A/N: Am I the only Nerdfighter here?
AER: Rain = mosquitoes. I hate mosquitoes.
Rebel: You're in luck because Kane and Gabby are a major couple in this :) Did you check out the Themes Revival? They are featured in a few of those as well.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.
Scout went through the suite of rooms she'd been given for her stay in Arrida. Her guard had cots to set up in a room designated for them. That room was long, narrow, and had a single bed reserved for their captain. There was another room for the lawyers to share along with another room shared by Lady Melissa, Lady Gwen, and Lady Tanya, the Hibernian Courier. In the room Scout herself slept in there was a pallet for Kelly but she wouldn't allow her maid to use it. She and Kelly had become accustomed to sharing a too-large bed and, again, she'd been provided one.
Being a diplomat proved dull. She sat in meetings with her head spinning as the Arridi and Hibernian lawyers and Couriers hashed it out under her aunt's guidance. There were harsh words exchanged on occasion but all in all they spoke too rapidly for Scout to keep up. After an hour of it she swallowed hard and looked to Alyss. Her aunt shortly cutoff the current petty argument with a compromise both parties agreed to. The lawyers and Couriers went at it again when Alyss realized Scout was staring at her. She offered a reassuring smile but Scout couldn't draw in confidence from it. Instead she stared at her hands until it was over.
"Is this right?" she whispered to Lady Tanya as the final document was brought to her for signing.
"Yes, Your Grace. Sign and seal it."
Scout looked to Alyss again. Her aunt smiled reassuringly. Scout signed the paper and stamped her seal into the wax poured next to the Hibernian lines. Once it was over Alyss led Scout to a balcony. "You will be returning to Hibernia directly. We part ways come morning."
"So soon?" Scout asked sadly.
""I'm sorry Scout, but that's how life is. One day you're here and the next you're gone."
"Literally," Scout muttered.
Alyss smiled comfortingly and hugged her. "We miss you so much but you've got to grow up now. Kane, William, Rosalina, Daniel, Ace, Carissa…now it's your turn."
"This isn't what I dreamed about."
Alyss laughed. "Few actually become what they dream about becoming. Kane once wanted to be a Ranger and Carissa once wanted to be a scribe. When Will was young he wanted nothing more than to be a knight. He was so upset when he wasn't allowed to go to battleschool."
"Uncle Will? But he's one of the best Rangers in Araluen."
"Yes, but not when he was fifteen."
Alyss hugged her again. Scout took a deep breath "Aunt Alyss…"
"I love you Scout," her aunt said. "I always will."
"I love you too, Aunt Alyss."
Scout found herself back in Hibernia too quickly. She told Sean and Kineta about William's engagement and how the meeting in Arrida went. Her cousins listened with more interest than she'd anticipated.
"So overall did you enjoy yourself?" Kineta asked. Scout nodded.
"Yes. Thank you for letting me to go."
They'd met at a restaurant outside Roscrea so that Sean and Kineta could take her to their new home themselves. "We got you something while you were away," Sean told her. "Your staff has it now. You'll get it before we leave."
"What is it?" Scout asked with curiosity.
"You'll have to wait," Kineta teased her. Scout set down her spoon.
"That's not fair!" Scout protested with giggles.
"Well then you'd better go find your maid if you can't wait," Sean advised with a sly grin. Scout smiled with narrowed eyes as she ran out the private dining room. Kelly was waiting in the hallway. She grabbed Scout's hand and excitedly pulled her up to a room in the conjoined inn.
"Your cousins got you a new dress and crown."
Scout frowned. "That's the big surprise?"
"Just put them on."
Scout sighed and complied. The dress was a shade of green that almost perfectly matched her eyes. It laced down the sides with soft leather strings and the skirt folded over itself in panels. The sleeves were long almost as though it were a robe and the neckline swooped off her shoulders. As she buckled the belt Kelly came back with a scabbard holding a long knife. It strapped over her shoulder and around her body. The Araluen Battalion ladies wore similar sheaths for their sabres.
Scout went to the full length mirror that had been provided. She'd seen more mirrors as the Hibernian princess than she had her entire Araluen life. She almost saw her mother staring back at her.
"You look beautiful Scout," Kelly said as she came back with a wooden box.
"I look like my mama," she whispered.
Kelly smiled and opened the box. "Here's the crown." Kelly took out a silver circlet in the shape of an eagle set with diamonds the entire length of the circlet. "It's so beautiful."
"I thought leather braided headbands were traditional?" Scout asked as Kelly pressed it onto her head.
"They are in Clonmel but Hibernia is united now. The steps towards full unity have been slow and this new capital is among the final ones. The other kingdoms wear crowns. This embodies traditions from each one as a sign of unity."
Scout stared at herself wearing it. If she had to wear a crown, this one would be something she picked out. It was beautiful, and simple all at once. It wasn't gaudy like the crowns of so many other royals Scout had seen. "It's so pretty."
The door opened and her cousins came in. "You look like a princess," Kineta told her with a smile.
"About time," Sean laughed. Scout smiled and turned to face them.
"Thank you," she said.
"That's not the big surprise. Come along now."
Curiosity sparked again. They led her outside to the stable. A groom held the bridle of a saddled tall elegant sorrel mare. Scout felt her jaw drop. She could recognize a fine horse when she saw one and this mare was as good as they came.
"Meet Swift," Kineta said as she pet the mare's nose.
"We thought you'd appreciate a horse of your own," Sean explained. "Swift is as highly trained as the horses your parents ride. She's spirited and she loves to run but we thought you could handle her."
Scout went to the horse and let Swift sniff her. She pet the mare's neck and smiled widely. "How'd you know I've always wanted my own horse?"
"You're your parents' daughter," Sean shrugged. "I didn't know them when they were your age but Kineta did."
"They loved to ride. You've proven yourself so much like them we realize you most likely love to ride as much as they do."
"Thank you so much. This is amazing," Scout said.
"Well we'd better get going. We all have business to tend."
They mounted up and Scout followed her cousins who were in turn led by guards. They went up a steep hill and paused to admire the view. The castle was smaller than the old one but it was more…like home to Scout. She could come to think of the large windows and sheer rock castle as home much more easily than the old stony closed off space in Clonmel. To one side was an expansive lake. No, 'loch' Scout reminded herself. To the other side was the sea.
"Let's go have a look shall we?" Kineta teased. They set their horses to a gallop.
Kane woke Talia up the next morning as he prepared to leave. "Just so you know, I went against orders to bring you here. I'll probably be late today to serve whatever punishment my superiors deal me."
"I don't have to stay here," Talia told him as she pushed herself up. "I can be out by noon."
"And where will you go?"
Talia shrugged. "I don't know."
"Exactly. Just stay here, Talia. Please? You need help."
"I can take care of myself. You know that."
Kane sighed with frustration. "I know you could easily get hurt. Gabby's coming later with a midwife. I'm going to see if someone else can come keep you company the rest of the day."
"I'm not a child, Kane."
Kane shook his head. "I know. I'm sorry. Just…don't leave until Gabby comes in. She'll be hurt if she comes and finds you gone."
Talia crossed her arms. "Who is this Gabby anyway? Why haven't I met her?"
"You haven't been around."
"Is she nice?"
"She's very nice."
Talia narrowed her eyes. "A nurse? Really Kane?"
Kane frowned. "I really don't think you're one to criticize relationships." Talia's jaw stiffened. Kane felt bad immediately. "She's great, Talia, I promise. She's the sweetest girl I've met. And she's a physician's assistant, not a nurse."
"How'd you meet her anyway? Please don't tell me you were her patient. You didn't get hurt did you?"
Kane shook his head.
"No. I mean, when I need something patched up she's the one I find but that's not how we met. When Scout was little she went through this phase in which she wanted to dry out every flower she could find and fix it in a bouquet. One day she had more than she knew what to do with and decided to give them to patients. I took her to the medical wing and Gabby was on duty. At least that's how we met. I first noticed her at a ceremony for Royal Scouts and their families. Her brother was three years ahead of me when I was an apprentice."
Talia wrapped her arms around her stomach. "You really don't mind helping me out for a while? I can arrange something else."
"What would you arrange? Your only other connection here is Lina and she's in Redmont. They've got a spare bed but you're not in any condition to make that trip. Look, I want to help you. I promise. Just let me."
"Why? You don't owe me anything Kane."
"I know." Kane looked at her sternly. "But you're still my birthmother. You didn't try to take me away from my parents when you found out I was alive and now I'm repaying that."
"That wasn't something I expected to be repaid for and Halt and Pauline would be the ones to pay if I did. I did that because it was best for you."
"I know. Come on Talia, just let someone help you. Namely me."
"Go to work."
Kane grabbed a piece of dried meat to eat on his way to report. "I'll be back when I can," he promised. "Help yourself to whatever you find."
"I'm happy about Gabby, so you know. I mean…if you think so much of her then I'm happy for you."
Kane nodded as he took a bite of his meager breakfast. "Thanks, Talia."
"She seems nice."
"She is."
"Well…you better get going."
"I'll see you later, Talia."
The castle had changed but Scout's schedule did not. Her tutors seemed to have spent the entire time she was gone planning new lessons. Her dancing hadn't improved but the law came more easily. Refreshed from the short trip, she studied harder. She felt more relaxed in her new life. Roscrea was a large city but the castle and its surrounding area felt more like a village within the city. She was free to explore if she took Warden with her. Her occasional hunting trips came to an abrupt halt due to lack of game. However, Hank, the royal gardener's nephew, taught her how to fish with her bow. It wasn't the same but it was better than nothing.
She sat at her desk translating the words in front of her. She'd come to find the practice relaxing and it counted as studying for both foreign languages and calligraphy. She sat with a book written in Gaelic propped up in front of her while she copied the words into Nihon-Ja. Her grandfather had taught her some Gaelic in Araluen but she didn't truly start learning until she came to Hibernia. Nihon-Ja was a language she grew up speaking alongside Araluen. Her parents, particularly her mother, loved the Nihon-Ja culture so she and Caitlyn were exposed to it as often as possible.
"Scout, a letter came for you today," Kelly announced as she came in. "It's from the Royal Family of Araluen."
Scout dropped her pen and snatched the letter. "This must be William's wedding invitation," she said excitedly. "We're going to get to go back to Araluen soon."
Kelly smiled widely. "Good because that Prince Ace has a guard who kept looking my way."
Scout giggled. "Maybe you should keep your affections in Hibernia. I'd hate to lose you for some Araluen guard."
"So you'd be alright if I started seeing Warden outside of work?"
Scout dropped her hands to her lap and stared at Kelly. "You've got feelings for Warden?"
Kelly made a face. "Of course not, he was just an example."
Scout narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Positively positive?"
Kelly giggled. "Yes. I've got my eye on someone else."
"Do I know him?"
Kelly grinned again. "Probably not. I only ever see him in servants' quarters. How about you? Anyone special?"
Scout felt herself turn pink. "No. Nobody thinks of me as a girl. I'm either too much of a tomboy or too much of a princess. Literally."
Kelly busied herself turning down Scout's bed. "You'll find someone. Princesses always find someone."
Scout went back to her opening her mail. Sure enough, fancy swirled writing filled the first page.
His Excellency Rey Felipe Ramon Emilio Jose Juartez de Aragon and Her Excellency Reina Isabella Marietta Alexandra Lupita Valasco Juartez de Castile have invited you
Royal Family of Hibernia
to join in witnessing the nuptials of their daughter
La Princesa Anamaria Isabella Felipa Belinda Juartez de Iberion
to His Royal Highness Crown Prince William Duncan Altman of Araluen
son of His Royal Majesty King Horace Altman of Araluen and Her Royal Majesty Queen Cassandra Altman of Araluen
on the
Eighteenth of June
at
Three O'clock
Please send the names of those attending in the attached note.
Scout squealed with excitement. "William's really getting married!"
"You'll have to show your cousins at dinner tomorrow. "
"I will." Scout set the note card aside with the invitation and unfolded another sheet of paper far less fancy.
Scout,
Hope you're able to make it! If you are, Anamaria would like to make you a bridesmaid. With only our brothers as my groomsmen we have five and I absolutely must have Kane since he's such a good friend. That means Anamaria must come up with six bridesmaids and we've only got three sisters between us. She's got two friends from Iberion coming and turned to me for the final one. What do you say? Would you like to dance with an Iberion prince? If you say yes, however, as your cousin I forbid you to fall in love with your escort. Anamaria is the only decent one of the family. Send your answer soon and know the backup for you is Carissa. Carissa is sweet but I fear she'd become too smitten with the prince she gets paired with. I also fear they will pester her for not being royal. Kane can take it, but I don't think Carissa can.
William
Scout smiled and quickly wrote out a letter explaining she'd be delighted to be a bridesmaid and that she couldn't wait to see them again. As she signed her name she realized she'd have to talk to Warden about practicing the waltz with her some more. An Iberion prince would demand she be perfect.