Suikoden VII

Chapter Six: Part Two

Chapter Six: Part Two

"Nin mel!" Brownie flew into the room and became big. "Nin mel, a visitor has arrived!"

"Brownie, I'm not fully dressed!" Astraea exclaimed, grabbing a blanket from the foot of her bed and throwing it onto the House Pixie. The blanket hovered in the air as Brownie struggled. "You need to knock before entering!"

"But Nin mel, you are not naked!" Brownie protested. "And I am your fiancé! You do not need to hide from me!"

"Brownie, this is a camisole!" Astraea snapped, tugging on the hem. Though she was technically clothed, she hadn't finished buttoning up her dress. So it had been collected around her waist when Brownie flew in, and her camisole was visible. "A camisole is undergarments! I haven't finished getting dressed!"

"Why are not dressed, Nin mel?"

"I was getting dressed! In the privacy of my bedchamber!"

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?!" Dawa rushed into the room. Her brow rose when she saw the floating blanket. "Uh—what is that?"

"Brownie," Astraea scoffed, shrugging her arms into her sleeves.

"Her Majesty is changing!" Dawa thundered. She grabbed the bottom of the blanket, closing it around Brownie, and pulled it towards the door. She quickly opened it, threw the load outside, and then slammed the door shut. "Damn Pixie, "she grumbled.

"Dawa, you're supposed to be on vacation," Astraea reminded her.

"I am, Your Majesty," Dawa said. "I was just checking on you before heading downstairs."

"I'm fine, just finishing getting ready."

There was a knock at the door. "Your Majesty?"

"One moment, David!" Astraea called out, finishing getting dressed.

"At least he has the manners to wait," Dawa muttered.

When she was done she called David in. "You're supposed to be on vacation, Dawa," he said as soon as he entered.

"I am on vacation," Dawa said impatiently.

"Sorry to disturb you Your Majesty, but you have visitor in your great hall," David said. "Viktor brought him, said his name was Biehn—"

"Biehn!" Astraea snapped to attention and hurried to the door. "I thought he was heading for the mainland Western Continent!"

"Let's go and see what he wants," Dawa said.

"We are going to go see what he wants," David said. "You are going to go downstairs, eat breakfast, and do something besides serving as Her Majesty's assist."

Dawa glowered at him. "Please Dawa," Astraea said. "Take it easy, all right?" Dawa's features didn't soften but she didn't protest.

Brownie was gone when they left Astraea's room, and when they reached the ground floor Dawa was steered towards the dining room. Astraea and David found Biehn in the center of the great hall with Viktor by his side. Pilika was also standing with them and she was talking to Biehn animatedly. David flinched when he saw her but did not break his stride. "How are your parents?" Pilika asked Biehn. "I remember them, they always seemed so happy together."

"Mom is Mom and Dad is Dad," Biehn said.

"Hey, Your Majesty!" Viktor called, waving to them. "Look who's here!"

Astraea hurried over. "Hello, Biehn," she said. "You decided to stay in Zelant after all?"

Biehn gave a huge wince and rubbed his nape awkwardly. "There's...something I need to tell you, Your Majesty," he said in a sheepish tone. "Could we speak in private?"