July 10, Summer, year 36
I never thought I could be so nervous as I am now… We have to wait for a designated time before we can teleport to the Palace… I think Skye said we're going to Tranquility Palace, since that's where his mother rules.
At least, she rules until he comes to claim the throne. I wonder how she's going to react when he tells her he doesn't want it. Hmph, she'll probably blame me and mine or something like that.
Claire was doing her best not to pace, but the waiting was driving her batty. Thy had spent most of the night awake, waiting for people to leave the Goddess Pond to its solitude, and then had waited an hour more. Mirei, Alan and Meredith had all dropped off in that time, exhaustion being stronger than curiosity.
Skye, and Jamie watched her, braid flipping from one side to the other as she turned. Lauren was dealing with her own anxiety by drawing several quick sketches in rapid succession. All of them were of Melissa, and the panpipes were tucked into the pocket of the teenage girls cargo jeans.
They all felt the electric spark suddenly added to the air, and as one spun to face the pond. The female messenger of the night before tendered Skye a bow, deep and elegant.
Then she saw the rest, and a faint look of puzzlement crept across her beautiful face.
"Prince Sora?"
Jamie and Lauren snorted their mirth, Skye ignored the title.
"I could not travel without my lady wife," and now Claire snorted, "and my children."
The messenger's gray eyes went wide for a brief second, and she hurriedly gave Claire a bow almost as deep as the one she'd given Skye. Claire flushed a little, not having expected something like that.
"Your Honored Mother awaits you at the Court of Tranquility," the messenger said. "I shall inform her of your coming."
She vanished then, but the feeling remained, and a disc of white light hovered over the Goddess Pond. Claire picked up Meredith, Skye took Alan, and Jamie carried Mirei. This left Lauren with the magic-backpacks which could hold anything—gifts from the Witch Princess—and her own bag of things.
"Last chance.."
Claire mimed a kick in Skye's direction, and took a step forward, heart in her throat.
Her foot cam down on solid marble, but it felt as though she had been coated in static electricity. Pieces of her blonde hair—and Meri's—stood on end. Lauren, Jamie and Skye followed quickly after, and with the portal's collapse, hair and clothing returned to normal.
"That… felt weird," and Jamie shivered.
"Un. Der. State. Ment." Lauren's tone was pure acid. "Could've used a warning…"
Odd sensation no longer present, Claire glanced around, and couldn't prevent a low whistle of awe. It might have been on the Moon… but this certainly didn't look anything like the round disc of silver that often hung in the sky at night.
The sweet scent of flowers filled the air, from where Claire wasn't certain. The room they had exited into was actually a small pavilion of silver-veined marble, draped with pastel blue and purple gauzes.
It was situated in the center of what could charitably be called a small lake, pure blue water a reflection of the pale blue sky overhead. Water lilies were not the source of the flower smell, but they were certainly the most obviously prevalent.
Slowly the farmer turned in a circle, hugging her youngest to her chest in awe. Jamie and Lauren were doing much the same… until they caught sight of the armor clad guards who were glaring at them in suspicion. Claire took an instant notice of the white robe and silver sash that Skye had mentioned, and forbore making any of her usual comments.
Skye glared right back. The spears immediately lifted, and the guards went down on one knee, supplication to their new king—or so they thought. Reluctantly, Skye passed Alan off to Lauren—Claire and Jamie took the extra backpacks—before stepping forward.
"We wish to refresh ourselves, please inform my Honored Mother that we will be slightly delayed."
"Of course Heir-Apparent."
Claire stifled yet another snort of amusement at the pained expression crossing Skye's face, who dismissed them all with a wave of his hand.
"Are you alright?" she murmured when he didn't move.
"Is it possible to be homesick already?" Skye's voice was shaking slightly.
"Always."
"Good," and the silver haired man let out a long breath. "I can't wait to leave."
After a couple of false turns, Skye led them to the place that had been his quarters. They'd been given a day—a day and a half really—to fix it up, so he wasn't expecting perfection… he rather hoped it would be imperfect, all of the impeccableness was getting to more than just him.
"There's only so much beauty a human mind can take," Claire muttered as he tapped once on his door to ensure that no one was in the chambers. "And this place pushes all the limits."
The floor was a misty gray and white marble, shined to an almost mirror-like finish, the wood of the doors was a pale, pure gold, carved with symbols that she couldn't read and never wanted to, the doorknobs themselves looked to be made of genuine gold, and there were thousands of rainbows cascading along the floor, reflections from diamond-paned windows.
The door swung open easily when Skye pushed on it, and he frowned to see the people—servants—lingering. Not to mention the fact that the minute they all saw him, they dropped into immediate bows and deep curtseys, all eyes heading towards the floor.
At least until Claire and her children showed themselves. Then eyes flicked to one another in shock and curiosity.
"A bath will wake us up?" Claire sounded doubtful. "Usually they just put me right to sleep."
"Don't worry," and to the horror of the watching servants, Skye leaned over and kissed Claire on the forehead. "These have a special herbal extract that could probably wake the dead if we tried. It'll get you through the first meeting with my mother."
He raised an eyebrow at the lingering servants and they fled quickly, leaving bathing things, and towels.
"You scared them," Lauren said, blinking. "Wow.."
Claire sneezed, and shortly after that the three younger children were also awake. Not happily, but they were awake. No one actually used the bath, but splashing the water across the face left a tingling feeling of clean and a sudden clarity to the mind.
"Pretty soon you'll probably have seamstresses all over you," Skye smiled ruefully at the expression on his wife's face. "Trying to remake you in the ways of Tranquility."
Claire and Lauren exchanged amused looks. Neither of them were very tranquil, with quick tempers and sharp wits to match.
"Somehow Dad," and it was Lauren who spoke what everyone was thinking, "I'd say that would be impossible."
Snickering followed the comment, and Sky found himself smiling warmly. This was the family that he and Claire had made together… he wasn't going to leave that behind for all the money in the world.
"Everyone feeling better?"
"Awake," Mirei huffed slightly, hands going to her hips. "But we're supposed to be sleeping."
"This is Late-Court Mirei," Skye nodded. "Soon enough we will be."
A sharp knock at the door was the only warning they received, and the family almost automatically bunched together, Meredith jumping—almost literally with the lighter gravity—into her mother's arms, Jamie and Lauren stepping up next to Alan and Mirei, and Claire and Skye drawing closer together.
The door opened after a minute and the female messenger poked her head in as if expecting to see something she was forbidden. That is, very cautiously. When she saw the seven pairs of blue and green eyes upon her, she straightened and beckoned.
"Her Royal Majesty bids you come to Late-Court, Prince Sora, and has expressed a wish to meet your… lady wife, and children."
"We will be on our way," Skye nodded.
The door closed with a faint click, and Claire snorted.
"As if I'm going to let you go anywhere without me," she huffed, propping her free arm on one hip.
"At least this way you have a tactic invitation," Skye chuckled. "Queen Tsukiko is very clever."
It was a little much to hope for his mother's approval, Skye knew. But at least she was acknowledging that he had chosen to wed. It was, in its own fashion, better than he had hoped.
The hallways went from misty gray marble to misty blue as they approached the place where Late-Court was being held. They went at their own pace as well, occasionally stopping so that Claire or one of the children could gape at some new wonder. A bird made of only gold and gems, that sang when you turned the key, a silver flute that played without being touched, a gem that cast moving pictures across the floor…
"You left this place?" Claire murmured softly.
"Earth is just as beautiful… and much more real," Sky smiled faintly. "I'm preferring the reality, even if it has its downsides."
The doors were open and heads of silver hair bobbed and murmured to each other. They were dressed in layer upon layer of mist-like gauze, over the white robes and silver sashes.
"Mommy," Meredith whimpered a little. "They all look like ghosties.."
Claire darted a quick, sour look at her children. Jamie, Lauren and Mirei immediately pointed to Alan, who at least had the grace to look ashamed.
"Why was I plagued with such children?" she sighed softly, not meaning a word of it. "I guess it's time?"
Skye reached out, and touched the gold chain around her neck. It took the sleep-deprived woman a moment to realize exactly what it was he wanted, and the actual action meant releasing Meredith.
But she did, setting the child down at her feet. She promptly clung to her mother's pant leg as Claire free the necklace from under her shirt revealing the diamond pendant he'd given her, and undoing the clasp only long enough to retrieve the ring that matched.
Both diamonds glowed with an inner fire all their own, a captured piece of sunlight—or so Skye had told her. More than anything, this was who she was at the heart of all things, and the light the two.. no, three tiny stones cast—for Skye had revealed his pendant as well—caused a ripple of silence to spread outwards from the entrance.
Claire, determined to be unintimidated, paused only briefly to undo her long hair. The gold waves made even more of a stir, none of the true People of the Moon had such a brilliantly garish color. Of the children, only Jamie was looked upon with approval, and did his best to hide between his mother and his sister. The approval was more unnerving than the disapproval.
At the far end of the hall was a small dais, upon which sat a regal looking woman in a long white and blue trimmed dress. A crown of delicate silver and sapphire pinned back her seemingly unruly silver hair and as sky blue eyes met cool gray, Claire knew without a doubt that this chill woman was the 'Honored Mother' Queen Tsukiko.
Skye went down on one knee at the foot of the dais, but Claire remained upright. Silence changed to whispers, shock and whatever the Moon People's version of robed annoyance was rippled through the crowd at Claire's clear defiance. Unseen, Skye smiled.
Jamie and Lauren exchanged looks then bowed, but only temporarily. Mirei attempted a curtsey, as did Meri, though she ended up sitting on the floor next to her father when she slipped. Alan just.. started, like Claire, but his was a curious look, not a mildly hostile one.
"Why do you not show us respect?"
Queen Tsukiko's voice was, Claire mused, a bit like what the poetic phrase 'bell-like sound' was crafted for. It was not loud, but somehow conveyed everything the woman wanted to and did not say.
"Because I don't owe you any part of me," she informed Tsukiko calmly, "and respect must be earned, not expected."
More whispers, a touch of anger this time. Claire heard the faintest clank of metal, the guards stationed around the hall taking offense at her words.
But she was solid, unmoving, and because she was, so were her children. They trusted her to know what she was doing.
She didn't but making things up as she went along usually served quite well in knowledge's stead. At least it did when it didn't backfire horribly.
One pale hand raised, the guards settled back into their posts.
"You are mortal."
Claire didn't even deign to answer that one, but her hands slid into her pockets, a sure sign that she was settling in for a long debate of some form.
"What right has someone of your rank to be wed to our son?"
The faintest of amused smiles flickered across the blonde's face. This she had expected.
"Let's see… Jill threatened him?" she offered, humor lacing her voice.
Skye had to work to keep from snorting in laughter. The Queen was not amused.
"We are the one that will designate our son's wife. One such as yourself is not worthy of note. Not even as a dress servant."
Claire twitched as ripples of faint amusement this time spread through the crowd. 'Servant' was pushing things a little too far.
"Unfortunately for you, Madam, Skye controls himself. And from what I've seen, he chose me, not that lady you sent to try and ruin everything fifteen years ago," she made an expansive gesture with her left hand, making the diamond flare slightly, taking in the whole of her family. "Or had you not noticed your own grandchildren?"
Absolute. Silence. Claire was pleased to see that this had shocked the whole of the court, and a tiny little smirk crossed her face.
"Why must you plague us so, little mortal?"
"Because I'm right," Claire said ever so sweetly. "And because I don't give a fig about these fancy courts. There's one reason and one alone that I'm standing her and it's certainly not because I want to become enamored of you."
She heard Lauren mutter something that ended with 'clones,' and grinned. Though he had not been given permission to do so, Skye rose, reached out and took Claire's hand.
These whispers were the ones Claire had been waiting for. The kind of absolutely scandalized shock that would send ripples everywhere.
"Why then are you here little mortal?"
"Firstly," and Claire propped her free hand on her hip, "my name is Claire, it's not been a pleasure…" Lauren started to snicker, and Jamie pulled up the collar of his jacket to hid his grin, "and secondly, I'm here to make sure that my husband comes home."
One perfect silver eyebrow raised.
"You do not trust our word?"
"Not with my life, his life, or the lives of my children," she replied bluntly, shocking the assembled PoM back into silence. "See, I know some things that normal mortal women don't, I know about those special robes you're all wearing. Given half the chance you would stuff him into one and I would never see him again. And I don't intend to risk such a thing."
"Child," and the word was a threat, a mild as it was. "What right has a little mortal babe to dictate how we handle our son?"
Claire looked to Skye, who smiled down at her warmly, and released her hand. Following that was one of Claire's biggest risks ever.
She set a foot on the lowest stair of the dais and climbed the shallow steps. There was the sound of several little clicks, crossbows being aimed at the bold mortal who dared to approach their Queen.
"You don't seem to be understanding this, madam," and Claire's voice was heavily laced with the bite of sarcasm. "So I'll say it simply. I traded vows with him. I bore his children. I love him. That gives me more right to accompany him than any one of your fine lords and ladies. Do not dismiss me because of your ridiculous pre-conceived notions of what a human is like."
Burning blue met ice cold gray, and held.
"You are a mortal," Tsukiko's voice didn't tremor, as though this was some fashion of a game. "And yet you threaten me in my court?"
"Who's making threats?" Claire smiled dangerously. "I'm making promises. Don't try me…"
They had left the Late-Court on that sobering note, making their way back to the rooms Skye held. Alan and Mirei were in awe of their mother. So many eyes, so close to danger and she hadn't given an inch to the woman who was supposed to be their grandmother.
Skye was bursting with an almost ridiculous amount of pride. Claire had been just what he'd hoped, and had likely unnerved more than one of the People there because of her intensity.
Jamie and Lauren were grinning. Sure they never wanted to be on the receiving end of that tone, but when given to someone else it was a treat to watch.
Wisely, everyone held in their commentary until the door had closed behind them, and Skye had locked it from the inside.
Then everyone began to speak at once.
"Mom, that was freaking awesome!"
"Can't believe you were that crazy…"
"So many pointy arrows…"
"And tall guards!"
"That was wonderful love! ..Claire?"
Claire made her way over to the insanely large bed, and flopped face down onto it, hair spreading out like a curtain down her back.
"I can't. Believe. I did that."
He voice was muffled by the blankets, which absorbed most of the emotions filtering into her words. A small blessing, she didn't need them to know how terrified she'd been, how badly she needed to curl up in a ball and shake.
Only the determination to be strong for her children was keeping her self control intact.
"I don't think any of us can Ma," Jamie jumped up on the bed beside her, grinning in exhilaration.
"If you want the truth Mom, that was kinda scary," Lauren admitted, reaching out to collect the strands of blond hair. "I mean, it could have gotten you killed!"
"Tell me something I don't know," Claire sighed into the blankets.
"You certainly made an impression," and Skye chuckled. "I think you may have scandalized the whole of the court just by out children alone."
He wasn't in range to kick, otherwise he would have been. Even a backwards kick was still a kick.
Hearing the sound of a door opening, Claire lifted her head slightly and saw that Skye was across the room.
"Mmm, if there's one thing that I have to admit to liking it's that they work fast to adapt to plan shifts," he moved aside, indicating the open door. "I believe the children are supposed to sleep here…"
The farmer pushed herself wearily off the bed, curiosity stronger than exhaustion. Still burbling with their praise—all but Meredith who had once again fallen asleep, on the way back—the children followed, and the room they saw cut off all speech entirely.
It was a large room, five beds sanctioned off by cloth hangings at the far end.
"This used to be my library," Skye nodded. "Or rather my 'junk room,' since I rarely perused anything I left in here once it was in. It should double nicely as a playroom-slash-bedroom, don't you think?"
Claire bit her tongue to keep her words from slipping out, prompting Skye to give her a gentle, genuine kiss to the forehead.
"I know," he murmured as the two sets of twins cautiously wandered into the room. "I want to be home too, in our bed that creaks a little no matter how many times we fix it."
Lauren laid Meredith down on the middle bed.
"It should be oldest to the outside," she decided, noticing that her parents were once again off in their own world. "Cause this place give me the creeps and I wouldn't put it past anyone to try kidnapping in this place. Even if Dad's supposed to be their next king, I think they're all a bit creepy. Did you se the looks they gave us?"
"Kinda hard not to, especially when you're the only one being approved of," Jamie retorted dryly. "Man I don't want to know what they were thinking."
"If you're lucky you won't have to find out," Skye rejoined the conversation. "I hope to the Harvest Goddess that I can expedite the abdication process, I certainly don't want to stay here any longer than I have to."
"Not even for all the pretty things?" Mirei yawned, blue eyes fogging over with tiredness.
"I have my pretty things with me," he said then, lifting her effortlessly into the bed next to Meredith's. "Only I choose to call them my family."
He dimmed the light in the room until it was that of a pale moonlit night, before closing the door and letting the children situate themselves. Their bags were at the feet of the bed, ready to be grabbed at a moment's notice.
Then he turned to Claire, and held out one hand. She took the invitation and clung to him. She wasn't crying, but she trembled like a leaf in a gale.
"My brave, brave love," he murmured. "Thank you for doing all that."
It took her several seconds to keep from stuttering, but the determination was clear.
"Not going to lose you," she shivered, "not to that lot…"
"No, no you won't," and he pulled her towards the bed, even disliking it as much as he did. "It's alright now Claire… sleep."
Blue eyes flicked up to sea-green, then down again as she found the strength within herself to calm back down, to be okay. Not for herself, but for the ones who needed her to be strong. She even managed a wry smile as she kicked off her boots.
"You owe me…"
Skye gave her a lazy, warm smile.
"I'll pay you now then, shall I?"
It was a little while later before they finally, truly fell asleep.