"Wain?" her fine brows furrowed.
Just how long had he been staring in mute surprise? "I am…I was not expecting such words from you, wife."
"What say thee?" she pressed forward and he could not seem to tear his eyes from her lips.
"Ranni I-" Owain sighed, he was out of sorts, he must collect himself! "You know there is little I want more." he winced at her sneer of annoyance.
A swirling chill began to seep into the air of their chambers, "The timin' shall never be right, husband. Always will we find cause to wait." she pushed up off his chest, gathering her knees beneath her.
"Still, you would undertake such a thing now of all times?" His placating hand was swatted aside.
"Our family is nigh returned! Aunt Rellana will soon be freed from the shadow lands and all of Caria shall once more stand together." she glared down at him as he groaned.
Owain shifted, sitting up higher against their headboard, "There is still so much to do, darling. I-"
Painted nails of mellow green jabbed him in the chest, "Thou wilt not beareth the babe, thou shalt be free to toil as thou wishest." she threw her arms wide.
He was becoming irked that she was being so obtuse, she knew why he was hesitant! "That is not what I mean, wife."
Ranni must have noticed his growing annoyance, the air warmed as she changed tracks, voice now sweet and soft, "I shall stay home!~" he leveled unimpressed eyes at her, "I shall stay home, for the most part! So demure an' domestic shall I be, such an obedient wife." Why must he be so weak to just a few flutterings of her long lashes?
"Ranni." this time his hand found its mark, she leaned her pouting face into his touch, her own hands atop his, "A title we have long claimed yet ever forestalled. You would birth an heir before even our wedding?"
She nodded, eyes closed as she nuzzled his palm. "I wish to be with child at our ceremony, a show of future spring for Caria."
Owain sighed, he was being played quite expertly, "Ranni."
"Aye, Owain?" she cooed happily, releasing his hand to clamber atop his waist. Her barrage of saccharine kisses swept away yet more of his defenses.
He frowned, "Is such a thing…our bodies are not exactly our own. Can you yet even become pregnant?" she smoothed the furrows of his brow with satin lips.
"Mother's rune and magic alter the flesh entire, I have spoken to Tricia, it should be no issue." she murmured, breath a tempting ghost across his ear.
Owain rallied himself, he could not fold so easily to her whims, not this time, "This will see you from my side, Ranni. I'll not have my pregnant wife on the battlefield aside me." The change was as swift as he had expected.
She reared back from him, wide eyes wrathful, rageful, a sapphire storm of indignance, "Thou wouldst not dare keepest me from thee!" she snarled. He remained passive as frost buffeted forth from their bed, as it lined the panes of their windows with crystalline patterns, as his wife took his face in trembling hands. She was not as hale as she pretended.
"You are proving my point that this is perhaps not the best time." He made to pull her to him, but she tore herself from his grip, teeth bared.
"Speak not of timin'!" The winds began to howl outside. Fie, how best to calm her? What was it like for other men that had not pledged themselves to such a hurricane made fooling flesh.
She sat astride his hips, the most imposing of queens. Her quivering lips curled as soon as he attempted to reach out to her once more, freezing his hands in indecision, "I did no-"
The light slap of smooth palms to his chest as she leaned but inches from his face did not match the thunderous gale beyond their walls, "Speak not of it! I waited for centuries, Owain. Centuries! Ever did thy service linger, despite the old dog's promises of retirement. Ever didst my Sunbeam remain behind golden walls, under the thumb of a golden queen, only to leave me to wither without his light! I have waited long enough, Owain, son of Lila!" Great tree preserve him, it was never a good sign for him when she invoked his mother's name. Lapis arcs of lightning shot forth from her skin to singe their sheets as she heaved heavy breaths.
This was the core of it, was it not? The argument that they had had time after time after time, the one thing that had almost caused her to forsake him in their first lives, "Starlight…" his voice was hoarser than he'd expected. Frustrated tears slipped from his wife's face and she turned away from him, "Ranni, I am sorry, I know I-" she would not look at him and he felt as the lowliest of dregs. It was not fury that made her so, but fear. Owain took a steadying breath, "Can not a compromise be made?"
Her face, tear stained but hopeful, turned to his, "A compromise?" she asked, voice thick, the velvet of her palm smooth against his cheek. The tempest in her gaze and beyond the walls lessened but a little in intensity.
He opened his arms and to his great relief she at last deigned allow him hold her, nestling herself atop his chest. He spoke to their rafters, hands roving in calming circles against his beloved, "The thought of you with swollen belly in any realm of danger is one I can not stand. If you give me your word you will stay home, and stay safe, exactly when I bid you to…" He felt the change in the air immediately as it warmed and the winds died to silence.
Lithe arms burrowed around his chest as her smiling mouth found his throat, he felt the sharps of her teeth as she whispered, "I swear it! I swear it, Wain. I do so solemnly swear, whence thy command bids me home, I shall heed it."
He loosed a breathy laugh, "Then we have an accord, Ranni." she hummed happily as she pressed short kisses to his neck. He wondered what had prompted this discussion, but was hesitant to speak lest their peace be disturbed. She had been right, about his lingering service. He'd made a princess of Caria wait upon him for centuries with an ever postponed promise of marriage. It was one of the greatest shames of his first life, but as he'd vowed to himself at their reunion, in this second chance would he ever place love before duty. He hoped Oswald was as ready for his title as he'd put forth.
"Wain?" she murmured.
"Aye?" The way she was shifting her smooth legs against his was most distracting.
When had her hand found his thigh? "Might we begin now?"
"Begin?"
"Begetting." she purred.
Owain sputtered, "Now?"
She took his ear betwixt careful teeth, "I wouldst have thy seed within me, now."
"A-aye, wife." she did not need to tell him twice.
She had stabilized her brother's soul as well as she could, all that remained was for mother to wake and look over their plans. Ranni could not help the grin that took her, oh what joy she felt! Once more were they in Caria, Wain having finished evacuating all those citizens within reach of Mt Gelmir. She blew her husband a kiss over the mountains of documents in his study that he'd returned to. He only smiled tiredly, which was not unexpected, Ranni had been riding her noble steed quite roughly for the last few nights.
A baby! They were to have a baby! Ranni was ecstatic to at last be enacting their long held dream, though she was still a tad ashamed of her outburst. She hoped her generous nightly remunerations made up for her lack of patience. She had yet to tell Radahn or Blaidd, both of whom were rushing about the manor in a panic due to that fleet of Reed ships. Owain did not seem overly concerned, however, so neither was she.
Though he was distraught that that knight Bernhal, and a small group of tarnished, had absconded with the fragment of death she'd prepared for Rykard. Ranni cursed herself, that she had not seen fit to find and destroy it when they had held the chance. Though, even the thought of reckless tarnished holding such power could not dampen her spirits over much.
She peered over books as Tanya entered the study to hand Owain more reports. The knight was as silent as ever, but her steps were noticeably lighter, had she finally made clear her feelings to Radahn? Ranni knew aunt Rellana had placed a wager with Tayna's mother, Moonrythil, many years ago on when at last her daughter would be honest. Perhaps Ranni should go and needle her elder brother?
After informing her consort of her intentions, and kissing him with delighted fervor, she floated through the mansion intent on teasing the little lion. Both her elder and younger brothers were found in the war room within the newly erected knight barracks. It seemed Ranni was entering in the midst of an argument, though they had yet to see her, as their backs were turned towards the war table. "-and I'm sayin' we should go ourselves! There's no need to badger Wain about this!" Badger Wain about what? Ranni remained by the entrance, raising a finger to her lips at the nearest of Owain's sentinels.
"Princess Nepheli made clear her distrust of the emissary. That is more than enough to inspire caution in me."
"Ye think they'd ever Wain by surprise? The ol' man's more cautious than a mother hen!"
"That they requested him by name is reason to be wary, Blaidd! Forgeteth thou the incident with their prince?"
Blaidd scoffed, "He didn't kill the boy!"
Radahn sighed, laying heavy fists upon the war table as he leaned forward over their mapsd, "Nay, he shamed him greatly, which in the culture of Reeds is far worse. They can not seekest recompense from Queen Marika, so they wouldst visit vengeance upon Wain." A prince? Ah, they spoke of that little idiot. When Owain had recounted the tale to her she'd laughed uproariously.
"There's no way they launch a whole bloody fleet just for vengeance." Blaidd tipped over a small sentinel figuring in his annoyance.
Radahn righted it with careful fingers, "Not entirely, I wouldst suspect. News of these lands current state must have reached them after all this time. They wouldst take advantage of our weakness. Slaying Wain wouldst be but a-" Ranni burst forth from her place beside the door with furious winds.
"Slaying Wain?" she gripped Radahn's forearm with urgent hands.
Her brothers both startled, "Ranni? How long hast-"
Ranni cut a hand through the air, "Those cretins wouldst dare threaten mine consort?" She saw the sentinel by the door scamper away at the feeling of a little winds.
Blaidd leant forward across the table to ruffle her hair with a hand, "They've not threatened 'im yet. Radahn jus' thinks they will."
She slapped away his hand, annoyed they'd spoken so carelessly, "Explain."
Ranni listened to her brothers with an ever deepening scowl. The fleet had finally sent forth an emissary to parley. Nepheli had hosted them in Stormveil for the last few days, but now they insisted they speak only to Owain himself. Apparently they wished to offer him gifts for his courteous treatment of their prince some four centuries ago. An obvious trap that any who knew what had transpired would see through. How could they be so brazen? Had they some hidden card?
Ranni sat upon the edge of the war table moodily, "Why should I not go now to smite the fleet entire?"
Radahn's eyes, the same shade of stormy blue as her own, met her's with annoyance, "If they were to realize our might is not so waned as they hoped, they might yet becomest allies, we couldst barter for supplies, food, metals, manpower. Do not be so hasty, little sister."
She rolled her eyes, "Aye, but how likely would that be? Why else wouldst they bade Nepheli fetch him if not to extract some sort of recompense?
She wished Blaidd would stop playing with the pieces! "I dunno. That's why I was sayin' we should just meet with 'em instead of bothering Wain."
"And keepest me in the dark?" Ranni leveled glares at both men.
Radahn frowned, "Someone must tend to mother."
And she supposed they thought that someone should be her? How typical, "There art thousands of sentinels within Caria, as well as Moongrum's new knight order! Linde and he ne'er leave her side. She is well tended."
They turned to the main door at the sound of a throat clearing, Owain stood, arms crossed and expression unimpressed. The sentinel that had left was once more standing at attention, that little tattle tale!
"I have not the time for their schemes. We shall set a trap of our own."
"Thou sayest we, but I know thou meanest me." Radahn grumbled.
Owain strode forward to clap the general on the shoulder, "Aye, little brother, you catch on so quick. You need not go alone, take Tanya." Owain smiled, meeting Ranni's eyes. He thought this was funny.
Blaidd kicked at the frayed edges of the rug they stood on, "I suppose you want me to take over your paperwork again?"
Owain whirled to point a finger in the half-wolven's direction, "Don't you dare touch it, scatterbrain, I only just got it organized. Wolfram will handle it"
"Mother has yet to wake, Wain. Dost thou mean to set forth to Leyndel whilst she yet slumbers?" Ranni asked, meeting worried eyes with Radahn.
Owain absentmindedly tidied some of the maps atop the table, "I've yet preparations to complete, hopefully she wakes before we are prepared. If the prince-argh." Radahn caught her consort under the arms before he fell to a knee. Ugh, another memory! Ranni cursed, flying to his side.
Owain desperately fought off the yawn that threatened to overtake him. Today's proceedings were especially dull and he'd been up half the night at Lord Mohg's side. The benefit of a full helm was that it hid his boredom, though for some reason his queen always seemed to know when he was distracted. Hopefully the appointment after this spice trader would be more interesting, if he remembered the seneschal, Kuno's, list, it was the emissary from the Land of Reeds. Owain enjoyed the man's company, he was a sharp old wolf.
They had a few minutes until the diplomat would arrive, and while the watching court murmured softly, his lady beckoned him to her side with a hand. "My queen?" He questioned with a low bow.
"If thou'rt so very disinterested, thou shouldst send for Reginald." Her tone was teasing, her eyes ever knowing. How did-alas, he should have known better.
"Forgive me, my queen. Allow me to stay by your side." he bowed his head once more.
His queen breathed out a small laugh, "Of course, Wain." Before Owain could respond, she waved him around, the expected emissary was cresting the main staircase to the royal pavilion.
Owain narrowed his eyes. This was a rather ostentatious entourage for a mere diplomat, a palanquin? The emissary had never used one before. Such a thing should have been cleared with him, there was too much potential for hidden weapons within its interior. Something was amiss. His suspicion only grew at the stranger who stepped forth from the carrier, this was not the emissary he knew.
As the crier stepped forward to announce the arrival, Owain scowled, "Prince Itoku of the Land of Reeds!" A prince? He'd not been informed of this!
Owain signaled to the sentinels that surrounded the pavilion to stand alert. The court muttered at his men's readied stances. His eyes flickered to his lady and she seemed as surprised as he was. Ofnir should be thankful this blunder did not fall upon his shoulders as Owain knew he was on leave to his territories. Whatever fool had misled Kuno would be meeting the back of his hand. Fie! What a farce!
Queen Marika waved the prince forward with a disinterested hand, "Thou art welcomed, Prince Itoku, though I must express remorse at not showing thee proper ceremony." her warning was clear, she was displeased he had entered through such subterfuge.
The prince, garbed in fine silks, was quite handsome. His movements as he approached the throne were fluid, and Owain suspected he had some skill in martial arts as his build was sturdy. The bow the prince offered was the picture of courtliness, but the brazen eye contact he made with the eternal one almost had Owain throwing the boy down the stairs. His lady stilled him before he could move with a small movement of her fingers. If he remembered correctly, the Reed emperor's youngest son was around thirty five, which would match the look of the man before him.
"The golden capital is most resplendent, its lustrous shine alone, welcome enough. Pray, forgive my subterfuge, great and radiant queen. I only could not wait to see you for myself." He spoke their tongue with nary an accent, voice velvet and refined. Owain's hand twitched against his spear haft.
The queen remained unimpressed, "I suspect thou'rt not here to discuss the export of iron. I am possest of limited time and even more limited patience. Speak plain, what is it thou desireth?"
The prince did not appear to be affected by the sharpness of the queen's words. Smiling brightly at her, he laid a hand to his chest. "Your forthright nature is a balm to a heart long wearied of the pedantry of politics, blessed eternal one. I shall reply with that same spirit. I have come here, journeyed across dangerous seas with gifts and riches aplenty all for one purpose. I seek you, Queen Marika. I would unite our two kingdoms and take you as my queen!"
For a long moment, Owain thought he was hallucinating. A marriage proposal? Without going through the rightful channels, without so much as a day's warning? Worst of all, this flamboyant youth thought himself worthy of Queen Marika? Thought himself a rightful heir to the elden throne after Lord Godfrey? Owain was so furious he could hardly see straight. It took centuries of discipline, and every fiber in him to not skewer the boy through for the insult. Here stood a child who had never before been told no and it would be his ruin.
The court exploded into a cacophony of yells at the prince's insane boldness, with scores of nobles calling out all at once. The queen however, remained silent, regal face blank. Owain only noticed that he'd cracked the stone beneath his spear when she signaled him to stand down with subtle taps upon the arm of her throne. "Prince Itoku." She said, voice deceptively soft. The court instantly cut to deathly silence, "Doth thou understandeth the grave insult such a reckless proposal represents? The utter lack of respect to mine throne, to me. To pursue such a union without the full considerations, to takest me by surprise, thou wouldst humiliate me?" The smallest flicker of her magic began to flare from her and Owain spied the watching nobles begin to shift nervously.
The prince, oblivious little idiot, only smiled anew. Did he truly think he could charm a goddess? "I must ask your forgiveness once more then, beautiful and noble queen. I meant no offense, only to bring you ever more glory, more power! My father has approved our match, do not worry." He laughed brightly, "I would have sent forth earlier messengers, I was just so excited to see she who could be my lovely future bride." He bowed lowly once more, awaiting a response.
The boy's flippant response at last sparked true anger from the golden queen, who had already shown great restraint at this nonsense. She let slip enough mana to make Owain sweat and he watched a few of the gathered nobles tumble listlessly into unconsciousness. The prince perhaps finally realized his position as his attendants gathered around him protectively. "I've given thee curtesy enough." she scoffed, "To beg my forgiveness twice at our first meeting, such boldness is nigh unheard of, child." The queen leaned forward in her throne,"Open thine eyes, foolish boy! Mine court fears for thy life, why dost thou not? Canst thou not see?" She gestured towards Owain, "Shall I have mine commander throweth thee from mine ramparts?"
Prince Itoku finally knelt as he should have, head to the stone floor, "F-f-f-forgive me! Please!" he mewled, "I meant no such offense! I have erred! I am sorry! Please, merciful queen, allow me safe passage home, take my gifts as tribute!" His attendants fell to deep kneels as well.
"Highlord!" she called. Owain knelt at the side of the throne hurriedly as she whispered in his ear, "Throw the boy out the palace gates, bid thy men collect his tribute. I've a headache coming on and I've not the mind to entertain this child a moment more."
He nodded as he stood, beckoning Aldo to tend to the queen and Wolfram to send runners for the tribute. He bowed to the throne once more before doing as he was bid, "As you command, Your Majesty." he walked to the shivering boy, the attendants making no effort to bar his path. Good, it seemed they were wiser than their master. Owain pulled the foolish little princeling up by his silken robes, hoisting him so that they might be face to face. He lifted his visor, not hiding his scowl of disdain, "I am to toss you out the gates, boy, it seems you will be allowed to live, even after such blasphemous disrespect." He did not bother using the boys title, he did not deserve the courtesy.
The prince could not form coherent words for a long string of babbling before his hands wrapped around Owain's wrist. "Pl-pl-please do not kill me, burnished lord. My father will reward you should you spare me! Please! Please!" he begged desperately. Had this fool not heard a word he'd said? Ugh, arrogant- Owain wrinkled his nose, no, no surely this boy had not urinated in front of the eternal one. Owain fury reached such a height that it actually looped back around to incredulous bafflement.
He strode forward, flinging the prince carelessly in his ornate palanquin, which he hefted over his shoulder. "Follow." he called to the panicking attendants. The men tried to question him, beg for their lives, beg his forgiveness, Owain was deaf to their cries as well as the frantic prince. It was a tedious few minutes until he at last reached the palace gates. He tossed the palanquin from his shoulder to land with just enough impact upon an empty spot of ground besides the grand entrance that it broke. The long lines of startled onlookers watched in muttering surprise, it was a rare sight to see a guest treated so.
He fished the boy out uncaringly, holding him to eye level by a struggling arm. "That you survived this day is a miracle. You should pray to my queen with supreme gratefulness." He lightly threw the boy a scant few feet, not enough to hurt him, just to enough to hurt his pride. "Begone from these lands, I shall expect a letter of apology from you and your father within the coming months."
Owain sighed to himself as he turned from the wailing prince, how disgraceful! When he had wished for a more interesting session, this was not what he had meant.
His eyes refocused onto the maps of the war table. He straightened, nodding to Radahn and kissing Ranni's worried hands that had come to his cheeks. This memory had only reinforced the pressure that had already been building in his chest. He had not the time for this distraction, they would need to handle this swiftly. Leyndell awaited them. "If the foolish little prince desires my attendance, he shall have it." he met Radahn's eye, "Have you ever worn a mimic veil, Radahn?"