On the track home through the forest, Artham and Neet were relatively quiet but there was no doubt between them that they wanted to talk about what had just transpired.
Aside from the First Book being safe all these years, Nia had become an outlaw of sorts- one that protected children from the horrors of the Black Carriage.
Artham was starting to come to an understanding that this was probably the majority of the reason that Nia stayed away all these years. However, he had a hunch there was another detail that Neet was leaving out of the equation: Esben.
Artham could tell Nia held shame and guilt for whatever happened those nine years ago and he really wanted to know what had happened to his brother... and what happened to her.
The Queen of Anniera was a pillar of strength right along side her husband, the King of Anniera. She was known for her heritage that originated from the people of the Hollows. They were a strong people and never gave hint to their enemies of any fear. Nia took after her people in this way but she also had an undeniable warmth about her character that drew others to her. To see her as she was now, Artham's curiosity was growing to levels of which were desperate for answers.
"... Neet..." Artham began, Neet glancing over at him, "I know you don't like being questioned but... Can I ask you some yes or no questions? Would that be appropriate?"
Even though she didn't want to be asked questions, Nia understood Artham had some right to know these answers so she nodded in response.
"Really?" Artham asked, surprised she agreed to his request. Nevertheless, he continued, "Let's start with an easy one." He cleared his throat. " Are you happy to be home?"
Nia nodded. "Sey."
"Well, that's good to hear..." Artham continued, "Are you happy with how the children have turned out? We've tried our best all things considering..."
"Sey." She nodded again but with more guilt on her face. "Ev'uoy enod a doog boj."
He looked over at her and observed her demeanor slowly shifting. "You regret leaving... Don't you? I see it every time you look at us..."
"Sey, s'ti eurt." Neet nodded, now looking away from Artham in shame. "I t'ndluohs evah denodnaba eht tser fo ym ylimaf... Tub, I tsuj t'ndluoc evael Esben..." Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head like she was trying to shake memories out her ears. "I tfel mih ni eht dne yawyna." She sniffled.
Artham felt sorry for her so put his arm around her shoulders to pull her into a side hug as they walked. "I'm sorry..." He sighed. "I can stop asking questions if it's too much... I don't like upsetting you."
Surprisingly, Nia shook her head and gestured her paw in a way to tell Artham to keep asking her questions.
"Are you sure?" He asked, concerned that her state of wellbeing would start to tank if he continued asking questions.
"Sey. Peek gniksa." She nodded.
"Are you absolutely sure? Because I have a question that I'm worried will upset you even more." Artham carefully asked, his pace slowing with the heaviness of the question on his heart.
"Sey!" Neet replied, nodding over and over so Artham would get whatever he needed off his chest.
"Alright, alright." He began quiet for a moment as he tried to think of the proper wording for his next question. "I'm starting to understand that you've stayed away as a matter of protecting the children from the fangs seeing as you... Kill them on a regular basis. But..." Artham looked at Neet carefully. "Is... what happened to you and Esben... another reason you've stayed away?"
Nia looked at Artham for a moment and then looked away with her lips quivering. She nodded. "... Sey. M'i ton efas ot eb dnuora. I yrrow I lliw eno yad esol ym dnim ot eht tniop I t'nac revocer. Ev'uoy nees woh ve'I-" Neet slowly looked back over at Artham and paused when she remembered that her brother-in-law was none the wiser of what she was saying. She sighed and shut her eyes tightly with tears squeezing out of her eyelids in frustration. "I t'nac neve klat ylreporp!"
"Hey, hey! It's alright!" Artham stopped his pace when he saw she was getting frustrated and pulled her into a full embrace.
Neet tightly hugged Artham back, her subtle tears becoming more like a sob.
"M'I a retsnom, Mahtra! Kool ta ym sdnah! Nehw I depacse, lla I dluoc kniht fo saw gnimoc emoh tub nehw I tog ereh, lla I dluoc enigami saw yllatnedicca gnihctarcs ym ettil s'lrig ecaf ro esrow!"
"Shhhh... Nia, we're still in the forest." Artham did his best to comfort her but was cautious that they could still be caught by a toothy cow herd if they weren't careful.
Neet's body shook at the mention of her name, which was almost odd considering she had been okay being called 'Nia' for a short time before this. Perhaps she was able to control herself before but because she was so worked up, she had trouble dealing with the immense amount of guilt she was carrying.
"I'm sorry... Neet." Artham did his best to hold her tightly, hoping she would calm down if he just gave her time. "I was worried this would happen if I asked questions... I'm sorry I pressed you."
Neet shook her head, "On... Uoy did gnihton gnorw. I did."
The two of them stood there embracing for a couple minutes in silence before Artham urged Neet that they had to keep moving.
"We don't want them to be worried... Let's get home and try to get some sleep." Artham slowly released her from the hug and she slowly let go after him.
"Yako..." Neet wiped her eyes on the back part of her paws. "I t'nod tnaw ot yrrow meht erom naht I ydaerla evah."
He stared at her for a just moment more before simply nodding and leading Neet back home.
They soon passed the fence that separated the forest from the front yard and were quickly spotted by Wendolyn on the porch.
"Artham! Ni- Neet! Is that you two?!" Wendolyn called their names for good measure in case it wasn't them.
"Mama?" Leeli awoke from her dozing and was quick to jump on her feet. "Mama!" She waved.
Nia smiled softly when she saw Leeli and her mother still waiting for her and quickened her pace.
Within second, Nia had her little girl in her arms and was smooching all over her face.
Leeli's laughter filled the hill with more joy than anyone thought they could experience in such trying times.
Artham came trailing behind, observing his niece in good spirits. He received an affirming nod from Wendolyn before he headed inside with the First Book in hand.
When the giggling subsided, Nia pulled away to look at Leeli.
"Mama? What's that book you're carrying?" Leeli asked upon discovering her mother had brought something home with her.
Nia only tiredly tapped the cover and murmured, "Esben's" without further explanation. Then, she swiftly picked her daughter up and carried her inside to tuck her into bed.
Wendolyn smiled warmly at her own daughter's motherly instincts as she followed everyone inside and locked the front door behind them.
Yay! Nia! Your name is Nia Wingfeather, High Queen of Anniera, wife of Esben, and mother of the king Kalmar of Anniera!!!