Omigosh. It took me for-ev-er, but here's chapter three. I went away last weekend, and I've just not been working on this. But I'm here again, and it'll be quicker, hopefully. A-a-anyway.
Finally, the couple is able to find some time to be together, after escaping their excited companions.
Raine: -Sigh-
What's your problem?
Raine: Why can't you just leave us alone?
...There's no fun it that. Let's go!
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A gasp unwillingly passed her lips as she felt something brush against her, and wrap around her waist as she jumped in surprise. She started to turn, about to retaliate when her gaze came to rest upon the familiar warm smile and blue eyes of her husband-to-be. She had been standing near the hotel, looking over the railing into the water surrounding Altamira. At last, she had gotten away from Sheena, Colette, and Presea; and it looked like Regal had escaped, as well.
"Good evening," he said, softly. "I'm sorry if I startled you."
"It's alright." Raine quirked a smile to match his as he released her waist to lean forward on the rail. "I see you've managed to slip away from the boys. If it was anything like what I had to do in my escape, I commend you." She leaned against the metal as well, following his gaze to the calm waters.
Regal gave a small chuckle. "Trapped?"
"I doubt Colette really knows I'm gone yet, she was so wrapped up in making preperations. But the others...I'm just surprised non one's sent a search party out for us yet." She sighed, half-closing her eyes.
"'Yet' being the key word there, I suppose. Would you care to take a walk along the beach, while we still have time to ourselves?"
It sounded calm enough, relaxing. An appealing idea to her fatigued mind, Raine gave him a nod. "That sounds lovely," she told him, straightening as he took her hand to lead her off. It was some time before the comfortable silence between them was broken by a soft remark. "It seems so...surreal," she murmerred.
Regal glanced down at her. "What does?" asked the noble gently.
"The whole thought of getting married." She looked over at the setting sun, clasping her hands behind her back. "Especially the thought of it being so close. Just two days..."
"Just two days," he agreed, reaching around to pull hair behind her ear on her other side. "It is an unfamiliar feeling, but not altogether a bad one."
"Not bad, no. But I'm...unsettled," she said, carefully. She wasn't going to say "nervous," that wasn't her style. But she could tell by his expression that he'd seen through her pretenses to the anxiety he, apparently, shared.
"Raine..." Regal was watching the horizon before them with something ghostily reminiscent of a frown.
"What is it?" Raine looked toward him, her relaxed look evaporating into one of concern. He looked preoccupied - what was wrong with him? "Is everthing alright?"
"I have a question to ask you."
"I'm listening," she assured him. She waited patiently while he seemed to gather his thoughts, and plan his words carefully. A few silent minutes passed before Regal spoke again, and he slowed them to a halt.
Turning to her, he asked, "Is this what you want?"
"...What do you mean?" She faced him in turn, and this time it was she who frowned at him. She wasn't sure she knew what he was trying to ask, but it didn't sound particular care-free.
"I mean, do you really want to marry me?"
She gave a start, staring at him with a somewhat surprised expression. "Of course I do," she said, incredulously. "What would make you think that I didn't?" Had she said something wrong, was he angry with her? Or did he think she was angry at him?
"I wanted to be certain you were happy with this," he said quietly, gazing down at her.
"I am. Trust me, I am - didn't I prove that when I accepted your proposal three months ago?" Her right hand strayed to the engagement ring on her left, and she fingered it for a moment.
"Yes. I suppose you did." His somewhat anxious expression faded into a little smile, which she returned. As they continued their walk, his arm around her shoulder now, in a more relaxed posture, Raine glanced up thoughtfully.
"You know," said the mage, "if anything, it should be I that asks if you're certain about this. After all, look at me - I'm just...a Half-Elf."
"What's wrong with that?" he asked her, cocking an eyebrow. He'd said many times he didn't care about what race she belonged to. She was Raine, no matter who her parents were, and he wasn't going to let her beat herself up over something she couldn't change.
Raine shook her head, continuing on. "To the rest of the world? Everything," she replied. "Feared by Sylvarant, looked down upon by Tethe'alla, and hated by any- and everyone. Almost," she added, giving him a sideways look, "everyone."
"I cannot speak for all of Symphonia," reasoned the Duke, "but I, for one, have no feelings against Half-Elves, particularly the one in present company." He gathered her hair in his hand loosely, before letting go, and repeating this ritual continuously. She wouldn't fight his apparent fascination with her hair; it was nice, actually.
"But think about it," she said. "What will the King think about this? In the public's eye, you're a little more than a Noble...and I'm a little less than not."
"I don't care." His answer was so simple, so short, and yet it was all he could say. Regal continued playing with her hair as he looked down at her. "I didn't ask you to marry me because I thought the King would like it," he said, somewhat bitterly. "I asked, because I wanted to spend my life with you."
They had stopped again, but he was still toying around with the silvery tresses, until she turned to face him too. "Thank you, Regal," she murmerred. She pushed herself up on tip-toe to brush her lips against his cheek softly.
He stroked her head once, and gave her a short, gentle kiss. The walk was resumed as they made their way back toward the hotel. At the front desk, they were stopped by the receptionist. "Excuse me, Lord Bryant," she said, timidly.
The couple stopped, turning to the girl. "I'm sorry to interrupt, sir. But I have something here...A woman left it here, and told me to give it to either you or Miss Sage. She said it was important...I don't know what it is." She brought out a pouch, and held it out.
Raine and Regal exchanged glances before the former accepted it, and they started for the elevator again. Inside, she opened the parcel, and took out a necklace. As soon as it was completely uncovered, Raine gave a gasping, "Deryn!"
"What...?" He took the trinket, examining the silvery chain, and the feather attatched to it.
"That's Deryn's necklace," explained the Half-Elf, staring at it. "D-didn't you say she died in prison, just a few weeks ago?"
"Indeed." Regal frowned at the trinket. "...Perhaps it is the three men she had with her - they were released recently, though being watched closely. They could have told someone in Altamira to leave it at the Front Desk..."
She nodded slowly, the anxiety in her stomach worsening - that was one more thing they had to worry about with the upcoming wedding.
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Raine: Oh, great. I suppose this is the part where your twisted plots start playing in.
Something like that. Spooky, eh? The past coming to haunt them...Litle do they know, it's not just the boys...The Last of the Salri Line is coming!
