to nointernetjustload: yes, i can't help shameless GoT/ASoIaF reference, love the show, the setting, the culture. its so much fun seeing how i can squeeze those bits in with Bound, which is set in a similar setting to the series.
anyway, glad you're enjoying it so far! i'll try to keep updates going!
It was the early morning when Claire woke by her internal clock. The sun barely even touching the edge of the world, she opened her sleepy eyes to stare at the wall across from her, lying in dark sheets that were far different from the crimson red ones she had back in her own room. These sheets were heavier than her own, much warmer, and certainly smelled different from hers. Frowning she sat up, wincing at the cold air around her as the sheet fell away from her shoulders to her waist.
Looking around the room, it clicked that it wasn't her old room.
It was her new one here in Lucis.
Looking to the couch where she last saw the prince claim, she saw that he was still out, slumped over the cushions, one arm dangling down from the side with his fingers pressing lightly against the cold floor. Slight snores and murmurs could be heard coming past his slips as he shifted on the couch, turning his back to her as he snuggled up to the brace.
Blinking sleepily at the display, Claire leaned back with a hum as she stretched her waking muscles, readying for the day. While her body slowly woke, her mind buzzed with activity, her schedule playing out before her eyes.
The only thing that the social schedule demanded was that she and her husband dine with husband's family, learning more about them and getting comfortable around each other. Since Regis is Noctis only living relative that she knew of, it was probably going to be just a breakfast of three. Then the rest of the day would be her and Noctis relaxing around each other.
Or working on whatever it was they wanted to work on.
But she had a bit more on her plate today.
Where her own family was to hang till tonight so the couple could dine with them for dinner, and lunch could be spent between Regis and the Farrons; dad was going to rush them back to Niflheim to face uncl-king Idola.
Glancing over at the still dark sky, it clicked in her head that they would be leaving soon. Just as the sun rose up over the horizon.
She better hurry then if she wanted to see them off. She and Odin both had a tendency to wake up early, just so they can could get the day moving. Mom and Serah were usually dragged out of bed by them and her little brother was just like them, but more adaptable as he would force himself out of bed and sleepwalk through the early morning.
No doubt dad was already preparing them for the day. Her lips cracked into a smile as she thought of Hope, possibly walking right into a wall in his sleepy state.
Tugging at her shirt to ease some of the wrinkles, she debated with herself with bothering to change clothes. With Noctis, and likely most of the castle, still sleeping away, Claire decided it would just be faster to go dressed like this. Her family won't care, and anyone that would was still asleep. Nodding to herself, she slipped out, ignoring the cold of the castle as she drifted towards the guest wing where her family was getting ready for their trip back home.
It wasn't long till she found them, Odin already out in the hall, piling their handful of bags outside the bedrooms. Beside them, Serah and Hope sat against the wall, leaning against each other as they doze the early morning away. Averia slipped out as Odin stalked back in, covering her mouth with a wide, long yawn. Claire cracked a smile as their eyes met and they lazily waved to each other. Coming to meet each other half way, Averia wasted no time in wrapping Claire up in a hug, running her hands over her back soothingly, pulling her eldest daughter to lean against, lightly kissing her forehead.
"How'd you sleep?"
"Fine," Claire said.
"You did sleep didn't you? Etro knows how bad you two are-"
"Yes, I slept mom."
Averia lent them back, holding her face as she peered at Claire, studying her eyes before accepting that yes, she slept well enough. Cracking a smile, she whispered, "So how was he?"
Scowling, Claire withdrew with a grumble just as Odin came out himself. Glancing at them, he narrowed his eyes as he growled out, "I don't want to hear it."
"You signed her up for this," Averia pointed out. "And we expect grandchildren, don't we hun?" Odin huffed as he hauled their things away, knocking on Serah's and Hope's head to stir them awake. "Say goodbye to your sister." Blinking groggily after him, both turned to Claire. Smiling sleepily, they both got up and lumbered up to her. Chuckling at her sleepyheads, she brought them both into a loose hug, wincing as they both leaned against her heavily. "You two have a safe trip," she whispered to them. They hummed back as they drew away with lazy nods, slowly trailing after Odin.
Giggling at their retreating backs, Averia slid up, squeezing Claire's shoulder reassuringly. "Stay strong hunny," Averia bid, pecking Claire on the cheek before rushing after them, guiding Hope away from a coming column. Laughing quietly to herself, Claire lent on the near wall, watching as her family drift down the hall without, trying to ignore the realizationg that they were really leaving without her.
She wasn't going to be returning to Niflheim for a while.
Claire started when she heard a hurried scuffle behind her. Looking back, she blinked in surprise when she saw Noctis stumbling down after her, tripping over his feet as he scrambled after her.
"Good morning," Claire bid as he froze beside her, red faced as he stared down at the ground. "Morning," he uttered back, glancing up to see the retreating Farrons. "Was I too late...?"
"You'll catch dad," she assured. "He'll be coming back to say his own goodbye."
"Oh... you'll are really early risers," Noctis muses as he slumps on the same wall as her, sighing in relief that he wasn't too late to see Lord Odin off at least. It show respect and friendship to see a noble family off. Circumstances did demand that they leave immediately, but that didn't mean that Noctis shouldn't try to see them off.
Anyone could scarcely imagine how started he was when he woke and saw an empty bed. And with the shock came a click in his head that the Farrons were leaving this morning.
More likely, the Farrons were leaving right now.
Noctis practically jumped off the couch and raced down to the guest area, only to find Claire standing by herself, already there, and watching the fmaily disappear down the hall. It was a relief to know that he'd be seeing one person off.
Cracking a sad and amused smile, Claire explained, "Its mostly just me and my dad that are the early risers. Everyone else likes to sleep in, with Hope and Serah being the earliest. They like waking up at eight or nine."
"And you and your father?"
Claire shrugged, "I guess five or six. Mostly six." At Noctis' surprised look, she simply shrugged again, not sure what else to offer to her being an early riser. Its just how she was, and when she was a kid, sometimes she even woke up before father.
Speaking of fathers. Claire perked up when she saw him coming down the hall with purpose in his steps, his eyes locked right onto Noctis. Both straightening to meet him, Noctis inwardly grimaced as the lord easily towered over him by two heads, staring down a him with cold green eyes that held a clear warning in them. When those flickered to Claire, the cold flare dimmed as they softened, a much warmer green coloring those pale eyes as he smiled at his daughter. Reaching out and squeezing Claire's shoulder, he said, "Stay strong and sure. If you are in need of anything, don't hesitate to reach out."
Claire grabbed and squeezed his own hand right back, staring in straight in the eyes as she replied, "Same goes to you, especially." She bit her lip for a moment before adding, "Do it if you have too."
Odin gave her another squeeze before letting his hand fall away from her shoulder, promising, "Only if it comes to it."
Both Farrons knew that it likely would, each year the king became less reasonable with his old age. It was just a matter of time.
Turning to Noctis, his eyes turned cold once again, making the prince cringe a little as Odin pressured, "Keep her safe and happy, Prince Noctis."
"Of course sir, I would neve-"
"I hear something that I don't like, I'll be marching straight back to bring my daughter home."
"Yes sir," Noctis bid, trying hard to keep the stutter out of his voice. Satisfied, Odin nodded to him before Claire into one last final hug before departing, telling them to give Regis his regards and apologies. As soon as he was out of sight, Noctis whole body slumped with a heaving sigh. "I thought I was going die!" he exclaimed.
Caught off guard by the openness, Claire threw her head back and laughed. "Don't worry," she eased in her fits of giggles, "he wouldn't kill you." A silent he'd do something much worse following her words, which Noctis caught with a frown. "Right," he mused, tugging at his wrinkled shirt. "Breakfast. Lets get ready for breakfast."
"Up in Niflheim, families are to spend at least twenty minutes together in the morning before their schedule separates them," Claire informed as she piled her plate with desired food. Two eclairs, a pancake, and a near bowl of strawberries and grapes, with black coffee as a drink. A little more sugary than usual, but since it was a special occasion, she decided to humor her picky sweet tooth.
"Niflheim is a very family orientated kingdom," Regis mused in an agreeing hum. Just as Odin informed when he first arrived. Family, duty, honor. The code that the coastal kingdom thrived on. "I'm hoping that's something Lucis itself could learn from with a Niflheim queen."
"And that Niflheim themselves will learn to be a bit more collected and calm with this new alliance," Claire agreed, quirking both men a wary smile. Niflheim, while strongly family and loyal, it was a well known nation that thrived on strength and somewhat on boldness. Even on group meetings, where representatives are sent to help get what each kingdom wants, Niflheim didn't send fancy foxes, sneaky snakes, or coy crows to get what they want, they sent ferocious bears to those meetings, often scaring quite a few to get the point across.
Both Caelums shared her smile as humor flashed in their eyes, completely understanding what she was getting at. They've gone enough times to know, and heard plenty about it from Ignis when they convinced the future adviser to go in their stead.
"I swear that one of these days the Niflheim is just going to kick the table across the room!" he would declare out to the royals upon his heated return. "Do they not realize that these are supposed to be civil and sophisticated meetings?!"
Smirking to himself, Noctis at Claire, watching as she nibbled on a strawberry, musing to himself that no, its not likely they do.
Clearing his throat, Regis offered, "I trust you two slept well last night."
"We did," they both bid with small nods.
Eyeing them, Regis clasped his hands together as he observed them, continuing to inform them. "That is good to hear since a few nobles have remained behind to offer one last congratulations. I trust you both know what that means." Claire and Noctis paused, glancing up to Regis as the light in their dimmed. As the next ruling couple born out of an arranged marriage, there were many obstacles to get around.
Like the trust the married couple had with one another.
With so little trust at the start of their relationship, its something a lot of prowling lords would try to take advantage of, and they usually hang behind to observe and exploit.
"Who stayed behind," Claire asked immediately, her shoulders straightening as her eyes sharped. For a moment, Noctis thought he was sitting across from Odin. They really were the down-to-business sort.
"A few lesser ones from other kingdoms, but the one to watch out for is Ballad." Claire's jaw clenched at the name while Noctis rested his jaw in his clasped hands, his own eyes narrowing. Ballad. That's a family in Niflheim, one that on a shaky relation with Farrons. He's ever heard that the family's newest head, Caius, has sought Claire's hand at one instant or another. His appearing here shows his welcome tolerance for their wedding, but the prince already feel the tension of the coming meeting.
Ballad would be curious to see how well the two get along.
Noctis sighed as he felt his head throb.
"Is there anyone else?" he wondered.
"Yes. Miss Flueret has remained behind to offer you both a very hearty congratulations."
Noctis tensed while Claire looked up curiously at the name. "Nox Fluerets?" Both royals nodded, the king offering her, "The Fluerets are a family friend. Its not surprising for the princess to stay behind for something like this. I'm sure she's quite excited to meet you."
"Perhaps we could meet Stella tomorrow?"
"I'm sure we can handle both in one day," Claire declared. Noctis stared down at his plate, a little unsure about that. Could they, as two strangers, really handle either?
By demand, Ballad was the first to be seen.
With air thicker than ice than ice, and just as cold, Noctis sat as relaxed as he could across the Niflheim noble, the second one for him to officially meet. While not as intimidating as Odin was, it was quite clear that most nobles from the coastal kingdom truly relied and were known for their ferocity and strength. Where Odin felt like a patient, deadly bear; Ballad was a crouching lion, waiting to pounce and sink his claws in either prey. Even with all his political practice and experience, he could not help but keep his hands gripping at the arms of his seat, his eyes never straying from the dark purple that glared back at him.
Unlike him and his tension, both Claire and Ballad sat comfortable and relaxed in their respective seats, staring each down like coy predators, silently mocking and sizing the other.
A game the prince was sure that they played everyday.
Glancing at either of them, Noctis could barely wrap his mind around the supposed tension that they two have. He could sense, but his eyes weren't sure. Claire was indifferent and calm, her posture relaxed and somewhat slouched in her chair; a small, quiet sign of disrespect, showing that she held no fear to the man across from them.
And Lord Caius Ballad himself, sat comfortable and eased in his offered, leaning back into it, his legs crossed, and his arms lying on each arm, leaving his chest completely open. A physical, silent sign that told that he was confident and calm with his arms left uncrossed. A usual action used to help feelings of security and as a shield.
Ballad was leaving himself open on purpose, baiting his wife to strike.
Claire never moved, simply watching and waiting for their guest to reveal his intention. With this being more Niflheim politics that his own, Noctis kept his mouth shut, observing this more wild nature than interrupting it. The last thing he wanted was to poke either predator with a stick.
The tension spiked when Ballad finally moved, breathing and sighing as he finally relented. With a deep rumble, he purred, "I congratulate you both on a successful ceremony last night. The party was absolutely marvelous."
When Claire made no move to speak yet, Noctis decided to relent. "Thank you. It was an honor to have another Niflheim noble attending. And with how sensitive our relations our these days, I wasn't sure if we would see a lot."
Ballad's lips quirked up into a smile, his dark eyes glinting against his long, purple hair, hanging like a curtain on the side of his face. The prince wondered absently if it was a custom for men to grow their hair long. Or if it was a warrior thing. "The Farrons are a well-known family in Niflheim, despite how small they've recently become. With no true son, I sometimes fear that their name would be lost."
"I'm fairly sure that it would be well remembered, having two close friendships with two royal families, even bound to one through marriage," Noctis assured, watching as Claire's fingers twitched in the corner of his eye.
"Some do question about that Claire. Is your family more sly than thought of originally?"
Claire sat up a little, finally breaking the calm image she laid out. Noctis half expected her to growl, hear her own rumble from her throat like Odin did when he was annoyed. She caught him by surprise when she simply said, "We're as close to the royal families as you yourself are with our own. We know and recognize the order Ballad, something not everyone does."
"And yet you went against that order." His eyes flickered to the prince. "Marrying the prince of a rival kingdom. Your father certainly knows how to tear a kingdom apart."
"Our own king was the one that was tearing it apart, Ballad. You'd have to be blind or foolish to deny his faults and how far they've gone."
"I won't," he promised her, leaning forward and resting his chin in his hands, hiding his mouth from view as his dark eyes flickered to Noctis. "But there are certainly other ways to right those faults. What convinced you that this would do it?"
"Mercy."
Ballad blinked for a moment, his dark eyes softening just a little as the understanding clicked in his head. He nodded to his hands and reclined back into his seat, recrossing his legs and resting his hands in his lap, clasped. "Mercy," he repeats, "an infamous word amongst our people. A two headed snake that is and isn't poisonous." His lips quirked up as the irony of it amused him. "You spared the killing head."
"And let the other go free to tell the world," Claire points out, standing up like this conversation was pointless and done. Noctis quickly followed suite, standing beside her as she dismissed Ballad. "I thank you for coming and for the congratulations. I understand that you'll have to return soon and sort out which side to choose. I'm sure my father would be very curious for your answer."
Ballad stood up as well, easily standing a head taller than them both as he stared down at them. "Ballads stick to their words. My duty is to the king and my honor. When a king does a poor job, its natural for someone to do a better job, and the people and families will look for that someone... I will acknowledge, Odin has played his cards well." He bowed to them both. "I thank you for receiving me on such short notice." As he straightened to leave, he smiled as he gave one last warning. "Watch out for that killing head. It certainly seeks to bite."
"I know."
i like the idea of lightning being a natural early riser, maybe not a morning person, but training to be a soldier for so long encouraged her to waking up early.
i had plans to include stella here too, but i'll save that for the next chapter