Chapter 3

There was going to be a feast. The concept was ridiculous. A feast, however small, was an unaffordable luxury in this time and place. Still, Marad assured her that it was expected, to honor those who had acted heroically during battle and to remember those who'd died. She was expected. The Focus remained on the table, where she'd left it before her bath. Her hair had dried when Blameless Marad had stopped to deliver the message. He was stunned to see it clean for once, free of the baubles that were so popular in the Nora lands. Free of the headpieces flaunted by the Carja walking through the city. He complimented her on it, and she said he looked very fine that evening. He seemed pleased as he left.

Her armor, though clean, had seen better days. She brought together what she could, and with the help from her donated shift she'd woken up in, was able to put together something she'd be comfortable in. Vulnerable, though, she thought. "Let's just hope I can keep the murder to a minimum," she joked with herself, lacing together her vest. "And now I sound like Nil." She slipped out the door to Olin's home, taking one last glance at the Focus still glimmering on the table. She could barely see it in the waning sun. Silently, she closed the door.

In the torchlight, you could almost ignore the destruction. Ramshackle tables and canvases covered most of the rubble, and people were well on their way selling their wares once more. Some were collecting donations, focusing on the more richly dressed passersby. There were clustered of rougher-looking folk, most keeping to themselves around small campfires, some sullen, some laughing and drinking. They were having their own feasts, Aloy noted with amusement, half tempted to join them. She squinted in the darkness as she walked, trying to find Erend among the merry-makers. She was disappointed at his absence, but in fact saw none of the Vanguard. Perhaps they were already at the feast.

Stepping through the threshold to the palace courtyard, Aloy noticed one of the guards twitch, as if to bar her entry. He almost didn't recognize me, she finally realized. Did she truly look that different without her armor, washed, and her hair free? The thought made her smile. Perhaps that's why no one bothered her on her way here.

"Aloy!" A cheer went up, her name uttered from thirty,forty mouths, at least. Torches, knives, and ale mugs were lifted in her honor as she appeared, drowning out the soft, merry music that was paying nearby. There was a long table set, made of red wood and set with faceted glad on the edges. Benches housed the rears of the entire Vanguard and several of the king's personal guard. Several of Miridian's more lower class citizens were there, one of them with her arm in a sling, smiling from ear to ear. So Marad was right, even humble heroes were being honored. Avad stood at the head of the table, greeting her with a beckoning gesture. He looked terribly pleased at her appearance, motioning for her to sit at his side. She noticed Erend opposite her and smiled a greeting. He was staring openly, and she could tell by the slight flush of his skin that he had had quite a few drinks before her entrance.

"You look refreshed!" Avad noted as the table fell back into a dull roar of war stories and jokes. He means I look domesticated, Aloy told herself, but she smiled at the King politely. "Eat, and regain your strength, beautiful huntress. Tonight we celebrate our victory!" His words were echoed by another cheer. She must have come late, she noted. People were already well into their food and drink. Several of the soldiers were wearing fresh medals, and some civilians wore sashes of red on their upper arms. "Red is to mark them for their heroic deeds. The sashes will allow them any resources they may need in the coming months as a reward for their actions."

Aloy nodded slowly, tearing a chunk of roasted boar from the pile on her plate. Relax, she told herself, almost desperately. You're safe. This is Aloy's day, remember? Again, she found herself hungrier than she'd expected. The boar didn't last long, and though the ale burned her throat and fizzed in her nose, she gulped down her whole mug. The soldier to her left was telling a story about the giant goose that lived in the field behind his home that had killed a Watcher. She was amazed by the story until she realized that Erend hadn't said a word since she'd arrived. Startled she didn't notice sooner, Aloy lifted her eyes to his face. He was staring at her with a wavering gaze as if it pained him to look. Returning his stare affected him very little. He didn't smile, but his expression softened. He looked almost… proud? No, that wasn't it… His pale grey eyes finally resting on hers, his lips opened as if to speak.

A hand covered hers. She looked at it: the skin was an olive tone. Avad. The touch was brief, almost reassuring, before the Sun King stood. He didn't have to clear his throat, or make any other indication he wished to speak: as soon as he was on his feet, the table fell silent. All eyes rested on Avad… all eyes except two.

"Citizens! Visitors! Friends and family!" He called, raising his glass. "Tonight, we bask in the light of the Sun. We thrive in her mercy, for she saw fit we see another night. We make the best of it, before the light returns and we once more shed sweat to restore our great city from the horde's attack." A series of whooping cheers, particularly from the Vanguard, replied, and more ale was poured. Even Aloy found herself smiling. She was feeling fuzzy, warm, and for the first time in a long time… happy.

"In this time of sorrow, of hope, and of victory," Avad went on. "I have come to the realization that there will need to be change. As I mentioned earlier tonight, I will appoint a Chief of Docks, who will expand our marina, offering a more efficient and secure way to evacuate the city should peril, Sun forbid it, strike again. Secondly, my good and loyal friend Erend," Avad turned to the Osaram, who snapped out of his trance-like state to look up at the Sun King with confusion. "Will from now on be known as General of not only the Vanguard, but of all of Miridian's militia and navy." A surprised and ecstatic cheer went up from the crowd as it jostled Erend with congratulations, who smiled and toasted the Sun King.

"Lastly," Avad went on as the cheering died down, "I acknowledge the reason we are all here today, breathing, drinking and speaking. The huntress Aloy, who saved us all from the plague of Hades and the darkness it brought to the land," he paused as another unrelenting roar went up. It didn't die down quickly, and Aloy shook her head, smiling despite herself. She didn't deserve all of this… "Aloy," Avad went on, his voice echoing through the courtyard, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. "Who I have asked to be my wife."

The roar that went up wasn't nearly loud enough to drown out the roar of blood in her ears as she gaped up at the Sun King. Rough hugs and pats of congratulations sparked her bruises back to life, but the pain was distant compared to her shock. How could he say something like that? She did her best to push away the hands that wanted to shake hers, quickly grabbing up her mug and pretending to keep it from being spilled in the chaos, hoping it would make her more immune to the glancing affections. "Avad," she hissed a warning to the King of the Sun as he sat back down next to her.

He spread his hands in a placating gesture. "For the people," he admitted, a look of gentle apology on his face. "They need you."

You would want for nothing, his words echoed in her head as he once more rested his hand on hers. He was attempting to reassure her, she knew. It didn't help. For a Sun King, his hand was pretty cold. Aloy could only stare down at her plate as the festivities around her continued. Suggestions for the wedding celebration trickled past her ears, and she tried to ignore them. When she finally looked up from her plate, Erend was gone.