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SONIC CHAOS 3: UNDERGROUND ARC - ALEENA
(A/N: The song Aleena sings in this is called Tier Abhaile Riu. The version I'm referencing is by Celtic Woman. Easily found on Youtube if you want to check it out. First result that appears are the lyrics. The poster isn't Celtic Woman, but it's Celtic Woman's version of it. Also, probably two chapters will go up today. Maybe.)
Advocate
The King and Queen returned early. There was no warning and no message. They arrived and quietly sent for their children, Bernadette, Argus, and Jules. They came without question, plus one more. Aleena saw him there, lingering out of sight in the shadows and listening in on what was about to be discussed. Sleet. She alerted no one to his presence.
"You summoned us, father?" Aleena said, kneeling before the King and Queen along with Bernie, Charles, Jules, and Argus.
"Yes, darlings. There are whispers of battle on the horizon. Knothole has already implemented a draft. Mobotropolis will likely follow," the King said. In the shadows, Sleet stiffened. He didn't like where this was going.
Aleena felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach. "What has given rise to whispers of this battle you speak of?" she asked her father worriedly.
"The humans have rallied, Aleena," her mother solemnly said. "Fearmongering has given rise to hate and mistrust, so now they have sworn that nothing will stop them from subjugating and exterminating that which they fear. Our kind."
"They're being played!" Aleena exclaimed, eyes wide. "Surely we can still foster understanding between our two peoples. The lies about our kind are coming from somewhere. If we can just discredit the source…"
"It's too late for that now, Aleena," her father cut off.
Aleena felt her heart sink. "There will be men sent to war who've had no experience in fighting," she tried to argue, shaking her head. "We will send thousands to their deaths!"
"I wish there was another way," her father gravely replied. "Do not fear for Jules. He is well-seasoned in battle."
"And will have me watching his back besides," Charles declared grimly. No way was his brother going off to war alone.
"That only means we have to worry for you both," Bernie said quietly. Aleena was quiet, head bowed. It wasn't Jules and Charles she was most afraid for… It was all the inexperienced ones that would be sent with them.
"Charles is also a warrior well seasoned. As long as he and Jules have each others' backs, they will come home," the King said. The way he looked at his son, though, told them that despite his brave words, he too was every bit as afraid for Charles as they were.
"Very well. If there's no other way, sire, then there's no other way," Jules quietly said, head bowed. "I'll help Argus implement a draft."
"Thank you, Jules. Now that that messy business is done, how were things on the Homefront while we were gone?" King Maurice asked, smiling a strained smile.
"They went well, father. We had a little dinner party for those who lived in the palace or on its grounds. Aleena got sick and went to bed. I assume something disagreed with her," Bernie replied.
"No," Aleena quietly said. All eyes went to her curiously. She winced under them and glanced in Sleet's direction uncertainly. He nodded to her subtly. She turned back to her family and friends. "Someone slipped a drug into my drink," she solemnly said. "I blacked out on my way to my bedroom. I woke up there with no recollection of how I had reached it."
There was utter silence. "What?" he father at last asked, tone low and icy and dangerous.
"C-cuz?" Bernie numbly asked.
"Aleena," her mother, sickly pale, said in dread, covering her mouth with both hands. "Oh gods, Aleena!"
"Who the hell…?" Charles began before cutting himself off, eyes widening. "Her mock knight went after her, after she left," he said numbly. "He came back with that white wolf! He… Argus and I went up right after they came back. She was fine!" he numbly said.
Aleena was pale. The white wolf? Drago… Sleet had omitted that part. Her eyes narrowed and she looked quickly in Sleet's direction suspiciously. He was face-palming, shaking his head. "Guards, find my daughter's tutor and drag him here by the hair if you have to!" the King began.
Aleena started and her head whipped around to her parents again. "No!" she shouted. Sleet started, taken aback by the vehemence in the word. It seemed everyone else was every bit as shocked as he was. Aleena cursed the attention but pressed on. "Father, Sleet is the reason I'm alright. He noted my strange behavior and investigated. He could smell the drug in my glass, so he came after me, presumably with the white wolf, and saw a man bring me into my room. He couldn't identify who. He raced to my aid and began to beat on my door, shouting and threatening to bring it down. The man who drugged me panicked and fled. Sleet broke in shortly after. He saw me laying on my bed partially clothed. He covered me and went to the balcony to try and spot the one who had done it. He saw nothing and he left. He didn't touch me."
"How can you be so certain?" Argus immediately demanded.
She glanced towards Sleet and was silent. She had only his word to go on, she knew. While that was enough for her, it wouldn't be enough for them. She turned back to Argus, eyes narrowed. "Because the man cannot stand the sight of me clothed, let alone undressed," she answered somewhat bitterly. "Besides that, he would have nothing to gain and everything to lose. I trust that he left me unharmed."
"Were you tested?" Bernie demanded.
"No," Aleena confessed.
"Dammit Aleena, then do it! For goodness sakes, you can't take a man at his word!" the King blurted in alarm.
"Not every man is you, sire," Sleet spoke up from the shadows, stepping into the light. All eyes immediately went to him, wide and shocked. The King, though, gave him a look of such hatred and disgust that Sleet immediately stiffened up, eyes wide. "I-I mean that not every man is you in the sense that if they were, your daughter would never have to worry! Of course she should be tested," he quickly covered. Aleena closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose hopelessly. The King looked highly, highly unimpressed, glaring darkly at the man.
"I will summon Dr. Quentin Quack here at once," Sonya said.
"Until he can give us a definitive answer, imprison the wolf," Maurice replied.
"Don't!" Aleena immediately replied. "Father, please. Take me at my word. Sleet did me no harm." Sleet looked quickly at her. "To lock him up, even for a short time, would be like torture to him!" she continued. He felt his skin heat up a little. She had remembered their conversation by the pond in the garden…
There was silence. Soon the Queen turned to Sleet. "Did you truly save our daughter?" she asked.
"Given you named me her knight, it wasn't as if I had much choice," Sleet answered, looking at the woman.
Silence. Soon Sonya turned to Maurice. "Leave him be my love. Do not lock him up. Confine him to palace grounds and should any test return positive, we will deal with him and Drago both."
For a long moment the king glared at the wolf, seriously considering his options from here. "Very well," he at last relented, albeit begrudgingly. "I want guards doubled outside of my daughter's room, both on the palace grounds and in the corridor. No one approaches the princess's chambers without explicit permission. Until we determine who the man is that tried to drug Aleena, she is to be under constant guard."
Aleena shifted uncomfortably. It felt uncomfortably like her freedom was being stripped away layer by layer. She told herself it was only temporary, but that did nothing to make her feel less trapped. She hung her head low. Silently Sleet watched her and couldn't help the twinge of sympathy he felt. He knew all too well what it was like to feel trapped… Quickly he turned away from her, banishing those thoughts.
Two Weeks Later
The young princess, resting her head on her folded arms, watched out over the quiet city from her bedroom balcony feeling despondent and depressed. This marked the second week of her 'imprisonment', as she had taken to mockingly calling it. She hated being under heavy guard. She hated that she couldn't even leave the palace to go outside and walk in the garden. She hated being trapped… On top of that, the whispers of battle were only increasing and growing more and more dire by the day. That disturbed her also, and she wished she had some sort of distraction from her anxious thoughts.
Earlier today her test had come back negative. As soon as her parents had received the good news, her mother had sent for Sleet...
"Your majesties?" her tutor tentatively asked, stepping warily into the throne room. He cried out in alarm when suddenly the queen was there, hugging him tightly. The look of mortification that crossed his face almost drove Aleena to hysterics, but quickly she stifled the laughter with her hands and looked away, biting it back.
"Sir Sleet, thank you. Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. You rescued our daughter from a fate worse than death!" the Queen exclaimed.
"In her eyes or yours?" Sleet flatly replied, trying to shove her away. The Queen, though, would not be deterred. Helplessly he gave up. He would rather endure it then risk harming her by pushing her off.
The King, near to tears, approached. "Thank you, Sir Sleet. From the bottom of my heart, thank you," he said. "I'm sorry to have misjudged you and assumed the worst." Sleet, by that point clearly uncomfortable, shifted uneasily and looked towards Aleena, who grinned beamingly at him. He felt an unwelcome flush climb to his cheeks and awkwardly coughed, looking away from them all.
The Queen released him and stepped back, smiling. "We would reward you, young man. Fifteen-thousand and no less," she said. Aleena could practically see the dollar signs spring to her tutor's eyes. Suddenly he was grinning and paying much more attention. She rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Spend it however you will, be it on yourself or on the little child you take care of or on anything else," the Queen said.
"Oh of course your benevolence. It will be my greatest pleasure. Acting in honor of your daughter that is!" Sleet replied. Aleena scoffed, giving him a disgusted look. He gave her an annoyed one in turn, frowning at her, then quickly returned to grinning at the King and Queen. The King was blatantly unimpressed. The Queen looked amused. It was clear as day that neither of them bought that line of malarkey, but they didn't care enough to comment on it either.
"Well done, Sir Sleet. Keep this up and perhaps you will be free of my daughter's service sooner than we thought," the King said.
"Oh yes sire, of course sire," Sleet replied, bowing to them deeply and backing out of the room. The King sighed in frustration and rolled his eyes, following the wolf to give him his reward.
Aleena giggled softly to herself at the memory. Her tutor had taken the money and his ward and gone into the city. She had watched them leave from her balcony and had wanted nothing more than to go with them just to get out of this palace. She hadn't left her spot since. Her smile slowly disappeared. They would be returning soon. She lifted her head a bit, searching for them, and sat up straighter when she spotted the wolf returning with little Dingo as his side. Sleet held what looked to be some new things for the pup. A small smile crept across her lips again. She wondered if perhaps she could persuade him into a training session. It was late, yes, but she doubted she would be able to sleep much tonight anyway given her numerous concerns surrounding war and imprisonment and death.
She nibbled her lower lip and looked down at the guards patrolling below. Frowning, she considered how she could possibly be rid of them. Wait… Her eyes lit up. "Guards!" she called down to them. They looked quickly up. "I thought I saw a man lurking in the garden! He vanished within. Quickly, go after him. The soldiers outside my bedroom will keep me safe," she said. As expected, the guards below her balcony raced off. They couldn't afford not to, given the circumstances surrounding the matter. As soon as they vanished into the garden, she took hold of the vines growing up alongside her bedroom window and clambered quickly down. Her father would kill her if he ever found out, she knew. She smirked to herself at the thought. She had always enjoyed a risk now and then.
SU
Sleet knelt down in front of Dingo and handed the pup the new things he had procured for him. "Take these to your room and put them away," he said. "Get rid of the old things that don't fit or are too tattered to be fixed."
"Okay Sleet," Dingo said.
"Remember, keep nothing that can't fit into one or two bags," Sleet said.
"Aww. I don't like that rule," Dingo pouted.
"One day it might save your life," Sleet deadpanned. "The less you have to pack, the faster you can get away. Don't forget it."
"Okay," Dingo said, head hung a bit. He perked up right after though, smiling up at his mentor. "Thanks Sleet!" he chirped, turning and racing away to go to his bedroom.
Sleet crossed his arms, watching after the pup, and shook his head. He turned to look towards Aleena's bedroom and started when he saw the princess climbing down the vines growing alongside it. He frowned warily. What was this now? Where were her guards? Had she finally determined to free herself from her little prison? If so, what was her game? Just where did she plan on running off to? He approached quietly, sneaking up on her.
SU
Aleena reached the ground and let go of the vines. Smiling triumphantly, she turned in the direction she'd seen Sleet. She gasped in alarm, jumping when she saw him standing in front of her. He was so close that there was barely space between them. She held her breath in shock, looking up at him and cursing the heat she felt rising to her cheeks.
"Going somewhere princess?" he asked.
She let out a breath and frowned at him in vague annoyance. "I was coming to see you," she answered.
"You couldn't have used the bedroom door?" he asked.
"You know perfectly well I couldn't. Guards are stationed outside and would have followed me. Father and mother want to be very certain of my continued safety. Until the man who drugged me is found, or they deem it safe to relax my security, I am to be escorted at all times if I'm allowed to leave at all. Or so it will go if they have their way," she said.
He smirked a little at the note of defiance in her tone. "Then what business do you have with me?" he asked.
"You promised to teach me to shoot," she answered. "Our training sessions, I think, have been delayed long enough."
"It's late, don't you think?" he asked.
"I don't believe I could sleep if I tried," Aleena answered, bowing her head and rubbing an arm in a troubled manner.
For a moment he was silent, reading her. "Is news of war so distressing to you?" he finally asked.
"It is the possibility of the people I love dying, that distresses me most," she replied.
"Then fortunately for you, I'm more likely to die than either your brother or the Commander," Sleet dryly replied. She tilted her head curiously at him. "Pawns are always the first to be sacrificed," he bitterly said with a smirk.
"Jules will vouch for you, and my father's gratitude will turn in your favor," she replied.
"Your father's gratitude will only extend so far," Sleet replied. "Maybe I won't see frontline duty, but I'm not going to be far from it," Sleet said.
"Jules wouldn't hear of it," Aleena said.
"Jules doesn't have half as much power as you think he does," Sleet replied.
Aleena was quiet, uncertainty filling her eyes as she looked off to the side, avoiding her tutor's gaze. Soon, though, she turned to him once more. "Teach me to shoot," she said, changing the subject entirely.
Sleet frowned. Clearly the threat of battle was the last thing she wanted to think about now. Very well. "Fine," he answered. He took out a blaster and offered it to her.
Aleena reached out and took it from him. "Where is yours?" she asked.
"That one is mine," he said. "I won't need one to teach you in its use. Show me how you aim." She considered his words, stepped back, and raised the gun, training it on his chest. He was vastly amused.
"Teach me how to defeat you," she said, a small smile creeping across her lips. Taking her wrists, he pointed them upwards so the gun was aimed at the sky instead of him.
"First things first. Don't aim it at anyone you don't intend to kill," he said.
"I didn't," she replied innocently.
He smirked, a glint in his eyes. "That, my lady, will take far more skill than you currently have," he said.
"The greatest swordsman need not fear the second greatest, but the amateur," she answered.
"When dealing with amateurs, I throw out all rules and assume they themselves have none," he replied with a smirk. "Now, do you know what the safety is?" he asked.
"Assume I know absolutely nothing," she answered. He nodded and started at the very beginning.
SU
The hours passed by quickly. Aleena took aim at the post they'd been using as a target. Sleet inspected her form then moved up beside her and lifted her arms a little more, sighting the shot from behind. Aleena pulled the trigger and gasped excitedly when she hit it. "An excellent shot. Especially for shooting by moonlight," he praised. "You have promise." She smiled and lowered the blaster. "Safety on," he reminded. She did so and handed it back to him over her shoulder. He took the gun and tucked it away.
"Father and mother are planning a celebration for the soldiers who will go off to battle," she said. "A banquet in their honor with dancing."
"You aristocrats do like your lavish parties, don't you?" he dryly asked.
"You're hardly one to talk," she said, looking back and up at him with a frown. "You have a taste for the finer things yourself I notice."
"Yes, but I don't get the luxury of having them at my beck and call," he said.
"They'll be at your beck and call the night of the banquet," she said, turning around and folding her hands in front of herself. "My parents will put no limit on what the conscripted soldiers may ask for. Within reason of course."
"Then there is a limit," he said.
"You know what I mean," she replied with a frown. He rolled his eyes and looked towards the moon. "You should try to sleep," she soon said.
"So should you, princess, but I don't see you jumping at it," he replied.
"I'm heading to bed right now. Just as soon as I'm able to sneak back into my bedroom," she answered, sticking up her nose.
"Are you now?" he replied. "We'll see about that come tomorrow's practice session."
"Yes. We will," she coldly replied, walking away from him. She paused briefly, hesitating a moment, and looked back. "Goodnight, Sleet," she said.
"Goodnight," he answered, watching after her. Nodding, she left, and he stayed behind trying to figure out when and how they had gotten to the point of goodnights… Uncomfortably he shifted. He watched her creep up close to her balcony where the guardsmen were stationed. They had long ago returned to their posts, probably oblivious to the fact the princess was even out of her bedroom. It would be harder getting in than it had been to get out. It seemed that was something Aleena hadn't taken into consideration. He harrumphed. "Guards, someone is spying over the walls!" he shouted, pointing at the castle walls. Immediately the men raced away from the window. To keep up appearances, Sleet ran with them. Aleena would take it from there. Aleena watched after them and smiled a little before rising, running to the ivy growing alongside her bedroom and climbing up it quickly and quietly.
SU
Aleena, smirking, swung herself over the railing of her balcony and entered her bedroom and sighed. "Just where were you, young lady?" a cold and unimpressed voice suddenly asked.
Aleena caught her breath, going pale and looked quickly over with eyes wide. "P-papa," she said in shock. Sure enough, there stood her father fuming. "Father, I-I needed air. I've been cooped up inside for so long! I couldn't stand it anymore, I couldn't. I only needed to be outside for a little while. I swear to you, I…"
"Enough!" her father sharply snapped. She clamped her mouth quickly shut, staring miserably at him. She was caught, and there was no getting out of it. "How could you be so stupid Aleena? Someone is out there attempting to drug and have his way with you, and you-you-you go climbing out of the castle and away from your guardsmen expecting nothing bad will happen?!"
"I never left the palace grounds!" she insisted.
"He was on the palace grounds!" her father yelled.
"He was in the castle itself in my room! How then is keeping me here any safer than if you allow me to wander in the courtyard?" she demanded.
"Enough! There will be no more discussion. Expect the guards to be tripled and your meals to be delivered directly to your room. Gods help you if you set foot outside it," her father heatedly said.
"No, you can't do that!" Aleena protested.
"Watch me!" he snapped, storming out. Her mouth quivered and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, sniffing and closing her eyes. She hated this. She hated every second of it. She just wanted to feel free again…
SU
Sleet paced restlessly, agitatedly waiting for Aleena in the training room. He checked the time. She was horrendously late. Growling, he turned on his heel and marched out to confront the King and Queen. When he reached the throne room doors, Argus stopped him. "Halt. What business have you with the King and Queen?" the Captain demanded.
"Get out of the way, dolt! What's the only business I ever have with them?" Sleet retorted. "Aleena is late. Again! I want answers."
Argus grimaced then sighed. "You aren't going to like them, Sleet," he said, shaking his head.
"Try me," Sleet bit, shoving passed the man. Argus frowned after him in annoyance and rolled his eyes.
SU
The moment the door was thrown open, both the King and Queen sharply looked up. The King bristled upon seeing who it was. The Queen seemed mildly uncomfortable and squirmed a little. "Sir Sleet, what is it?" Sonya questioned.
"Where is Aleena?" he demanded.
"She hasn't gone to her lessons?" Sonya asked, looking defeated.
"This marks the third day," Sleet bitterly replied. "You could at least give me a courtesy excuse so I don't end up wasting my time waiting for nothing! Now where is your daughter?"
"In her bedroom," the King coldly said. "She hasn't been permitted to leave it since the night she snuck out to frolic in the palace gardens."
Sleet started, blinking. The King had learned about it? There was a beat of silence. "She what?" he finally asked.
"I was passing by my daughter's room. As I did so, the guards told me she had spotted someone in the garden and sent the men outside after the person. Naturally, I was concerned for her safety and went to check. What should I find but an empty room with no signs of a struggle? It wasn't hard to deduce," the King answered. "Since she insists on being a perfect fool, I tripled her guards and locked her in her bedroom. There she can stay until she's lost that defiant little streak of hers and learned general self-preservation."
"And you didn't think to give me the courtesy of knowing as much so I wouldn't waste my time?!" Sleet heatedly demanded. "Sir what did you expect? Your daughter is spirited to say the least. That you thought for a moment you could contain her in that room was ridiculous! Princess Aleena is capable of defending herself, and when she isn't, she has her guards and she has me, the mock knight you so 'graciously' bestowed on her."
"She is also reckless! She went out wandering alone with no protection or even any weapons to defend herself with. What did she plan on doing if the man targeting her was lingering around?" the King demanded.
"She wasn't alone! Give your daughter credit for more brains than that. She…" Sleet began before trailing off, catching himself before he spouted anything further. He weighed his options, grimaced, then sighed and took a chance. "She came to me," he said. The King and Queen both started, eyes widening. "She came and found me, and she expressed a desire to start up her lessons again, so we did. We practiced shooting."
"Why did it not cross your mind to report our daughter's escape to us?!" the King demanded in outrage.
"Because I'm her knight, not yours," Sleet replied. "Sire, she was safe and perfectly capable of fighting for herself or at my side if anything went wrong, but nothing did. You can't keep her locked up in her room like some songbird! It's breaking her, sire, don't you see? That's why she snuck out in the first place! She never would have if she hadn't been going stir-crazy cooped up in her bedroom. She honors and respects her parents too much for that. You couldn't seriously think that it would stay that way, though, if you didn't let her breathe and allow her some small form of freedom!" He told himself to shut up. He kept searching for an answer as to why he was rising to the pest's defense, but no answer was presenting itself. He just knew she wanted to be free, and he understood that far better than he ever wanted to admit to himself. He empathized with her, as much as he was loathe to admit it, so he couldn't help himself and he couldn't stay quiet. Not in regards to this.
"How dare…?" the King began.
"You will kill her before anyone else does if you keep her locked away!" Sleet snapped viciously, stepping towards him but holding himself back from advancing further. Call it self-preservation. "Do you even know if she's eaten or drank anything since last you spoke to her? Your daughter isn't meant for this! Maybe Aleena is willing to accept a tether for her peoples' sake and yours, but she's not willing to accept a cage!"
"So help me man, I will have you shot if you speak another word about my daughter!" the King shouted, shooting to his feet.
"I want to exchange rewards," Sleet said, crossing his arms and glaring at the man. "All the money you offered me, including what I've already spent, if you let your daughter go. Let her go and I'll play her personal bodyguard. She'll go nowhere alone, that I can promise. I'll be her tether."
"You…!" the King began.
"Sit down, Maurice!" Queen Sonya snapped sharply and testily. King Maurice looked at her in shock. "Sit!" she barked viciously, pointing at the seat. Immediately the man sat, staring at her with wide and somewhat fearful eyes. "Our daughter's tutor speaks no lie," Sonya dangerously said. "We are torturing her keeping her locked away in here. I will not drive my daughter away! I refuse to let her grow to hate me."
"Sonya, she…" Maurice began.
"She is old enough to make her own decisions. At least most of the time. If Sleet will be her constant bodyguard, and she goes nowhere unarmed, then give her that freedom for gods' sakes," Sonya hissed. "Yes, keep her confined to the palace and the courtyard, but allow her to go beyond that on the condition she takes at least one guardian with her, be it Sleet, Argus, Jules, or anyone else willing to stand at her side in case something goes wrong. She will wither and die locked up in this place. I won't have that on my conscience."
"I…" the King began. He hesitated, considering his wife's words and Sleet's, then sighed in defeat, hanging his head. "So be it," he at last murmured.
Sonya nodded and gently squeezed his arm. He looked defeatedly at her. She smiled reassuringly. "Everything will be alright," she promised. The King wasn't so convinced.
"I'll work on repaying…" Sleet began.
"No. You won't. Keep the money from your reward, young man. For the child's sake, if nothing else. You've talked sense into the both of us. I half suspect that's in fact why my husband lashed out at you so badly. He's never been fond of having mistakes pointed out to him," Sonya said, rising with a gentle smile. "Go on then. Return to the barracks or the training grounds. The King and I will deal with our daughter."
"Majesty," Sleet replied, bowing to her lowly then turning and walking out with a swish of his cape.
SU
Aleena stood in the music room, looking around it despondently. It had taken all the charm she had to convince Argus to allow her to visit it in secret. It was something, at least. Something more than her bedroom. She'd been sorely neglecting this place as of late. Truth be told she missed it dearly. She dabbled in a few instruments. Fiddle, flute, and harp all had a special place in her heart. She was fond of piano too, but not quite as much as the other three. Harp was her favorite, and so the harp was the instrument she went to. She chose a small one, which she could hold in her hands, then perched on the window seat and began to pluck the strings. A small smile crossed her lips for the first time in days.
She wasn't at practice long before her mother came in and paused to listen to her. Aleena, noticing the woman, gasped, looking like a child with their hand caught in the cookie jar. "Don't worry, dearest. I won't tell," her mother said. Aleena bowed her head and lay the harp down to the side, closing her eyes. "Don't stop your practice on my account," the queen fondly said. Aleena felt tears threatening her eyes. "You hate this, don't you?" her mother gently said. Aleena sniffed and frustratedly wiped her eyes, despising the tears there. "You know we only want to keep you safe," her mother softly said.
"By locking me away from the world?" Aleena quietly asked.
"That was the biggest mistake we've made yet," her mother dryly said. "In fact, it's for that reason I've come here." Aleena looked curiously up at her. "You have an advocate my love," the Queen said, crossing the room and sitting next to her daughter, reaching out and gently brushing a strand of Aleena's hair behind her child's ear. "A potent and zealous one at that." Aleena frowned, tilting her head curiously. "Freedom is very important to you, isn't it? It's very, very important to him too, it would seem."
Aleena started, eyes widening in shock. "Sleet?" she asked in disbelief. Her mother only smiled. Aleena let out a stunned breath, eyes straying from her mother to look at the ground as she tried to process that.
"It seems that for all his distaste of you, he wasn't able to stand by and do nothing while you wasted away a prisoner in your own home," the Queen said. "He was very… direct. With both your father and I. Efficient too. It opened our eyes well and good, to be sure. That a man who hated you was willing to give up all he had been rewarded, as well as vow his service as your bodyguard in exchange for your freedom, opened our eyes. I wouldn't suggest, though, that you let him know you know as much. It might sting his stubborn pride."
"He-he was willing to… Sleet? As in my tutor?" Aleena asked, cursing the heat rising to her cheeks.
Sonya couldn't help but laugh at the response, and nodded with a grin. Aleena stared at her mother in stunned disbelief. "You're free, darling. Of the inside of this palace at least," Sonya said, reaching out and cupping her daughter's cheek. "Wander it and its grounds as free as you please, but should you go beyond the safety of these walls, you cannot go alone. You must take a guard or guards with you, and they must remain at your side. Understood?"
"Yes!" Aleena blurted before her mother had even finished speaking, shooting to her feet. "Yes mother, yes!" She threw her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly. "Thank you mummy. Thank you so much."
"Your father and I are not the ones to thank, but we'll take it since your tutor won't," Sonya replied, hugging her daughter back with a grin. The girl laughed through happy tears.
SU
Aleena, wearing her usual dress and carrying a violin, pushed open the doors of the palace and stepped out into the training yard. Once outdoors in the beautiful light of the sun, she felt all the tension and stress that had been building up inside her melt away. A grin parted her lips as she watched a flock of elegant birds flying high above. She looked around the main courtyard. A few guards and soldiers mingled about, Argus and Jules among them. Jules was further away and paying attention to Bernadette. Aleena's smile slowly fell. A part of her was saddened to see as much, but another part was thrilled for her cousin. Goodness knew how much it must mean to Bernie that Jules' attentions were on her now.
Aleena looked around again. Countess Katrina was present also, with Lady Windermere and Titus. They were mingling with Argus, who was flirting with Lady Windermere. She scanned the area once more and started. Sleet was there too. He sat off to the side on his own, whetting his blade and not really paying attention to anyone or anything. An impish smirk crossed Aleena's lips and she lifted the violin into a starting position. Her eyes sparkled a bit. It had been a long time since she had done anything like this. She would see soon enough if she still had the magic touch. Grinning, she boldly drew the bow across the violin, striking up a lively song and dancing out into the courtyard as all eyes turned to her curiously, interest peaked all around. Sleet raised a curious eyebrow. Bernie, Windermere, and Katrina grinned, exchanging looks, and hurried to the princess's side, preparing to join her in her song.
"Look how the lights of the town, the lights of the town are shining now. Tonight I'll be dancing around, I'm off on the road to Knothole now," she sang.
"Look how she's off on the town, she's off on the search for soldiers; though there's fine fellas here to be found, she's never been one to stay at home," the others sang, dancing around Aleena. The Princess beamed at them and gasped when suddenly someone caught her wrists firmly, pulling her from her cousin and friends. She started when she saw who it was. Sleet, who was smirking down at her in amusement.
"Home you'll go and it's there you'll stay, and you've work to do in the morning. Give up your dream of going away, forget your soldiers in Knothole," he sang.
"Oh go home, oh go home, oh go home Aleena. Oh go home and stay at home because your match is made," the three women sang, backing him up.
Aleena grinned mischievously and pulled away from Sleet, continuing to dance and play her fiddle, dress twirling all around her. Sleet couldn't help but watch a moment before going after her. Aleena pushed the violin into Titus's hands. The nobleman smiled at her and took up the song where she had left off. Aleena for her part took her tutor's hands in hers and drew him with her, skipping backwards as she continued to sing.
"Come now and follow me down, down to the lights of Knothole, where there's fine soldiers walking the town and waiting to meet the ladies there."
Sleet quickly stopped her and gestured towards Jules. "Watch now he'll soon be along, he's finer than any soldier; so come on now, pick up your spoons, he's waiting to hear you play them."
"Whoo!" Aleena cut off, releasing his hands and spinning around.
"Here today and she's gone tomorrow and next she's going to Knothole. Jiggin' around and off to town and won't be back until mornin'!" Argus sang towards them, clapping his hands in time with the music and stomping his foot.
"Oh go home, oh go home, oh go home Aleena. Oh go home and stay at home because your match is made," her cousin and friends sang.
Aleena laughed and took Sleet's hands again, pulling him into a fast-paced dance and song. They were joined by the soldiers, guards, and guests. Titus continued merrily playing the tune. Aleena and Sleet spun and danced around with the music, jigging through the courtyard without hesitation and, when a slower section came up, swaying one another before picking it up once more. Twirling under Sleet's arm a few times, she let him go as quickly as she'd swept him up, turning her back on him and placing her hands on her hips.
"Off with a spring in my step, the soldiers are searching Knothole for a young lady such as myself, for reels and jigs and maybe more," she sang as she sashayed towards the gates, hips swaying in a pronounced fashion to match the playfulness of the section. Sleet grinned and moved swiftly after her, taking her arm and spinning her around to face him, causing her to gasp a bit in pleasant surprise.
"Stay here and never you mind, the lights of the town are blinding you. The soldiers they come and they go, but listen to what's reminding you," he sang, waggling his finger at her. Quickly he let go and began to circle her, spinning around as he did so. "Handsome men surrounding you, dancing a reel around you!" She watched his every step excitedly, ecstatic that he knew the song. He stopped in front of her once more and continued. "Home you'll go and it's there you'll stay, and you've work to do in the morning. Give up your dream of going away, forget your soldiers in Knothole," he sang.
"Oh go home, oh go home, oh go home Aleena. Oh go home and stay at home because your match is made," Bernie, Windermere, and Katrina sang.
Once more the two of them swept one another up into the dance, Aleena grinning and relishing every moment of it. He turned her so she danced with her back to his front, wrapping the princess in his embrace and hopping around with the music, spinning her as they went. When a slower part began, he again began to sway her. "Listen to the music flow, I'm falling for the flow of home. I'm home to dance 'til dawning," the princess sang with a smile as they rocked side to side. There was a sad note in her voice though, and this time she continued with the chorus, not her friends and cousin. "Oh go home, oh go home, oh go home Aleena. Oh go home and stay at home because your match is made!" she sang, pulling away from him with a bitter and somewhat angry note making its way into her voice. He winced and quickly reached out, catching her hand and pulling her back to him. She looked up at the man in a measure of surprise.
"Stay awhile and we'll dance together now as the light is falling. We'll reel away 'til the break of day and dance together 'til morning," he sang, spinning her around and around as he did so. She felt her cheeks flush. "Oh go home, oh go home, oh go home Aleena. Oh go home and stay at home because your match is made. Oh go home, oh go home, oh go home Aleena. Oh go home and stay at home because your match is made. Your match is made, your match is made!" he finished, pulling her flush against him as the song came to a bold finish. She beamed up at her partner thrilled, heart pounding in excitement.
SU
Applause rang out from all those who had watched the scene. It took Sleet and Aleena a moment to realize how close to one another they actually were. When they did, their grins vanished in a blink and they released one another quickly with soft gasps, stepping back and staring at one another with eyes wide. Aleena stood stock still, suddenly feeling extremely nervous and flustered. It was best for both of them, she determined, not to say anything right now. Then again, someone had to break the ice and he was clearly incapable of it.
"You know it," she said, opting to start with that common ground.
"Both the English and Irish parts of it," he confirmed. Awkward silence. "The song couldn't fit you more perfectly," he dryly continued after a moment. "Go back into the castle and stay there. Stop this nonsense of yours. I have better things to do than play babysitter."
Aleena winced a bit and turned to the others who were all drifting off now, Jules with Bernadette on his arm… She turned away from the sight, bowing her head, then looked up and spotted Titus waiting for her, her fiddle in his arms. She approached the nobleman, taking back her violin and giving him a grateful smile. He smiled back, bowing to her, then left to join Katrina. Aleena turned to Sleet once more, holding her violin close, and approached, coming up next to him. She looked up at her tutor. "I… I wanted to thank you," she soon said.
"For what?" he bluntly asked, frowning at her curiously.
"For securing me a small measure of freedom," she replied. He started, shifted uncomfortably, then cleared his throat and looked away from her. For a long moment, there was silence. "Why?" she finally questioned. He gave her a curious look. She turned to him. "Why did you do it?" she asked.
He was quiet. "Because I did," he finally answered.
"That's only another way of saying you don't know," she replied. He was silent, watching her. They heard laughter not far off and both turned quickly in its direction. Jules and Bernadette were there, walking hand in hand and beaming at one another. Aleena's heart twisted uncomfortably in her chest. "May I ask you something?" she questioned.
"You've had no problem with it before," he dryly replied. She frowned at him in vague annoyance. "Why ask me in particular?" he suspiciously asked, turning to her.
She looked away, bowing her head. "Because I do not have many confidants, and the ones I do have are not always given to deep conversation, so you'll have to do," she answered.
"I can't be bothered listening to your little problems," he replied.
"It's your duty to do so if I order it," she answered. He gave her a dark look, eyes narrowed. She looked away from him, bowing her head again. "But I won't," she said.
Silence again. Sleet began to feel uncomfortable with it. "Fine," he at last relented.
She nodded and looked at him. "Give me your honest, unbiased opinion. Do you believe Jules is a good match for me?" she asked.
He gave her a curious look, raising an eyebrow. "To put it simply? No," he answered.
"Because...?" she pressed.
"He lacks your adventurous spirit," Sleet replied.
"That's hardly a deal breaker, Sleet," she said.
"He lacks your entire spirit," he deadpanned.
"Do you presume to know what my spirit is?" she asked.
"No, but I've seen enough of it that I know it isn't his," Sleet answered. "As far as romantic compatibility goes, there's precious little of it. You couldn't give him the life he wants, and he certainly couldn't give you the life you do. You want different things."
"Then which suitor of mine most matches my spirit?" she demanded.
"None," he replied. "Look elsewhere or stay single. It isn't so bad."
"You're twenty-three and hardly one to talk," she answered.
"Well you're nineteen and shouldn't be looking for a lover anyway," he answered with a smirk.
"I wasn't," she confessed quietly. He raised an eyebrow and decided it was probably best he not ask. He could guess at the meaning of those words as was. Hearing them spoken out loud and confirmed would just agitate him.
"Then why are you asking me to validate what you already know?" he questioned instead.
"And what is it I supposedly know?" she asked.
"You tell me," he answered.
Aleena was quiet. "We are not a good match," she finally said. It was the first time she had admitted it to herself let alone to anyone else. She bowed her head. "But my mother…" she began.
"It isn't your mother whose happiness is at stake," Sleet replied. "Don't marry for your mother or for your father or for anyone. Marry for yourself."
"Not all of us can afford that luxury, Sleet," she answered.
He gave her a puzzled frown. "What do you mean?" he questioned against his better judgement. "Maybe most expect the royal line to pass through the queen, but it doesn't have to. Not when that queen has a sibling and cousin perfectly capable of bearing would-be heirs themselves."
"Bernadette cannot inherit the crown. She is my father's niece through marriage, not blood. For that reason her children can never claim it. There is a chance that maybe they would be a very last resort, if no one else could be found, but it's a very slim chance. Charles for his part has rejected the throne completely. It falls to me now. Charles has no children of his own, nor do I think he ever will. Should I die childless, that will be it. If Charles and Bernadette never bear children, the royal line must pass through me, so you see? I have no choice."
"You're a naïve little girl," he said, shaking his head at her with a frown. "You presume far too much far too soon. Give your poor brother a chance, why don't you? You aren't obliged to live up to the expectations of others, Aleena, and you know that."
"I feel trapped," she admitted.
"But you aren't," he said.
"My mother…" she began.
"Isn't a child," he cut off.
"I don't want to hurt her," she said quietly.
"You can't spare everyone from pain, Princess. If you think you can, you're in for a rude awakening," Sleet replied.
"So you say," she replied.
"Do you believe me?" he asked.
For a moment she was quiet. "I do," she finally answered, wrapping her arms around herself. "I wish I didn't." There was silence between them again. "Why…?" she finally began before stopping herself. He gave her a curious look. "Never mind. It's a foolish question from a foolish girl."
"I called you naïve, not foolish," he replied.
She was quiet, rubbing her arms, and shook her head, looking away. "Why do you hate me?" she at last questioned. "Am I really so distasteful to you?"
He was silent. She looked over at him. He watched her in silence, carefully considering his answer before deciding it was best he not answer at all. "It's late. You should go back inside," he finally said. She hung her head and nodded, not pressing the matter. For that he was relieved.
"Goodnight, Sleet," she said, turning and walking away.
He watched her silently. "Goodnight," he quietly said after her. He hated the uncomfortable feeling twisting in his stomach, and let out a shaking breath as she vanished inside. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his communicator with a shaking hand and stared at it a long moment. Closing his eyes tight and shaking his head, he activated it. "Drago, come in," he said.
"Is it time?" Drago asked coldly and evenly.
Sleet was silent for a moment. Perhaps too long of a moment... "It's time," he finally said. "We move tomorrow night." Drago chuckled darkly on the other end and cut off communication. Sleet let out a shaking breath, closing his eyes and swallowing.