Chapter 9: Aftermath
By SodiumChloride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.
Chatter echoes off the walls of the ballroom in Castle Caelin. Men and women speak softly as they observe the dignitaries and diplomats signing a piece of paper laid solemnly on a desk at the center of the room, their voices speaking about the end of the recent war. There's a sense of exhaustion and relief in their forms. The war had taken much from the March of Caelin.
Lyn observes from her throne nearby, her eyes still reflecting the same coldness she possessed when she felled Marquess Tania. She watches the diplomats from her country, Tania, Santaruz, Ostia, Reglay, and Pherae hash out the details of the former two's surrender. Despite the honorific status associated with their stations and dress, this arrangement can be described as a one-sided affair. As the losers of the recent war, Tania and Santaruz have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Near the table, she can see her husband, Samuel, speaking to Marchioness Santaruz. Unlike her, the Marchioness appears utterly defeated, her aggressive ploy to expand her power having been foiled despite her numerical advantage. Like her, she's wearing the tradition, royal dress of her house. She has a long, bell-like under part that extends towards the ground, and a circular portion that hugs around her waist. The difference is that Lyn's outfit possesses some trace Sacaen influences, while Marchioness Santaruz has only Lycian influences. Samuel, as Chancellor of Caelin, is detailing to the Marchioness the contents of the surrender agreement, of which her face appears ghast-like in response.
Even from her distance, Lyn can hear their voices clearly (a trait she picked up from her tribe). The Marchioness says, "What? This is unacceptable! How can you punish my canton so mercilessly?" Samuel only shakes his head as he extends his hand forward, counting the many transgressions brought upon his realm. "First, you declare war on us with the intent of subjugating our people and eliminating my family. Second, you rejected any attempts to negotiate, only summoning me in a trap meeting. Third, your armies sacked several of our border villages. These people will need to be compensated. Fourthly, you infringed on our sovereignty and tried to sabotage our elections under global scrutiny. Last, your little power game caused a significant loss of life. We lost half of our militia force to combat and disease. He finishes by glaring straight into his former adversary's lavender eyes. "I believe these conditions are fair and justified. If you disagree, I will gladly meet you on the battlefield and deal you the same fate as your accomplice."
The Marchioness takes a step back, put off by Samuel's threat. But she understands it to be very real. She has no real choice but to accept; the Chancellor is notorious for being heartless towards his enemies.
Meanwhile, Lyn feels a bit of warmth in her heart. A sense of...appreciation? The war had taken much from her just as much as him, yet it was he who volunteered to fell the Marchioness should she object. Lyn's slaying of Marquess Tania still affects her since that day, and her nightmares reappeared. The man reminded her of her late uncle Lundgren, the conflict of which unlocked a whole slew of traumatic memories suffered during that experience and the war with Nergal after. This took much of her optimism as of late, the depression being overbearing at times. That's why Samuel was in a particularly foul mood today. Not only did it serve as a setback to his goals, but it hurt a part of his wife too.
She looks over to her side and finds Fiora standing silently. As her guard, her eyes wander throughout the nearby crowd of soldiers, nobleman, and peasants, wary of any assassins that may choose to make their move. Like her, the war had produced much stress for the pegasus knight. Her eyes possess bags from the lack of sleep, her hair appears slightly disheveled, and her heart beats quickly with anxiety. Between having to fight for her life, the worry of not knowing her husband's fate, and the separation anxiety that comes along not seeing her son, Leo, Fiora isn't in high spirits. Although these things no longer impact her much, the several days of sustaining it had left her psyche in shock, even if she doesn't show it.
Next, Lyn sees Lord Hector, Lord Hector, and Lord Pent looking over the treaty of surrender. As involved parties in the war, they have every right to be a part of the proceedings. They'd already come to a consensus of what was to be done, so there isn't much discussion to partake in at this point. Lyn is glad they are here. Friendly faces feel comforting to her heart, a part of her that had been beating more quickly as of late.
Also present are the court and all the landed noble. Baroness Angelica stands in silent contemplation, a scar from battle prominently present on her forehead. Baron Euphant sits on a chair with a sling over his shoulder, he'd sustained an axe strike that had broken his right arm. Baron Thomas isn't present at all as he's in the infirmary recovering from his injuries. The only one left unscathed is Baron Dimitri, the son of Eagler, who had stayed behind at the castle to safeguard it from a surprise attack.
Lyn closes her eyes. For a moment, she wonders what her children are doing. They are all with Tutor Mary, likely playing in the garden, unaware of the serious nature of this meeting. She takes solace in the fact that they are likely laughing and having a grand time with Roy (Eliwood's son), and Lilina (Hector's daughter), alongside Clarine and Klein. Laniakea, Carvel, and Carmel have been clamoring to see the first two for months, so this will surely be a memory they'll cherish for years to come.
Lyn opens her eyes when she hears Samuel raise his voice. Initially, she thinks it was because he had snapped in front of Marchioness Santaruz, but instead, Samuel had begun to address the crowd. He speaks with a voice that is stately and formal, fitting for his role as Chancellor. "Good people of Caelin! Guests from our friends! Guests...from our soon to be former enemies. We are all gathered here to put an end to this bloody and wasteful war that had wrought so much destruction." He turns towards the table, lifting the treaty from its position. "Negotiation with our friends...and soon to be former enemies has produced a document we have all come to agreement on. We have representation from the heads of every house...with the exception of House Tania...in their place is the court of their canton..."
Marquess Tania...was the last surviving member of his bloodline. The man never married, and because of illnesses that took all eleven of his siblings (rumored to be brought upon by genetic defects caused by inbreeding), he inherited the crown with little struggle. This means that they had no ruler in their realm, an issue the court would have to squabble over. Thankfully, this is not something Lyn and Samuel had to worry about. Their gene pool is very diverse, and none of their children suffered any medical issues save for Carmel's hair and Carvel's burgeoning color blindness.
Samuel continues, "I will read out the terms of surrender. For reparations, the House of Santaruz will pay 100,000 gold pieces to cover the costs associated with the destruction of property, a stipend for the families of casualties of war, and for wages lost during service..."
Lyn flinches upon hearing that number. It...is a lot of money. One hundred gold pieces represent the entire budget spent by the realm of Caelin in one fiscal year. Although Lyn understands the number, she's also aware from briefings that Marchioness Santaruz took out loans in order to pay for this war. Santaruz would be crippled for at least the next decade, if not more.
"Next, Santaruz will hereby sign a non-aggression pact with Caelin, Ostia, and Pherae. We will weave you into our trade agreements and provide you with administrative help to make sure your people do not starve. Our engineers will also be permission to build in your territory..."
Well...perhaps not. Samuel might be angry, but he is not cruel. The debt will do well with curbing the Marchioness' ambition, but ultimately, her people will come out of this better off. Being involved in their network of trade agreements will also provide them some income, and the means to strengthen themselves for the next famine. Perhaps they may find it wise to form an alliance or sign a treaty of friendship once the debt is paid...
"Santaruz will not rebuild its military to previous levels. Monitors for Caelin, Ostia, and Pherae will ensure they stay at half of their stated strength. This is so that Santaruz keeps their expenses low, and we will pressure its neighbors to not infringe on its territory."
This...will mostly certainly angry many of the knights and nobles in Santaruz. Not that it matters. They lost of their leverage when they lost to them in pitched combat. More importantly, so far, most of these concessions affected Santaruz, not Tania. There was a very important reason behind that.
"Finally, the entire court of Tania will pledge their loyalty to Marchioness Caelin. They will be at her service, and their organization will stay intact to preserve the governance of the territory. In turn, the people of Tania will enjoy all the benefits of being a citizen under her rule. As of now, the de facto identity of the Kingdom of Tania is void. The de jure name will continue to exist for toponymy and convenience, but Tania may hereby consider itself annexed by Caelin. We are one and the same."
He lifts his gaze from the treaty and out towards the crowd. He sees men in plainclothes, soldiers still wearing broken armor, and peasants from effected communities near the frontier. If he learned anything from the late Lord Uther, he knows there to be spies among them sent to observe Caelin for any hint of weakness. He lets his voice take on a viler, more authoritative tone.
"May this serve as a warning towards anyone that dares to raise their blade against our home again..."
Nearby...
Carvel sits alone by a tree, his hands holding firmly onto a stone he'd found on the ground. His mind's thinking about the many friends that had appeared within the span within a month...and to be honest with himself, it was much to deal with. An introvert at heart, having so many people around him feels tiring to bear, and he desired a break. He just wished to sit here and read a book he'd smuggled in from the library, an excellent opportunity to recharge his batteries.
He does just that, resting his legs on the grass and throwing the stone into a nearby pond. He takes in a deep breath, his head clear as the silence descends into his body. The air…feels peaceful. Jovial...even. He becomes so enamored in his literature that he hardly notices the ruffling of a bush nearby, nor the slow, approaching figure of a stranger.
"Hello?"
Carvel raises his head, a young, feminine voice catching him off guard. He notices a girl...of whom holds an odd resemblance to both his mother and sister. She has a small, dainty nose, and hair that is somewhere between the realms of black and purple. Her eyes reflect an odd grayish purple, a color the young boy's never seen on a human being before. This intrigues him enough to take an interest in this person of similar age to himself.
He asks, "Who...are you?"
The girl blinks blankly, as if unsure if he'd asked her a question. For a moment, Carvel wonders if she knew much Elibean, a weird thought considered she just said hello earlier. Eventually, after an awkward moment of silence, she responds. " My name...is Fir. Bartre is my Momma, and Karla my Pappa."
"...I think you have it mixed up. I think Bartre is your Papa, and Karla your Momma."
Carvel doesn't know who Bartre or Karla are, but he has the intelligence to know which name sounds masculine or feminine. Faded memories of his parents talking about their time in the army bring some familiarity to their names, but he can't focus in on this detail.
Fir replies, "Huh...I think you're right! Are you smart...uhm..."
"My name is Carvel. Like the ship but without the a in the middle."
Fir raises her brow, confused since she'd never been to the coast. The same applies to Carvel, but since he reads much from the castle library, he heard about in a book about naval ships. Regardless, Fir makes an attempt at his name.
"Car...mel? Like the candy?"
Carvel shuts his book close, his attention now completely focused on his new acquaintance. His voice reflects a slight annoyance, mostly based on the realization that his little blip of alone time is no more. "Car-vel. Like the sh—never mind. So your name is Fir? Like a coat of fur?"
Fir nods, "Yup! It's actually spelled F-I-R. But the way you said it is right!"
Carvel smiles, pleased with himself. He puts his book down and silently invites Fir to sit beside him, a request she gleefully accepts. By the look of the dirt on her clothes and the redness on her knees, Carvel surmised she must have been doing something physically tedious. His parents had taught him to be courteous towards others, even if that other was someone he just met.
Carvel says, "So...Mademoiselle Fir. What brings you here?"
Fir tilts her head, intrigued by Carvel's terminology. "Mademoi...selle? What is that?"
Carvel respond by smiling awkwardly and scratching the back of his head. "Sorry! I just...it was something I read in a story. I thought it would sound cool."
Fir smiles warmly. Although she doesn't understand what that word meant, she can sense the sincerity behind his voice. "A story? What is your story about? Is it in the book you just put down?"
"Wait...stop!"
Fir reaches over and grabs Carvel's book from its position leaning against the tree. Carvel scrambles to stop her, but he's unwilling to do much since that would involve...touching this stranger. Fir opens the book as her eyes wander through the words.
"...Huh."
"What?"
Fir closes the book and then returns it to Carvel. "I can't read."
Carvel stares into Fir's eyes, the dumbfounded nature in his impossible to hide. Not only did Fir possess the audacity to take his book, but she hadn't the means to even read it. Neither Lani, Carmel, nor Clarine ever expressed eccentricity like this. Fir is surely a character Carvel had never experienced before, and this only stokes his curiosity even further.
He says, "You...can't read? What did you expect to happen?"
Fir shrugs her shoulders. "Dunno. I was hoping I'd just...know. That is how I am with a sword, so I thought the same would happen with a book." She looks over at Carvel, her eyes twinkling with a sense of pleading. "Can you help teach me? There is much I would like to learn about the world. I cannot expect to become the best swordswoman in all of Elibe if I can't read."
The best swordswoman in all of Elibe. Carvel ponders those words, curious about their familiarity. He'd heard Guy refer to a similar goal, his wish of becoming the best swordsman in all of Sacae. He referred to it with the reverence of an old friend, something that was now well out of his reach because of his injury.
Carvel asks, "Fir...are you from Sacae?"
To his surprise, Fir nods. "Kinda. My mom's from there, but my dad's from Lycia. I've been moving around for a while, as I'm always with them." She innocently lifts her finger up to her cheek, much like a red-haired merchant Carvel had seen in town every so often. "You still haven't responded to my question. Can you help me read? What is this story about?"
She skids up closer to Carvel, close enough to get a good view of his book, but not enough to actually touch him. Relenting, Carvel opens up the book. "This is a story about how two people travelled around the world in ninety days. One was a civilian who liked to think, while the other was a former princess with a heart of gold. They loved each other, and would do anything for one another."
Fir's eyes light up with intrigue. "No way...is this that story? My parents are in that one, I think."
Carvel frowns. He doesn't know what to think…he hadn't gotten far into the book. He'd only found it in the library that morning and didn't appreciate spoilers.
"How did you...this makes little sense. I thought you couldn't read?"
"I can't. But, my mother told me this story long ago. I loved it!"
Carvel sighs, disappointed. He rests his hands behind him, his fingers brushing up against the abrasive bark of the tree. "Please don't tell me anything else."
Fir chuckles, amused by the reaction of her new friend. "You're so fun to tease! You remind me much of the male hero in that story, Samuel."
Carvel pauses, his eyes darting towards his book, and then towards Fir. Blood drains from his face. "...Why did you say my father's name?"
"Your father's name? Surely your father isn't Samuel Castillo? The husband of the famous Lady Lyndis, and Chancellor of Caelin?"
"...Yeah?"
Fir stands up, jolted by Carvel's words. She takes a better look at him, her eyes taking note of his green, curly hair, his tanned skin, and rather sophisticated aura. Then, after a moment of repose, it clicks. She exclaims, "No way! You're the son of Samuel and Lady Lyndis! You're the crown prince of Caelin!"
"I would have figured you'd surmised that by now." He says while stone faced. "Who did you think I am?"
"Dunno. Some stranger reading a book in the garden, I suppose."
Carvel rolls his eyes, "At least I'm not some stranger sneaking around in the bushes. Try wading through a river. You might find that more appealing than."
Fir's eyes light up. "A river? I recall my mom telling me about that. She said your parents hitched a ride with them up to the Sacaen border with a raft. It was the most appealing story..."
Carvel covers his ears, eager to not allow this girl to spoil him any more details. "Nooooo! Stoooooooop! Stop being so mean!"
Fir raises her brow, confused by Carvel's actions. "How am I being mean? I'm just telling you what happened..."
Later...
"Lyn..."
Lyn turns around, her eyes gleaming at her husband, Samuel. The two stare at each for a moment at their solitary meeting place atop the keep of Castle Caelin. Lyn had since changed out of her royal outfit for something more comfortable (a simple dress with more leg room), while Samuel's still in his Chancellor's garb (with all of its flamboyance). He'd just finished speaking with the foreign dignitaries and parties at the reception in the ballroom, while Lyn had retired long ago to be alone with her thoughts.
"H-Hey..." She says while somberly averting her eyes towards an idle banner waving off the side of a wall. "I didn't think you'd come up here."
Samuel's eyes soften when he hears that. He walks towards Lyn slowly. "Neither did I. But, when Florina told me you'd scampered up here, I knew I needed to. You've got a pretty face, my Marchioness. It's a shame when there's a frown on it."
"Hah...I see." Lyn turns around towards the road past the Castle. There, she sees a long caravan representing all those brought by Tania, Santaruz, and some from Reglay, Ostia, and Pherae. They are moving to return home, a final end to the war that had taken so much. She says, "It's good to see all of this end. I missed being here in the Castle alone. With you, Carvel, Carmel, and Laniakea."
Samuel's boots lock in place as he scooches up against the side of his wife. He wraps his arm around her, confident that no one would avert their eyes due to their faraway location. The strength behind his grasp brings Lyn some comfort. The warmth of his fingers clasping the cloth of her dress and skin...it is all so pleasing to her. This is something she'd truly never get used to, as it always brought upon vibrant emotions.
"I hope I'm not making you feel uncomfortable."
Lyn shakes her head. She leans against Samuel's shoulder. "No...I feel really comfortable. I'm glad you're here."
The two spend a few minutes in utter silence. They watch as the rest of the caravan wind up the road and eventually vanish over the horizon. The scene reminded the two of a river transporting water to the ocean, except in this case, the liquid possessed a more finite volume. Birds scatter across the blue sky as they make way for a nearby forest...
Lyn says, "Those birds...they look so free. Oh...how I wish I could be like them."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Lyn sighs, her lungs spending air like they were the memories of a woman who had better days. "You know me well enough."
"...Are you talking about your time on the plains?"
Lyn nods softly, "I miss it so much. The plains...I dream about it so often. I miss the open spaces. I miss the lack of responsibility. I miss hunting for my food. Oh, Samuel! What am I to do?" She reaches over and digs her head into the chest of her beloved. Samuel gasps as he feels moisture accumulate there, no doubt the result of tears. It was at this moment that he comes into a cruel realization. The pain Lyn had been feeling these past few days wasn't because of the war (although it certainly created a rift), but of the sense of homesickness in her heart that had been accumulating for years.
Samuel brushes Lyn's hair to comfort her. She continues to cry, her hands tightening as she grasped onto the cloth of Samuel's collar. In many ways, Samuel can empathize with her plight. It had been many years since he'd seen his own homeland, after all. He says, "I...understand. I'm here for you, Lyn. Cry as much as you'd like."
"...Thank you..."
The couple spend the rest of the morning in each other's embrace. Lyn composes herself in due time and let her thoughts be known by the person she trusted most. Samuel nodded his head as she vented to him, only providing his own words to respond. Samuel was always a good listener, a trait Lyn enjoys frequently. Gradually, Lyn feels the discontentment in her heart soothe. She stands up with a renewed sense of meaning and confidence, but not before landing a kiss on her greatest supporter's cheek.
"I don't deserve you. You are too good to me."
"I can say the same about you."
Lyn smiles, her lips appearing vibrant and amorous. She walks across the platform onto an opposing set of railings. This position gave a good vantage point of the castle's garden. She says, "Marrying you was the best decision of my life. You're a great lover, and a just as good husband. I don't know what I'd do if—huh?" She wipes her eyes in disbelief. "Is that...Carvel? Why is that girl chasing him? I don't know her."
Samuel raises his brow, skeptical of Lyn's observations. To his understanding, Carvel was a bookish fellow who didn't take enjoyment from elementary games of tag. He only did so when pressured into the game by one of his family members and hardly did so alone, much less with strangers. So, when he walks over to Lyn's side, he opts to squint his eyes to get a better look. "I'll be damned...I think that's Fir. Bartre and Karla's little girl."
"Huh...really? I've never seen her before. When I saw Bartre and Karla earlier today for their efforts during the war, Fir wasn't there. She must have been sleeping." She pouts as she recalls the occurrence. The two were disheveled, and a bit beleaguered when they appeared before her in court, but appeared thrilled to see her. They embraced once Samuel asked the rest of the court to give them privacy and spent several hours catching up.
Samuel says, "She has Karla's face. I wonder what's going on down there. That's the most I've seen Carvel run...ever."
Lyn looks over at Samuel, her face taking on slight disappointment. "You've no shame? Why speak about your own son in that way?"
Samuel can only shrug his shoulders. "I mean no disrespect. But, you have to agree with me when I say that boy needs to move around more. We should really get him into sports or something..."
Lyn rolls her eyes before looking back towards the garden. She sees Carvel jogging and jumping over bushes, rocks, several streams, and whatever else got in his way. A short distance away is Fir, who seemed to toy with the young boy in her antics. She pranced on top of trees, watched as Carvel struggled to follow, and taunted him before returning onto the ground. The poor boy never seemed able to catch up to him, even as Fir raised a small, black object over her head.
She exclaims, "I'm sorry, Carvel! If you want your book back, you need to teach me how to read!"
Lyn chuckles as she hears his response. Gasping for air, he reaches his hand towards Fir. "You...meanie! Why would I ever do that? Get back here!"
This whole behavior endeared the young mother. She was pleased to see her introverted son take on more of the social prowess sported by his more extraverted sister, Carmel. Silently, she wonders if this marked a fork in the road for him. One where he could leave the secluded path set on his own and instead pursue a more jovial path through the influence of new friends. Regardless of the result, Lyn understands one thing...
She says, "We need to provide our kids more playmates. I like Leo, but there aren't enough children in the castle."
Samuel agrees. Although Carvel was exhibiting traits he held when he was younger, he would much rather avoid his boy go through the things he'd experienced in his adolescence. Vague memories of bullies pushing him around a schoolhouse causes him to bite his lip. He's okay with his son being an introvert as long as he didn't develop into a shut-in. "Well said. We can probably arrange for more playdates with our friend's kids. If need be, I'm sure I can invite the servant's children to come play. Their parents might see that as improper...though..."
Lyn looks at her husband, shaking her head with slight amusement. "When was anything we did not improper?"
Indeed. If one word could describe Lyn's reign thus far, it would be the word improper. Whether it be refusing to be referred to by her many titles, the implementation of democratic elements in her kingdom, or even just smooching her husband in public, Caelin's people knew the crown to be...different from anything else preceding it. Courts around Elibe amicably produced a name for her court, the "Vulgar Administration". Yet, this was the way Lyn found ruling best. She couldn't do it any other way, nor could she see herself accomplishing the same feats without her own personal style in place.
Samuel wraps his arm around his spouse, driving a pulse to reverberate across her skin, alongside the production of faint red on her face. For a moment, she strokes her back, unable to hold back his appreciation for her. Initially, Lyn's unsure of what to do, but this turns into a slight moan as he works his hands over to her back. A massage...a gift from one war veteran to another.
Lyn says, "How...improper...not to mention impulsive. You couldn't have waited until we were in the privacy of our bedchambers to do this?"
"I suppose not. You just seemed a little tense. Granted, I guess I do too."
Lyn sighs, easing herself out of Samuel's touch. Her face morphs into one that is more serious. "We'll have to return to this some other time. There is much business to be done. I need to talk to Lord Pent about the betrothal party. But..." She lets a warm smile leave her lips, and she walks over to caress Samuel's face with her hands. She allows her fingers to brush over his bristled skin, hardened from years of abuse on the battlefield. "Thank you. I'm able to rule because I have such a supportive husband. I love you..."
The two share a brief, if loving kiss. When they release, Samuel says the only words he could say. The only words that made sense in his mind...
"I love you, too."
Later...
Carmel smiles as she slowly and carefully brushes the hair of her cousin, Laniakea. The wavy, almost curl-like qualities of it twirl around the inner parts of the brush, ultimately giving way to her will because of its thin nature. Lani, meanwhile, allows herself some time for reposition. The peaceful air inside the castle's library does well to ease her innermost anxiety, a quality she'd spent years attempting to suppress.
Carmel, ever the perceptive fellow, notices this. Her brush tangles itself on the strands of her cousin's white mane, an action that only happens when she's feeling anxious. Looking up, Carmel feels sadness and concern towards Lani's state. "What's going on?" She asks while slowly attempting to free her brush. "Lani, are you scared?"
Lani opens her eyes, surprised by Carmel's quick deduction. She shuffles her feet a bit from her kneeling position of the ground, averting her eyes towards the surrounding bookshelves that wound throughout the space. She says meekly, "Wha...what do you mean?"
Carmel replies, "Your hair...it only acts this way when your scared." Her brown eyes shift over to Lani's porcelain-like skin. "You have goosebumps, too. Do you want chocolate? Daddy says it calms people down."
Lani nods slowly, and Carmel goes over to her side to retrieve a small handbag slung over her right arm. It was a simple, leather item made by a prominent tradesman from Etruria, noted for its comfortability alongside its practicality. She had gotten it during her last birthday and considered it her most prized possession. Within it, she obtained a small bar of chocolate wrapped around some thin paper. The bar was even simpler in design than the handbag, a given since its creator, Carmel herself, was only five years of age. She takes it and hands it to Lani, who chomps down on the brown candy eagerly.
She speaks with a muffled voice, "Mmph...thank you. You always have chocolate when others need it, Carmey."
Ironically, Carmel stayed true to her name. She always had chocolate or, at the very least, a piece of caramel in her possession to share with others. She picked up this trait because of her usual presence around anxious souls like Lani, or at times, her own parents. It also doesn't hurt that Carmel has a sweet tooth.
She replies, "It's no problem. I love you, Lani. I always have chocolate for you."
Lani smiles as she allows the candy to melt into her mouth. To be truthful with herself, she didn't even like chocolate. Yet, that didn't matter to her. All that did was that it was made by one of her favorite people, the daughter of her uncle, Carmel.
As expected, Lani's hair smothers out, allowing Carmel's brush to pass through it more easily. Elated with herself, she presses on further in her mission to dig through Lani's brain. A curious soul, she wished to find out what made her cousin so nervous. She asks, "You never answered my question. What's going on?"
Lani's hair bristles again, though not as much as it did before. The girl hesitates for a moment, her breathing slowing in silent contemplation. Her eyes wander towards a painting depicting one of Lycia's grandest ancestors, Sir Roland, battling against the flames of an enormous dragon. The dragon has white scales and an expression that suggests villainy alongside a callous aura. Carmel finds it odd that Lani seems more focused on the dragon than Roland, but she surmises this is up to chance.
Eventually, Lani opens up. "Have...you heard of what's going on with Carvel? That blonde girl...she and Carvel are supposed to get married soon."
Carmel brushing hand freezes. Lani rarely used Carvel's real name (or hers). When she did, it was usually out of instances of great importance and severity. Regardless, Carvel had come to terms with the betrothal. Her parents had informed her alongside the other children long ago, and she understood of its significance for the survival of the realm.
Carmel replies, "Yeah. That girl named Clarine...she's pretty. A little arrogant and posh...but I think she gets along well with him. I like her." Her eyes harden as her hand feels resistance. "Hey, Lani. Can you smother your hair out? It's all tangled again."
Lani's face turns a light shade of red, a tad embarrassed. Her red eyes dilate from the increased awareness of her own bodily functions. "Oh! Sorry! Let me just..." She takes another bite from the chocolate given to her. Her heartbeat slows as her breathes match this new rhythm. Her hair unravel from its near tentacle-like embrace around the brush, allowing Carmel ease of access. The princess can only sigh.
"Does...Carmel's betrothal unsettle you?"
Lani opens her mouth to reply, but regardless of her answer, Carmel already read her mind. She held no doubts that the reason her hair keeps tangling up, the source of her anxiety was directly tied to her emotions pertaining to Carvel's pending marriage. Despite Carmel's closeness with her, Carvel was clearly her favorite cousin. Ever since the latter's birth, they spent many years playing, talking, and just hanging out. Carmel wonders if this friendly relationship relegated itself to a pure platonic love, or something more.
Lani says, "It...does. I cannot imagine someone taking Carvel away from me. Can...you imagine it? Someone taking your brother...the person you share your blood with?"
Carmel's eyes soften. Lani's words only convolute Carmel's reading of her. On the surface, they suggest a similar emotion to her. Carmel does not want Carvel to leave her. They'd been with each other since the very beginning, preceding even their birth, going all the way back to when it was just them in their mother's expanding womb. She wants Carvel to be with her forever. This extends to Lani, of whom she cared for equally as much.
Carmel replies, "I...can't imagine it. But the people of Caelin need this. If it weren't for Lord Pent's army, we never would have survived the attack." She pauses as she closes her eyes, her face wrinkling with thought. She tightens the handle of her brush, picturing herself grasping the hilt of a sword. It's not a pleasing thought in the slightest. "I...was so scared. I couldn't do anything —WE couldn't do anything. We can't fight, we can't go with mommy and daddy to the battlefield. I don't want to feel that way again, Lani. Do you?"
Lani shakes her head. "No...it's just so unfair. If we could help the army...if we could defend ourselves!" Emboldened, she stands up. She faces her cousin with a mixture of determination and conviction. Carmel can only stare back, dumbfounded, with her brush still in her left hand. "If I was strong...Sammy and Lyn would have never needed to ask for help! If I was strong...Carvel wouldn't need to marry that...that..."
Carmel reaches out and slowly grabs Lani's hand. At this point, tears had accumulated around the heated girl's eyes. Carmel feels the tension in her grasp, allowing some of the manakete's hostile aura to flow out of her feverish hand and into her cooler form. Lani looks over at her with her red eyes burning with the blaze of a forest fire, only for it to simmer into something more approachable. Carmel says, "You know Clarine's a pleasant person. You shouldn't say anything mean."
Lani releases her hand and turns away, embarrassed by her loud outburst in the silent library. She leans against a bookshelf in their small corridor of literature, her eyes shifting towards a chandelier that hung at the top of the ceiling. Deep down, she knows Carmel is right. She'd spoken with Clarine, played with her and her brother. Although she has some detractions, plenty of things go for her. She could...and likely will make Carvel a very happy man. But...that doesn't sit right with her. Truth be told, it doesn't entirely sit well with Carmel either, though for different reasons.
Regardless, Lani takes another bite from Carmel's piece of chocolate. She takes in a deep breath, then exhales. Amid her mechanisms of cope, her mind churns with a cruel realization. Truthfully, there is only one thing she can do. Only one real thing she can do. Absolutely...Nothing.
She says, "...Fine. I'll let things happen...but I won't be happy about it."
Carmel smiles softly. The gesture causes Lani to blush, its warmth penetrating to the deepest chambers of her heart. The sight...is uncanny to her. It was so similar to the expression worn by her mother...with a hint of influence from her father. Lani wonders how such a thing can be...but she only sighs when Carmel reaches out to hug her. She has a message of her own, one extended from the bottom of her soul.
"That's all I ask. Be strong, Lani. I'll try to be, too."
