Carline
The door opened to Paris' knock, and the Princess' servant peeked out through the crack. She opened it more fully, curtseying slightly. "She will see you now, Miss, er, Sir Paris," the young girl said. 'Were her eyes red?' Paris wondered as she moved, still stiff from her wounds, into the room.
The room was a quiet bustle of activity, as the packing of the Princess' baggage continued, gloomy in the little light that made it through first the overcast sky and then through the one undraped window. The Princess was just setting a small, wet towel down next to a bowl of cold water, and turned to face Paris. "Sir Paris," she said, her voice warm and strong, and her eyes clear. "Thank you for coming." The Princess was dressed all in black, not her usual royal green, and with her hair done up tightly on her head, looked like a disembodied face and hands. Her only jewelry was a chain with a gold double-circle of the White church, hanging in the middle of her chest. "Please, be seated," the Princess said as she sat down as well.
When they were settled she continued. "We have much to discuss, I think. But first, I want to say thank you for my brother." She smiled softly. "I know my little brother well enough to know he was focused on the upcoming fight. If he said thanks at all, it would have been brief. But you lived up to everything he had hoped, and more. Not just winning the tournament. That those in the army accepted you as a knight as well means a lot more for what he is trying to do than you might imagine." She paused for a moment studying the younger woman. "And I want to thank you for keeping my brothers safe. Facing the Dread alone was not easy. Had you not succeeded, had Evil gained the power of that place and time, I would be burying more than my parents."
Paris bowed her head to hide the tears that suddenly stung her eyelids. Carefully controlling a voice that threatened to reveal the influx of sentiment, she said, "It -- is good to know -- that I have lived up to expectations. I -- had learned in training -- something of the reputation of the First. I -- was surprised that -- such men -- not knowing me -- would speak for me -- and - I thought -- it was only to honour my Prince. As it should be." Paris looked up. "It has been Prince William's faith in me -- in his decision about me -- from the first, that has most kept me steadfast to my tasks."
"Lived up to and more," the Princess interrupted softly. She picked up a soft cloth and passed it to Paris. "Cry, Paris, if you want. It is good for you, and God knows there has been a lot of it in this room today." Her smile was genuinely warm. "And when you are done I will show you a trick with a cold wet cloth to get much of the red out of your eyes."
Paris smiled and dabbed back the tears. "I have no call to cry, Your Highness. I am -- too conscious -- of the honour done me. They must be happy tears -- and strange in times like these. I thank you." Paris took a deep breath.
"Facing the Dread -- took no virtue of mine, I think. As with many things, one does what one must, to the best of ones ability. Had it not been for your shield, even doing that would not have been enough. I -- am fortunate in my friends. It is I who thank you." She paused, taking in the other woman and the religious symbol. "My comrades have speculated on what the Dark and Fell were trying to accomplish in the desecration of the Tomb. If I understand you rightly, it was to have endangered all the princes. Moreso even than what actually happened. That -- is hard to imagine. But, no doubt, you are right." Paris took a deep breath and let it out. It didn't hurt as badly any more; hopefully the same could be said for William and Martin now, too. Soon all there'd be would be memories. To live a lifetime with.
Princess Carline asked, "Tell me, did William give you any orders? If not, what do you plan on doing next?"
Paris nodded, "His Highness ordered me to guard the return of refugees to Westmore. After that -- well, I could see that he had much to deal with -- both of the past and the future, so ... well, I told him what it was I would be doing." Looking earnestly at the princess, "I am, of course, at Your Highness' service for whatever need you have of me." Paris inclined her head in obedience, then returned her gaze to the other's face. "Soon, however, I believe I must resume the quest of bringing to this land the rest of the Major Arcana. For better or worse, that is the only way to achieve the Understanding necessary to better the choice made so long ago by Sir Juda." Involuntarily the name brought to mind Pyotr's shock at learning she had killed such a great hero -- and then the bittersweetness of the former knight of swords' dying words. 'For better or for worse' was certainly the cusp Paris felt to be standing on.
Paris' gaze drifted briefly to the bowl of water near the Princess. Her voice was soft, warm, as she then met Carline's gaze. "Nonetheless, I am at your service. Whatever I can do. Whenever. I -- understand -- some of what you have lost. I -- do understand." She smiled regretfully. "As do others, I am sure. The -- love that surrounds one -- is a comfort -- for loss. It helps -- get through the 'if onlys' and 'what ifs'."
Momentarily, the Princess looked down at the floor, and then back up to Paris. "William must have been under a lot of stress to have not had an order for you. I think you helped him by having some idea of your own. As for my, our loss," she looked off towards the one uncurtained window. "Too many others understand. Too many others are thinking, 'what if'? And will seek to use my loss to their advantage." She returned to look at Paris with a smile. "It may be some time before I can return to marry Duke Evan."
Paris responded. "Then I hope what I do will be of help. I wish you all happiness. And the quicker there is a just solution to the difficulties of our land, the sooner -- I must hope -- you and yours will know happiness." She paused for a bare moment. "If it helps, at least my understanding is that of a fellow traveler and friend; not -- I hope -- an opportunist's. I -- have little else as yet to offer in return for the great gifts you and Prince William have given me."
For a moment she was silent. "The 'what if's' I remember were 'what if I had done that then..', 'if only I had done this..'. It is difficult to heal with those thoughts battering at you. I -- think -- that -- my liege had reached that point. He has had plenty of orders for others to carry out. But for me -- for this sword -- he has no place, now. And I would not be where I might be more liability than aid." Paris shrugged lightly. "Not that I know what he -- and you -- must deal with. I do not. But I know it is right to finish what I started."
Carline listened intently, and sighed softly. "No, Paris, you are not a liability to him. Not in any way. But, if we are to avoid war, civil war, well..." She was quiet for a moment. "Your sword won't help that. It will help against something, some threat to the kingdom, but not that." She looked off into space a while, then returned to Paris. "Tell me," she said softly, "how did ... Martin take it?"
Paris paused, hesitating. She felt for the words, carefully, as she spoke. "I -- would -- have --no one mistake my words. Prince Martin is a hero. He fought the Warlord to a standstill while we tried to win through to -- your father. But -- to be acknowledged and then, in the same breath, to no longer have the chance to have a father --" Paris' voice faltered a little, "I think Prince Martin was -- devastated. I -- think -- ah, um. It would seem he had known -- something of his situation -- to take it so hard at that moment. And -- I -- could not see -- in the time I had left in Pelier -- that he had recovered much at all. Although -- I imagine -- it difficult -- to go from being a support and advisor to William -- to - to -- having the situation reversed. The burdens were -- while I was there -- falling on my prince. Prince Martin seemed basically in mourning. I -- saw something similar -- amongst the survivors of my village. Some struggle forward, some are stunned. In the end, though, most are able to pick up the pieces and move on."
"Carline" copyright 2000 P.Shea & S.Knowles. The contents of this site are copyright 2004 Sheryl A. Knowles unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.