Only now with a full night to think about did the meaning really hit him. What was he if not a knight? Could he really go back to being just the crown prince now? An image of the blonde giant Biorr flashed in his mind and he shook his head. No, he had seen too much to simply go back to that life now.
"You've had quite the day I heard," a familiar voice boomed behind him.
Up walked Jenounes in huge Saiyan style knight armor similar to his own and dark red cloak. It was the least he could do since the big man had lost his armor during their escape. The man looked proud and fierce; he probably could give Nappa a challenge for his role in the Royal Guard.
"It was trying to say the least," Vegeta told him.
"I hear you are no longer a knight," Jenounes mentioned with a wave of his hand.
"You hear anything about a betrothal?" Vegeta brought up.
"I was going to ask about that too," Jenounes said as he sat beside him.
The big man sat down beside him and handed him a horn of ale. Vegeta took it without saying anything and drank deeply. It tasted fantastic full of beer spices brewed right in Saiya.
"You lords think too much. All that free time you have leaves you too much time to think," Jenounes told him.
"And what would you say if you were cast off by your own people?" Vegeta asked him.
"We don't have knights in Caledonia," Jenounes said as he grabbed the horn from Vegeta and drank. "Though I suppose if I left one of our war bands I would just find another."
"Being a knight is different, it's more like…" Vegeta thought about what to say. Then somehow Captain Bardock's words came out of his mouth. "It's more like a sacred duty and a proud privilege."
Jenounes just snorted at his answer, "Knights, soldiers, officers you all say the same things. Flower it up all you want a warrior is a warrior. You all just study at being the best killers you can be. We do the same in Caledonia only without all the ceremony."
"Maybe you are right," Vegeta thought out loud.
Jenounes slapped him on the shoulder hand and laughed, "Of course I am. I am at least two decades older than you boy."
His gesture made Vegeta laugh as well. No one would dare be so familiar with him here. The guards would probably have seized the man on sight if they had seen. Still he needed a laugh and a drink.
"You don't have to come with me to Volsunga if you don't want to," Jenounes said. "I can understand if you just want to marry Adrestia instead."
"I gave my word," Vegeta reminded him.
"She is so beautiful though, even Biorr would understand lad," Jenounes said.
"I'm going, a warrior should keep his word to another warrior," Vegeta told him.
"That he should, I can't blame you for that," Jenounes said. "What will you tell her?"
"That a man is only as good as his word and I will marry her upon my return," Vegeta said.
0-0-0
Grandmaster Bio couldn't believe he was in this situation again. He sat at his desk in all the finery of his office and wearing his grand uniform. He ground his teeth as he looked at two folded tabards of his grand order sitting on his desk. Then he looked up at the two knights who stood before him both in armor with no symbols.
Adrestia was one of his secret favorites, beautiful, bold and now famous for deeds. She stood with a serious look on her face arms folded over her chest. Next to her loomed Kakarot, tall, kind faced, but a fierce warrior like his father and brother. He had an unusually grim look about him today.
"You can't be serious," Bio said to them both.
"We are serious," Kakarot replied.
"I thought I made it clear that just because the prince is out does not mean you two are," Bio reminded them.
"We will not remain in the order without him," Adrestia said harshly.
Bio pounded on his desk hard, but neither knight flinched before him. His knights had never spoken to him this way. Never so casually, especially ones from two lower houses like them. What was going on here? They had clearly spent far too much time in the company of either the prince of lower soldiers if reports are to be believed.
Still this was madness. Minor nobles like them never left the order voluntarily. Theirs was a highly coveted position. He just couldn't believe it. This had to be a mistake or something they had not thought out enough.
"Kakarot listen to me. What are you if not a knight of the order?" Bio asked him.
Kakarot scratched his head and said, "Guess I'll have to figure that out for myself."
"What about you Adrestia? I thought you were not so keen on getting married," Bio reminded her. "Or has the promise of a prince won you over?"
Adrestia became incensed at his comment. "This has nothing to do with that. I simply will not remain while he is expelled."
"I can't believe what I am hearing." Bio commented to no one in particular.
"We just wanted to turn these into you in person. So there was no misunderstanding," Kakarot said to him.
"Leave now and you won't be able to return," Bio threatened them. "Think of what this will mean to your families, their reputations."
"I think our families will weather the storm," Adrestia said with a huff. "Good day to you Grandmaster."
With that the two of them turned and left him in stunned silence. Bio had no idea they would follow the prince out of the order. All of this was unprecedented. Despite the pressure from his Warrior Faction allies, he wanted the prince out anyway. It was all becoming too much trouble.
Still he had hoped to keep those two in the Order. They were famous and helped his recruiting efforts each year. Now things were out of his hands. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise? Only time would tell.
0-0-0
Vegeta walked through the white cobblestone streets with the armored giant at his side. Vegeta himself was simply adorned in finely cut clothes that would be fitting of any noble. Though there was no mistaking the royal broach on his black fur lined cloak. It was a cold morning. The snows stuck freshly on the ground from last night. Fires could be seen in every window on the great houses he walked passed on his way to his destination.
"Why are we here?" Jenounes asked as he looked about the mostly empty street.
"I am here because this is where Adrestia and her family have a home in the Noble Quarter when they are in the capital. You are here because those fools in the castle insist I must take guards with me since the near riot in the court." Vegeta reminded him.
"Ha. I wish I could have seen that," the big man said as he took out a wineskin and drank from it.
"Isn't it a little early for that?" Vegeta said eyeing the man as they walked.
"Just a little something to take the chill off," the big man replied. "You want some?"
"No thank you. It would not look well if I showed up with ale on my breath to her family," Vegeta said.
"Aren't you the prince?" Jenounes remarked.
"Yes but this more about maintaining her good standing. Adrestia is my betrothed not some tavern girl I am visiting," Vegeta said.
"You nobles and your rules confuse me sometimes," Jenounes told him.
"Well good thing you are a foreigner. Most will simply look on your eccentricities and laugh especially since you are my guest," Vegeta said.
"Right, is this the place?" Jenounes asked him as they walked up to a pair of polished bronze gates that shone like gold.
"From what I have been told, I've never actually been here," Vegeta admitted.
Vegeta rang the ornate silver bell with the engraving of a full moon on it. It was not a grand house. But most nobles in the city did not have a vast house like they did in their estates. It had a simple courtyard with a brick wall and bronze gates, hardly cheap but not ostentatious. The house itself was a few stories high and painted a white he was sure shone well in the summer.
"What am I do while you talk with her?" Jenounes asked casually.
"I'm sure they have kitchens you can snack from while I am busy." Vegeta told him.
The big man smiled at that. Vegeta almost wished he could sit everyone down by a fire in the wilderness like he did not so long ago. Still life in the Capital was supposed to be all prim and proper. It was all such a bother.
0-0-0
Vegeta entered the chamber the servant had directed him to. The walls were of fine quality white stone and dark wooden timbers supported the roof. Paintings were hung of men in armor from various ages and beautiful women in fine dresses. Likely the ancestors of House Tizona.
He turned as another door opened to the chamber. In walked Adrestia with a deep blue dress with silver fringes on. Her dark wavy hairy was styled in the familiar single braid that he now realized brought him comfort to see. She looked more and more like the Adrestia he remembered.
Vegeta coughed awkwardly, "I take it you heard the news."
"What were you thinking telling my father you'd marry me?" Adrestia asked him.
"I don't know. It all happened so fast. The people were almost in riot… I just agreed," He told her.
"Do you want to marry me?" Adrestia asked him directly.
Silence hung in the hair a few moments. She looked at him with eyes he no longer understood. She looked uncertain, almost as if she wanted to run away. Vegeta simply closed the gap and grabbed her hands. She didn't pull back this time. She didn't run despite the trembles he felt coming from her.
"Father and mother have been pestering me to take my position at court more seriously for years, particularly when it comes to a bride. Being married to one of my best friends has to be better than someone I hate who was selected for me by some treaty or other," Vegeta told her.
"That's what every girl has always dreamed of hearing from her future husband," Adrestia said dryly.
Vegeta smiled at her sarcastic joke and kissed her hand, "There is my fiery beauty. I have missed you."
"Vegeta you could have any girl you wanted, and I am no longer pure. I had to know," Adrestia said seriously.
"Virgins require too much work in my experience," Vegeta remarked with a puckish smile.
Adrestia slapped him lightly and said, "Careful now, you wicked boy."
"In all seriousness I did have something important to share with you," Vegeta said getting back on track.
"Something more important than having to marry me?" Adrestia scoffed.
"Perhaps not more important but about equal in importance." Vegeta said calmly. "Before we get married I must go north leave Biorr's effects with his family."
"You must do this? You're prince not a courier." Adrestia reminded him.
"He saved me," He told her. "Shielded me with his own body. The least I can do is bring his axe and armor home to his people."
"Father is going to hate this," Adrestia said, "But I understand. Some things you have to do to bring closure."
"I'll come back as soon as I can then they can start preparing some elaborate ceremony or other," Vegeta promised.
"You'd better or I'll go north until the world freezes and drag you home myself," Adrestia said.
"Ha that's my girl," Vegeta said and smiled.
0-0-0
Vegeta and Adrestia paused as the door to the chamber was opened interrupting them. Inside came a familiar looking young girl in dark red dress with golden accents. Vegeta put two and two together as the girl walked right up with a warm smile and grabbed Adrestia's hands.
"It's so good to see you sister," Harmonia said.
Just then someone else entered and Vegeta could not quite place the man yet he definitely knew him. He spoke before the prince could finish his thoughts.
"If it isn't the prince, fancy meeting you here," Malavai said to Vegeta.
Vegeta studied the tall golden haired man. His clothes were a splendid set of dark blues, blacks and golden embellishments that now doubt cost a fortune. His face was in the typical aristocratic mask. Behind it was most likely a sneer. Ghiedians did not get along with Vegeans even on the best of days. Not mention they were both from families with particular bad blood between them. His being here boded ill.
"Harkon, why are you here?" Vegeta asked him bluntly.
"Isn't it obvious? Oh that's right you have been away from court for quite a while now. Well you should know that I am here to visit my betrothed." Malavai informed him and gestured to Harmonia.
"Are you serious?" Vegeta blurted out with little grace.
"Of course he is. We have been together for a while now," Harmonia said matter of factly.
The pretty dark haired girl blushed and moved in closed as Harkon put his arm around her. Somehow it slipped Vegeta's mind that Adrestia had sisters all along. He knew she did of course. He had known for years but he had never met any of them. Being here now made it all the more real and he didn't like what he was seeing. Someone who looked so much like Adrestia looking up at Harkon and smiling bothered him.
"You should really spend more time at court," Malavai advised Vegeta.
"I don't really like to." Vegeta said in response and crossed his arms.
Adrestia, having noticed the increase in hostility between the two men, didn't know what to say. So she said nothing. If they were birds they would strutting around with all their tail feathers flittering everywhere. Or they would lock horns if they were deer. It seemed to her even grown men still behaved like boys sometimes.
"Going to be one of those princes are you? Fair warning then, the more time you spend away, the more trouble will brew in your absence." Malavai said to Vegeta.
"Is that a threat?" Vegeta asked and took a step towards the man.
CooI as ice, Malavai simply said, "It's a historical fact. I could list all the princes and heirs who found themselves either murdered or worse just by not playing the great game."
"A game? I've always hated that term. It's just a bunch of pretentious nobles squabbling for favor," Vegeta said disdainfully.
"Quite so my prince, but it also keeps the peace and stability of the realm. Ignore it for too long and you might find your kingdom gone. I can also tell you numerous historical examples," Malavai said with a wave of his hand casually.
"Don't push me Harkon," Vegeta warned and balled up his fist at his side. "I do not need your counsel or your examples. I am in no mood to play any game."
Malavai merely smiled and gave a short bow, "As you wish. I am here for far sweeter company than yours anyway. Shall we my dear?"
"Of course," Harmonia said as she took his arm.
"I bid you farewell as well Lady Adrestia, Prince Vegeta," Malavai said on his way out.
0-0-0
Vegeta had picked up Jenounes on his way out. He was irritated now. There was something about Lord Harkon that rubbed him the wrong way. He could not put his finger on it.
"You don't seem happy, she didn't take it well?" Jenounes asked.
"She is fine with me headed to Volsunga, I just ran into someone unpleasant on the way out," Vegeta informed him.
"Her father?" Jenounes guessed.
"No it was… It's complicated but he was another noble from a powerful family. One that has a long bloody history with mine," Vegeta explained.
"I thought your family ruled this country," Jenounes asked.
"We do but it was only a generation ago that great strife split the country and all the old factions rose to power and fought over the throne again," He told Jenounes. "This man was from a family that was subdued at great cost. So you might him and all his people have a grudge against my family."
"A grudge I can understand," Jenounes said. "Well best not to dwell on it. We should pack for our journey and be on our way. If the snows become too thick the mountains with be impassible."
"Agreed my friend," Vegeta said, "We head out as soon as possible."
And thus a Prince of Saiya and a Warrior of Caledonia left go find Volsunga a city far to north seldom visited by outsiders.
AN: That's all for Book 2 thanks for reading this far. It was quite the experience to write this considering I never meant it to be this long. Still It was fine. The next story will pick up with out Prince headed to the Snowy lands North of Saiya little explored by the Saiyans themselves. Bye for now hope you had fun reading it.