A reminiscent smile painted his visage, as he listened to her regale him with stories of her beloved mother. “It’s funny…” he began, quietly, “but that is exactly what Alder told me that she would say. I didn’t believe him. I wanted to, but I always thought my affection was wrong and an affront to her honor and your father’s.”

Once again, she shook her head. “Daddy knew, too.” she admitted, startling him once again. “Yup, he knew. He teased Mama about it and said that he had competition. It was hard for him to beat the love of a prince, he would say. Mama would always swat him and tell him to be nice. She reminded him that he was a kitten once and that he probably admired someone that was unable to return his affection and that her rejection, would surely have been hard for him. But, truly, they both thought you were very sweet. I know, because, when you stopped following Mama around, Daddy was worried, too.” she said, a warm smile touching her lips.

A shy, awkward smile rested upon the prince’s face. “I didn’t know. I thought…” he trailed.

Sweetheart smiled and placed a feathery soft kiss on his cheek. “Mama took your love for her very seriously.” she said, quietly. “She said that she was honored and that she felt special, because you felt that she was worthy enough to catch your eye and your heart. You praying over her on that day, I know she was smiling at you from the winds. She would have been happy to know that you didn’t hate her for not loving you back. She would have been happy to know that you still cared for her…because she cared for you, too. You were very precious to her. Thank you, for allowing her to rest, knowing that. None of her children were able to bid her farewell, but someone that loved her, even without having her love returned, someone like you who truly loved her, gave her peace. She wanted you to tell me this, because now I know…she didn’t die alone.” she whispered, as tears began to stream from her eyes.

Arjuna listened to her speak and felt the emotion that was pouring forth with each word. They were healing words, for the both of them. It was his turn to express his feeling. Quietly, he wrapped his arms around the golden queen and held her, tight. She was sobbing, again, but this time, he knew that the tears she shed, were not only in grief…but, also in gratitude and relief. All those years ago, Alder had been right. Arjuna was so thankful that he had an older brother that always looked out for him and guided him when he did not know the way. Had it not been for his brother, he would not have had the courage to pray for Diana, the gentle girl’s mother and the woman would have left this world with no one to bid her farewell. His brother’s wisdom stayed that from happening and he would never be able to thank him enough for it.

For a while the two cats held each other in an embrace of mutual love, the love they both had, though in different ways, for the beloved queen. Relief and peace settled within them. A long passed worry was finally, able to be put to rest.

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