Intermission – Royals of Hope
Nyna
She knows that she shouldn't be as happy as she is. She is writing letters to the families of the fallen. She should not be giggly or… happy. But she is. She is far too happy. She can't help it, though. She really can't.
"My, my, what a pretty smile!" Jeorge teases her. Diana is off with Camus and Minerva in the market, so Jeorge handles guarding her. "Thinking of your dashing knight in sable armor?"
"Hush, you!" she scolds, blushing. But she smiles. When she isn't being formal, she's always smiling. It isn't just that Camus is with her again. It's that it happened, and for the first time since everything fell apart, she feels like it is safe to hope again. "I wasn't, anyway. I'm allowed to just be happy, yes?"
"Of course." Jeorge leans against the wall by her desk, looking out the window. "But it's not a 'just happy' smile. It's the same stupid-silly smile Astram and Midia wear."
"Hmph." She pretends to be upset, but she can't hold it long. "What do you think, Jeorge?"
"About?"
"Camus and me."
"I am ever loyal to you, Princess Nyna."
"That is why I ask you. I know that, unlike Astram and Horace, you will give me your absolute honest opinion."
"Well, that's true. I feel like that is a better show of loyalty than listening to everything." He shrugs, but smiles reassuringly. "He's a skilled warrior. You and Diana like him. His soldiers are more than willing to die for him. Princess Yuliya and Prince Jubelo adore him to bits. All of that points to someone with a good heart and a keen mind. He killed friends of mine. I killed friends of his. It's little different, really, than Princess Minerva. She and hers killed a lot of Duke Hardin's men, and yet, the two get along well. I figure I can show the same amount of respect, and trust in you and Diana."
"So?"
"I think you're fine, and you are in no danger of losing my loyalty, at least."
"Wonderful. I'd be worried about you and Diana if that were the case." She grins and giggles, feeling like she's back in Archanea's gardens, especially when he blushes, but grins. "I am quite pleased you are properly courting. At least, it looks like it."
"It's very proper, though she did surprise me with a 'proper' kiss."
"Really?" That surprises her. From what she had seen, Diana grew terribly shy even when Jeorge simply kissed her hand. "Hmm…"
"It was probably just her emphasizing her feelings. I don't know." His soft smile shows he doesn't quite care. The two of them are together, and they will muddle through together. That is enough for him. "And that's all I'll say on the matter."
"Of course. I'll just get more out of Diana later." She giggles and he rolls his eyes. "Ah, the future looks bring, though…" She trails off, that old thought burning into her head. Jeorge simply waits. She thinks he might have already guessed. He is like that. "I'm not sure how good of an empress I'll be. I think, once Archanea is on its feet again, and settled, I'll abdicate." The idea is appealing. She certainly cannot abandon her home while it is hurting, but when it isn't? When it is safe again, prosperous again? It would be better to leave ruling it to someone who could do it competently. She's not sure who, yet, but she has time to think on it.
"You will forever have my loyalty, Princess Nyna." The words are comforting, because she hears the hidden meaning easily. 'I trust you.' That is why he is so loyal to her, even now. She hopes that she is finally proviing worthy of it. "Boah will be mad at you, though."
"He's already mad at me." It is a little heartbreaking, really. But she is secure enough to not let it falter her. To pursue another now would just be cruel, to herself and others, no matter what Boah thought. "Oh, but Midia has been…"
"She's annoyed, yes, but she wants you to be happy. Like most of us. You're fine."
"Thank you." She smiles and returns to her letters. She wants to finish these before they leave for Macedon. The words of 'better future' and the like come more easily than they used to. Perhaps it is because, finally, she believes in it too. They are fighting for a better future, and a better world, and they… they will succeed.
Marth
Prince Jubelo and Princess Yuliya are the sweetest, sometimes. As he walks down the hall, he thinks of the luncheon he just had with them, and how cheerful they were. He can see the scars still, but they will recover. They will be fine if we left them here, though he's certain they're sad. They focused, however, on reassuring him with encouraging words. It's an amazing contrast, given that their father still refused to leave his room for anything. He wonders how they ended up so sweet, and he decides it must be because of Lorenz and Camus. Though maybe their time with their army also helped.
He chuckles, shaking his head, and stops by a window to look out. Almost immediately, he sees Cain and Kris sparring, so he stops to watch. It's fun, watching them, because they're both giving it their all. Though, as soon as they stopped, he knows they'll be awkward around each other until they find something serious to speak of. It is a common occurrence, nowadays.
"Ah, so our mage knight and our bull knight are practicing again?" Hardin walks up then, smiling. "No, don't give me that look," Hardin chides. "The soldiers call Cain the 'Bull', much as they call Abel the 'Panther'."
"I don't understand the nicknames," he admits, smiling sheepishly. He had been frowning. "But yes, they are. I imagine we'll see many try and squeeze in as much practice time as possible."
"True, we will be leaving soon, and once we leave, we won't really have time for practice." Hardin crosses his arms and watches the two as well. "Still, the two are rather obvious about their feelings. I wonder how long it'll be before they decide to try it."
He almost replies with 'I hope it will be soon', but he bites his tongue. Both are honestly balancing too many things as is, and he knows that Kris is still shaken by the revelation that she and he are cousins. He knows that Cain is still healing from the Gra's betrayal, and having to run while everyone died. Both unconsciously recognize they aren't ready for something like that. But he cannot say those things. Most are speculation, and some is secret. However, there are some things he can say still.
"No matter how flippant Kris acts, she can be quite serious," he murmurs at last. "So is Cain. With everything else going on…"
"They likely will simply ignore it for a while still," Hardin finishes. He nods, understanding. "A shame. It's fun watching."
"It's a shame I have to wait to retaliate in teasing!" He sulks and Hardin laughs warmly. "Two years worth of teasing I have to catch up on! Or is it three?" He pauses, desperately trying to think. "How long has it been?"
"Shorter than it feels."
"If we're going by how long it feels, I will be a little old man, wobbling around with a cane. You'd probably still be riding circles around everyone, though." It is honestly hard to see Hardin as anything but strong and steady. "You'll probably live forever, actually."
"Gods, I hope not. I'd rather not deal with the deaths of everyone I love and being the last." Hardin smiles, but there's something sad about it. "I'm more sensitive than I let on."
"It was more a compliment to your strength, but I understand." Even now, he feels the deaths of every soldier weighing his heart down. "How are you doing?"
"A bit tired, but ready for the end of this. I imagine like you."
"That is true, but I meant…" He struggles to explain, wondering how to word things.
Hardin, however, figures it out. "I'm fine, Marth. Hurting a bit certainly, but fine. Camus and I have actually become surprisingly good friends, considering everything, and Princess Nyna smiles. It's wonderful to see everyone smiling again, actually. I can't wait for the victory parties."
"If you're sure…" Still, he feels sad. He knows a 'perfectly happy ending', where everyone is happy and gets what they want, is nothing more than a tale, but…
"It's kind of you to worry, Marth. But I am fine, and I will be even better before long." Hardin reaches over and ruffles his hair. "Though, if you are bothered, you could attempt to flirt with Caeda again. That makes most of us laugh, and I personally find it hilariously endearing."
"Hardin!" He flushes and scowls, but as Hardin laughs, he joins in too. He's blessed with many friends, and he's blessed with Hardin's especially.
He looks forward to the future, with all these bonds guiding his way. Surely, it would only be a good one.
Author's notes: Yay, happy(ish) nobles! Or something. Last intermission and, really, last 'side thing' entirely. Just going to be game chapters from this point and, like I warned last chapter, we're probably going to have shorter chapters because we're really sparse on plot from this point forward. It's basically "rush forth and kill the bad guys".
Next Chapter – Clash in Macedon