Chapter 2: Messenger
I stood before the spire, watching the smoke rise from the top. The smoke creating by the burning of those recently lost. I watch the smoke as it rises. My brother was among the bodies placed inside.
Everyone stands in a revered silence. No tears are shed. No contact between others is made. It is all considered proper. Even the casual holding of hands can be looked down upon in my society. Contact is not common among my people. It is just how it is. Something like a hug is never seen in public. If it is, the people participating in it are readily frowned upon.
Soon enough, the ceremony ends, and all depart. My mother and I are last to leave. I fly to my room. Desperately needing the sleep that has eluded me since that day on the fields a short while ago.
Exhaustion overtakes me when I hit my bed. Thankfully, my mind lacks the energy to dream.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A pounding on my door woke me early. I decided to ignore the knocker, but the knocking only became more persistent.
When I answered the door, Neji stood there, an edge of worry in his expression, something he would rarely ever show.
"Get dressed and get down to the courtyards, now."
I sighed. "What is it now, Naruto Uzamaki at the front gates?" I joked darkly.
Neji did not joke with me.
I quickly dressed and went downstairs.
In the courtyard, I found my mother in the presence of a young blonde haired, blue eyed woman, surrounded by our own guards. The identification came to minds moments after I saw her, Ino, Naruto's slightly younger sister. What was she doing here?
As I walked up my mother began to talk. "There, he has arrived, now say what you want to say."
The woman looked tired as she began, and her voice wavered slightly, but I couldn't help but feel some respect for her. She had, after all, walked into enemy territory, unarmed, to deliver a message from Uzamaki, or so she claimed.
"We want peace. A few days ago, our brother died. Naruto is the only left to take the throne now that our father and Imai are gone. Our mother will not hold the throne because she is royal only by marriage. We are tired of this war. Tired of all the fighting. We—"
"Where is this going/" My mom cut her off cleanly.
The girl sighed. I could tell she was not one used to being ordered around.
"We request that you meet with us, in the presence of the aging king Sarutobi to see if he can help us come up with a way to make peace."
"How do we know you are sincere in this offer?" Neji countered quickly.
"I came here myself to deliver it." She replied simply.
"Yes," my mother answered," but if you truly were showing rust, you would have sent Naruto."
"Would you have listened?" The girl countered venomously. "Your people would sooner kill him than listen to him. I have lost two brothers, a father, and a sister with an unborn child. I refused to let him take such a risk as coming here himself. I am here in his stay."
My mother sighed again. "I imagine, in this show of good faith, you would like a return payment?"
The young girl shook her head. "All that is asked is that you agree to meet with us at whatever time you deem appropriate."
My mother considered the choice carefully then turned to me. "Do you think we should trust them then?"
I stood there thinking. It was risky. The fact was that everything the girl had just said could be a complete and total lie designed to kill us, but it could also be the truth. It could be that we both desired peace. I knew the only reason my mother asked was because the crown would soon be passed to me. She had gown tired in the war. I considered carefully before answering. "Have them meet us in five days," I said quietly.
My mother nodded and turned to the girl to explain. Then she went with the guards to watch her escorted off the premises.
"Wise move." Neji complimented as I began to walk towards breakfast. "They'll have no time to plan anything."
"I know."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
There were no fights in those next few days before we left. No battles. No threats exchanged. Our soldiers were restless, not so keen on trusting the Uzamaki's promises, but they obeyed, albeit reluctantly.
As I mounted onto a horse and our small party began to leave, another request made, to bring only 5 or so people as to prevent any physical arguments, I wondered what would come next.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We reached the keep the day of the meeting and were quickly escorted to the main room where we were told the Uzamaki's and the old man were waiting.
When we entered the room, I briefly took in the other inhabitants and the old king, but my gaze was quickly captured by the Uzamaki's at the other end of the hall.
I instantly recognized Ino who gave me a knowing smile, and I assumed the older blonde woman must be the present Queen Narin. That left three others. Two sat with obvious poise and awareness of guards. A young male with brown hair sat near Ino, and a young, purple haired woman sat guard over who I could only assume to be heir to the throne, Naruto Uzamaki. My first thoughts: We're trying to make piece with that?
He sat on a cushion, leaning back against the wall; his deep blue eyes surveying the room slowly, fell on me with mild interest before continuing on their way. His shoulders were broader than most and his skin darker than I had seen before. The tight black shirt her wore left little to the imagination in terms of his strength and why it was said that since receiving the six scars on his face as a child he had not been ever again wounded in battle. As I was pondering this, his blue eyes again locked on to mine, and I quickly looked away.
The old man rose to speak. "Now that all are present. We may begin. Narin, you are queen are you not?"
"I am," she answered softly," but address your questions to Naruto as in less than a month he will be king."
The old man nodded solemnly before turning to us. "And for you Maylin, who should I address?"
My mother hesitated before answering. "My son, he will soon take the crown."
"How soon?"
"In two weeks," my mother answered reluctantly.
The old man nodded. "Sasuke, Naruto, you both come here seeking peace. What I don't see is why you cannot obtain it."
"While some desire peace, my people would rather fight than trust them." Naruto answered quickly.
I echoed his answer. "Our soldiers have been restless. They do not trust the Uzamaki's intentions."
Sarutobi nodded. "So what you are saying is that there is doubt as to whether or not the other side is sincere."
We both nodded.
He sighed. "When trying to repair such a rift as has been formed, you must start the healing at the center. If you truly wish to end this, then Sasuke Uchiha take Naruto as your husband and Naruto take Uchiha Sasuke as yours."
The hall quickly burst into outrage. We were escorted out and told briefly that we would be allowed to stay the night and meet again in the morning if we so wished.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
That night as I lay in my bed trying to sleep, a certain restlessness plagued me. I rose from my bed and looked out my window at the sky above, mulling over the words Sarutobi had spoke. Maybe the rumors were true and he was turning crazy in his old age because there was no way such an agreement could ever work between our peoples. Yet, as I thought about all the battlefields, all the losses both sides had incurred I realized that maybe such a sacrifice could be made. Maybe.
A flicker alerted me to the presence of another in my room. A hand clamped over my mouth.
"Please, don't scream."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chapter 2 done. So what'd you think?
