All's Fair Chapter 15

All's Fair in Love and War
C h a p t e r 15
Homecoming
Ariadne looked at the flower before her as she sat alone in the gardens of Castle Sleipnir, the sun lighting up the beautiful land that was her home. She missed having the company of Jedediah and Rylaen—but truth be told, she could do with just Rylaen. Ari missed sitting in on his practices and training, she missed taking walks with him through the gardens and through the Kingstree Forest. She missed everything about him, she realized.
With a heavy sigh, she turned away from the bright orange flower and started when she noticed one of her handmaids beside her. Ariadne had been so lost in thought she hadn't seen when she had joined her. She supposed she shouldn't be too surprised, though, to find Bethany sitting beside her; Beth was not only one of Ari's handmaids, but a good friend and Ari's closest confidante, second only to Rylaen. Her company was welcomed now, in his absence.
"Beth," Ari said, smiling, "I didn't see you there, I'm sorry. How long have you been…?"
"Just the last few minutes, Princess Ariadne," Bethany admitted; Ari wanted to roll her eyes at the way she addressed her. They were on good terms, and always had been, and on more than one occasion Ariadne had explained that Beth could call her Ari. "You seemed awfully lonely out here all by yourself, so I thought maybe I'd join you. I hope this isn't an intrusion, My Lady!"
"Oh, no!" Ari blurted before Bethany had the chance to get up. "No, it's not; actually, your company is much appreciated. You're right, I was lonely."
"Without the Prince Rylaen here, you haven't got much to do, hmm?" Bethany's voice was curious.
"Absolutely! It's awful, Beth!" Ariadne's eyes reflected a degree of anger and anxiety. "He goes off to battle, leaves me here. So on top of having nothing to do, I'm left to worry and fret and panic as to whether or not he'll return safely—or at all! They've been gone for half the month!"
"Oh, princess, you mustn't think like that! That's unhealthy. I'm sure the prince will return safely to us." Bethany was always skilled at this: comfort and reassurance. Ariadne was glad she'd had her since childhood. "After all, My Lady, if I may say so, he is rather capable of handling himself. He is, after all, the first and only caster this side of the world has seen in ages."
"I know, but it still makes me so angry. But the worry outweighs that all the same." Ari sighed heavily. "You're right, though: it's no use acting and thinking the way I am." She looked up at Beth with worried eyes, despite that she realized worrying and fretting was not good.
"What is it, Princess Ariadne?"
"I love him, Bethany."
"I should hope so, My Lady." Bethany looked perplexed.
"No, Beth, I mean I love him." Ari shut her eyes when a look of realization dawned on Bethany's features. "I cannot help it! Do not look like that! Bethany, it just, it just happens. We do not pick these sorts of things like apples from a tree."
"But princess, what would your father say?" There was apology in her tone. Ari knew, though, that Bethany would say nothing. "Even if he's not your brother in blood, he's been adopted by the family… And just think of how your mother would take it."
This was the first time in ages anyone had mentioned Ariadne's mother to her. She almost flinched at the word, but held her ground, only allowing for a pained expression to flicker by. Why would Bethany do that? "My father is a reasonable man. So, I see two options: I could either attempt to explain the situation to him, or I could just, well, bear it." Ari was obviously disappointed with the second option. As she awaited Bethany's input, she brushed the blonde tresses from her eyes that a breeze had blown there. A moment passed, and Ariadne looked at Beth: her long, long, straight brown hair was lightly pulled by the sweet breeze, and her blue eyes glittered in the sunlight. Ari could have sworn she was a princess, or at least some kind of nobility.
"Ariadne, perhaps you're right," Beth said. "The king is a good man. But if I were you, I would be afraid to take my chances. What if he were not to receive your ideals as well as you hope? What might become of the prince, then?" She joined Ari in frowning at this thought. While the prince was well-liked by everyone, something like this, something that had never happened before, might set the entire kingdom off balance. Bethany was right, Ariadne decided.
Within the next moment, a procession of cavalry began riding in through the castle gates. At the head was Rylaen with a bandaged knee, Ari saw; either he hurt himself, or there had been a battle. She almost yelled at him (although she wouldn't know what to yell), so extreme was the amalgamation of emotions at the sight. There were noticeably less men than went out, Ariadne noted.
Yes, there had obviously been a battle.
Rylaen looked to his left and saw Ariadne with one of her handmaids. He waved, grinned his boyish grin, and said something to Jedediah on his right. Ari wanted to get up and run to him, give him a hug, and then tell him he wasn't allowed to go off to fight anymore. She wasn't used to feeling like this. Usually, it was okay for him to ride off to duty, and she never felt as anxious as she had today. Since her discovery and admittance to herself that she loved Rylaen, things had become increasingly complicated and difficult in her head.
Jedediah glanced at Rylaen warily as they made their way towards the castle. "What, Rylaen? What!? Tell me you're kidding. Rylaen, Rylaen, you can't… It just doesn't work that way… What are you… By the Gods, I want to help you, because, yes, you need help, but I don't know what to tell you."
"It's really not my fault," Rylaen told his friend. "I'm in love, Jed!" said the knight as he smiled wide; he made sure to not speak too loudly, though he doubted anyone could hear them over the constant clopping of their horses' hooves. He was tired, but tried not to let it show; the last week had been intense, full of deep meditation of how Rylaen would present the information to King Erhuidt—not to mention his realization that he was in love with Ariadne, which he debated with himself for the latter half of their trip. He was afraid it was absolutely wrong, but all things considered, how could it be?
That was his ruling: it wasn't. And so, he figured, he would tell her at some point. She had the right to know. But that was when he started getting choked up; he didn't know what to say, what to do. Rylaen: prince and knight of Larsus, leader of the force that won the Four Years War, commander of Larsan forces.
Yet he couldn't tell a woman he loved her.
At least, he thought he loved her; this was what he always imagined it would feel like. Ariadne was on his mind almost always, now, and it had gotten much worse when he left home. Rylaen was always happiest with her, and found himself without too many other cares in the world. It was a sort of ignorance, he figured, that only love could provide; but as Ari was happy, he wasn't worried about ignorance, or war, or death, or much anything else for that matter.
"First things first, lover boy," Jedediah chastised Rylaen. "You know, many a great soldiers' downfalls were because of love."
"What're you trying to say?" he asked, cocking a brow. Jed returned a look that said "You know well enough what I mean." "They let love get in the way of duty; Ari and I, we're not even betrothed, or anything—"
"Oh, you know as well as I do it doesn't take betrothal."
"Jedediah, we'll continue this talk later." They had no choice at the moment; they were at the castle doors. A skeptical look from Jedediah only gave Ry more cause to make sure he held his promise, though.
The doors were opened, then, and Rylaen, Derrick, and Jedediah entered after dismounting and leaving their horses with stable boys; the rest of the column dispersed to stable the horses and take care of their business.
"My son, my friends, you return!" Erhuidt's voice called as the three entered the throne room. He said nothing of Ariadne, only smiled, who trailed in surreptitiously behind them. Sometimes he wondered if his daughter would have made a better soldier than princess.
"Erhuidt!" Rylaen called hotly. The king rose at such a tone, the expression on his face a mix of curiosity, worry, and pure fear. "The Velians, Erhuidt, must burn!" At this, he sunk back into his throne, buried his face in his hands. So it was true, and things were going wrong domestically and abroad, now. "I found these," Ry said as he pulled the Velian documents out of a saddlebag and handed them to Erhuidt, "inside of a house in Damarius. Before we slaughtered their contingency stationed there."
Erhuidt took the documents and examined them—first the map, and then the letter from Caine—and when he was finished, they slid from his limp hands and fluttered to the ground hopelessly. "This is wrong," he said quietly, shaking his head. "We made a treaty, there was peace—"
"And all good things come to an end, Erhuidt. It was more short-lived than we would have liked, I'm sure," spat Rylaen bitterly, "but now we have no choice. It's war with Velia." To lose his chance now of convincing Erhuidt of full blown war was to lose any real chance at the retribution the Velians deserved.
Erhuidt did not like Rylaen's words—or tone—especially after his last encounter with the prophecy. "Be calm, Rylaen," he commanded, "lest you lose your temper. Watch your words and actions in this place. You threaten the sanctity of this very castle." At least he could use the throne room as an excuse for now; it was, after all, supposed to be reverently approached. He hoped Rylaen wouldn't notice his changed attitude and demeanor.
"Sorry, My Lordship," Ry apologized with a slight bow.
"But, King Erhuidt," Jedediah finally interjected, "what else can we do? Velia made an undeclared act of war. This demands a countermeasure."
"Aye, Yer Highness," said Derrick, providing his support to Rylaen and Jedediah. "They want ta not only take yer son from yeh, I'm sure, because them Velians, they'll take everythin' from yeh the first chance they get." He knew; it already happened to him.
"If my word means anything, Father," Ariadne suddenly said, "I would agree with these three men." The three men she referred to all looked over their shoulders when they heard the princess's voice; Rylaen smiled ever so slightly, Jedediah nodded his approval of her opinion, and Derrick's expression was merely of surprise. "How many citizens did we lose at Damarius?" asked the princess. "It's bound to happen again. You know that just from the letter Rylaen returned with."
Erhuidt frowned at his daughter, though now he knew the answer to his question: she should have been born with a sword in her hand and not a crown on her head. A heavy moment of silence passed between all five in the throne room, before Erhuidt spoke again:
"I see little of a choice here. We will make preparations for war. Should I prepare a meal?"
Rylaen shook his head in response. "We ate along the road, My Liege."
Erhuidt nodded, looking wearier than ever. "Rylaen, Jedediah, you two should seek respite." As should I, he told himself. Erhuidt lowered his gray eyes to the ground and took a deep breath. "Derrick, I am sorry for all that you have lost in the course of events—"
"Yer Majesty, please, allow myself ta accompany these two. I would much appreciate that, Yer Highness, seein' as I've got nothin' ta do with myself anymore." He rolled the next words around in his head for a moment before admitting once again: "Velia's taken everythin' from me, y'see, and Larsus has given me everythin' I'd ever needed, so I'd just like the opportunity to pay the two of 'em their dues." Erhuidt looked at Derrick apathetically. This man was loyal to the very end, he saw.
"Erhuidt." Rylaen spoke up when he heard Derrick's request. "I can vouch for the man's skill in battle. Somehow he swings an axe like he's been doing it for years, and he's a good companion to have on the road and in combat. I would enjoy taking him with me." His face was steel, severe. The king nodded his consent. "Thank you, Your Majesty." The knight turned and began to leave the hall when Ariadne fell into step beside him. Jedediah heaved a great sigh as he turned to leave out a side hall, and Derrick stood in front of the king, clueless.
"Erm, Yer Highness, if yeh could just so kindly as direct me to somewhere where I could find lodgin' until we're ready ta leave, I'd be very grateful…"
Erhuidt clapped his hands twice; a guard approached. "Take him to some guest quarters. Derrick Feremone, is it? You'll stay here until the troops are ready to leave Ester." He was beginning to wonder how many new people could possibly begin taking up board in the castle; Erhuidt was not very excited to test that. Already he'd taken in Rylaen, the boy who could very well tear down the walls of Larsus on a whim, and now this old, rank bartender. Maybe a few days in a castle would do him good, though.
The king decided he was becoming much too old and cranky for this job.

"I missed you," Ari said, smiling curiously; she didn't know how to handle this situation now. "You hurt yourself," she said, pointing to his knee as Ry held the door open for her. They left the throne room.
"A Velian hurt my knee," he corrected, sardonic. A smile just barely turned the corner of his mouth up. "I'm fine, though, Ari. Really." Rylaen didn't know what else to tell her at this point, though there was so much going through his head. "We encountered resistance—"
"—Obviously," she cut in, her smile widening.
"…And managed to kill most of them." Rylaen noticed they were on their way to his room; could he blame himself? He was still exhausted from riding for almost another week. "Some escaped. We imagine they'll carry the news to Velia. Let them, I say. Let them know."
Ari frowned. "You seem bothered. Should I let you be?" She began to slow down in her walk as she said this.
"No, no!" Rylaen told her, slowing his pace to match hers. "Come on, then, let's go." He put a hand on her shoulder to ensure Ariadne kept moving. "I'm tired, is all." His eyelids were dropping more and more with each step. "And my knee hurts." Ry winced as he thought about it. Current events had been distracting him, taking his mind off of the pain. Now it came back in a dull throb.
"Oh, I should leave you alone." Ariadne started to turn, and Rylaen grabbed her, but with gentleness.
"No, you shouldn't. I missed you—Gods, I was gone for half the month—and you treat me like this on my return? I wanted to talk to you." He looked hurt. Ari's brow creased with apology.
"I'm sorry," said she. "I'll finish walking you to your room… Here, do you need help up the steps?" She wrapped one arm around his back and Rylaen put his arm around her neck; Ari was surprisingly good at this. They started up the red carpeted stairs to the royal chambers. The knight brushed some of his brown hair from his eyes with a good hand, and then used that arm as a brace against the wall on his right side as they continued to ascend.
They reached the top, but did not remove their arms from one another; when they reached Rylaen's room, they stopped, separated themselves, and looked at each other. A moment passed before Ry opened his door.
"Care to join me for a minute…?" he asked, almost shyly, and for a second, Rylaen reminded Ariadne of the timid boy he had come here as. She admired how quickly and how much he had grown in the last six months. It had been a very necessary process.
"Of course," she said, smiling, her heart pounding in her chest; Ari thought Rylaen might hear it, and tried to silence it, but realized it was of no use. "D-did you at least enjoy the Larsan countryside?" she asked, trying to soothe her nerves.
"I haven't been out to Damarius in four, maybe even five years. I wish the visit had been on different terms." He acted like he didn't notice the small stutter; he was too tired to even care, actually. Rylaen flopped down on his bed, and Ari sat beside him.
"You've visited Damarius before…?" This was good. This was taking her mind off of Rylaen.
"I used to live there, actually. For a while." His responses were slow; heavy. "But that's a story for another day." The knight sat up in bed and looked at Ariadne in all her beauty: the blue dress she wore highlighted her bright green eyes and her long blonde hair fell in loose curls, down to her mid-back. The winter sun peered in through the window at the both of them, as it neared the horizon. Rylaen would be gracious for sleep, but he hugged Ariadne close and tight; her breathe was taken away for a moment. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," she whispered, wrapping her arms around Rylaen once again in a much welcomed embrace. "You said you wanted to talk to me, though?" Ari pushed away a bit, albeit reluctantly, so that they might speak more face to face. She wanted to see his golden eyes again.
"Oh, I, well, I meant I had just missed you a lot, and I felt that we should talk. Seeing as we hadn't for a long time." Rylaen rubbed the back of his head nervously. Was it now or never?
"I see," Ariadne said, her smile fading to a slight degree. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. "Well, I'd best leave you to rest now."
"I wouldn't like that much," he said. "Perhaps we should speak." And suddenly his heart was thumping louder and harder and faster; he separated himself from her further, in case she might feel or hear it. "You see, Ari, I don't quite know how to put this." Rylaen was grimacing inwardly, but when he looked at her, she gestured as if to say, "Go on." He threw all caution to the wind in one instant, then, and put a hand on either of her shoulders as he looked straight into her eyes. "I think I'm in love with you," he said, matter-of-factly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
It was silent, first, and Ari's face showed no reaction for the first few seconds. Then she was smiling a beautiful, happy smile. She pulled Rylaen into another hug, and accidentally bumped his knee in the process. He grimaced outwardly that time, but returned the hug, surprised. "I think I'm in love with you, too," Ariadne said, still smiling wide. They sat there, neither knew how long, before Rylaen sort of just drooped over again into a laying position. Ariadne laughed quietly at that.
"Should I let you be now?" she asked through the laughter. Rylaen was looking up at the ornate ceiling, smiling contentedly.
"No, no," said he through a yawn. "You should stay," he told her as he kicked off his boots and crawled further into bed. Ariadne blinked, a little taken aback, but did as she was asked, joining Ry under the blankets. He kissed her on the cheek, then, and she felt a blush creep up her cheeks and a shiver down her spine.
A blush! The first in years! It was absurd, what love could do. But the princess smiled nonetheless.
"Goodnight, Ariadne," Rylaen whispered in her ear.
"Goodnight, Rylaen," Ariadne whispered back.