Episode 83 Ebony and Emeralds
Ebony and Emeralds
Dinner is a quiet affair, thank the heavens. Arisanna was mentally preparing to shield Cerian from Mother during the meal, but Mother quietly announced she was ready to retire, and after giving Arisanna a hug, Father followed her out of Elowyn’s room.
No one talks much as Arisanna and Cerian squeeze around Elowyn’s little table with the others, and Cerian eats his chicken and potatoes without complaint.
To Arisanna’s relief, Chef sent her chicken and potatoes as well.
She may not be squeamish, but it will be a while before stew sounds even remotely appealing again.
“You need to rest,” Queen Nestraya says to Tharios after she sets down her fork.
Tharios definitely looks worse for wear.
“I will, Mother. Soon.”
“Not soon. Now. Your father and I will take the next watch. I am hardly helpless. I trained under Healer Cadowyn before you were even a dream in your father’s mind, Tharios. If Elowyn needs you, I will send for you.”
Tharios rubs his face and sighs. “You’re a warrior-class healer, Mother. And I’m pretty sure Father was dreaming of Cerian.”
Cerian? Arisanna glances Cerian’s way as King Lorial runs his hand over Cerian’s dark hair. “Ebony and emeralds,” King Lorial whispers, and Cerian gazes at his plate, his cheeks rosy.
Ebony and emeralds?
Then it dawns on her. Queen Nestraya. Cerian’s father must have imagined elflings with his wife’s hair and eyes.
Hair and eyes like Cerian’s.
Will she and Cerian have an elfling with his dark hair and beautiful green eyes? And those pointed ears of his?
The thought warms her, and she pushes it aside.
Maybe someday.
“But I wouldn’t trade any of you for anything,” King Lorial adds. “And you will rest, Tharios. Your mother can watch over Elowyn for a few hours while you care for yourself.”
Tharios looks torn, but Viala draws him gently into a kiss, and Arisanna stares down at the table.
Will she ever grow used to the easy affection of her new family?
“Come away with me, my love,” Viala says softly. “Let me help restore your magic.”
Stars above. Did she just proposition him at the dinner table?
“Go on with you before you scandalize Arisanna,” King Lorial says with a chuckle.
Can they see her flaming cheeks?
“Forgive me,” Viala says. “I forget humans are not so free with their affection.”
“It’s all right,” Arisanna says. Hopefully, her red face isn’t too noticeable. “Just don’t say things like that around my mother. She might faint.”
That garners a few chuckles, and Tharios sighs again. “You’ll send someone if anything changes?”
“Of course, my little love,” Queen Nestraya says. “You may rest easy knowing if no one has sent for you, it’s because she is stable.”
“Come,” Viala says once more, though she doesn’t elaborate this time, and with a nod, he rises and takes her hand as she leads him from the room.
Well. Whatever Tharios and Viala do next, hopefully it will help him. And hopefully Elowyn won’t need him.
“You should rest as well, my elfling,” King Lorial says beside Cerian. “It’s been a long and overwhelming day for you. I can read it in those emerald eyes of yours.”
Cerian has grown quiet again. His brows hang heavy, and his eyes are wide and unfocused—that’s the look he gets when he feels overwhelmed. Their interlude in the storage alcove helped, but the more time they spend around other people, the more that look returns.
Thoughts of drawing him away the way Viala did with Tharios fill Arisanna’s head, but she pushes them aside as her face warms. That won’t be happening any time soon. If ever.
Cerian merely nods without speaking, and after he checks on Elowyn again, Arisanna says a polite goodnight to his family. “Thank you for your kindness to my mother,” she says softly. “She can be grating, but she means well.”
“Your mother has endured pain in this life, Arisanna,” Grandmera says in quiet Elvish. “It affects us all in different ways.”
Arisanna nods. Mother rarely talks about the years of heartache waiting for a child. And even more rarely does she mention the three babies she lost before she got to hold them. She gets a wistful look sometimes when gazing at Arisanna, though. As if she’s seeing past Arisanna to someone else.
“Thank you. She wanted you to know how grateful she is for everything you’ve done. I’m not sure she will ever be able to express the words herself, but—”
“We know, my youngling,” King Lorial says. “And you and Rominy both have been a gift to us all. Now take Cerian and relieve the overwhelm behind his eyes.”
Her cheeks flame again, and when she glances at Cerian, the intensity of his gaze makes it hard to breathe.
He says his own goodnights, and together they step into the hallway past Jonas, who has resumed his post. As they turn toward their room, Arisanna stops short.
Father’s guards are there.
Did Mother commandeer their room?
“Your Highness,” Father’s head guard says to her, “your father asked me to tell you your mother was struggling with her composure and needed privacy, and he knew you’d understand.”
Arisanna nods. “Of course.”
Now what, though? Surely the proprietor prepared a room somewhere for the King and Queen of Nunia?
“Do you know if there’s another room available?” she asks.
“Forgive me, yes. A suite was prepared for your parents. It’s on the top floor. Your father was concerned about being so far from the prince, especially if His Majesty’s rheumatism flares with all those stairs.”
Relief fills Arisanna, and she nods. “We’ll manage. Thank you, Martin.”
He leans toward her. “I think you’ll like it. It’s nicer than this one.” Then he turns to the man beside him. “Erich, show the prince and princess to their new room.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, wait, Your Highness. Your father left these for you.” Martin holds out Cerian’s apple pail and knapsack, and Cerian quickly takes them.
That was thoughtful of Father. Not that they couldn’t have survived without the apples and hoards of candy, but Cerian’s knapsack has everything they brought in it.
Granted, they packed little, but it’s still appreciated.
They’re about to follow Erich to the other suite when images of that bottle Tharios gave her fill her head.
Stars above. Did Father put it in Cerian’s knapsack? Or is it still on the nightstand?
Tharios’s words return to her.
Every night.
“Is something wrong, Princess?” Martin asks.
A nervous laugh escapes her before she can stop it.
She reaches for Cerian’s knapsack, and Cerian frowns as she digs inside it.
“What are you looking for?” he asks quietly.
Well. She isn’t planning to announce it in the hallway.
“Just...something Tharios gave me.”
It had better be in the bag. The last thing she wants is Mother asking her what it is and why she needs it tonight if Arisanna knocks on their door now.
Relief fills her when her hand wraps around cool glass. At least Father left it for her. He won’t ask questions, not the way Mother would.
“I found it,” she says. “We’re ready. Lead the way, Erich.”
“This way, Your Highnesses.”
Cerian eyes her with confusion, but he says nothing, and soon they’re climbing the stairs to the third floor.
Does the hotel owner not live up here? Most business owners live above their shops, though Rominy told her his sociology professor said that’s been changing.
Or was it economics? Either way, there’s clearly a suite on the top level.
After leading them up two flights of stairs, Erich gestures toward a door on the right. “The Honeymoon Suite, Your Highnesses.”
He disappears before either of them can respond, and heat flares within Arisanna’s chest.
This hotel has a honeymoon suite? She’s heard of such things becoming popular at the more upscale hotels in Levina, but she never expected to find one in Feressa.
One being offered to her. And Cerian.
“What is a honeymoon suite?” Cerian asks, and Arisanna turns wide eyes his way.
“It’s...a set of rooms designed for newlyweds. For the newly bound.”
“What makes it different from other rooms?”
She could venture a few guesses. It would be easier to show him, though.
Without speaking, she pushes open the door, and they both stand in the doorway, taking in the room.
Stars above.