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Céline watched the moonlight’s reflection on the surface of the pool, hoping the stillness of the water would grant her a sense of tranquility. Alas, it did not.
The princess of Firene closed her eyes and sighed. Usually, spending time under the open starlit sky in the peaceful atmosphere of the somniel was enough to clear her head of nightmares. The past few nights, however, she’d run into Alcryst, who apparently suffered from similar bad dreams.
For him, the dreams of losing his brother, Diamant, were a more recent development, having begun along with the war. He feared having to rule Brodia in Diamant’s stead should Diamant fall in combat.
Céline’s nightmares of losing her own brother began many years ago and were born from a different reason. It was a rarity for her to confide these fears to anyone; it was not her story to tell, so to speak, and the one who’s story it was remained adamant about keeping it under lock and key.
Perhaps she’d said too much to Alcryst the first night they’d spoken, but the second Brodian Prince was so inoffensive in his gentle inquiry to her well-being that she couldn’t help but trust him. He certainly didn’t strike her as the sort to gossip.
Still, talking to one who sympathized with her predicament eased her mind far more than the gentle glow of moonlight ever could, and so she had, perhaps foolishly, hoped to find Alcryst here again tonight.
However, it appeared Alcryst would not be coming. That was a good thing, she supposed, if it meant he was able to sleep soundly, even if she herself was not.
She recalled Alcryst mentioning that checking up on his brother in the middle of the night and seeing him alive and well always put his fears to rest. Céline had initially dismissed the idea for herself; Alfred was an exceptionally early riser, often awake and active well before dawn. If she accidentally woke him, he’d undoubtedly take an even earlier start to the day and invite her to join in his training regimen.
Yet the longer she stood there at the water’s edge, vestiges of her most recent nightmare lingering at the forefront of her mind, the less opposed she became to the prospect.
Perhaps she would be roped into one of his workouts; but what of it? She disliked exercise, yes, but she disliked the prospect of worrying away the remainder of the night even more.
It was decided, then. Céline turned around and made her way back to the somniel’s sleeping quarters. Her own room was directly next to Alfred’s, so she needn’t stray too far from her usual route.
Luckily, his door was unlocked. She turned the knob slowly and carefully stepped inside.
Guest quarters at the somniel weren’t fancy; at least not compared to the Divine One’s chambers. Each room was furnished with a dresser, a nightstand, a simple bed, and a desk. It occurred to her then that she’d never actually been inside Alfred’s room here at the somniel before. It was remarkably similar to his room back home, at least in terms of the training weights and muscle balms scattered atop the dresser, and the flower box positioned in the window sill.
Alfred didn’t snore the way Diamant apparently did, so Céline quietly made her way toward his bed, stopping a few feet back; close enough to check his breathing, but far enough away that her presence hopefully wouldn’t disturb him.
Alfred slept soundly in his bed; his breathing slow and even, entire demeanor peaceful.
Relief washed over her like a refreshing rain on a warm summer’s day.
Satisfactorily reassured by the steady rise and fall of his chest, Céline made to leave and return to her own bed, only to step directly onto a creaky floorboard.
She froze at the sound, wincing.
Sure enough, she heard Alfred stir awake behind her.
“Hm? Céline?” She turned around at the sound of her brother’s sleepy voice, “What’s going on?”
Now that Alfred was awake and looking at her, she felt rather silly. Here she was, a noble young lady—a princess, no less—going into her big brother’s room in the middle of the night all because she had a bad dream. How childish she must seem.
The sight of him in his bedclothes with his hair tousled from sleep reminded her of their childhood. Alfred was often confined to his room as a child, and so Céline would visit him regularly, bringing tea and wildflowers that she gathered from the courtyard to brighten his day. In turn, Alfred would weave flower crowns from the bouquets she brought and Céline would wear them proudly. He began wearing them too when she insisted he do so that they could match.
When she didn’t respond immediately, Alfred grew concerned. He sat up straight, eyes wide, “Did something happen? Is the Divine One okay?”
Céline raised a hand placatingly, “No, no; nothing’s happened. Everyone is fine.”
She found it slightly amusing that his first concern upon being woken in the middle of the night was for the Divine Dragon. He had always liked the Divine One—Alear—even before she awoke from her thousand year slumber. Naturally, for their religion worshiped the Divine Dragons, but more than that Alfred had always treated her as a friend, speaking to her freely in conversation as if she may wake up and reply at any moment. They had prayed together at her bedside altar many times under the watchful eye of her steward, Sir Vander.
Alfred visibly relaxed before his expression turned into one of confusion, “Then… why are you in my room?”
There was no hint of irritation in his voice, only bewilderment. In typical Alfred manner, he was not upset with her for invading his privacy or disturbing his sleep; he was too forgiving for that.
Céline took a steadying breath; might as well confess at this point, “I had a nightmare and I just… wanted to be sure you were okay.”
“Oh.” Alfred frowned, looking away, “If this is about what happened earlier, I’m sorry you had to see that. I know how you worry.”
Céline’s shoulders tensed at the memory. Earlier that evening, she’d happened upon Alfred during a walk just as his heart started giving him trouble; much as it had when he was younger.
In reality, she started to go for help before he stopped her, insisting that it would pass on its own and he would be fine. He rested and chatted with her for a while; their subsequent conversation making her regret her earlier comments regarding his barbaric obsession with training. Of course, the reason he trained so much was to improve his health—how had she not made the connection sooner? True to his word, his condition improved without aid and they eventually parted ways for the night.
In her nightmare, she frantically sought help, only to return with a medic too late, finding he’d died in her absence.
Céline shook her head to dispel the unpleasant thought, “You’ve no need to apologize, the fault is my own. I did not mean to wake you. Good night, Alfred.”
“Ah, wait!” Alfred surprised her by reaching out and taking her hand before she could leave.
She gave him a quizzical look and he let go of her hand, gesturing for her to sit beside him on the bed, “There is actually something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about, but I could never find a good time to bring it up without a bunch of other people overhearing.”
Céline felt anxiety worm its way into her heart as she sat down beside him. Was his attack so serious? Did he need to go home? Before her imagination could run wild with worry, Alfred reached over to the nightstand and picked up a small, embroidered bag.
Her fear gave way to joyous surprise when he opened the bag and brought out a glistening blue ring.
Céline recognized the ring immediately, “The pact ring,” she whispered, “The Divine One chose you?”
Even in the faint light coming in from the window, Céline could see Alfred blush. He nodded.
Céline watched as Alfred slipped the ring onto his finger, bringing his hand close to his heart, “I gave her the heirloom embroidery, and she gave me this.”
Truthfully, Céline wasn’t shocked to learn of his affection. Her brother was not exactly subtle with his feelings; cooking the Divine One breakfast and delivering it to her in bed, playing lullabies outside her room at night. The fact that Alear returned his feelings, however, was a bit more surprising. Last she’d heard, Alear had asked him to stop doing those things for her, which her brother had taken poorly.
Clearly she had missed something between then and now.
She understood why he hadn’t wanted anyone else to hear of this. Elyos was facing a war; their army needn’t be sidetracked by the Divine One’s betrothal. There would be plenty of time for celebration after the war was won.
Céline allowed herself to feel happy, just for this moment. She pulled her brother into a hug, “Congratulations! That is truly wonderful, Alfred. Mother is going to be overjoyed!”
To her surprise, Alfred did not appear to reciprocate her joy.
“Céline,” he spoke her name in a melancholic tone that did not suit him, “you’ve always been the smart one. Could you tell me…do you think this is wise?”
Céline tilted her head thoughtfully, “Why wouldn’t it be? You love her, do you not?”
Alfred sighed, “I do. That’s why I’m worried, actually.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“She’s going to outlive me.”
A rock formed in her stomach and settled there. Alfred’s shortened life expectancy was something she tried desperately not to think about. It was the reason that she, despite being second-born, had also been schooled in the art of kingdom governance.
Céline shifted uncomfortably, “She is a Divine Dragon; she’s going to outlive everyone here.”
She was deliberately avoiding his point and they both knew it.
“She’s going to outlive me more than the others.” Alfred asked directly, “For a dragon with a lifespan of thousands of years, isn’t it unfair for her to marry someone whose life is already short by human standards?”
Céline gently chided him, “That’s not for you to decide, that’s her choice.”
Alfred turned away, ashamed.
“You never told her,” Céline realized.
“How could I?” he lamented, “What if she regrets giving me the ring?”
Céline shook her head, “I am certain she will not.”
Alfred looked like he didn’t believe her.
Céline gathered her thoughts for a moment, then spoke.
“Alfred, do you remember when father died?”
Alfred grimaced, “Somewhat.”
Her brother had been very ill at the time of their father’s death, so a limited recollection wasn’t altogether unexpected.
Céline nodded, “Mother was heartbroken.”
“Of course she was.”
“Despite that, do you think mother ever regretted marrying father?”
Alfred stared at her in surprise, “Of course not!”
Céline asked, “Why do you think that is?”
Alfred replied, “Because she loved him.”
Céline waited for the comparison to sink in. When it did, Alfred put his head in his hands,
“I don’t want to break her heart, Céline.”
“It’s not something you can control, unfortunately.” Céline spoke candidly, “I believe it was you who once said, to quote, “No one knows how much time we have left in this world, so why hold back from expressing yourself?””
Alfred smiled wanly, “Yeah, I did say that, didn’t I?”
Céline gave him a reassuring smile in return, “Then don’t hold back.”
The princess of Firene found herself pulled into a massive hug before she could blink.
“Thank you, Céline. I really am lucky to have a little sister like you.”
Céline hugged him back, tightly. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing she’d woken him up.
“Oh, it looks like the sun is rising. I’d better get ready for my morning patrol! You’ll come with me, won’t you?”
With that single question, any possibilities of sleep for the day went out the window.
Yet Céline found herself less reluctant to join him than she initially feared, “Of course, always.”