Chapter 489 - 490: Walk With Me.

Chapter 489: Chapter 490: Walk With Me.

And then, just like that, they’re away into the night, like they were never even there. Xena wonders how that’s even possible; how two men can carry such storms within themselves yet somehow leave so little trace. Although, she concedes, as she polishes away the tear stains from her face and gives her poor reflection a reassuring smile in the mirror, that’s the way with storms sometimes. They blow in with such force and ferocity, howling and carrying on in such a way that until the wind dies it can be hard to remember that there was ever a time when the sky was clear. But clear it does, and after a few days it’s as if it never happened.

But those who bear witness remember storms like that.

Xena nods to herself and lets out a low breath as she sets about cleaning herself up. Papa isn’t expecting her tonight, but a princess is nothing if not prepared.

It takes her a little while for the redness to die from her cheeks, but most of the puffiness has gone from her eyes by the time there’s a small knock on her door. She hurriedly wipes away any last traces of tears; it wouldn’t do if her father saw her like this, and while she thought she’d done quite an admirable job, from the way Bongo’s expression softens when she opens the door, something must give her away.

"...I take it you’ve heard," he remarks quietly, and she nods, allowing herself a small, unladylike sniffle, "...They’ve headed off for the night, then?"

Xena can feel her expression starting to crack again, and she fights to keep her voice from doing the same.

"They have," she replies, subdued. So Bongo was in on this, too. She’s hardly surprised. He knows most of what Papa knows. "...It seems like they’ll have a lovely night. Montrel seemed very excited about it." She wonders if he knows, too, and then decides that he probably doesn’t. He wouldn’t be so excited, if he knew. "Loac said he’s gone to see Auntie and Mama. They’ll be happy he’s going out with his friends."

She’s happy for him, too. He’s been so alone all these years; it’s nice to finally see him surrounded by friends.

But she’s also sad that she’s not a part of it; that the reemergence of that side of Loac is something she only ever really got to glimpse from afar. Maybe if she had been born a prince it would have been different; maybe she would have been permitted to go out where she liked and stay out late with whoever she pleased. Princes didn’t need chaperones or escorts, and while they’d garner whispers for drinking too much or prompt scandals for being out too late or the company they kept, it was still practically expected of them to misbehave. Not princesses, no.

Ladies –especially royal ones, at that– weren’t afforded such privileges. Not even here, in this kingdom, where even firstborn daughters could inherit a crown.

Princesses had to be perfect. They had to be pretty but not too much prettier than their peers, clever but not openly more clever than their husbands, eloquent, well behaved, and above reproach lest they not be taken seriously by the men around them. Such things had never mattered when they were children, because they were children.

(Just once it would have been nice for it to not matter again.)

Papa and mama had always impressed upon her the importance of keeping her thoughts and emotions close to her heart, in case they were used against her. She wonders if they ever shared such things with each other, and if so, how lonely Papa must be now that Mama is gone.

"You weren’t tempted to join them?" Bongo inquires curiously, "I thought I overheard Montrel extending you an invitation earlier."

"...He did say I should join him," Xena admits hesitantly.

"You don’t think he was being genuine?"

"Of course not!" The thought hadn’t even occurred to her. Montrel says things thoughtlessly but he’s really not the type to not mean what he says. "It’s just that...it really wouldn’t be appropriate." Bongo has to know that. Going out on a night in the town with a horde of drunk men? Even with all the chaperones in the world... "...Papa would never approve of something like that."

"...Perhaps," Bongo hums, which strikes Xena as a very strange way to agree with someone. "In any case," he adds mildly, dipping his head, "I’m terribly sorry to have disturbed you. It’s just that it’s such a nice evening and I rather find myself in the mood for a walk."

It’s a rather strange thing to say, but as he rises out of his bow, Xena’s certain she catches him wink.

How curious.

"...Oh, is...is Papa busy tonight?" she queries lightly; treading cautiously and wondering if she’s imagining things.

"Unfortunately," he replies with a small shrug and a barely perceptible smile. It would appear that she saw correctly, then. "...He’s tied up with the lords and ladies this evening. They’ll have him occupied for hours yet."

Xena resists the urge to beam, because princesses, well, you know.

"...Is that so," she says instead, keeping her tone ever-so effortlessly light and airy; a perfect picture of innocence but for the twinkle in her eye belying the mischief beneath. "Well...in that case, would you perhaps, care for some company, Captain?" she inquires, and knows she’s read between the lines correctly when Bongo chuckles under his breath and offers her his arm. Delighted, she immediately catches onto his elbow, nevermind that she’s still in the same dress she’s been wearing all day and her hair has fallen a little flat.

"I would be honoured, Your Highness."

"...Did you have somewhere in mind?" she inquires conversationally, and Bongo politely averts his eyes so that they can pretend that he doesn’t see her practically skipping with unbridled excitement as they step out into the hall, "...That you’d like to walk this evening?"

Her question makes him smile.

"I did, actually."