In a world dominated by status, lineage, and marriage, it stunned them all when Luke married a common girl from the country. But, it was a rushed arrangement. In a world dominated by heirs and wealth, he needed to validate himself in the eyes of his new people.
Soft lights bathed the ball room in a golden glow, bringing out the flush rose of Marian's cheeks. They danced under the great chandelier, Luke's first dance with the crown on his head. Their first public event since their last parent passed. There was a smile on his face, but his eyes were shallow and dark.
Clara sipped at her drink and walked out of the room with Carver, who'd been stumbling over his words all night. It had been the coronation of a new king — the coronation of her brother.
"I'm happy for him," Carver said quietly as the cool Fall air hit them. "Everything has been so... negative since..."
She laughed, and hung her hands over the balcony. "Since father died? Of course it has been. I know Luke, and I know he'll be a great leader." He turned to her and gently brushed a lock of her brown hair out of her face. "Carver, I-"
"You should be happier."
"I am happy," she mumbled. Clara pulled away from him and sighed. "I just lost father. I..." The winds picked up as she turned to face him, loose strands of hair blowing in front of her pale, freckled face. "I should be happy. Everything is following the natural order. Luke isn't happy either."
"He's just got married. He'll have heirs, soon enough." Clara already knew that, given time, life would get easier. Her brother would assume his rightful position in time, and he would prove himself a calm, compassionate leader like their father.
The chilled air smelled crisp and clean as the wind gained strength and battered against the thorny exterior of the castle. Clara straightened her back as she inhaled softly. Carver moved behind her and placed his hands onto her stomach, pulling her back into his chest. She lay the back of her head against his collar and smiled.
"Clara, everything will be alright. I know it's awful, right now."
"It really is," she sighed. Clara pulled away from him and turned. There were people starting to leave the ballroom and that signaled to her that the dance was over. "I want to talk to Luke. I know he's concealing how he feels, too."
"You can trust him, he's your big brother. He'll always be there for you, you know that."
"Oh, I know." She leaned back against the railing. "I remember just a few summers ago. When he first came back, before he was called away again. We went hunting together in the forest, and... well, the horse bucked me off. He carried me all the way back to the castle, neither of us told father. He seems so, so, upset with everything. I know, I am too, I feel bad too. Father died so suddenly, and Luke wasn't even here when it happened."
"Your father loved both of you. He truly did. You will move on, as will your brother. Your father groomed both of you for the crown, he knew you would both make great rulers in his throne."
"Don't trivialize my father's death. It was too soon, and he was more than just a King. He was the only one. He was my father."
Her cheeks went red in the bitter air as she realised she'd snapped at him. Carver was a good guy with good intentions. She never wanted to hurt him, or yell, or moan. Clara let out a sharp exhale as she looked to the floor. He placed a hand on her shoulder and laughed. As he bent down to kiss her forehead lightly, she saw Luke in the doorway, hands behind his back as they always were, his wife no longer beside him.
"Clara."
"Luke, why..."
Carver stepped away and bowed, making sure his back wasn't to him. Luke dismissed Carver with a wave of his hand and then took his place beside Clara.
"How are you?"
"I'm wonderful, but why are you out here and not in there? It's your ball, your coronation."
He wrapped an arm around his young sister's shoulder. "You came out here. I know things have moved fast. I only married her last week, and now here we are. Are you sure you're alright?"
"I know, I know. It just feels so... strange. Without father."
"You're my baby sister. I'll always be here. I'm going to have plenty of little babies, I'm actually hoping for a girl," he laughed as he lightly pushed her. "I have to go back in, I'm sure they're waiting for me. Cheer up." Luke turned to smile at her before he left her, and Carver returned, that time with another drink in hand. She took it off of him and sighed.
"There is something wrong. I'm... no, I'm simply worrying too much about him."
He grabbed her hand and walked her into the gardens, their minds both free and unconcerned for a few moments. "Why are you so concerned?"
"His army? I heard he's raised taxes again. He won't speak to me about when he was away, when he went to Briar. I think I even overheard one of the guards say Luke was tempted to break off the treaty we have with them."
"The Queen of Briar wouldn't let that happen," he mumbled. "It would be an incredibly stupid thing to do. And besides, it's idle gossip among soldiers."
She laughed and then sighed, her eyes sinking downward as she tried to reason to herself why her brother was doing what he was doing. There was no reason. Clara simply had to get used to the fact that her brother had been coronated, and it was in his best interests to maintain his own safety. There had to be some positive motives that had pushed him to somewhat dampen the lives of the people, but Clara knew he'd been raised for it. Groomed for it. Luke was going to be a good king. He just had to be.
