For @THRONE WARDEN WINGFEATHER. Thanks for the idea!
The sun rose out of the sea on a warm morning at Castle Rysen. The birds commenced their songs from the previous day as if they had never stopped. The town was already bustling with its normal activities and everyone was in high spirits. It was spring in Anniera. However, it felt more like the bitter winter in the castle.
Janner awoke in his chambers as the sun was streaming through his window. He sighed a sad sigh and started to get dressed. All was silent.
There was no usual knock at his door of Leeli come to give him a "Good morning!” and a kiss.
There was no laughter of Kalmar in the hall, or Nia bustling about, or Sara singing sweetly.
Janner opened his door when he encountered Leeli walking slowly through the hall.
“Hello Leeli.” he said quietly.
She looked startled as if a loud banging had followed his greeting. She was again calm. “Hello Janner.”
“Do you know where Sara is?”
“She’s packing.” replied Leeli. “She thought she should get started as soon as may be.” She pulled out a handkerchief and stared crying softly into it.
“Thank you.” he put a comforting hand on her back. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”
He continued walking as he recalled the events of the previous weekend. Sara’s twentieth birthday had occurred on the following Saturday but it was indeed quite overshadowed by some unpleasant news. She was leaving.
“I cannot impose on you any longer”, she explained that fateful night, “I have already over stayed my welcome. You have always been so kind to me and treated me as one of your own, but my conscience will not allow me to stay any longer. And since I know I could never pay you back, I will simply save you the need. I have to find a place of my own and place where I do not owe anyone. Please do not think I am weary of you. On the contrary, my heart breaks at the thought of leaving you all.” at this statement she turned her eyes to Janner but could not keep them there long, seeing that Janner had tears in his eyes.
Everyone was shocked at the news.
Nia tried to convince Sara that she was not at all imposing. She tried to tell her that she was like her own daughter and would feel as if a child was torn from her due to an untimely death if she left.
Leeli, sobbing uncontrollably, could not talk to anyone for the rest of that night.
Kalmar threatened to use his royal authority to keep her under lock and key if need be.
Artham had tears in his eyes, yet was silent. He later confessed to Nia that he had foreseen this happening.
Janner was crushed. Everything went grey. Words were meaningless. Form was dead. Music was stale. All he felt was dull pain surge through him. All his dreams in following nights were Sara on a boat disappearing into fog and him standing there completely broken.
He reached Sara’s door and knocked. After a few moments the door slowly opened. Sara stood there with trunks, clothes, books and many other items scattered behind her.
“Hello Janner.”
“Hi. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“Oh! Is everyone waiting? I’m so sorry! I was trying to ge-“
“No! They’re not. I just came to see if you wanted to take a walk beforehand.”
A look of surprise crossed her face. “Oh! Of course!” He offered his arm. She took it gently and they started towards the closest door.
They walked through the back garden in silence for a while. Janner was the first to speak.
“Sara-“
“Yes?”
“Why- uh- why are you leaving?”
“Janner, I told you. I can’t impose on your family anymore.”
“But why?”
“Why?”
“WHY!”
“Janner! You’re starting to sound like when we were kids!”
“I’m sorry Sara, but you’re acting like when we were kids!”
“I am?!”
“Yes! Your so drastic! Everything is fine one day, but the next, you’re leaving all of us!”
“That’s not drastic! I simply think it’s better if I leave!”
“Better for WHO!?”
“Janner! What’s wrong with you? You never have incorrect grammar. It’s Whom!”
“I don’t care about grammar! Answer the question!”
“Whatcha doin’ you two love birds?” Kalmar was perched on an upper window over the garden. He was startled as they both fixed their hot gazes on him. He quickly exited the conversation with a mutter about breakfast being ready. The two stomped off toward the meal.
Breakfast was quiet. Janner and Sara were silent through it all, as was everyone else at the table. “So, I saw a squirrel pick its nose the other day.” Kalmar said, trying to break the silence.
Everyone looked at him with disgust and a little bit of gratitude. The rest of the meal was Leeli’s muffled sobs and Nia’s occasional hushes.
Later that day, Janner ran to Kalmar’s chambers. He knocked rapidly on the door.
“Janner?”
“Kal, I need to speak with you.”
“You wish to have an audience with the king?” Kalmar said in a studious voice.
“No, I need to talk with my brother.”
Kalmar realized something was weighing heavy on Janner’s mind and decided to stop playing games. “Come in.”
The room was bright and inviting.
“So,” Kalmar began, “what do you need to talk about?”
“It’s about Sara.”
“Mmm. Yes, I’ve been expecting you.”
“Kal!”
“Sorry.”
“Anyway, I don’t know what to do! She’s leaving. Thats it.”
“Thats it!?”
“Well, she’s made up her mind-“
“Janner Wingfeather! You look at me. It’s not too late! She’s leaving tomorrow. You still have time!”
“Time for what?”
“Do you love her?”
“Yes!”
“Than what are you waiting for!?”
A look of realization crossed Janner’s face. He always thought he would marry Sara. He just always thought it would be when they grew up. Then he realized. They had already grown up! He was twenty years old! What was there to wait for?
“Answer me! What are you waiting for?” Kalmar urged.
“Nothing. At. All.”
Janner ran out of the room searching for Sara.
He found her standing on the dock of the castle looking out towards the sea. With her hair blowing in the wind and her white dress reflecting the sunset, she looked just as Janner imagined she’d look. He ran to her and took her hand. She was surprised but Janner did not stop.
“Sara, you can’t leave. Don’t even argue with me. You can’t leave me. I love you.” There were tears in Sara’s eyes. “You have to stay and become my wife. You’ll be my biggest adventure. You already are!” A grin crossed his face. “I also need help watching Kal. He can be quite a handful.” He got down on his knee. Tears were streaming down both their eyes. They felt as if they had all the time in the world. “ I love you more than life itself. Please Sara. Marry me.”
“Yes Janner. I will marry you.”
They fell into each others embrace laughing and crying.
That night they announced the news to the family. Nia was the mix of happy and sad that mothers have at the announcement of a child getting married. Kalmar was all smiles, jokes and boasts that he had practically proposed to Sara for Janner. Leeli went into happy shouts and hugs around the room. And Artham was overjoyed. Ha laughed his boisterous, booming laugh.
The sun set, leaving the town with a chilly spring night. But in the castle, it felt like summer.
Favorite part?