“I’m not that old, your Majesty.” Tetra couldn't help but giggle at the second question. “But yes, it's real.” she nodded, smiling as she answered the first. “Our parents had already met before but when they danced together at the festival… Everyone could tell they were meant to be together. Unfortunately, my dear brother has abstained from dancing every time because he says he wants to be a good and deserving king before he meets his queen.” she admitted with a flick of her ear. “You may call me a fanciful romantic but I believe that Cor would be a better King with his Queen beside him.”
Cleopatra shook her head, amusement in her eyes. “Excuse me, darling, I need to chose my words more carefully. I should have asked if you’ve seen your brother do it before. Though it seems odd, it’s not surprising.”
Her attention flitted to him for a moment before she studied Tetra again. “Yes, you are a fanciful romantic, but you aren’t wrong. Most men make better kings with a Queen at their side.”
“Oh.” she giggled again at the clarification. “Well, as I said, he's yet to dance at a festival but we both know the steps. It's a royal family secret and a generational performance.”
Tetra smiled as Queen Cleopatra agreed with her. “Thank you. I just wish that my brother could understand the benefits of such a partnership.”
Cleopatra arched her eyebrows at the news. "Interesting. So no one else knows it but the two of you? Has anyone else even heard the music?" While she admired Tetra's romantic view of the dance, Cleopatra knew that somehow, there should have been a reasonable explanation for a stranger immediately learning a secretly choreographed dance.
"Indeed," she remarked. "But more often than not, men are blind to the idea that women can indeed help rather than hinder. Is your brother going to perform the dance this year?"
“Do you mean presently? I'm sure many in the kingdom know the music. But when our ancestor was preparing it, only he and his musicians knew it.” Tetra explained, suspecting the thrice-crowned Queen’s skepticism. “The best explanation that the people have been able to come up with is that he was more in touch with the Fae heritage of our family and wove some of his magic into the song as well as the dance.” she smiled easily.
“Something that you seem to be working hard to prove otherwise.” she commented politely as the thought of Cleopatra’s crusade came to mind. “As for my brother, I am doing what I can to encourage him. And I know I am not the only one, so I have hope for this year.” she admitted with a mischievous spark in her eyes.
Cleopatra hummed quietly. "I always forget the Sarratinian crown is descended from Fae. I suppose that makes sense though. The magic keeps the dance a secret still after all these years. I look forward to hearing it. And hopefully seeing your brother perform."
A brief flit of stoicism crossed her face, but it was gone as Cleopatra responded evenly, "There are many things I'm trying to prove, Tetra. I'm afraid very few, if any, truly understand that." She took a sip from her wine as Tetra basically told her that there were others attempting to persuade Corym to dance as well. "I pray you to reap the fruits of your labor in bounty," she acknowledged, using a common phrase in her homeland, the original Allikos territory.
Tetra smiled in amusement at Cleopatra forgetting that detail when she knows the thrice crowned Queen watches her brother’s ears for his mood. “I had never thought of the magic of keeping the dance secret but I suppose you have a good point.” she nodded thoughtfully. “I always thought that the magic was only the reason why someone who didn't know the dance could join it.” she admitted.
“I apologize if I spoke out of turn.” she said softly, hoping she hadn’t touched upon too sensitive a topic. “Thank you, your Majesty, and may the stars guide your path.” the princess replied with an old Sarratinian expression, touched by the Allikoian saying.
Cleopatra missed the amused smile as she took another lingering sip of wine, though she turned the words over in her mind. Magical royalty… Cleopatra wondered what it might be like to be descended from Fae so far back in her ancestry. Though she supposed she would never know.
"Well, there had to have been some kind of way to keep it a secret all these years," she commented. "Otherwise anyone could have learned the dance and ended up on the throne."
Though her expression softened at Tetra's apology. "You didn't, darling," she assured the girl. "There have only been far too many others who had ill intentions when speaking of the things I'm doing."
Cleopatra noticed the way Tetra accepted the Allikoian blessing, and she smiled slightly. Many others in the world would star offense to it by now, viewing Allikoians (specifically Cleopatra) in a negative light. But Tetra was sweet and charming, much unlike her brother. "Thank you," she said, smiling at the Sarratinian expression in return.
"Do please pass on my word to your dear brother that I hope he dances," she added quietly while raising her goblet to her lips again. "I should very much like to witness it."
“I believe you may be right.” Tetra nodded. “I just never thought much of it before. It's just something that is accepted as a simple fact in this kingdom.” she shrugged slightly. The idea of anyone else learning the actual dance just seemed so foreign in her mind… Perhaps there was some protective magic against it.
The princess smiled softly and nodded, glad that there had been no misunderstanding between them. “That I can easily believe. I admit that I may not understand… much about you but I would like to think of you as a friend.” she said sincerely, her smile growing warmer at Cleopatra’s gratitude.
“I certainly will.” she laughed. “Perhaps the idea of you watching will spur him into fulfilling the tradition. He would hate to be considered a coward by you.” she pointed out in a whisper.
Cleopatra hummed softly in thought. "It's just an idea," she murmured. "I know I'd want to protect any ritual that may lead to the crowning of a new monarch." She pursed her lips slightly before draining the rest of her glass. Once it was settled back on the table, the queen took a quick opportunity to fix her hair, making sure it would cover as much of her neck as possible.
"I'm afraid most people don't," Cleopatra admitted, turning her gaze back to the princess beside her. "And there aren't many who would dare to think of me that way. But I would truly be honored to call you a friend as well, Tetra."
A flicker of mischief passed through the queen's eyes at Tetra's suggestion. "Oh, how right you are, darling princess," she cooed, shifting her attention back to Corym for a moment. "How right you are."
“But a very possible idea.” Tetra added, taking a sip of her own. “I don't know if our ancestor intended the song and dance to become what it has but I know that it was meant to be a secret until the festival. It's possible that the magic may have reacted on its own after that.” she theorized.
The princess smiled at Cleopatra accepting her offer. “Then let us be friends, as long as we can. And we can tease dear Cor together.” she added with a giggle.
Corym raised a brow as he felt an odd shiver run down his spine but he didn't know why he turned to glance at his sister and Queen Cleopatra at the same moment.
“Interesting,” Cleopatra murmured. “I’ve always been curious about the fae magic your family had woven in their history… Especially with the existence of pure fae blood gone.”
For the first time in a long time, Cleopatras genuinely smiled. “Yes,” she agreed. “Let us. And you know I’m always in agreement to tease your brother.”
But as Corym happened to look back at her, their eyes met. A shiver curled through the Queen while she studied him a moment before smiling briefly and averting her gaze. The shiver coursing through her was gone, but it somehow still lingered.
Tetra nodded as she understood the interest in her family history. “Unfortunately, I would have to do more studying to get those kind of answers.” she admitted, touching her ear. “My brother might know more but he does not share with many people.”
“Of course, I know.” she giggled. “Truthfully, I also enjoy it. More than most know.”
Corym met her gaze, just as confused, before turning away when she did. He did his best to ignore the strange feeling and focus on the conversation but it would not leave.
"I could help you, if you wish," Cleopatra suggested, noting the way Tetra touched her ear. What was that a sign of? Thinking? Worry? Something else? "Yes, your brother is his own kind," she remarked quietly.
Cleopatra's eyes lit up at Tetra's giggle and her words. "Truly?" she asked with a smirk.
But it took her a few minutes to shake off the feeling Corym had given her. Whatever it was. Cleopatra didn't like it.
“How?” she asked curiously. “Most of the books that would hold that knowledge is… limited to the royal family. And some are so old they're in another language.” Tetra admitted though she smiled a little at Cleopatra’s comment on her brother.
“Well, perhaps not as much as you do.” she corrected with a mischievous giggle. “Though my favorite thing to tease him about at the moment is his reluctance to dance.”
Corym kept his calm, indifferent, mask up though the feeling had been perplexing… and admittedly it still hadn't completely gone away.
Cleopatra started at the news. "Really?" she asked. "Oh, well… I guess I can't help. My apologies, Tetra. I wasn't aware you had such restricted libraries here."
However, her signature smirk returned at the princess's words. "Perhaps not," she agreed. "Oh, that sounds like a lovely topic. I'd love to join in."
The Queen couldn't shake the feeling deep in her body that there was some kind of strange thing, coiled up and waiting to strike again. It was the oddest feeling, so she simply decided to ignore it.
Tetra’s ear twitched in distaste at the word, frowning slightly. “It’s not really restricted. Anyone is welcome to the library. It’s just the old family history that’s closely watched.” she explained.
“I know it would annoy him but I welcome it.” she smiled back, already looking forward to having another ally in this. “It’ll be so fun for us.”
Even without the frown, Cleopatras could’ve guessed Tetra’s reaction just by watching her ears twitch. “I’m sorry,” she said after the explanation. “I didn’t mean to offend you. It was just how you made it sound. In that case, I’ll still help you if you don’t mind my company.”
“Exactly,” Cleopatra murmured. “I’m well-versed in getting under your brother’s skin.”
“I understand.” Tetra nodded with a sigh. “You didn't offend me. I just don't like the idea that that part of our history is… so unclear and we don't have the answers to make sense of it.” she attempted to clarify. “But if you have time while you are here, I would not mind the company or your help.” she added with more of a smile.
“Oh, I know.” she giggled. “And you have such a unique way as well. It's always interesting to see or hear his reactions.”
“I’m glad,” Cleopatra remarked softly before nodding in agreement. “Yes, I understand. I suppose that comes with magical ancestry. Personally, I don’t believe the fae should have come to an end. My handmaiden Charmion actually reveres them in a godly way. Don’t tell her I told you that,” she added with a grin. “But I’d love to help aid in your search, princess.”
The queen hummed in agreement, though she didn’t say any more in an attempt to casually drop the topic. The strangeness of the feeling when she’d looked at Corym was something she couldn’t shake.
“I believe that as well. Mostly, I wish that we could understand why they did end… and perhaps figure out more about how.“ Tetra admitted before nearly laughing at hearing about Cleopatra’s handmaiden. “I won't tell her but now I have to know what she thinks of us and being in our kingdom.” she grinned teasingly for a moment, though she was very grateful for the Queen’s offer to help.
“Allikos has our own history of the fae, though I don’t believe that sharing it here would be… ideal. Those who wrote the history books were…” Cleopatra hesitated in order to choose her words carefully. “Less open-minded than my scribes today.”
A small smirk appeared on Cleopatra’s lips. “I think I should let her tell you herself, that is if she can find the words. But she’s darling and I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated handmaiden.” The pair were very close, Charmion was especially being the queen’s closest companion and advisor.
Tetra raised a brow at the implications but gave a slight nod. “Perhaps we can exchange stories another time. We can meet in the library and talk in private there.” she offered, both interested and apprehensive to hear what Cleopatra might tell her.
“I would love to meet her.” she smiled back, already looking forward to the playful teasing. “Though I have to admit, I always admire it when a handmaiden and her lady have such a good strong relationship. My dear Annabeth is one of the closest friends I have.”
Cleopatra immediately agreed. “I’d love that,” she replied politely, but genuine joy flashed through her eyes for a moment. Then it was gone.
“I’ll be beyond impressed if she can get out an entire sentence to you without stuttering.” A smile appeared briefly on Cleopatra’s face. “Charmion is my closest friend,” she supplied. By a large margin was left unsaid.
Tetra smiled at the brief expression. “Well then, would you like me to have Annabeth bring you to the library? Perhaps tomorrow?” she inquired.
The princess covered her mouth to keep from giggling at the mental image. “Let's just make sure we are both there at the time.” she said after a moment, her voice still full of mirth. “We won't have it go on for long. I don't want to cause any trouble between the two of you.” she assured.
