"Yet each man kills the thing he loves
By each let this be heard
Some do it with a bitter look
Some with a flattering word
The coward does it with a kiss
The brave man with a sword"
~Oscar Wilde, The Ballad of Reading Gaol
"Canary". Shayan said, walking over to her. She was too indulged in staring at the plants from Lyikar wondering how they survived the transport over. Or if they had just been grown. So deep in thought she was thinking of this that she didn't hear Shayan call her or noticed that the others had separated and looked at the other plants.
"Canary". Shayan said, tapping her. "Oh"! She said, startled. "Scared you"? Shayan chuckled. "Sorry I was too lost in thought". Canary said. "It's fine". Shayan smiled. "If you're still looking at the plants I'll leave you alone". "No no it's fine". Canary said. "Then how about we catch up". Shayan said cheerfully.
Canary nodded and they went to sit at one of the tables in the greenhouse. The others seemed to sense that Canary and Shayan had much to catch up on. They let them be instead conversing with Numa who seemed out of his element for this was the most he had talked to people outside of those closest to him. And Shimon was terribly eccentric to him.
"Do you wish to talk in Plyeres or Lyikarian"? Canary asked worriedly for she had noticed Shayan had a slight lisp. Shayan smiled at Canary's thoughtfulness. She was always thoughtful and it was nice to see that that hadn't changed about her over all these years. "Sure. Why don't I test your Plyeres? See if you have grown rusty". Shayan said. Canary chuckled and began to speak to him in Plyeres. "When did you make it to Grania"? Canary asked. "Ah about a week ago". Shayan said. "The first thing I heard when I got here was about fire in the countryside and how you were involved". Shayan said. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit or send a note". Shayan said.
"It's fine ". Canary said. "I don't think I got any letters while I was in a coma". Canary said. "Do you care"? Shayan asked. Canary shook her head. "The only person I was surprised didn't send a note was a man by the name of Stellan Wolf". Canary said squinting at a thought she had
"It is good that you got here in a time where I was awake and not sleeping". Canary chuckled. "I wouldn't want you to see me like that". Canary began to stare off at that moment. Gone somewhere else like in the moments where she had first awoken from her coma. A calmness and quietness in her mind that she had gone. That she had enjoyed of peace was that she could only get when she was back in Lyikar.
She seemed to only get this after that fire had happened. Where no one talked around her, Where no one wanted her to engage in conversation, and most of all she didn't have to talk. She could simply just sit and be there. It was this type of quietness that was the original Canary before she had some to Lyikar. The Canary Alexia locked away and made her into some exhausted smiling person. Where when her smiles reached her eyes they hurt.
Now she had finally had it back and now she could go away to a place where she didn't have to be that overly bubbly Canary Alexia had made. But a simple Canary. "Where are your thoughts"? Shayan asked. Canary snapped out of it staring at Shayan who as always sat patiently until Canary was done with whatever she was doing.
This was the Shayan she had always remembered. He was always hyper full of energy but when it came to Canary he sort of mellowed out. Sitting with her quietly and patiently waiting for her to finish whatever she was doing and when she finished they would play or run around. But they were adults now. What would Shayan do now instead of playing and running around after Canary had finished what she was doing.
"I am just thinking after I recover from my injuries how much I enjoy the quiet". Canary said. "The exception being you or my brother's loudness". Shayan chuckled. "I was very loud wasn't I". Canary nodded and they both laughed remembering the old times.
"And your engagement, how did that come about"? Shayan asked. "Ah, are you asking me if I love him"? Canary said grinning. Shayan shrugged. "We shall take it as that". He answered. "I don't know". Canary said. "I did in the very beginning before he said those things to me". Canary said. "Words"? Shayan said readjusting himself in the chair. "He rejected me". Canary chuckled.
"He told me that the marriage I dreamed of was the marriage that my grandparents had I would not gain". "And when I woke up from that coma and saw the scars on my body and the words of Stellan Wolf I realized he was right and so I said yes to his proposal for no one else would marry me". Canary said.
A sadness washed over Canary's face that flowed over to Shayan like a wave. "You-you don't remember our pact". Shayan said. A ball had arisen in his throat as he stared at Canary. For he had just realized that Canary was in fact not the girl he had left all those years ago. That she was something new. A bird whose tree had been cut down and because she had nowhere to go a human had taken pity on her and locked her in a cage like a pet.
It pained Shayan to see that she had changed so much. What had happened to her over all these years. What happened to her once she had moved to Grania. "No I didn't but we were children we couldn't actually hold on to those words". Canary said. "Right". Shayan said in truth he agreed they were only children when that pact was made. "And Lyikar didn't you always want to move back"? Shayan asked.
"Agustin said we will visit sometime". Canary said half believing these words herself. Shayan glared something serious at Canary for how could she believe the words of a man who said such previous words to her before. He would sure to come up with an excuse later saying it wasn't ideal to visit Lyikar.
Why would he want to marry her anyways keeping her from the one thing she wanted. With eyes Shayan could see how dearly Canary missed Lyikar looking at all the plants in the greenhouse. "You shouldn't marry him". Shayan said. "What-". "You shouldn't marry you, he will not take you Lyikar". Shayan said again.
"Why would you marry a man who will say such words to you who will make you feel less of the love you deserve. You deserve a love like the late longwoods and who is he to tell you you do not or will not have one"! Shayan said, raising his voice. "Shayan, please lower your voice". Canary said, smacking his arm. "They cannot understand Plyeres and ah you smack royalty"? Shayan said.
"I-I". "I am joking, good to see that you are still comfortable with me". Shayan laughed. "Seriously". Canary groaned but could not help but laugh at Shayan's silliness. "You have until I leave for Lyikar to decide if you want to go through with this marriage I will take you back to Lyikar with me". Shayan said seriously.
"Okay I'll take you up on that". Canary said smiling. "I am being serious just give me the word and I shall take you away to Lyikar my father is looking for a daughter in law you could take me up on that pact we made"."Oh quit it Shayan let's go join the others your highness". Canary joked.
"Your highness? Seriously"? Shayan said following after her to the others.
Authors notes
Hey everyone Emiti here please comment and answer if you feel like it to my little questions
1. How are you liking the story so far?
2. With the introduction of a new male lead who are you liking so far?
3. What do you think Agustin has in plan?
4. If there is any changes to the story I should make what should they be and why?
5. Do you like my quotes??? Nah or yeh
6.Where's Stellan? (This is more of a question for myself :p)