Bivon, Tulosa, A Month Later
Flowers carpeted the streets. The people beside were adding thickness to it, throwing petals, whole flowers and even coins as the knights passed.
It was joyful. The end of the war. Peace at long last.
Henry probably looked gallant today, like one of those knights in the paintings. His steed had its coat scrubbed to full white. Equipped with a new set of saddle, his mount was the envy of all riders.
He himself was in his armor. His full helm had its visor opened. His purple cape was pristine. The sword on his hip was new, Castonian forged. The other knights followed him to the Headquarter. The clack of the horse hooves were hidden behind the loud cheers.
Henry smiled. The Omniscient saw it fit to keep him alive. Life was good. He was away for a few months but he had already missed this city and the people. But more than the city and the people, he longed for Freya.
He dismounted in front of the Headquarters. Knights around him saluted crisply. Henry didn't provide attention to them. He hurried to his room on top of the tall tower. His heavy steps rang in the coiling stairs. His heart was beating was after the ascent, mostly of exertion but partly of the thought of seeing Freya.
He stepped to the door and removed his helm. He fixed his hair and straightened his cape.
An empty room greeted him. Freya wasn't inside. Henry was a bit disappointed. Well he was indeed disappointed. He expected a warm reunion.
He sat on his bed and noticed a piece of paper nailed on the desk. He grabbed it, almost tearing it and read.
He soon smiled. He exited the room and hurried down. The knights saluted again but Henry cared less now. He went to his horse, mounted and galloped.
The gate opened to him. He headed west, the path as familiar as the back of his hand. He followed the road and then turned to the fifth hill to the right. The cobbled road became a narrow footpath. The grass was tall. The pines were lush. He rode until he saw a wooden house by a stream.
Freya was waiting by the door. Her clothes was a simple brown dress extending to her ankles. His mother and sister were beside Freya.
Henry dismounted. He was greeted by an embrace from his mother and sister. The three of them were silent. Words were not needed.
Both smiled and released him.Henry stepped to Freya slowly. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.
"You are home." She said.
"Yes, finally. I am home."
***
Greenwater, Castonia
Grease dripped from Erik's mouth as he chomped the chunk of tuna tail. He burped loud and leaned back.
"I don't know who between us is pregnant, Erik. Your belly is larger than mine." Sylvie said from across the table.
"It's just food. I'm not getting fat or something. I am Marquis Erik Connel, the very figure of fitness."
"I'm pretty sure it's fat" His mother said.
"So you two are working together against me huh?"
"Well even if you grow fat, you would still be my Handsome Marquis." Sylvie called for the servant to bring another platter. It was shrimps this time.
"You are teasing me for growing a little chubby and yet you do this?"
"But you growing a little fat suits us." Sylvie said. "Isn't that right Ma?"
"Yes, yes. You are the Marquis of Castonia. All the Marquises I've seen in paintings are men with large bellies."
"Father wasn't. Well he did grew a little in size in his latter years." Erik paused and looked at his swollen belly "Dammit. It is inevitable, isn't it?"
Sylvie and his mother laughed. They are cruel, Erik thought. He has just arrived today and they are already descending upon him.
"Don't get too uptight about it. The War is over. You need to sit back and watch the sunset until your hair grows grey." Sylvie said.
"Yes, the war is over. It is time to replenish the lost population." His mother winked at him and rose. Her cane wobbled but Erik was stopped when he tried to help.
"I am alright." She trudged toward the door, yawning. "I'll leave you two. I'm sure being away for too long have taken a toll in your needs as a couple. Just don't do it too roughly, my grandchild is still inside Sylvie."
"Can't you be a little modest Ma?"
"Being modest will not increase the population. You have to do your duty to your country." His mother said before exiting the door with the help of servants.
Erik sighed and went back to the food. The grilled shrimp had cooled now.
"So," Sylvie said, grinning. "What she said. You need to wash you mouth first. You stink of the ocean."
"And you don't?"
She rose, supporting her belly with two hands. She walked and sat on Erik's lap. She wasn't heavy and Erik instinctively cradled her in his arms.
"Do I?"
He delayed answering and just stared at her for a while. Her hair was tied to the back, showing the scar on her face. As always she was wearing that smirk he was irritated with at first but had grown to love.
He pulled her closer. "You are still too far for me to decide."
She leaned closer and Erik expected a kiss. But she stuffed some shrimps in his mouth instead.
She giggled and Erik couldn't help but find it beautiful.
***
"So, you didn't get the girl." His father said.
Arthur just shrugged to that. He resumed his walk to the scorched street of Holm. The houses were being patched by the citizens. Little by little, Holm was recovering but the scar would remain.
He tilted his head so that he could look at his father with his one good eye. "I just let William have her. I showed mercy."
"Ha! Showed mercy. You failed didn't you?"
"More like I didn't try." He looked down. "Fine, I failed. I lost."
"Did you use all the techniques I taught you?"
"All the clothes, the expensive silks, the perfumes too. I didn't like her anyway."
People were nodding to them as they passed. The residents of Holm were different now. There was something off about them as if they had become humbler. Gone were the raised chins and strutted walks of these wealthy people.
It was already a month into the snow season but the snow didn't come. It was the first time in decades that this happened. But this strange phenomenon served them well. The repairs were not bogged by the snow.
A few corners and they reached the harbor. His father stopped in one of the buildings and stared at the blackened brick wall. It was the same wall where Leopold Castonia died.
"A shame Arthur" He said. "A shame Leo didn't live long enough to know that we would be having a grandchild."
"Yes. And his statue by the gate is weird. The face is a bit off."
"I ordered for the features to be more... heroic. Leopold has this natural antagonistic look on his face. That way future residents wouldn't question his heroic tale." He beckoned. "Come on, this place sours my mood."
They walked again heading to one of the docks. A ship was being built. It wasn't finished yet but it already dwarfed the other galleys. The hull was made of some polished hardwood. His father once said that this one would be twice as large as a normal galley. The sails would also be twice as wide and high. Fifteen large catapults would be mounted on its deck and it would require a crew of half a thousand.
"The Leopold." His father said. "In honor of the savior of Holm, your sister plans to name it after Leo. It would become the new flagship of the Union's navy."