Arjuna nodded and divulged the events of his fortuitist day. The two sat in the cool grass and discussed the unraveling of the day, as the evening shadows began to stretch across the land. The sky had transformed from the clear blue hues of the afternoon, into the warm peach and magenta of evening. By the time his tale had been spun, the pair of brothers, too, had transformed…or rather, had changed positions from sitting atop the bright green grass, to reclining within it. Alder had folded his arms behind his head and was staring up at the first star that twinkled from the darkness. Arjuna had fallen asleep, his head was resting on his brother’s torso, using his sibling like a warm, living, pillow. It had been a long day for him. Even though it ended well, he had run a gauntlet of emotional hurdles and so exhaustion was to be expected.

Alder looked down at the sleeping face of his little brother and smiled. He was sleeping peacefully, the first time he had done so in countless weeks. It was a relief to see him so tranquil. He unfolded one of his arms from behind him and gently caressed his hairless, blue head, then returned his attention to the lone star glittering in the heavens. This was a dilemma.

Although both toms agreed that Amarah’s discovery and desire to remain a commoner for as long as she could was an understandable whim. Alder was as content as Arjuna to oblige her wish, but what of the rest of the family. Their mother, Avalon, was born a commoner, so she would likely have no objections. Palm would find the situation perplexing and somewhat illogical, but if it made Arjuna happy, then he would go along with the arrangement as well. The only obstacle, was Artemis, their father.

Unlike Avalon, who was born into the common class and her children that loved her and were half peasant themselves, Artemis was a royal, through and through. He would not understand and would most likely be offended at the very idea of a princess living among common folk. It wasn’t that he disliked the commoners, they were his people, after all, but he recognized that a princess was in a class well above the average villager. What’s more, Amarah was not a native to Calico, but of Kitwa. To have her, a foreign lady of royalty, living among them was something her parents would be furious over and diplomatic ties between the two kingdoms would be more than a little strained.

Despite it being her desire to continue living as she has, her parents would find it unacceptable and repulsive. They, in their fury, could even dissolve the marital agreement made between the two emperors. It was just as Amarah said, she truly had no say in the affairs of her own life…what she wanted, did not matter. …it was no wonder she fled her home. It was Arjuna, her appointed fiancée, that gave her something she had never been given before; the freedom to choose. …and she chose him. In the end, they chose each other to share their lives together with. Alder would not allow her first time making a decision for herself, to be her last, neither would he allow his brother to be swallowed back into the din of sorrow that he had just found his way out of. Amarah was his light and he was going to make sure she stayed that way. A ragged sigh was dragged from Alder’s chest, as he continued to ponder the dilemma and tried to find a solution to it.

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