"It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny."
~Jean Nidetch
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 34: Chance
~The Streets of Hikari (Inuyasha's POV)~
Kagome and I ride together in the Royal Carriage; it is ornate (almost overly so) and the seats are soft, and covered in velvet. Across me sits Kagome, her head leaning against the side of the carriage. She is wearing a simple ruby-coloured gown and no jewellery. Her eyes are closed, and her breathing is even; I believe she is sleeping.
I study her features, reflecting on all that has happened since this revolution started. We used to be enemies---that seems strange to me now. I have become accustomed of late to a comfortable kind of companionship.
That is not how I want to spend my life though; I mean to have more than a friend for a wife. I know that what I feel for Kagome isn't just friendship---it's more than that---but I don't believe Kagome considers me to be anything beyond a means to an end.
The carriage rides over a pothole and jars us. Kagome's eyes snap open and for a few seconds we stare into each other's eyes. Kagome looks away first, a light blush tinting her cheeks.
Unknowing she has changed my mind somewhat. Kagome behaves differently to me than she did just a little while ago. Perhaps there is another reason that she is willing to marry me early.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep," She asks, still with her head lowered. "Where are we?"
"Don't worry, obviously you needed some rest. We're almost at the public square." I answer.
She nods.
"Do you think that we will able to reassure the nobles without angering the peasants?"
"I don't know."
She looks up and for the first time I see fear in her eyes. It surprises me; I never seen Kagome let herself show that much emotion.
"You're scared?" I ask without thinking.
I see the impassive face snap back into place and she regards me coldly.
"Don't be ashamed. I am worried about the outcome as well. Everything depends on chance."
She stares at me for a second, and then lets some emotion show though.
"Do you---"
She cuts off as the carriage comes to a stop and a footman opens the door.
"Are you ready?" I ask.
She lowers her head for a few seconds and I can hear her taking deep, calming breaths. When she raises her head again her face is perfectly smooth and her eyes are unreadable.
"I am ready."
I step from the carriage and look out on the huge crowd gathered in the square. Thousand of men, women, and children stare back at me. After the footman helps Kagome out of the carriage, she comes to stand beside me. I offer her my arm and she takes it.
We begin the long walk down the cleared path. The reactions from the crowd seem mixed. Some cheer---most calling to Kagome---some jeer, and some do nothing. We walk tall and proudly, not acknowledging any of this.
Finally, we reach the platform, and we walk up the stairs. This square is designed to maximize acoustics so that the speaker doesn't need to shout. In the front stand the nobles and behind them the peasants.
Kagome steps forward first as was planned.
"People of Shi Wase: I have seen all the poverty and pain that you have suffered at the hands of the royalty. I am not yet Queen, but already we are making changes. I pledge to you that we can help you improve your situations; I promise that we will offer aid in times of famine and war. You have a new King and soon you will have a new Queen. We are different then the last breed of royalty: we care for you and will listen to what you have to say!"
Kagome's face is passionate and the crowd is enthralled. When she finishes speaking, the peasants cheer loudly, cheering for her. The Nobles clap politely, but I can see them exchanging looks.
She steps backwards, and I step forward.
"Lady Kagome has addressed the workers of our town; I will be speaking to the Royalty. I know that you fear a change of life. I understand; change is taking place and there is always the chance that we will be unable to keep. But is important to treat our workers fairly and insure that they are not starving. How can they work well when they are starving to death? They will work better if they are well fed and happy. I promise that we will not remove the land of anyone loyal to the crown, and that we will make sure that everything that we do is fair for all."
The crowd dissolves into confusion. It is impossible to tell what the outcome will be. We can only wait and hope that luck is with us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
yah...sorry for the long time between updates....i've been really sick...and busy...yah....
thanks to: Tamakia'gss, Phoenix06, yupperz2003, bossessasan, Paragorgon, Midoriko-sama, Hamaguri, darkrose2006, and Mitsuko Maxwell for reviewing.
~Jean Nidetch
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 34: Chance
~The Streets of Hikari (Inuyasha's POV)~
Kagome and I ride together in the Royal Carriage; it is ornate (almost overly so) and the seats are soft, and covered in velvet. Across me sits Kagome, her head leaning against the side of the carriage. She is wearing a simple ruby-coloured gown and no jewellery. Her eyes are closed, and her breathing is even; I believe she is sleeping.
I study her features, reflecting on all that has happened since this revolution started. We used to be enemies---that seems strange to me now. I have become accustomed of late to a comfortable kind of companionship.
That is not how I want to spend my life though; I mean to have more than a friend for a wife. I know that what I feel for Kagome isn't just friendship---it's more than that---but I don't believe Kagome considers me to be anything beyond a means to an end.
The carriage rides over a pothole and jars us. Kagome's eyes snap open and for a few seconds we stare into each other's eyes. Kagome looks away first, a light blush tinting her cheeks.
Unknowing she has changed my mind somewhat. Kagome behaves differently to me than she did just a little while ago. Perhaps there is another reason that she is willing to marry me early.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep," She asks, still with her head lowered. "Where are we?"
"Don't worry, obviously you needed some rest. We're almost at the public square." I answer.
She nods.
"Do you think that we will able to reassure the nobles without angering the peasants?"
"I don't know."
She looks up and for the first time I see fear in her eyes. It surprises me; I never seen Kagome let herself show that much emotion.
"You're scared?" I ask without thinking.
I see the impassive face snap back into place and she regards me coldly.
"Don't be ashamed. I am worried about the outcome as well. Everything depends on chance."
She stares at me for a second, and then lets some emotion show though.
"Do you---"
She cuts off as the carriage comes to a stop and a footman opens the door.
"Are you ready?" I ask.
She lowers her head for a few seconds and I can hear her taking deep, calming breaths. When she raises her head again her face is perfectly smooth and her eyes are unreadable.
"I am ready."
I step from the carriage and look out on the huge crowd gathered in the square. Thousand of men, women, and children stare back at me. After the footman helps Kagome out of the carriage, she comes to stand beside me. I offer her my arm and she takes it.
We begin the long walk down the cleared path. The reactions from the crowd seem mixed. Some cheer---most calling to Kagome---some jeer, and some do nothing. We walk tall and proudly, not acknowledging any of this.
Finally, we reach the platform, and we walk up the stairs. This square is designed to maximize acoustics so that the speaker doesn't need to shout. In the front stand the nobles and behind them the peasants.
Kagome steps forward first as was planned.
"People of Shi Wase: I have seen all the poverty and pain that you have suffered at the hands of the royalty. I am not yet Queen, but already we are making changes. I pledge to you that we can help you improve your situations; I promise that we will offer aid in times of famine and war. You have a new King and soon you will have a new Queen. We are different then the last breed of royalty: we care for you and will listen to what you have to say!"
Kagome's face is passionate and the crowd is enthralled. When she finishes speaking, the peasants cheer loudly, cheering for her. The Nobles clap politely, but I can see them exchanging looks.
She steps backwards, and I step forward.
"Lady Kagome has addressed the workers of our town; I will be speaking to the Royalty. I know that you fear a change of life. I understand; change is taking place and there is always the chance that we will be unable to keep. But is important to treat our workers fairly and insure that they are not starving. How can they work well when they are starving to death? They will work better if they are well fed and happy. I promise that we will not remove the land of anyone loyal to the crown, and that we will make sure that everything that we do is fair for all."
The crowd dissolves into confusion. It is impossible to tell what the outcome will be. We can only wait and hope that luck is with us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
yah...sorry for the long time between updates....i've been really sick...and busy...yah....
thanks to: Tamakia'gss, Phoenix06, yupperz2003, bossessasan, Paragorgon, Midoriko-sama, Hamaguri, darkrose2006, and Mitsuko Maxwell for reviewing.