Divine Realizations [ Clarion X Milori ]

Chapter 24 (Part 3)

Light streamed in through the window, effectively luring Clarion from sleep.
Lazily, she stretched and rolled over to put her arm around Milori.
Or rather the pile of empty blankets in his stead.
Unsurprising she thought.
Milori was now either constantly working on running the kingdom or making sure his daughter was perpetually safe.
For the last three years since Avalon had been found, Clarion was the first and last in bed... or maybe the only one at all.
That thought sent a pang of worry through her and she rolled over to stare out the window. Where else would he be sleeping if not here? She immediately sighed and sat up, banishing the thought as it could only lead to nowhere good. Pulling her feet over the side, she stood up and gathered the things she would need to get ready for the day.
With towels mussed, the sink wet and his intoxicating scent filling the air, at least she knew he had been there.
That small reprieve gave her the energy to leave the royal family's chambers and go down the stairs into the throne room.
Upon entering however, yelling immediately assaulted her ears.
Assessing the situation, she could see an adorable Avalon frowning and an equally adorable Milori mimicking her pose.
Looking at them both, Clarion couldn't help but marvel at how they were the spitting image of each other.
Or rather Avalon being the spitting image of Milori.
Another pang shot down her chest but this time it had nothing to do with Miloris' constant absence.
What was it like to look at the mirror image of yourself?
Is that what it was like to have a child?
To see your own traits and characteristics passed down?
What would her and miloris' child have looked like?
At that Clarion stopped her tumultuous train of thought.
It was what it was and she had to stop mourning the child she would never have. Avalon was nearly perfect in every way a mother thought her daughter to be.
Because that was exactly what she was to Clarion at the end of the day, her daughter as well.
Walking up behind Avalon, Clarion ran her fingers through the girls' soft, long hair.
"What's this all about? Any louder and you'll wake the snowy rabbits from hibernation", Clarion smiled softly.
Milori kept his gaze on his daughter and remained scowling.
"Avalon keeps flirting with that 17 year-old missive runner in training after I specifically told her to stop." Milori said.
Avalon's face got even redder than Clarion thought possible and she nearly yelled back, "We weren't flirting! I was just having a conversation! We could be talking about how to make an omelet and you'd still think we where flirting!"
Her voice had been reduced to a high pitched squeal in her anger and Clarion fought the headache coming on.
Milori responded,
"It doesn't matter, your too young to talk to boys-", but Clarion interrupted him.
Putting an arm around Avalon's shoulders, and raising an eyebrow at Milori she said,
"Actually I remember a 12 year-old Milori quite vividly, always chasing girls around. I think it's perfectly acceptable for Avalon to talk to boys her age if she wishes, as long as it's just talking."
With that she turned to Avalon,
"Run along and play, your father and I will finish this."
Immediately Avalon's face brightened and she let out another squeal, this time out of happiness.
The girl insisted she was almost a woman and growing up, but every now and then Clarion was treated to slips of the little girl she used to know.
Quickly, Avalon pressed a kiss to Clarions' cheek and skipped off.
Turning around to face Milori, she readied herself for the coming fight that was sure to ensue.
Clarion knew he was jealous that Avalon always ran to her to make him see reasoning, but it couldn't be helped.
Sooner or later his overprotectiveness was going to push Avalon away for good and he needed to know that before a line was crossed. Facing him, Clarion felt rather than saw the anger pouring from him.

Milori stared at his wife.
What the blazes did she think she was doing? She was always undermining him when it came to Avalon and he was sick and tired of it. Trying to look as intimidating as possible, he straightened to his full height and said,
"I'll ask you once again not to interfere and let me discipline her the way I see fit."
Clarion softly laughed, moved closer and reached out to touch his arm.
She began talking but all he could focus on was her hand making lazy circles on his arm.
So... warm.
Dang but she was such a tease.
He tried to remember the last time he had touched her and vice versa and cringed.
It had to be the first year after finding Avalon because after that he stopped going to bed in the master bedroom with Clarion so as not to disturb her.
He was now constantly working, getting up far too early and going to bed far too late.
Sometimes not at all.
He missed Clarion.
Missed touching her, waking up to her and so much more.
But now that Avalon was almost a teenager (her words not his) she kept sneaking out past her guards to do who knows what.
On top of that, he had almost double the subjects he had before he married Clarion because of the merger and it was up to him to make sure things ran smoothly.
He truly had no time to give Clarion.
He looked into Clarions' eyes as she babbled on and hated to see the pain lurking there. Normally he would never let anything hurt the women in his life but this he could do nothing about.
He couldn't give Clarion a child that was theirs.
Not that he would ever regret Avalon or think any less of her.
She was a miracle... his second chance.
Which is why nothing could ever happen to her, she was the only child he would ever have.
Just then Clarions' voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Milori have you listened to a word I've said?"
"Sorry, I've had a lot on my mind, you were saying?"
Clarion stopped her ministrations and removed her hand and tried again.
"I was saying that you got yourself into this situation. I can't help that she comes to me to help you see reasoning. If your not careful, your overprotectiveness is going to smother her and push her further and further away. She needs others her age to talk to as well. Better now than later to introduce her to relationships."
Caught up at first in how much he wanted Clarion to touch him again, irritation rose up in Milori at her words.
"It's my fault? She's the one going up to boys to talk to them. What if one of them has ill motives towards her because of her title? She's far to young to date anyway, in fact the next boy who talks to her will be banished to the Hinterlands."
Exasperated, Clarion responded,
"I agree that she's to young to date and that's not what I meant by relationships. She needs relationships with other people besides us, not romantic ones but just ones in general."
"I'll think on it, but no boys for her - romantic or otherwise - until she's sixteen."
Or thirty Milori silently thought.
Pleased with that notion, he moved around her to go about his duties, but Clarion moved when he did as well and blocked his path.
Putting both palms on his chest, she stopped him from moving forward, or at least he let her.
Not even ten of her could stop Milori if he really wanted to go.
Frowning, he looked down at her.
"All I'm saying is that good relationships are built on communication. It's a two way system. I don't think she feels like she has a say in anything or that you even hear her sometimes."
Anger hit Milori.
"So your a psychologist now too? I think I know my daughter and my own flesh and blood better than you."
Milori cringed as he said the words, realizing how that sounded.
Instantly he saw Clarions eyes dim with hurt and he felt like scum.
She moved to pull away but he grabbed both her wrists before she could escape.
"Wait, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that Clair. I value your input but you know me with my one-track mind."
Just then some soldiers had come into the throne room and Milori moved to stand in front of Clarion, knowing she would hate it for any subjects to see her on the verge of crying.
"Out NOW!", Milori roared, making the soldiers run back the way they came and simultaneously ruining the moment.
As he turned back to her she said,
"Your right of course, or you would be if she hadn't said those exact things to me. We talk every night."
Milori didn't know what to feel.
Angry over the fact that his daughter never chose him to talk to and that her favorite parent was clearly Clarion or happy that she at least had someone she trusted.
Clarion continued, the fire renewed in her eyes. "I'm vetoing your decision on this. She can talk to boys if she wants to and I promise to keep a close eye on her at all times. You need to stop worrying about her so much and prioritize your work so you can start sleeping better at night."
Milori stood shocked.
No one had ever "vetoed" his (the Kings) decision.
He decided to let it go for now though as he was running late for an inventory meeting.
"You don't follow my rules very well either. Maybe you need to be disciplined to", Milori smirked.
Clarion scoffed and raised her chin, "I'd like to see you try."
"Is that a dare? Being married for as long as we have I thought you'd learn by now that I don't back away from challenges."
Clarions face heated and Milori left before she could say anything else.
Or before he could act upon said challenge.