Farewell for Now|New Anarlina

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake carefully folded away the last of her traveling clothes. She would not wear her finest robes on the road, but she needed them at hand for when she met with her nemesis.

Taking a deep breath, she handed the pack to a servant to put with the rest of her family's gear, and then headed off to go speak with Midnight.

---

Twilight leaned against the door frame to Zack's room, and knocked lightly. "You in there, buddy?"

[Darastrix]

The guard was seated on a bench in the palace courtyard, tossing bits of bread to the birds. At Snowflake's approach, he stood and bowed, the birds fluttering back a bit, but not flying away.

"Hello, Princess," he murmured quietly. The sharp pain from the result of Eros' meddling had faded somewhat, and the guard was at last able to look at Snowflake without a hurt expression on his face.
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"Yeah, it's open," came the reply. Zack was stretched out in a patch of sun coming in through the window, jotting something on a piece of staff paper. Other papers were scattered about around him, some with bits of music written out on them, others with lyrics. There was also a fair pile of paper wadded into balls that the bard had been tossing at a large vase. From the look of things, his aim was rather off.

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake bowed her head as well, and kept her eyes away from his face. She was still confused about him, and prayed nightly for answers that had yet to come. "Midnight. I... I felt that I should say goodbye since I am to depart with my family within the hour on our diplomatic trip to speak with the lords of Morilanta now."

---

Twilight looked around with a chuckle. "I dare say this place is messier than my own room." He wasn't sure how to break the news, and went with a joke. "Well you'll have some time to build it up and surpass even me. I'm going on a trip to Ilyamen with my family. We're going to look the Morilantan leaders in the eye and remind them who the real powers that be are."

[Darastrix]

Midnight looked at Snow with concern. "I wish you were taking more guards. Your sister and Prince Twilight are impressive fighters, but--." He sighed. "I will worry for you."
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"You're what?" Zack blinked up at Twilight in surprise, the quill dropping from his fingers. "When?" he asked, getting to his feet.

[Kender Bard]

"You will?" Snowflake's eyes snapped up to meet his, her embarassment set aside out of genuine surprise. "I.. I didn't think..."

---

"Um, now," Twilight murmured sheepishly. "Don't worry, Zack. We're going to be perfectly safe in Ilyamen. Their leader, Aslan, is acting as mediator and rumor tells me that he is no push over. It's just two people facing my whole family so I am not concerned."

[Darastrix]

"Of course I will," Midnight replied. "I know what Eros did has things a bit strained between us, but if I may speak plainly, my feelings for you are unchanged from what they were."

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Zack just stared at Twilight for a moment, then sighed, running a hand over his eyes. "Of course you don't have to be concerned; I'll be concerned enough for both of us. Dammit, Twi. I told you how I feel about goodbyes."

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake held his gaze and felt that flutter - that oh so terribly missed feeling - in her heart. She reached cautiously for his hand. "That means greatly to me, Midnight. You professed your feelings had gone unchanged but I feared that it was but a lie for you haven't spoken with me since. I feared perhaps I had said or done something unrepairable."

---

Twilight kept up his smile anyway, trying to jostle his friend into some cheer. "It's not a goodbye, Zack. It's just a temporary farewell. We shant be gone too long, two weeks at most I would wager."

[Darastrix]

Midnight curled his sword-calloused fingers lightly around Snowflake's hand, allowing a shy smile to cross his face. "I doubt there is anything you could do that I would not forgive," he said. "I just needed some time. My dream came true and then my fear came in right on its heels," he added in a near-whisper.
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"Good," Zack said, allowing Twilight to cajole him into smiling. "Because I want you here to meet Zira if he accepts my invitation. Is there time to share a drink?" he asked, gesturing to a decanter of wine and some glasses on a nearby table.

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake moved to stand on her tiptoe, to better be on eye level with Midnight as she leaned forward, almost resting her forehead against his. "I am sorry," she whispered. "But perhaps this is nothing more than a trial of my faith, for as I go off to look Evil's advocates in the eyes, I felt but the stirrings of love in my heart, and the great fear of never seeing you again." She squeezed his hand a little tighter. "Would that my guardian bestow upon me a kiss to remember him by on my lonely trip?"

---

"A quick one," Twilight agreed, pouring two glasses and handing one to his friend. Lifting the glass, he toasted, "To friendship, to seeing each other again, and to me getting to put a little mud in the eye of Morilanta!"

[Darastrix]

Midnight's blue eyes widened as he felt the hope he'd tried to bury once again come to life. "I would give you anything you asked of me, Princess," he whispered softly before tenderly pressing his lips to hers.

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"To friendship, and to one day hearing you give a toast in less than five words," Zack added with a grin as he raised his own glass.

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake leaned into the kiss, savoring it. As she pulled away, she sighed softly, wished suddenly that she did not have to leave.

"That will serve me well during the cold winter nights while I'm gone," she murmured, blushing hotly as she did so. "Farewell, Midnight."

---

Twilight drained his glass and sat it down, wiping his mouth on his sleeve idly. "Well, you don't do goodbyes but do you give a farewell hug?"

[Darastrix]

"Farewell, Snowflake," the guard murmured, daring to stroke her cheek gently. "I will be praying for the safe return of both you and your family."


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"I guess it wouldn't hurt," Zack said, setting down his own glass. He stepped forward and embraced his friend warmly, his wings curling around the Prince as well. "If anything happens to you, I am going to kick your royal ass," he muttered.

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake pressed his hand against her cheek momentary, nuzzling against it, before slowly pulling back and away. With one heartfelt glance back at him, she departed.

---

Twilight chuckled as he hugged his friend back. "Don't tempt me, it would be amusing to see you attempt to kick my ass. What would you do, beat me with a lute?" He chuckled again and pat him on the back. "I will see you before you know it, Zack. And I look forward to meeting Zira." With a farewell salute, the Prince strolled off.