And In This Corner...

[Kender Bard]

Lucid had gone, returned to Ronduin with a number of documents to give over to his mother to look over. Luminous missed him... But his stay had left her troubled and even more in doubt as to what--or rather who--in her future lay.

She'd taken a couple weeks to get back to business and catch up on work that had been left only partially complete as she played hostess, but she was ready to take a long look at her other suitor.

She sent a letter to the Fell estate inviting Tristan to dine privately with her. It's been a while since I've really had a chance to meet with him. She hoped he wouldn't feel put off by her inattentiveness. There'd just been so much to do!

She had a bit more time to prepare for meeting with him than she had with Lucid and made a point of wearing a very fine dress, decorating her hair with jewels and painted feathercraft, surprised at how nervous she was as she killed time waiting for his arrival.

[Darastrix]

Tristan was far from being put off by not having heard from Luminous for so long.  Since the riots (and Forces, it was hard to imagine that it had all taken place as long ago as it had), there had been so much to do and worry over for more than just the royals.  Aside from matters pertaining to House Fell (of which there were several, and the amount seemed to just keep increasing as the date of his sixteenth birthday drew ever closer), there had been matters in Anarlina as well.

Skyheort had had a riot of its own people, but most of his family had been in the path of a demon army.  Starting with the fall of his brother's province, both he and his mother had been far too worried for the members of House Wintersong to bother with thoughts of courtship or betrothals, and there were their House's business interests there as well.  Now, though, things were finally beginning to settle, and the letter from Princess Luminous was another sign of things going back to normal. 

Naturally, he'd accepted the invitation.  Aside from it just being good manners and a good social move, he'd liked the times he'd spent with Luminous.  He wasn't sure whether she'd be the same as when they'd last seen one another, but there was only one way to find out.  Tristan was smiling when he was escorted to Luminous, and after a brief pause and blink (she was pretty - he'd seen her at formal functions before, but he was better able to appreciate a lady's appearance now) his smile grew.

"Your Highness," he said with a wing-flaring bow (yep, still taking cues from his brother-in-law), "it's good to see you again.  And if it's not too bold of me to say, you look quite lovely this evening."  For his part, Tristan had grown quite a bit taller in the past few years and, thanks to his continuing sword training, filled out as well.  He was dressed in his House colours, and his blond hair was pulled back into a neat tail.

[Kender Bard]

For a brief moment, Luminous's well-trained eloquence and grace flew out the window as she looked at Tristan as though someone had struck her with a board. At least she managed to refrain from gaping with her mouth open but her eyes did widen a touch.

Forces, but he's certainly no child now is he? Not that she had expected him to be, but it had been difficult to shake the image of the last time they'd had a moment of privacy together out of her head.

She snapped out of her brief lapse in manners and returned his smile with a bright one of her own. "The pleasure is all mine," she remarked, walking closer. She offered her hand. "Please, let me escort you to the dining hall. How has your mother been fairing? And your brother, too. Well, I hope."

[Darastrix]

"Mother is faring much better now that we know Zira and his family in Anarlina are all right," Tristan replied, taking Luminous' hand and drawing her arm to his side to rest beneath his.  "She was beside herself after we got word that his province had been overrun.  He's being knighted, in fact.  Apparently, he went back into Widor alone after it had been taken to rescue Lord Brandt.  Er."  He grinned a little sheepishly.  "We're trying to keep the 'alone' bit downplayed for the sake of our mother's nerves.  How have your mother and brother been?"

[Kender Bard]

Luminous listened with a small frown at the mention of the demonic incursion into Anarlina, but brightened at the rest of the news. "Your brother is a very brave man." At his question she sighed slightly but still smiled. "Well... Mother is very busy. Our letters are more of business than an exchange in pleasantries. She's in a precarious situation in Maelstrom by herself. She's quite eager for me to finish my studies under Lady Laura and rejoin her there to assist her in matters. As for my brother..." With her free hand, she waved dismissively. "Acting as boys will. I think he got a bit too underfoot or something similar and mother sent him away to stay with Honored Leader Ann for a time, likely for the winter. After that, there's talk of having him visit Mother Cascata or Queen Dusk for further study."

Once they entered the dining hall, servants scrambled to pull out two seats facing one another at one end of the long dining table. Luminous disengaged herself from Tristan and took her seat. "I'm very glad you came. I was concerned you may not have time or inclination."

[Darastrix]

"We're a bit in the same boat, I think," Tristan said, seating himself once Luminous was sitting.  "You, finishing studies so you can help your mother, and me, working for the same to be ready when I come of age this spring and assume full duties of my House.  I'm sure you'll agree that a few hours respite from that is quite welcome.  Especially in good company.  I enjoyed what time we spent together in the past very much."  He chuckled  at the memory.  "Especially that dive you took us on from the window ledge.  I can finally manage that stunt myself now."  Tristan rustled his feathers for emphasis.

[Kender Bard]

Luminous grinned at that, both at the memory and his wings. "I must profess a great envy of you, then. Despite my lack of wings, though, I do try to keep up my regular flights for recreation as much as exercise. My guards do not thank me." She smirked at one who stood at the wall somewhere behind Tristan. The guard did not flinch. "It would be a great delight if we could fly again sometime. Er, well, perhaps when the weather turns warm." It was definitely beginning to grow nippy out, made positively chilling when up high enough to fly.

Dinner was already being brought out--rather than the procession of dishes that a more formal dinner would entail, the full course was brought out for them to pick and choose at their leisure: stuffed goose, leeks, carrots, flatbread, and apple pie. Luminous chose only a small amount; her appetite wasn't up as she was too busy mulling over how best to begin putting questions to him. After dinner, of course. "Do you prefer water or wine?"

[Darastrix]

Tristan, on the other hand, had a very good appetite, particularly for the goose and carrots, though he fully intended to take a good helping of pie as well, though it was the smell he liked more than anything.

"Wine, if you please."  Wine was the source of his family's wealth and had been for generations.  Tristan felt almost obligated to accept wine when it was offered.  Fortunately, he actually liked it as well. It amused him that even at fifteen, he could outdrink his (larger, taller) brother, though as Zira could go tipsy on a single glass, it wasn't a particularly impressive feat.

"And a flight in fairer weather sounds fantastic.  We can see who has to keep up with whom."  Really, it was anyone's guess.  So far as he knew, they each had only one Wind sign.

[Kender Bard]

Luminous made light chatter through the dinner, lodging little tidbits of gossip and news between bites but nothing that would be a mood dampener, but grew more and more quiet as the dinner wound down. As the dishes were being whisked away, Luminous rose. "I would like it greatly if you could spare a bit more time to talk with me. There's a room with a balcony that has a lovely view of the city I'd like to share." Not to mention it was one of the few places that she could pretend she was fully alone. The royal guard wouldn't crowd her out there and their words would not carry.

She glanced aside, having trouble meeting his eyes. "There's a few things I'd like to discuss with you of a sensitive matter." Too bad that sounded far more romantic than what she had in mind.

[Darastrix]

Tristan pushed his chair back and rose with Luminous, nodding as she expressed her desire to talk more.  He'd noticed her quietness near the end of dinner and was curious.  Perhaps it was a good thing that he'd been raised in part by a business-minded man and groomed to take care of his family's business interests as well as the House itself; Luminous' statement didn't ring of romance to him at all.  To Tristan, 'sensitive matters' were usually about finances and contracts.

On the other hand, it could also be related to the matter of her father's death.  Having lost his father as well, he could certainly sympathize with that.  "Of course," he murmured.  "I'm happy to stay and discuss whatever you'd like."

[Kender Bard]

Luminous nodded, bringing Tristan to the place she mentioned. Pulling aside the curtains allowed the moonlight to stream in through the otherwise dimmed room. She opened the doors to the balcony and stepped out with him, smiling, as she always did, at the sight of Skyheort spread out before her. It wasn't the best view in the city but it was a nice one.

After taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she cleared her throat and began, "It's no secret that I'm seeking a betrothal. The pressure to do so has only increased since my father's death..." She closed her eyes momentarily, the only betrayal of how much that still hurt to say aloud. "Whoever I wed will, someday, be king. I must choose wisely. But my mother is kind and has given me a great deal of choice amongst the suitors she's gently pointed me towards in the years. The idea is that, yes, I must choose someone suitable but also someone not incompatible. I've nearly made up my mind on the matter, but before I can do so, there are some things I must know about you."

Unlike Lucid, where her concern lay in how well he reacted to Caelium's people and policies, as well as his knowledge of the people and and how they may react if he were to be brought into the land as their future king, Luminous had other concerns for Tristan. "So, most importantly, would you even be willing to accept a proposal if offered?" She smiled rather sadly. "It's a heavy mantle I wouldn't thrust upon anyone unwilling to bear its weight. Not to mention I have no idea if you might have interests in another woman."

[Darastrix]

Ah, that matter.  Tristan's expression turned sympathetic when she mentioned her father, but she continued on, so he didn't try to interrupt.  He'd thought that might have been the reason for tonight's invitation, though he hadn't expected it to be acknowledged so explicitly.  But as Luminous had said, the pressure on her was greater than before.

"My mother hasn't directed me toward anyone as far as courtship and betrothal goes," Tristan answered, "and I haven't any interests myself."  He had no real pressure to marry, even though he was the sole heir of his House.  There was always the option of taking the route Noel had.  "Whether I'd be willing to accept a proposal...."  He combed a hand through his feathers slowly as he looked out over Skyheort with a pensive expression.

To be king.  King.  He couldn't deny there was a thrill in the idea, but he knew that would be short-lived, just like the idea of being head of House Fell.  It was work and a lot of it.  The throne would be even more.  Could he do it?  ...yes.  It was, in a sense, a business on a grander scale.  And he would have additional support from Anarlina, he was sure.  Did he want to?  The Storms wouldn't be particularly pleased, but that was a reason to want a Sulan ruler.  Caelium needed rulers who would keep the interests of both halves in mind.  He wasn't sure they'd get that from a Maelstrom-born king.

"I would," he decided, looking back to Luminous.  "I do have a question of my own.  It may be a bit indelicate, but....  This would be a business partnership, though with someone I do rather like."  He gave a quick grin, and settled back into a more serious expression.   "But if we were to wed, and we never go from liking each other to love, what's your opinion on discrete affairs?"

[Kender Bard]

Luminous's expression was startled at his blunt question. "I... hadn't thought that far ahead." She bit her lip. "If that were the case, then... All I could say is that they'd have to be discrete indeed. The royal family has an image to protect... An image that definitely needs polishing after the rumors of my father's affair when he was younger and the..." She clenched her jaw, her words tense, "...confirmation of his infidelity before his death."

THAT still hurt, even more than her father's death. His death was tragic and it burned in her heart, but thinking of his open affair rankled at her heart and she closed her eyes again, much tighter, and took a few breaths to steady her sudden roil of emotion. "Pardon," she managed after a moment. "It was a difficult thing to live with, made more awkward by his passing... Back to your question... I honestly do hope that any marriage I enter will blossom into love. One of my other suitors already professes great affections for me. But his position amongst the people would be disfavorable and his knowledge of the system is lacking in a manner I find disquieting. So there is that."

She went to the railing and braced her forearms against it as she leaned over and stared somberly into the night. "I wouldn't want to trap anyone into a loveless relationship," she said in a quiet voice. "If we were to wed and you don't find me to be your heart's desire, I would turn a blind eye to any affairs you might have, provided you at least keep them from my view and hearing. As for myself, I hadn't even considered the possibility." She glanced back at him with a slight smirk. "I am an outrageous flirt, be warned. But rarely more than that. I had been fully prepared to remain faithful, however. Love is fleeting, but duty never ceases. Still."

She turned, facing him. "My turn to ask you a question. I understand that rulership should be a partnership but even still, in any dance, one must lead. While I would take my spouse as my equal, I am very strong willed and, well, I'll be honest, somewhat stubborn. There's no possible way could I marry a man who expected anything less than full equality and he must be willing to compromise on things. Would that be a problem?"

[Darastrix]

Good job, Tristan, he thought with a faint wince.  See how many more bad memories you can dig up for her.  "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bring up anything painful."  Though he hadn't meant sneaking around on each other.  He'd had something more...Anarlinan in mind.  He didn't think now was the time to explain further, though. 

He didn't quite agree with her sentiment about love and duty.  Lust was fleeting.  (Seriously, give it a little time and attention, and you ended up with no lust and a bit of a mess to deal with.)  Going by the example in his family and what he'd seen in Anarlina, love wasn't.  She had it right about duty, though.

He shook his head at her question.  "It's honestly kind of strange to me to imagine marrying someone and expecting them to be a subordinate.  I...can't really understand the appeal."  Zira's relationship with Zack would throw him for a loop.  "I'm perfectly willing to find a compromise on things, though.  Now, I know how Maelstrom feels about this and Talen'sul is a bit better about it, but what's your personal feeling on the fact that my brother is wed to another man?  Would you defend him against slander or say nothing when you hear it?"

[Kender Bard]

"Oh please," Luminous retorted with an unladylike snort. "I couldn't give a pigfeather about that sort of thing. I don't precisely trumpet my religious leanings but I am fairly Soahcian so things that lay outside the social norm don't precisely bother me. Frankly, I think it's quite lovely that your brother was able to marry someone he loves. As for slander..."

Her expression hardened. "Family means a great deal to me. Were we to wed, your family is my family. I would not stand an ill word against my future brother-in-law in my presence." Provided he wasn't a prig of course, but she highly doubted that was the case, given his roots.

"I am aware that you've trained with Lord Cobalt on the martial arts," she continued. "Commendable. The job of king is a dangerous one. I don't need to tutor you on the long and, sadly, bloody history of our lands. My grandfather's murder has been told to me. My family has had multiple attempts on their lives. I have had an attempt on my life. I don't see that changing in the future, especially since I hope to usher in changes that knit Maelstrom and Talen'sul together even tighter. Knowing this, would you still stand by my side?"