Chapter 45: Resolve
Frey was sitting next to Aedrik on a stone bench, it was a narrow street, but there was no one else on sight. The city guard and some man at arms of house Lunebleau had secured it.
"How do you fell?" Aedrik deep voice and gentle tone calmed her. He looked calm, but Frey had noted his hands were not.
"I am fine, it's just that..." she could not express what she was feeling.
They had been laughing as they walked down the street, talking about his sisters and the city, then he gently held her behind him, he walked in front of her, that's when she noticed a pair of man who were walking on their direction, they saw the change in Aedrik and before they could do anything, Siv and 3 armsman of house Lunebleau had jumped on them.
Assassin, it was a word she had heard from time to time, her father always had a particular face whenever he mentioned them. The two men had been quickly subdued and apprehended, they were on their way to the castle, where they would be interrogated.
"I am sorry Frey, I was too slow to react, I should have notice them sooner, I should have warned you" she turned and felt his eyes burning on her, they were filled with worry and… anger.
"I have never seen something like this… I am glad it happened this way" she tried to smile for him "I am sorry for worrying you, should we return to the castle?" she had tried to steady her voice but it betrayed her in the end. She was surprised, sad, upset, but there was something else. She did not want to go back, the world would not wait for her, she was scared, but she would stop. She wanted to show him her city, not to end this day with this memory, was it her just being stubborn?
"For a moment, I was really worried" Aedrik laugh caught her attention, she turned and saw his usual smile, that did the trick, she felt her heart slowing, easing "We've just been about to be assaulted and you are apologizing for making ME, worry, you are even wondering if we should get back while still trying to react properly to what have just happened?" Frey felt his eyes seeing straight through her thoughts "We are safe Frey, I would never put you in danger, but first and foremost, I just want to make you happy, I love seeing you smile, talking with you, listening to your thoughts. We promised to be honest, Frey. Talk with me" she felt small tears forming in her eyes, he hugged her close to his chest, it was warm.
She cried, she felt ashamed, what had just happened was wrong, but it was not something exclusive for someone in her position, commoners were robbed, knights murdered by jealousy, no one was safe from bad things to happened. This will not stop her; it would not change who she was. She had thought about it, knew it was a possibility but seeing it happening to them was an eye opener, she had to move forward.
She calmed as he hugged her, she was cared, and that was fine. She was not alone; he was here with her. She took his trembling hand and placed it close to her chest, it was always warm, but it had been trembling, she kissed it and it stopped, she was also here for him. They stood close to each other for a while, she calmed her breathing, his heartbeat soothed her, she gave him a hard hug, and moved from him, his eyes and smile were his answer.
"I don't want to go back, there are still many places I want to show you" this time her voice had not trembled, she stood up and grabbed his hand to help him stand.
"After you, my lady"
"Frey, knock on my room once you come back, don't mind the hour" Frey saw the worried face on her sister, as she and Aedrik were going to the castle courtyard.
"I will, thank you" Frey smiled and nodded at Noelle, she kept walking with Aedrik were heading for the Horizon Lookout, Noelle stood there at the entrance of the castle watching her sister and Aedrik talking as they walked.
"They truly found support on each other" Lea said from behind, surprising Noelle.
"I… yes, how incredibly" Noelle admitted.
They had been discussing abo the wedding on the east hall when an Sir Lois reported a couple of armed men had been captured by lady Siv. Noelle had never been so worried, her mother almost went to find them, but her father was calm. No one had been hurt, the culprits were already being escorted to the castle.
"I've never truly envied Frey before, until now…" Noelle turned but Lea was already on her way.
Noelle had expected Frey and Aedrik would return to the castle after what had happened, but they were informed they would still continue their outing around the city, they came barely in time for dinner. She had hugged her sister, and she notice she had been disturbed, but she had not backed away. "Frey is not small" Aedrik had told her, how wrong had she been about her sister.
She wanted to talk with her sister about what had happened, and her walk with her fiancé, but that would have to wait. She waited until the silhouettes of the couple disappeared as they turned close to north wing of the castle.
"I am sorry Frey" he spoke as they were looking at the city was flooded by the moonlight, there was a large part of the city with dark blue and pale blue rooftops, with the dim lights from the streets lazily passing on the spaces between the buildings, it was a surreal reflection of the starry night sky. After they had left the stone bench, they had not talked about what had happened, she had calmed him, but he was restless.
"Why would you be sorry?" She asked him, he knew, she understood him, he felt responsible.
"I should have seen them before I should have been more prepared" he always looked around for anything, he could get lost just looking at Frey, he needed to find a balance in that. Her acceptance of his proposal had placed her in this situation, he was not sure on what to do.
"Why are you so concerned, we still don't know what they were after. I accepted you Aedrik, we chose this, together, why are you placing everything on yourself?" she grabbed his face, her simple touch felt like burning, his skin reacted to her, eager. She was looking straight into his eyes.
"You are right, I am sorry, but I don't know what I would have done, if anything had happened to you" he saw the change in her face, he did not want to burden her with what he felt, but that was truth, that was what really bothered him.
"So that's what it is… you were worried about me" she smiled, and he had to hold and impulse to kiss her "I am sorry as well, I kept what was going inside my head at that time, we both had promised to be honest. We chose this, we move together" he felt his heart steadying itself on his chest with her words, her gentle smile.
"How are you feeling?" he asked once he had calmed down.
"I am still upset, but more than anything, I was thinking on what to do" she bit her lower lip, like she did when she was nervous or thinking "There is no point in overthinking the motive or the reason, it is probable the interrogation lead nowhere, they were not that good I think…" he nodded as he saw her looking at him for confirmation "They could be a simple message, or a distraction, it matters not. I am not afraid if you are with me" was she aware of how deep her words reached?
"I would have fallen for you, just because of this… I am not afraid if I am with you" she blushed but she held his gaze.
"You are right, we should not worry about this. The empire has many enemies, Loire is going to have a change of power with house Lunebleau at the center, the alliance of our nations, too many possibilities. I am sorry, what a gift from your betrothed…" for all he wanted to make her happy, he was not doing such a great job.
"We've already talked about this, I chose you. I am starting to think you like hearing me say it" he could not help but grin at her response.
"Not intended, but I would never get tired of hearing you say it. Well, I told you I wanted to talk about our future after the wedding" he looked at her, he did not want to pressure her, but he had seen her response, she nodded and turned to look at the city below. He gently hugged her, he loved how such a small frame could hold such a grand being, she grabbed his hands in his.
"I talked about our plans on the library, what we considered and things we wanted. I wanted to trace a path with you, it is not set in stone, I don't know what the future holds, all I know, is that my place is besides you" he gently held her before to stop her before she said anything "We both talked about noblesse oblige, the responsibility of our positions, helping others. I wanted to go to the north once I found out about norkriegers, it is their honor to help and protect others, Siv showed me how small my views were and after the orc raid, I learned there was much to do"
"The empire is going to change, my father, us and the high council have been discussing it, before I came, we were working on the last details, the lands taken from the warring hills will be used to proceed with these changes. The imperial lands will be divided differently, my mother planned for us heirs to grow in different parts of the empire so we could understand and represent these differences. We wanted to give more power to the high council, and us heirs to work with it"
"I like the idea, you told me about it in the library" I nodded in response
"After the death of my mother, us siblings knew there was still need for and emperor, we will continue with the idea of empowering the high council, each region or territory will have a council of its own, but Levi, our eldest would remain an emperor. Until each induvial consider itself a Fey Danan, there's need of it" he knew she supported the idea of a council, Frey was attracted to idea of a republic, he also felt attracted to it, but the empire was too divided.
"This councils will serve as measures of power, but you will still make us of nobility, an imperial nobility" he smiled at how simple it was talking with her.
"In a sente there is already one, the countries that joined kept their nobility as it was, they pledged their alliance to the imperial crown, in time there had been changes, but more are needed, as the councils gain power, there would need to be a review on who are chosen to be in them, being a noble will not be a requisite"
"You will consider ability, competence, would you support commoners?" he heard her voice changing, she was surprised, curious.
"There are some already. That is why the imperial law is so important, and why it must be clear and complete. I wanted to provide a little context; I am one of the four Marshalls of the empire. I am part of the imperial army, a soldier, I would always protect its people, but I will not join any invasion, I hate war. I kept thinking about the day we met, how you questioned the way the empire treated Faerun, and for all we had a reason, you were right. The entire warring hills campaign, I think we did the right thing, for the Empire and for Loire, I am even sure, we made a service for many tribes, but I don't want to have to do it, again…" Frey turned to look at him, as he had her inside his arms.
"I am also a High Judge, High Advisor and a member of the High Council and the Northern Covenant. My father had asked me to become and Exarch of the lands near the Boreal Glades, but I had refused. I loved being a norkrieger, I've served in the north, when the opportunity of an alliance with Loire came, I knew coming here would probably require I had to marry to secure and Alliance. After what had happened, and with the new divisions, the high council and my father is asking me to become an Archon, the highest authority in what will be the new territory of the north. I have been waiting to talk with you, so we could make a choice"
"Aedrik, it is not up to me to decide…"
"We move together, you said. Before I met you, I would not have accepted, I would have carried as I was, a norkrieger, doing what I could for the north and the empire, but now, I know how much you could do, I consider it, because I know you will be with me"
"I accepted you, everything about you, but I also want to make you happy. Can't you accept the charge to be used only when it is needed, I take this Northern Covenant as the local council, and work with it. If what you say about the need of a figure to held things together, then do it, if it is worth it. I am happy to be with you, I had been thinking about this, and honestly, I was too nervous, I been feeling nostalgic about leaving Lune de Neige, but want to trace our path together, here with you, this is what I want, I don't know why I had been so nervous about it" her smile melted something inside him, he kissed her forehead, much to her surprise.
"I think that is an incredible idea. I have not been told about the exact details of this changes, but the new distribution of lands will be how I've told you. The only thing is left, is where would you like to live?"
"Wait, WHAT? You asked me to marry you, and we don't have a house?" he saw her half smiling half worried.
"I have a large tent, I never stayed in the same place, hence why I'm asking"
"Is there a town or city, that would work as a chef-lieu or capital for this new territory?"
"My father suggested a town from the Londen Woods, the high council was divided among a city from Strauss or the biggest town in Leven, I actually wanted to create a new one, it would benefit the management and distribution of the region and it would represent what we wanted to achieve, I had two possible places, but I am already taking you from your home, what would you like?"
"Didn't we said we wanted to make our path, I like your idea, we will build a home, together"
"Meanwhile, will have a tent"
"It is warm, right?"
"Don't worry, if you ever get cold, I'll do my best to warm you, lady Frey. That is a husband job" they were too close to each other, he needed some space, otherwise he would not be able to hold himself. Having her inside his arms was already making his skin on edge, and yet she bit her lower lip after she heard his words.
"The north will be our home" she said after a moment of hesitation.
"This new territory shares a border with Loire"
"The lands of marquess Alaire, he and his mother will arrive at the castle a just a couple of days before the wedding" he raised an eyebrow in surprise, she just smiled happily.
"After you told me about these new divisions, I got in touch with lady Alaire, the marquess mother. The marquess was at the trade meetings, but he left a poor impression on me, after talking with Mrs. Ferlin she told me his mother had a lot of say in her son's lands, and that she considered lady Alaire a remarkable woman. Hence why I traded a few correspondences with her" she explained smiling like a little girl.
"I see, I am impressed lady Frey, I am not sure of the north will be enough for your skills"
"You are Nord Stern, the north star, it would not have the same impact if we moved somewhere else, don't you think?" he gently passed his hand on her temple and tuck her soft hair behind her ear, she was turning red.
"That I cannot discuss"
"You have been keeping this for a while, and you were oddly specific about some things, why had you not talked about this sooner?" she tilted her head slightly.
"We had sitting arrangements, flower decorations, and several other things regarding our wedding to decided"
"True that"
"You've also been working hard, lord Finean has been sending me these reports, I think I saw your hand in some of them, am I wrong?"
"I… perhaps" he loved the way she frowned embarrassed.
"I knew it, you are incredible Frey"
"I like it, there are many things still I would like to try. I have been thinking on what I could do to help the Empire and Loire, I have some ideas, I want to discuss with you. I had been hesitating about them, but what happened before, and specially after talking with you, I know understand. I needed you by my side, will you help me Aedrik? I want to walk with you, together" she was completely red, but her eyes never backed from his.
"I will Frey" she had been thinking about what she could do to help, to make things better, to improve things for the people, and she was resolute "I love you Frey" he kissed her, it was not a short kiss, but it was soft and gentle, her lips reached for his as well. The dim moonlight bathed her pale skin and he love it, he loved each one of her small freckles.
"Do think our tent is big enough for all the wedding gifts we are going to receive?" she asked genuinely worried.
"There are some parts in the north when you need to move around with the seasons, they are nice and cozy, mine is not the largest, but we will find a way to fit everything I promise" he smiled at how easy it was for her to change.
"Is the home we are going to be build made up by tents…" he raised an eyebrow, Frey smiled faking innocence, holding her smile.
"A palace of tents, only the best for you my lady" he grinned, she laughed "We will build it, it needs to last if we want to make a change, but don't worry, I will have enough space for our tent, if you ever find missing it"
"I think I would like anywhere as long is just the two of us" he saw straight into her eyes, and she held his. She was biting her lip again, but was nervous, he could feel it, but so was he.
"We could set the tent outside the castle after our wedding if you like"
"Perhaps, I wanted to visit a place after the wedding, just the two of us, a day or two, but we cannot leave our guests, perhaps later…"
"Why not? A day at least, can we teleport there?" her eyes were sparkling at his words.
"I think it can be arranged, but wouldn't it be wrong? The royal duke will be here, your sisters…"
"Your mother and Mrs. Ferlin had been adamant about the next day feast, an entire day of eating, for some to recover from the celebration, and to bond, I think we could scape it, my sisters would not mind, Lucy would even cover for us"
"A day… I wanted to show you more places" he smiled at her expression.
"We are in no hurry to return to the empire Frey, I would love to see everything you want to show me, before we head for the Empire, just keep in mind our second ceremony will be in four months after this one" they had discussed about it, he had considered doing it sooner, Frey had as well, but Mrs. Ferlin and Siv suggested he gave Frey more time, by the look on her face, it was the right call.
"Thank you" she hugged him, he caressed her silvery blue hair "I've been studying woodspeak, Siv has been teaching me, she told to ask you to teach me, would you?"
"I leave you alone for a moment and you start learning orcish and woodspeak?"
"Did Siv told you about orcish?" her hair fell on her left eye as she frowned.
"She did not, I guessed you would, I was almost sure about it once you told me about your idea of making clothes for them, now woodspeak, that I did not expect. How's it going?"
"I think I suck at woodspeak, with orcish I am starting to understand it, Noelle says my pronunciation is awful, but I think I will manage, but woodspeak is so strange, I feel lost"
"Good, that's woodspeak" he saw her smile waning, but in her eyes, there was only, resolve. He smiled at her, he was warm, his heart was filled with her.
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