Chapter 13

Elle had been thankful when they made it back to the city, and they did not have a crowd waiting for them. It was no different than any other day that they came back. Part of that was because the city was already swarming with people making preparations for the upcoming festival and anticipated trading. They only had one more day before the festivities started, so it had been like walking into a beehive. At least they had been left to head back to their respective tasks with no trouble.

The following day, Elle opted to stay in at Yeul's request. They would all be expected to take part in the first day of the festival, and Yeul wanted to talk to her about what was to come. Elle was not impressed with the fact that she had to stay with Yeul, Praes, and Caius for the whole first day, but it was not surprising. She was as much a public figure as any of them.

She was even less impressed when Yeul asked her to dress for the occasion. Elle never liked wearing dresses, not that she didn't occasionally. This looked like it would be one of those times. At least the one that Yeul had brought to her was not as short as the first one she had been dressed in. It was still the same soft white and blue cotton that was prevalent throughout Paddra, but it went down to her knees, at least. She was also given a new pair of sandals that laced up her calf along with a set of pins for her hair.

All-in-all, by the time she was finished getting it all on the next morning, she felt like a completely different person. Especially when she looked in the mirror. She never wore her hair down, so to see it only pinned back with the rest falling down her back, it was strange to have a visual of how much it had grown. It was nearly to her waist. Maybe she could get someone to cut it once this was all done.

She took one last look at her reflection and adjusted the belt, where she still had one knife hidden. That was a habit she couldn't get rid of, no matter the occasion. She had to forgo the others since the sandals had no place for them. She had to force her hands to keep from trying to adjust the pins in her hair as well and sighed. She didn't think she made a bad picture, it was just uncomfortable for her.

She forced herself to stop stalling and head to where she knew the others would already be waiting. They would walk down to the city's central square as a group where a platform would be waiting for them. Yeul had a speech to give, and they would be required to watch the annual representation of the circle of life, death, and rebirth, along with the Goddess' part in all of it. Afterward, Yeul would be available to bless the populace. Elle wasn't sure if she would be expected to stay for that, but since the people knew she was the representative of Etro, she had a feeling she would be asked to. She only hoped no one asked her for blessings. That would be a disaster waiting to happen.

She was still fiddling with her belt when she walked into the courtyard, so her attention was jerked up when she heard a sharp feminine gasp. She caught sight of Yeul standing a short distance away with a hand over her mouth. Elle's first reaction was to tense and look for the danger. It wasn't until she saw Caius step forward with an equally stunned expression that she realized their response was not to a threat, but to her.

Elle felt her cheeks heating, and she looked away from Caius' eyes as he took another step toward her. She instead focused on Yeul and moved to join her. When she reached her side, the girl smiled up at her. "You look lovely! I thought those pins would bring out the blue in your eyes. I'm glad to see I was correct."

"Uh, thank you. I appreciate you lending them to me." Elle hated being the center of attention. At least when she was already feeling self-conscious. She quickly tried to change the subject. "Are we all ready to head out?"

Yeul gave her a knowing smile, and Elle wondered, not for the first time, at the emotional maturity of the teenager. She didn't bring it up as the girl gestured to the gates. "Of course. We were only waiting for you to join us. Let us go greet the harvest and bless this season of trade to be fulfilling and plentiful for our wonderful city."

Elle forced a smile and hoped it didn't look as much like a grimace as it felt. If it came across as stiff, neither Yeul nor Praes gave her any indication of it. She still hadn't looked back at Caius. When he fell into step beside her, she was thankful that he kept his silence as they followed the other two down into the city.

Most of the morning passed in a painful blur for Elle. She was thankfully not required to do more than stand by Yeul's side, but that was bad enough. The populace of the city was staring up at the stage with expectant eyes. She knew they were mostly looking at the girl that was their spiritual leader, but her presence so close meant she got more than her fair share of widened eyes and even a few hopeful gazes.

She was grateful for the slight reprieve the actors provided through the middle of the day. Unfortunately, when they were finished, Elle was not given a chance to step away. Almost as soon as the first petitioner approached Yeul, another came to Elle. She swallowed her sigh and managed to smile at the woman as she listened to the request. She was grateful when Caius caught her eye for the first time since that morning and gave her an encouraging look before he took up a spot next to Praes. She took heart from knowing that she wasn't alone. This wasn't what she signed up for, but then again, this whole world wasn't really what she asked for, and she had still somehow managed to find a place in it.

It was more than an hour later that her newfound resolve to take her role as the Emissary seriously was tested. She nodded to the retreating couple she had just spoken with and sent up thanks that all these people wanted was someone to listen to their aspirations and give them reassurances that the Goddess was listening as well. It wasn't much, but it gave them hope. As soon as she turned back, she froze when she was confronted with the frowning face of Paddra Lor-Raine. The young woman did not seem nearly as happy to see her now as she did the last time they spoke.

Somehow, Elle still managed to force a smile. "Hello, Raine. What can I do for you today?"

The girl did not respond right away. Instead, she looked at Elle's hair, where it hung in soft waves down her back and to her dress that fell softly around her lithe form. Her eyes traveled down Elle's pale skin that stayed that way despite her time in the harsh sun because she kept it covered. Only her face showed signs of the effect, and even that was minimal. She always tried to keep her face covered in something. She was too pale, and the sun would otherwise be her mortal enemy.

When the silence became uncomfortable, Elle opened her mouth to speak again, but Raine finally started. "I have a wish I would like to share. Will you hear it?"

Elle felt a pit in her stomach. Given the look in the girl's eyes, she already knew where this was going and wished she was anywhere else. Still, she forced her features into blankness and nodded. "Of course. As Etro's representative, I would be honored to."

Raine nodded once and could not keep from glancing to the back of the platform where Caius and Praes stood. Elle wanted to roll her eyes but managed to keep her calm as the girl spoke. "This is the time of year that we would usually request good trade, especially as a shopkeep, but this year I feel the need to break from tradition. I have been told that it is past time for me to be matched. It is not that I do not wish to be, but there has yet to be a male I find acceptable to ask to stand with me. My wish is for Etro to guide the one man that is most suited for me to my side."

The girl paused, and her eyes flicked to the back again before she continued. "I ask that if he is currently blinded by false beauty and passing fancies that he be given the strength to see through them and find his way to me instead."

Elle clenched her jaw as Raine made no attempt to hide the derisive sweep of her gaze. She did not speak right away either, as she knew they were being watched. When she looked up, she realized it was by a great many people too. She had to try and count to ten in her head just to keep from snapping at the girl. This whole thing was pointless. It wasn't as though Raine had any right to act the way she was. Caius was bound to be Yeul's guardian anyway. Elle hadn't heard anyone say he couldn't marry, but she had a feeling it would be frowned upon.

Elle still hadn't managed to calm herself enough to keep from saying something that could potentially embarrass them all when their attention was drawn to a sweet voice next to them. Her head jerked around, and she sent up a prayer of thanks that Yeul was headed over.

"Paddra Lor-Raine, your wish is indeed in the wrong season, but I suppose the desire to cure loneliness does not have a season after all. I am sure that if you have sincerity in your heart, then you will be provided with the guidance you require. All I ask is that you remember that sometimes what we need does not always take the guise of what we want."

Raine frowned before she looked back at Elle. The Emissary managed to nod and smile. "Yeul is wise beyond her years. I'm sure you'll get everything you deserve." Elle ignored the choking sound behind her. She knew her voice held more than a little sarcasm, but her words had been polite. She was trying.

Raine still looked like she had more to add, but Praes stepped forward and spoke out in a booming voice to cut across the noise of the crowd. "All, today is the first day of Autumn. We have already seen hope for plentiful harvests and many opportunities. Please enjoy the rest of this festival. It is time that Yeul retires for today. She will be back tomorrow for any that did not get to speak to her yet."

There was a general grumbling, but the people closest to the platform started to disburse almost immediately. Raine glared back at her uncle and looked as though she had something to say to him too, but instead, she curtsied to Yeul. "Thank you for your insightful words. I will keep them in mind." After that, she turned on her heel and stormed off.

Elle desperately wished she could disappear as well, but she knew too many eyes were still on them. Her attention was drawn back to Yeul as the girl called her name. She turned to see her smiling up at her. "Edelweiss, why don't you take the rest of the evening and enjoy the festival? I am sure it will be unlike anything you have ever seen before."

Elle had long since given up on trying to get Yeul to quit calling her that name, so it barely even bothered her anymore. At least she didn't say it in front of anyone other than Praes and Caius. It was as she brushed that thought off that the girl's suggestion finally sunk in. Elle looked around with a frown. She might have loved to have been part of the festival if she hadn't been on this platform all day. She wasn't sure how her presence in the crowd would be taken.

Her decision was taken from her when a voice called out, and she turned to see several men walking toward the stage. Laer was in front, but he was accompanied by Mirus, Tewn, and Ingens. The latter was wearing a frown but didn't comment when they got on the stage, and Laer grinned at them.

"Work's done! Now it's time to show you how the warriors party. Although I have to admit this will be the first time one of my team has done it wearing a dress. This should be interesting."

Elle felt her shoulders relax despite the look she caught in her friend's eye. She lifted a brow at him and snarked back. "Dress or no dress, I can still kick your ass. Now, what kind of partying do you think I haven't seen before?"

As Laer chuckled at her typical response, Elle turned back to Yeul with a smile. "Thank you."

The girl did not bother asking what the thanks were for. Instead, she gave her a nod and gestured back to the others. "You have found a place to belong. Go enjoy it while you can."

Elle felt a chill wash over her at those words, but it was gone before she could examine it. Laer had thrown his arm around her shoulder and had turned her back to the others so he could start regaling her with stories of their past exploits. It wasn't long until she was rolling her eyes at the improbability of some of them.

She allowed herself to be led away, but she still somehow caught Caius' eye as he fell into step with the rest of them. There was something in the depths of his gaze that had been there every time they had locked eyes that day. She wasn't sure what it was, but she did know it did strange things to her insides, and for once, she was finding she didn't have the will to be as opposed to it as she should be.

A/N: I know this is a short chapter, but the next one deserves to be all on its own! Please expect some citrus and I hope you enjoy the well-earned fluff for our two hardened warriors. It should be fun! Thanks for reading!