Evening began to fall. The party, like most important events in Crimea, was to commence at twilight. Lucia stood on the ramparts, brushing out her hair and watching the sun paint the sky in golds and purples. Where was he? she questioned the sinking fiery sun. She was...nearly ashamed. She had spent weeks, months, almost a year, looking forward to this party. But not because it was her birthday, not because it was Elincia's birthday, not because it symbolized a return to balance in Crimea. But because it was the only good excuse she had for sending an envoy to Phoencias and inviting the Hawk King and his most trusted advisers to the palace. She could only hope Janaff counted among them. She was almost certain he did. But that almost was threatening to throw her over the edge.
It had been, months, since they last spoke. She had, in a moment of weakness, written him a letter. Nothing romantic heavens no, but personal none the less. Geoffrey had found it (she was almost certain Elincia had been involved) and she received a reply a few weeks later.
She still wasn't sure what about the hawk had drawn her to him. He was laid-back, funny and somewhat sarcastic. Nearly the opposite of her serious and overwhelmingly loyal personality. He called his king "Tibarn" with no titles or gestures to distinguish him from Ulki or any other hawk. It was...foreign to her, who had struggled most of her life to remember that Princess (now Queen) Elincia preferred to be simply "Elincia" (though, Lucia had to laugh at the fact that Geoffrey would probably call the poor woman "My Lady" after they were wed). Polar opposites.
And he had such a grasp on her heart.
"Lucia!" Elincia called, the sword-master could hear the rustling of skirts as her friend bustled around in a most un-queenly manner. She set the brush down and turned to face her queen.
"Yes?" She asked, nodded her head in polite reverence. Elincia beamed and grabbed her hand.
"Lord Ike and the rest have arrived!" Before she knew what was happening, Lucia was thrown into a backless white dress (All the rage in Daein! According to an overly enthusiastic Elincia ) and dragged out to meet the heroes of the Mad King's war.
"My Lord Ike!" Elincia said. Lucia couldn't help but laugh as Ike gave and awkward bow. She noted that Soren bowed with his head alone, but stuck close to Ike. Titania and Mist wore matching dresses, the paladin curtsied prettily, Mist gave the queen a hug, which was lovingly returned. Lucia smiled, Elincia had once told her that Mist was the closest thing she had ever had to a little sister, and evidently the love was mutual.
"My Queen!" Kieran's unmistakeable voice rang clear. Lucia groaned softly as the knight knelt at Elincia's feet, "I, Crimean-Royal-Knight-Fifth-Platoon-Captain-Kieran have delivered the Greil mercenaries as requested and THAT (here he pointed accusingly at a sighing Oscar) squinty coward attempted to distract me from my mission."
"I offered you a cup of tea..." Oscar said out of the corner of his mouth as he bowed. He and Geoffrey exchanged knowing 'Kieran, eh.' glances.
One by one, guests filed in. Lucia kept her eyes open for the familiar feathers of the hawk tribe.
Tibarn arrived last, with Ulki, Reyson, Leanne and Neasala, whom firmly insisted he came by himself. (However it should be noted that his arm lingered around Leanne's waist in a way that made them all doubt it.) Lucia felt her heart drop as she smiled and curtsied to the hawk king. No Janaff, and she couldn't very well ask without raising suspicions.