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SONIC CHAOS 3: UNDERGROUND ARC - ALEENA
Burning Fire
Aleena sat in her room, doing up her hair for the ball. She hoped her mother had delivered the message to Sleet so he didn't find himself waiting in the garden only for her not to show up. She dreaded nothing more than that. There was a knock on her door. "Yes?" she called.
"Aleena dear, may I come in?" she heard her father call.
"Yes," Aleena replied.
Her father pushed open the door and took a seat in her room with a smile. "Excited for the dancing dearest?"
Aleena smiled. "You know me too well papa," she said. It was about the only part of these balls she thoroughly enjoyed. At least when she had a halfway decent partner.
"Have you made a choice, I wonder?" he asked.
She frowned curiously. "A choice?" she asked, finishing off her hair.
"On which suitor you will marry," he said.
Aleena froze and for a long moment there was silence and stillness. At last she finished off her hair and turned around, frowning at him. "No. I haven't," she firmly replied, mildly annoyed at the question.
"Well, you're fast running out of options dear," the King said. "Titus has withdrawn his hand. I can only assume it's because of his infatuation with Countess Katrina. Argus has hung in there, but his interest in Lady Windermere grows each passing day. Jules… well, I'm given to understand he's been spending quite a lot of time with your cousin."
"Then he may have her," Aleena said.
"He may not," her father firmly said.
Aleena frowned at him. "It is Jules' choice which of us he courts," she said.
"He had already chosen you," the King replied.
"Father!" Aleena snapped.
"Daughter!" he snapped back. For a moment there was an intense glare-off between them. "If not Jules, then who?" he finally asked.
"Who I choose as my husband is none of your concern," she replied.
"It's every bit my concern!" he replied.
"It's my life!" she shot.
"It's my throne and legacy!" he responded.
"Only until I inherit it," she bitterly answered, crossing her arms. "This ball, father, is not another opportunity to scout out potential suitors or reiterate my interest in those I have already selected. I am attending for the dancing and music, nothing else. This conversation is over."
"Fine," her father coldly said.
"Fine," she testily replied. "Now leave. I need to change." Huffing, her father turned and left. Aleena glared after him. What on earth had gotten into him, she bitterly wondered? With a frustrated sigh, she went to her wardrobe to select the gown she would wear.
SU
Sleet, standing with Jules, Bernadette, and Charles, looked bitterly around the ballroom at the gathered guests mingling and laughing and eating. "A debutant ball and banquet to celebrate the capture of the princess's kidnapper. Of all the ridiculous things," Sleet complained to his companions.
"Dad and Queen Sonya are great rulers, but they have their indulgent moments," Charles said. "Besides, they like things multipurpose."
"Who are you to complain anyway? You quite enjoy these little parties I notice. At least the food and drink part of them," Bernadette said. "Champagne tastes on a beer budget, Sleet?"
"Bite your tongue, Miss Peasant-Tastes-on-a-Champagne-Budget," he deadpanned, frowning at her in annoyance. "You're as bothersome as your cousin." Bernie rolled her eyes at him. "Just where is she anyway?" Sleet asked, looking around.
"Here she comes," Jules said looking towards the stairs with a smile, a note of affection in his voice.
Sleet frowned and turned curiously to look. His eyes widened and he caught his breath when he saw her standing at the top of the stairs. His mouth suddenly felt dry, but he couldn't bring himself to turn away to take a drink. His eyes locked on the princess and remained fixed there. His gaze followed her every step of the way. She beamed down at her guests and the awe-struck men stricken dumb by her. He hated that he was among them. She graciously accepted the hand-kisses of those who knew her well enough to greet her with such, be they potential suitor or old family friend. All the while he stood utterly still, feeling like he couldn't have moved if he tried.
"What on Mobius is the occasion?" he at last found the words to ask.
"Maybe she's trying to look real nice for someone tonight," Charles replied, nudging his brother playfully. Jules smirked knowingly in turn like the two were sharing some little inside joke that was going above Sleet's head. He scowled at them in distaste before turning attention back to Aleena. Catching sight of them, the princess smiled and made her way towards their group, weaving through the crowds. Very soon she had joined them.
"Aleena, what's the occasion?" Bernie teased, taking her sister's hands and squeezing them gently. "You almost look more lovely tonight than you did at your debutante ball. Almost."
"There's no occasion, Bernie. I simply felt like dressing up," she answered.
"Dressing up? You hardly seem dressed at all," Sleet nipped.
She gave him an annoyed look. "Oh?" she coldly asked.
"Your dress is missing its back, your highness," he said, smirking coldly. "Its sleeves as well it seems. And oh, did it get cut with a knife down your thigh?" She flushed a little and looked away in a measure of embarrassment. He immediately regretted his words and grimaced. With a sigh, he turned to her. "Whatever the matter, it is stunning. I'll give it that," he bitterly said. "Doubtless there isn't a man here who'll be able to take his eyes off it. Or the woman wearing it."
She turned to him curiously then smirked in amusement. "Why Sleet, is that jealousy I hear?" she teased.
"I'm not the one courting you, princess. He is," Sleet replied bluntly, frowning at her and narrowing his eyes as he pointed to Jules. Jules, smirking at Bernadette, started and flushed brightly when the spotlight was thrown on him, turning quickly with eyes wide. "Though the way he's been looking at your cousin in your absence, perhaps it isn't as faithful a courtship as your father would believe," Sleet added.
This time both Bernie and Aleena flushed, exchanging concerned glances before turning back to Sleet with matching frowns. "Don't be ridiculous! Nothing official has been announced between Jules and Aleena. At this point the Commander is little more than a potential suitor. Now if they made it official, Uncle would have cause for concern," Bernadette said.
"You might want to tell the King that then, my Lady," Sleet replied, smirking coldly at her. "He told my ward not long ago that Jules and Aleena had been promised to one another." Bernie caught her breath, stiffening and paling. Her eyes grew wide and fearful. Jules as well looked stunned, then immediately after nervous. He shot a quick and uneasy look at Aleena. "Oops. He didn't tell you? Well, perhaps he's gone senile," Sleet mocked, shrugging his shoulders.
Recovering herself, Bernie narrowed her eyes and frowned at him. She huffed and turned to Jules, taking his hand. "Come Jules. Dance with me," she commanded. She would leave no doubt in her Uncle's mind that no promise had yet been given to Aleena. Jules nodded and followed her, casting a worried look back at Aleena and Sleet once more before he disappeared into the crowds with Bernadette.
"Well, guess I'm off to find Rosie then," Charles said, looking a bit awkward.
"You go do that," Sleet said.
Charles frowned at him, unimpressed, and looked worriedly at Aleena. "Watch yourself baby sis. Be careful how you play things out tonight, will you? Please?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, puzzled.
"Dad's not in a good mood, and if he's starting to say stuff like what Sleet claims, well… You know how he can be when his mind is set. Just… try not to do anything that'll make it worse, okay?" Chuck said. With that he left, Aleena watching after him in concern.
SU
Once left alone, Aleena turned to Sleet with a frown. "That was cruel and unnecessary," she said.
"Better to be forewarned than caught by surprise," he answered with a shrug. "So it was a little harsh. It got the point across."
She frowned at him in annoyance, then looked down at herself uncertainly. "Do you really think the dress is too much?" she asked a bit nervously.
"For a twenty-year-old barely out of her teens? Yes," Sleet deadpanned.
She frowned at him a bit, then looked down at her dress again in concern. "Perhaps I should change," she fretted. "I did feel it was a little too revealing, but I… I don't know what I thought."
"Put it out of your mind. What's done is done. Leave it alone and dance with me," Sleet said, turning to her and taking her into a starting dance position. "I promise you, no man who so much as looks at you the wrong way will keep looking for long."
She flushed a little. "Do you like it?" she asked timidly.
"Yes, but I would much prefer if it were for one man's eyes instead of many," he replied. She flushed deeply, hating the thoughts racing through her mind, and offered him a coy little smirk. He smiled back and swayed her in time with the music. Soon enough her self-consciousness was forgotten, and her entire focus was on her partner. Dance after dance they stuck with one another, bantering sometimes playfully and sometimes more maliciously, but no matter the banter they shared, neither could be parted from the other. They were in fact so caught up in one another that they never even gave a second thought to the prying eyes watching…
SU
The King glared darkly at his youngest daughter, currently locked in the arms of her wolf knight. "She has danced with no one else all night," Sonya noted in approval. Her husband was not so pleased. King Maurice watched carefully, eyes narrowed.
"Whispers of battle have increased. Soon it will be inevitable," he said to her. "I think we should put our daughter's young knight on the front lines."
Sonya started and looked quickly at him, wary of the coldness of his words and the bitterness in his tone. "What? Whatever for?" she asked.
"Because I don't like the way he looks at our daughter," the King darkly answered.
Sonya was silent. "You will need more reason than that to convince me to let you attempt such a spiteful, petty thing. You aren't playing with dice, Maurice. You're playing with a man's life. A life Aleena has become quite fond of. If he decides he should like to be counted as a suitor, why shouldn't he be?"
"He kidnapped our daughter!" the King snapped.
Sonya started, eyes widening. For a long moment, there was silence. "What?" she finally whispered in a hiss.
"He was the one who orchestrated Aleena's kidnapping," the King lowly replied. "He worked with the white wolf to imprison her!"
"But-but that makes no sense! He brought her back, hunted down his associate, dragged him before us, and presented him on a silver platter," Sonya said.
"That doesn't excuse him from everything else! That man didn't save our daughter out of the goodness of his heart. She simply offered him more than Drago could," Maurice darkly replied. He looked back at the dancing couple. "In more ways than one it seems," he bitterly added.
"Maurice," Sonya whispered in shock. "Aleena is a smarter girl than that!"
"She is still just a girl," the King replied. "And her tutor a very jaded, very dangerous, very clever man. A master deceiver and manipulator. Aleena is smart, yes, but naivety and intelligence do not run hand-in-hand. Understanding things is not the same as experiencing them. Sonya, I only want to protect our daughter from herself."
"You trust her too little, Maurice. She doesn't need your protection!" Sonya insisted.
"Of course she does! Look at the man she dances with," he said, gesturing to Sleet. "My dear, I have bent so many rules for her. When she would not entertain kings and princes, I gave her lords and aristocrats. When even among them none could be found that pleased her, I gave her knights and warriors. When even those fell short, I went so far as to give her the working class and peasants! She may have any man she pleases in all the world, but I draw the line at criminals! Why is that unreasonable?"
"It isn't. What's unreasonable is that you won't even give him a chance to show you whether or not he has chosen to leave his criminal past behind," she said.
"Once a scoundrel always a scoundrel," he replied.
"That isn't true!" the queen protested.
"I only want what's best for Aleena!" the king insisted.
"Don't you think that's hers to decide?" the queen asked. She sighed in frustration, shaking her head. "What is this surprise announcement you were talking about?"
"I changed my mind," he answered, turning away from her guiltily. "It was out of line. I do have another to give, though. Just play along with it. I want to test the determination of the suitors she has already selected, as well as open up one last opportunity for anyone else to come forth who hasn't already."
"Fine," she agreed. He nodded and took his Queen's hand in his. Together they rose, putting on smiles. "Attention all, may we have your attention?" Sonya called out over the music. It came to a stop, as did the dancers, and all eyes went to her and the King who stood at her side, warily watching his daughter and her partner. The Queen nudged her husband hard, and he snapped out of it, quickly putting on a pleasant grin.
"With greatest pleasure I would invite forth those who have been accepted by my daughter as potential suitors," the King said. Puzzled murmurs filled the hall, but soon the men in question came forth. "This is the final chance any of you have to withdraw your hands from your arrangement with my daughter. You need not answer now, but by the end of the night the Queen and I expect to be told your decisions."
Titus shifted uncomfortably, glancing over at Aleena then turning back to the King and drawing a breath. "Your Majesty, I would withdraw my hand," he said, bowing to the man. "I care deeply for your daughter, truly I do, and a part of me will always love her, but not in the way she deserves. The odds of her picking me were slim anyway." Aleena winced and looked guiltily down.
"Is he wrong?" Sleet murmured. She shook her head. "Then why are you feeling guilty about it? Clearly you weren't his first choice anyway, given the number of dances he's shared with the Cobra Countess." She frowned at him.
"What of her other suitors?" the King asked.
"I keep my hand in the running for Aleena, Majesty," Argus answered. If only to take some of the pressure off Jules. He wasn't oblivious to how much time the Commander had been spending with Bernadette as of late.
"And you, Jules?" the King asked, fixing his gave on the hedgehog Commander.
Jules stiffened, paling, and shifted uncomfortably, looking towards Aleena. "Uh, I…" he began before trailing off. He looked nervously back at the King, frantically scrambling to find words. The King began to frown.
"Is there any man among you who would step up in Titus's place?" the Queen quickly asked, changing the subject swiftly and taking the scrutiny away from Jules. Unfortunately for Sleet, the woman's gaze fell on him. His eyes blew open wide and he recoiled from Aleena in alarm. All attention went to him. Why wouldn't it when the spotlight had been shone so directly? There wasn't a single guest here who hadn't noticed the consistency with which the princess had danced with her tutor. Of all the awkward moments her mother could have chosen to ask that question, it had to be when she was with him? He inwardly cursed the Queen. He double cursed her when he saw the smile spreading across her lips. He made a cutting motion across his throat, trying to warn her off, but she it seemed was not to be deterred.
"Sir Sleet," the Queen said. Sleet clenched his teeth and broke into a cold sweat, stiffening up. He willed her desperately not to do it. "Would you court my daughter in Titus's place?" the Queen asked. All color in Aleena's face drained, her eyes wide in shock and fear.
"If he is not of noble or aristocratic blood, or at the very least an officer in a royal army, he is not worthy of our daughter," the King immediately and indignantly said, giving his wife a borderline murderous look. Sleet winced a bit and looked uncomfortably around. Aleena, noting his unease, also looked around. All eyes were fixed on her tutor now, scrutinizing him carefully. Though he was well-dressed, it was abundantly clear he was not aristocracy or even a proper soldier, for that matter. Everything inside her wanted to stand up for him, but where did she even begin? She turned to her father, who glared darkly at the wolf, and her eyes narrowed and darkened. Angrily she stepped towards him.
"Who are you to tell me whether he is worthy or not?" she boldly challenged the King in front of everyone present. Audible gasps went through the spectating crowds. Even her mother gasped.
"Aleena," the shocked queen said.
Aleena winced a bit, backing down a little. Never before had the princess ever done something so defiant. Least of all towards her father. Not in front of so many watching eyes. Avoiding scandal and gossip was pertinent when you were in a position of high authority, so that she was doing this now was shocking. Not only shocking, but so far out of her comfort zone that she almost regretted it. Almost. Boldly, though, she steeled herself and looked directly at her outraged father.
"Sleet has made his intention clear. He has no desire to court me. So then what right do you have to try and humiliate him when you have nothing to fear, father?!" Aleena continued.
"Maurice…" Sonya began worriedly when she saw her husband grinding his teeth and clenching his fists.
"Silence," he hissed, sharply looking at Sonya. "How dare you?"
Sonya started and frowned. "How dare I what?" she coldly asked.
"How dare you even suggest that mongrel court our daughter!" the King demanded, pointing at Sleet. Sleet started and scowled at him, clenching his own fists.
"What the hell has gotten into you?" Sonya testily demanded.
"I'll bet I can guess," Sleet replied. "Had a little talk with a certain prisoner, your majesty? I'm sure he told you all sorts of scandalous things."
"Silence," Aleena sharply shot, turning on him with eyes narrowed. "You will not goad the king further." She herself was already going too far as was. Sleet scowled at her in annoyance, but nonetheless begrudgingly backed down.
"And the King will not harass your tutor more than he already has in turn," the Queen hissed, glaring at her husband. "Strike up the music and dancing once again! I, in the meantime, will have a little talk with my husband regarding his appalling behavior. I extend my sincerest apologies to all of you, that you had to witness it." The King winced a bit and was quelled for the time being, begrudgingly sitting back down and bracing for a lecture. Sleet seemed he was about to go at the King again, but gasped when Aleena seized his arm with a warning scowl and dragged him back onto the dance floor. As she did, she could feel the tension in her partner's grip melt away as prying eyes turned from him and the guests all went back to minding their own business.
SU
As soon as they were out of sight of her parents, Aleena let out a soft breath of relief and looked worriedly up at him. "Are you alright?" she asked in concern as they began to dance again.
"Your father's distaste for me has been no secret, my lady. It was clear from the start. I'm perfectly fine with it," he answered.
"I'm sorry for him nonetheless," she said.
"Your father is the one who'll be sorry if I'm lucky enough to get my hands on him," Sleet darkly replied.
"I will take responsibility for his behavior," she said, frowning.
"His responsibility is his own to bear, not his daughter's," Sleet replied.
"He's only concerned for me," she said.
"You're very good at making excuses you know, princess. Don't embarrass yourself by making them for him," Sleet bluntly replied.
Aleena looked momentarily frustrated, but soon concern came to her eyes again. "If he has spoken to Drago…"
"He knows I helped to kidnap you, or heavily suspects. It's beyond me why he has yet to order my arrest," Sleet said. "I suspect your mother has something to do with it."
"Mother was always very good at…" she began.
"Putting him in his place?" Sleet cut off.
She frowned at him. "He knows his place. Do you?" she challenged.
"No. What is my place, princess?" he defiantly demanded, eyes narrowing challengingly at her.
She smirked a bit and he tensed up, frowning warily. Something told him he'd just walked right into something he couldn't back out of. "Your place, my lord, is in my arms dancing the night away," she answered teasingly. He started, blushing more than he dared admit, and couldn't help the nervous grin making its way across his face.
SU
Bernie and Jules danced close together. He held her gently, swaying her side to side. "Do you choose to continue courtship with Aleena, Sir Jules?" she asked after too long a period of silence.
His grip tightened on her ever so slightly. "I think you know my answer," he replied.
"Yes?" she asked, refusing to dare and hope.
"What are your arguments for my continuing this courtship?" Jules asked with a slight smile. Not that it had been much of a courtship for a while now.
"For one, you have my Uncle's blessing. For two, she is the one everyone expects you to marry at this point. For three, she is clever and witty and intelligent. For four, she is far more beautiful than her cousin…" Bernie began. He cut her off before she could continue.
"For one, my hope is that if your Uncle blesses my courtship with Aleena, he will bless a courtship with you even if it wasn't the one he had hoped for. For two, why should I care about what everyone else expects? For three, you are clever and witty and intelligent, in some ways even more than her. For four, you are beautiful and had best never forget it," Jules replied.
"It wasn't my beauty that initially caught your eye," Bernie said, smiling ruefully.
"Bernie," he warned, frowning.
She winced and looked guiltily away. "I'm sorry Jules," she said.
"I know," he replied. "And I'm sorry I was blinded for so long."
"Would you continue courtship with Aleena?" she asked again, smirking.
"No. But I would begin a courtship with her cousin," he murmured. "If she will have me."
Bernie grinned widely. "I…" she began before suddenly stopping and catching her breath, paling. "Uncle," she fearfully said, quickly moving away from him. Jules started and turned swiftly only to find himself being pinned beneath the piercing gaze of a very angry, very frustrated King. "Uncle, this isn't what it looks…" Bernie began.
"Silence!" the king shouted, causing her to jump and press herself into Jules' side with eyes wide. Jules embraced her quickly, staring at the king in shock. Immediately the music stopped, and all eyes turned to the scene in surprise and concern. Icily the King looked them over before meeting Jules' gaze. "You treacherous, flighty man," he darkly said. "Is this why my daughter has run into the arms of a criminal?" he asked, pointing at his niece.
"Your Majesty, please!" Bernie pled. Jules hated that she hadn't used the term Uncle. It meant that in this moment, the last thing she felt like was his beloved niece.
"I said silence!" the King roared at her. She shrank back, eyes wide in fear and alarm. The King turned to Jules again. "What have you to say for yourself?" he coldly asked.
"Sire, at first I had every intention of courting Aleena, but..." Jules began.
"Then court her!" the King snapped. Jules felt his heart drop. Chuck, alarmed, exchanged fearful looks with Rosie and took her hand, quickly guiding her towards Jules and Bernadette. Aleena as well had taken note and now watched on, pale and terrified. Jules held his tongue. "You did this," the King darkly said, giving his niece an ugly scowl.
"N-no, I…" Bernie began.
"What do you feel for this man?!" the King demanded.
"Sire, please!" Bernadette begged.
"I was willing to overlook your little flirtations with him. I gave him more credit for loyalty than that. Loyalty which you clearly sorely lacked regarding your cousin!" the King said.
"That isn't true!" Bernie exclaimed. "My King, I never meant for it to get to this point!"
"It seems I gave him too much credit," the king continued, casting a disgusted look at the mortified Jules.
"Sire, please!" Jules pled.
The King turned to his niece. "What do you feel for him?!" he shouted at her, pointing at Jules. Bernie, teeth clenched and tears in her eyes, shook her head. "Answer me!" he roared, advancing on her.
"I love him!" she blurted with a sob, covering her mouth and shaking her head. "I love him." She turned towards her little cousin, who looked stricken. "Aleena, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she said, shaking her head. "I swear to you I never meant…!"
"Silence!" the king shouted at her. She winced and turned her head away from Aleena and her Uncle, clenching her teeth and squeezing her eyes tightly shut.
"Bernie…" Aleena began, moving towards her. Sleet held her back. She looked at him quickly. He shook his head in warning. Swallowing, she turned to watch the scene that was playing out before them.
The King looked to Jules darkly. "Did you even have the decency to let my daughter know your affections for her had faded?"
"My affections for your daughter never faded. Only changed," Jules replied. "I love her, sire, but not in the way I love her cousin!"
The King looked at Bernadette darkly. "You saw his affections for Aleena changing," he darkly said. Bernie stayed quiet. "You should have ended things the moment you realized!" the King shot.
"Why should I not have the chance to be happy too?!" Bernie demanded.
"You should, but not at the expense of your cousin you selfish little…" the King darkly began.
"Enough!" Aleena shouted, pulling away from Sleet and running to her cousin's side. "You have no right humiliate and degrade her like this! In front of so many besides? How dare you?! Why should she be shamed for loving someone?"
"She shouldn't, but she should certainly be shamed for stealing away the one her cousin was already being wooed by," the King replied.
"Jules will decide which of us he will pledge himself to," Aleena insisted.
"He will pledge himself to you!" her father shouted. "Let your cousin find someone else who isn't already spoken for." He turned to Bernie. "And let her do it far outside the palace. Better yet, far outside all Mobotropolis."
Bernie, mouth trembling, burst into tears at the unspoken threat and covered her face with her hands. She fled the ballroom as quickly as she could, not stopping to look back even once. Jules watched after her, stunned, alarmed, and concerned.
"Bernie!" Chuck called out, reaching out to the woman. Bernadette, of course, didn't stop.
SU
Uneasy now, the guests began to murmur. Sleet suddenly felt vastly uncomfortable and couldn't shake the feeling that he had something to do with this. All of it. He gasped when he was shoved aside, and looked quickly over in time to see the enraged queen scowling, marching furiously towards her husband with fists clenched. She reached the King in record time, not once breaking stride, and struck him harshly. "You deplorable cretin!" she shouted at him in fury. "Threaten my niece again or send her away from this place, and you will send your wife as well! Your precious Aleena too," the woman snarled. Sleet felt his heart drop and cursed it. "How dare you behave in such a disgusting way before our guests?! Now you will apologize to Jules, Sleet, Aleena, and my niece all or so help me you will regret ever making me your wife!"
"I will not apologize for righting so many wrongs!" he retaliated. "He couldn't even be bothered to give our daughter a precursory warning!"
"Perhaps because she had already realized it!" the Queen snapped back.
"That's it! I'm finished with this freak show! The ball is cancelled! Everyone get out!" he shouted, pointing at the doors. None of the guests were bold enough to defy him. Terrified, they fled the ballroom en masse. Seething, the king turned on his heel and marched away in frustration.
"Mother, what's wrong with him?" Aleena asked, voice breaking fearfully as she turned to her mother, frightened of her father's behavior. "Why is he doing this? Why is he acting this way?!"
"Hush dearest, it's alright. I'll get to the bottom of it, I promise. One way or another I'll figure this out, and when I do, I will do all in my power to try and talk some sense into that man," she said. Truth be told, she didn't know what had come over her husband. She wished to the gods she did. He was frightening her too… One way or another she would find out. She wouldn't rest until she had. "Just-just run along now darling. Give him some time to cool down and give yourself time to process all of this, and just… It will be alright, Aleena. I'll make it alright." Turning, the Queen hurried after her husband to try and reason with him.
Jules, tears threatening his eyes, looked at a numb looking Aleena. "Princess, I'm so sorry," he quickly said. "I never meant to…"
"It's alright," Aleena cut off, turning and walking quickly away. "I understand. I understand everything! I just need to be alone for a while. Please."
"Aleena!" Jules pled.
"I don't blame you for this! Not for any of it," Aleena said, turning sharply on him. "I understand, Jules."
"Aleena…" he began.
"You know, I'm not even upset about it. In fact, more than anything I'm upset that I'm not more upset," she said.
"I'm sorry!" he blurted.
"Don't! Just-just give me time to think and to be alone," she said.
"Ally, please!" he pled.
"Jules, I am in the same position as you," she said, turning to him solemnly. "You are the last person I'm angry with. I'm angry at my father and I'm angry at myself, but not at you. Never at you." Jules stayed quiet this time. Shaking her head, she turned and left, wiping furiously at her eyes as her brother, Jules, and Sleet all watched after her, Sleet looking like he wanted to disappear into the floor.
SU
Bernadette lay on her bed on her side, sniffing and weeping. The door was gently knocked on. She didn't answer it. "Bernadette?" her aunt worriedly called. She still refused to reply. Eventually, though, she heard the Queen slip in. Sonya paused in the doorway. "Oh my darling," she softly said, approaching and sitting next to Bernie, gently squeezing her shoulders. "It'll be alright."
"I never meant to…" Bernie began.
"Stop," the Queen cut off. "None of this was your fault. Besides, I have my doubts Aleena ever seriously pursued it in the first place. He, if anything, was more sincere than she was. It was inevitable that they would call off their little understanding or drift away from it. He loves her still, I think, and she him, but not as lovers. That was not solely because of you." Bernie nodded. "I will talk to your Uncle and pacify him, I promise. Soon enough he will be here apologizing to you on hands and knees, and if that still isn't enough to make up for this, then I will apologize more still for not intervening sooner. Of all the times I could have chosen to butt out… Of course it would happen as soon as I did."
"Aunty…" Bernadette began.
"Hush dear. Everything will be alright," the Queen promised, gently running a hand through her niece's hair before rising and leaving to find Aleena. After she had checked on her daughter, she would make sure her husband regretted ever opening his mouth.
SU
The Queen found her youngest curled up on a chair in the music room looking miserable. "Aleena," she concernedly said, approaching her.
"It wasn't Bernie's fault! Or Jules'!" Aleena insisted. "I did precious little to develop my courtship with Jules. He was doing most of the work. Mother, it was inevitable he gave up and turned his attention to Bernie! That wasn't Bernie's doing."
"I don't need to be convinced of that, darling. Your father does, and he will be," the Queen said, sitting nearby. "But tell me the truth now. What is it you feel for Jules?"
"I love him mother. I love him with all my heart. He is among the most wonderful men I have ever known, and I should have done more to keep his interest. I should have…" Aleena began before trailing off. "Why did I just let him go?"
"You, daughter, are only lying to yourself I think," she said. "Are you truly upset that the relationship ended?"
"What relationship?! If there ever was one, I don't understand why I'm not more upset about it," she replied. "It's just… it feels like everything has suddenly become so very complicated. I'm hurt, yes, I wish that we could have spoken before this was sprung on me so publicly, but… but I knew that it was coming. I knew it was coming and I did nothing to try and prevent it because… I don't know why!"
"Perhaps because there is another who has caught your eye instead," her mother said. Aleena caught her breath, paling. There was a long silence between them.
"I want for no suitors," the princess at last said.
"Because you have already found one to your liking," the Queen said.
"No! He made his intentions clear with his silence," she replied.
"Who?" Sonya asked.
Aleena stiffened, eyes widening. She shook her head. "No," she whispered. No! I wouldn't accept him anyway. I despise the ground he walks on. I loathe him! I-I… Oh gods!" she exclaimed, holding her head in her hands, gritting her teeth and shaking her head. "No!" she said with a sob.
Sonya was quiet, watching her daughter patiently. Soon she rose and went to Aleena, gently taking her shoulders. Aleena looked up at her in grief. "Give your father some time to calm down and start thinking rationally again. Everything will be alright, dearest. He's just… stressed. Stressed and conflicted over many things." She prayed that was all it was, at least. Aleena sniffed, bowing her head.
"Go to the garden. Clear your head. You've always found comfort in that place," Sonya said gently.
Aleena nodded. "Very well," she whispered. Sonya smiled a strained smile and left. Aleena sniffed, looking out the window once more.
SU
Approaching the garden, Aleena paused. Jules was there, pacing nervously outside it and wringing his hands. Her heart twisted painfully inside her and she drew a breath, approaching him. He spotted her coming and his eyes widened a bit. "Aleena," he quickly said, approaching her. "Your mother said you would be headed this way and I just…"
"Shh," she said, taking his hands and squeezing them gently. "It's alright. My mother will fix this. All of it."
"Will she?" he brokenly asked.
Aleena sniffed, looking away. She didn't know… "I hope so," she chose to reply, voice breaking a bit.
Jules shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. "Bernie. What will he do to Bernie?"
"He's all talk," Aleena said with a strained laugh. She shook her head. "He won't send her away. He couldn't. Even if he could, he wouldn't. Not if it meant losing mother and me." She looked back at Jules. "Queen Sonya will handle King Maurice." Jules nodded uncertainly. "I wanted to thank you for all you've done for me. All the help you've given my family, all the training you've done, everything you did to try and find me when I was kidnapped… Everything you always do for everyone all around you. Even strangers. Like Sleet was," she continued.
He swallowed and nodded. "I would do anything for this family," he said.
She smiled up at him then tossed propriety to the side, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly. He hugged her tightly in turn. It wasn't a romantic sort of hug. Far from it in fact. This was another type of intimate. The type of intimate she felt when she hugged Charles. She felt something in the way he held her, though, that told her he wasn't alright, and her smile fell. She pulled worriedly back. "Jules, what's wrong?" she asked. "Aside from the obvious of course."
He huffed a strained laugh, but his smile fell as quickly as it had come. "Have you eaten?" he asked.
"I'm not sure I could if I wanted to," she answered, looking down.
"Then can we walk?" he asked.
Concerned now, Aleena nodded. She linked her arm through his and led him into the garden. She looked over at him ponderously. She could maybe have seen herself falling in love with this man someday, if she had given him a chance, but there was just something between them that made the thought feel... not quite right. Though indeed she loved him more dearly than she had ever thought she could, it wasn't with the love of a lover.
They walked through the garden in comfortable silence and soon reached the pond deep within, fed by the waterfall. There they sat, perching on a log and looking up at the sky. "The full moon is beautiful," he soon said.
"It is," she agreed.
For a moment more there was silence. Soon, though, he turned to her. "Have you ever thought about what it would be like to settle down? Marry? Have children?" he asked.
"I have," she truthfully replied. "Perhaps not in the same sense that you do, though. Why?"
"No why, just… curiosity," he replied. He looked at her. "When I imagine settling down, I picture it being in Knothole in a quiet little house in the forest. Not too far from the main village, but not too close either. I imagine a wife and child, or children. I imagine a life of peace and serenity and contentment. A little farm or small garden maybe. Something totally separate from the unpredictable chaos of politics and war…"
"It sounds beautiful," she quietly said. "Idyllic in the most wonderful of ways."
"What do you picture?" he asked.
She was quiet, looking up at the sky again. "I don't know," she at last answered.
"But not that?" he asked. She was quiet. "I love you," he soon said.
"And I you," she replied.
"But with what sort of love?" he asked. She was quiet. "We both know it isn't romantic," he prompted after a moment.
She looked away from him, staring at the ground. "I think you know what sort of love," she at last answered.
He nodded quietly. "At first I thought it was romantic, but infatuation and love are not the same, and the more time I spent with you and your cousin, the clearer the distinction became. The affection I felt for you wasn't the affection I felt for her. The love I feel for you is like the love I feel for Charles. The love of a sibling. The love I feel for her, though… It's something else entirely."
"That's why the last person I'm angry with is you," Aleena softly said. "Because my feelings or you are the same. Gods, ignoring it has tormented me for so long..."
"So now what do we do? What do we tell your father when he's all but engaged us already?" Jules asked.
"I don't know," she answered, shaking her head. "Present it in as respectful a manner as we can? Perhaps, if all goes well, he will accept it and his endorsement will turn to you and Bernadette. We cannot go to him now, though. Not with him so riled up. Perhaps another night, after mother has had the chance to calm him down."
"Alright," Jules agreed, nodding. "Now that that weight is off my chest, I can head back to the barracks and finally sleep half decently for the first time in months."
"As will I," Aleena said, smiling. "Mother will handle father, and everything will be alright."
Jules smiled at her. "Goodnight Aleena," he said fondly to her, bowing.
"Goodnight Jules," she replied, curtseying. With that he walked away.
SU
Aleena watched him go with a gentle smile. As he disappeared, though, her smile fell. She turned back around to look out over the translucent pool behind her. One matter at least was settled. She dreaded facing the others…
The trickling of the little fall filled the silence and made her feel at peace. She closed her eyes with a soft sigh. All at once she felt hands slip around her waist from behind and caught her breath. "Aleena," a familiar voice murmured against her ear. She let out a soft breath, shivering. "An interesting conversation I take it?" he asked.
"You tell me. Doubtless you heard every word of it," she answered.
"Hmm…" he replied, resting his chin on her head and watching the water quietly.
For a long moment there was silence between them. "What am I to you?" she suddenly questioned.
He was quiet, considering her words. "You are to me exactly what I am to you," he finally said.
"What are you to me?" she asked in a whisper.
He pressed a kiss suddenly and unexpectedly against her neck, and a soft whimper escaped her lips. He withdrew and nuzzled her gently. "You are the one who decides the answer to that," he murmured against her skin.
She let out a soft breath and leaned back into him. "Sleet," she breathed.
"Enough talk. Just say it," he said in a slightly strained voice. "What are we to one another?"
With a breath she turned in his arms, grasping him tightly and pulling him close. She frantically pressed her lips to his, clinging to his armor before sliding her arms over his shoulders and deepening the kiss. As she parted from him to breathe, she whispered, "I love you. Oh how I love you."
"Aleena…" he began.
"Don't talk," she pled, shaking her head quickly then kissing him again and again and again and again. They spilled from her lips like fountains and with every drawn breath she uttered another oath of love until his head swam and he could hardly believe it was real. Frantically he returned each kiss she bestowed on him. Not on the day they'd first met, nor through all the months after it up to this very moment, had either expected it would get to this point. Yet here they were. How had it come to be? When had it become inevitable? Most importantly, what did it matter? In this moment they just savored every shared kiss and reveled in every tender embrace and promise of love.
SU
They lay next to the pond, wrapped in each other's arms and relishing the feel of their bodies so close together. His fingers combed gently through her hair and softly she stroked the fur of his neck. "This feels like a fairy tale," she whispered to him. "It frightens me…"
"It frightens me too," he quietly said. Perhaps even more than it frightened her… He rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes. "Never have I given my heart to anyone. I've never even offered it… Doing so now terrifies me."
"Lace your heart with mine and it will be safe for eternity," she promised.
"Will it?" he softly asked.
"Trust me. Just as I've trusted you," she answered.
"I don't know if I can," he answered. For however long they may have secretly loved one another while lying to themselves, it was still new to both of them. Was he prepared to pledge her his heart? Was he prepared to put that level of trust in anyone?
She raised herself up on her arms to look down at him and gently drew her hand along his muzzle to cup his cheek. She bent down, pressing a tender kiss to his lips. He drew her nearer still. Soon she drew back with a shaking breath and opened her eyes. "I know," she said. "Words alone are meaningless to you, so let my actions speak for themselves and trust will come, my love. When have I ever given you reason not to believe me?"
"Never," he answered, smiling and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled in turn, covering his hand with her own. He pulled her back down to him and kissed her again, long and gentle. She relished every moment of it and whimpered softly into his mouth.
All at once they heard a branch crack and gasped, quickly pulling apart and looking over. Aleena paled, crying out and scrambling off him. Sleet, shocked, quickly clambered to his feet with a mortified gasp. "Daddy," Aleena tensely said, staring wide-eyed at the man.
SU
The King watched them, utterly still. His expression was completely blank, and that was more terrifying than rage could have ever been. He looked from one to the other before his eyes rested on his daughter, who took the wolf's hands and held them behind her back as she stared at him with eyes wide. "Daddy, please," she begged, voice wavering.
The King began to pace slowly around them. Sleet kept a wary eye on the man, baring his teeth warningly with a glint in his eyes. The King circled once, then twice, each circle getting smaller. "I don't like the way he looks at you," the man at last said, stopping in front of his daughter and looking down at her. He was so dangerously close. Sleet growled lowly, pulling her flush against him and wrapping his arms protectively around her as she shook in his embrace, tears burning her eyes. The King looked darkly up at Sleet. "Perhaps I'll gouge out his eyes," he said in a voice so haunting and terrifying that it caused a shiver to run up even Sleet's spine.
"No," Aleena whispered pleadingly, shaking her head rapidly.
The King began to pace again. "I don't like the way he touches you. Perhaps I'll cut off his hands," he menacingly said.
"No!" Aleena pled.
"I don't like the way he speaks to you, honeyed words dripping from his mouth unstopped. Perhaps I'll carve out his tongue. Since words and showing honor with them mean so little to him, his tongue is a useless commodity anyway," the King continued.
"Father please!" Aleena begged with a sob. Sleet's arms tightened around her.
"What other senses can I deprive him of?" the King darkly asked with a sneer. "Ah yes, hearing and smell. I don't like the way he listen so intently to the beating of your heart or the cadence of your voice. Perhaps I'll break his eardrums and ensure he never enjoys what isn't his to enjoy again. I don't like how intimately he knows your scent. Perhaps I'll pour acid into his nasal cavity so he may never smell again. Maybe such torture will dissuade him from reaching for what's beyond his grasp ever again."
"Do you really think any of that will stop me from loving her?" Sleet asked coldly.
"All of it might," the King darkly replied. Sleet scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You are a selfish man, Sleet. If there is no reward in loving her, then you will tire of her quickly enough," the king answered. "If, that is, you don't tire of life first. I will see you in chains, bounty hunter. Locked within the darkest depths of the dungeons. You will never taste freedom again. Leave now and never come back, and I will spare you that fate. I won't even come after you. Stay and your life will lose all meaning."
"Not all of it," he answered, looking at Aleena who was covering her mouth in tears.
"So be it," the King said. Immediately he lunged.
Aleena gasped and sprang forth. "No!" she exclaimed, parrying her father's blade and knocking it to the side. The King, taken aback by his child's bold action, stared at her in shock.
"Nicely done," Sleet praised, more impressed by the parry than surprised by her actions.
The King scowled at him. "Now you hide behind my daughter?" he coldly asked.
"Your daughter isn't fighting to defend me, old man," Sleet answered, smirking coldly at the King.
The King started, taken aback, then looked accusingly at his daughter. "Get out of the way Aleena," he warned.
"No," she replied, holding her ground. "I won't let you fight him."
"Who are you afraid for?" the King asked.
"For both of you, but most of all you," she answered.
"If he loves you, he would do me no severe harm," the King replied.
"And if you love me, you will do him no harm," Aleena answered. The King scowled and bitterly looked at Sleet. "I will not stand by and let you fight one another to the death," she continued.
"My darling, death would be too good for him," her father replied.
"Then who really is the wicked man between us?" Sleet challenged.
"I am not so easily swayed by your manipulations, Sleet," the King darkly said.
"My manipulations? Look at your own," Sleet retorted.
"Enough!" Aleena cut in sharply. "If the either of you love me, you will not fight and make me watch one of you fall."
"What if refusing to fight should mean I fall for a certainty?" Sleet asked. Her father scowled at the wolf in outrage. Aleena looked quickly at Sleet, confusion and a measure of unease in her eyes. Sleet, at first glaring at her father, looked down at her. "You're naïve, my love. So very naïve," he softly murmured, too quiet for the king to hear. Aleena shifted uncomfortably. "If you wish it, I won't battle him. Don't be deluded into thinking, though, that he will show you the same courtesy. He's your father. If he believes he's protecting you, nothing will stand in his way. Not even you and your pleas. If you don't allow me to fight, you allow me to fall." A shiver ran up her spine, eyes filling with fear.
"What are you saying to her?" the King furiously demanded.
"That he is willing to put down his sword for me," she answered, determinedly turning to her father. "Now are you?"
"Let him by all means put down his sword," the king replied.
"That wasn't my question," Aleena replied.
The King was quiet. "I will protect you from all that would harm you even if it earns me your hate. Even if it means protecting you from yourself."
"Even if it means protecting me from you?" she asked, voice breaking.
The King started at the question, then looked cut to the heart. "What?" he asked.
"If you are the one who would hurt me, would you protect me from yourself?" Aleena hollowly asked.
Slowly realization dawned in her father's eyes as he understood her meaning. He looked to the wolf silently, then to her. He felt a burning sensation in his eyes and closed them, lowering his sword and turning his head away from his daughter and her young man.
"I'm sorry, papa," she soon said, voice breaking a little. "I never wanted to hurt you." He was quiet. Tears threatened her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall. Instead she turned to Sleet and took his hands in hers. "Come. We have to go," she whispered, shaken. Sleet, watching her father warily, turned back to her and nodded. Quickly she guided him away from the pond and from her parent, head hung. It hurt her to hurt her father, but it had had to be done. Her choice had been to intervene or let them spill blood. Of course she would choose to intervene. Wordlessly she and her lover made their way back to the castle.