A/N: I and other people (thank you, Alqualyne!) have finally persuaded myself to write a romantic CD fic. But it is not about Mel/Vidanric, Flauvic, Elenet, or about anyone's kids. This happens before Court Duel, when Branaric is about to arrive at Court, and is about him and Nee. Yay! Fun fun! (Tamora Pierce, you're next!) Full of little bits of fluff and very useless stuff. (And no comments about how I didn't know I was a poet – because I did.) Okay, I'm going a little bit off topic now. I'll guess I'll just get on with it!
Disclaimer: Sherwood Smith owns all of the characters, including Ilvet. *sighs* I like that name. I suppose Tamora Pierce owns the phrase "fun fun" (the darkings from "The Realms of the Gods" say it a lot) but I use it too. The thing about braiding jasmines into hair is a custom in India, but the jasmines meaning "honesty" is mine.
Light and Water
Heroes' Homecoming
I looked at myself in the mirror and my maid, Ilvet, smiled at my reflection as she brushed my long, curly, brown hair. But the look on my face was far from happy. I was on duty today, to go and mill around in Court for King Galdran like an obedient hostage should do.
"Lady Nimiar, don't be so forlorn," Ilvet said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Oh, Ilvet, why must we have to play up to him like this? The Astiars are right in their rebellion to Galdran. I wish everyone was not so afraid."
Ilvet was silent as she braided a string of jasmine flowers into my hair. Their pure, sweet smell refreshed me, and their creamy white matched my silver Court gown. Jasmines symbolized honesty, but I did not feel either honest or dishonest at the moment.
As I strolled into the chamber, Lady Trishe and Lady Renna came up to greet me. It was not Lady Tamara's turn today, and I was secretly glad. I could only bear so much of my frivolous, high-and-mighty cousin at a time.
"Where is his Majesty?" I asked, puzzled to see the throne empty.
"Have you not heard?" Trishe said lightly. "Our beloved ruler – " she made the sign for Sarcasm with her fan, though her voice seemed entirely sincere " – has gone off to battle with the Marquis of Shevraeth and the Astiars."
"The Marquis of Shevraeth?"
"Yes, apparently he was secretly into the rebellion also," Renna put in.
I did not seem to make any sort of reaction, but Trishe and Renna knew that secretly, I was overjoyed. With the power of Shevraeth and Renselaeus, along with the passionate fire of Tlanth, perhaps Galdran could be defeated. I smiled, and said, "I hope the battle goes well."
~ * ~ * ~
In a week, we were informed that the Merindars had been defeated and that Galdran was dead, killed by the Marquis Vidanric himself. But Count Branaric and Countess Meliara of Tlanth were also in the battle, and rumor had it that Meliara had faced down the King himself. Hardly anyone in the Court even made a pretense of sadness at Greedy Galdran's demise. The other Merindars had withdrawn to their palace to sort out their problems, and everyone was in celebration.
Everyone also looked forward to the arrival of the heroes. When they arrived about three days later, a parade of commoners cheered as the first coach drove through the streets. The nobles made a more calm receiving, but all the hearts were overjoyed as Vidanric stepped out.
But next to him was a newcomer, a man with dark blue eyes, light brown hair, and straight eyebrows that shifted as he smiled. None of the new party were decked out in lavishing clothes as we were, but he looked even more ragged than the rest, with a red nose and an arm in a sling. But beyond that, I managed to see that he looked friendly and quite handsome. His ongoing smile was charming and definitely not fake. But who was he?
"Vidanric!" said the Duke Russav of Savona, coming forward to greet his friend. "Welcome, and congratulations on your victory! But who is this newcomer, obviously a hero of the war?"
Vidanric smiled, and I could see a mischievous spark in his usually serious gray eyes. "Indeed, he is a great hero. Russav, Trishe, Tamara, Renna, and Nimiar – " most of us had gathered for this occasion " – may I present Count Branaric Astiar of Tlanth?"
~ * ~ * ~
A/N: Heheheheh. So far it's stuff that mostly everyone knows if they've read CD. (And if you haven't, go read it! Now!) I promise it'll get more interesting later, and obviously the fluff won't come for a little while. Please review!
