A/N: My hostel has free high speed wifi in the room...whaaat? Seriously, if any of you are ever in Chicago PM me so I can give the name of this place. It is by far the best hostel I've ever stayed in!
AER: I've never seen that. I'm listening to the newest Sleepy Hollow as I write this.
TheRanger'sDaughter: Empress Sun is older than Scout, so...no romance. Just frustration that he wanted to impress her and Hazen took his limelight. Scout finished uniting Hibernia in her reign. Hazen will be the first one with a court primarily made up of a generation post-civil war.
Hammy: I only wish I could flip it on and off like a switch...but no. I can't. Your compliments mean a lot to me! Thank you so much!
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
Aunt Lucy arrived the day of Elizabet's wedding. Robin hurried to the docks to greet her wearing the sweeping gown she'd wear to the ceremony later. Aunt Lucy had used her last hours of the voyage preparing herself as well. She came down the gangway holding her skirts up, letting her heeled shoes click on the wooden boards and her hair done up and adorned with real roses. Robin fell in step beside her the moment her foot touched the dock.
"Caitlyn agrees to take on the staff needed to increase production only if you agree to assist in financing the expansion required to house the amount needed. She would like to recruit five experienced workers and feels to retain them she should offer full apartments with at least three rooms rather than the dorm-style spaces she's currently utilizing from the Academy. As for Caitlyn coming to Araluen to assist in setting up a new distribution center, she will only do so if Mum agrees to stay in Hibernia for the duration of her travels to keep an eye on distribution there."
Aunt Lucy chuckled. "She wants a blind woman to oversee distribution?"
Robin couldn't help smiling. It felt good to joke about her mother's blindness with someone who didn't have a truly negative undertone cutting her down. "That's what I said. She said she'll only stand for Mum or you."
"She doesn't have anyone under her as of now who could do the job?"
Robin shook her head. "Not on the scale for the duration that will be required. Everyone is working at maximum capacity and until the new recruits are fully trained she can't risk any hasty promotions."
Aunt Lucy thought carefully for several moments as they walked towards the castle. "Do you think she'll really go if Gabby or I oversee the distribution? Or do you think it's an excuse to stay close to Tucker and the children?"
"A little of both," Robin admitted. "But Mum thinks Caitlyn would go if she could bring Little Lina with her. Perhaps someone in the family could be recruited? Someone of age to babysit while Caitlyn's working?"
"Someone like you?" Aunt Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow. Robin swallowed hard. She adored Lina, but she felt she'd come further than babysitting in her apprenticeship. "Doing what is necessary is part of being successful," Aunt Lucy reminded her.
"I know," Robin sighed. "It's just…"
Robin realized she had no good excuse to refuse babysitting services so she shut her mouth. Aunt Lucy, somewhat annoyingly, chuckled.
"I'll ask Clara if she's interested," she said gently. "Or maybe even Kane. If Gabby's in a familiar place he won't feel as big a need to protect her, especially if I post you with them. This could be your opportunity to jump into manufacturing and see how it is run."
"I've been to the manufacturing centers before."
"Yes, but not long term. I still want you to take a tour of our sites and put together reports for me on each of them. If Caitlyn's and your family all agree to this I would like you to remain here until it comes into play."
"Won't an extensive stay here interfere with the tour though?" Robin asked.
"You'll have to get as far as you can and spend the winter in whatever country you land in."
Robin smiled. The thrill of such an assignment, to get as far as she could and spend the winter somewhere unknown, excited her. "I won't let you down, Aunt Lucy."
Aunt Lucy grinned. "I know you won't."
They stepped into the garden in which the ceremony would take place. Several guests had already taken their places. Robin walked with Aunt Lucy to where her parents sat with Anne between them.
"Guess who?" Lucy teased, sitting next to Gabby. Robin took the empty seat next to her father, smiling as her aunt and mother hugged one another. Though they were in constant correspondence, actually being together was rare.
"You made it," Gabby said. "Elizabet will be so happy."
"Barely made it," Aunt Lucy replied, eyeing the ushers moving quick to seat the remaining stragglers. "I've got something to talk to you about."
"Later," Gabby ordered. "Tomorrow at breakfast we can work, alright? For today let's just enjoy the wedding."
Lucy nodded and began chatting animatedly about the garden's decorations. Robin flicked Anne's ear, getting her both a smile and giggle. She hoped she and Anne would grow to have a relationship similar to that of their mother and Lucy. She knew how rare it could be for children with age gaps to relate to one another. Roman, Gabby, and Lucy seemed to genuinely enjoy each other's company while a second brother, an intolerable drunkard Robin had only met a few times in her life under her father's careful supervision, stayed in the shadows. At least, they told her he liked to stay in the shadows. Robin was old enough now to know his misdeeds likely landed him in jail or worse.
Neil and Elizabet had done their best to have a 'quiet country wedding' in the castle's garden. Though almost everyone in attendance had a title, less than a hundred people came. Fresh flowers filled woven wicker baskets and the path was filled with thousands of petals. Nervous servants lined the area, their fingers twitching with anticipation. The crowd would move indoors for Neil's coronation following the ceremony, followed by an hour of light hors d'oeuvres and drinks while the servants transformed the garden into a reception space. They already had a clearing set up with a wooden dancefloor under a tent adorned with hanging lanterns waiting to be lit.
Neil came down with Noah and Gabe as his groomsmen. They stood at the front with a priest while two of Elizabet's friends followed. As par for the course, the ladies' dresses received far more attention than anything else. The young women had matching pale blue gowns sweeping their shoulders with long, traditional sleeves that draped from their elbows to the floor. Laces along their sides and backs fit the gowns to each girl's form snugly. They carried bouquets of clover and dandelions, both considered weeds with incredible uses. They were plentiful and cheap, hardly deserving of a princess but Elizabet had insisted on simplicity. Next were the ring bearer and flower girl, a son of some knight escorting Little Lina decked out to match the bridesmaids. The two were adorable and earned several awes.
Then Elizabet came. She appeared standing with not only her father but also her mother. Sean and Kineta walked her down together, one on each side, while Elizabet smiled widely to Neil. She wore the eagle circlet Sean and Kineta had gifted Scout so long ago when they moved their capitol, and home, to Roscrea. It secured a lace veil over her head to cover her face and neatly combed hair. Her bouquet matched that of her bridesmaids, only she'd added sprigs of periwinkles to make it more…well, more.
Robin beamed and stood as the family made their way down. Neil took Elizabet's hand and prematurely kissed her cheek before they got to the vows. The priest wrapped their hands in a ceremonial ribbon and each one gave the promise to love and protect one another for the rest of their lives. Finally, the priest gave Neil permission to lift up Elizabet's veil. He kissed her, pulling her in with his free hand and squeezing the one he was tied to tightly. Everyone clapped. Both Sean and Kineta cried, especially Sean. Gabe nudged Noah with his elbow and gave him a wink. Elizabet's bridesmaids gasped with delight.
Then, two rows behind Robin, someone muttered "And now we've lost her forever. Again," followed by an angry hush. Robin didn't have to run to see whom it belonged to. The jab was so quiet only those in the immediate area heard, but that didn't stop Robin from studying Neil and Elizabet for signs of hearing it. Both smiled and stared into the other's eyes in gleeful, ignorant bliss.
Sean and Kineta, however, sent such quick glares in Calvin's general direction Robin wondered if they'd banish him from the country while Neil and Elizabet enjoyed their short honeymoon. Or rather, request Mason and Scout banish him. There wasn't a doubt in Robin's mind the reigning king and queen would gladly oblige such a request.