Why the Walls Bled

     Winter and Jacin had took a short detour before making their way into the Artemsian palace. Winter had suggested they explore the gardens and reminisce on their time here. After all, they had been away for so long, travelling on the Rampion for the past year, delivering the letumosis antidote to the Earthens.
     It was a wonderful experience, and Earth was so different compared to Luna. The air seemed to be lighter and the land was so vast. Jacin told her that it might have just seemed that way because the land was so new to them. He had some experience with Earth, so he did not participate in much of the fascination, but he did introduce Winter to many things. How real clouds were formed was one of the interesting things he explained. It was up there in her top five favourites, seasons' change bring her top favourite.
     The 'short' detour had accidentally added up to perhaps twenty minutes, and they arrived late to the palace although everyone else had landed at the same time, given that they were all on the Rampion.
     When they arrived, Konn Torin was the first to see them on his travel to retrieve some water for the group.
     "Princess Winter," he bowed, the glasses of water still atop the serving platter on his right hand. So graceful, Winter noted. Almost like a wise elderly swan, dancing amongst the winter ice.
     "I am not technically a princess, anymore. Nevertheless, I appreciate the respect, Torin-dãren," Winter curtsied in return.
     Torin straightened. "I apologize. My memory is not what it used to be. I'm flattered you think I deserve that title," he responded, referring to the 'dãren,' a title used of high respects.
     "I think all my friends are worthy of such a title. Almost everyone, really," Winter stated.
     "I'm sure Captain Thorne would enjoy the sound of it," Jacin thought out loud, before extending a hand to Torin. "It's good to see you again." He smiled.
     Winter looked up to Jacin, awing at the sight for sore eyes. Ever since they had left Luna, Winter had noticed some changes in her boyfriend. Being more open to visible happiness and emotion being one of them.
     Torin took his hand, exchanging in a handshake and giving Jacin a polite nod. "It's good to see you too, Sir Clay."
     "Everyone else is sitting in the dining room. Lunch is also available, courtesy of the palace cooks. I was just bringing over some water. Shall I escort you?"
     Jacin looked down to Winter, a still look  asking her what their decision was going to be.
     Winter looked back to Torin. "I think we'll take our route to the dining room," she responded, "it could be a second part to our detour."
     "I'll let them know you're here," Torin replied with another bow and a nod. He placed both his hands on the sides of the serving tray.
     "Thank you, Torin. We won't be long," Jacin promised.
     After a few moments Winter and Jacin were once again alone. They wandered down the halls, sometimes in silence just delving themselves into the memories encasing them. Often though they'd bring up some of those memories. At one point they passed by her old chambers. Jacin took a position beside the door and Winter a seat beside him, mimicking their old roles and remembering the time that just talking to each other was a taboo in the eyes of her step-mother.
     Jacin offered a hand to Winter. She took it, but instead pulled him down to sit beside her. He complied and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They sat in silence for a moment.
     Winter lifted her hand up, tracing the wall's crevices from afar.
     "What are you doing?" Jacin asked, breaking the silence.
     "The walls, Sir Clay. They don't bleed anymore. There are flowers were their scars are, their arms outstretched and their colour spreading across the stone," Winter explained, her arms stretching out suddenly, just grazing Jacin's nose.
     Jacin pressed a soft kiss to her ebony skin. "Perhaps the walls just don't haunt you anymore, Princess."
     Winter wasn't really a princess. After Cinder had turned 13, she officially wasn't. But no one knew she was alive, and so until Cinder had arose into the light of all of Luna and Earth, Winter and her step-mother were 'official' royalty. Even still after they realized this, Jacin was still so used to calling her by the title. It had become his nickname for her, just as Winter continued to call him 'Sir Clay' although he was no longer a guard.
     "The walls never haunted me. I inflicted that on myself. The castle's blood was its tears. I was terribly naïve and weak back in those times, and I wasn't able to—"
     Jacin stopped her. "Don't. You weren't weak. Don't talk about yourself that way, Winter."
     "It's true, I was. It's okay to admit it, Jacin. I'm different now, and I'm proud," Winter protested.
     Jacin stayed silent and nodded, understanding, and allowing her to continue on with her story.
     "The walls were bleeding because the place was in pain under the rule of my step-mother's parents, her sister, and then herself. I suppose I had always known the castle was in pain. But I just dismissed it as meaningless delusions because of how I was back then," Winter shook her head and looked down to her knees, disappointed.
     "But now we return as changed people. The palace seems to be happy now. No pain, no suffering," Winter looked back up to the walls, eyes wandering. "This palace, amongst the people of Luna, hadn't experienced true joy in centuries."
     There was a silence as Winter continued to observe her surroundings. She could feel Jacin's eyes on her.
     "It's beautiful, seeing it like this. It's no surprise that during this time of this new regrowth is also when under Selene's reign," Winter said and looked over to Jacin.
     He smiled at her. Winter could see the reflection of the imaginary flowers on Jacin's eyes. He could not see it, but Winter was sure it meant that he had grown too.
     "We should go, Princess. They're waiting for us." Jacin stood up and offered her a hand.
     This time, Winter took it and used it as leverage to stand up, Jacin's bicep clearly flexing under his shirt. He didn't comment on her thoughts but Winter knew he was listening. She looked forward to his thoughts when he would undoubtedly bring up eventually.
      They walked back to where they met up with Torin to make their way to the dining hall. They were soon met with echos of laughter that travelled down the hall of the dining room. Jacin pulled open the doors and Winter was met with turned heads.
     Some of the faces were some she saw on a daily basis while travelling on the Rampion. But seeing them altogether like this, happy and carefree, was different and extremely refreshing.
     Torin gave her a slight nod, as a greeting and acknowledgment that they had arrived.
     Iko threw her hands up. "Winter! Jacin!" She exclaimed loudly, a bright grin on her face, blue hair sticking out of the crowd.
     Kai stood up first, but Cinder put a hand on his shoulder. It seemed that she was excited to see them, and that she wanted to have the opportunity to greet them. Kai understood, and smiled at Winter and Jacin from afar.
     Cinder stood up and walked over to the both of them. She had reclaimed the throne over a year ago, but she had the same 'mechanic-in-a-busy-city' type of walk.
     The realization made Winter smile and she reached her arms out to hug Cinder and squeezed her tight.
     Cinder grunted but Winter could feel a smile growing against her cheek. "Winter, I'm so happy to see you again," Cinder exclaimed, pulling back to look at her.
     "It's about time," Scarlet retorted with a scoff, referring to their  punctuality. Winter could hear a deep chuckle arise from Wolf.
     "What were you two doing alone for so long?" Thorne asked suggestively, leaning his chest against the table to get a look at Winter and Jacin.
     "Have you been tired of the thin walls of the Rampion and decided to take some much needed opportunities?" He asked with a raise of his eyebrow.
     Throne turned to Cress, who was sitting beside him. "A good idea, no? Perhaps after lunch we could—"
     Cinder coughed loudly and turned around to shoot Thorne a look, Thorne and Cress looking over. Cress looked to her boyfriend and tried to mimick the look Cinder gave him.
     Cinder rolled her eyes and sighed, turning back to Jacin and Winter. "Welcome back," she said. She smiled at the two of them.
     "Come on, there's some space for you two and a lot of food left." Cinder turned around and led them to the table.
     Winter caught up to her and hugged her one more time, Jacin following behind. "You've been taking good care of the castle, Cinder-friend." she told her then pulled back, soft eyes pinned on her. "You truly are the fairest of them all. There's no one else in the Universe who can rule Luna like you can."
     Cinder had no idea what was making her so sentimental, but she supposed that she had always been like this. Or maybe the return was overwhelming her. Whatever it was, Cinder smiled back. If she could blush, oh, she would.
     "In all the Universe? Stars, I doubt it. But I'm glad you could even think something like that. Even now after all this time of being on the throne, I'm not all too confident," Cinder replied.
     Winter didn't protest against Cinder's bashfulness. She knew how modest she was. That was good. Winter wished she could spend more time with her cousin. She truly was a delight.
     Winter and Jacin took their seats, and Cinder returned to hers. Winter and Jacin slid in with conversation easily, like returning home after a vacation.
     This was her home. This was her peace. Here, she knew that the walls would never bleed again.