Epilogue
Lise turned over in her bed, her hand fumbling upwards to close the curtain against the sunrays that insisted on shining down on her face. A little more out of reach for what tried to wake her up she buried her face in the pillow with a small yawn.
A warm weight let out a protesting, sleepy whimper as she moved again and her legs bumped into it.
"'ry K'l," the queen mumbled to the wolf pup, moving away a little.
She faintly wondered when he had come into her room, but was a little too groggy to really care.
Since she had returned to Rolante with Elliot, Kevin, Karl and Hawk as a guest a week ago she hadn't done much more than sleeping. And showing people she was alive. To her it almost seemed like everyone had been more worried about her than Elliot.
The lucky kid…
Kevin had been sleeping quite a lot too, fully understandable.
And when they had begun to feel fully recovered the crowning ceremony turned out being ready and now the whole castle and big parts of Palo had to recover after the celebration.
Well, the world seemed to still be in place. What worried her and her friends a little was that they hadn't heard anything from the spirits since Jinn had helped them get to safety as the Mana stones broke. But they hadn't dared to call any of them either, in case the elementals had important matters to handle.
Lise's stomach began to give her troubles, and after a few more minutes of lying down, arguing with herself, she got up and managed to get a hold of her morning coat.
That felt so much of a luxury after all her months of travel… not to mention taking a well deserved hot bath. Which she almost had fallen asleep in the first round, too.
She heard Karl bury himself in the warm blankets while she left the room, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
The castle was silent as she walked towards the kitchen areas, unlike it had been yesterday. Rolante had always taken crownings seriously and even more so now that they had been without anyone on the throne for a long while.
Lise smiled a little to herself, tiredly.
Ah well, she was queen now, then. Didn't feel that much different… yet.
She grimaced a little and pushed the door to the kitchen open.
The head cook looked up from a cup of coffee as his sleepily dressed queen entered.
"Morning, miss," he said, hiding a yawn behind a hand.
"Morning Peter," Lise nodded, trying not to echo his movement.
"There's some tea getting ready, you can probably take a cup now."
"Thanks."
Lise went over to one of the big cupboards and found one she deemed big enough. Then she walked over to the waiting teapot and poured the hot dark-golden liquid into the smaller holder.
"Well here I am, letting my queen work," Peter commented, a bit sheepishly.
"It's not that surprising, is it?" Lise mildly said.
"Nah, you're right."
Peter stood and started looking through one of the cooling pantries.
"Think that wolf of yours want some breakfast?"
"Which one of them?" Lise said with a warm chuckle.
"Both. Here we are…"
Peter produced a plate with quite a heap of bones on. They were pretty clean, but pieces of meat the queen knew a certain youngster would simply adore were still there.
"Got these after all the steaks yesterday," the cook said with a smile, "send the pup down when you see him. Cute fellow."
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll appreciate that," Lise smiled, blowing on her tea to make it cool a little, "thanks."
"No problem."
Peter chuckled.
"You better watch him, miss, he's so popular already that he might get horribly spoiled."
"And Kevin?" slipped out of the queen before she could stop herself.
Peter smiled.
"You worry he won't be accepted here or something?" he said with a chuckle, "I see straight through you, girl. You worry too much."
"Yeah, so he tells me," Lise agreed, and she couldn't help but smile at it now.
"That's good," Peter said with a wink of his eye.
Lise idly drew a fingertip over the edge of her cup, watching the tea with a warm smile slowly forming on her lips.
"I think I'll see if Kevin wants breakfast," she said.
A short while later a door not too far from the royal chamber was pushed open by an elbow and Lise silently entered, smiling softly as she saw the half blood's familiar form scrambled over the bed. He had pushed off the blanket in his sleep and only wore a pair of soft light-gray pants.
After closing the door Lise put the tray she had carried down on the small table in the middle of the room and went to carefully sit down on the bedside, turned to the inhabitant.
The scars on his back were quite visible in the morning light, but it didn't bother her as much as it had done that night in Deen.
The vanadis smiled softly at the memory and reached out to caress Kevin's reddish cheek.
He muttered something at the touch and opened a golden eye. His lips stretched in a smile, a bit drowsy of course.
"I brought you something to eat," Lise softly announced, motioning at the table.
"Thanks," he said and cleared his throat as his voice came out rather harsh.
"No problem."
Kevin yawned and stretched a little.
"Sleeping too much," he said with a grimace.
"Complaining?" Lise gently asked.
At that he chuckled.
"Not good in long run," he pointed out, but according to the smile he wasn't too worried.
Lise nodded.
"We can always go and make the roads safer today if you want," she said with a smile, then chuckled, "but I think the mere sight of us will get those chibidevils and harpies running for their lives."
"You're worried I'll get bored," he accused, turning over and sitting up with a knowing but soft look in his eyes.
"Sorry, habit."
Lise shook her head.
"Yeah, I do worry too much, I know. But I won't have any breakdowns here, I hope."
The smile wavered a bit at the last part and she sighed a little.
"You needed that," Kevin gently said, his big hand covering her cheek, "you know it."
"I suppose…"
She smiled again and pulled up her feet from the floor, stretching out on the mattress. Kevin still occupied the area that had been warmed by his body, but she touched the edges of it at least. Even more as he laid down and hugged her close.
"I do miss this from the journey," Lise mumbled, "the rest I can live without."
"Me too."
She shifted a little to be able to embrace him in return.
"Do you think Duran and the women made it?" she wondered.
"Yeah," Kevin nodded, "but we'll know soon, I'm sure."
"Mhmm…"
Not really worried about world chaos when resting with her fiancé and his simple reassurance Lise sighed softly.
She hated sleeping alone again, despite her fatigue she felt restless every night in her slumber. It wasn't easy returning to sleep like she had been used to throughout her life; that was the main reason the recovery had taken so many days. Kevin was obviously not too happy about it either.
But that was something that just couldn't be helped until they were married…
Lise closed her eyes.
'Two years?'
She knew Kevin would be sixteen in just a couple of months, in three weeks she'd reach eighteen - the informal legal age of marriage in Rolante. It was sort of semi informal. A rule, just not official.
Irritating!
'Well, we'll have more time to… well, know we fit together,' she tried to think, but it sounded idiotic even in her mind.
They had trained for at least a couple of years together in the Mana power. Even if there hadn't been much feelings involved during that, those had been two years spent together and there could be no doubt in her in any case.
And if one dug into the moral it was definitely inevitable.
(Author's note:
About that comment, do remember that this is a medieval type world and they're not supposed to experience physical love outside of marriage.)
"What?" Kevin mumbled.
"Just thinking…"
"I see."
'Oh well, we're right here right now, at least…' Lise gently thought, stretching her neck to touch his lips with hers.
A knock on the door cut off the tender move and the two almost jumped. Quickly exchanging glances Lise leaped up and hurried over to the table, putting the two teacups from the tray to table and sat down while Kevin got up, calling:
"Yes?"
The door opened and Martin peaked in.
"Morning Kevin… Your Majesty."
He didn't even blink, but Lise knew he always had been good at keeping a straight face. She hoped she didn't blush.
It was so damn stupid! Having to feel ashamed for…
"Oh please, Martin," she said, covering the situation up, "no Your Majesties, thanks."
"Of course, miss," the elder man said with a faint smile, "I came to ask Kevin if he had seen you, actually."
"I have," Kevin said with a small chuckle.
"So I see."
Martin's smile faded and he coughed.
"Well, miss… I came to fetch you since a lord something… I think it was a Sean or something from Forcena arrived to Palo yesterday and will come to the castle in a couple of hours."
Pure panic overwhelmed Lise for a second as she got the picture.
"What?!" she said in disbelief, "I got crowned just yesterday for the Jinn's sake!"
Martin rolled his eyes with a grimace.
"A hasty, well-informed fellow, it seems," he agreed.
Lise grunted and stood, rubbing her forehead.
"Alright, alright. I guess I better shape up and see him…" she muttered.
"Afraid so, but have breakfast first, you two. See you later, miss, Kevin."
He got no reply and closed the door with a shake of his head.
The chair's backrest creaked in Lise's grip.
"Suitor," she growled.
"Already?" Kevin snarled, and she could feel his mane bristle even if he was standing behind her.
"Apparently. Damn…"
Lise shook her head, still not looking around.
"You don't have to come and watch…" she muttered, not wanting to put him through such frustration.
"Yes, I do," the half blood gravely said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
The queen took the hand and lifted it to her cheek as she turned around with a dry smile.
"If you want to. But don't hurt him too much, alright?"
Kevin grinned a bit.
"Oh, fine."
Lise had a horrible time keeping her politely bored face neutral while the lord Sean went on about ensured trading routes. Incredible how he could go on and on about mainly that and nothing else for half an hour. Glancing aside she saw one of the guards standing but the stair encircling the throne's platform battle a yawn, and the queen fully understood. It amazed her that no one had fallen to the ground, snoring, already.
The throne didn't feel that comfortable either, despite the pillows that made it soft. It had nothing to do with the stuffing. It was the big chair itself; she didn't feel like she belonged there.
Finally the lord finished his rant and his own rather groggy life guards straightened up.
"So, Your Majesty," Sean said with a bow, "I hope that you will consider my proposal and its benefits."
The queen blinked. It took her a moment to realize that he really was done.
'Thank the goddess and all the spirits…'
"Your haste to court me is admirable," she said, as politely as possible, "you must have very quick informants to get the news before everyone else. But still, I must turn your proposal down."
"But Your Majesty!" he exclaimed, "at least consider it for a while!"
"I have already considered your proposal," Lise calmly said, "yours and everyone else's. I'm sorry that I did not send out word quicker than the news of my crowning, that I am already engaged."
"Can you not reconsider?" he asked, hardly able to hide the anger from the denial.
Lise shook her head.
"No, I cannot turn down the proposal which was offered to me weeks ago," she mildly said and lifted her right hand.
Kevin stepped forward to her side on the signal, his face showing no emotion.
"Lord Kevin of the Beast Kingdom," Lise gently said, "son of the Beast King himself. I'm afraid your trade routes, though surely beneficial, cannot outweigh an alliance with the Moonlight forest."
Sean opened and closed his mouth a few times, and his guards were staring just the same. None of them believed what they heard.
"But, excuse me, Your Majesty, the beasts…" the lord finally managed.
Slowly Lise nodded.
"I am sadly aware of Astoria and Jad," she said, "but as far as I know the beastmen are preparing to repay the damage they made under the control of an evil force bent on destruction. Surely you have not escaped the tales of the truth about Navarre?"
"You mean the demons, Your Majesty?" Sean said in disbelief.
"I see you do not believe in them. But I have battled them myself and I assure you they are most real."
Silence. The lord opened his mouth again, when Kevin's mane spread out like a dark, blood-red sun. Apart from that calm threat, he didn't move a muscle.
The lord bowed.
"I see, Your Majesty. I bid you farewell, then."
"Thank you for your visit," Lise politely said.
But as the gate to the throne room finally closed behind the guests she flew up from the throne with a snarl.
"I can't believe it! Oh!"
"That was stupid," Kevin grunted, rubbing his neck with a sigh.
"May I have kitchen duty if any more of those come?" Sarah grimaced, and the other amazons profusely nodded.
"Are they all like that, Martin?" Lise groaned, turning to the elderly man.
To common disgust he sadly nodded.
"I'm afraid so, miss."
"Damn it…"
Lise sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Patrol, anyone?" she asked.
"Gladly," Kevin growled, cracking his knuckles.
"Count me in!" most of the guarding amazons called, eager to get rid of some pent up frustration.
"And Martin, make sure somebody lets all of Palo know that I'm engaged, it might help a little," Lise said before heading out of the throne room.
"Very well, miss!" the man called with a chuckle of empathy.
In the evening the queen had dinner in her room, together with her brother and the two most welcome guests in the castle. Had Hawk still been there he had also been invited, but he had left a couple of days after their homecoming to Rolante as he felt he was needed in Navarre. They still had to patch up any ninja that still could be found alive, and make sure the castle was abandoned. Considering what the demon, ghost and vampire had said it was hard to know. They might have given up the castle, or they could be trying to fortify it. In any case, if there were any battles Hawk wanted to help and he had told Kevin and Lise to "Get real, people, for the goddess' sake!" when asking if he needed more support.
Still, his friends didn't feel too comfortable of course, despite his resolution to make it with help from his clan mates.
Nothing to do about it, he had been stern as a rock.
Karl happily gnawed on a bone from the kitchen while the humans had a nice, thick meat soup and newly baked bread.
"I heard that suitor was a real pain!" Elliot grimaced, throwing Karl a piece of bread while he thought nobody watched.
Neither Kevin nor Lise bothered to scold him for spoiling the pup, either.
"Was irritating," the half blood agreed with a snort, absentmindedly holding out his hand with a piece of his bread for the young wolf.
Lise just grunted something, stirring her soup.
"I saw him," Elliot snorted, "there was no way that wimp would beat my sis, right Kevin?"
The water that had been in the warrior's mouth for a moment flew back into the glass and that in turn almost crashed against the table. Violent coughs tore through Kevin's body and the two royals had to hit his back repeatedly before he managed to get control again. Karl whimpered and nudged at his friend with his paw, seeing the normally dark knuckles turn white over the table's edge.
"What did I say?" the small prince worriedly asked, confused.
"It's not your fault," Lise said with a hint of guilt in her voice, "I believe you just reminded him of something."
She looked at Kevin as he turned his head with a grimace while rubbing his neck.
"I thought so," she mumbled, "but I didn't want to bring it up."
"I'm not doing that!" Kevin coughed, resolutely shaking his head.
"It's just a tradition, not a real battle," the queen tried to calm him, "we won't really fight."
The half blood beastman shook his head, clenching his teeth.
"Fight demons, vampires, Rakadra, monsters, all," he almost growled, "but not you!"
"I know…"
Lise gently, almost tentatively caught a hold of his hands.
"Do you think I like it anymore than you do?"
'Though he's much more furious about it,' she thought to herself with an inner grimace.
The thought of the Queen's Challenge hadn't really been a bother to her before, but she had expected such a reaction from Kevin.
He was a dear…
But this felt rather horrible.
"It's a while until the wedding anyway," she said and tried to swallow away the foul taste the words left in her mouth, "you don't have to worry about it yet."
"It's wrong…"
Kevin grunted but forced his anger back into the depths of his mind, sighing to signal that he was calmer.
"Sorry I got mad," he muttered, "but I can't."
"Come on, Kev!" Elliot said, hugging his arm carefully, "it's part of the wedding ceremony, it's important!"
The teenager of the males shook his head, frowning. Lise carefully touched his cheek.
"Kevin," she gently said, "can't you control your strength? I am not worried about that. All you need to do is to get me down on the floor, and is it possible for you to harm me in that process if I'm not fighting back?"
The half blood sighed again, reluctantly shaking his head.
"I guess," he grunted, "but I…"
He fell silent and grimaced. Lise slowly nodded.
"Don't think about it now, alright?" she said, "we can talk about it later."
Later came after dinner, when Elliot and Karl fell asleep together on the thick, fine harpy fur rug in front of the unlit fireplace. Lise absentmindedly stroke her brother's hair while Kevin sat beside her.
"I just can't," he grunted after a drawn silence, "being stubborn, fine. I'm afraid to hurt you."
Lise sighed a bit. She had almost been able to shake it off.
"We'll think of something…" she mumbled, leaning at him.
"Alright…"
Kevin didn't really feel like arguing about it, and wrapped his arms around Lise's armored shoulders as he tried to get his mind off things.
They sat for a while in silence, until a snort Karl made in his sleep got them the idea to carry the two sleepers to Elliot's room.
Being strong enough to carry much bigger things too, Lise scooped up her brother before Kevin could do so in his usual thoughtfulness. She felt he really deserved an easier time after the headache he had to go through about the future.
It was a short walk and soon Kevin carefully placed Karl on the blanket, beside the sleeping prince. His big hand lightly brushed the blond hair and Elliot smiled in his sleep.
"They are much alike," the half blood mumbled in a low voice while he and Lise silently left the room.
She muffled the soft chuckle to a smile and nodded.
"Yeah, they really are…"
"Miss!"
They looked up as an amazon came hurrying down the corridor.
"What is it, Maria?" Lise said, making a hushing movement while glancing at the door to warn the other woman about the sleepers.
"Duran, Angela and Carlie just arrived!" Maria hissed excitedly.
"What?"
As silently as they could and still running, Lise and Kevin followed the amazon to the throne room.
"Hey!" Duran shouted with a wide grin upon seeing the queen, "castle's looking good!"
All three of them looked just like Lise remembered them… well, maybe… there was something more grown up about their eyes, the way they moved.
Somewhat.
"Thanks, we try," Lise chuckled and allowed him a quick hug, which she also gave to Angela.
She did catch the faint glimmer in the princess' eyes as the male Mana warrior was touched, and was therefore careful. Carlie, on the other hand, would have nothing less than a big, tight hug. Lise smiled as the short but strong arms encircled her neck, and the queen easily lifted the little one from the floor.
"You look familiar…" Angela thoughtfully said, eying Kevin.
"Was dark, you might not remember," he said, a bit embarrassed.
He did catch a scent of vague hostility in Duran's smell as Angela's eyes went over the bare arms and what could be seen of the dark chest. But it was so faint that Kevin wondered if the swordsman even knew what he felt. Yet.
"By Moonreading tower," the half blood continued as it didn't seem to ring a bell, "I attacked Death Jester."
"That was you?" Duran asked, "yeah, now that you mention it…"
"Thanks," Kevin smiled, then turned to Lise as he was beginning to worry about coming in between the suppressed feelings he felt from the two older heroes.
"What brings you here?" the queen carefully asked, still holding the happy Carlie.
"We're patching things up," Duran explained, "need to inform people about what's going on."
"Did you win?" Lise asked with growing relief.
Duran coughed and rubbed his helmet with a rather goofy expression that made the queen, half blood and present amazons hearts sink.
"Yeah, we beat the Dragon Emperor," Angela said fairly quickly, "but, you see…"
She trailed off and looked away.
"Lucky we had a fairy," Carlie squeaked, "the Mana tree went boom!"
Hadn't Kevin reacted quickly, the blond child from Wendel had hit the floor. But the half blood's arms shot forward and supported Lise's grip, though he almost dropped by the shock as well.
"But it's alright!" Duran quickly said, "the fairy… well, turned into a seedling, and there'll be a new Mana tree."
"But it'll take a few hundred years…" Angela said in a dull voice, glaring at the floor.
It took a few moments to digest this.
"What about the elementals?" Kevin finally managed to ask.
"We'll go into hibernating," Jinn's voice said from above.
He got full attention and calmingly smiled.
"Don't worry, people," he continued, "even if we won't be able to do much for a while we'll be watching you at least. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, we all had a lot to take care of."
"I understand…" Lise mumbled.
"But we're saving our strength for the weddings so that we can show up then," he said with a wink.
This caused Carlie - if a bit unsure about who was going to marry -, Kevin and the Rolante population to smile, while Duran and Angela just wondered whether there had been an s at the end of "wedding" or not.
"We appreciate it," Lise warmly said.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Jinn said with a chuckle, "well, as for now I can't stay long, so see you later."
And with that, he floated out of vision.
"What wedding?" Angela asked, intrigued.
"Mine and Kevin's," Lise gently replied, letting Carlie latch on to the beastman.
The princess gave a huge smile.
"Now this I wanna hear," she stated.
"We'd like to hear about what you've been doing too," Lise said and motioned at the door, "want some tea?"
Carlie soon drifted off to sleep, but the other warriors exchanged stories until it was past midnight.
"Kevin, Kevin, Kevin!"
"Arf!"
"Ouff!"
There are more pleasant ways to be awoken than having a wolf land on your back.
"I'm awake, awake!" the half blood grunted, rubbing his eyes.
It had been too late last night with the storytelling, his day rhythm had just returned to normal and now his head felt like a stone.
"You have to come!" Elliot shouted, jumping up and down fully dressed.
"What time is it?"
"It's ten o'clock and sis is having another suitor! You have to come, she didn't want to wake you up for it!"
Kevin growled and tumbled out of bed, grabbing his shirt on the way, suddenly wide awake.
His disgust about having to listen to another well-dressed lowlife was faintly outweighed by his refusal to let Lise carry the torment alone. And he wouldn't be absent when somebody tried to court his love.
Something in the back of his mind clicked and he forced himself to slow down and take a few deep breaths to regain his composure.
'Beastman genes…?' he grunted in his mind, trying to excuse himself the rage.
Putting on the shirt properly he hurried towards the throne room together with Elliot and Karl.
But just as they approached the door leading there, Lise stomped through reminding more of a storm cloud than a warrior queen.
She looked up and tried to swallow the frustration upon seeing the three.
"You shouldn't have…" she began but trailed off, shaking her head.
Kevin sighed and resolutely mirrored her movements.
"Don't have to spare me," he said and managed to grin a bit to cheer them both up a bit, "at least I can scare them."
It took a moment, but Lise chuckled in the end.
"Alright, I will tell you next time."
But she grimaced a bit at the last two words.
"Who was it?" Elliot asked without trying to hide his resentment.
"Someone whatever from Palo who wouldn't get the message. Got up here as quickly as he possibly could without falling off the mountain it seems."
"You've been crowned for two days and have had just as many suitors? That's just… must be a record or something!"
Angela came up the corridor behind Kevin's lil' group.
"I've had a few of those too," she said, "disgusting, aren't they?"
"And irritating," Lise agreed.
"And longwinded as hell."
"And up so early in the morning!"
The women looked at each other and the whole gang laughed. Except for Karl, but you know… wolves laugh silently.
"For the goddess' sake," Angela said after a few moments, "you say you're engaged and they don't care? Sheez! Now I'm not saying those morons back in Altena are any better, but this isn't right."
The princess was waving rather violently with her arms by now.
"Get married people!" she finished.
Kevin and Lise exchanged glances and then looked at Angela, rising their hands in helplessness.
"We're still too young," the queen said, "that's the problem."
"Ah now… when will you turn eighteen?" Angela demanded.
"In a little more than a month, but Kevin…"
As he got the attention he shook his head.
"I'll be sixteen soon," he said.
"But you've classchanged, haven't you?" Angela pointed out.
Lise had to smile at the good will.
"Thanks for your concern, Angela, but I don't think that'll be regarded as vital by those who haven't done it."
The Altenan princess didn't even listen to the end of the speech before turning to Kevin.
"When do beastmen marry?" she inquired.
He rubbed his neck for a moment.
"No real law," he said, "when feel ready."
"Well, have you let the kingdom know how old you are?"
She eyed him from top to bottom like she had done the previous night.
"I'd never believe you were less than eighteen, Kev," she honestly said.
Before anyone else had time to think of something to say she had snatched a hand each from the couple and brought them together.
"You have insanely big hands, Kev… anyway, you're dying to marry. Don't speak against me. Just do it. On your royal birthday. It's an order. From a legendary hero. You have no choice. So ha!"
She resolutely nodded, then cocked her head.
"Oh, and don't wear a tox," the princess added and wrinkled her nose, "you'd look weird I think."
"A what?"
Angela scratched her head, frowning deeply.
"I… don't know. That just flew out.*"
Lise and Kevin looked at Angela and then at each other.
*Specially edited for ff.net and ChibiRaye-chan for all the funny comments. Thanks and flowers to you, Zero Ikari, Rose, Lady Mystic, Matsuru, Lily, Kurai-Jaugen-Doragon, Halee, Rainy, Sunflower-chan, Amara and all the anonymous reviewers :D
Lots of hugs and flowers also to all the people at RPGclassics, from Starstorm and Mazrim Taim to Galloway who turned me into a seven-year old brat, Pokefreak85, Rountree, KaiserVonAlmasy and everyone else for supporting me through this piece. Just the wedding scene left!!