Dance of Wolf and Raven: Chapter 2 (Patreon)

Chapter 2: Bad News First.

Adelina stares at her brother in silence, her fears worsening as she finally takes his features in. She was just so happy earlier to see him and hear his voice.

But now, up close, she can see how tired he really is.

His dark brown eyes are blood-shot, with dark circles underneath. His prized beard… even now she remembers how excited he was to show her that it had finally connected. He thought himself a man then and there.

Regularly groomed and trimmed, she can see that it hasn't been shaved in quite a while. Even his wavy black hair, something he made a point to keep groomed at all times at court… is now messy and wind-swept.

Daerin, the most easy-going of the imperial siblings and quickest to laugh, now wears a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

Adelina brings her left hand to her mouth, and she can feel her eyes beginning to moisten. Daerin's face crumbles as he sees this, the smile slowly fading.

"Am I really that ugl-"

Adelina takes her brother into an embrace once more, shutting him up. She smells the sweat and grime wafting from him, something Daerin knows and dislikes.

"Aw, Lina, please…" He tries pushing her off but she grips tightly, "…I know I look like shit, but I don't want you to smell it either…" Again, he tries separating from her, the attempt more successful this time. "I rode non-stop from the north with my men. Gareth sent Wythela with news." Adelina looks at her brother with worry, his tone indicated there was more to it.

"Alone."

She tilts her head, "Alone?"

Daerin bites his lower lip, sucking in air as he tries finding the words to tell her. Finally exhaling, he begins explaining.

"As you may know, Gareth and I tried telling the old man to fuck off with that whole business of marrying you off." Adelina nods. The only reason she and her mother even heard about this was due to Gareth's messengers warning her of the plot. "I… " He looks away, a blush appearing on his cheeks now.

"…may have been too loud." He finishes sheepishly.

Adelina's eyes narrow.

He grips his knees as the words just roll out of him, "Well, the old fucker didn't 'appreciate' that so he sent me off to watch Kayzack's walls for the whole war." He sniffs, as if the air had gotten colder.

"Lina… he kept me in the dark, away from everything, even Gareth. I never received any of your or your mother's letters." He looks up, locking eyes with his sister, "My men and I didn't fight any battles… but a number of us still died…" There's hesitation in his voice, a pause.

Daerin turns away to stare at the corner instead as he continues, "It wasn't until the order to return south came that I even knew you'd been summoned and Gareth failed."

Adelina focuses on breathing in and out, concentrating on the action so she could think clearly. She didn't know what to think, how to feel, what to say. There's simply so much already unpacked and…

Wait.

"Wythela?" She whispers to him suddenly, "You said she came alone? What do you mean?"

"Okay," he raises his hand to stop her, "Look, you'll keep interrupting me if you can't wait me to finish." His familiar grin slowly creeps back as he goes on, "You gotta shut up and let m-"

"Okay fine, whatever, just hurry up!"

Daerin simply flicks his finger across her forehead in response, soliciting a quiet 'tch' from his sister. She leans back on the seat, waiting.

The prince chuckles, but doesn't tease further.

"When the couriers came up, the only person I could trust in that group was Wythela herself." He stops, realizing something. "Oh, forgot to add in that she and Gareth are married now. The marriage happened in Lymark after the fall. Anyways-"

"What?!" Adelina nearly shouts in astonishment.

Daerin laughs but shakes his head, "Trust me, it really isn't that important compared to everything else I have to tell you."

"Wait, wait." Adelina stops him again, prompting a raised eyebrow from her brother.

"You said you had good and bad news," she says while ignoring his disapproving look, "why don't you just go through the bad first, in chronological order and…"

Daerin nods slowly as he hears her suggestion, "Are you sure? You gotta shut up cause it's going to shock."

Adelina nods, "Yes. But you have to follow up with the good."

Daerin breathes in deeply, collecting his thoughts. Finally, after a few seconds he scratches the bottom of his beard. He starts.

"Wythela comes, says I'm to be married," he points at his sister, "you too, but for me it's worse cause my betrothed is the enemy's daughter, dad orders me to join Gareth in Lymark, there Gareth tells me he supports your marriage now while ignoring my own dilemma like the prick he is," he lifts a hand up to stop Adelina from interrupting, "dad says you have to come with your little 'escort' without more soldiers just to piss off your mother, we say 'fuck that', Gareth tells me to leave and catch you in Zalderick, I bust my ass getting here, and now I have gone multiple days without bathing."

Daerin stops, and happily he asks, "Any questions?"

Adelina smiles innocently at him, "Oh goodness gracious no, I don't wish to interrupt you." She rolls her arm to make a grand gesture, "Pray tell, are you finished?"

Daerin closes his eyes as he chuckles before nodding.

"What," Adelina begins sweetly, but slowly turning angrier with each word spoken aloud, "the fuck is going on?!" Her brother backs away, pretending to be filled with fear.

"Now, now! Even though I agree, a princess shouldn't speak in su-"

She throws her arms in the air as she stands, 'Fuck that!" Only to then suddenly point at the prince's chest, "Fuck you!" She points to the ceiling of the carriage. "And fuck Gareth! Why in Saints' piss would he now support the marriage?!"

Daerin shrugs, "I asked him the same, he gave me that stupid wink of his and said 'A man must be allowed his privacy,' whatever the fuck that means."

Adelina however scoffs at hearing this, "So long as that privacy doesn't endanger me!" She growls in anger, "Did you at least press him?!"

Daerin rolls his eyes, 'Yeah, no shit." He waves her off, "But you know how he is. He acts like one of us but…"

He trails off, causing Adelina to reach across and put her hand on his.

"I know," she whispers softly, "Brother Gareth has burdens of his own as heir, Daerin. But why would he support the marriage now…?"

"Because," he replies wearily, "he fought alongside your betrothed during the war." Daerin hangs his head back, staring at the carriage's ceiling now. "Apparently they won several victories together, so they're war buddies now."

Adelina doesn't respond, so Daerin looks at her again to try and gauge her feelings on the matter. Her face is one of contemplation.

Worried, he tries explaining, "Lina, Gareth still loves you, like I do. The idiot just thinks it's actually a good match now that he knows Prince Uriel without taking your feelings or wants into consideration."

"What're the good news?" She asks unexpectedly.

Daerin's face scrunches with worry as he replies, "…are you okay? I know I didn't give the best of news just now."

Whatever worried Daerin soon fades away once he sees his sister's eyes however.

"I'm scared Daerin, now that father and Gareth support this marriage, I have no choice." She says this, but instead of fear, Daerin sees the fire in her gaze, a fire that burns ever more brightly as she continues.

"But fear does not prevent one's death, it only prevents one's life," she raises her chin defiantly at her brother, "I will marry Prince Uriel and carve out a life for me in Argent." She moves closer to him, "Now tell me, what news do you have that I can use for my benefit?"

Daerin grins widely, and Adelina notices the spark back in her brother's eyes.

"Before I left Gareth," Daerin reaches into his back pocket, "I made him sign this blank cheque for us…" he lifts a small piece of paper, smiling mischievously, "Now, we buy everything we can in Zalderick to show you off to your betrothed!"