A/N: American Readers: Happy Independence Day Eve! Be safe making things go boom!
Saberin: Haha, keep waiting :P
Aubrey: Gabby's an impressive person.
Raider: Gabby's still safe :) And now I remember you did request capture-the-flag for Themes :/ Sorry I missed your shout out. I'll make it up to you. Judging by content, I think the newly discovered oneshots were all written during my last round of Purpose (the 6th story), so...only a couple were okay to throw up.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.
"Scout?"
Scout turned at her name. "Grandmother!" Again in an unladylike fashion she ran into Pauline's arms.
"Princesses move in a more elegant manner," the much older woman chided lightly. Scout just turned to Halt who, as usual, wasn't far behind. She was taller than her grandfather now but not by much.
"I take it you've missed us," Halt said evenly.
"Very much, Daideo," Scout replied as she tightened her grip. She felt her grandfather kiss her forehead.
"We've missed you too. Things are boring without a certain Ranger's daughter stirring up excitement."
Pauline walked over to Kineta. "Who is this charming little girl?" she asked with one of her winning smiles. Elizabet went pale.
"Don't take it personally. She's very shy," Kineta apologized. "This is Elizabet. Elizabet this is Lady Pauline. She's really nice, I promise."
Elizabet moaned as she shrank back. Scout sighed as she watched. The moans were new. It was major progress, really. To moan Elizabet had to use her voice. However everyone who wasn't familiar with her raised eyebrows. Scout stared sadly at her little cousin.
"Sorry," Kineta said to nobody in particular.
"There are so many strange people around," Gabby spoke up after several moments of silence. "I'd be frightened too."
"Come," Cassandra said as she took charge. "I'll show you to the rooms we've set aside for you. I'd bet a certain someone could use some rest."
"Actually," Halt said quickly, "Kineta, Pauline and I've something to show you. If the girl wouldn't mind going to Sean or maybe Scout we think it best if we get this out of the way."
Kineta and Sean shared a nervous glance. "Come on Elizabet," Sean finally said as he was reached over. "Naptime for you."
Elizabet seemed to forget about her anxiety. She made a face and stuck out her lip as Sean took her and followed Cassandra out. Kineta narrowed her eyes to Halt and Pauline as she followed them. Usually they asked for Sean, not her. After all Sean was by blood Halt's nephew. The two of them, Lina, and Lina's daughters were the only ones left in the O'Carrick bloodline. However she followed them around several corners to a secluded area of the castle. Her old friend Talia stood near a window. Kineta smiled widely and took larger steps. Kineta could count on one hand the number of times she saw Talia wearing something other than her Academy uniform outside of missions. It seemed strange almost taking in the former elite Charmer wearing a simple empire waist gown.
"Talia," Kineta called out. Talia turned to face her with an odd look in her piercing eyes. "Are you here for the wedding?"
"Among other things," Talia replied.
"Sean and I adopted a little girl. She's sweet but she's got an anxiety disorder we're working through."
Talia shook her head sadly. Kineta frowned.
"What is it?"
"You were second-in-command of the most lethal group of people in the world. Now that you're a queen you've lost your touch."
"What?" Kineta never felt more confused. Talia looked down and hugged herself. Kineta suddenly noticed the bulge that was her stomach. She gasped and swallowed hard. Both happiness and jealousy swelled in her. She'd just adopted her beloved Elizabet because of failed pregnancies. Talia had been in that group too…the one that Kineta was sure made her unable to carry children to term only, unlike Lina, Talia had been in since the beginning of it like Kineta. And she was older. Not by much but still older. The midwives said that at this point in her life every year counted. Even if she was in perfect abilities carrying a child would be difficult and dangerous at her age. Yet there Talia was with a bump that wasn't near term but farther along than Kineta ever got.
However, truth be told Talia had been robbed of Kane by Finley. She'd had her son taken from her and now, even in Kineta's mind, Kane belonged to Halt and Pauline. Kanelo, the baby Talia had believed was stillborn, might as well have really been stillborn. The Royal Scout Kane was the son of Ranger Halt and Lady Pauline.
"Lina doesn't know yet," Talia said after several moments. "I haven't seen her to tell her."
Lina, Talia, and Kineta had formed an odd sort of friendship since the Academy's downfall. Lina and Talia had always shared a special connection but Kineta had just been a partner of convenience before rebelling. Her friendship with Liam was what carried her into their close knit circle. The three were orphans in the end with backgrounds that would give even the cruelest person nightmares. Of the three, Kineta should have been last to become a queen.
Lina's royal blood should have made her queen, like Kineta, but she rejected it. Her place as an advanced scout from the Academy would have deemed her an outcast at her age now. If advanced scouts, known for being heartless without emotion, lived so long they either lost love young or never found it to begin with. Talia, however, would have been expected to either take place in court or marry someone of rank with her Charm abilities. Kings had fallen for her before and Liam had been high on the ladder before leaving the Academy. People had actually been wondering why he hadn't found a Charmer to sneak around with. Then there was Kineta…a Captain Archer who moonlighted on search-and-rescue and participated in strategy meetings. She was skilled but hadn't had the opportunities the others had. She was never supposed to become a queen.
"You don't have a ring," Kineta pointed out without judgment. "Did…were you disgraced again?"
Talia shook her head. "I almost wish I could say I was, but I wasn't." She hugged herself tighter. "He was helping me track the people Mary died fighting. They were assassins who killed nobles and leaders for fun. They set a school on fire once…Mary went to take care of them while I tied up loose ends from our previous job. This man and I were forced to pose as lovers and things just took their own route from there. Then he turned out to be with the people I was tracking. I was put in chains and taken prisoner but Kane happened upon us and brought me here, thank grace. I didn't know about…about this baby until we were on our way here. The father doesn't know."
Kineta hugged Talia, shoving aside her own jealousy of the pregnancy. "I'm so sorry."
"He did everything I was taught to do. He Charmed me."
"It's alright. What are you planning to do?"
"Mary's dead. Kane's group took care of those I was after. I'm getting too old for all this. I'm planning to find some life I can raise this child in."
"Are you being looked after?"
Talia nodded. "Halt and Pauline have been kinder to me than I deserve."
Kineta glanced over her shoulder but the older couple was already gone. "Talia…would you consider going back to Hibernia? Could you travel in this condition after the wedding?"
Talia narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"You've done so much for other people and when you tried to do something for yourself it went wrong. You could teach my daughter Elizabet how to dance and bat her eyes when she's older for negotiations…I don't much like those tactics but only a fool would say they don't work. You can teach her languages and tutor Scout and…be a lady or Courier…anything you want. Let me help you."
Talia possessively wrapped her arms around her stomach. "I lost one child, Kineta. I know you've lost many more than that but you never actually carried any of them to term nor did you ever actually have one. I'm so sorry that's how it is but…Pauline couldn't have children and she got Kane. I overheard you've adopted Elizabet. This baby's mine."
Kineta nodded. "Yes, of course. I was just offering you a job is all. You said Lina doesn't know yet?"
Talia shook her head. "Didn't seem like the kind of thing to tell over a letter. She'll be here soon for the wedding so I'll just tell her then."
"More like show her," Kineta tried to joke. Talia just gave her a pained smile and averted her eyes back down to her stomach. Usually, the only physical contact Academy Warriors made with each other was in combat or healing but Kineta hugged her anyway. They probably wouldn't have any connection with each other after the Academy if it weren't for Liam and Lina. Their mutual friends' marriage had brought them together and, while Talia wasn't the first Kineta thought of when she and Sean had the conversation as to who would be Elizabet's godparents, they were still close.
"I don't know what to do," Talia admitted. "I can't stay here forever. I'm already wearing out Halt and Pauline's hospitality. They don't want to be bothered with a baby right now. I'm going to see if Liam and Lina would be alright with my staying with them until I can figure something out."
Kineta crossed her arms. "The offer to come to Hibernia stands."
Talia shook her head. "And do what? There's nothing there for me."
"There's always something at the castle you could do."
Talia narrowed her eyes. "I know we're closer now but I couldn't ask that of you. We were never really friends more than we were friends with the right people."
"Either way I think Sean and I could offer you a comfortable life. Come on, Talia. At least think about it."
"Alright," Talia promised.