Love and War

Homecoming

The guards were released to have food, fill up on water and feed their horses. Luc and Viridian sat on the dining table as Evelyn entered the room after washing her face. Her expression serious she put the kettle on the stove and started to slice some bread.

"You have to come back." Viridian said. "And why is that?" She asked without turning to him. Luc hung on to the echo of her voice that stayed in the air after she had finished speaking.  He could not take all of her in, her features her voice her eyes, her eyes seeing her as an adult after so many years. But she also seemed different, tensed, serious. 

"You must have heard of the Vesler war advancing in the East, it's getting bad Evelyn. Soldiers are dying we are low on inventory and we don't have enough Generals. Roumers are there will be another attack before next month, this time from the west. We need you to fight with us. You could lead and with you we could win. After all sister you know how much I hate the war." There was a heavy silence. "Did mother send you?" She asked, with an edge in her voice, this time looking directly at Viridian.

Evelyn had left Aurelis many years ago. Luc was not sure on the details but he knew it was because she had fallen in love with a village boy. Queen Aurelia was not one to stand in the way of love but Evelyn broke the rules for him. One can only fool themselves so long it was clear the queen was not satisfied with the union and was not approve until everything was upto her standards and like her mother Evelyn did not like to be told what to do or what she could do and what she couldn't so she left. But in all the years that followed Evelyn and her mother never once talked, she only exchanging occasional letters with her brother.

"No-" Luc replied. "No...be...because she's dead." Viridian said cutting him off. Evelyn tried to hide it but her shock was obvious.

"What?" She said as if she didn't quite understand what Viridian was saying. "She was ill, and then it just got worse. She wanted you there you know, with her, on the front lines." Evelyn looked down not quite saying anything. "So you'll come back?" Viridian asked but Evelyn just turned around and walked to the stove. The day passed and not once did Evelyn give any assurance that she was returning. She did not talk much but Viridian was relentless in his efforts to convince her.

It was when he had went to the village to get meat for dinner when Luc heard the villagers talking, "Should we visit the Karev house?" "I heard some royal guards showed up at her house."I heard she was roaming around the streets drunk." A woman who seemed a little older than the others said, "Everyone has their own ways of dealing with grief, after all it has only been two days since her husband died." This took him by surprise, it had to be Evelyn they were talking about but he had no idea she had been married- of course she had married the boy, or that he died. Is that why she was so indifferent. As he was thinking he reached the edge of the town. Evelyn opened the door and gave him a smile and he could do anything to stay in that moment forever but he still had questions.