A/N: "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." -Helen Keller
Hammy: Yeah, that's in the Themes...Chapter 109 if you haven't already hunted it down. Glad you're enjoying them!
Alex: Thanks!
TheRanger'sDaughter: Yes, you remember correct. Nope...Anne and Elizabet are similar but not in such a way I meant for it to be. They're both shy and don't like strangers...but that can be said for a lot of kids. Glad you like the story :) This week is doing me in.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
"Dad?" Robin asked, stopping abruptly as they followed the market path along the beach.
"What?" Kane asked, turning to face her. "What's wrong?"
"Anne's on a horse with Julia," Robin answered, pointing down the beach. Sure enough Julia rode her sleek Battalion-issued horse with Anne nestled in front of her.
"I thought Elizabet had her today," Kane said, taking a step towards the railing of the market path. They'd have to take stairs to get to her, something Kane wasn't exactly fast at on his bad days. He took Robin's package from her and added it to his own load. "Go. I'll catch up."
Robin nodded. She darted towards the steps, zigging her way through the crowd of mostly men towards the open sand. Her calf-length dress had just one layer in its skirt, and it was cut to give her as much freedom as possible. Robin didn't have to lift it as she bolted for her little sister.
"Julia!" she called out though she knew Anne would hear her first. "Julia, stop!"
Luckily, Julia had been keeping a comfortable pace Robin could meet at a sprint. Julia turned her horse around and trotted to close the gap. Robin came to a stop and put her hand on Anne's ankle.
"What's going on?" she asked. "We though…"
Robin had wanted to say something about Anne going with Elizabet for bridesmaid fittings, but Anne all but jumped down into her arms. Robin caught her little sister and squeezed her tight. She looked up to Julia for an explanation.
"Elizabet's family from Claymound arrived," Julia said as she dismounted. "We thought a horseback ride on the beach would be more fun."
Claymound family. Calvin and Tammy. Robin knew exactly which of those two would upset her little sister. While Robin stroked her hair Julia mouthed the word 'adoption'. Robin sighed. One day Anne would learn that adoption within their family, especially their immediate family, was nothing to be ashamed of, but not today. Robin hugged her sister tight while Julia walked past them to meet Kane up the beach so she could explain what had happened in length.
Robin realized her sister had begun crying. She quickly slipped the ribbon off so she could cry freely and sat down on the sand with her. Robin rocked Anne gently, hoping to hush her before their father could get to them.
"Robin, I want to stay with you," Anne whined. Robin stroked her hair.
"I'm not going anywhere," she promised. "You can stay with me."
"I want Daddy and Mummy too. Will you take me to them?"
"Daddy's talking to Julia. He'll be here soon."
"Is Mummy with him?"
Usually, Robin would take that opportunity to have Anne listen carefully for their mother's voice and use her nose to find her scent. This, however, wasn't the time for lessons.
"No. She's at the castle," Robin answered. "With Caitlyn."
Robin realized Anne's eyes were darting around in a squint, obviously searching for something. She sighed and put her hand over her little sister's face.
"You'll get a headache," she reminded her. She helped Anne tie the blindfold back on and took her hands. Robin pressed Anne's palms to her cheeks. She held still while Anne, a bit roughly outlined her features with her fingertips. Once satisfied Anne went back into Robin's arms, tightening her grip around her torso she could barely breathe. "Alright Anne, Dad's coming," Robin whispered as Kane and Julia joined them. Anne kept her arms tightly around Robin until Kane put his hand on her back. She went to him immediately, burying her face into his chest while he quietly stroked her hair.
"I'd best get going," Julia muttered to excuse herself.
Robin sighed as she watched her father with her little sister. There was no way Anne would go to a sleepover now, not even with just Mara.
Two days passed and the welcoming feast arrived. More guests had arrived and the Hibernian royals were eager to get everyone in the same room. Warden became all serious, enlisting his brother-in-law Ranger Daniel to assist in setting up safety precautions. Having so many important people in one place called for all the backup they could manage. Personal guards of the titled guests were brought together to study a map marked with safe rooms available to them throughout the castle. Other guards were orchestrated into an elaborate watch rotation, making use of every one available. Warden and Daniel worked tirelessly to set up posts and rotations. Warden made his position clear, posting himself where he could be easily seen and resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, almost daring evildoers to try something. Daniel, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. Elizabet knew he was there though, watching from the shadows unseen.
They'd limited this evening to dinner and nothing more. Tonight would feature no dancing, no special speeches aside from Mason and Scout's welcome, and no formal trade discussions between allies. They'd simply eat and enjoy the evening among friends.
Elizabet busied herself with Noah making sure he was ready. He'd attended dinners before, but never one on this scale. Elizabet had enlisted Carter and Horace III to give Noah last minute advice. He'd be seated with the children his age, most of whom he knew. Eyes would be on the engaged couples and he'd only need to stay composed for the introduction. Mason and Scout had already gone with their children. Elizabet's parents stood near the door, waiting to be called in next. Gabe and Lorelei would go next, then Neil, Elizabet, and Noah.
"How many of these will we have to do?" Noah asked while Elizabet smoothed his collar.
"Enough," Elizabet answered honestly. "Who knows? Maybe one day you will enjoy them."
Noah made a face. Neil laughed, rubbing Elizabet's back. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close as she straightened up. "It's free food, your favorite kind."
Noah laughed. Laughing had been rare for the brothers since they lost their family. Elizabet was glad they were both smiling again. She'd told Neil about her parents' wedding gift shortly after they gave it, but Noah still didn't know. They planned to wait until it was finished and then they'd take him for a surprise holiday.
Elizabet looked over to her parents. They were watching her and the boys she'd soon call her family. Elizabet smiled to them. They were already grinning. Her father gave her a wink just as their names were called to enter the room. Lorelei took Gabe's arm and the two positioned themselves to go next. Lorelei smiled sweetly to Elizabet. Elizabet smiled back. She did enjoy Lorelei. She looked forward to having an ally in the castle against Alicia. Lorelei had already named the girl who would become her lady-in-waiting, but she gladly agreed to help Elizabet find a way to be rid of Alicia once both were back from their honeymoons.
Their names were called and the two went out. Neil kept his arm around Elizabet while Noah shyly fell next to his big brother. Elizabet reached behind her fiancé to ruffle his hair.
"Stop it," Noah muttered.
"Be nice," Neil ordered. Elizabet frowned. Neil planted a kiss on her forehead, just beneath the crown Scout gifted her on her sixteenth birthday. She'd promised to pass it to Mara when she turned sixteen, but Elizabet had been thinking about passing it on earlier. Neil would be coroneted shortly after and they'd have new crowns. Elizabet was perfectly entitled to continue wearing the one Scout gave her, especially at events Neil didn't also attend, but the crown she'd get at her wedding would almost be like another wedding bad. She was sure Scout's crown would lose its appeal once she had her own to match Neil's, and Mara was ready for it. Elizabet wondered if it would be her or Gabe's daughter who got the special heirloom next. If Caitlyn hadn't abdicated her position Little Lina would get it next, but since her mother gave up her line Carter and Lina were simply Carter and Lina.
"I'm sorry, Elizabet," Noah whispered with genuine remorse. Elizabet gave him a smile.
"I was nervous when I first started going to these things too," she assured him. Noah gave her a slight grin, but before he could reply their names were called.
"Her Grace Princess Elizabet O'Carrick and her betrothed, Neil Peterson."
The couple walked in with Noah between them. Elizabet gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze while their guests roared with applause. A servant familiar with Noah's lack of experience came forward to mercifully show him to his seat between Carter and Max. Elizabet and Neil took their places on Mason and Scout's left. Gabe and Lorelei sat to their right, marking the O'Carrick siblings as equal guests of honor. Their parents were seated at another table entirely in effort to keep gossip over favoritism at bay. The gossip had raged since Gabe's presentation. Elizabet was their only daughter, the gender traditionally doted upon, their oldest, and the one they 'handpicked' for their family. Gabe, however, was the youngest, the only son, their only surviving natural child, and he'd been ill as a child. Every now and then the gossips looped Scout in, whom some said stole the crown from her cousins' children. No one in the family took such gossip seriously. Elizabet and Gabe both supported Scout as their queen, and neither had desire to overtake her Besides, if they really wanted to dig up lineage it would be Hazen, Elizabet, and Russ vying for crown heir status.
For now Elizabet's focused settled on those seated in front of her. She couldn't help grinning as she cast a glance to each woman who had a hand in setting this welcome up. Surely it wasn't a coincidence that Reese and Hazen were seated directly next to one another. The two sat in front of Mason and Scout, neither of which would hesitate to kick each one under the table if Hazen tried to exert his princely charm or if Reese tried to evade the event. Elizabet smiled once more and then looked to the smaller table arranged for the young girls.
Iris, Mara, Halle, Maggie, Jasmine, Lily, and even Anne sat together giggling at a round table to the side. Servants doted on them most. Because of the formality of the event, all royals wore their crowns. The headdress Empress Sun donned balanced precariously on her tightly wound hear, but somehow it didn't fall. Elizabet glanced back at the little girls. Iris, Mara, Halle, and Lily all wore tiaras, Iris and Lily's being the most elaborate due to their fashionable mother. Maggie, Jasmine, and Anne obviously didn't care in the least bit. Elizabet sighed and turned to the boys, who weren't near as close as the girls. Max, Carter, Noah, and Horace III sat huddled at the end of a long table rather than getting their own single circular space. Only Horace III, the lone Araluen, wore a crown. Max, who aimed to follow in his father's footsteps, wore a page's uniform. He wasn't an official apprentice yet but he had his sights set on battle school, dreaming of becoming the knight Warden once aimed to be. Carter's parents successfully set his sights on academia. He'd likely grow up to work within his mother's company until he made some grand mark of his own. Then there was Noah, the boy who just learned to read and write in recent years. The four boys simply didn't fit as naturally as the girls did.
Elizabet then glanced over to Jin and Robin, who chatted enthusiastically with their parents. Those two were as opposite as Reese and Hazen, only they were able to get along. Elizabet wondered if Reese and Hazen would ever learn from those two. Reese might, as he fancied them both, but Hazen? He inherited Scout's stubbornness and Mason's patience.