Angel Tears

Chapter Four: The Alliance

- - -

"Representatives from Meltokio will be coming tomorrow at 2 in the afternoon to meet with you and Lord Yuan," the messenger read and then looked to her.

Colette, or Lady Colette to be more specific, was, in his eyes and many others, pretty. Not beautiful, but pretty in a way of angelic innocence. Her hair, over the course she had been in Exire, had grown to her shin, but she kept her bangs. She had it tied back into a long braid that tailed behind her. She was wearing an apron of an earthly brown over top of a modest white dress. He, and everyone around her, had watched her grow from clumsy and naïve to graceful and wise… and still a bit naïve.

He smiled at the last thought.

Exire was proud of her and how she handled relationships between the citizens and their allies.

She looked up from her baking in surprise. Meltokio had never gave the impression of wanting to interact with Exire before, why now? She shut the oven door and looked inquiringly at the messenger. She could only assume that things were getting out of order in the Below Lands for them to seek the sky for help.

She took off the mitts and set them on the table, "Thank you for informing me, Szere."

Szere, eyes of azure and hair flaxen, bowed with a smile and replied, "Your welcome, milady. At your dismissal?"

"You may go," she answered and watched him leave after he placed the scroll onto her table.

She sighed before taking the scroll and putting it safely up on a shelf. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes and wondered what to wear for tomorrow. Now that she thought of it, she had better not tell Amil or she'd come over and dress her up as if she were her doll.

- - -

"Oh, how about this one?" Amil pulled another simple gown out and observed it before throwing it on the bed. "No, not good enough. I mean, Meltokio, for crying out loud. That's important! This one's nice, but it doesn't have the "flair" I'm looking for…"

Colette refrained herself from sighing and watched silently as her friend dove through her closet. Amil's dark blue hair was slightly ruffled and her breath a bit ragged. Was picking out an outfit that strenuous?

A soft knock emitted from the door and then Nellius came in with refreshments, "Amil, dear, you should slow down before you scare poor Colette."

"You don't need to worry," Colette reassured. "I can keep up… barely, but I can."

Nell smiled in amusement and handed the Relations Director a cup of hot milk.

"Thank you," she smiled too.

"I apologize, Colette, but this is important," Amil insisted, and she was right.

The capital of Tethe'alla wished to form an alliance with Exire, something the floating island would do well with. However, Colette could feel some angst coming from some of the half-elves that have been saved from the Below Lands, and they did not want this alliance to come about.

"Do not worry about the younger ones," Nell consoled, somehow reading her young friend's mind. "They are somewhat hot-headed, but they'll simmer down soon enough."

Colette gave her a grateful smile.

"Aha! Found it!" Amil suddenly sounded; proud of herself as she produced a gown that Colette could have sworn she lost.

- - -

When the Advisors and the King of Meltokio agreed that forming an alliance with Exire would prove fruitful, Zelos did not think that it would involve him. In fact, he didn't think that they would even let go of him long enough for him to accompany the group to Exire. But here he was, at Exire, supposedly a key player in writing up the treaty.

Exire was just as he had remembered it: absolutely stunning. It was high noon, too late for a ghostly mist to dance above the ground, but it was early enough for the afternoon sun to accentuate the architecture of the floating island.

He grinned and readied himself to meet Yuan. It was no surprise to him when he heard tell that Yuan was the new Lord of Exire. However, what was a great surprise was the woman that stood just behind the Lord of Exire's shoulder when they arrived.

She didn't look like she was walking, rather floating. Her blonde hair waved in the wind, whirling softly around her, and her cerulean eyes sparkled in the sunlight, making him think of sapphires. She wasn't very tall, but slender enough to give the impression. She wore an off-shouldered cream dress with a draped neck and long sleeves that wrapped around half her palm nicely. It gave a slight pearl sheen every time she moved, which Zelos found to his liking, and it was loose, but not loose enough that he couldn't admire her trim legs that went on and on…

"Lord Zelos," Yuan interrupted his thoughts, his green-blue eyes held mirth.

Zelos snapped out of his stupor quick enough to save his pride as he answered fluidly, as if nothing had distracted him in the first place, "Lord Yuan, it's great to see you again."

"I as well," Lord Yuan replied and then moved to the woman beside him. "May I introduce, or re-introduce for that matter, Lady Colette, Relations Director of Exire. Colette, this is, as you already know, Lord Zelos, Chosen of Tethe'alla."

"Good afternoon," Colette greeted politely and curtsied.

Zelos felt his jaw drop, but couldn't find the time or strength to close it back up. It was impossible that this… gorgeous woman was the little Chosen of Sylvarant. Her voice wasn't even the same. He strictly remembered a bubbly, high-pitched voice instead of this flowing and (dare he say it?) seductive voice of a woman.

Colette couldn't help but let a giggle escape her mouth at his expression and Yuan couldn't remember the last time he had been so entertained.

A knight of Meltokio, who was standing stiffly beside his Lord Zelos, had decided to close his Lord's mouth for him. He brushed his red hair from his face before settling his orange eyes on the ground. Hopefully, he saved his Lord's decorum. He snuffled a chuckle, as he stood alert once again.

"Um, thank you, Sir Gaben," Zelos recovered and Sir Gaben gave a nod.

"Shall we?" Yuan asked, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. Which was partially true. He knew that Zelos was a bit… strange when it came to pretty ladies, but around Colette? Well, he'll never forget Zelos' face.

"We shall," Zelos agreed and then composedly offered his arm to the woman, who was Colette apparently. He had yet to grasp that fully yet.

Colette smiled softly and took his arm, lifting her trailing skirts with her other hand.

- - -

They assembled around the round table comfortably before beginning. Colette sat across from Zelos, and felt herself grow from her initial shock to nervousness. Although she didn't show it, she was just as surprised to see that Meltokio would send their beloved Chosen to Exire to talk over the possibilities of an alliance.

Of course, the thought had crossed her mind a few times, but she knew that Zelos was too important to Tethe'alla for them to spare. Glancing briefly at him, she guessed not.

Zelos was exactly as she remembered him to be. Same long red hair, same blue eyes and same pink outfit ("Only real men wear pink!"). She smiled upon remembering. The only difference was his demeanor, although it was a barest of changes. He seemed to have matured, but she assumed that they all have over the year.

"I understand that Meltokio wishes to form an alliance with us," Lord Yuan began. "I can see that it would do both us some good."

"Especially when it would be an example to other half-elves and humans that we are trying to close the gap," Zelos added.

Yuan nodded appreciatively, "I'm glad that we think the same."

There was a knock at the door and then maids came in with trays of drinks and food. Colette politely thanked one when she placed a cup each of water, milk and wine in front of her as another set a plate of a blueberry muffin with sugar cookies. They smiled in response and then left just as quietly as they arrived.

When Colette looked away from the maids and back to the table, she found Zelos watching her. He smiled sincerely, and she felt her face heat up softly on its own. She swallowed and then brought the cup of water to her mouth, her throat suddenly felt raw and dry.

"How will we come about this?" an Exire advisor asked.

A Meltokio advisor answered, "Perhaps we should…"

And Colette could tell that it was going to be a long meeting and decided to settle more comfortably in her chair.

- - -

Two hours later, Zelos' attention began to sway from the meeting to the little angel in front of him. He couldn't help himself, his eyes would just now and then move to the Relations Director of Exire on their own accord. Every time they did, it took a moment for Zelos to realize who he was looking at and then quickly draw his eyes away. But doing so every ten seconds was distracting him from the meeting.

After three hours into the meeting, he decided that it was no use and concluded that he might as well just look at her. He found that watching her and participating in the meeting was much more efficient. He was somehow multitasking like he never did before. That was until, of course, when she began licking the sugar off her fingers after a cookie.

He swallowed audibly.

"What is your take on this, Lord Zelos?" Lord Yuan asked, noticing Zelos' gaze on one of his Directors and couldn't resist a jab even if he tried.

"Erm…" Zelos was lost. What had they been talking about? They were all staring at him intently, waiting somewhat tiredly. This has been a very long meeting, after all. And was it him, or was the room getting hot? He swore that he was sweating now.

"If I may," Colette interrupted carefully.

Their attention swivelled.

"Go ahead," Zelos said without missing a beat. Thank Martel that there was an angel to save him.

"To close this treaty, I think that there should be an exchange between the two kingdoms," Colette suggested.

Zelos rested his chin on his palm and decided right there and then to like her voice.

"Would you mind explaining, Colette?" Yuan asked, interested.

"Perhaps, a citizen from Exire would agree to live in Meltokio for a time, and then a citizen from Meltokio can live in Exire for a time," Colette clarified. "This would allow the relationships between humans and half-elves to settle if they realize that we're not that different from each other. This would enforce the trust and friendship between our two societies."

Zelos couldn't help but look at her in awe as he let his mind absorb her words. He wasn't the only one who liked the idea, the whole room seemed to be buzzing. Yuan leaned back with a smile and nodded at her. He was indeed fortunate to have such a character into his court.

"I like that idea," Zelos put in. And when the Chosen of Tethe'alla liked the idea, the rest of the Meltokio representatives liked it too.

"Yes," an Exire representative agreed. The Exire court had taken a liking to the Seraphim of Mana a long time ago. "Lady Colette is wise."

"Then it is settled?" Yuan asked.

It was settled.

- - -

"Can I?" was the first question Amil asked when she heard of the exchange program.

Colette was afraid of this. Poor innocent Amil… she did not know of the scorn some humans held for half-elves. Colette sat down on her bed, careful not to crease her cream-coloured dress, and sighed. How was she going to handle this?

"I think it would be a wonderful idea," Nell put in, liking the thought of Amil seeing the outside world.

Colette looked at her elderly friend in shock.

"Grandmother approves," Amil said. "Can I, Colette? I promise not to cause any trouble."

Colette contemplated and decided to just calm Amil first, "I'll bring it to Lord Yuan's attention."

"Yes!" Amil cheered and released a blissful smile before going towards the door.

"But I can not guarantee that you would be the one," Colette shouted after the exiting half-elf.

"I do not think she heard you, my dear," Nell said, settling down beside the Director, her eyes dancing with fun.

Colette sighed and asked, "Why would you agree?"

"Why not?" Nell replied, not at all perturbed.

"It's dangerous for her to be in the Below Lands," Colette explained.

"You would be there with her, would you not?" Nell questioned easily.

The blonde shook her head and said, "Despite that-"

"Are you going to be there?" Nell repeated her question.

"Yes, of course," the once Chosen of Sylvarant answered.

"Then there is nothing to worry about," Nell said, smiling softly. "I have faith."

Colette closed her eyes, "Have faith in what?"

"I have faith that the humans down there are just like you," Nell replied in all honesty.

The Angel of Mana couldn't help but smile at that.

- - -

the point