Strands of Fate

"Release him, Folken."

His eyes pierced me with such ferocity. For a moment, it seemed he had no recognition of me, as his eyes were cold and hard. A second slipped by and his eyes warmed in my presence. I wrapped my fingers around his metal arm and pressured it telling him to loosen his grip. He relaxed his grip and let his arm fall to his side.

"This is proof that he cannot be trusted, your majesty!" one of the councilmen exclaimed clasping a hand over his throat.

"I prove my loyalty to Fanelia and its king, not to you," Folken answered.

"You are a traitor to this country!" he rasped.

"No more than you are. Folken is of royal blood, you owe him your loyalty," I argued stepping up in front of him. He looked at me disgustingly.

"What does a woman like you understand?" he sneered.

"One that just saved you," I relayed.

"You'd also remember that Shayndel is my guest. You speak ill of her, you speak ill of me," Alethea commented from her seat. She had chosen not to intervene nor had Van said a word.

"My apologies, my queen," he bowed deeply. She waved her had dismissing him.

"If these rumours are true of dragons and humans conflicting then something must be done," she paused and leaned over to Van placing her hand on his arm.

"Let Folken prove his loyalty to Fanelia and you by sending him to Palas. He will call all the nations to form a dragon treaty; our old one being outdated. If he succeeds you will formerly reinstated him as a prince and allow him to participated in council," she consulted.

"And if he fails?" Van spoke for the first time.

"I shall never set a foot upon Fanelia soil in any circumstance," Folken announced.

"Both parties agree." Alethea decided giving a hard stare to the councillors not to object. Both brothers nodded silently. My eyes rested on Folken's back as I watched his tall figure striding away.

Preparations were made for our departure. One of them was teaching me how to ride a horse. I had interacted with them in Zaibach, but never in my life ridden one.

"Seems like everything is ready," Alethea observed as we packed in my room.

"It seems so," I said surveying my choice of dresses to bring.

"The blue dress is a good choice, but why not borrow one of mine?"

"That is too much to ask, you are the queen," I objected.

"I have a green gown that would suit you nicely. We are about the same size. Oh, don't protest you will be in front of the royal court of Austuria, you must make a good impression," she insisted.

"I can't exactly reject orders from the queen," I held up my hands in defeat.

She stuck out her tongue in a childish manner.

"You seem to be riding fairly well Shayla," Folken commented as we rode through the forest.

"I think it's the horse," I joked patting his mane. "So who is this person we are meeting?"

"Allen Schezar, a knight of Austuria,"

"Why is he so important?"

"He is fairly close to Princess Millerna, the heir to the throne. She will be able to get us in to speak to the royal council,"

"But she has an older sister, why is she not the heir?" I recalled Alethea giving me a lesson on the Austuria's royal family.

"Princess Eries does not wish to be Queen," he answered.

"She is close to the same age as you Folken?" I asked.

He nodded silently.

"Then you could have been betrothed to her?" I concluded.

"Yes, I only met her once when she came to Fanelia, but that was a long time ago. There was nothing between us," he reassured.

"It doesn't matter what it was. I wish to meet her. Perhaps ask her about your childhood," I teased.

"There is nothing to tell. You know everything!" he protested.

"But from her point of view, it should be very interesting." I laughed and spurred my horse forward.

I was not laughing when we arrived at the fortress. The men regarded us with suspicion and hatred, which I detected, was aimed at Folken.

"Let me do the talking," he advised.

I nodded falling back to his side where it blocked my view.

The time seemed to drag on and finally a tall man with long blond hair stepped out and faced Folken. He was a knight, I could tell by his uniform and the sword he wore at his side.

"You are supposed to be dead."

"Yet I am standing in front of you," Folken replied dryly.

"What do you want this time, Strategos?" the knight demanded.

"I am no longer that person. I am here to prove my loyalty to Van," Folken answered.

"How do you I know your intentions are true?" he questioned.

"None, give me a second chance," Folken implored.

"A second chance! So you can destroy some more!" he exclaimed.

"You haven't had very good luck with love have you Allen Schezar?"

He whipped his head around to stare shockingly at me. I exchanged a look with Folken as I emerged the circle of conversation.

"What do you know about love?" he asked harshly.

"I know that your love has been blocked by duty."

Allen attempted to recover his state of shock by bending over and kissed my hand.

"What a lovely name for a lovely woman."

I freed my hand from his grasp. "There are more ways to sweep a woman off her feet than pretty words."

Instinctively Folken moved closer to me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

Allen raised an eyebrow. "Well I believe this is the second time my charm didn't work."

"Hitomi probably enjoyed your charm but she just chose someone else."

I watched the mixed emotions play over the knight's face. Silence filled the field as everyone waited for an answer. "How do you know this?

"Later, first we must talk of more important matters."

"Of course, we'll talk in my chambers," he motioned for us to follow.

"Jealous," I arched an eyebrow at the possessiveness of Folken's arm.

"Just a precaution," he answered.

"Perhaps I should wrap my arms around you to ward off everyone," I tentatively circled one around his waist.

"There are only men here," He said pointedly.

"Precisely," I grinned as we made our way through.

After explaining to Allen the reason for our arrival, he bade us to sit by the balcony and drink some chilled wine.

"I will be able to have you speak to the princess privately, but trying to convince the council, they will tear you apart Folken"

"I am only here to prove to my brother that I am loyal, I don't really care what others say,'

"We can leave tomorrow morning for my estate. Then I'll arrange an audience with the princesses."

I did not think I would ever see them again. After all these years of forgetting and moving on, here I was face to face with the people who had took me in and then discarded . I was deciding whether to leave when she came over to me.

"May I help you, miss?"

My back was slightly turned so she could not clearly see my face.

"It has been far too long," I faced her now taking in her aged face filled with shock and relief.

"Shayndel, oh gods!" She took a step forward but withdrew holding her hands over her mouth. Her eyes threatened to spill water. I took this moment to study her more carefully. She looked the same except for the streaks of grey in her hair.

"I did not know you'd be involved in merchandise," I changed the topic to ease the tension between us.

"Oh, no not me. Your fa--… my husband works in it now," she replied cautiously.

"I have to go." I really did not want to get into this particularly topic.

"Shayndel, wait!" I debated within myself whether I should just walk away.

"I just wanted you to know that I am glad you are safe. I prayed for you, I never gave up hope."

"Even in the dead of winter?" I asked harshly.

I could not bear to look at her face.

"I…" I felt her step foward but stiffened when I sensed a presence.

"Miranda, you are supposed to be selling not dwindling!"

"I am. This lady was just looking."

I turned once more to confront the ghost in my past.

"You!"

I felt a glimpse of triumph at the surprise on his face.

"Good day." I needed to leave, I felt closed in.

I merged in with the crowd looking behind my shoulder to see if I was being followed. A hand clamped down on my shoulder causing me to jump. I was relieved when I saw Allen.

"What is the matter Shayndel? You look pale."

"No, I am fine. Perhaps we should head back to the palace. I feel rather stiff in these clothes."

Allen had guaranteed his word in meeting Princess Millerna and she got us in to speak to the council. After hours of shouting and threatening, the adjoining countries joined to form the treaty. I was allowed to attend the introductions and Millerna insisted I wear the traditional Austurian dress. I had decided to visit the market afterwards.

"The meeting should be over soon although who knows who the treaty is coming."

"Those merchants I just visited, do you know where they came from?" I asked spontaneously.

"I believe they come from the border that separates Zaibach and Cseres. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I might have seen their work someplace else."

I wanted to be anywhere but here. Austuria was very prim and proper with their code and manners. I escaped to the gardens hoping to be rid of the nobles. Folken was still in meetings and Allen had returned to his estate.

"This is the most peaceful part of the palace."

I immediately recognized her. "Princess Eries."

I curtsied just as Alethea taught me.

"I did not know you would be here, my apologies in advance."

When I first met Eries, she appeared to be cold and reserved but one look into her eyes, I could tell she was lonely and wanted to be understood.

"There is no need. This is a good place to be rid of those annoying councilmen, don't you agree?" she asked.

"Yes very much so."

"I confess I have other motives in this meeting. I had hoped we could be friends. Aside from Millerna I don't have many I can confide in."

"It would be an honour to be friends. Like you, I don't have many I can confide in," I replied.

We exchanged a secret smile just as Folken found me to take me away. I was content at that moment and forgot all about the incident.

Mama, don't leave! Mama!

I have no use for you girl

Mama I am so cold. Why did you leave me?

I struggled up from the coverings and met the cool air. I looked over to see Folken sleeping undisturbed and slipped out of bed. The princesses had arranged a room for us that overlooked one of the gardens. I leaned against the window staring out into the sky. I do not know how long I stood there for but eventually Folken found me. His arms gave me comfort and I turned to nestle in his warmth.

"Did you have another dream?" He asked stroking my hair.

I lifted my head to look at him. He thought I was having a nightmare about the sorcerers and I realized I had not told him. I took a deep breath.

"Do you remember the couple that took care of me as a child?" I asked.

"How could I forget?"

"Well, I saw them today, at the market." I looked expectantly at him to see his reaction. He said nothing but I could tell he was upset.

"What happened?"

"I was looking at some jewellery and then I saw her. She didn't recognize me at first. We exchanged conversation and then he came."

"Did he…."

"No, but I want to see her again." I decided.

"Why?"

"She seemed genuine when she spoke to me. I want to know her side of the story." I laid my head over his chest feeling the beat of his heart.

"When will you go?" he asked circling his arms tighter around me.

"Tomorrow, best to get it over with."

"I'll come with you. I have council all day. We'll go after dinner, by that time they should be packing up," he said.

"Alright," I whispered.

"We do this together, you are not alone anymore."