Sixteen uneventful days came and went for Dustin and his party as they made their way back to Monterayne. The countrysides of Vtusen and Trakmensat rolled by until they came to a stretch of Innutukian territory which they made haste to pass through. Then a pleasant day traveling through Monterayne's northern territory of Aroria before coming to the mountain ring itself.

Night fell as Dustin and his men navigated the winding pass that cut a narrow path through Monterayne's protective mountain barrier. Bound in by jagged rocks on every side, with unforgiving terrain under foot, he called for the procession to stop until morning light returned to aid them. As the prince slept that night, his dreams were filled with images of his beloved, Serena Delquez.

Before long, morning came, and after a hasty breakfast, the men resumed working through the maze. Now and again, Dustin clambered to the top of some precipice to get a look at the path ahead, and one such time, his heart leapt within him upon spotting the lush forests on the outskirts of Monterayne's proper territory. They didn't have far to go before the mountains were behind them.

In about an hour's time, Dustin and his men trod underneath the canopy of tall trees his father must have spent countless hours playing under in his younger days. They could have stopped to eat a midday meal, but after some discussion, the party opted to make haste for the capital and eat a late lunch or early supper with their friends and family instead.

The sun had begun to hang its shining head by the time Dustin and his comrades reached the capital. They marched proudly down the streets alongside their tired horses and accepted a warm welcome from citizens small and great. Dustin grinned widely upon spotting a little girl squeezing out of the crowd and leaping into the arms of one of his men. The reunited father and daughter beamed with happiness.

Dustin got his own taste of reunion shortly after when his beloved pushed her way out of the throng and jogged closer. She threw her arms around Dustin once she reached him, and he returned the favor. The tickling sensation of her mouth on his cheek sent chills down his back.

"I've missed you so much." Dustin said before pecking Serena on the forehead in return.

Serena's rosy lips pulled into one of her alluring smiles, so full of warmth and kindness, but also reserved and subtle. No matter how troubled Dustin's mind, one look at that smile could set him at ease. Whether she meant to or not, it only took Serena a moment to reassure the man she loved that everything would be alright.

"Me too." she finally replied, "At times, I feared you'd never return."

"I always do." Dustin chided playfully, "What is the state of things here?"

"The happenings of interest are out west; you know this. Some Danlashian representatives visited not long ago to complain that they weren't given a larger share of the Alcontean heartland, but your father told them to go kick stones."

"They have no room to complain whatsoever. They only have any holdings on the mainland because their raiders proved such a nuisance that it was more prudent to give them territory than to fight their ships off every time. I'm sure the fate of the heartland displeases you as much as me."

Serena shrugged. "I do love my homeland, but I've seen it change hands too many times to be shaken when it happens again. I was born in a republic, witnessed the imperial takeover in my adolescence, and now watch the territory get divided by its neighbors as a grown woman. Whoever rules it, my homeland remains as beautiful as ever."

Dustin snaked his arm around her and laid another kiss on her forehead. "You are aptly named. I could count on one hand the times I've seen a look of wrath on your face."

"You only say that because you yourself are so excitable." Serena said, sticking her tongue out a little as she did so.

"I'm a man of action. I only wish more were like me."

"And I do admire that in you. I only wonder...what will you occupy your time with when there's no more war to fight?"

Dustin turned to face Serena, stopping in place and allowing the procession of soldiers, horses, and carts to march on without him. His emerald eyes danced over her face, coming often to her irises the color of coffee. He brushed a strand of her mousy brown hair from her cheek, causing her to shudder.

"When this war is over, I have a life with you at my side to look forward to, and that's more than enough. All my youth, I longed to hold a sword and wield it as a mighty warrior, but now my wish is to hold you tight and never let go."

Serena grinned and pulled Dustin into a tight embrace he readily returned. He lowered his head so his cheek rested atop her silky hair. The warmth of her body and the scent of her floral perfume made him never wish to let go.

"I long for the day we can live our future instead of dreaming it." she said softly.

"Before we know it, it shall be here. We need only watch and pray."

At that moment, Dustin's stomach rumbled loudly enough for both to hear. Serena giggled and pulled away to look up into his eyes.

"Perhaps you should eat as well?"

Dustin chuckled. "An excellent suggestion. Let's go."

****

Dustin reunited with his family that evening over a table richly supplied with royal delicacies. He particularly savored the juicy fowl and steamed vegetables that had been cooked, having so long been limited to dried provisions that wouldn't spoil on the road. Aside from his parents and two sisters, he dined with Serena, Jude, and Kyle. Many vacant seats stretched down the length of the banquet table.

As could be expected, much of the early conversation at the table amounted to pleasantries and empty words meant to dance around the matters everyone truly wished to speak on. Then finally, Kyle volunteered some tidbit about their wearying travels, not being experienced in the subtleties of royal etiquette. Nonetheless, King Manfred showed interest in hearing more, so Dustin and Jude filled in some details.

By and by, talk of the military exploits of Dustin and his men wound down, and the eight ate in silence. Whenever the last of a dish had been scraped out of the bowl, a servant would appear and refill it as if the palace had limitless resources.

After dabbing his mouth with a napkin, Manfred cleared his throat. "So, Dustin, have you heard anything yet about the Danlashians' recent visit?"

Dustin nodded, patting Serena's shoulder as he did so. "I did; Serena told me they came and complained that they weren't given more of old Alconte's territory."

"That they did. I find them ridiculous. They should be glad they were given any of it at all."

"On that, we are wholeheartedly agreed. The moment they get their hands on a portion of the mainland, all they do is milk it dry for the sake of the island."

Manfred tossed his head back to take a swig of brandy, but he acknowledged Dustin's words with a widening of his eyes. Coming back down, he spoke again. "That's the truth. So yes, they came to the capital to whine and moan in my presence, and I told them to take their tears to the Antapeñans and see if they care."

"Because you certainly don't, your majesty." Serena said with a grin.

"Not one bit. And then they resorted to veiled threats that they'd make me regret giving them a cold shoulder. I took no care to spare their feelings; I told them plainly that their only military competence is in their ships, and somehow I don't foresee their naval invasion of landlocked, mountain-guarded Monterayne as turning out too well."

Dustin laughed heartily. "You made fools of them, to be sure."

"They were fools already. I only pointed it out."

"Of course, of course."

After another refrain from conversation, Dustin's mother Kate spoke up. He looked up at the woman who had given him life, passing on her dark brown hair and striking green eyes to him, which Manfred had supplemented with his rugged looks.

Kate bragged that she'd recently been learning to play the lute, showing off the new callouses on her fingers and jesting that now she too had "battle wounds". All at the table gave a joyful laugh at the comparison before Manfred made some remark about transitioning from bowstrings to lute strings. Instead of humoring him with a chuckle, Dustin, and Kate rolled their eyes and shook their heads, leading Manfred to theatrically hang his in mock shame.

Next was Princess Cassie's turn to contribute something to the conversation, so she declared that her knowledge of the arts of a healer had grown, and she felt ready to try her hand at serving as a field medic.

"My dear..." said Manfred, "the battlefield is a dangerous place, and I would hate to see you come to harm."

"By that, do you mean it matters little if Dustin comes to harm, then?" Cassie challenged.

Dustin squirmed a little as father and daughter exchanged a confrontational gaze. Cassie had taken equal traits from both her parents, sporting Manfred's sandy hair and dark eyes, but more of the features of Kate's face. More noticeably at the moment, she'd stolen some of Kate's vigorous spirit, which currently bucked against Manfred's attempts to protect her.

"I love all my children." Manfred said flatly. "Ideally, Dustin wouldn't be going either, but he is a man grown."

"And I am a woman grown; I am nineteen, Father."

"It is folly for one to set foot on the battlefield without the prowess to engage in combat, no matter their role. Even a medic should be able to fight if cornered."

Kyle sat up in his seat and eyed Manfred bravely. "If she traveled with our squad, I'd make sure nothing happens to her. We lost our medic, actually, so we need one anyway."

"What makes you so sure you wouldn't lose her, then?"

"I didn't swear on my life to protect him, but here, I'll gladly make that promise. Not a hair of her head will fall—"

Manfred abruptly rose from his seat, causing the legs of his chair to rasp against the floor and scoot back. Standing his full height over the seated guests with a solemn expression bordering on antagonistic, he made even Kyle's confidence to waver. Dustin exchanged a glance with Serena and then Jude in turns.

"Please excuse me as I relieve myself." Manfred enunciated, "There will be no further discussion on this matter, not today and not here."

So he made his exit, and for a little while, conversation resumed fumblingly, fizzled out, and feebly attempted to reignite itself. Especially since Kyle and Cassie whispered amongst themselves without bothering to share with the rest of the table, a sense of normalcy refused to return.

Finally, Dustin called the attention of his youngest sister Sandra and asked how she had occupied her time of late, receiving the unsurprising response that she had been studying diplomacy. She had always been the most tactful of the Rickland children, excelling over her older siblings from a young age when it came to manners and the like.

In fact, Dustin reflected as he listened to her words, many of Sandra's best qualities mirrored those he admired in Serena. They both carried themselves with a gentleness that dispelled any anxiety in those around them, and both seemed easily able to persuade others to do as they asked. A certain charisma they shared simply compelled one to assist in any way needed.

"That's wonderful." Dustin said when Sandra drew to the end of her recounting, "You'll make for a splendid ambassador; I can promise you that much."

"I am pleased you think so." said Sandra, "On an unrelated note, have you seen Sir Bella Holt since your return?"

"I have not. Is there something I should know?"

"Possibly. She and her troops returned from Viscungardi not long ago, and from what rumors I have heard, it seems they met with defeat."

"Is she alright?"

"I never saw her myself, but if she had been injured, I believe I would have heard of it. Anyway, I knew you would desire to speak with her yourself to get the full story from the source."

Dustin nodded gratefully. "You know your brother well. I'll speak with Sir Holt on the morrow." 

**** 

A/N: And so we see our wearied warriors reuniting with those at home. Hope you enjoyed that chapter, and if so, please do let me know with a vote and some comments!

Just for a little post-chapter question, which one of the Ricklands would you say most resembles your personality? 

(For me, I'd probably have to go with either Manfred or Kate, leaning toward the latter. I have my moments of spark, but tempered by a sense of duty.)

Anyways, have a great week, and I'll see you in the next update!