A/N: And here is the next chapter. Plot progression and some tension I see.

Chapter Six

Welcome Home

The night sky bade goodnight to the world and shrank away, allowing the first streaks of light to begin edging over the horizon. The ship had some occasional activity, but most of the men (and the one woman) aboard were sleeping soundly below deck. Harald was one of the few awake, standing not far from the helmsman. He could just make out the subtle creaking as the wheel adjusted right or left, mostly hidden by the splashing of waves. The colors of the water told him he was close. They would be home soon, and he would be eating in the dining rooms come nightfall. He faintly smiled, tight-lipped, gazing into the distance.

He liked being able to be the first one to see his homeland. He tried not to venture from it when he could help it. That sort of adventuring lifestyle was more of Heinrik's ideal lot in life, but Harald was content to stay home as long as he felt needed. It gave one such immense pleasure to feel needed, and it had been such an incredible distraction from his painful past. Maybe that was part of why he acted so quickly to accept Lily's request for training, so eager to offer himself as her teacher. Originally, he had been simply impressed by her courage and skill, but as he'd learned more about her, he felt swells of protective instinct rise and fall within him much as the waves around him.

There was the sound of yawning behind him, and he turned, surprised to see Lily stumbling towards him. He was quick to go to her side, linking his hand in hers. "What are you doing awake?" he asked, his voice quiet as if reverent.

"I woke up and couldn't remember where I was," she replied, squeezing his hand. "I needed the familiarity of someone."

"How did you find me?" he asked next, trying to steady her as she wobbled with the rock of the ship.

"I asked one of the other men on deck," she replied, putting her weight against him and allowing him to help her.

Harald looked at the horizon on the sea growing brighter in the distance and led her towards the edge of the deck, placing her hands on the rim of the railing. "Come with me." He moved behind her and put his hands on hers, leaning close to her ear as his chest pressed against her back, his voice a whisper. "Wait."

Lily did as she was told, the stubble of his chin brushing her neckline. Holding her breath, she suddenly felt something warm her skin, enveloping her. "The sunrise," she breathed.

"It's only the beginning," Harald replied, resting his chin on her shoulder lightly.

"Tell me what it looks like," she begged, leaning forward as the sun spread over the deck through the railing spaces.

"The darkness is just starting to lift. I can see half of the sun now, but it's going to be cloudy today, so it's a sheltered glow. It's like the color of the lamplight just before it goes out. There's some golden shade amidst it, and the top of the sky is a little pink, like the bud of a rose before it blooms," he explained, taking his time to form his words accurately.

"It sounds beautiful," Lily replied in a quiet voice, uttering a little sigh. "I can remember it from when I was little."

"There's the Isles," Harald continued, smiling at the sight of his home coming into view. "They start out as a speck, but we should be docking by afternoon at this pace."

"You sound happy," Lily commented, turning so she could face him.

"I do?" Harald wasn't aware he'd given anything away.

"Mhm," she affirmed, her hand resting on his arm. "There's a warmth to your voice. You sound satisfied. I haven't heard you like this before; you really must be comfortable here."

"The Isles are my home," he replied, patting her hand and leading her away from the deck. The men were starting to stir and come out into the open to begin their duties. "I've never lived elsewhere."

"Surely you've traveled places before," Lily countered, bobbing a little as the ship broke through a wave.

"With my parents, yes. Nearly all of us have visited one country or another for diplomatic reasons. But I've never felt as welcomed or at ease as I am here." He stopped before the cabin door. "You should wait below until we're docked."

Lily's lips turned into a little pout. Her hand hesitated on his arm instead of going for the door, and she traced little circles on his skin. "But I've been cooped up down there ever since we left Arendelle. Must I go back? I can feel the fresh air out here, and smell the sea… down there all I can smell is potatoes and men who haven't bathed in far too long."

Harald choked back a chuckle, enjoying her touch. He would have liked to acquiesce to her desires, but he could not bring himself to for two reasons. Firstly, he knew his attention would soon be drawn to the docking process. Secondly, the men had begun to form a small crowd on the upper deck and were observing him with quiet sniggering. He served them a silencing glower and turned back to Lily. "I won't be able to watch you."

"I don't need you to watch me. I can take care of myself," she affirmed, leaning more against him, hoping to coerce him. "You know I can."

"Indeed you can." Harald was wise to her efforts and took her hand in his, placing it firmly on the door handle. "In Arendelle. Here, you are no more than a new stranger to the soldiers and my pupil. Lesson one: you will learn to differentiate between a suggestion and a command. Let me make this one clear. You will wait below deck until it's safe. That's an order from your captain."

Lily took a breath as though to argue, then did her best to disguise the defeat so clearly etched on her face. "Alright."

"Alright?" Harald repeated, clearly disappointed. She must have sensed this, because she looked both confused and frustrated. He set his face in its neutral stern line. "That is not an acceptable response."

"Yes, sir," she corrected, "I understand." She swung open the door with gusto and her hand went to the wall, her back turned to him. She didn't turn back.

Harald immediately felt a churn of guilt and frustration towards her. Am I supposed to just stand back and let you find out yourself that you can't do this? Should I have? I'm your captain. You chose this, Lily. Don't forget that. And as much as I… as much as I may love you, I can't forget what I'm doing here. He returned to giving orders and surveying the activities of the ship. He soon lost track of Lily and forgot about her in the bustle of docking, but not for long. The anchors were weighed, the sails were tied in place, and the gangplank was lowered. According to tradition, the ship's captain was the first to depart, and he yielded the honor as he went to check on Lily. He received multiple reports from men who had seen her up and about, but not recently. He scoured below deck with no trace of her. How could a blind girl possibly disappear so entirely? He jogged back up to the deck where his men were awaiting his departure and began to disembark, if only to allow the others to do so before resuming his search.

"Harald!"

He jerked up at the sound of her voice, only to find her on the pier, sitting impatiently upon one of the posts. He quickened his step to her side as the men behind him proceeded to unload wares they'd picked up in Arendelle.

"Took you long enough!"

Harald frowned at her, his mood dampened with the heat of embarrassment. "You're supposed to wait until I get off. You should have stayed down below."

"But not anymore. You did say I had to-" she cleared her throat to sound gruff and deep, "stay below deck until it's safe." She dropped the voice and cheerily smiled. "It's safe now."

He sighed through his nose, not bothering to counter her. She was impulsive and difficult, but he could not bring himself to scold her when she seemed so happy. He could see a few of his soldiers at the end of the pier holding his horse at hand for him. He hadn't considered transportation for Lily. He thought for a moment. She wouldn't likely be able to ride well, considering her impairment, but he didn't have much desire to hitch a carriage and the castle was a fair distance away for walking. He took her hand in his, his grip firm but not harsh. "Yes, it's safe now. My horse is waiting. Come with me."

Lily balked a little. "I haven't ridden anywhere since I was little. What if I fall?" Her voice dropped to that near a whisper.

"You won't." Harald led her over to his steed. "I'll help you up first." He took the reins from the soldier, one of his closer companions named William. If any of his soldiers were to be here to greet him, Harald expected William to be among them.

The soldier's smile showed though he tried to hide it with a bow of respect. "Welcome back, sir."

"Thank you." Harald placed a hand on his steed, hoping the familiarity of his touch would be soothing. He leaned over so she would hear him, her ears flickering back towards him as her nostrils sent a puff of air into the world. "Jag ar har…" he murmured, stroking her coat and patting her once. "Jag ar tillbaka." He took Lily's hand and placed it on the neck of the horse. "This is Lily… Lily, this is Kampe. You can trust her to take good care of you. Now lift your foot and put it in the stirrup, that's it, I've got you," he grunted as he helped Lily balance until she was ready to hoist herself over the beast's back. "There we go."

Lily smoothed her fingers over Kampe's sides as Harald turned to talk to William. "Have her things taken to the castle. Tell the men I'll brief them before evening release."

"Yes, sir," William replied respectfully, turning his attention to the ship and those departing.

Harald hoisted himself into the saddle with ease, taking Lily's arms and threading them around his waist. "Hold tight here. I'll go easy so we won't jostle so much for you." His heels knocked against Kampe's flank, signaling his steed to go into a steady canter.

Lily held on tightly, her cheek pressed against his back, as she felt the wind begin to stir her hair and her body bumped up and down with the horse's movement. "Wh-what t-time is it?"

"Afternoon," Harald replied, his body steadier as he moved with his horse's gait. "We're going to the castle. You should have time to put away your things before dinner. I'll start your training come morning so you have time to rest after your journey."

Lily tried to tighten her thighs against the horse, but they kept slipping off their grip. "S-so w-will I have dinner w-with you?"

"If that is what you wish, I would be happy to have you," Harald replied, adjusting the reins in hand.

"I would like that," she managed to murmur without shaking, clasping closer to him, the hoofbeats on the cobblestone matching pace with her quickening heartbeat. Perhaps having a quiet dinner with him will be a good time to talk more about how we feel.

Harald exchanged brief standard greetings with the people he passed on the way to the castle, and lukewarm thanks for those who claimed to have wished him well on his trip. It was only when he had stopped by the stables, which were close to the gardens, that he was victim to a much heartier welcome.

"Brother!"

Harald had only just gotten off of Kampe when he was tackled by someone giving him a tight and inescapable hug. He stumbled back against the side of the stable doorway with a grunt of surprise, wriggling against the foreign feeling, his brother's brown hair tickling his nose and smelling of apricots. "Get off me!"

"Oh, I'm so glad you're back safely! You were missed so much! How is Hans? And Elsa? Oh, you must tell me everything! Did Heinrik tell you our message? He must have told you!" Heins squeezed tighter, more bubbly and energetic than Harald remembered.

"I said get off!" Harald shoved and wiggled until he'd pried Heins away, gasping to catch his breath. "Don't do that! You nearly killed me and you should know better!"

"Sorry!" Heins apologized immediately, a sincere look of reproach on his face. "I didn't mean it, I'm just so happy you're back. You've been terribly missed."

"I'm sure." Harald pursed his lips and glowered at his brother.

Kampe, already startled by the earlier sudden hug, began to backpedal as if sensing her owner's discomfort. "Harald," Lily weakly called, extending a shaky hand out into the unknown.

"I'm here," he quickly answered, reaching out and helping her down. He assisted her to sit on a hay bale nearby and led his horse to the first stable on the right. "Calm, Kampe. Let's get you back in your stall." He patted his horse a few times to reassure her, easing her back into her shelter and removing the bridle and saddle, hefting them beside the stall opening for the stable boy to take care of later.

"And who might this lovely young woman be?" Heins asked, delight sparkling in his green eyes.

Harald grunted as he smoothed his clothing, taking Lily's hand and tucking it into the crook of his arm. "This is Miss Granthson. She hails from Arendelle."

"Do you really?" Heins gushed, bowing gracefully. "It is my utmost pleasure to welcome you to the Isles! Helena will be so happy to have company. Are you planning on staying long?" Suddenly he straightened with a look of discomfort. "Oh, do forgive me, I never introduced myself! Prince Heins at your service, my lady!"

"Heins," a woman's voice floated through the air as a tall, dark-haired lady entered the clearing, a basket of plants on her arm. "The doctor and I have finished gathering the herbs for the soup. Let's – oh!" She smiled as she saw Harald and quickened her pace to greet him. "Harald, you're back! You've been missed."

"So I hear." Harald replied, less cross than he had been with his brother as he gazed at his sister-in-law. A healthy glow emanated from the woman, her pregnancy still far too early to allow anything to be distinguished through her tight bodice. "It's good to see you. You seem well."

"I don't feel as well," Helena replied with a small smile. "But we're doing our part to fix it." She gestured to her basket on her arm.

"A joy I will never have to endure." Harald replied sardonically, clenching Lily's arm a bit tighter as he moved to let her know they were starting to walk. She seemed to focus on walking with confidence and keeping her eyes trained towards his voice. "This is Miss Granthson. She'll be staying with us for a bit. How are father's business pursuits? And our relations with the neighboring countries? Did William handle well during my absence?"

Lily allowed herself to be led as the conversation dulled into a hum in her ears. She began to feel isolation creeping into her heart, and a very old sting of bitterness tweaked her further. She had no idea what these people looked like or what they were talking about. Even worse, Harald had talked about her so coldly; it was almost as if she were a pet or one of his medals. All they knew was that she came from Arendelle and was staying for a while. He could have told them why I was here or… or at least what my first name is. But he didn't. Now he's just talking about business, and soldiers, and-

She suddenly broke from her inner monologue with a little squeal and a stumble over a stair. Harald's grip tightened, and he kept her from falling, but the damage was done, and both Heins and Helena, oblivious to her impairment, were concerned for her.

"Are you alright, my lady?" Heins asked with genuine concern.

Lily felt heat bloom in her cheeks as Harald fell silent. She could not tell if he was embarrassed or not, but the last thing she wanted was for him to make excuses for her. "I'm sorry," she stated, holding her head high. "I didn't see the stair." She turned her head away from the voices to continue the conversation, pretending to look around her and hoping they would not guess the truth, at least, not this way. "You have a lovely castle." Pride filled her as Heins thanked her and began to talk about when it had been built and the country's color scheme from the banners. She had guessed right about where they were, but there would be many stairs ahead of her, and Harald would not always be there to catch her.

#

Harald stopped inside the grand entrance foyer, leading Lily towards the side of the stairway to speak privately with her.

"Are you going to see father? I'll come with you. We should hold a party for your return. He may already be in the dining room," Heins enthused, stepping over to join him.

"A party? You know I dislike being the center of attention," Harald responded, which wasn't quite the truth, but as captain of the guard he had learned to feign humility quite easily.

"Oh, let me ask, please, Harald," Heins begged.

"But I have to help Miss Granthson to her room and explain to her the layout of the castle," Harald fumbled as his brother grabbed his arm and pulled lightly, which pulled Lily alongside him.

His brother's excitement hardly dented, Heins looked thoughtful. "Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Helena can do it!" He quickly recovered, beaming brightly and pulling again. "She won't mind, and we can put Lily close to our room! Yours is only one floor above, and that way the women can have each other's company, in case she gets a little overwhelmed with us," he explained in a gasp of breath.

"Alright, alright! Stop pulling on me, you're not a child," Harald scolded, yanking his arm away and facing Lily. He kept his voice low as he spoke. "Will you alright without me?"

Her heart was racing in her ears, but if she asked for him to stay with her now, everyone would wonder why, and Lily just wasn't ready to admit the truth, not out in the open yet. And this Helena sounded kind, though Lily did not know her well. "Of course." She feigned a smile and turned away from the voices, once more pretending to hold interest in the castle around her. It must have been a regular occurrence from guests, because Harald squeezed her hand once, and let go.

"I'll see you at dinner soon. Helena will help you find your way around."

Heins took hold of his brother and pulled again, undaunted from being swatted away once already. "Come on, Harald! The sooner we ask, the sooner we can start planning! And you haven't told me anything about Hans and Elsa."

"Well I will if you would just give me a moment to breathe!" Their voices carried away into the distance and Lily smiled. Heins would be easy to remember.

"It's quite a few stairs, but it's good to help us keep healthy, particularly with the new baby on the way," Helena cheerfully remarked as she started climbing, lifting the folds of her dress. "Harald didn't say why you're visiting us. Do you have business with the king and queen here?"

Lily moved one foot forward and then the other, knocking them gently against the edge of the stair before she planted her feet, knowing it must appear awkward and odd. One hand tightly gripped the banister with her fingers curling against the underside. "I'm here to train with Harald. I want to be a soldier." The stairs seemed to go on forever, and the banister curved when she reached the first period of flat carpeting.

Helena observed the new visitor with a careful eye. It almost looked as if she were afraid to take each step and was feeling her way out. Quietly, she moved a little ways ahead of the woman and waved a hand before her face. There was no reaction, and with a swell of pity, Helena realized why the girl was having so much trouble. "Forgive me… I didn't realize. Do you need some help?"

Embarrassment burned Lily's cheeks a fierce red. "No, I'm alright." She knew she couldn't keep the secret forever, but at least she had avoided revealing it in front of Harald and possibly embarrassing him, and at least this Helena was not patronizing.

Helena's words seemed to catch in her throat. The girl was blind, and Harald had brought her all the way across the sea just so she could train with him? It didn't make a good deal of sense to her. The blind girl must have felt lonely and afraid, being away from everything she knew. Helena did her best to try and make kind conversation. "So you're from Arendelle. So am I! I miss it sometimes; how did the coronation go? I had quite the run in with Hans and his brother Heins."

"You're from Arendelle?" This news came as a shock to Lily. Arendelle had always seemed like such a small place to her in comparison to the rest of the world.

"I am, yes," Helena affirmed, waiting for Lily to catch up. "I was born there and only ever lived there until now."

Lily followed the sound of Helena's voice as they reached another flat part of the carpet, straining to hear how the woman was walking so she would not be caught off-guard again by a rogue stairway. "What made you move here? As for the coronation, I don't know, I didn't attend it. But I think people are starting to trust Hans a little after what happened."

"I'm so happy to hear that. I used to work at a clothing shop designing and selling outfits. It's a long story after that, but to sum it up, Heins and I fell in love and I came to live with him. And you?" She came to a stop before her room, opening the door and kicking a bolt of fabric out of the way. Heins had a habit of bringing his work back to his room, even though he had his own workspace in another of the castle's many rooms to design freely. "Come in, let me set my basket down and I'll show you next door to your room."

"My father was Captain of the Arendelle Army," Lily responded as she stepped inside, pride emanating from her. "He taught me everything I know and I practiced every opportunity I could find." She negated to explain her constant dismissal from the yard or Alrik's disapproval.

Helena's hand loosened and the basket of herbs fell to the floor with a bounce. She bent to pick them up, looking at Lily much more intently, her words far apart and distant. "Your father… he was Erik Granthson?" She should have guessed. The name had sounded familiar, but she had thought nothing of it at the time.

"Captain, yes," Lily answered, unused to hearing her father's name without the title, sounding a little confused. "He was a huge part of sorting out the protests against the king when I was little. How did you know?"

The damn holding back Helena's pain brought on by her past cracked, her voice hollow. "My father was a soldier there."

"He was?" Lily seemed to brighten a little with the discovery of common ground, but it only served to fuel the flame of Helena's anger.

He was. Until the king dismissed half the staff, and your father stopped being our friend! Helena was silent, staring at the herbs she regathered into her basket and steeping in the bitterness. She stared at Lily, thinking back to years ago.I think I remember you. I remember when you had your accident. My father comforted your father. And then he treated us like filth the moment the king gave that order. He came to you in our time of need, and your father wouldn't listen. He wouldn't even try.

Helena's face burned with tears, but she dabbed them away with a spare ream of cloth on the bed. What good did tears do? This girl didn't even know her, but vague memories told Helena they might have said hello in passing days. "Yes. I remember your father's name now. What's yours, again?"

There was a subtle undertone of anger in the woman's voice, but Lily was too happy to have possibly made a connection to catch it. "Lily. Lily Granthson."

"Oh… yes, that's right." Helena's mind began to work furiously. Revenge was not part of her character, but this could be her only opportunity to take it. Heins had eased her away from being angry at Anna in Arendelle, and the royal family in turn, but resentment was still rooted deep within her, and this girl's father had a hand in it as well. She was supposed to dine with Harald tonight, wasn't she? An idea began to bloom for Helena as she gently set the basket on her comforter and let her voice grow high and flighty, innocent. "They should be bringing your clothing to your room soon. Have you picked out what gown you'll wear tonight?"

"Gown?" Lily repeated, suddenly feeling a little less joyful. She had only packed most of her own clothes, and those certainly didn't match up to royalty. She should have asked Harald about it earlier when he mentioned dinner, but she didn't think of it then. "I, um… I don't think I have anything that could be considered proper attire… would you… I mean, you don't think there's anything spare that I could borrow until I get the chance to buy something, do you?" She was sure she wouldn't be able to afford whatever this country considered royal garb, but at least she could talk to Harald about it alone tonight.

This response was exactly what Helena wanted to hear. She smiled coolly, approaching Lily with smooth, graceful strides. "Oh, no, please… the pleasure is all mine. I have plenty of outfits. You're welcome to borrow one of mine. You and I look nearly the same size, and we can adjust quickly before dinner starts." She walked over to one of the three dressers in the room and opened the top drawer, pulling something out and waving it in the air to unfold it. "This is perfect. First step into these." She handed Lily what felt like a pair of pants, but softer and very light. Lily obliged, pleased with the feeling of lace at her ankles. Harald would be proud to see her tonight, and she would make a good first impression. "Now this," Lily accepted the next gift, which felt like a very simple dress, and hoisted it over her head, drawing it down over her neck. "And one more thing should do it," Helena pulled out a corset. "Have you ever worn a corset before?"

"No," Lily replied honestly. Her father had passed away before he could tell her about such things, but she'd heard of them and they were often used in very high society from what she understood.

"I'm going to help you thread it, then." Helena wrapped the item around the girl's bodice and took hold of the strings, her smile growing. "Now take a deep breath."

By the time Helena had gotten Lily some shoes to wear and a pair of evening gloves, she had firmly decided she did not envy the wealthy, particularly what they had to wear.

"You look perfect," Helena surmised, glancing at the clock in the room. "Oh, and we should be going. Most of the men and the king and queen should already be present. I'll lead you there, but I have to drop off the herbs I picked earlier to the kitchen. You go in first and then I can follow a few minutes after, alright?"

"Okay," Lily agreed, thankful Helena was so helpful as she followed her through the hallways. They arrived at the dining hall not long after, and Lily waited as Helena explained.

"Just wait here for a few minutes and go inside when you feel comfortable. I should be right along shortly."

"Right." Lily heard her begin to walk away, but reached out to touch her arm before she could disappear. "Thank you." There was a very long pause and Helena did not seem to want to leave, but then she nodded and moved Lily's hand, disappearing down the stairwell.

Lily steeled herself, taking hold of the doorknob in front of her. Once she was inside, she would curtsey first, and then wait for a cue from Harald, or the king, or queen, and then make her way towards the voice, and they would prompt her where to sit. It would be easy. She could do this. She could handle a sword without looking, so a simple dinner should be nothing. She took a deep, strengthening breath and swung open the door, stepping inside and holding the breath firm.

Whatever chatter there had been inside the room suddenly ceased into a wave of silence punctuated with a few spare intakes of breath.

"Um… hello?" Came a young male voice she did not recognize, soft and quiet.

"Yes, hello, I'm Lily Granthson. I journeyed here from Arendelle under the care of Captain Harald Westergard?" she ventured, doing her best to imitate a curtsey in the direction of the voice.

There was a snort to her left, and a choking noise. She recognized it after a moment of puzzlement as concealed laughter, and a few hisses of laughter from other voices followed it. Did I make a mistake already? Was my curtsey too clumsy? Should I not have done that?

"My dear Miss Granthson…" This voice was deep, older, and she could only guess it to be the king. She bowed her head out of respect. He tried a few times to form words, but it seemed he was having difficulty finding the right ones to say. "Did you… I…"

"No one told me it was casual dress," came a chortle from someone near her end of the table.

"Hugo!" Scolded an older feminine voice she ascertained to be the queen.

"Oh, she's a keeper alright," someone else joined in.

The male voices were all blending together, and Lily began to backstep. "I'm sorry if I interrupted…"

"Oh, please, interrupt us all night if you like!"

Suddenly, she heard a voice she recognized immediately. "Heins, give me your cloak, now." There were quick footsteps and then she found a cloak wrapped around her body, and Harald's scent of sweat and spice wafting into her nose. He bent in towards her, holding her very close to his body. His voice hissed, both holding a tone of anger and shock. "What are you doing?"

"I'd like to know the same thing! I thought I was supposed to meet you for dinner," she countered in a whisper, bewilderment flooding her expression.

"Yes, but not in your undergarments!" Harald seethed, gripping her shoulders tightly. "What made you think such a thing?"

Horror replaced the confusion in her eyes, and they began to water with tears. Her hands fumbled from her corset to her chemise, hoping smoothing it over would suddenly transform it into a real gown. "I… I didn't… I thought…" She backed away, the laughter blocking out his voice as he continued to speak. Suddenly, someone larger than her ran into her as they entered and she stumbled to the ground, fumbling to get back up.

Whoever it was scoffed and gruffly remarked, "Watch where you're going. What are you, blind?"

Whatever strength she'd tried to hold in reserve failed then, and she burst into tears, fleeing the room as quickly as possible. She had no idea where to go, only that she had to be somewhere other than that room. She made wild turns at every opportunity, part of her knowing Harald would be trying to follow her and part of her not wanting him to find her.

When she started panting admist her crying, she finally slowed to a stop, grasping a door handle and opening it, letting herself inside and closing it behind her. The worst that could happen was that she run into a servant, and really, that would be a blessing compared to what she just endured. She wrapped the cloak tighter around herself, despite the fact it smelled like apricots… like her. She hated that Helena woman! She hated her! How could she do something like that? She'd seemed so kind at first. She let herself sink down against the doorframe.

"May I assist you in some way?"

It was another male voice, but Lily did not focus long enough on it to pick out more detail. She hugged the cloak around herself tighter. "No," she rasped, "just leave me alone, please."

"That would hardly be considerate of me," replied the voice, with the sound of a few gentle thuds. There were footsteps moving across the room from one side to another, but they did not approach her. "Considering your current disposition."

Lily felt a bit curious as to why he wasn't approaching her immediately, or asking further questions about her clothing. He must have been trying not to laugh. "… who are you?" she finally prompted after a few moments, wiping at her puffy eyes with the cloak around her.

"Horatio Westergard," he replied, with another few gentle thudding sounds, and a creak.

She waited, expecting him to coddle her and try to comfort her, but he didn't speak any further. It was moments like this Lily desperately wished she could see what was going on, because it sounded interesting. She stood up, pulling the cloak tightly around herself. "… what are you doing?"

"Looking for a particularly evasive book," he replied.

"A book?" Lily's interest began to sway. Her fingers stretched out and made contact with a wall of books shelved neatly. She raked her fingers across them with a pleasing drumming noise. "This is a library."

"Very astute," he remarked, and she could tell he was not being factious.

A small smile lit her face, grateful for another person not commenting on her blindness. His voice made her tired, but not because it was boring. There was a calm security to it. "I love books. My father used to read them to me all the time."

"I see," he replied, and the footsteps grew closer. Then there was the creaking again. "I am happy to hear someone else appreciates the world of literature. It's why I'm missing what must be a delicious dinner in the first place."

"Would you mind explaining?" she asked, following the noise until her hand touched the side of a piece of wood, which further investigation revealed to be a ladder rung.

"What part?" he asked, the creaking echoing as he departed the ladder, careful to avoid her hand. "Are you asking why I am missing the dinner or why it is presumed to be a delicious dinner?"

"Both, I suppose," she replied, picking a book from the shelf and lovingly stroking the cover with a twinge of sadness.

Horatio studied her deeper, gazing at the young girl before him. He had ascertained quite some time ago this must be the Lily Granthson Harald had spoken earlier duringthe interrupted budget meeting with his father, judging by the fact that she was blind. There was no doubting she had once loved reading by the way she cradled the book. "In response to why I'm missing dinner, I am looking for a book for my ill-bred older brother who is far too fascinated in gruesome practices and hardly bothers to look at a book, much less indulge."

"What book?" she pressed, returning the one in her hands to its rightful spot.

"It is called Tales, containing poems from a man by name of Poe. Likely you've never heard of him. He's only recently been published. His subjects of choice I am hoping will be of some interest to my brother, and may distract him from performing some of his more distasteful habits."

"Subjects of choice?" Lily asked, wisely deciding not to ask about the distasteful habits.

"Death and woe, misery and depression. Ah, here we are." She could hear the sounds of pages rustling. "Once upon a midnight dreary… now isn't that a dismal way to begin a poem?" He clapped the book shut.

"Why did you think dinner would be so delicious?" she replied, no longer holding the cloak tightly around herself.

"Because you were to be there," Horatio responded, putting away his other books. "I'm sure mother and father were eager to make you feel at home here, after how highly Harald spoke of you."

Lily's face drooped into sadness once more. "I'm afraid I made a mess of my first impression. I think I made him angry with me."

"Angry with an affable woman such as you? Impossible." Horatio approached her and stood before her, crossing his arms over the book he held. "Harald is just very short-tempered with himself. He's always been a stern, stubborn, self-reliant sibling."

"Say that five times fast," Lily joked, a small smile coming back to her face.

Horatio chuckled, and it was a pleasant sound to Lily. "Don't tell him so, but I believe he may be quite fond of you."

"I just don't know what to tell him when I face him again," she murmured. She extended a hand and wandered a few feet forward until she stumbled upon a chair and sank into it, spreading the cloak over her like a blanket.

"I believe the truth would suffice," Horatio said. There was creaking from the door, and he glanced over to see Harald looking in, lips parting when he saw Lily. Horatio held a hand out to still him, but waved him inside and gestured to a third chair across from Lily. "Speaking of which, if you would pardon my impertinence regarding it, how did you find yourself in such unconventional dinner garb?"

"You mean the underwear?" Lily responded.

"Mm." He took a seat between them on a plush chaise.

"This awful Helena woman tricked me. She helped me dress and took me to dinner, but left me there. I've never worn anything like this before… how was I to know it wasn't some kind of rich person clothing?" Lily lamented, hugging her knees.

"Helena?" Horatio repeated, pursing his lips. "Surely not. Are you certain it wasn't a misunderstanding?"

"Positive," Lily replied.

"Then we'll have to speak to her." Harald interrupted, his voice stern and ground out between his teeth.

"Harald? When did you- I…" Her head whipped to face him, drawing the cloak closer around herself again, her face growing ruddy. "I'm so sorry about dinner. I didn't mean to embarrass you. Don't be angry with me. It was an accident."

"I'm not angry with you; I'm angry for you," Harald replied quietly, scooting his chair closer to her.

"Tsk, tsk, are not you the one who is always harping on your family for precision of language?" Horatio pressed his younger brother with a slim smile and a wave of a finger.

Harald rolled his eyes and scoffed. "What I mean to say is, I'm angry you were embarrassed."

"Oh…" Lily murmured, looking in the direction of his voice. "But your family… your parents… they must think I'm so… so inept."

"I can assure you that is not the case," Horatio interjected. "Our parents have put up with thirteen of us for so long, I doubt anything strikes them as surprising anymore."

"But what am I supposed to do now? Everyone's going to hear about it, and it's all they'll see when they look at me," Lily replied, sighing and leaning her head back against the ornate décor of the wooden chair.

Harald leaned forward and took her hand. "Then I guess that makes them blind."

Lily looked towards him, sitting up in the chair, her eyes still watery from crying, dry trails on her cheeks from where the tears had left their streams. She spoke quietly, her heart quickening. "I've never been sad about being blind for a long time… but being with all these books reminded me about it… and… I'm sad now. Mostly because I wish I could see you; I mean, truly see you."

"Don't wish things were different. It's part of what I love about you," Harald replied, tucking some of her hair back away from her face. "Do you think we would have met at all if things had been different? Sight is a wonderful thing, alskling, but it's not everything… there are worse things." Lily's face burst into color as his hand framed her right cheek and he stole a quick kiss. He glanced at Horatio as if to warn him not to say anything, and then broke into a low chuckle. "If it helps you feel better, I'll wear my underwear to the next dinner."

A grin blossomed to life on her face. "Harald Westergard, I love you."

Horatio watched as his brother whole heartedly smiled.It was likening to watching a cat bark; it just wasn't feasible. Both Hans and Harald had shared a tragedy in their lives. Each had battled their own war with themselves, and Hans had only recently begun to win his. But Harald… he didn't share his fights, his life… with anyone. Now, as he sat at a distance far from the two lovers lost in one another, Horatio realized the greatest war his brother had yet to overcome was the war with his past. He had never forgiven himself, and if he did not come to face it soon, it would spell trouble for everyone. Leaving the thought to rest for the night, Horatio shifted off the chaise lounge, reclaiming his book. "I've a feeling my presence is unnecessary at best given the present situation."

"No, we should both go. You stay. I know this is your home inside home," Harald replied, gingerly helping Lily up. "I never gave Lily the castle tour."

"You will speak to Helena? I'm certain it's a misunderstanding," Horatio mentioned as they approached the door. "But do be congeal about it, you remember how Heins reacted with Hugo this past winter when Helena was threatened."

"That was an entirely different matter. And I am not Hugo," Harald retorted.

"Such is why I am asking you to control your temper. It is part of our creed, you know," Horatio drawled as he walked over to one of the spare desks in the room and removed some parchment from within a drawer.

"Yes, yes, I know," Harald rattled off with a chuff of breath, opening the door for Lily.

"Oh, and brother?" Horatio asked as he wet a feather quill with ink and scribbled something down on the paper.

"Yes, what is it?" Harald grunted, irritated at the moment with Lily having passed too quickly.

"Come and see me tomorrow when you find a spare moment in your schedule. I've something of a proposal for you that I think you may find intriguing," Horatio murmured, the quill scratching along the surface of the paper with little jerks of movement.

"Oh, alright." Harald departed with Lily in tow, and Horatio leaned over to light a candle, knowing he would be awake yet for a few hours finishing his letter to a Monsieur Louis Braille.

So there we have it. We'll be returning to Hans and Elsa and a timeskip not long into the future, but for now, we stay where we are for another chapter or two. Sorry about the wait! I just can't churn em out as quickly as I used to.

Alskling= sweetheart
Kampe= fighter/warhorse
Jag ar har= I'm here
Jag ar tillbaka= I'm back