The Tiger Within 391 A Request For Memory Sake Part1

The fireplace was lit, the fire burning and flickering like a living creature consuming the offered meal, providing a pool of heat. A mismatched stone fireplace made up its home, the floor of the fireplace made of white stone and earth, ash of fires long pa.s.sed. A few feet away three chairs curved around it. Two of them were empty, made to fit three people a piece. The last was a single chair meant to stand on its own. All three covered in rich blue cloth, draped with warm furs.

Cozy in the middle chair, the Matriarch sat quietly, wrapped in furs. The firelight danced over the warm brown furs tipped with white. Her hand gently fingered at the fur as she stared into the fire, enjoying the warmth on her skin.

The softest sound of knocking brought her attention to the door. "Enter." she called out, but honestly she felt too weak to make herself heard. The maid cracked the door, looking in with a gentle, smiling face.

"My Lady, Princessa Kyera and Princeling Clovis are here to see you. Should I show them in?" The maid asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, of course send my Grand baby in." Crystalsa waved her hand impatiently. When had she ever denied her grandchildren a audience? Kyera and Clovis entered and the room was suddenly bright and cheery. The smile on Kyera's face was bright and beautiful, warm as the fire. Her eyes filled with laughing joy and life. Crystalsa couldn't help but smile.

What really struck Crystalsa was the look on his face. His eyes were on Kyera, gentle and filled with warmth. Her joy was echoed in him, a perfect mirror. Their hands linked, signifying their unity.  It was warming to the old woman, that her little lost cub found happiness all on her own.

"Someone is happy. Come in come in." Crystalsa greeted motioning to the seat for two on her right. Kyera ignored it, just as she had done as a child. She settled on the ground at her Grandest Mother's feet smiling up at her. It was as though she had not been gone for ten long years.

"Very happy Grandest Mother, I have a request that I am hoping you will grant." Kyera spoke with a bubbly voice. Her excitement was almost girlish, like the nine year old Crystalsa remembered so fondly.  Her eyes glowed like Fantasy's use to faced with spring flowers.

"What is it, my child?" Crystalsa asked, honestly a little let down. People always seemed to need her for something. A contract, gold, guards, to show support or put in a good word. Most the time it was simply for self gain or to curry favor. She was use to it, for the most part and was prepared to meet any of Kyera's demands, after all she owed her dearly.

"I would like permission and your blessing to hold a mating ritual with Clovis tomorrow, during the start of the festival." Kyera explained and her Grandest Mother frowned for a moment. In the old woman's mind she was shuffling the dancers around the circle of stages that lined the fountain centered town square. It was a large area, nearly two hundred people danced there every year, and the seven stages were always filled during festivals.

"I can give you the left star stage. That should be sufficient?" Crystalsa offered, calculating what gifts to send to the dancers she was removing. Kyera frowned.

"No, Grandest Mother that's not what i meant." Kyera looked a little hurt and Crystalsa cursed her weak heart inwardly.

"Alright love. your right. It is a royal wedding, center stage it is." she replied trying to sooth the child. Kyera shook her head.

"All I wanted was your permission to join the other couples getting married in the square. I wanted your blessing. The dancers for tomorrow are already chosen." Kyera explained honestly not wanting the stage.