Seeing Old Friends

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

Five days after the hunt fête

I stood in the waiting area of the palace with outward patience. Inwardly I was trembling with excitement. I hadn't seen Landis since before the war when I had fostered with him briefly. I wondered if he had changed much.

I had donned a green gown, modest and not too fancy with the classically Aragonian square neckline. He was to take me out to see the City, I had taken care to neither over- or under-dress. I drew in a deep breath, the pendant he had given me all those years ago on a delicate silver chain about my neck.

[Landis de Verreuil]

With my usual amount of care to my appearance- good enough to get me by luckily, since my mind was on other things- I'd dressed in tan breeches and a rust-colored shirt, brushed my hair and tied it back in a neat tail and then made my way to the Palace. My time spent with Coretta- Cori- made me something of a familiar face and without too much fuss I made my way to where Mercedes was waiting.

She hadn't changed in any noticeable way for all of the years, and I smiled widely to see her, filled with glee as I walked toward her. "It's been a long time, Princessa," I told her happily as I gave a respectful bow.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Don't I get a kiss of greeting?" I teased with a smile, drawing him into a hug. He was, if it was possible, more handsome for the years. For all that I teased, I didn't kiss him. I was still not used to the way things were done here. "It has been a long time. You have been well I hope?" I asked, stepping back again. Mother, I was happy to see him again, and fair beamed.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I would, but I'd hate to have you slap me after so many years of thinking on you fondly," I joked with a laugh, hugging her back and taking her in as she stepped away. "And I've been well enough, of course. Being out of the sands improves my mood a great deal."

She was wearing the pendant I'd given her all those years ago and I smiled as my eyes fell on it. "And you? If you're not doing even better than I am I shall be greatly surprised."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Things are well. I finally found another excuse to travel to my mother's country, and to oversee the happiness of my cousin no less." I replied, still smiling from the sight of him. "It really is so good to see you again Landis."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"And you, you can be sure of that," I told her sincerely, tempted to reach out a hand to stroke her cheek but refraining. "You've only gotten more lovely, just as I knew you would, and I'm glad for whatever excuse you found."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"You old flatterer," I teased him, lacing my arm through his. "Come on, let's explore the city proper."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Not that old and only telling the truth," I assured her with a laugh as I softly stroked her hand for a moment. "What would you like to search for, or shall we simply pick a direction and wander?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

My skin tingled from his touch, and I wondered if we were to pick up where we had left off. "I rather like picking a direction and wandering, unless you have something specific in mind? You are the expert after all."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Your plan suits me best as well," I admitted as I turned us toward the left and began leading her down a tidy side street lined with shops. "And I'm not expert at the City. Not enough trees." With that I winked.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I chuckled. "Surely there is enough greenery in this place," I teased him, pointing to the flower pots hanging from windows.

[Landis de Verreuil]

Laughing, if a bit sadly, I nodded. "For some, but not for me," I said with a sigh, already slipping back into the habit of confessing my true mind and nature to her. "The City has a lot to offer, and it is lovely, but I miss my mountains and forests, even now. After coming back from Akkad a year ago I had only a little time there before I had to come here and begin working on things."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"There doesn't seem to be very many mountains to climb, but surely you have found other things to keep you here, not just work," I said, a concerned look on my face.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Friends, mostly," I told her, smiling and instantly feeling guilty for dropping my worries on her shoulders. "Truly, I'm not as morose as I sound, don't be concerned. I'd hate to think that you see me as something depressing, and I know that's what I sound like."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"I just don't want to see you unhappy. But if you say you're not, I won't worry," I said with a soft smile.

[Landis de Verreuil]

Her smile was still as beautiful as I remembered and I smiled wider to see it, meeting her gaze. "I'm not unhappy- how could I be, with you here to speak with?" I asked her playfully. "Will you tell me of your life since we saw each other last? I missed hearing your voice."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Not a lot has happened. I grew up and watched my siblings grow up, waited for the men to come home from the war. I had my heart broken." I shrugged a little, not really wanting to dwell on it. "And then I came here." I squeezed his arm lightly, my smile becoming stronger as I pushed the amir from my mind.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"That doesn't sound like very happy circumstances," I said with sympathy and understanding. "Especially that last bit." I almost bristled at the idea of someone hurting her feelings, but fought it down and simply rested my hand atop hers for a moment, willing it to give her comfort.

Looking around I saw a fountain of leaping dolphins and smiled as I pointed it out. "Is that something interesting enough to find?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"It does indeed," I replied, studying the fountain as we moved closer. "What about you?"

[Landis de Verreuil]

"War," I said simply and with a small, unhappy smile as I looked at the fountain. "It's only been over about a year for us and we got back shortly after. It's just been waiting to go home, then doing so and realizing it's lonelier than when I last left it, filled with silences the past wants to speak through."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I abandoned my study of the fountain, searching his face instead. My hands slipped to his and I warmed it between mine. "I'm glad that I came then, if only as a reminder that the past isn't completely gone."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"And I thank you for that, more than you know," I told her sincerely and with a wider smile, my hand clasped between hers, warm and tingling from the contact, then smiled a bit wider. "As glad as I am you still like the pendant I gave you."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I grinned, one hand leaving his to touch the amber. "I wore it so much the leather cord broke. I almost lost it," I told him. "My brother gave me a chain for it for my last natale."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"It looks good on you," I replied. "I knew it would, though I never saw you in it until now."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Well, I have certainly received enough compliments on it. The boys at court all asked where I had gotten it," I said with another grin, though this one was definitely more sly.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I wonder what you tell them, for the sake of my curiosity," I replied with a similar look, smile wider as I stroked her hand. "Did you find it in the wilds somewhere?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"I let them guess," I replied with a chuckle. "The stories became quite wild after a while of no one getting it right. It kept us all entertained for a time."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"At least it's gotten some use rather than just being a pretty ornament," I said, then laughed lightly. "The necklace you gave me caused some confusion for a while too, though no one really speculated at length. There wasn't enough time or inclination in the sand."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Well it did its job. You came back," I replied with a little sad smile, thinking briefly on those who hadn't.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Yes, it did," I told her, understanding the look on her face and lightly brushing a hand over her hair before I quite realized it. "And it did it quite well. Thank you."