Just You Wait by rui

Chapter 11

Chapter 11
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"You think he has a mistress?" Mena would have fallen out of her chair if she wasn't for the young princess being held protectively in her arms. The Fanelian couple had been with them for a week. Hitomi, after Armand's little accident, had taken up her time talking with the Slenian Queen. "Why on Gaia would you think that?"

"I don't know." Hitomi confessed, tracing the patterns of the chair with the tip of her finger. "He seems to be okay one moment, but then he completely changes. It's like someone or something else is on his mind, which makes him—hate me," she frowned, "well, more." Then her lips lifted into a smile, "so I think he must be in love with someone back in Fanelia!"

Mena shook her head, as she started to rock the tiny princess. "I don't believe that."

"What? Why not?"

"Because I have seen many men, mostly royals, come through here. Trust me. Those who have a mistress or are in love with someone else try to over compensate for the lack of affection they feel for their wives."

Mena slowly got up, walked to the crib, and carefully placed her baby within its walls. After tucking in the small child, she turned back to Hitomi, and picked up a cup of tea that was cooling on the table between their seats.

"So he's not in love with someone else? Then I don't understand." Hitomi pondered, her mental detective scratching her head as much as Hitomi was, "then I guess he just doesn't like me."

"Do you like him?"

Hitomi's cheeks flamed to bright red. "W-what? Of course I don't! It's not like that!"

Mena chuckled, "I think you have some interest in him, otherwise why would you want to know him better?"

She watched as Hitomi as the blonde sipped while her eyes remained averted to the portrait of Coron's mother above the fire place.

"Tell me, are you friends with King Van?"

Hitomi put her cup down gingerly. She didn't have to utter a word, as her eyes fluttered around the room in an innocent way.

"I'll take that as a 'no' then."

"It's not like I haven't tried to talk to him! We had been for a bit but then—" she shook her head, and ran a hand through her blonde locks. "I don't know. I don't know what I should do or even why I want to do anything."

"What's your most precious memory?" The blonde queen's eyebrow rose to a fine arch. Well, that was an alpha level question Mena just asked. "Or something that has sculpted you in some way."

Hitomi closed her eyes as she leaned her head to rest on the back of the chair. Something that sculpted who she was? What would that have been? When? She thumbed through her memories and searched her heart. The closest thing she could come up with was a shrug and sympathetic smile. Sighing, she tried a bit harder, browsing through her childhood memories, her parents, her sisters—her sister.

Her eyebrows clashed in the middle of her forehead as the memories came flooding back. She hadn't thought intently on her baby sister since her parents had declared the girl dead to them. Hitomi had cried for weeks after her sister disappeared. She remembered the last time she saw her sister, and it was that that played in her mind.

Hitomi had run the length of the farm, turned, and ran back.

No Ana.

Frantically, the blonde splashed through the puddles that led to the outskirts of the village. It was there, sitting on a fence of the baker's gate she saw the redhead who had her heart gripped in worry. Her normally curly hair was now limp, her head was tilted back and her hazel eyes closed.

"Ana?" Hitomi called. "Ana!"

The redhead turned to her sister.

"I've been looking all over for you!" Hitomi's breath was heavy and every bit of her was nearly frozen to blue. Ana didn't seem effected by the elements, but then again, the younger girl had always been a lover of the rain.

"I wish I could be the rain," Ana's voice was so heartrending it was no wonder the sky broke down and cried for her. Hitomi stood a few feet to the side her, having come to collect her younger sister from catching her death in the cold kiss of the storm.

Ana reached out a hand toward the sky, palm up, and fingers spread.

"No one tells it whether it belongs to the sky or ground. No one ever makes it feel bad about breaking apart on the soil; they want it to be there. That's why people cry. I don't think people have hearts, Hitomi. I think all emotions come from the soul. That's why, when you lose your love, you feel like dying. They ripped a part of your very essence away from you and say it's for the best."

Ana was talking about her boyfriend, Kory, who her family had simply met and declared him unfit for the younger girl. Hitomi didn't see what was so wrong with the boy, sure he snorted when he laughed, but there was nothing else wrong with him. Their father had insisted Kory wasn't 'good' enough for his daughter, that the boy was useless since he didn't have a nickel to his name.

Ana clasped her hands to her chest as if she were praying, and bowed her head. "What would you do for love, Hitomi?"

The blonde blinked, confused at the sudden question. She pushed some of the wet strands from her green eyes before she shrugged.

"Anything, I suppose, but I've never been in love so I can only guess." She answered, doubly confused by the small smile that slowly grew on the younger female's face. Ana jumped off the fence, kissed her sister on the cheek, wrapped her in a warm hug, and before Hitomi could register it, Ana had said good-bye.

The vision of her sister running to the village with the rain pouring down around her was the last image she had of her baby sister.

"Ana," Hitomi answered firmly, opening her eyes slowly. "Ana sculpted me."

"Who was she?" Mena questioned, sipping her tea under her veil. Why she wore that thing all the time, Hitomi hadn't found the nerve to ask.

"My younger sister," Hitomi began to explain. "She left us years ago. My family disowned her because she fell in love with someone they didn't like." The Fanelia Queen almost snorted. "He didn't have money and therefore he was considered worthless."

"Did you believe that?"

"No," Hitomi answered quickly. "I think if a person is lucky enough to fall in love and be loved back, everyone should just be happy for them. I just wish my family was a bit different."

Like completely other people, she frowned.

"Maybe you should open up to him," Mena suggested, nodding her head slowly. "Tell him the unabridged version of your sister or something else that is precious to you. Put yourself out there for him, it might take time, but it is the first step to earning his trust." Biting back a yawn, the young Queen made her way slowly to her bed. "Every relationship needs trust, even friendship."

"I should go." Hitomi was quick to her feet and ever quicker to the door. With a swift good-bye and thank you, the blonde shut the door. Leaning back on the closed bedroom door, she studied her slippered feet and the tile surrounding it.

Was Mena right?

Ana, Hitomi's heart twisted painfully, she was so precious to her. The two of them had been best friends, only being a year apart in age and done everything together. They were different as hot and cold though. Hitomi loved the sunshine and to run whereas Ana liked cold, rainy nights and to sit for hours observing. The saddened Queen gave a weak smile.

There might be a chance Mena was onto something. What if Van didn't react to it? What if he just shrugged and said 'so what'? She'd be crushed. Was it worth the risk?

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A few days later, Van was able to breathe a sigh of relief. The celebration of the princess' birth was underway and the entire kingdom seemed to be kicking back or kicking its heels up. Sure it would mean the castle staff would have liquor on their breath for a few nights( or longer), but they had a right to enjoy the festivities.

He sat, perched like a bird, on the lip of the balcony watching the glow of the multiple bonfires as they burned just beyond the gardens, in the west courtyard. The music had just started and the volume of its tunes carried over the wall and clear to the King's ears.

A trace of a smile sat on his lips as he lived in the heartbeat of the kingdom. It also proved to make him homesick for Fanelia. If they stuck to schedule, they would arrive back in his home in time for the Fire Festival.

Deep breaths, deep breaths, Hitomi told herself as she walked closer to the balcony.

She had come into the a few moments ago, but the King didn't even flinch almost as though he didn't notice her at all.

"Mind if I join you?"

Van shifted his head to look over his shoulder at her, "no."

That was the only response she got, but what else was she to expect? A love sonnet? Right. She'd die from holding her breath before that happened. An answer was better than being ignored, so she joined him on the balcony.

Van was sitting with one leg drawn up, an arm resting on it as the other leg steadied his position. He was dressed in a red shirt he seemed to live in these days. He had about ten of that type of shirt, she had come to know, but the red always looked the best on him.

She turned, and gave enough of a jump to rest on the lip of the balcony. "Seems like it's going to be some party."

Van's smile grew, as his attention went back to the glowing light and happy sounds coming from the villagers. "Indeed."

Well, this was going to take a very long time to get him to open up.

"Why don't you go down and join them?" Van side glanced at the girl.

"I—," Van couldn't think of an excuse, he wasn't skilled at lying having been taught all his life that a diplomatic answer was as close to a lie as a king should ever get. Now, it was humiliating! "I don't think they would like formality." There! That was a shot of truth without having to tell the real reason why.

"Don't wear your formal attire then, go as you are. No one knows you, so you will blend right in." She was going to add that he should probably leave the sword, but it was his third leg that was only removed when he slept. At least she thought so.

Damn, Van mentally spat at himself. That killed that scapegoat. "I just don't feel like attending."

Hitomi gave a soft laugh, "If that were true, you would be inside with the doors closed." She bit her lip and decided to do as Mena suggested. She'd offer her olive branch, so to speak, of peace. What he did with it was his choice.

"Come with me." Her insides shrunk at her own voice, this was scarier than when she took and not only stained, but ripped her big sister's favorite dress. "Be my escort. Armand is already down there and—"

"Very well," Van's reply was soft and caught her entirely off guard. It was that easy? She shouldn't wait too long to get him out there or he might change his mind!

"Then let's go!" Hitomi chirped, jumping from her spot. She turned, grabbed Van's wrist, and tugged lightly to get him to follow. He complied by standing up, but didn't go any further as he was somewhat baffled. When she couldn't budge him, she looked over her shoulder with question in her eyes.

"Don't you need time?" Van asked in a confused voice.

"For what?" She answered, equally as lost.

"For girl things," He pointed out as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "changing clothes ten times, fixing your hair, jewelry—girl things."

If it hadn't been for her mother and sister participating in those 'girl' things as he called it, she would have been insulted. It almost sounded as if she needed a new outfit, to brush up, and all the other things he said. Knowing better than that Hitomi wagered he meant the prissing and primping a lot of females indulged in before another living creature could see them.

"No!" Hitomi gave an amused smile as she pulled him closer to the door. "I was always more of a tomboy anyway. It's only Armand who insists, and wins, when I do wear it."

Van, trailed slowly behind her as his state of shock wasn't letting him go too terribly fast. He couldn't believe it! This girl didn't care about her looks?

How very odd…how very rare.

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Hitomi hadn't let go of his hand the entire evening as she walked them around wide eyed and pointed at everything with great interest much like a small child. Van found it amusing how easily pleased she was with the bright colors, common attractions, and the dances.

It was the last part he did his best to keep her from joining in. Van couldn't dance, at least the fast paced, non-formal dances. Van couldn't keep a beat if his honor depended on it. Having two left feet would have been a blessing. Instead Van had one foot that looked like two and couldn't move together successfully without tromping on a victim's innocent toes. He had learned the formal dances, all slow in tempo, for his countries' sake, and that's where the lessons ended.

For him, it was sort of cute the way she wanted to play games then laugh at herself for not bringing money. When he told her he would pay, she had almost climbed up a tree in shock, worry, or something. At first she said she couldn't, that it wasn't her money, and she'd feel bad if he wanted something later, but couldn't afford it because he spent his money on her.

Van's lips twitched into a lopsided smile at her logic. After reassuring her that he could cover it, she hesitantly took the proffered money. She hadn't won anything and he lost about a handful of coins, which wasn't much. She pouted for a few moments before seeing something else that she dragged him to investigate with her.

They had even run into Armand, a rather soused Armand with ruffled hair and a slight stagger. He had gone on and on about what a great couple they made and he was happy to follow them around until a busty barmaid winked at him. The drunken knight went missing after that.

When it was early morning, and most the patrons had gone home or were passed out, the royal couple made their way back to the castle. However, Van led them into the gardens instead. It was nearly dawn when they made it back to their room, dropped into the bed fully dressed and uncaring. It was the first time all night she let go of his hand.

Inspecting his gloved hand now, two days later, Van gave a slight smile. That hadn't scared him in the least. Maybe there was a chance—

"Your majesty," Jill's voice was deep and calm as he approached his king. "King Coron would an audience with you." There was a subtle hitch in his voice, that wasn't good. It was never good news when one of his knights suddenly remembered their manners. "Something has happened."

"What?"

"He wishes to discuss this in the throne room, sir."

Van was quick to follow; his heart was fluttered anxiously in his chest.

"Have you heard this, Van?" Coron questioned, shifting his eyes to the other King when he entered the room. The entire Slenian council surrounded the man like a pack of dragons waiting to rip apart a live kill (and each other if necessary).

Van's eyes narrowed, "What?"

"A mutual ally of ours, Freid, has just been—attacked," Coron explained in a hushed tone, as if the dust bunnies under his throne were spies for the enemy. "The Duke is beside himself."

"How many were hurt? What was the damage? What happened!" Van demanded, ignoring the plotting dust bunnies and letting his hot-headed way rule over his good sense. "Who did this?"

"They aren't sure. There was no evidence of who it was or why or anything." Coron leaned back in his throne, his eyebrows drawn together with a deep scowl on his face. "And to answer your question, no one was hurt that they are aware of and nothing was damaged. In fact, it was found that only one thing was missing within the whole of the kingdom."

"What was that?"

"Not what, Van," Coron sat up in his seat. "Who. They, whoever they might be, have taken Chid the Prince of Freid."

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