.: A Wyndian Princess :.
Author's Note: I have always loved the Breath of Fire series by Capcom. I suppose I always will. To show my appreciation to Capcom for the wonderfully entrancing stories and the captivating characters they created, I have written this fanfic. Now while many BoF fans usually pair Ryu with Nina (thank you for writing Katt's Tears, Jason), as an author I have always abhorred the 'easy pairing'. Now this isn't to say that I don't agree the two would make an adorable couple! Ryu would make a grand dragon prince. In A Wyndian Princess, I wanted to hold to my passion for writing the not-so-obvious pairings, stories, or what-have-you. So I've concocted this story that pairs Nina with a gentleman she normally wouldn't have met but for the right circumstances...
Nina, Ryu, Momo, and King/Queen Wyndia characters property of Capcom(R); Shamus character, and story, property mintbaby
One The ProposalPrincess Nina of Wyndia adjusted her crossed arms as she stood on the open-air walkway between sections of the castle. Short blonde hair stood on end in the breeze, and blue eyes sparkled with a smile. She gave her fairy-like wings an absent flutter in the slight breeze and shifted her slight, petite form. It seemed like only yesterday when she and her friends had returned from their long journey. In actuality, four years had passed. Four long and fulfilling years of learning more about what it meant to be an involved princess of Wyndia. Deeper aspects of the politics. A more intense understanding of the levels of diplomacy involved. Business tactics that contributed to the realm's growth, and of course a more personal involvement with her people. All had been and continued to be an adventure the 18-year-old never regretted experiencing.
Though she did miss Ryu and her friends.
Nina's smile widened at the welcome bombardment of memories. I should have them over for dinner again. It's been ages. Nina nodded absently to herself, giving another flutter of her wings before turning and making her way back into the castle.
Her father the king crested the stairs to her room just as she entered through the hall door. "Hello, father," she greeted with a smile. "How did your meeting go?" When Nina's mother crested the stairs directly after, the smile wavered. She studied each of their expressions. "What's wrong?"
The king motioned to a chair-and-table set near the left corner of her room. "Nina, we need to discuss some things."
"All right." Nina made her way to one of the four straight-back chairs and sat on the extreme edge. She daintily clasped her hands in her lap as she raised her eyes to another examination of her parents' expressions.
Her mother moved to sit beside her, taking one of Nina's hands. "You are Wyndia's treasure, Nina."
"As such," the king interrupted, drawing Nina's attention, "it is common for the princes or princesses of the royal line to be betrothed in arranged marriages to benefit the realm."
Nina blinked. Her hands went cold. "A-Arranged marriage, father?" She looked from her father to her mother and back again. "O-Of course I understand," she stated feebly, "I only... I-I didn't know you had... considered one."
Queen Sheila looked to her husband with a pleading expression.
"One had not been. Not until my meeting this evening," the king assured her.
Yet Nina didn't feel very assured. "I didn't know we needed an alliance, father."
"It isn't necessarily an alliance, dear," he offered with a gentle smile. "The joining will greatly benefit Wyndia, of course, but in the area of trade and not of power."
Nina arched an eyebrow. "Trade? I'm to marry a merchant?"
The king scoffed. "No, dear, not a merchant. A mayor."
"Oh!" Nina gasped, immediately covering her mouth. She flushed and lowered her hand and eyes. "I-I mean..."
The king chuckled. "The mayor isn't a doddering old man on his deathbed, dear. I would never put you into a position such as that."
Nina reluctantly smiled as she raised her eyes to meet his gaze. "Thank you, father." She released a deep breath. "When do we meet?" she asked resignedly.
"Next month," the king said. "The betrothal shall be this evening via proxy, as the mayor has already journeyed home to make arrangements for the wedding here. You and an entourage shall travel to McNeil--"
"McNeil?" Nina asked, eyes wide. "Why, Ryu and Rei are from McNeil." The king raised an eyebrow. Nina flushed. "I'm sorry, father. Please continue."
"You shall travel to McNeil in order to meet and escort Mayor McNeil back here."
Nina felt sick. She had heard horrible things about Mayor Neil McNeil of the small farming community. How can I possible... Her duty as a princess of Wyndia had never seemed so... hopeless.
"The wedding ceremony will be held the morning following your arrival," her father continued, "after the mayor and I have settled certain details."
Nina dutifully, if a bit morosely, nodded.
"You had best prepare your wardrobe," he added. "Your mother and I will begin preparations for the ceremony, including the guest list. Do you wish there to be a ball directly afterward?"
"Just a simple affair, father. If you don't mind."
The king nodded and then gestured for his wife to stand. "We will see you this evening for dinner, dear."
"Yes, father."
The king and queen left the room, leaving Nina in a somewhat dazed frame of mind. A mayor... Arranged marriages had been a tradition within her family for generations, the pairings always in the best interest of Wyndia and her people. Nina had known and expected the same, but... Mayor McNeil?
Nina sighed.
After dinner, Nina climbed the stairs to her father's office. "Father?"
The king looked up from the papers and ledgers spread across the table. "Nina. Come in, come in." Nina stepped the rest of the way into the office. The king motioned to the chair beside. "What can I do for you?"
Nina absently lowered herself into the chair. "Father, I'm curious. About Mayor McNeil."
The king nodded and leaned back in the chair. "How so?"
"To be honest," Nina began carefully, "and fearing I'll sound a snob, I wondered what small little McNeil can offer Wyndia." Nina stretched a hand toward her father with slightly widened eyes. "I'm not refusing to marry the mayor, father. I only want to understand how I'm helping Wyndia."
The king nodded several times in succession as he regarded his only child. "What do you know of McNeil, Nina?"
"It's a small farming community west of here; in the Yraall Region on the other side of Mt. Myrneg."
The king smiled and then searched the ledgers and papers that littered the table. He drew out a specific collection of them to present those to Nina. "A farming community, yes, though not so small as you would think."
Nina accepted the ledgers and papers and began to scrutinize the numbers listed there. Over the last two to three years the community of McNeil had been steadily growing in crop size and production, dairy production, and especially population.
"The current Mayor McNeil," the king began. Nina looked up from the ledgers. "The current mayor, Shamus McNeil, approached me with a proposal of a contract with Wyndia in order to access our eastern region and utilize our trade routes to the Rhapala Region."
Nina blinked. "Then... Then it isn't Neil McNeil?"
"No," the king assured with a slight shake of his head. "Neither was the proposal his. It was mine."
"But...Why?"
The king motioned to the ledgers in her hand. "Mayor McNeil has done in three years what the previous McNeils could not in their lifetime. He has raised communal health and wealth. He has earned their trust and built it up. This man would be an asset to Wyndia, Nina, and he would be an asset to our family line."
Nina lowered her gaze back to the ledgers and papers as she absently set them aside. She slowly stood, a thoughtful expression coloring her eyes as she turned to go. "Thank you, father," she said absently.
The king watched her as she descended the stairs, and then he released a slow breath.
