Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Aero ran down the steps holding her dress up so she wouldn’t trip. She didn’t stop until she flung her arms around her guests in an enthusiastic hug. There was laughter and tears all at once. When she pulled away Blake still hung onto her legs so she picked him up and held him.

“I’ve missed you all so much,” Aero told them wiping her face. “I’m so glad you could come to visit.”

“How have you been?” Flora asked trying to hide her worry.

“There have been ups and downs but I’m alright.”

“You’ve changed so much,” Lucidia told her feeling the pure white wings.

“I know. It’s rather strange. I still become startled sometimes when I see my reflection.” She laughed.

Ive couldn’t even get a word between their excited conversation. He stood aside from the group uneasily. Even Tomber was included until he was led to the stables for a rest.

“Come, let’s take a tour,” Aero offered leading the way to the courtyard. “Keep up, Ive. It’s a big place you don’t want to get lost.”

He stated out of his daze following the group. She was still the same Aero, but there was something different about her. She seemed almost happier, like some weight had been lifted. He knew that it shouldn’t have upset him, but she seemed distant to him now.

The maids followed them through the tour whispering amongst themselves about the new company. It was a strange gathering, Princess, peasants, and a minstral.
“Ive, come see this view,” Aero called to him.

He looked out the large window over the vast city. The aqueduct sprayed water down into the pool beyond the wall. The town looked so distant beyond the large, stone wall.

“Do you often go to town?” he asked her curiously.

“No, I’ve never been past the wall,” she told him looking down, “I’m actually a little wary to.”

“Have you forgotten how to interact with average people?”

“Th-that’s not it.” Aero had a pained expression on her face. “I haven’t forgotten. It’s just . . . difficult to make myself go to them.”

“Can I speak with you alone for a minute?” he asked desperately.

“Blake, do you mind-” the child clung to her glaring at Ive in asideways glance.

“It’s fine if he comes,” Ive told her.

She followed him down the hall to a small inlet by the stairs. He turned around suddenly to look at Aero seriously.

“What’s happened to you Aero?” Ive asked. “You seem different.”

“Nothing. It’s just different here.”

“Why haven’t you seen your people?” Ive asked worriedly, “Have you just stayed with the nobles?”

“No. No that’s not why,” she told him frantically. “I still haven’t adjusted to life here so I just . . .” She let her sentence trail off as she looked away. Blake looked up at her worriedly.

“Scared?” Ive asked softly.

Aero nodded. “I don’t want to relive the village. I’m afraid that the tolerance here is less than the Faery Realm. What will I do if the people hate me for who I really am? I know some people are okay with it, but . . .” she breathed shakily causing Blake to reach up and touch her cheek comfortingly. She hugged him in return letting him rest his head on her shoulder.

“Even if you get one person to change their view you’ve made a difference,” Ive whispered.

Aero looked up suddenly at the familiar words. “Yes,” her face softened, “you’re right. I shouldn’t be wavering like this. Even if it means I’ll be hated I should do what I feel is right.”

“Even if it isn’t the easy way we have to keep fighting,” Ive told her happily.

“Right!” Aero smiled.

Blake looked between the two, confused by their conversation. “What are you doing, Aero?” he asked in a small voice.

“I’m trying to make it so that everyone will be accepted where ever they go. There are too many people who are hurt by other’s judgments. For that to happen I have to change a lot of people’s minds.”

“How will you do it?” he asked curiously.

“I’m not sure yet,” she told him as she readjusted him on her hip, “Maybe I’ll start by telling them the truth.”

As she finished Talim and Senna reached the top of the stairs. They had a baffled expression on their faces as they saw the group before them. They saw their princess with an unknown Faery boy and a young child in his likeness in her arms.

“‘Tell then the truth’?” Senna asked looking between the two. Her face blanched.
Talim turned to her suddenly as he came to the same conclusion. His expression was a mixture of fear and relief.

Blake who had noticed their approach gripped Aero’s sleeve tightly and bent closer to her. His fall colored Faery wings peaked out from behind him.

Senna breathed a sigh of relief as she climbed the remaining steps to the landing. “Oh, Aero, don’t think bad of me, but I thought he was yours for a moment.”

“Senna! Princess, please forgive her.”

“He is mine,” she told Senna smiling, “he’s my little brother, Blake.”

Lucidia and Flora came around the corner after hearing the commotion.

“Then who . . .?” Talim asked looking towards Ive.

“Oh, allow me to introduce everyone,” Aero offered, “This is Ive and over here are Lucidia and Flora. Talim and Senna were my childhood friends before I went to the Faery Realm.”

“I am Aero and Blake’s guardian,” Lucidia explained.

“Nice to meet you all,” Talim greeted them.

“Would you all like to see the town?” Senna asked excitedly, “It’s a beautiful day and the market is open.”

“Would you like to?” Aero asked her guests.

“If you want to,” Ive told her.

“It does look beautiful,” Flora offered admiring the view.

“Then let’s go,” Aero suggested, “Will you show us around, Senna?”

“I’d be happy to!” She beamed excitedly.

The group descended back out of the palace as the gate was pushed open for them. Blake squirmed in Aero’s arms as he looked out into the town. She set him down so he could look around freely.

“You’re fine with this, right?” Ive asked her low enough that the others couldn’t hear.

She nodded. “I’m anxious, but I do have to face my people. It has been too long already.”

Blake ran back to her side filling the gap between Ive and Aero. He held Aero’s hand and looked up at Ive.

“What is it?” he asked the child uneasily as he felt the child’s deep blue eyes boring into him.

Blake help up his hand. “You look kind of like daddy did.”

Ive softened as he wrapped his fingers around the child’s small hand.

The leaves of the trees still held their green color as the cool wind of autumn tempted them to fly. The people walking at the edge of the open market turned their eyes to the strange group emerging from the palace gate. The townspeople wore simple clothing made of light fabric. The decorations were few besides the embroidery along the seams and bodices.

“Come, let’s go through the market,” Senna smiled happily to the group. She led them through like a tour guide showing them how the market was organized. They bought fresh fruit from a stall and sat to eat by the pool. The water of the aqueduct gave off a light spray as it fell.

“When winter comes we the flow of water from the source so that everything won’t become covered with ice,” Senna explained, “During that time we get water from other nearby sources.”

“The pools also stay filled with water gathered during the year,” Talim added from beside her.

“So I can drink this water?” Blake asked Ive from where he sat on the ledge swinging his feet.

“Yes, are you thirsty?”

He nodded. Leaning over the pool he cupped up the cool water in his little hands. It was perfectly clear. The crisp taste of the water quenched his thirst instantly.

“How is it?” Aero asked looking down to their reflections.

“It’s good,” he told her reaching for more.

“These four aqueducts are the most famous symbols of Aria. Even more than the palace,” Senna told them.

“They are very stunning,” Flora told her looking up at the falling water, “I’ve never seen anything like them.”

“They were here longer than the current palace. Aria came to be what it is because of the aqueducts,” Talim explained.

A standing crowd at formed along the edge of the market. They were whispering excitedly about the strange new people before them. They stared at Aero’s vibrant wings with amazement and wonder.

“What should I do?” Aero whispered to Lucidia who sat beside her.

“I don’t know,” she answered just as wearily, “you’re sure catching a lot of attention.”

Aero shrunk back pulling her wings in close. “I don’t like getting this much attention."

Senna stood walking over to the crowd. “I see you’re admiring your princess. Would you like to meet her?”

There was an audible sound of amazement rumbling through the crowd. Many were confirming what they heard with the ones around them.

“Aero, come speak to them.” Senna smiled joyfully and she waved her over.

“Ah, yes.” She stood startled as she walked over. Blake followed holding onto her skirt. He glanced back to Ive and the others expecting them to follow.

Aero stood beside Senna and took a deep breath. “Nice to meet you,” she told them curtsying.

There was laughter within the crowd.

“Princess, you’re not supposed to curtsy to us,” one of them told her.

“Oh, I guess that’s true,” she answered quietly trying to hide her embarrassment, “I’m not used to the whole princess thing yet.”

“Will she be okay?” Lucidia asked Flora quietly.

“I’m not sure.” Flora smiled. “She’s not the type to place others under herself, but that may become her strong point.”

“I hope you’re right,” Talim spoke gravely, “There is a thin line between strength and weakness when there is pressure all around you. What is strength to one is weakness to another.”