Eir took in a deep breath as she sat back in her seat in the carriage and taking in the warmth in the air. She began to wonder just how much further until they would arrive in Inamura; this sunlight and heat could only mean they were getting close. The previous day, Keratos stated that they just entered the Kadahn region so it shouldn’t be much further until they arrive.
Eir looked over to Bellona who was nose deep in a book, trying desperately to pass the time. As she looked at the once great Templarian warrior, Eir couldn’t help but think back on Arylos’s words from earlier in the trip. She wondered if she really did belong in Iris’s new family or if she was just an outsider.
“Soo~, reading anything good?” Eir asked Bellona, trying to keep herself entertained.
“If you call war tactics and military sciences of the Ninth Templarian Armada good, then yes,” Bellona responded while not looking up from the book.
“Seriously? Why not read a fantasy story? You know, reading for the fun of it,” Eir said while sighing heavily.
Bellona looked up from her book and gave Eir a confused look. “Is that not what I’m doing?”
“Nevermind,” Eir waved Bellona off while chuckling nervously. The last thing she needed was a war lesson from the Templarian Centurion and now Lord Commander of the King’s Watch. “Soooo~, Arylos and Iris huh?”
“What about them?” Bellona asked, even more confused than before.
“How long have those two been a thing?” Eir asked with a sly smile.
Bellona thought for a moment before chuckling. “Thank the fucking stars; I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who noticed.”
“How could I not notice; they’re practically tied together,” Eir said with a deep laugh.
“Like a dog being walked by their owner,” Bellona responded while working up a laugh herself.
“The only question is who is the dog?” Eir said while laughing more.
“I’m pretty sure it’s Arylos; he’s quite literally wrapped around her finger,” Bellona wheezed while closing her book and laughing.
“Didn’t Iris say that he’s huggable like an elderly dog?” Eir asked while holding her stomach.
“I didn’t think she meant that literally!” Bellona burst out in realisation as the two Templarians laughed hard enough to work up tears.
“Seriously, I have to keep thinking to myself ‘get a room, you two!’” Eir squeezed out between laughing fits.
“Are you kidding me?” Bellona cut in while feeling her sides cave in from the laughter. “I’m sitting here wondering when I missed the wedding anniversary and when is the baby shower!”
The two women laughed noxiously with Eir beating on the windowsill of the carriage. In between laughing fits, they kept making comments about their mutual friends; finding new things to poke fun at. Nothing was off limits; Arylos’s mannerisms, Iris being mentally a child and an elderly lady simultaneously, Arylos’s growling voice, Iris always thinking one step forward and two steps back.
Eir wiped tears from her eyes as the laughing fits slowly subsided. Her mood began to shift as she remembered Arylos’s words; how enamoured he was by Iris and she began to wonder.
“To ask seriously, are the two of them together?” Eir asked as her voice stabilised.
Bellona eased her own laughter and held her sides as they burned. “I don’t think they’re officially a couple if that’s what you’re asking.”
“What do you mean?” Eir asked in concern.
Bellona took a deep breath and stretched out across the bench. “I think they value and respect each other greatly, but from what I’ve seen, neither have made any significant moves.”
“Are they too nervous to? Or is something else going on?” Eir asked while giving Bellona her full attention.
“Iris, absolutely,” Bellona responded without hesitation and letting out a chuckle. “She’s way too socially awkward to recognise her situation. She also might like him but might think it’s wrong for a mortal and a Titan to be together.”
“And Arylos?” Eir asked while rubbing her chin.
Bellona took a deep breath before answering. “I don’t think he cares either way. He obviously values her, but he’s happy with the way things are; his ‘waking dream’ as I’m sure you’ve heard him say before. I think he’s happy having her around and doesn’t want anything more.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Eir asked while leaning back on her bench.
“I don’t think so, but maybe Arylos’s idea of it could be,” Bellona answered while looking out to the clear blue sky outside. “He’s happy with her so anything else is just extra. But because of that, he won’t pursue anything else; which means any attempt for them to get together must come from Iris.”
The two women sat in silence as Eir gathered her thoughts. She had genuine concerns, even if it was all fun to laugh at now. What about in fifty years when things change for Arylos?
“I hope you’re picking up on my plan, if you’re asking me about this,” Bellona suggested while sitting up from her bench.
“What plan is that?” Eir asked.
“We get them together,” Bellona answered with a wicked smile. “Iris is on the verge of talking to Arylos seriously about it. My plan is to make the most of this vacation and get them to see how much they value each other and finally get them to come out of their shells.”
Eir thought about Bellona’s suggestion as she slowly leaned up from her bench. “But that would be promoting a Titan and a human being together.”
“Don’t give me that,” Bellona cut in with an annoyed voice. “There’s a guy in the Kenohs House that was literally and legally married to his own reflection. Go ahead and tell me that a Vlajhilsen and a human can’t be together.”
Eir rubbed her eyes as she prepared for the debate with Bellona. “I’m not saying that it’s wrong, I’m just saying–wait what did you just say?”
“You don’t know about Narkissos?” Bellona asked with an ever-widening smile. “He was literally in love with himself and it was even signed off in Templarian law; before he died that is.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Well, I’m not saying it’s wrong; I’m just wondering if it’s healthy,” Eir answered while shaking the insane gossip away. “He’s a Titan; he’ll outlive our universe itself. Iris is a human and even if she becomes Templarian, she’ll still only live a millennia or so.”
“You know, I told him the same thing; you know what he said?” Bellona responded while rubbing her chin. “He said that I ‘caught him’ before he ‘lost balance’. Granted, he was lying to Iris but I don’t think he was really lying to her.”
“What makes you say that?” Eir asked in confusion.
Bellona sighed as she thought back to that time. “A while ago, Sentoraya was attacked by a monster. Before the attack, Arylos lied to Iris to keep her out of harm’s way. However, she ended up getting involved right at the end and now Arylos blames himself because she could have been killed. Since then, they apparently had this big fight about something else but similar circumstances. At the end of it all, Arylos swore never to lie to Iris again.”
“So why would he lie to her and say he lost his balance then?” Eir finished Bellona’s thoughts.
“Exactly; unless he wasn’t,” Bellona answered with a snap of her fingers. “I think what he meant was that he forgot about Iris’s mortality, or just didn’t care, and now that’s on his mind. It would explain his behaviour quite a bit.”
The two women heard the horses outside whinney as the carriage began to slow down. The two let out groans as they realised they must be close to Inamura and would have to get out to stretch their legs.
“We’ll be approaching the Inamura city gates; we’ll be arriving at the lodgings before the hour ends,” the driver up front called out to the women in the carriage in a loud voice.
“This stays between us,” Bellona assured while getting up from the bench. “I’m going to make this a reality for them but the less they know about it, the better my chances of making this work.”
“But are you sure about this? Will this be good for them?” Eir asked while trying desperately to see Bellona’s point of view.
“More sure than I’ve ever been,” Bellona answered confidently. “They are happier and stronger together than they are apart. I want something good to happen to the two of them, even if it’s only for fifty years. At least let them have the opportunity to live and love without any regrets.”
Eir could not shake her concern as she withdrew into her thoughts. She turned to look out the window and saw the dirt and stone path under the carriage suddenly change to perfectly cut white stone; a sign Inamura was near. She turned her gaze and saw a line of white plaster buildings with tiled roofs on the near horizon. Eir watched as the line of carriages went into the city limits and continuous walls of white buildings surrounded the group as they travelled through the white streets.
Eir felt homesick as crowds of people and carts went past them in a never-ending bustle. The white stone and plaster nearly reminded Eir of the grey stone and gold of the Royal City of Templarius. As the caravan turned towards the west, tall white towers dotted the line of red-shingled roofs, standing out like solitary pine trees against the sea of red and white. It didn’t take long for Eir to smell the salt in the air of the nearby ocean and as the sprawling buildings cleared from view, Eir could see hints of the ocean like a distant blue meadow.
Finally, the carriages slowly came to a full stop and Bellona made her way outside. Eir thought for a moment before she got up and followed Bellona outside just as she admired a line of small white and grey cottages. The single story buildings with their blue roofs and small decorated gardens amused Bellona.
“Sometimes I give him shit, but Arylos does know how to relax,” Bellona said while resting her hands on her waist.
“He did get a nice house in Sentoraya; I guess he has good tastes,” Eir wondered aloud.
“Doubtful,” Bellona scoffed under her breath. “He’s been waiting for a peaceful life like this for a long time; he probably knew exactly what he wanted to get.”
Bellona then turned to the south and saw a clear blue sky met with a deep blue ocean surrounded by lush green landscapes and distant mountains. Delicate trees rose up to the cloudless sky to bask in the powerful sunlight. The two northern Templarians felt sweat come down their brows already in this brief exposure as the air went hot and heavy with a cool breeze that would blow infrequently.
“Damn this is not what I was expecting,” Eir responded while already feeling more sweat run down her skin.
“Why did I suggest this again? There’s plenty of bathhouses in Sentoraya where this all could have worked out,” Bellona lamented while loosening up a section of her shirt.
“How’s that plan of yours working?” Eir asked sarcastically.
“Shush; there’s still plenty of time and options to make it work,” Bellona growled as she made her way towards the other carriages.
“Could have picked somewhere cold so they would have to cuddle for warmth,” Eir suggested, continuing to poke holes in Bellona’s plan.
“No; they would just cower under a torotsu just like they did all last winter,” Bellona growled as she remembered the incident.
“Bellona, why the hell didn’t you tell me it was this hot?” Iris called out as she stepped out from behind one of the other carriages.
“Hey, I told you that going now would be when it was just right,” Bellona responded while pointing a finger at Iris.
“Yeah, you said it would be cooler than if we went for the summer,” Iris growled as sweat ran down her face. “You didn’t tell me it would already be unbearably hot! How do these people survive?!”
“We’ll feel better once we get in the water,” Bellona laughed nervously. “Speaking of, where’s your man?”
“My man?” Iris asked in confusion. It took her a moment to realise who Bellona was suggesting and when it came to her, she turned back to the other carriage and groaned as she marched towards it and climbed inside. Eir and Bellona came close to the carriage and could hear shouting inside.
“Come on you big idiot! We need to get going!” Iris called out while putting her hands on her hips.
“No; sunlight bad,” Arylos growled from under a dark blanket in the corner of the carriage.
“You’re pale enough that a bit of sunlight will be good for you!” Iris hollered while pulling on Arylos’s arm from under the blanket.
“No; too much sun, too much heat, too much sand,” Arylos continued growling, pulling back against Iris.
Iris let go and puffed up her face, starting to give up faith in the Titan. “Then here are your options. You can stay here and cook in this carriage. Or you can come with us where we can get into the water to cool off. I’ll even get something to give us some shade so we won’t be in the sun.”
Arylos slowly pulled away the blanket, looking at Iris with glowing red eyes. “Nap on the beach in the shade?”
“Yes, no sun to bother your naps,” Iris suggested in a softer cooing voice.
“Can we get shaved ice and lemon juice?” Arylos added with piqued interest.
“Tell you what, you come out and I’ll make a lemon juice drink my mom used to make when it was hot that I know you’ll love,” Iris added with a wide smile.
Arylos growled for a moment before finally removing the blanket and slowly getting up from his hiding place.
“There we go~! Come on now!” Iris cheered with a widening smile as she walked backwards to guide Arylos out.
Arylos complied with the human girl as he slowly walked out, hissing inhumanly at the sun as it blinded him with its light. Bellona saw the spectacle and laughed as more hilarious thoughts came to her.
“Arylos really has never changed; always the hermit who hates the sun,” Bellona laughed while shaking her head.
Keratos let out a hearty laugh as he walked over to the group while holding a dark cloak. “It’s good to see that everyone is in such high spirits after that ride,” he called out to the group while continuing to laugh before motioning towards Arylos with the cloak. “By the way, this is for you, Arylos. This should shield you from the sun.”
“That’s black; that will only make things hot,” Arylos commented while eyeing the cloak from a distance.
“You wear black anyway!” Iris called out while gesturing towards Arylos’s all-black attire.
“She does have a point, you know,” Eir joined in.
Arylos snarled and crossed his arms. Iris had an idea come to her as she jumped back in the carriage and rummaged through the bags. It took her mere moments to come back with a wide-brimmed straw hat. She got up on her toes and rested the hat gently on Arylos’s head.
“There, this should keep the sun out of your face without heating you up too much,” She responded with a blushing smile and resting her hand on her lips. “It also looks cute on you.”
Arylos growled as he eyed the hat before slowly growing accustomed to it. After moments of the internal struggle, he finally sighed and nodded. “I can make this work,” he said in a satisfied voice.
Eir laughed as she watched the two and once again thought that they were too close to each other for their own good. And yet she couldn’t shake Bellona’s thoughts from her head. She watched the two head towards their cottage with Iris grabbing Arylos’s hand and chatting excitedly.
Eir internally agreed to go along with Bellona’s plan.