queen elincia

this is elincia, queen of crimea, speaking. i am pleased to make your acquaintance, and i do sincerely hope that we will get along. if you ever need anything, do not hesitate to let me know. you can come to me for company as well, if that is what you wish of me, and i will do what i can.

[queen-crimea]

Familiar Faces || Leanne and Elincia

[whiteprincessofserenes-blog-dea]

It was nice to be outside and enjoy the sun. It was even better to be with a friend and she felt completely at ease with them. Leanne was aware that bad things could happen to them and that rich beorc would try to get their hands on one of the last herons. Even so, she wasn’t all too worried with Elincia at her side.

Leanne was happy to be able to see more of Crimea while it was in a peaceful state. All the previous times she went here was because something bad happened and there was a lot of chaos. Now she felt fine and didn’t feel weak. There wasn’t a lot to stress about, so she could see more of the country in peace.

After a while, they arrived at a small village and Leanne curiously looked around. Beorc did live different than most laguz did and she was interested in the way these people lived their life. There seemed to be plenty of elderly people, but there were also a few young people helping them out. Surely it was hard to work in a place like this, but they didn’t seem unhappy.

”Visit… a lot?” Leanne wondered how often she actually saw how her country was doing with her own eyes. She did seem to know the place, but she couldn’t tell if she went to this place many times. “Good place…” There weren’t any noble people, so Leanne already felt a lot safer. However, she wasn’t sure if the beorc hated laguz, but she doubted that they would attack her when she was with the queen.

[queen-crimea]

Elincia was extremely glad that Leanne was now able to see the nation after it had recovered from the harsh war. She could still vividly recall the pain of seeing Crimea in such a state, grasslands burnt down to smothering ashes and war grounds smeared with a crimson red. At the time, her heart ached, filled with nothing but anxiety and melancholy at the bleak situation, and she desperately wondered if the suffering would ever end.

After Crimea had been liberated from Daein's tyrannical rule, it felt as if all the weight on her body and soul had been lifted, bringing her into an entirely different world. Elincia worked for harmony among the laguz and the beorc, and although progress was slow, it came, little by little. Eventually, it became a place that she was more than proud to call her own nation.

Elincia even hoped to sow a few seeds of prosperity with her own hands, and the place where she had brought Leanne was a place she had spent quite a bit of her time while she worked for peace. The laguz and beorc coexisted with tranquility, being able to live together and get along well, and she hoped that Leanne would enjoy their visit.

"Yes, I actually did come to this town quite a bit," Elincia replied with a fond smile on her lips, recalling memories of all the times she had previously been here. "Thank you. I've done all I can to make this a place where both the laguz and beorc can live happily, learning to accept their differences and understand each other better."

[queen-crimea]

Familiar Faces || Leanne and Elincia

[whiteprincessofserenes-blog-dea]

Leanne was happy whenever someone understood what she tried to say. She wished she could speak the modern language more fluently, but it was very different from her own. There were a few people helped her and she was very grateful to them. 

The reason why she wanted to go to another town was mainly to help Elincia distract herself from her royal affairs. Hopefully she would also see how well her people were doing and she could get in touch with them. The only way to understand the citizens of Crimea was to see them in person. There was a lot of new information she would gain and hopefully she would get to see how many people supported her despite the hatred that she had gotten in the past.

"Y-Yes…!" Leanne was glad that the queen was willing to join her and she hoped the other would enjoy it. It was always nice to go outside and luckily the weather was fine as well. 

[queen-crimea]

No matter how satisfying it was at the end of the day to know that she had made some progress in uniting the people of her nation, Elincia couldn't fool herself. It really was nice to get a break every once in a while, and it was even better getting to spend her time showing Leanne around.

Elincia was honestly a little surprised at the progress the beorc and laguz had made by beginning to get along with each other, and it gave her a sense of pride to be able to look around and think, "this is finally becoming the place we could have only dreamed of before." She was elated, and she felt that Crimea was growing to become a country more dear to her than any other. "Alright, then I'll try not to disappoint," Elincia replied with a small grin forming on her expression. 

She went over to speak with one of the royal advisers, and before long, Elincia and Leanne were on their way to one of the smaller and more peaceful villages, a thin yet well-built man at their side.

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

[heroicswordsman]

If there’s one thing he will admit, it’s when he’s hungry. Ike can never concentrate on an empty stomach for anything.

"Yeah, kind of," he said as he followed right behind her. However, ‘kind of’ wasn’t what you’d describe it. When he was hungry, he was hungry. It was a long journey from the outskirts of Tellius to make it here again, and he was just getting used to it.

He looked around the castle, eyes scanning at the different paintings and expensive artifacts as well as admiring the garden outside. Ike had forgotten it was like to be in the Crimean castle again and he wanted to get familiar with it again. Having Elincia guide him was good for now.

"Do you usually end up staying here most of the time?" He asked, only immediately speaking after. "Not that it’s a bad thing. I mean, I think it’s beautiful here."

[queen-crimea]

Upon hearing his response, Elincia began to lead him into the grand dining hall, taking notice of his preoccupation with the extravagant decor that lined the walls of the castle and chuckling a little to herself.

"Yeah, I do," Elincia replied, keeping her lips from pulling upwards into a faint smile at Ike's hastily added statement. He didn't tend to be one who was so careful with words, so it was intriguing for her to see with her own eyes. "There's a lot of paperwork to deal with, so it's easier to stay here. And you're right, it is beautiful."

After a short pause, she added, "Though it was nice - the time I spent with the Mercenaries. It was nice to be living in those kinds of places. I really felt at home."

It wasn't long until they arrived in the dining room, and Elincia gestured for him to take a seat, calling a young man over to ask him to cook some spicy meat for Ike, knowing how much he liked the dish, before sitting down beside him.

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

[heroicswordsman]

"Ha! So it’s a good thing after all, isn’t it?" To be frank, he has always spoken in this humble tone of his that he never really acknowledged it unless it was pointed out to him.

He nodded in agreement from what the Queen had said after, “You’re right again. I can accept that.”

Elincia’s realization of this flew through Ike’s head until she pointed it out to him. He supposed she did have a point; they’ve been out here longer than needed and there was no way he could turn down her offer. He didn’t want to leave so soon, not when they’ve already talked to each other for the first time since Ike had left Tellius.

"Well, we’re here already. I don’t see why not?" He said, a smile still fixated on his face.

[queen-crimea]

"Fine, you're right." Elincia chuckled upon hearing his response, even somewhat enjoying the teasing nature of their conversation. "But only in some cases."

Although she knew he had always been a humble man, it would be nice if he recognized all the great deeds he had done for everybody. However, she did like the fact that they had finally come to an agreement on the topic, nodding to herself absentmindedly.

"That's what I wanted to hear. Come on in then," Elincia said with a grin as she began to lead him inside, slightly embarrassed for not realizing it earlier. He must have been exhausted and hungry, and she hoped there was something she could do to make him feel more comfortable.

Well, there was one thing about him that would never change - his appetite. If anything, she felt that food would be the way to make him feel at home. Walking beside him in the hallway, Elincia turned to Ike and asked, "Are you hungry?"

[queen-crimea]

Familiar Faces || Leanne and Elincia

[whiteprincessofserenes-blog-dea]

Leanne was glad to hear that Crimea was doing fine after all they had been through. Many lives could have been saved, but unfortunately not everyone believed in their leader, so she knew Elincia had to suffer because of them. Hearing how well things were doing was a relief and she wished the best for her country.

It would be great to have a country where beorc and laguz could live alongside each other without fighting. No one would be worth less than the someone else because of race. Leanne knew it would be difficult to achieve something like that, but she didn’t believe it was impossible. She believed Elincia could make an important step in history to restore the peace between the two races.

Knowing what the queen wanted to do, she hoped to see more of her people and the way they lived their lives. It was different than the laguz countries she had been in and it had always been difficult to wander alone in a beorc nation. Many would try to capture her to sell her to nobles. She was nothing more than a collectable item to some. However, with Queen Elincia by her side things would be fine, because she was a stronger woman. Stronger than she might think herself.

Leanne tried to come up with the words to describe the places she wanted to go. The language was still difficult to speak and since she didn’t know the name of any places in Crimea, she had to explain it. “T… town… peace?” She wanted to go to a village that wasn’t a threat to her safety, so she could try to interact with them. Leanne wasn’t that afraid to enter unknown lands, but she didn’t want to bring Elincia in danger. Going outside of the castle might not be the greatest idea for someone in such a high position.

[queen-crimea]

Elincia believed that one of the best decisions she ever made was setting her mind on mending the damaged ties between the beorc and the laguz, a severed connection that had desperately been struggling to hang on by the few strands that were remaining. She had seen it in her father's relationship with King Caineghis and in Ike's relationship with all the laguz they encountered on their journey, even in her own relationships with Leanne and the other laguz.

She knew it was something that could be accomplished, and she desired only to create a better world in which the beorc and laguz could live together in harmony. Elincia wanted to show Leanne and the herons, who had suffered tragically in the past at the hands of the beorc, that she would do everything in her power to make it happen. There was hope - she just had to push forward, not with force but by showing the people the way she knew both the laguz and the beorc.

Upon hearing Leanne's words, Elincia immediately felt a pang of guilt run through her. The heron princess had come from such a faraway land, facing the difficulties of having to speak the modern language in addition to the dangers of being captured by greedy nobles. Yet what power did Elincia have to return the favor?

"You want to go to a peaceful town, right?" Elincia questioned as she looked at Leanne with her head slightly tilted, thinking of a place where they would be safe while still being able to see the best of what Crimea had to offer. "I think I might just have the place. Shall we go right now then?"

[queen-crimea]

"Well, Queen Elincia! Imagine meeting you here. You're looking as lovely as ever I must say."

"King Tibarn, it’s good to see you here after such a long time," Elincia greeted, the usual twinkle of amity present in her hazel eyes. "I thank you for your kind words. How have you been?"

[lordoftheair]

"Same to you as well, Queen." Tibarn spoke with his normal confident smile. “I have been just fine. Rebuilding my country is not an easy job, but… My men and I have been making good progress. Might I ask how you’ve been faring as well?”

[queen-crimea]

"I'm glad to hear of your country's recovery," Elincia nodded, speaking with a genuine tone as she allowed a smile to spread along the corners of her lips. "Ruling the country has been keeping me rather busy, but as long as Crimea is doing well, I'm content."

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

[heroicswordsman]

"You still remember all of that?" Surprised by it at first, he quickly spoke again. "I mean, why wouldn’t I remember it myself? Those were my words and I’d never go back on them. Not even now. You’ve become a great Queen, I’m sure of that," With a smile still on his face, he continued. "Not to mention, you’ve come a long way yourself. It wasn’t just me who’ve helped you; you were willing to pull through it all yourself."

Ike continued to watch her even when she lowered her eyes away from him as well as being able to hear her clearly after. It seemed like she didn’t change either, she was as soft-spoken as he was humble.

He let the silence linger a bit before speaking once more and, as usual, he’d say the first thing that comes to mind, “Sorry if this sounds modest, but the country wouldn’t be the same without you either, Elincia. It’s been doing so much better ever since you’ve become Queen. I may have saved it, but it was you who’s been protecting it ever since.”

[queen-crimea]

"Of course I do," she mused as she nodded and returned her gaze to the man standing in front of her. "I could never forget the words that gave me such determination and reassurance. Thank you for that, although I'll always be working to improve myself and my actions. There's no way I'd do something to harm my country. Especially after all the things you've done to see it through, neglecting my duties would be the ultimate disgrace."

The silence that followed wasn't awkward in any way, but it was almost soothing. As if his presence were all that was needed to fill the emptiness. "I guess old habits die hard. You being modest is a good point too - it must be why everybody is so fond of you, Ike," Elincia said with a soft laugh. "You gave me what I needed to rule Crimea, so even if I am the ruler now, we were both needed to keep the country going. Why don't we just leave it at that? What you're saying is greatly appreciated, however; I'll remember that."

It was then that Elincia realized they had been standing outside for the entire duration of their conversation, and looking at Ike, she hoped that he wasn't too tired from his journey. "We've been out here for quite a while, and I don't believe it would be courteous of me to ask you to stay out here any longer. Would you like to come into the castle and rest for a bit?"

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

[heroicswordsman]

Ike knew he did not only have her words, he also knew she had served the people of Crimea well from what he observed the last time he was in Tellius. Elincia was always as benevolent of a queen as well as a person. The country was in good hands and Ike did not worry about it the least; although, it was nice to hear her reassuring him.

"I guess that also means I’d have to accept your gratitude as well." He really couldn’t help being modest from the moment he struck up a conversation with her after all this time. "Just know that everything I did for you, it wasn’t just because you employed me, but that I wanted you to regain your throne as you rightfully deserved to."

A smile appeared on his face again from what he was about to say next, “And well… what I’ve been trying to say this whole time is: you’re welcome and that you still have my support as you did when we first met.”

[queen-crimea]

"That's good to hear," Elincia said as she allowed a soft nod, a sense of relief coming over her upon taking in the words that he spoke. She hadn't necessarily been sure whether or not Ike would have continued to deny all the things he had done for her, but finally having her appreciation get through to him felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.

"And that's .. also good to hear." Elincia could not mask the feeling of reassured comfort that she had not felt for a long time. "Do you remember? The night before the final battle against Daein, when you said that you would ensure my dream until your last breath? What you said really gave me motivation to try as hard as I could. So all your work wouldn't have been in vain. So you would get to see the result and we'd be able to see it together. Not only one of us."

Her smile grew on her face, eyes finding themselves on the ground before her feet. "Thank you, Ike. That really means a lot to me. If it were not for you, I can't be sure that the country would be doing so well," Elincia paused hesitantly, wondering if her words would be appropriate for the situation before opening her mouth once again. "Or myself, for that matter."

[queen-crimea]

Familiar Faces || Leanne and Elincia

[whiteprincessofserenes-blog-dea]

Leanne smiled in return when the Queen accepted her invite. She was sure that Reyson would be more than delighted to see how her highness was doing. Even her father would be pleased to see who had helped her in times of war, so Elincia would definitely get a warm welcome from everyone.

The forest was quiet and peaceful, just the way it was before it got destroyed. Leanne always enjoyed to sit by the streambed to listen to the water that was always moving and the birds that sang beautifully. Although the feeling of the forest had slightly changed with most of her family gone, she was still able to relax and let go of her worries.

Leanne wondered if Elincia also had a place where she could have time for herself and not think about her country for a second. She was always surrounded by people, having no time for herself, but they were people that cared for her and loved her. There were good people that would stay by her side through thick and thin. She just hoped that the queen could be a little selfish at times to take care of herself.

"Queen El-Elincia… country… f-fine?" Leanne would love to see more of Crimea now that peace had returned. She did see quite a bit whenever she flew over to the castle with her guardian Nealuchi, but there were a lot of places she had never seen up close. "Me… show?"

[queen-crimea]

Hearing that Leanne and the rest of the herons were living peacefully in the forest was definitely pleasant for Elincia to hear, and it made her nearly marvel at how beautiful life there seemed to be. Agreement among people had been something that was only an ideal for such a long time, but actually seeing it be made real - Elincia couldn't imagine anything that she wanted more.

Being a Queen was definitely a demanding job that required her full devotion, and though it was exhausting, Elincia only hoped to see to it that the people's dream of a united nation was fulfilled. They had encountered the worst of things not too long ago, but they made it through, and she would do whatever it took to preserve the trust that they had in her as a ruler.

However, Elincia did realize that there had been few moments since her coronation where she could simply sit down and relax, and as disappointing as it was, she wasn't even exactly sure what she would do with free time on her hands. After all of her time as Queen, she found it hard to believe that she would get the chance to take her mind off of her nation's affairs and actually enjoy herself. What was there to do anyway? 

Meeting with those that Elincia was fond of served as her greatest source of comfort, and Leanne's presence was exactly that. "Crimea is doing well. The people are content, and that's all that matters," Elincia mused. Turning to Leanne, she nodded with delight. "Of course, if that is what you would like, I would be glad to show you around. Is there any specific place you might have in mind?"

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

[heroicswordsman]

"Just Elincia?" He asked, dumbfounded. "Well, alright. Elincia it is then." Ike does not remember a time when he wasn’t formal with her- but if it was what she wanted, then he’d accept it. He supposed if she were going to call him only by his first name from now on, then it would be appropriate that he would do the same for her.

Yet Ike was not convinced that it was only him who should have all the credit. And he could not even begin to imagine not helping the Queen at her time of need, it just wasn’t like him to ignore anyone who needed help.

"Elincia…" He began, now it was his turn to find the appropriate words. "… You don’t owe me anything." It was blunt of him to say, yet it was straight and to the point. "I couldn’t even accept your money back then, so there’s no way I could have you owe your life for me. You being a great of a ruler as you are is more than enough for what I could ask of you."

[queen-crimea]

Though Elincia would never openly admit it, the formalities were really sometimes a pain to keep up with. She was glad that she and Ike were now able to speak more freely with each other, but part of it could be attributed to the fact that they no longer seemed to be so distanced from each other. No matter how close she was with a person, being raised in a villa had made her feel as if addressing another so formally were only showing respect for the person and the title, nothing more.

The nature of Ike's words had no effect on her, for she had grown used to his way with words and his tendency to be rather forward. Elincia merely let a small smile onto her lips as she shook her head gently.

"If serving the people well is your wish of me, I am more than willing to comply," she spoke. "Regardless, I thank you for everything. Not just for helping me back to Crimea, but for giving me your support the entire time. Ike, you need not be so modest - just this once."

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

[heroicswordsman]

He stifled a laugh, a rather genuine one. “There’s no need to address me as such anymore, Your Highness. I’ve longed renounced my position as lord after all.” Although, there was something about being called ‘Lord Ike’, and being referred to by Elincia no less, that made it all the more nostalgic. It really has been too long, but their bond was as strong as from the moment Ike had met her when she was still a Princess.

"I don’t think I deserve all the credit, if I’m honest. I couldn’t have done it without the help I’ve gotten along the way. And this kingdom couldn’t be ruled without you." His smile remained. "Besides… I told you I’d give you your money’s worth, didn’t I?"

[queen-crimea]

Elincia couldn't help but allow a soft chuckle to escape her lips, shaking her head and looking at Ike, her golden eyes locking with his sapphire-streaked ones. "Then just call me Elincia. I guess we've both forgotten to drop the formalities, but it has been such an awfully long time." She recalled their time in Begnion when he had been given the title, remembering his sudden burst of outrage and his disdain for nobility. She had been afraid that he was upset, furious even, but he had pulled through, like he always seemed to do.

"Still the humble one, I see. Ike, you know that without you," Elincia paused for a second, fumbling for the right words, "well, to put it gently, I'd be dead. You could have left me there to fall in the hands of Daein, but instead, you risked joining the war to help me back to the throne. I owe you my life and so much more."

[queen-crimea]

Long Time No See || Ike and Elincia

heroicswordsman:

"I wanted to ask the same about you, actually." Ike wasn’t going to admit it right away- or maybe he just didn’t realize it- but it was refreshing for him to see the Queen after all these years. He couldn’t recall just how long ago it was since the last time they’ve spoken; or with anyone he considered close to him for that matter. Now that he’s returned, he wanted to fix that.

"I’ve been just fine, better now that I’m home. And how has everything been here since I’ve been gone?"

Elincia nodded, more than relieved to hear that Ike had been doing well. It had been an excruciatingly long time since they'd last met, and now that she actually thought about it, she found herself wondering how she even managed to let the time slip her mind.

It wasn't like Elincia to be oblivious to the fact that one of the people who had made a close bond with her had been gone for such a prolonged period, but she decided that all of the duties of being a Queen had given her no time to think of these things. Though she might have only hoped to distract herself from the thought in order to save herself the pang of realization.

"That's definitely good to hear. Everything here has been wonderful," Elincia replied with a hint of nostalgia, thinking back to the time Ike had been in Crimea. Lord or not, he was a good man, and she could see that he still was. "But of course, it was all with your help, my lord Ike."

[ylissean-prince]

Glancing one more time at her unwelcoming surroundings, Elincia let a soft sigh escape her lips. At this rate, there was no way she'd get back to Melior. There was only one person who looked approachable - a blue-haired male who almost reminded her of Ike. Mustering the courage to approach him, she walked up behind him and tapped him gently on the shoulder. "E-excuse me, are you from around here? I appear to have lost my way.."

Chrom turned towards the unfamiliar voice, only to lay his eyes on a green haired woman he’d never seen before. A newcomer to Ylisse? “Ah, yes? Yes, I am.” He held out his hand towards the woman, a welcoming smile on his face. “My name is Chrom, and you’re in the country of Ylisse. And you are?”

[queen-crimea]

Elincia was relieved, knowing that she had made the right choice by choosing to ask him - Chrom, was it? - for help. A hesitant smile found its way onto her timid countenance as she nodded and reached her hand out to meet his own, shaking it gently before letting hers fall back at her side.

Elincia had never heard of Ylisse before, and she was sure that Chrom recognized her as a stranger to the land as well - if not from her evident confusion then at least from the striking differences in clothing.

"I'm Elincia, and I'm from a nation called Crimea. I was trying to take a shortcut to a nearby country, Begnion, so I'm not quite sure how I ended up here." Elincia laughed sheepishly, fiddling with her sleeve as she glanced down at the ground absentmindedly. "I'm sorry, you must think I'm crazy."

[queen-crimea]

Familiar Faces || Leanne and Elincia

[queen-crimea]

whiteprincessofserenes:

Leanne was glad that the Queen felt better and she seemed to be a stronger person than before. She knew how much she suffered when the sake of the country depended on her and it was indeed a huge responsibility. Not anyone could have handled it, but Elincia did well and Leanne was glad to have met her.

After the war was over, Leanne settled down in the Serenes Forest with her family. Even her father, Lorazieh, was doing well and they had spend a lot of time together. It was good to see that there was no need to worry about their health anymore and things were finally peacful again.

In response to the Queen’s question, she nodded. “Forest good… H-healthy. Everyone doing well…” Even if there weren’t many herons left, she was grateful that a few of them had survived. They seemed to be doing well and their bonds together were stronger than ever. 

It would be nice if she could show how well everything was to her friends she made during the war. They had all lost a lot, but they definitely gained something too. “Queen Elincia… visit?” 

Elincia nodded, her focus predominantly on Leanne's words, and she absentmindedly let out a sigh of relief. The forest's well-being was more than enough to soothe Elincia, calm serenity washing over her upon receiving the confirmation that she so sincerely wanted to hear.

The war was devastating in every possible aspect, and while Crimea and other nations sought comfort and security through reconstruction of their cities, it seemed to have come naturally for the herons in the forest. It almost made Elincia feel a sense of pride in that they had been able to finally see the restoration of peace to their home after the severe turmoil that engulfed them during the forest burning.

Leanne had a good heart, and Elincia felt that the heron princess deserved no less than the happiness she had now. Elincia remembered the night they found Leanne in the forest - the surprise and elation at discovering there was another heron that had survived the massacre. She was so glad that Ike had gotten to her before Tanas had, but then again, Ike seemed to save the day more often than not.

"That's wonderful to hear, really," Elincia replied, delight ringing in her voice as her emerald locks tickled the side of her face. Brushing a stray piece of hair out of her eyes, she chuckled softly and nodded. "Upon request of Princess Leanne, I will definitely make the trip. I'd love to see how everything is doing now."

[queen-crimea]

Good Company || Kieran and Elincia

axepaladin:

"I’ve… done enough?" Impossible! Kieran felt he had far from served Elincia appropriately. He could always do better. But arguing with the Queen was one thing he never intended to do. "Well… If you believe so."

"But if company is what you’d like, I am happy to serve, milady! Consider me not only your greatest knight, but your greatest friend!"

"Do not worry about such a thing," Elincia said, chuckling softly to herself. Throughout her life, people had always tried to please her, and as grateful as she felt, she wished that those people would realize they had done so much for her and that she wanted to be able to do the same for them. "You have done far more than enough."

"Kieran, I .. I truly want to thank you. I can only hope to repay your kindness," Elincia said, her tone genuine and sincere. After a short pause, she glanced at him and realized that she hadn’t even asked the most simple question of courtesy. "Forgive my manners, I’d forgotten to ask! How have you been all this time? I trust life has been treating you well."

[queen-crimea]

Familiar Faces || Leanne and Elincia

whiteprincessofserenes:

Leanne was grateful towards the Queen, because of the praise she got. She knew that there was still a lot to learn and that the sentences weren’t build correctly, but she was glad when she could get her message across.

Her eyes were focused on Elincia and she could tell that she was in a better state than the last time she saw her. It was always sad to watch other people in pain and Leanne wanted to do the best she could to make them feel better.

"Queen Elincia… happy." Leanne tried to explain how the other felt, although happiness wasn’t the exact feeling she was looking for. Perhaps relieve or thankfulness were would describe her emotions better. 

"Yes, I suppose I am rather happy," Elincia remarked, her voice chiming melodiously among the sounds of daily life continuing to take place around the two, soothing the female rather than disturbing her pleasant mood.

There was no denying that the heavy fog previously clouding Elincia’s heart during their last meeting had lifted, allowing her to see how there was a gentle warmth that had been beckoning to her the entire time - always there, no matter how frigid the nipping frost became. 

One thing that would always remain true was, without a doubt, how grateful Elincia was for the supportive people in her life with whom she had entrusted her entirety. Sparing another tender smile, she looked at Leanne with amber eyes, glowing with a warm luminescence that was rare to grace her countenance in the days that had passed. “I hope things with the forest are going well?”

[whiteprincessofserenes-blog-dea]

"Princess Leanne," Elincia called out as a soft smile tugged the corners of her lips upward in an amiable gesture. Seeing the Heron princess after such a long time was a pleasant source of solace for the queen, and it was a while before Elincia realized just how long it had been since their last meeting. "How have you been all this time?"

”{{Queen Elincia! I’m happy to see you again.}}” It was natural for Leanne to respond in the ancient tongue, but her bright expression showed that she enjoyed her presence. “Me… f-fine.” Even if she had been practising the common language, it was still difficult for her to grasp. “Queen Elincia okay…?” 

[queen-crimea]

The use of the ancient language was not able to mask the meaning of the Heron princess's words, the expression that gently settled on her face giving it away. "Don't strain yourself too much trying to use the modern language, Princess Leanne. I can generally understand what you're trying to tell me. You have gotten much better though!"

Elincia glanced around the two of them and took in a light breath, her mood being raised upon realizing how lucky she had been in getting to see the world change around her while still keeping those who mattered close to heart. A soft laugh of delight escaping her lips, she continued, "I'm doing alright, thank you. It really is a pleasure to see you again."