Warnings: I have absolutely no idea why I pretend to know things about ships, and possible ulterior motives...oohlala.

Chapter Seventeen: The Silver Suns

"Adrian, love, wake up," I shook his shoulder gently. "Come now, don't tell me you've gone and died on me." I laughed softly as he groaned and opened his eyes reluctantly.

"I'm sorry, love," He twirled a strand of my hair around his finger. "I wasn't asleep for too long, was I?"

"No, not at all. I sent the letter with Matthew to Evadne." I leaned over him, so I could look him in the eyes. "I'm going home, Adrian. You can set your country to rights now that I'm not here to take up all of your worries. Rule Delran, Adrian, and do not give up on them; they will not give up on you."

"Elensar, I will not give up on them, not again." He pulled out his left hand and showed me the layers of white cloth wrapped around it. "I will carry the consequences and reminders with me for the rest of my life, but I will not give up." He smiled and stole a quick, feathery kiss.

"No Adrian, we mustn't." I pulled away, not allowing myself to enjoy the sensations rushing through me.

"Once more, Elensar, I ask you; will you marry me?" His eyes were filled with a painful emotion; hope mixed with fear, knowing that I would reject him again.

"I can't, Adrian. You know I can't. If I could…" I left the sentence unfinished and instead leaned in and brushed my lips against his once more. "If I could," I continued, feeling my heart shredding slowly, "I wouldn't."

Every ounce of joy and euphoria that had filled his eyes as I had kissed him was replaced with a desolation and hurt so great that I had to look away.

In a way, I enjoyed dashing all his hopes to bits, but I couldn't stand to see the result of what I had done.

"So that's how you really feel, then, is it?" His voice was rough and filled with unshed tears.

"No, but it's how I should feel," I told him softly, "and what I am supposed to feel is the only thing I will let myself be."

He looked at me then, the loneliness and overwhelming distraught expression on his face nearly bringing me to tears. "You've never tried to be what others wanted you to be before, so why now?"

My head drooped down, and I refused to look him in the eyes, "Why now?" I traced a design in the blankets. "Now, because the fate of your country, and therefore of your people lies with my choice." I looked askance at him. "I will not have their blood on my hands." My fingers brushed lightly over his. "Would you?"

"No," he sighed. "Their blood has stained me enough." Adrian caught the tips of my fingers in his hand. "It has touched you as well, my love."

"I know." A sob caught in my throat. "I know. They died because of me." My whole body started to shake as I began to cry in earnest.

"No, Elensar. Do not take the blame fully upon your shoulders. It was my fault and Evadne's as well. You must understand this. Oh, come love, come." He wrapped me in his arms, and I sobbed into his shoulder.

"Adrian, they shouldn't have died," I mumbled into his shirt.

"Yes, dearling, I know." Adrian soothed me, rocking me as I cried, all my pent up emotions and inner turmoil soaking into his shirt. "Shhh, love, it'll be alright in the end, you'll see, we'll have our happy ending, shhh." He kissed my hair lightly, not attempting to be anything more than comforting. "Elensar, my dear Elensar, you'll see, we'll get the ending that we want."

I sniffled and buried my face in his shoulder. "No," I whispered, knowing he couldn't hear me. "We won't."

"Shhh," he continued to soothe me, just holding me.

"Adrian, I'm going to leave. Today. I'll take a few men with me, and we'll ride on horseback to Merihan Port. That way all will be well. You won't have to worry about your people being murdered by mine, and I shall no longer be your burden to worry about." I pulled away from him. "Come see me off. I shan't leave until you've said a proper farewell." I managed a smile.

"Elensar, at least wait until I can go with you…" He shook his head.

"Life or death?" I asked him simply.

"Ride quickly and with all haste." He saluted me, "I shall see you shortly."

I jogged back to my tent and collected the things that I wanted to take with me. The two saddlebags looked strangely small to me, and I shook my head. "I don't know…" Sighing, I picked them up and hauled them outside.

"Milady?" Amyntas touched my elbow. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going home." I smiled broadly, "I need a small contingent of soldiers to guide and protect me on my way to Merihan Port. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, Princess." He smiled as well, and strode off, determination etched into every line of his face.

Amyntas soon returned, four men in tow. "These are good men. They shall travel with you."

"Thank you, Amyntas." I noticed Adrian exiting his tent. "I think you might want to see to your King, now." I smiled and turned to my new soldiers. "I don't think we want to walk to Merihan Port, so we'll need mounts."

One of my escort grinned. "I'll get them."

"Thank you." I spun around as Adrian cleared his throat behind me. "One moment, please. I must make this properly dramatic, if you don't mind."

"No, of course not." He looked bemused and let me continue on.

"Soldiers!" I had gathered quite a crowd in the short time that it took to get the horses ready. "Mount up! We're going to Merihan Port!" There were a few ragged cheers, and I laughed. "Oh Adrian," I turned to him, attempting make it look like an after thought.

"Yes, Elensar?" He stepped forward, chuckling.

"I must be remembered by your men not as some little wench who tramped all over the countryside, but as the woman who stole your heart." I leaned in and kissed him passionately, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing myself up against him.

I heard a stronger cheer that time, as the men watched their King in all his ardor kiss me back.

"Now Adrian," I told him, raising an eyebrow and grinning mischievously, "I would suggest that you get back to ruling your country instead of dallying with foreign Princesses." I grinned and whooped loudly, completely caught up in my act. "Ride, Soldiers!" I smacked the horse with the reins and we cantered off.

We came to Merihan Port around evening. We had made good time; it would have taken us another day if one of my entourage hadn't known a few detours to take.

"Hold the gates!" One of the soldiers, a man named Cassilne, cried out, spurring his mount forward. He had been the one to lead us through the short cuts and get us to Merihan Port by nightfall.

"Hold the gates!" He cried again, reaching the port city in a cloud of dust. "The Princess comes!"

I heard the creaking of the thick wooden doors as they were stopped in their closing and reopened. The gate-guards of Merihan Port called down the walls, announcing my presence.

"Come, milady," Remsen, a dark haired swordsman, touched his heels to his mount, expecting me to follow.

"Evadne, here I come," I muttered, and then followed Remsen.

We entered on horseback, with two of my guards in front and two behind, a miniature parade.

"Make way for Princess Elensar Kelledy of Meridian!" Cassilne proclaimed as we rode along.

I giggled, feeling suddenly self-conscious. People came out of their houses, out of pubs and bars, out of holes in between the houses, and out of every place imaginable. Some of them cheered, and some waved. I waved back, unsure of myself.

We reached the other side of the city just as the sun was sinking below the water. I looked for the Silver Suns, and saw them, fluttering gracefully in the breeze. They reflected the red hues of the setting sun and the water, glimmering with each undulation of the cloth.

"I have found the Silver Suns," I murmured, grinning madly. "I am going home," and once I said that, I truly began to believe it. "Finally."

Trumpets' resounding bugles broke my elated reverie. "Crown Princess Evadne Kelledy, Eldest of Meridian rides this way!" A herald called, receiving a dirty look from Cassilne.

"Be nice," I commanded him.

"Fine." He grumbled good-naturedly.

"Elensar!" I spun my mount around, and my jaw dropped.

"Evadne!" I was off the horse in a heartbeat and racing over to her on foot. "I'm so glad to –Oh Evadne, I missed you so!" I hugged her tightly, conveniently forgetting that it was she that Adrian had blamed for organizing my sudden, nighttime departure from Meridian on his ship.

"I missed you, sister." She hugged me back, her golden locks falling long and loose about my shoulders. "I'm so glad you're coming home."

"So am I," I smiled. "You still look so beautiful,"

She looked sharply at me, "What do you mean?"

"Adrian…King Adrian told me that you were with child, and…I was just saying that you don't look much different than normal, and you don't look pregnant at all…" I trailed off, trying not to make more of a fool of myself than I already was.

To my great dismay and relief, she laughed. "Oh, child, you mustn't believe everything that Kings tell you." She smiled, but it was tight. "The baby miscarried."

"Oh." I bit my lip, and then looked to my companions. Cassilne was open mouthed with shock, while Remsen wore an appreciative expression. The other two, Faydra and Mirar, were leading the horses away. "Cassilne and Remsen, I'd like to introduce you to my older sister, Evadne." I smiled hopefully, pleading silently with them not to make me regret my rash words.

"It's truly a pleasure to make your splendid acquaintance," Cassilne bowed low, his gestures elegant, if somewhat extravagant.

"Is it an angel or is it Heaven itself that graces us with her presence?" Remsen wondered romantically, also bowing with a flourish.

Evadne laughed, a dainty little sound. "Ah, your chevaliers are too much, sister." She put a hand around my shoulder. "Come, the hour grows late. I have an inn we shall stay at until the morrow, when we shall depart for home."

Home. It was a glorious word. I loved it utterly.

"Yes. Home." I smiled, and looked once more to the three Silver Suns rising above the cobalt field. "Let's go. My chevaliers," I turned to Cassilne and Remsen with a mock-sober smile, "You shall be accommodated accordingly," I grinned, and their smiles matched mine.

"Sister, come. My retainers shall take care of it." I let her lead me to the rooms that she had commandeered for her sojourn in Delran.

"Evadne…" I trailed off, silenced by a withering look. Suddenly, all the things that Adrian had said seemed to float to the surface of my thoughts again.

"Elensar, there are certain things that your father and I must be certain of." She smiled grimly. "Did King Adrian try to seduce you ever?"

"Yes." He had, and I could do naught but tell the truth.

"Did you succumb? Will your bride-price remain intact?" She lounged in a plush chair, the image of cool reservation.

"Yes, it will. I'm not stupid, Evadne." I was nettled by her words and suggestions.

"Did you tell him anything of our secret?" Her lips twisted into a sardonic little half-smile.

"No, but I'm fairly certain that someone must have told him." I looked at her through widened eyes. "Would you know who, by chance?"

"If you are suggesting that I revealed our secret, dear sister," she leaned forward and let her voice drop to a whisper filled with false-sweetness, "then you are far mistaken. The prophecy spoke not of me revealing anything, but of you, Elensar. You know this. You shall be the one to reveal our secret."

"I know." I looked away, and shoved my hands deep into my pockets, and felt the damnable picture of Adrian.

"Did you tell Adrian any of the State secrets?"

"No."

"Did he ask you to do anything for him?"

"Yes."

"What?" She seemed exasperated with my one-word answers.

"To draw a picture of him."

"Was he clothed?" She smiled cruelly.

"Of course. It was a portrait," I stated flatly.

"I see." She stood and walked around behind me. "Did you dally with him at any times?" She stroked my hair.

"What is it your business, or anyone else's to know? It doesn't matter, my precious bride price is intact." I winced as she dug her fingernails into my scalp.

"Of course, Elensar, I knew he would try at least a little something. So, how many times did he propose?" She chuckled.

"I lost count." I laughed slightly.

"Really?" She finger combed my hair, dragging her fingers right through the snarls.

"Ouch!" I slapped her hands away. "Leave me alone, will you? I'm your sister?"

"Ah, but you are the sister who is slated to betray us all." Evadne swept over to her chair again and smile docilely. "Elensar, you are not dressed as befits a Princess!" She frowned, "I'll have to lend you something of mine, for now, but after a nice long bath."

"A bath would be more than pleasant right now," I murmured.

The next morning, I was outfitted in clean clothes, well rested and bathed. I felt as if something wasn't quite right though. Perhaps it had been Evadne's interrogation of me, or perhaps it was my parting kiss with Adrian. I don't really know, but something just wasn't right.

"Elensar," Evadne glided into my room, resplendent in robes of shimmering grays and silvers, "It's time to depart."

"Fun." I stood and shook out the black dress that she had lent me. "This is long on me."

"Yes, I know. It can't be helped. Come on, hurry up. The tide is with us now." She grabbed my elbow and pulled me out of the room, leaving a sack of coins in our place.

As we walked outside, the sight of the Silver Suns cheered me a bit. I was once more happy to be leaving the Delran soil and sail away to Meridian…my home.

"Elensar!" A shout was raised from the flagship Hellas. "Elensar!"

Evadne smiled at my countenance. "They've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Smile, sister!" She laughed and clapped her hands in delight.

I laughed and scooped up handfuls of my copious skirts and ran toward the ship, laughing and stumbling along in a most ignoble manner. The sailors continued to cheer my name.

I stopped and waited for a laughing Evadne to catch up, and then together we boarded the boat. The sailors stopped their cheers and traded them for chuckles.

I turned, for one last (triumphal) look at Delran. "Damn it!" I swore, stamping my foot angrily.

"Elensar!" Adrian galloped towards the harbor, his mount lathered with sweat. "Elensar!" He called again.

"No, King Adrian, let her leave." Evadne appeared beside me, her hands gripping the rail of the ship so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.

"Evadne, let me say a few parting words, then." He swung down, cradling his left arm gingerly against his chest. "Elensar," he turned to me. "Please, one more farewell. My good wishes, nothing more."

"Elensar, stay here. Do not go down there." Evadne took an iron grip on my arm.

"It is innocent enough, Evadne. Let go. You can see us, sister-dear." I made my voice honey sweet and pried her fingers off of my arm.

"Elensar, should I leave you here, then?" Evadne's smile was benign, but her words held a malicious edge.

"If you dare to, then yes, I suppose you would." I daintily picked my way down back to solid ground. "Adrian, parting words, you said?"

He took my hand in his. "Yes, Elensar." He leaned in, and whispered romantically, "I love you. Always remember that, no matter what."

"I know." His lips brushed my ear and I shivered. "Oh, Adrian?" I tilted my face so that his lips brushed across mine. "If you love me," I took his bottom lip gently between my own, "Come and catch me," and I kissed him then, pouring all of my desire and love for him into that kiss.

It was not a chaste kiss, not by any means; it was kiss of longing and hurt, emotional turmoil and love. He put his promise into it that he would come for me, and I spilled the anguish that had already started to rise at having to wait for him into that kiss.

It had to end sometime, of course. I was the first to pull away, panting, smiling and not at all satisfied. "Catch me," I repeated, my breath coming in short gasps.

"I will." It was simple, and he kissed me again, with the same wild passion that had consumed the first.

I turned away, leaving him to trail a few misplaced kisses down my jaw line before I ran.

I ran back to the boat, and to Evadne, who looked like she wanted to kill us both. Racing up to the prow as we cast off, I watched him until he disappeared from sight.

"I love you," I whispered, blowing a kiss to the horizon.

Author's Note: Thus, the first part of this story ends. I was originally going to split it into two separate documents/stories, but I decided not to. The next chapter should be up by Sunday night, I hope.

Did anyone go out trick-or-treating on Halloween? (I did! Haha.) What did you go as? (I had approximately thirty purple balloons attached to me- I was a bunch of grapes! Or a hydrogen atom…if you prefer…:oP)

Evensong Says:

Midreamer: Oh, you bet there's going to be a mushy, romantic ending. I'm a hopeless romantic!

Misty Queen: She's leaving…:(

Sealednectar: "Soon" apparently isn't in my vocabulary anymore…argh. I spend too much time do nothing in between updates. I'm glad you like it! Was this chapter exciting enough? :oD

Zagato: I write in my LiveJournal all the time…I have a tendency to dominate friend's pages with long, rambling posts…:o)

Stubble96: As soon as I saw the "GR-REAT" I was like- whoah! Tony the Tiger! Haha- then I read the next stuff and was like, awesome…Glad you like this! Oh, I would need my fingers to type/update/whatever, so you mobster, don't chop them off! I like them!

LindyLou78: I know…I kind of wanted her to stay as well, but for the good of the plot, she must leave. Sniffle

Miss Piratess: No, no, he wasn't really…

Cheekychik: Drama indeed! I think that Elensar's getting a wee bit homesick…I know I would. Well, I think I would. I don't have Evadne for a big sister though, so who knows… You didn't miss anything, actually. You picked up the rather delicious irony of it all wonderfully. :oD

Well all, review again and thank you for reviewing last time! School is evil, per usual, and it gets in my way, but I will update as regularly (and as quickly) as I can.