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Throné rested her chin in her hand as she stared out of the window of the carriage. The green of the Leaflands had given way to the golden sands of Hinoeuma, and she rather liked the sight of these familiar roads. Beside her Garud sat silently, and across from them Agnea and Pala chatted animatedly. A smile tugged at Throné's lips, as such cheer was infectious. In a week's time, Pala would be marrying her beloved Mikka.
For a moment Throné let her gaze linger on Agnea's lips, before turning toward the window again.
"It's real beautiful, ain't it?" Pala said, also casting a glance out the window. "Bright, though."
Agnea chuckled. "That's the desert for you! It's like the sun shining on countless little gems."
"Always the romantic one," Throné said to Agnea, and Agnea blushed and giggled.
"But I get what you mean," Pala said gently. "I used to think a desert would be harsh and borin', and yeah, it can be harsh, but ever since I met Mikka, I finally understand why people fought so hard for these lands." She let out a laugh. "'Course, she's fallen in love with Cropdale as much as I love Ku!"
Agnea laid a hand over Pala's. "Wherever you two decide to stay, we'll always be close," she said, and Garud nodded in agreement.
Pala beamed. "It ain't like we gotta pick one or the other!"
By nightfall, the group - Throné, Agnea, Pala, Garud, and the two carriage drivers - stopped to set up camp and let the horses rest. Agnea cooked, as she often had when she and Throné used to travel as a group of eight, and her stew tasted as deliciously familiar as ever. Throné still traveled, now free of that poisoned collar, and more often than not she found herself returning to Cropdale when she wished to rest. Agnea had promised there would always be a home and a plate of raspberries waiting for her, and she could never refuse such an offer. But truth be told, it was the sight of Agnea's honest smiles that kept her coming back.
When the rest of the group retired to sleep, Throné remained awake, sitting at the edge of the hill and staring up at the stars. In the desert, they always seemed so much brighter, but of course there were less trees to obscure them. However, if she looked straight ahead, she could just barely make out the boundary of the Leaflands and Hinoeuma. A train would be faster than a carriage, but tracks had yet to be laid this far west, and Throné didn't mind the leisurely pace.
Soon Agnea sat beside Throné, and her smile was as bright as ever. "Can't sleep either, huh?" she said.
"I wouldn't say that," Throné replied. "I've just grown fond of the night."
"Yes, it is beautiful." Agnea drew her knees to her chest. "But I'm still nervous - I mean, my little sister is getting married!"
Throné chuckled lightly. "I'm glad for them. I know Hikari's been campaigning tirelessly to allow two women or two men to marry."
Agnea nodded. "That's why Pala and Mikka are having the official ceremony in Ku. We'll have another in Cropdale, but the rest of the Leaflands won't yet recognize their marriage…"
"These things take time, but that isn't always easy to hear."
"Isn't that the truth!" Agnea giggled and smiled at Throné. "Have you ever thought of getting married?"
Throné's mouth went dry, and she hesitated a moment before answering. "I… haven't really thought about it. I wouldn't want a large, noisy wedding, but to trust another enough to pledge my heart to - well, I suppose not even I'm immune to such romantic thoughts. What about you?"
Even in the starlight, Agnea's blush seemed to glow. "It wouldn't need to be official, but as long as the one I loved most accepted my heart, I'd be happy."
"You still receive lots of love letters, don't you?"
"Well, yes, but I wouldn't really call that romantic…"
The first time Agnea had received a love letter from a fan, the jealousy that filled Throné had frightened her. When she met Gus in Cropdale, that jealousy had returned, only subsiding when she realized Agnea considered him as a best friend. As a star, Agnea garnered much attention, and not all her fans looked upon her with noble intentions, Throné knew, but she would never dare ask Agnea to step out of the spotlight. Throné loved that Agnea shared her smiles so easily.
Agnea rested her head against Throné's shoulder. "I'm glad you're here with me, really," she said softly as she slipped her hand into Throné's.
Again Throné's eyes fell upon Agnea's bright lips, and her heart raced as she let her fingers curl around Agnea's. "It is nice to travel with you again," she said, her voice just as quiet as she tucked a strand of hair behind Agnea's ear with her free hand. Since the journey for the dawn, the stench of blood wasn't as strong.
A year had passed since the eight travelers' reunion in New Delsta for Agnea's grand performance. Since then, Agnea's fame had increased, and she traveled more extensively, following invitations to dance in various towns. Throné continued to travel as well, and sometimes her path crossed with Agnea's or the others'. Though she was free now, a wanderlust still filled Throné, and whenever she returned to Cropdale to rest, Agnea always seemed one step ahead of her to greet her with a smile.
With news of Pala's proposal to Mikka, Agnea had entreated Throné to travel with them to Ku, and Throné saw no reason to refuse. Invitations had been sent to their other former traveling companions as well, and Throné found herself looking forward to another reunion.
"We all have our own paths to follow, and they do cross sometimes," Agnea had said to Throné, "but maybe this can be our tradition, the eight of us coming together once a year at least."
Sometimes Throné felt lost, seeing the solid paths the others followed, but Agnea's steady smile put her heart at ease. "Yes, that would be wonderful," she had replied.
Hikari and Mikka were waiting as the carriage passed through the gates of Ku's castle town, and Pala practically leapt into Mikka's arms as she disembarked from the carriage. "Welcome to Ku," Hikari greeted with a smile. "It is good to see all of you again."
"The king himself greets us," Throné replied with a smirk. "What an honor."
"That's just how Hikari is," Agnea added, laughing.
Hikari laughed as well, and his smile was no longer as guarded as it used to be. "I will always make time to greet my friends. Please, follow me."
He led the group to the palace, where he had set aside sleeping quarters for the guests. Garud and Pala followed Mikka to their quarters, while Hikari took Throné and Agnea down a familiar corridor, and as he opened the door, Paritito and Castti already sat inside. Immediately Partitio stood and embraced both Throné and Agnea tightly, and Castti embraced them as well.
"It's good to see you two again!" Partitio exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "Me and Castti just arrived yesterday!"
"You both look like you're doing well," Castti said. "That is good to see."
"The others should be arriving by tomorrow," Hikari said. "I must admit, I am excited for the eight of us to be together again."
Agnea clapped her hands together. "Me too! It's been so long!"
"Only a year," Throné said gently.
"That's still a year's worth of news to catch up on!"
Thus over food and drink the group fell into a certain familiarity, sharing stories of the past year. Even during the darkest moments of her journey, when a poisoned collar still bound her, Throné had looked forward to nights around a campfire, the eight of them speaking of things of little import. For the first time in her life, she had felt… relaxed, almost. If she'd been alone, perhaps the truth of the Blacksnakes would've crushed her, assuming she managed to find Lostseed in the first place. But she hadn't been alone, and still Agnea smiled for her.
To some extent, they all still traveled. Hikari visited other nations to form diplomatic ties, Partitio traveled between Oresrush and Clockbank and Roque Island as president of Partitio and Roque Company, Castti had reformed Eir's Apothecaries in Winterbloom and continued to travel where her skills were needed, Agnea continued to dance around the world, and Throné traveled simply for the joy of traveling, and they all had a place to call home.
"…and we teamed up for another performance in Tropu'hopu!" Agnea finished, recounting a reunion with Giselle's Traveling Troupe.
"Yeah, they performed a little while ago in Clockbank too!" Partitio said. "Good to see them doin' so well!"
Agnea's smile faltered a moment. "Giselle said it was difficult a while after what happened to Tanzy, but they've expanded so much since then."
Throné knew Agnea still had nightmares about that vision of Tanzy's death Alpates' small mirror had shown them, and it had been a long time before Agnea was willing to talk about it. "If you keep smiling, happiness is sure to find you," she said. "That's what Giselle said once, isn't it?"
"It isn't always easy," Agnea said, lifting her head, "but that just makes it even more important to do our best!"
By the time evening fell, Hikari had shown Throné and the others to their guest quarters, and after so long of traveling, exhaustion filled Throné to her very bones, and that exhaustion made her feel restless. In her solitary travels, she had visited Ku occasionally, and thus she had grown familiar with the castle's layout. Hikari generally gave his friends free roam of the castle, and it had grown fuller of life since Mugen's defeat. One such place Throné liked to visit to clear her mind was a particularly secluded balcony, one that reminded her of her former hideaway in New Delsta. As she stood below the sunset-colored sky, she leaned against the railing and stared at the bustling city below.
The first time she had seen the castle town of Ku, it had been overrun with soldiers in red. Now, she could see the same beauty Pala had fallen in love with. In the bright red of the sunset, the sands did glitter like gems.
She touched her bare throat. However, one place she had yet to revisit was Lostseed. Temenos' letters said that with the help of the Church, those who wished to leave could more easily do so while those who wished to stay were more willing to share their stories and history with the clerics. Claude was all but forgotten, but sometimes, in the dead of night, Throné could still smell his blood on her hands.
For her freedom, she had killed so many people, spilled the same blood that ran in her veins. But still the sun rose, and still Agnea smiled for her. She reminded herself of that, over and over.
"Fancy meeting you here," came Agnea's voice from behind Throné. "But you've always loved high places."
Throné smirked as Agnea came beside her, despite how her heart raced. "Most snakes prefer to slither on the ground, but I find heights like these to offer a better view of prey," she said lightly.
Agnea laughed. "Oh? And who might you be targeting today?"
"Mm, a snake doesn't tell, you know."
"Is that so?" Agnea gave Throné a fake pout, which only made Throné's heart race more. "But look - there's Pala and Mikka!"
Throné followed Agnea's pointing finger, and on the top of stone stairs sat Pala and Mikka. The shadows of the sunset lay over them, almost hiding them from sight, but still Throné saw how tenderly Pala tucked a strand of hair behind Mikka's ear, and she drew closer for a kiss.
"They're real sweet together, ain't they?" Agnea said softly, slipping into her natural accent. "Pala used to worry she'd never be able to marry the one she loved, on account of her likin' girls and all…"
"Is your town not so accepting…?" Throné asked carefully.
"Oh, no, it ain't like that!" Agnea said quickly. "But it still hurts, y'know, knowin' that other people might not accept your marriage." She paused a moment, inhaling a deep breath, and spoke again in her practiced city accent. "That's why I'm so glad Hikari fought so hard to allow Pala and Mikka to marry."
"Would you expect anything less of him?"
"Of course not!" Agnea's smile relaxed. "Maybe it's silly, needing an official piece of paper to declare their marriage valid, but still, I'm so, so grateful there's at least one place that lets my sister marry the woman she loves…!"
"It is a simple thing, but the world isn't always kind," Throné muttered. She knew that all too well. She hadn't known much kindness before meeting Agnea and the others.
"I know," Agnea replied, her voice as quiet. "But I'll do whatever I can to make the world a kinder place."
When confronted with cruelty, it was all too easy to inflict that cruelty on others, Throné knew. That had practically been the creed of the Blacksnakes. Father and Mother had all but encouraged their "children" to lash out at others. Throné hadn't been any different, and still the stench of blood had settled in her lungs like rot. Day after day had been the same, until she had nothing left to lose but her life.
She hadn't wanted her freedom for any noble reason. But her companions hadn't turned away from her, and she'd helped make the sun rise again. That had to count for something.
As she and Agnea leaned against the balcony railing, a gentle silence fell over them. She studied Agnea's profile out of the corner of her eye; colored by the setting sun, a faint smile graced Agnea's lips, and she inhaled deeply as she slipped a strand of loose hair behind her ear. At times, she was like the sun itself, but beneath that blinding light was a normal, and sometimes clumsy, young woman who wished to make others smile. The ache in Throné's chest might've hurt less if it'd been simple jealousy.
Agnea noticed Throné staring and blushed as she turned to face Throné. "Throné," she said, and Throné's name on her tongue sounded oddly sweet. "Is there someone you'd like to marry?"
"What about you?" Throné asked instead, raising a hand to touch Agnea's cheek.
Agnea's smile grew alluring as Throné brushed a thumb over her lips, and in the light of the setting sun, she and Throné drew closer and their lips meet for a gentle kiss.
And what would a snake like you know of love?
That voice might've been Father's or Mother's or even Claude's, but the dark thought took root in her mind and wouldn't let go. She stepped way and saw the surprise on Agnea's face as she simply said, "Goodnight, Agnea."
Throné's pride would not allow her to admit that she fled.
She could blame it on the exhaustion from traveling or the desert heat of Hinoeuma, but Throné was not supposed to lose control of her emotions. Agnea was dear to her, but that didn't change the fact that her hands were stained in blood. She and Agnea were friends, and she couldn't risk that friendship by being greedy. She had stolen too much already.
You're a thief, my girl, came Father's mocking voice. You're meant to take what you want.
Throné had that same nightmare again. Surrounded by darkness, bloody corpses lay at her feet. Donnie, Scaracci, Pirro. Mother, Father, Claude. The slaver from Oresrush. Bergomi. All those she had killed as part of her "missions." All those she had "cleaned" from this world, and still their blood stained her hands. She ran through the darkness, the starless darkness of Vide's endless night.
She ran and ran, until she came to the end of the world.
Agnea stood before Throné, a thin line of blood falling from her lips. Her blood spilled over Throné's hands, whose dagger pierced her chest. Her lips moved, but no words came, and weakly she tried to raise her hands. Throné jerked away, releasing her bloody dagger, and Agnea's body crumpled to the ground, unmoving and lifeless.
Father had killed the woman he loved too.
Throné awoke with a start, her breathing heavy and her heart pounding against her chest. She recognized the ornate guest room Hikari had offered her and Agnea, and glanced at the bed opposite hers, where Agnea still slept soundly. She hadn't heard Agnea retire for the night; were her skills that rusty? No, she knew the truth - she had forced herself not to notice, so that she could avoid Agnea.
She rolled onto her side to face the other wall, lest Agnea see that she was awake. Agnea had kissed her too, and that frightened her most of all. It would be so easy to give in, and yet…
Quietly Throné climbed out of bed and dressed, and Agnea remained asleep. She left the guest quarters, not sure where she wished to go exactly, but then her stomach growled, deciding for her, and she let out a silent laugh. No matter one's station in life, food was always a necessity, after all.
Thus she headed for the kitchens, where she was surprised to see Pala and Mikka preparing breakfast. "Oh, Throné!" Pala greeted with a smile. "Fancy meetin' you so early! Care to join us?"
"If you'll have me, I would be delighted," Throné said. "You're both up rather early too."
Pala beamed; there was no doubt she was Agnea's sister. "It's too excitin' to sleep!" she exclaimed, and Mikka nodded in agreement.
When the rice porridge was finished, the three women sat around the table, and Pala and Mikka spoke excitedly about their upcoming wedding while Throné simply listened. Throné didn't know Mikka very well, but even she could tell Mikka had grown happier these past few years. She still grieved for her brother Ritsu, but with Pala she could now look toward the dawn. Throné's chest tightened at the thought of Ritsu; in some ways, he had reminded her of a Blacksnake, clinging desperately to the familiar even as it destroyed him and lashing out at those who wished to change. Perhaps he had hoped to defeat Mugen himself. An admirable goal, but not even Hikari had been able to defeat Mugen alone.
"…and it's been so great seein' the palace full of life!" Pala said. "More of Agnie's friends should be arrivin' today!"
"Pala, you have some rice on your cheek." Mikka brushed her finger against that grain of rice, and though Pala blushed, her smile was true.
Throné laughed silently to herself. Pala and Mikka were cute together, and again she could not help but think of Agnea.
After breakfast, they found Garud with a number of other tailors, finalizing the details of the wedding garments. Pala immediately went to her father's side, and while Throné herself enjoyed fashion, she grew hopelessly lost trying to follow the fast-paced conversation (although Garud remained as stoic as ever), so soon she slipped away from the group and leaned against a wall to put space between her and that energy.
Truth be told, she really didn't need to be here. Her dress for the wedding was already completed. She was more surprised Agnea wasn't here. But if Agnea was here, what would she say about last night?
Mikka soon joined Throné away from that frenzy of activity. "I love how passionate Pala is about dressmaking, but it can be overwhelming at times," she said to Throné. She touched her earring, and in Pala's ear was its partner.
"Agnea is much the same way when dancing," Throné replied. "They truly are sisters, hm?"
A faint smile came upon Mikka's lips. "I am glad to soon be part of such a family."
Throné studied Mikka out of the corner of her eye. This was the first time she had spoken to Mikka without Agnea or Pala present. When Throné first saw Mikka after Mugen's defeat and Ku's liberation, Mikka had been a grief-stricken girl carrying too much on her shoulders. Yet upon meeting Pala, light had returned to her eyes. "Are you thinking of your brother?" Throné asked carefully.
"Did you meet him?" Mikka's smile vanished. "No, that's a foolish question…"
"It isn't foolish, but you already know the answer," Throné answered vaguely. The only time she had seen Ritsu was during his final duel with Hikari in this very palace.
Mikka fell silent a moment. "Ritsu made sure I wasn't in the castle town during Mugen's coup or the final battle." Again she touched her earring, and her hand trembled. "I miss him every day, and he said he was fighting for me, but sometimes… I wonder if he was just using me as an excuse to absolve himself…"
"Family can be… complicated," Throné said, touching her throat. She'd finally grown used to the lack of a collar. "Whatever his reasons, if you can be happy now, that is one way to honor his memory."
Much to Throné's surprise, Mikka let out a quiet laugh. "If he met Pala, they would either be the best of friends or constantly bickering."
Throné stifled a laugh; if there was one thing Ritsu and Pala had in common, it was that they didn't do anything halfway.
"Oh, Throné, here you are!" Agnea said as she entered the dressing room, and Throné was, ashamed as she was to admit it, startled by her sudden appearance. "I've been looking for you - the rest of our friends have arrived!"
"Look at you, Agnie - Miss Popular!" Pala laughed. "One might think you were the one getting' married with all your friends showin' up like this!"
Agnea blushed, but matched Pala's challenging smile with one of her own. "I won't upstage you too much at your own wedding."
"Oh, what was I thinkin', invitin' Solistia's brightest star to dance at my weddin'…?" Pala pretended to bemoan. "But anyway - after you say hello to all your friends, come back here so you can finish your dress, y'hear?"
"I will!" Agnea replied with a nod.
Thus Throné left the room with Agnea, and her heart had begun to race again. However, as they walked down the hallway, Agnea said nothing about last night's kiss, nor did she seem hurt by Throné leaving alone this morning. She spoke excitedly about Pala, but every so often, when hers and Throné's eyes met, she would quickly look away and blush, and the distance between them grew wider.
Throné was a thief. She only knew how to desire something by stealing it. Thus she had stolen a kiss from Agnea. Snakes longed for warmth, after all.
Father had loved Throné's mother. Ritsu had loved his sister. Both romantic and familial love could be destructive. Throné knew that all too well.
Silence soon fell over Throné and Agnea, and Throné kept her gaze focused ahead. Father had killed the woman he loved. That same blood flowed in Throné's veins. She desired Agnea's heart for herself, and for a moment she remembered that nightmare of her dagger plunged in Agnea's chest, and she froze.
"Throné?" Agnea said, worried. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Throné muttered, hastening her stride, and she pretended not to notice Agnea reaching for her hand.
In the guest room awaited not only Hikari, Castti, and Partitio, but as Agnea promised, also Osvald, Ochette, and Temenos, and Elena held Mahina in her lap. Throné could not help but smile, despite the storms brewing in her heart. As Castti reassured, Elena's own memories had returned in time, and she had grown taller as well.
As the group shared stories of their lives since their last reunion, Throné could forget her own worries, just for a little while. Agnea spoke most excitedly about her sister's upcoming wedding, and cast a few smiles in Throné's direction as well, and Throné longed for more, as she often did these days. Agnea's blue eyes sparkled, and all listened with rapt attention.
"Papa, what was your wedding like?" Elena asked Osvald.
"It was a quiet affair," he answered carefully. "Your mother understood that was what I preferred."
Osvald had also once told Throné he couldn't swear an oath to something he didn't fully understand, she remembered, before entering that abandoned church outside Montwise. At the time, she had wondered how he managed to find himself a spouse, but now, she understood more of his uncertainty. He loved strongly, of that there was no doubt, but what did it mean to truly share one's heart with another, to swear an oath of love?
"I asked Master Juvah if he wanted to come, but he said he had enough of traveling after New Delsta," Ochette said. "He's such a homebody!"
Agnea giggled. "Giselle was disappointed she couldn't convince him to join her troupe."
"I am a guardian, not a common performer!" Ochette said in an imitation of Juvah's deep voice. "But he still loves hearing about my travels!"
"I cannot imagine he would care much for this climate," Temenos said. "At least Toto'haha is not quite so dry."
Hikari chuckled weakly. "Welcome to Hinoeuma, my friends."
Throughout the day, the group helped with preparing for the wedding ceremony. Hikari had confided in Throné that not all his advisors approved of him allowing two women to marry in the palace, let alone one who was a foreigner, but it was easy to forget that for now as she saw how many people from town had come to help. In fact, Throné herself was too busy to think about the kiss she and Agnea had shared last night. Pala had always dreamed of a grand wedding, Agnea said, so a grand wedding was what she and Mikka would receive.
"Helps that my sister knows a king!" Pala had said, laughing.
But as the work slowed with the setting of the sun, Throné's mind began to wander. Being a Blacksnake, she had never considered the idea of marriage, and Father and Mother had discouraged such relationships. (Perhaps they had known the truth after all, or Father was simply projecting his disdain for romance onto others.) Sometimes Throné had snuck away to watch the female dancers of the New Delsta Theater, and while she hadn't been able to put a name to that desire, she had known to keep it secret from Father and Mother.
When she met Agnea, she finally understood what that desire meant, and her late night fantasies grew more vivid. But Agnea was never supposed to know about that desire.
"Uh, Throné?" came Pala's voice unexpectedly. "I think that board is more red paint than wood now."
Throné turned to face Pala; the Bristarni sisters were too good at sneaking up on her, she thought sourly. "Is there something you need?" she asked.
Pala grinned. "Let's take a break. I wanna talk with you."
Sometimes Throné wondered how Garud had raised two bright, energetic daughters. Pala took her to the enclosed courtyard, and the setting sun was beginning to paint the sky red. There was no one else here at this time, and Throné hadn't realized how tense her body had gotten.
"Plannin' a weddin' is hard work!" Pala exclaimed, letting out a deep breath. "But it's the weddin' I've always dreamed of. I can't believe it's comin' true…"
"Agnea is happy for you," Throné said. "We all are."
"Ain't that the truth!" Pala sat on a stone bench and stretched her arms and legs, and Throné sat beside her. "So you really care about Agnie, don't you?"
Throné tried to keep her expression neutral. "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I know life ain't been easy for you," Pala began to say, "but the way you smile at Agnie - well, it makes me smile too."
"Agnea is…" Throné hesitated, and touched her throat. "Yes, you're right. I do care about her greatly."
"Do you love her?"
Surprisingly, Throné found she wasn't bothered by Pala's blunt question. When had she stopped locking away her feeling so tightly, she wondered. "Is it so obvious?"
Pala leaned her head back, and was unusually silent a moment. "It ain't easy for women like us. If we think another woman is attractive, we're told we're no better than men. If we do find that special someone, we're asked why we can't just be friends, why do we have to make everythin' about romance and sex, and other nonsense like that."
"My situation is a little different from yours," Throné said, choosing her words carefully, "but I understand what you mean." She had heard similar sentiments not only among the Blacksnakes, but some of their patrons as well.
"Papa and Agnie have always supported me, though." The smile returned to Pala's face. "Still, in a tiny li'l village like ours, it's hard to know if there are any other women like me. Well, there's Agnie - she likes men and women, but she's my sister."
Given how often Throné caught Agnea stealing glances at her cleavage, she had been assured of Agnea's preferences a long time ago, and a treacherous part of her dared to hope. "Just because two people share the same preferences doesn't mean they'll fall in love with each other," she said.
"Oh, true enough." Yet Pala's smile didn't waver. "But you know, don't you? How Agnea feels 'bout you."
That kiss last night had been real, Throné knew. But darkness ran in her veins, just as it had in Father's, and he had killed the woman he loved in a violent, jealous rage. Her mother Marietta had killed the child they had together and chose another. Among the Blacksnakes, there had been no real love. So even if Agnea saw something in Throné worth loving, could she return that love in kind? That nightmare still lingered at the back of her mind, and Agnea's blood spilling over her hands almost felt real.
What had Father felt, as Marietta's blood stained his hands?
"You probably think I'm a real busybody, huh?" Pala said, peering closer to Throné. "But I've seen how my sister looks at you - you ain't got nothin' to fear."
Despite herself, Throné could not help but smirk. "That's the thing about small towns. There's no space for secrets."
Pala laughed. "Yet you keep comin' back to Cropdale and I'm pretty sure it ain't just for the raspberries!"
Throné let out a resigned sigh; Pala was just as stubborn as her sister. But she was also right. No matter how far she traveled, Throné always returned to Cropdale eventually, hoping to be greeted by the sight of Agnea's smiling face. "Agnea also travels far and wide. Our paths don't always cross."
Pala shrugged. "Well, Agnea could always use a bodyguard, and I know you're plenty strong!"
"A bodyguard, hm…?" Throné repeated. Like Dolcinaea and Veronica, and it was an open secret they were romantically involved. Agnea sometimes hired bodyguards recommended by Dolcinaea and Hermes, as some fans could be overly aggressive or entitled. It was an odd feeling, considering using the skills Father taught her to protect another, but then again, hadn't she been doing just that when they had traveled as a group of eight?
"Think about it, all right?" Pala said as she hopped to her feet. "I'd sleep so much easier if I knew Agnie was in good hands."
"Agnea is strong too," Throné said as she also stood, and she tapped the dagger strapped to her thigh, its weight familiar. "I taught her well, after all."
Pala only laughed again, and her smile was as warm and sincere as her sister's.
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity, such that even if Throné wanted to speak to Agnea about that kiss, she was simply too busy to do so. Agnea spent much of her time with either her sister and father or Yomi, who would perform with her at the wedding. The palace grew more crowded, which set Throné on edge, but Hikari showed her a secluded room in the library normally used by archivists she could use if she wanted peace and quiet. More than once she found Osvald and Elena there too.
Even after that long night, she didn't dislike the darkness. She rather liked being able to slip away into the shadows if she wished. As long as she could still see the stars, she had nothing to fear.
But inevitably, whenever she thought of the stars, her thoughts would turn to Agnea, and her heart would ask: What if?
The night before the wedding, when all the preparations were finally, finally completed - Throné had expressed surprise at Mikka wanting such a grand wedding too, but Pala said she had pushed even harder for it than Pala had - Throné sat in the enclosed courtyard where she had spoken with Pala only days before. The rest of the palace slept, so she was alone now, and while she appreciated the quiet, she couldn't deny that she was also a little bit lonely as she stared up at the stars.
She touched her throat, as she often did these days. Once, she had said what she feared most was not getting what she desired. Now, it was not a matter of what but who, and she feared her desire would only bring pain.
Of course, she could hear Pala's voice now: Well, why don't you just tell Agnie what's on your mind? She let out a mirthless chuckle; if only it was so simple.
Footsteps sounded near her, and as she lifted her head, she saw Agnea standing beside her. "Agnea," she greeted with a nod.
Agnea smiled, bright as the starlight. "May I join you?"
Throné nodded again. "If you wish."
Her smile softening, Agnea sat beside Throné on the stone bench. Carefully she reached for Throné's arm, pausing to give Throné time to move away, but instead Throné remained still, allowing Agnea to loop her arm with hers. Agnea also rested her head against Throné's shoulder; Throné could never refuse Agnea's affections.
Thus for a bit they sat in silence beneath the stars, and the night air wasn't quite so hot now. Throné stared at Agnea's lips, and her gaze trailed downward, over Agnea's slender throat and her ample breasts. She raised a hand to touch a strand of Agnea's soft hair, and Agnea giggled softly.
"We finally have time alone together," Agnea said. "I missed you, Throné."
Throné swallowed dryly; she couldn't miss that longing in Agnea's honest gaze. "We've all been busy lately," she said plainly.
"I know." Agnea paused a moment. "I was happy when you kissed me."
"That was…" Throné's body tensed. "I don't want to hurt you."
Agnea raised her head, meeting Throné's gaze. "What do you mean?"
"I told you what happened between Father and my mother, how he killed her when she chose another."
"You also said she killed the child they had together." Agnea shut her eyes a moment; the first time Throné had shared Father's story, Agnea had cried. "Are you afraid of turning out like him?"
Hearing that question spoken out loud made Throné hesitate. "I was raised to steal and kill. Father wanted me to kill him, not love him. The Blacksnakes may be finished, but that doesn't erase the blood on my hands."
Agnea slipped her hand into Throné's. "What about the time you spent traveling with the rest of us? You helped us all so much too."
"All because you rushed in to save a puppy." Throné chuckled weakly; she remembered that day clearly, Agnea confronting those two thugs as Partitio, Castti, Hikari, and Ochette followed. "But I was the one to offer to join all of you."
"And you fought so hard to bring back the dawn too." The smile returned to Agnea's lips. "I trust you, Throné, more than anything."
"Is it truly so simple?"
"Haven't I already told you? No matter your darkness, you're the kindest, strongest woman I know."
Throné let out a faint chuckle. "Sometimes I wonder how you can be still be so bright, after all that you've seen."
Agnea blushed deeply. "Because I don't want to give up. I know I'm naïve and clumsy, and maybe I'm being selfish too." She inhaled deeply, and Throné saw her shoulders quiver for a moment. "I don't want to hide my feelings anymore. I want to be with you, Throné. I want to share my heart with you."
Darkness and fear weren't so easily forgotten. Throné knew that all too well. Otherwise the Moonshade Order wouldn't have grown so powerful. But Throné was no mere vessel of Vide. It didn't matter what Claude thought - soon, few would even remember he existed. Father and Mother hadn't been able to escape their darkness and their blood would forever stain Throné's hands. But their fates didn't need to be hers.
Agnea watched her, with such hope and longing in those bright blue eyes. Throné bit her lip, unable to turn her gaze away. Her freedom had smelled of blood. She hadn't given a thought to what came after. Thus still she traveled, but Pala was right, there was a reason she always returned to Cropdale eventually. She and Agnea were friends, but was it so wrong to long for more? Agnea certainly didn't think her desire shameful, and she was so very tired of being frightened.
She pressed her hand to Agnea's cheek, and Agnea smiled lovingly at her. Agnea loved her. She could love and be loved. Pala's concerns were different than hers, but ultimately it came down to the same thing - no one was allowed to take away another's love. She bent her head, and hers and Agnea's lips came together for another kiss.
"I love you, Throné," Agnea whispered against Throné's lips.
Such words didn't came easily to Throné, so with only the stars watching them, instead she kissed Agnea again. If love was stronger than fear, maybe she could grasp what she truly desired.
On the day of the wedding, Mikka and Pala were most radiant. They both wore white dresses, Mikka in a traditional Ku style while Pala wore a modified version of the dress her mother Cuani had worn when marrying Garud. The ceremony was held at the front of the palace, gates open to all. Temenos and Hikari officiated the wedding - perhaps an odd duty for a king, but it had been Mikka's request - and Mikka and Pala exchanged vows and rings, and Pala then carefully lifted Mikka's veil to kiss her beloved. Agnea cheered loudest as tears and a smile broke through Garud's stony façade. Throné had grown fond of seeing such scenes of familial love.
The celebrations continued well into the night, and Agnea and Yomi performed together as Pala and Mikka shared a dance too. Throné mainly kept to the shadows, occasionally partaking in the feast while keeping an eye out for any potential trouble. Seeing the smiles on Pala's and Mikka's faces now, two women marrying and not having to settle for a compromise - perhaps Throné marrying wasn't such a farfetched idea either. She did not want such a grand wedding, though.
Some would say that it was only a piece of paper, that it wasn't that important. But Pala could call Mikka her wife now, and the joy they shared now was anything but insignificant. Throné smiled; Agnea would say that it was always important to fight for one's dreams.
Eventually the celebrations subsided, and Pala and Mikka snuck away from the crowds for some privacy. Throné and Agnea returned arm-in-arm to their own guest quarters, and Agnea cheeks were still flushed with excitement.
"Ah, that was so much fun!" she exclaimed, twirling on her heel. "Did you see how happy Pala and Mikka looked?"
"Nothing escapes these eyes of mine," Throné smirked. "They were both very lovely."
"And it was so wonderful to see everyone again!" Agnea giggled; while, like Throné, she had not drank any alcohol, the atmosphere alone had been intoxicating. "Everyone was so happy…!"
Throné laid her hand on the window sill and turned her gaze outside, toward the starry night sky. "And when the sun rises again, Pala and Mikka will still be wife and wife, and the day after that too…"
Agnea wrapped her arms around Throné's waist from behind and kissed the back of her exposed neck. "Hey, Throné," she whispered, her breath warm against Throné's skin, "I'm glad you're here with me, I really am."
Agnea had spoken those words to Throné before, and Throné never tired of hearing them. "You would truly have a woman like me?" she asked, her voice just as quiet.
"Of course," came Agnea's gentle voice. "I'd be a right fool not to!"
Throné turned to face Agnea, and their lips met for a kiss. Perhaps they would marry one day, far in the future, but that didn't mean they couldn't have their own honeymoon right now. Carefully Agnea pulled the straps of Throné's dress from her shoulders, and Agnea's eyes widened at the sight of Throné's bared breasts. Throné could not help but chuckle; they had seen each other nude before, but the nocturnal firelight did provide a more erotic atmosphere. Thus she bent her head to kiss the curve of Agnea's own cleavage, and felt her heartbeat.
Once freed of their dresses and undergarments, Throné and Agnea fell upon one of the two beds in this guest room, and Agnea smiled at Throné on top of her, an alluring, inviting smile. Throné knew she was not the only person to look upon Agnea with lust, but even as a dark jealousy needled her, she also knew she was the only one to see such a smile on Agnea's lips. She left a trail of kisses along Agnea's slender throat, and Agnea's hands reached out to cup her breasts, and Throné moaned against Agnea's skin as Agnea's thumbs teased her hardening nipples.
They carefully explored the other's body, and soon enough Throné could no longer tell her heartbeat from Agnea's. Agnea touched and kissed whichever of Throné's scars she could reach, and Throné's skin flushed at such intimacy. She'd never been ashamed of her scars, save for one, but never had she dared imagine baring all of them to another like this. Soon Agnea's hand came to her side, just above her hip, and traced a scar newer than the rest. She would never forget that humiliation of Father striking her unaware and then bragging about not hitting any vital organs, but neither would she forget how Agnea had danced for her afterwards. Even at her worst, Agnea still saw her worthy of hope - everyone was worthy of hope, Agnea would say. Agnea's hand was gentle as her fingertips glided over the ugly scar, and the warmth of such a touch set Throné's very being ablaze.
Agnea had scars too, and she blushed as Throné touched them too. Scars from stumbling, scars from battles, they all held memories. A low chuckle fell from Throné's lips, and again she kissed Agnea, and Agnea parted her lips for Throné's eager tongue. They were both more than their scars, and with each kiss they could create new memories.
The joy of simply touching was almost as intoxicating as the heat gathering in the pit of Throné's belly, a heat that flared as her hands trailed downward over Agnea's throat and collarbone, soon finding her breasts. Moans fell freely from Agnea's sweet lips as Throné fondled those soft breasts and pinched her stiff nipples. Her body squirmed beneath Throné's as she rubbed her thighs together, and Throné squeezed harder, wanting to savor the feel of that tender, ample flesh against her fingers. The pleading expression on Agnea's face was even more delightful, and Throné gave her nipples each another firm pinch.
When Agnea came, her eyes wide, both she and Throné were surprised.
"Well, your breasts certainly are sensitive," Throné said with a smirk. "That's rather adorable, I must say."
Agnea huffed, but couldn't stop a smile from tugging at the corners of her lips. She lunged forward to press her lips to Throné's for a harsh kiss, and Throné's gasp was muffled when Agnea thrust a hand between Throné's thighs.
Throné was forced onto her back, her lips still locked with Agnea's, and Agnea's free hand seized Throné's breast and squeezed, almost painfully, but she found she rather liked this aggressive side of Agnea's. Agnea finally broke the kiss and pressed her lips to the base of Throné's neck, where that poisoned collar had once lain, and Throné threw her head back in pleasure as Agnea slid a finger into her.
Aroused as she already was, Throné too reached her climax soon enough. The feel of Agnea's fingers inside her, of Agnea's flushed skin against hers - she never thought she'd allow another person so close to her. As an electric pleasure shot through her body, Agnea's fingers maintained a clumsy yet passionate rhythm, and Throné came a second time. That aching pleasure filled every pore of her being, hotter than even the desert winds during the day.
As Throné calmed, Agnea propped herself on her elbows, an alluring smile still gracing her lips and a light sheen of sweet coating her skin. Throné's breath caught in her throat, and she seized Agnea's face between her hands and pulled Agnea closer for yet another kiss.
If the night could promise such pleasure, then Throné truly had no reason to fear the darkness any longer.
A gentle silence fell over the two women as Throné held Agnea in her arms, the second bed in this room all but forgotten. Agnea's body felt so right against hers, and she'd never realized just how comforting the warmth of another was. Agnea pressed a gentle touch to Throné's neck, brushing her fingers along the faint discoloration the Blacksnakes collar had left. That skin had gone so long untouched by the sun, leaving behind a reminder similar to the other scars she carried. But still Agnea thought her beautiful, and the heat of Agnea's skin over hers was like a treasure.
"Pala says I should act as your bodyguard," Throné said in a whisper, finally breaking the silence.
Agnea giggled just as quietly. "I'd like that very much. I trust the people Dolcinaea and Hermes recommend, but traveling with you again would be a dream come true."
"Do you often feel unsafe?" Throné asked carefully. It wasn't only monsters on the road that dancers like Agnea had to worry about.
"Not often, no, but if you're offering, I'd certainly feel safer!" Agnea replied with a wink.
"Using my dagger skills to protect, hm?" Throné chuckled darkly. "What is this world coming to…?"
"A better world, little by little." Agnea pressed a kiss to the hollow of Throné's throat. "Thank you, Throné."
"I should be the one thanking you, for always believing in me." Throné allowed herself a faint smile, and kissed Agnea's lips again.
Life wasn't always easy. There was still much cruelty and suffering in this world. Even in Ku, Hikari was unlikely to see all his desired reforms accomplished in his lifetime. But change did happen - the smiles on Pala's and Mikka's faces were proof of that. If Throné had not set out on her journey, she never would've seen such joy. She never would've met Agnea.
Her hands were stained in blood. Darkness still lurked in her heart. But when Agnea smiled at her, she remembered how the eight of them had fought for the dawn. In some ways, she was still a thief, but as she held Agnea in her arms, never again would anyone steal this treasure.