Arianna had the servants working as quickly as possible to make the throne room and surrounding areas as clean and spotless as possible. Sirus was home and would be coming to see her at any moment and she was just as excited to see him as the day he was born. She only wished Eve was here as well. Her family would be complete once again.
Suddenly, Sirus was announced to all and Arianna held her breath as the doors were opened. Sirus strode into the room, his hand clasped with that of a young woman who looked familiar to her, but that she couldn’t place at the moment as she only had eyes for her son.
Happiness shone in her eyes, but there was a bit of sadness to it as well as she could see the changes the war had brought to her oldest child. He was standing straight and proud, confidence oozing from every pore of his body. And yet, the eyes looking back at her had seen much pain and suffering in such a short time. Her little boy had finally become a man. And she was proud of him.
He strode forward, stopping at the steps leading to the throne, releasing the hand of the woman with him before he went to a knee in respect, something he would have refused to do a year ago.
“My Queen.”
A lump formed in her throat as she resisted strongly the urge to cry. As the full court watched, Arianna gained her feet, waving away her ladies-in-waiting as they surged forward to assist her. This was something she was going to do on her own, no matter how frail her health was. Arianna was a woman of great strength and she showed everyone watching why she was their Queen.
On steady legs, she made her way down the steps until she was standing before Sirus. To the surprise of all, she knelt as well and wrapped Sirus in her arms, pressing her face into his shoulder, silent tears coursing down her cheeks.
“Welcome home, my son.” she whispered into his ear as she hugged him.
Tempest watched mother and son reunite and felt a sharp pang in her chest as she thought of her father. She wouldn’t admit it, even to herself, but she missed him and hoped he was okay.
The Prince kept his head bowed, as he remained kneeled in respect of his mother, the Queen. He said but two words, showing allegiance, respect and maturity. At last the boy Prince had become a man. His return home marked the dawning of a new era, though he was blind to that fact as of yet. Little did he realize his mother was of poor health, and that she had hung on with ever fibre of her being that he would return and take his rightful place.
At last he raised his head, only to see his Mother rise from the throne, and start her walk down to her son. He noticed how she waved away her ladies in waiting, and he waited with baited breath for her to say something…do something. When she knelt down to him and then enveloped him sobbing silently, he placed his arms around her, whispering to her ear.
“I am home.” Words of reassurance that he would not be leaving again. This was where he was meant to be, and he now knew his follies as a young man, seen the deaths and sacrifices of many in the name of Justice. This left him changed forever more. He had proved himself in battle, and then led his travelers to save the Princess, that he had come to fall in love with. The very same girl who showed the same rebellious spirit he did. So alike, and yet both affected by this war, and the evil actions of others. Fate had played its hand, and found favor with them both. Only through sacrifice and courage, did they emerge victorious. The Prince helped his mother to stand, and then turned to gesture towards his companions, in particular, Tempest.
“I could not have returned to you in one piece, had it not been for those you see before you. Dathon, Klaus, the White Witches of Vaas….and…my love. Tempest of Brax.” He smiled broadly at Tempest, proud to tell the world, that he loved her.
<3>
“I am home.” Three small words that soothed her tired soul like nothing ever could. Arianna drew back and looked her son over, so much like his father in their youth and it made her heart glad to see.
“Sirus…” Arianna whispered, pressing her hands to his cheeks, unable to voice her happy thoughts completely. Sirus got to his feet, helping his mother as well before turning to his companions. He spoke of how the helped him on his journey from boy to man and nearly fell over in shock when he claimed to love the young woman he’d brought with him.
When Sirus spoke the young woman’s name, drawing her forward by the hand, Arianna recognized her. The Princess of Brax, Tempest. At first Arianna hadn’t wanted to believe that her son said he was in love with this woman. But as she eyed Tempest over, she could see that the young woman had undergone a drastic change. She was much more reserved and there was a maturity behind the reddish-brown hues that Arianna hadn’t seen the last time the young woman was in her presence.
Something awful must have happened to the young woman to put such a look in her eyes.
Instead of being angry, Arianna walked forward and embraced the younger woman.
“Thank you for bringing my son back to me.” Arianna whispered.
- – -
Tempest was unsure of the reception she would receive from the Queen. The last time she was in her vicinity, the Prince and his mother had been in a heated argument that had caused him to reveal her true nature and to leave the lands as an angry young man. So much had happened since that day…so much had changed…good and bad.
When Arianna stepped up to her and embraced her in her arms, Tempest looked at Sirus in shock.
“Thank you for bringing my son back to me.” the Queen whispered in her ear.
“He saved me as much as I saved him, Your Majesty.” Tempest replied. Arianna stepped back and took their hands in her own.
“As much as I wish to hear of your travels, I know you must be tired and hungry. You will eat and then you will rest.” she looked at her son. “I trust you remember where your room is? I will have the Princess placed in the room across the hall from yours, as I feel that to move her any further may cause you to become quite angry.” There was a small smile upon her face as she spoke, reassuring her son that she was okay with his choice in companions.
Arianna clapped her hands to summon servants to lead the younger people to their rooms. Once they were gone, she called a meeting of her advisors to arrange proper ceremonies for her son, his squire, the captain of her guards and the families of those who risked and/or lost their lives in the name of their Prince. They deserved to be acknowledged for their bravery and fortitude in the face of overwhelming odds.
Prince Sirus stood back, to allow the Queen to personally welcome Tempest back to the Willow. The look on her face however, was simply priceless. More shock if anything to be embraced so warmly by the Monarch. Sirus showed a slight smirk as the two women exchanged words, though it was done in a whisper so he had to guess what was being said. Hopefully it was nothing bad, but it didn’t appear to be.
“As much as I wish to hear of your travels, I know you must be tired and hungry. You will eat and then you will rest.” The Queen said, much to the delight of Klaus, who had missed the chef’s cooking terribly over the last few months. In fact, he had dreamt on many a night that he was dining back at Wintervine and this often had him wake up with a dull ache in his belly. He didn’t need to be told twice that they were to go eat, and he bowed in a manner that was a flurry of arm movement, before skidaddling out of the Throne room and to the dining hall…pronto.
Sirus chuckled as Gertie made a hmmph sound, before being too tempted herself, and she waddled off after him. Willow was too busy chatting to a good looking elf guard and flirting, to be worried about what was first up on the agenda after getting back.
“Do…you like to ride?’ She said, batting her eyelashes and making goose lips at the guard.
Sirus offered his arm to Tempest and asked. “Care to join me for a meal, and then we can get you settled back in your room. I happen to know it was across from mine, so I am never going to be too far away.”
That said, he led her out towards the dining hall, for a good hot meal.
<3>
The feast provided in their honor was massive indeed. The tables were weighed down so heavily, they creaked dangerously with every dish placed upon it. Sirus and Tempest had been lead to places at the head of the massive table, next to his mother. She stood in her place and waited for everyone to settle before she made her announcement.
“It is with great honor and pride that I welcome my son, Prince Sirus, back to his rightful place. It has been a very long year, and along with Lord Dathon and Squire Klaus, he has returned to us, safe and whole.” She looked at Sirus. “I understand why you felt you had to leave. And I hope you can accept my sincere apologies for placing so much on your shoulders. You weren’t ready then as I’ve come to realize. You, Lord Dathon, Squire Klaus and all those who gave their lives to take up your cause deserve our thanks and commemoration.” she announced, raising her glass. Everyone else followed suit and Tempest clasped her hands in her lap, giving Sirus a soft smile. She felt so uncomfortable and out of place here. What business did she have being here in his family’s home?
The food was served and everyone settled in to eat and talk. A few of the more “loose” women strolled by Sirus, giving him looks they thought were coy and seductive, but only made them look like smelly fish. Tempest did her best not to look at them. She was tired and upset and didn’t want to cause a scene.
All through dinner, Arianna kept a keen eye on the young princess, noticing each passing moment how fatigued and sad Tempest was becoming. She beckoned to one of her ladies-in-waiting and whispered something into her ear. Nodding, the young woman rounded the table and bent to speak to Tempest so that others couldn’t hear.
“The Queen senses you are tired and wishes me to escort you to your room so that you may rest if you would like.” the woman stated. Tempest nodded, wanting to be away from the festivities. She excused herself from the table without a word to anyone and followed the lady from the hall.
The Queen’s lady lead Tempest to the opposite side of the castle and up two flights of stairs into an elaborately decorated corridor. “These are the Prince’s personal quarters. My Queen thought you’d be most comfortable here.” She opened a door and lead Tempest inside the most exquisitely decorated room she’d ever seen.
Tempest walked around in awe, the Queen’s maid standing by to see if the room met with her liking.
“This is beautiful. Please send the Queen my thanks.”
“I will leave you to your rest. Please pull the bell cord if you have need of anything.” Tempest nodded her head in understanding and the maid left the room. Once alone, Tempest sighed, moving to the little alcove in the window to sit and stare out onto the castle grounds.
Watching his Mother serve up a toast to the return of her son and his fellow travelers, his cheeked formed a pinkish blush. He never really liked being the center of attention, but he understood that the Queen wished to convey how happy she was that her son had returned home finally to take his rightful place. As all raised their glasses and drank to good health, Sirus rose from his chair, and then coughed as he decided he should return the gesture.
“Mother, I know that these past few months must have been taxing on you, especially with the weight of knowing all that was going on with the Great war. Many good and noble fae died, fighting for the banner of Casterly and Laegess. May we show a minute’s silence for those that laid down their lives for freedom.
The room hushed, as many heads bowed, to pay reverence toward the ones that would not be coming home. When the minute was over, Prince Sirus smiled at Tempest and said to all that listened.
“I welcome Princess Tempest into our home, but this time on different terms. Not as a servant, but as a representative of her people, and her family.” He toasted her with his glass. “To Princess Tempest.” Many offered their words and smiles to the Princess, as Sirus returned to his seat, and then started a light conversation with a cousin, not noticing Tempest slip out of the dining room. Perhaps she was unwell, but he did not know this. After a time, the Prince asked of the Queen.
“I have a matter I wish to discuss with you later, if you don’t mind. Somewhere a little more private than here.” If she obliged him, he would of course follow. But then he noticed Tempest’s seat was empty, and looked around and asked a staffer“Have you seen where the Princess went too?” The girl holding the pitcher of wine whispered to his ear.
“Your room, M’lord.”
“Hmm…thank you.
The Prince excused himself, and went up to his room to check on her. The door was open a crack, and he peered in, seeing her sitting by the window sill, looking out to the lands below.
“I wondered if you were alright, Princess. You’re missing quite a feast.”
<3>
“I have a matter I wish to discuss with you later, if you don’t mind. Somewhere a little more private than here.” Arianna heard Sirus speak to her. She set down her goblet of wine and looked at him.
“Tomorrow morning. We will break our fast in the gazeebo. That will be a perfect time for a chat.” she nodded in agreement. She returned to her conversation with Dathon, smiling slightly when she heard her son inquire about Tempest and her whereabouts, before excusing himself to search for her. Arianna had a feeling she knew what her son wished to discuss with her, and she couldn’t wait for daybreak.
Wintervine Castle – Sirus’s Wing of the Castle
“I wondered if you were alright, Princess. You’re missing quite a feast.”
Tempest had been so deep in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard Sirus enter the room. She turned to look at him, her eyes sad and haunted.
“It’s all right, My Lord. I find myself not very hungry at the moment.” She turned away from him, returning her gaze out the window. What had been mistaken for fatigue, was actually a deep-seated sadness. Seeing Sirus with his mother…it brought up feelings in Tempest long thought dead. Her brother, her mother…and her father.
Her head drooped and tears gathered in her eyes. She pressed a fist to her mouth to keep from sobbing. She didn’t want Sirus to see her a sad, blubbering mess. She took some deep steady breaths, trying to gain control of her turbulent emotions before she did something stupid, like set the room on fire.
“I’m pretty tired. I think I will turn in…if My Lord does not mind.” she murmured, her voice tight with tears, hoping Sirus wouldn’t pick up on her emotions.
Sirus did mind. He wasn’t a fool, and could see by the way she was acting that she was anything but fine. The days leading to arriving back at Wintervine, she had been in such high spirits. Now, she was acting like someone died. The Prince’s brow knitted as he shook his head and blocked her path if she tried to just go to bed.
“Your Lord does mind, Princess.” He said firmly, not trying to be overbearing but more to the point he knew she was lying about how she was feeling. “Doesn’t take much to see that you are unhappy here. We have so much to offer you. A home, staff to wait on your every whim. My mother is quite taken with you.” The Prince said, sitting opposite her, and placing a finger under her chin to tilt it up so she was looking straight at him and could no longer hide.
“Your voice says one thing…your eyes another.” The Prince didn’t like having to push it, but they didn’t come all this way for her to be unhappy. “Your place is here now. Were you happy in the Vaas lands? Or the Night lands? You left both how many times? In the end, no one was there for you.” He kept going, as he curled his finger under her chin.
“I’m here for you.”
<3>
She should have known Sirus wouldn’t have been fooled by her demeanor. She had been fine up until she had met the Queen once more, seeing how she welcomed her son home with open arms. She couldn’t remember the last time her parents had a kind word or a hug for her and it made her long for the things she could no longer have…the love of her parents.
“Doesn’t take much to see that you are unhappy here. We have so much to offer you. A home, staff to wait on your every whim. My mother is quite taken with you.” he stated, moving to sit across from her. He leaned toward her, pressing a finger beneath her chin and forcing her to look at him. She couldn’t hide her pain from him.
“She’s quite different then the last time I met her.” Tempest admitted in a small voice. She tried to look away, but he refused to let her have that much privacy.
“Your voice says one thing…your eyes another.” he stated. “Your place is here now.”
“I know but-” she started to say, but he ran roughshod over her words.
“Were you happy in the Vaas lands?”
“No, but-”
“Or the Night lands?” he interrupted again, pressing the issue.
“No, but-”
“You left both how many times?”
“Twice, but-”
“In the end, no one was there for you.”
This was true…after all that was said and done…the only one who had stood by her side, was Sirus. But she still had dreams of one day reuniting with her mother and father. She knew somewhere deep in her heart that her brother was no longer alive and the ache in her chest felt dull and muted.
Again, Sirus tilted her chin and forced her to look at him.
“I’m here for you.”
The tears she’d been keeping at bay, welled up once again and she pressed her face into Sirus’s shoulder, taking comfort in his imposing presence. He had become her rock.
How does one heal the heart of a girl who virtually had left behind any family that may have cared? Sirus didn’t know her family hardly at all. Just snippets here and there of legends and rumors, but he did know that the Casterly and Brax were families that hated each other so, it was impossible to ever see them finding some sort of truce. Little did Sirus know that the King and Queen of Casterly were dead; that there was a care taker King, and the true heir was yet to be found. All this was yet to be relayed to the Princess. As both sat on the sill, the Prince holding the Princess of Brax in a gentle embrace, he rubbed her back gently. He said the words he meant, that he was here for her, but was that enough?
In the days and weeks to come, she was sure to suffer greater heartache.
Sirus didn’t want to bombard her with words of romance and love, for she wouldn’t want that, not now. She needed someone that was going to be there when she awoke, and be there when she laid her head to rest. A confidant, and a friend. He had feelings for her, yes – but till she could get through this depression, he would not ask the question that he had in the back of his mind. That was going to have to wait.
Slowly, he pulled back from her and pulled out a hankerchief though soiled from the long journey. He offered it to her to wipe her eyes with in a kind gesture. There was little more he could say, and he could only come up with.
If you truly wish to rest, then I shall let you, Princess.”
<3>
