The harbour was light up in beautiful colours and Elias could see arriving guests down from the castle's tower. He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. Other kingdoms were aware of the new alliance between the Naydawin and The Rose Sparrow, but Elias wasn't sure if the word of them attacking the town and killing people had spread around.
Fortunately, most hadn't seen Elias' face. They still didn't know that The Masked Man and Elias were the same person. At least no one would recognize him at the ball.
He laughed to himself. Elias never in million dreams thought he would be dressed in pretty clothes attending a banquet with his partner and a friend who was almost a Queen. Everything still felt oddly like a dream.
"Oh, Elias." Elias turned around to see Ivan, standing by the stair. "I didn't know you were here." He turned around to leave. "I didn't mean to disturb you."
"It's okay Ivan. You can join me. I'm waiting until Tivon gets here."
Ivan nodded and joined him by the stone rails. "I came here to check if the guards are in place. You can see all around the castle from here."
Elias nodded and leaned on the rails. You really could see all around the castle's walls from here.
"What happened?" Asked Ivan after a minute of silence. "Why were you acting the way you did?"
"I don't know. When we last saw each other I just remembered sailing away and then…" He sighed. "I don't know how to explain. I was there, it was me, but it wasn't. When I came back, I could remember everything I've done, like I was fully there, except I wasn't." Ivan nodded and looked down at the harbour. "I'm sorry, I'm still trying to figure it out."
"I know. I'm just glad you are okay."
They both stood there, awkwardly waiting for someone to say anything.
"I've met you before." Ivan looked at Elias. "Well, not really met. I just saw you. The night we attacked you. I was ten. I was, you can say, emotionless at that time. They were trying to make me a killer which they succeeded. I slowly lost myself in it, the violence, the blood, the counting. When I killed my first man I couldn't sleep for days, but they still pushed me further. They still forced me to take more lives. With every new kill I felt less. But when I saw Sabur kill him… When you came to hold his body. Your sorrow, your grief, your anger, your pain. Something inside me changed.
"After that night I couldn't sleep again for months. At every given moment I thought about that night. Of what happened and what I've become. I knew that other lives were important, and I knew that what I was doing was wrong. Sabur tried to make me forget about that. But you," He looked at Ivan. "you're the reason I remembered."
He looked back down and laughed. "Maybe you're even the reason I didn't kill Tivon that night we first met. Ivan, you changed me. You and him."
"Ameer." Elias looked up. Ivan was looking down at the harbour. "His name was Ameer. I didn't know you saw us. I didn't know you were there."
"They told me I should wait it out that night because it was a sudden attack. They only used me in a planned out jobs at first." Elias lowered his voice. "I'm sorry you had to lose him. I know he was important to you."
Ivan turned to leave. "He was everything I had. He was what Tivon is for you." He put his hand on Elias' shoulder and smiled. "Don't take it for granted, cherish every moment you have with him. I'll be with Rea." He whispered with a wink.
He walked to the stairs where Tivon was already waiting. Elias saw Ivan say something to Tivon, but he couldn't hear it. When Ivan left, Elias' eyes turned to Tivon. He was wearing a white puffy shirt with a dark blue vest and dark blue trousers. The top part of his hair was tied up into a small ponytail. The little braid on his right side was still there. Tivon smiled and looked up at Elias.
"I'm not used to seeing you this well dressed."
Elias went to him and held his chin up. "Are you saying that my sense of style isn't good?"
Tivon wrapped his hands around Elias' waist. "I'm not saying that." He stepped on his toes and reached in for a kiss. Elias cupped his faced and leaned in closer.
"You look great too."
Tivon smiled and kissed him back. When they parted Tivon asked. "Shall we join Rea?"
"Can't we stay here a little longer?"
"I've heard they have Proclies."
"You could've said that first." Said Elias with a kiss on Tivon's cheek. "Shall we, my prince?"
He offered his elbow. Tivon rolled his eyes, but still wrapped his arm around it. "Yes, my knight. Just button up your shirt. I don't want others to stare at you."
"Hmm, what's that? You don't want others to look at me?"
Tivon smirked. "You don't want me jealous. Besides all eyes should be on Rea."
Elias didn't even try to hide his blushing face. Why must they join the others? They could've just stayed there the whole night. Tivon stroked his hand. "Later."
"Reading my mind, huh?"
Tivon looked up. "No, it's just plain on your face."
Elias leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his lips.
"Don't you want to get Proclies?" Murmured Tivon through the kiss.
"Yeah, let's steal a plate of them."
Tivon laughed as they walked down the stair.
Elias didn't expect so many people. They were coming from all around Krens and even outside of it. Most of them were keeping to the sides where the food was, talking to each other and gossiping behind big fans. The middle was reserved for dancing, but only three couples were dancing to the music coming from the corner where a little orchestra was stationed.
The crowd and the noise were overwhelming to Elias. Tivon gently held his hand. "If you want to go somewhere quieter- "
"It's okay. I can manage."
Tivon smiled and led him to where they had Proclies. They were this tiny, salted biscuits with a bitter orange filling in it. Ever since Tivon first introduced them to Elias, he couldn't stop craving them. Elias quickly grabbed a few of them and moved away from the table. He offered one to Tivon.
"You don't need to take them all."
"What if they eat them all?"
Tivon took the Procly and gave Elias the side eye. "Nobody likes them." He gestured around the room. "The food on other plates is almost gone and this one is full. Besides, we know where the kitchen is." He winked at that.
Elias let out a laugh and ate the Procly. The room fell quiet, and everyone looked toward the throne. A man stood there and announced. "I present to you Your Majesty, princess Astrea of The Kingdom of Lucine."
The applause rose through the room.
"Why not The Kingdom of Naydawin?"
"She is not a Queen yet, so technically she is still just the princess of Lucine."
Rea entered the room, her chin high, her blue gown sliding behind her. Through these two years Elias almost forgot that she, when she needed to, acted like a real royal. Nobody would believe that the same woman who stood in front of them could be a carefree, brave woman who is never afraid of getting herself dirty and loves adventures. Elias was glad that he knew that part of her.
Rea cleared her throat. "Welcome everyone to The Kingdom of Naydawin. Please enjoy yourselves with food, drinks, and dancing. Enjoy your evening."
Another series of claps rose as the orchestra played another song. New pairs walked to the dance floor and started dancing. Rea stepped down the stairs and greeted the first couple. Elias turned to Tivon.
"Would you mind if I take Rea for a spin?"
"You think you can dance as good as Rea? Everyone will be watching if you'd be the first to dance."
"Exactly. Let them think who this mysterious guy is."
Tivon rolled his eyes and smiled. "I'll be waiting here."
Elias gave a look around if anyone was watching and when he made sure all eyes were still on Rea, he gave Tivon a quick kiss on the cheek. "Don't run away from me."
He just saw Tivon's flushed face as he turned and went towards Rea. He bowed before her and turned to the couple she was talking to. "Excuse me, may I steal Your Majesty for a dance?"
The elderly women hid her blush behind her fan. "Of course."
Elias reached his hand to Rea. She looked him up confused but excepted his hand. He led her to the middle of the floor just as a new melody started.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Taking you for a dance. And I wanted to apologize for the village again."
"You already did. And I get it now, it wasn't your fault exactly. Sure, I'll need to do some talking and convincing the royal army and the town, but that I think I'll manage."
"You are too nice."
"I know." She smiled as they danced across the floor.
Elias looked down at her and smirked. "I never danced with a Queen before."
"Yeah?" Rea grinned. "I never danced with an idiot before and yet here we are."
"Can you not be mean for one night?"
"That will be hard, but I'll try."
Both Elias and Rea looked around the room, all the eyes on them. Elias looked at Rea. She looks awfully uncomfortable. "You look nice." Rea looked up. "Did Ivan do your hair?"
"Yes."
"It looks nice and the dress too."
Rea smiled, but it quickly faded. "Thank you, my mother chose it. If I could choose, I would pick a more comfortable dress. Or pants." She mumbled under her breath.
"Your parents aren't coming?"
"Father is sick, and mother doesn't want to leave his side."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Said Elias.
"Don't be. Father has been ill for a long time now and if my mother was here, she would definitely want me to propose to a man." She looked up Elias with a smirk. "After this dance, she wouldn't stop asking about that handsome young man with long black hair."
Elias laughed. "I'm handsome?"
She paused to look at him and then said. "You're average." Rea laughed under her breath. "She would lose her mind when she'd find out you are a pirate, or worse that you are Elias."
Elias laughed. He spun her around and met eyes with Tivon who waved at him. Elias gave him a wink. Rea followed his look.
"Why didn't you take him for a dance?"
Elias looked at her. "Do you really want problems that badly?"
"I will kick anyone out that says anything even remotely offending to you two."
"I don't doubt you will. Besides Tivon is not one to dance."
He quickly glanced at him and saw that someone was talking to him.
"Are you sure?" A playful smile danced across her face. "Did you ask him?" Elias did not. He always assumed Tivon didn't like anything to do with royal stuff. Rea could probably see the confusion on his face. "Tivon loves dancing. I am the one who hates it."
"Really?"
She gave him a nod. Elias looked around the room. Everyone's eyes really were on them, but all looked judging. "Remind me what this ball is for again?"
"If I want stability over both kingdoms, I need to be crowned Queen, but I can only do that if the other kingdoms and the people recognized me as one. This dance is more or less just showing off to the kingdoms. I will talk to as many people who attended the ball and show them who I am. I was trying to do that, but a certain tall pirate disturbed me."
"Then by all means," He bowed down and kissed her hand. "Go talk to the people, Your Majesty."
As he held her hand and led her off the dance floor Rea leaned closer and whispered. "I will put a knife through your hand."
"You can certainly try." Sneered Elias.
He turned around to see where Tivon was, but he could not see him. Elias hurried to the guard by the door to ask him if he saw Tivon. The guard gestured down the hallway and Elias ran down it.
Elias saw it clearly. He saw Tivon's anxious face, as a man talked to him.