Authors Note: Hello readers…there's nothing I can really say about my absence except that I am SO sorry. I've used my time away to think out some parts of the story, and I'm hoping that this will turn out for the better. This chapter is shorter then what I wanted it to be but I am just so anxious to get started again! Without further ado the continuation of A Family Affair! Please review ;) By the way I decided to just go ahead and just continue posting under A Family Affair. If you read this in the last couple days when it was a separate story then sorry ;)
CHAPTER 57
The Lines are Drawn
Healo's POV
The Northern Lord examined his appearance closely in a large mirror. His expression was serious as dark blue eyes made sure that he did not look too ridiculous in the imperial colors. Healo had been forced to change out of his well known black cloak into an overdone costume of purple and silver; the imperial colors. A small silver crown with an amethyst in it contrasted with his dark hair, but all in all it wasn't as bad as he had feared it would look.
Healo turned towards the door where his three brothers were standing with different expressions on their faces. The Northern Lord shifted slightly as he studied all three of them carefully. Magus was smiling gently which did not surprise Healo since his brother had spoken with him many times about this moment. This reminded the new prince of how Magus had always supported him, and in response a hesitant smile came to Healo's face.
Sesshomaru caused Healo to feel a small twinge of humor; the Western Lord allowed no emotion on his face, as usual, but he did give off an extremely small sense of excitement. Inuyasha was the funniest of all by far since the hanyou had his arms crossed and such a stern look on his youthful face. However, the Northern Lord resisted the urge to laugh as his left hand touched the cursed sword that was hanging by his side.
He swallowed softly as this brought him back to the matter at hand. Healo cleared his throat then said calmly, "Brothers…in a few minutes we will be escorted to the Council. There many things will change. If all goes well I will enter as the Northern Lord but leave as the Prince of the Empire. As we enter that ancient chamber the realm will be on the edge of war, but when we leave the war will have begun." Here the prince glanced down and sighed, but he brought his gaze back to his brothers who were being surprisingly quiet.
After another moment the Northern Lord pressed on, "Despite this I want nothing to change between us. Yes, I will be a prince, but you will still be my brothers and nothing will change that. Before this happens there are a few requests I need to make of you." All three brothers gave signs of being confused, but Healo smiled sadly and said, "Yamikura is pure evil, and you all know what it will try to do to me. If I should ever fall under its influence you must do what is necessary. Do not hesitate to kill me if it must be so," all three brothers grew very still at these words, but the prince continued, "as to my son. If I should die I have already asked one of you to take care of him for he will then be the heir to the throne and the only hope for the Empire."
Healo looked directly at Sesshomaru and said firmly, "In the event of my death it is my wish that you release Kagome from your claim. She deserves to be able to follow her heart wherever it may lead her." The Western Lord said nothing and his expression didn't change, but never the less in that moment something unsaid passed between them. Some of the tension that had existed between them since Kagome's arrival in Ionin faded, and the Northern Lord smiled at this. Inuyasha shifted and commented with an irritated tone, "Don't think like that. Plus just think…nothing's gonna happen to you while I'm around," this last part was said with the hanyou's normal arrogance.
Magus frowned slightly at Inuyasha's statement but nodded in agreement nonetheless. The Western Lord did not make any comment and before Healo could press him to agree to his request footsteps were heard. Kirin appeared in the doorway as all the brothers turned to face him. His green eyes were very serious, but his voice was calm as he asked, "Are you ready, My Lord?" The Northern Lord shifted nervously and then said, "Yes…I won't keep the Council waiting." He glanced behind Kirin but saw only two solemn guards arrayed in the imperial colors so he asked, "Where is Kagome?" His relative responded, "Your companions have already been escorted into the Council's chamber…I should warn you that a crowd has already formed. The Regent's message to the Council members has already begun to spread among the people."
Magus pointed out thoughtfully, "Surely this is a good thing. Popular support will be useful in ensuring that the Council doesn't reject Healo's claim." Sesshomaru responded coldly, "Perhaps not. The presence of rabble may strengthen the resolve of those who do not wish to see the Empire revived. The specter of mob rule is disquieting to truly noble demons." Healo frowned but did not bother to respond to his brother's comment since he had already argued about this issue with the Western Lord before. The Northern Lord turned his attention back towards Kirin and said, "The crowds shouldn't be a problem."
Kirin hesitated for a second but then nodded and said, "Alright. Guards I want you to stay close. If anything should happen your priority is to protect Lord Healo understood?" Both of the silent guards bowed in acknowledgement, and began to walk back down the passageway. The Northern Lord moved to join his cousin while his brothers followed closely behind. After walking a short distance through the palace Healo asked softly, "What else is wrong Kirin?" His cousin frowned at the new prince's observance, but he answered, "All of the representatives from the Eastern Land fled shortly after you entered the city except for the Eastern Lands main ambassador. Valen received a report from the guards at the city gates only a short while ago. I am afraid that the Eastern Lord knew you would be coming here, and that his delegates left because there is some kind of trap planned."
Healo continued to walk at his regular pace, but he frowned in confusion as he said, "There is no way Bianen could be trying to kidnap me. Maleon is too large and well defended for that," the Northern Lord's tone darkened, "on the other hand…a large crowd could provide excellent cover for an assassin." Kirin responded in soothing tone, "Don't think like that. As I said the Regent recognizes the potential danger, and security has been increased. These kinds of tactics are no longer feasible in Maleon; we have learned a great deal from Emperor Leonius and Prince Malus's tragic deaths." The Northern Lord did not respond, but he didn't need to. He could feel Kirin's embarrassment over his poor wording without even trying hard. How was he supposed to feel safe going to the Council when his true father and grandfather had both been murdered while within Maleon?
Several more minutes passed in silence as the small group made its way towards the Council's location. They emerged from the main gate of the palace, and Healo could see the large building only a few hundred yards away. The Northern Lord was surprised to find that he was actually feeling nervous over about what would happen in the chamber. Putting aside the fear of some incident from the crowd Healo was worried about how the lords of the Council would react. If they did not approve of his claim it could cause more division which the Empire could not afford now with the Eastern Lord and Naraku both preparing for war. Together the two traitors controlled over one third of the Empire, and if the lords of the Imperial Lands denied his claim then the Western Lands would be surrounded and cut off from the South.
There were several more guards at the door of the Council building and they bowed respectfully while opening the door. Loud voices rolled out of the building as Healo slowly followed the two guards into the building. Thankfully the Northern Lord noted that they had entered through the rear entrance and that the various representatives from the Western and Southern Lands were arrayed in front of and to the left of him. The Eastern Lands had only one representative as Kirin had told him, but there were also soldiers arrayed in the imperial colors scattered throughout the group and also farther back in the building where a crowd of several hundred demons and humans were pressing their way in.
The Northern Lord glanced to his left and spotted the Imperial Regent only a short distance away standing on a platform facing the representatives. Valen's ice blue eyes were serious as he nodded in acknowledgment to Healo. The regent then turned his attention back to the large crowd which was beginning to notice that newcomers had entered the Council Chambers. Several of the representatives apparently recognized at least some of them for they began to mutter even more passionately. Many of these demons had led easy, comfortable lives, but they knew what the presence of the Northern and Western Lords could mean. The last full scale war that the Empire had been plunged into had been brought about because of the Northern Lord, and many of these representatives believed that Healo had come to start a new war to reclaim the Northern Lands. However, they were still waiting for this long lost prince to finally appear. They all had been sent messages telling them that the Council had been summoned because of the return of the Imperial line.
Healo smiled slightly despite the seriousness of the situation he now found himself in. The Council members would be shocked when they realized what he had truly come to do. Yes war would be part of the result, but only because once the truth came out that the disgraced Northern Lord was really the true heir to the Empire an important step would have to be taken by everyone. After the truth comes out no one will be able to stand on the sides and claim neutrality; everyone will have to take a stand on one side or the other. Healo only hoped that enough of the Empire would choose to face the danger of restoring the Empire rather then secure their safety by aiding Naraku.
Valen slowly raised his arms for silence and gradually the various representatives on the Council began to take their places as they waited for the Imperial Regent to begin. The crowds of people did lower their volume some but the murmuring continued as the Regent finally said in a commanding voice, "My lords I have called an emergency session of this Council because great events are beginning to unfold in the Empire. As you all know for many years a shadow has covered the Northern Lands, but now it has deepened and is threatening to spread over all of the lands of the Empire." The Regent paused here as many of the Council members nodded in agreement, but then he continued, "The armies of Naraku are even now preparing to conquer all who stand against him. It is my sad duty to report that not only is a terrible war before us, but also that there are already traitors amongst us."
The Regent paused again as many of the Council members glanced at each other nervously. Healo's eyes trained on the ambassador from the Eastern Lands and he felt a jolt of surprise when he realized that the young demon was actually one of Bianen's sons. The young demon's orange eyes and white hair made it very obvious to even those not acquainted with him that he was related to the Eastern Lord. The Northern Lord tried to get a sense of what the tense demon was thinking but he had a strong mind and his thoughts eluded Healo's probes. Valen continued in a stern tone, "The Eastern Lands have plainly allied themselves with the vile hanyou Naraku. Even now their troops are massing all along the Great River and if something is not done quickly Bianen will succeed in cutting us off from the Western Lands and the strong forces that are being prepared there." Again the Council members began to speak to each other, but this time most of them were looking at the small group that had entered just a short time ago. Healo glanced at the Western Lord who looked as imposing as ever.
Valen also looked over at the two lords and began again, "The Northern and Western Lords have traveled here to assure you of their resolve to fight against Naraku. I hope that you all will be as resolute in taking a stand for the Empire that has sustained the unity and prosperity of all for hundreds of people. The survival of the Empire can only be won by the sword on the field of battle, but if we wish to see the rival of the Empire's power then there is something else that must also be done." The representatives were silent at this declaration and Healo could sense that they realized that the Regent was finally getting to the point they had been waiting for. Even the crowds who had been greatly pleased by the speech thus far grew silent as they began to sense that something new was about to happen.
Valen blinked twice then began again in a solemn voice, "Our Empire has been too long without its leader. The tragic death of Prince Malus was believed by all to have been the end of the imperial line, but I can now confidently say that this is not so." An uproar of approval from the crowd greeted this pronouncement, but the Imperial Regent pressed on, "Shortly before his death Prince Malus secretly took a mate. He did this secretly because of the murder of his father the good Emperor Leonius. His mate found that she was pregnant shortly after Prince Malus was himself murdered and to protect this child the mother took another mate who lied to all the Empire and claimed this child as his own."
The Imperial Regent turned to face Healo and motioned for him to step up beside him. The Northern Lord stood still for a moment then slowly walked up onto the platform as a deathly silence gripped all others in the Council Chamber. Realizing that his moment had come Healo turned to face the crowds which had at one time reviled his ambitious attempts at conquest. His many services for the Empire after his betrayal had convinced many of his goodness, but that did not mean that he would be well received. Finally the Northern Lord said firmly as he drew Yamikura with the one hand and dispersed the snowflake on his brow with the other, "I was that child. I am the heir to the Empire." A stunned silence at first pervaded the chamber and then the lowly crowds began to cheer in a frantic disbelieving tone for they all had grown up hearing of the cursed blade and the prophecy of Triellen. Healo did not allow himself to smile as he waited for the cheering to subside, but inside he was greatly relieved and he could sense relief coming off of the Imperial Regent as well. In his heart the Northern Lord knew that whatever came after this he would always look back on this moment as one of the most crucial not only for himself but hopefully for the Empire. No…his Empire.
Authors Notes part 2 ;) Please let me know what you think.