The Royal Court of Cinder,
To the newly crowned King of Cinder Wesley and Prince Solomon, we are so glad to hear that the ceremony went well! We want to wish you all of the best fortunes we can, and we are forever excited to see Cinder flourish in the years to come.
We want to inform you that all the preparations for your early arrival have been completed. Against his highness Solomon's request, however, Maka is still unaware of your upcoming arrival. We don't wish for you to see this as us deceiving you in any way; there was just never the right time to tell her.
Upon your arrival, our head guard Ox Ford along with his Mentor, Stein, will meet you at our gates and escort you to the royal wing of the castle. We wish to meet with the two of you before it comes to Maka's attention. Must you have safe travels, until we meet again.
The Royal Court of Eibon.
"Excuse me?" Maka found herself hissing out, her hands curling dangerously tight in her lap. She lowered her eyes and inspected the newly made crescent shapes imprinting her gloves, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. "Can you repeat that?"
With her heart rattling in her chest, she couldn't help but close her eyes. What the hell was Crona on about? This- this couldn't have been real. They had to have been pulling her leg, right?
At her side, Crona stilled, their laughter dying on their tongue. "Maka," They spoke all too seriously, "Did you seriously not know that the royal courts of Cinder and Eibon were arranging a traditional alliance?"
Looking back up across the table, Blackstar stared at her with wide eyes, his lips parted in a small gasp. She could feel her heart practically still in her chest at the admission, the back of her neck heating.
They were arranging a marriage this entire time without telling her?
"It was Soul's idea," Crona goes on to say, "He said that Wesley had made the off-handed comment a while ago- that if he had to, he'd marry him off to another kingdom to get him off the throne. He'd sent a private page to the court of Eibon. They accepted his proposal and drafted all the papers that were needed."
Across the table, Blackstar had scoffed- his lips parting in a smile. "You're kidding me," He had said light-heartedly. "He's planning on proposing under the guise of a traditional alliance? Damn!" His eyes flickered over to Maka with excitement. "Dude, you really got this man wrapped around your finger in merely a month and now he's looking to propose!"
Around her, the table had erupted into a fit of laughter. Even as Crona banged an open hand against the table and Blackstar threw his head against the booth, Maka couldn't even find herself able to smile.
"That was a really big decision everyone had to make."
Crona's words echo in her head softly, almost taunting her in a way.
Admittedly, it was all too much. In just mere momented, Maka had gone from thinking that Soul didn't want anything to do with her anymore to getting the rock dropped on her that he was actually planning on proposing.
With her stomach lurching, Maka found herself leaning against the table in front of her. This was supposed to be good news, right?
"Oh," she'd muttered quietly under her breath, "Oh my god."
She was going to let go. She was going to forget about it all and move on like everyone was secretly expecting her to. This was supposed to be it. This was supposed to be the last time she thought about him.
With idle chatter around her, she'd reached out beside her, grabbing the bag she'd brought along. She wrapped her fingers against the fabric, taking a shaky breath. She couldn't escape him- but maybe that was for the best. She never wanted to in the first place.
Someone out there was finally on her side for once.
After having taken a moment to compose herself, Maka returned to the conversation with the table around her. Their discussion shifted away from her life, thankfully, as they got to know one another more and table about whatever came up first.
Even after they finished their dinner, the group made their way out the door together.
"You two should visit again soon," Tsubaki suggested as they made their way out of Loew, "Or at least invite us to the wedding, if you know what I mean!"
Maka couldn't help but roll her eyes, adjusting the bag she carried against her shoulders. "Well, Tsubaki, if there even is one, I promise we won't forget about you."
At that, Taubaki jumped up excitedly, leaning into Blackstar who walked by her side. Their shoulders clashed messily, causing both to stumble down the rest of the path. Their laughs echoed around them in the darkness, filling what would have been silence.
"He's all excited about this," Crona murmured at her side, "You guys must have left a memorable impression on him or something."
With a quiet smile pressing against her lips, Maka nodded. "Or something…"
Even as Blackstar and Maka mounted their horses, Crona and Tsubaki lingered at the edge of their village, waving with bright smiles. As they began to take off back into the forest, Maka could see Tsubaki jumping on the balls of her feet, waving excitedly as they disappeared from their view.
"Soul didn't tell me you guys met anyone when you left that one time," Blackstar pointed out. "Tsubaki seemed nice, at least."
"She is," Maka agreed without hesitation. "You two seemed to get along well." With a pause, Maka had tightened her hold on Ember's reigns, remembering a silly and meaningless comment from months ago. "Soul said when we first met Tsubaki he thought you two would get along."
There was a long silence after that comment, and yet, neither of them pushed to fill it.
The following morning, just as the sun kissed the tips of the mountains against the horizon line, there was a quiet knock at Maka's door. Having already been awake for some time now, shaking to the bone from what was another night terror, Maka blinked blearily at the bedroom door.
"Come in," She called out, her voice hoarse from what she presumed was screaming. She'd remembered once or twice Blackstar had made the comment that he'd heard her screaming in her sleep.
The door was opened with care as Hero stepped in, a letter held carefully between his fingers. "Your highness," he greeted with a small bow. "I have a letter for you. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday, but I presumed you were still unwell since you hadn't answered." With careful steps, as if he were a timis animal approaching a human for the first time, Hero extended the white page to Maka. "It's from Cinder, I believe."
Glaring at the letter, Maka took it carefully into her own hands. "Thank you," she'd muttered under her breath, glancing up to eye her advisor. "Was there anything else?"
Tucc king his hands behind the small of his back, Hero shook his head- a telltale sign there was indeed something he was hiding. "No," He answered hesitantly, "That is all."
Forging grilling her advisor for answers- or even an explanation- Maka settled back against her mattress. "Okay. You can be dismissed then."
As she watched her advisor leave, Maka peeled open the envelope, her eyes automatically flickering to the signature at the bottom. It was handwriting she hadn't seen before- a script she didn't recognize in the slightest- but God had she remembered the name which was written into the bottom of the page with care.
Soul.
Soul had sent her a letter.
In the three days that follow after receiving Soul's letter, Maka was unsure of what to do with herself. Of course, she was more than excited to see him again, but the pit of her stomach lingered with uncertainty. How had he recovered? Was he still going to be the same man she remembered? Would they click again as they did before?
If this proposal thing was truly happening, was it really anything more than just a traditional alliance? She hadn't even spoken to her parents since she found out; she knew that questioning them wouldn't get her anywhere, and honestly, she was more than terrified to get real answers.
Being a Princess who was preparing to take the throne, Maka knew what would come of a traditional alliance. After all that had happened on the night of her birthday, a traditional alliance would be one of the only things that could mend Cinder and Eibon's relationship; that she knew for sure. An alliance such as that would be beneficial for both kingdoms as well, despite how far apart they reigned.
Was that the only reason Soul had made the proposal? To make up for all that had happened? Or did he truly wish to keep Maka in his life? Was this the only way he thought he could do that?
There were too many possibilities; many of which made Maka sick to her stomach with dread.
The night after having received the letter, Maka had spilled her guts to Blackstar. She told him of all her worries and doubts, and yet, the guard had just shaken his head at her and clapped a messy hand onto her shaking shoulder.
"Things will only work out for the best," He had said. "You worry too much about the 'what ifs.' Live in the moment and think of the silver linings. No matter what happens, you're going to see him again; and when you do, you two can finally figure things out and at least get some sort of closure from all of this."
Despite how silly Blackstar could act at times, he truly was more mature than he led on. Even as hard as it was to just try and "live in the moment", Maka tried to take her guard's advice for once.
That same night, Maka attended dinner with the rest of her family. Even though tensions were high and she couldn't help but notice the awkward glances Liz and Patty kept sending her way, she ate there with her mother and father. They didn't try to push conversation, thankfully, but they were civil. They had shot her loving smiles the second she sat down, and when she went to leave, they wished her a goodnight and told her they had loved her.
On the second day following receiving Soul's letter, Maka and Blackstar ate breakfast with Kim and Kilik in the garden. Even though the wind was bitter, the sun was warm enough to make up for it. The flowers were already beginning to blossom, the trees blooming in colors.
Before they had left and parted their separate ways, Kim had pulled Maka back into the garden with cold hands and a warm smile.
"I know things have been hard," She'd started, "but I want you to know I am proud of how far you've come. Recovering from anything is hard, and I want you to know your efforts haven't gone unnoticed. I love and appreciate you, Maka. Keep your chin up for me, okay?"
As she lingered in the garden for a moment too long, wiping the newly forming tears from her eyes, she could feel Blackstar's presence at her slide, patient as always.
"Instead of staying cooped up in the castle, why don't we go for a walk around the grounds?"
That same day, she ate with her parents, starting a quiet conversation.
"I heard the last meeting to finish everything up for the ball is tomorrow morning," SHe's commented, placing her glass of water carefully onto the table. She'd spoken to Hero that same day after her walk with Blackstar about finalizations, even if she hated every minute of it. "I was wondering if I could join?"
Both of her parents had smiled at that. "Of course. Your presence would actually be greatly appreciated. We can send someone to fetch you tomorrow morning, when we're ready, okay?"
That night, even though nightmares plagued her dreams, she woke up in a happy mood. She pushed the ugly memories from her mind, telling herself that while it could have all been worse, it wasn't.
On the third day after receiving Soul's letter, Blackstar had climbed up to her tower with a bright smile."Dude," he'd greeted as he swung the door open, "Kilik said Kim's making waffles with powdered sugar today."
"You're kidding, she hasn't made those since the winter," maka had almosted gushed out- the thought of warm waffles coming to mind. "Please tell me we have some time to steal some?"
Blackstar shrugged at that. "I can run down and grab us plates. I haven't seen hero yet, but I'm assuming that he'll be the one sent when they're ready for you to attend their little meeting thing."
"Little meeting thing," Maka parroted, rolling her eyes. "You're so professional, Star."
Batting his eyes, leaning on the doorframe, Blackstar had simply nodded. "Yes, I know, I know. No wonder I am the personal guard for an equally professional Princess."
The two of them had laughed at that, even as Maka practically pushed Blackstar out of her room after the comment. "Get going, you have me craving those waffles now and I have to get ready- or at least look decent for the meeting."
After she shut her bedroom door, Maka opened the doors of her balcony, allowing the morning light and bitter soon-to-be spring air to enter her room.
Her wardrobe looked the same as it did months ago; filled to the brim with an assortment of green and royal green clothes, reds scattered here and there. Going with something more casual, she'd pulled out a simple white gown along with a royal green tunic.
Once she's run her hands through her hair a couple of times and slip on a pair of dress shoes, Maka finds herself stepping out onto her balcony; a place she hasn't been to in quite some time. As the late winter air nips at her neck, she wraps her arms around herself, huffing out a small breath.
Her eyes land on the gate that stands a mile away, and even thought she'd been just beyond them days ago, she longs. She's not sure what she really longs for as she leans against the half-opened door of her balcony, but regardless, there's an empty piece in her chest that screams out to her in agony. With a saddened smile, one of which doesn't cry out for help, but doesnt really ring of happiness, she dips her chin down and watched the people of her kingdom walk the busy streets.
She stays like that, eyes half-lidded as she sivers until she hears a timid knock at her door from inside. Lifting her eyes back up to the horizon line, she smiles. Turning her head a bit but not enough to glance into her room, she beacons Blackstar. "Come in!"
When the door clicks open, Maka returns her attention back to her kingdom. "I hope you don't mind eating outside, Star. I think Hero would kill me if we made a mess in my room again."
A memory came to mind; something so small yet one that still brought her joy. It had been mid-December, sorrow still aching in her bones when Blackstar had tumbled into her room with a tray of warm breakfast foods. Needless to say, Blackstar was never made to be a waiter, because before either of them knew it, the tray was tumbling against the sheets with syrup and they were laughing so hard it brought tears to their eyes.
Behind her, there's a soft chuckle- one of which does not belong to Blackstar.
"Princess?"
Maka's blood ran cold.
"What are you waiting on, your knight in shining armor?"
There's another chuckle- one that's soft and light, a little rough around the edges- but so familiar all the same. Maka can't help but tighten her arms around herself, her teeth going to bite down on her tongue. Slowly, she turned her head, her feet following suit thoughtfully.
There, standing in the middle of her room is a man who looks familiar in every way- but so different at the same time.
When their eyes meet, he smiles, wide and without care- and Maka's stomach drops.
He stands like a royal, his shoulders squared off and his hands hidden behind the small of his back. He wears the colors red and white, strings of silver chain leading from his shoulder to the collar of his tunic. Flecks of gold are embedded into the white he wears under the tunic, even lining the sides of the cape that flows elegantly from his shoulders to the middle of his thighs.
When Maka lifts her eyes, she can't help but hold a breath.
While the tunic he wore covered his neck, nothing was there to cover his face. There, across his left cheek and almost the entirety of his eye to his brow bone lays a freshly made scar. It's a little pinker than the one that lines the right side of his face and the bridge of his nose, but still, it's visible.
In the months since she's last seen him, he's cut his hair even more. Now, just at the length to be slightly aloof and brush against the bottoms of his ears, it looks whiter than before as a soft golden crown presses against his forehead. It's nothing fancy, just a mere golden ring that curves into what looks to be golden leaves and flowers at the edges- but even then, it's angelic on his head.
Even though there are slight differences- she can still see the Soul she remembers. The same freckles litter his cheeks- the same deep brown eyes flicker down to her with such care- and the same blinding smile is flashed down upon her.
WIth a tightening throat and the threat of tears, Maka sways where she stands, lowering her arms slowly.
"Soul?" She calls out as if the image before her were a mirage. But as she takes a carefully calculated step forward, he doesn't disappear into nothingness before her- he stands steadily, his smile only growing wider as she draws closer.
"I think it's time we start over, don't you?" He says, carefully pulling his arm from under his cape. Maka watches in distanced fascination as he plucks a white glove from his hand before extending it toward her.
"My name is Solomon- Prince Solomon of Cinder, but you can call me Soul if you'd like."
His voice is raspy, only just the slightest, as if he were parched. With wide eyes, Maka can't help but take his hand timidly into her own.
"I may not be a knight in shining armor, but I do hope I was the one you were waiting on."
