As always there are people to thank!
Thanks to: BellaJames and Haiza Tyri for adding this to their favorite stories list,Miller0259, WeAreGrey, Kat097, and xMusicGurlx for adding this story to both their alert list and favorite stories list. Also thanks to leat79, kayleecal, JellyBelly391, bevfanK, CharcoalFeathers, Shahrezad1, tripwatcher2, and Angelo'sG-Ma for adding this to their story alert list.
It really means a lot guys! Thank you so much! And now on to the final chapter of Obvious. Six chapters, as promised. I can't believe it's over already, my little brain child blossomed into this little ficlet and I'm so grateful to all of you for your kind words and support. And so we go!
Mother's Little Helper
Azkadellia watched her mother pace the office in extreme amusement. On the hardwood desk was a pile of papers that rustled each time the queen passed, on the floor was a pile of papers that had been discarded since the ball. The queen finally stopped, hands on hips and turned to her eldest daughter, who immediately hid a smile with a small cough.
"Why is it that DG cannot seem to find a suitor? She is pretty enough, the proximity to the crown should be incentive enough... but the chance to court the heroine of the Eclipse?" The queen whirled to face the window, lavender eyes squinted in frustration. "I don't understand!"
"Mother, perhaps you should let DG choose the man she will marry?" Azkadellia suggested, taking a sip of tea from the cup that sat beside her on the desk. She gestured to the pile on the floor, "Those papers represent nobility that has sought after her only to meet opposition from both her and her tin man." The queen shook her head.
"No, she may have her choice, but only to a certain degree. In the chance that the people do not accept you as my heir, she will have to take the throne. Should that happen she needs someone who knows the ways of diplomacy." Azkadellia leveled an amused stare at her mother.
"Should she take the throne she will probably reorganize the entire diplomatic system, or just have everyone in love with her. Let her have happiness in her marriage. Please mother!" The queen sat behind her desk and took a handful of papers, flipping idly through them. "She needs someone who will love her, not her status. She will be miserable otherwise. You know this as much as I do!" Azkadellia cried as she fought for her sister's happiness.
"Surely one of these men will bring her happiness." The queen said as names flew past her eyes. Azkadellia stood, eyes wide and bright with anger.
"She's in love already!" Azkadellia protested. "She's loved Wyatt Cain since before the war ended! He loves her too, they're the only ones who cannot see that!" There was a flicker in the corner of her eye, out on the lawn of Finaqua. She turned to her mother suddenly, "Though apparently you can't see it either!" The queen stepped back as though stung, tears in her eyes. "Mother, please... watch them." Azkadellia begged, gesturing to the wide window that let in so much sunlight.
The queen stepped forward, her eyes bright as she watched the antics of her youngest daughter as the slim girl launched herself at the older man, seizing him in a tight hug. "Can't you see it mother?" Azkadellia whispered, "her heart is his already." The couple were too far away for either the queen or her daughter to discern any expressions, but Azkadellia knew without a doubt that both wore a love-struck expression that neither could seem to recognize for what it was.
"Should either of them approach me on the subject of their marriage, I will not protest." The queen decided, "however, I shall continue to search for a suitable match." She turned to Azkadellia. "Do you agree to this?" Azkadellia smiled and bowed her head.
"I have faith in them." Was what she said in agreement, she turned to walk from the room and turned back, a mischievous smile on her face. "Don't forget, you met my father when he fell out of a sky-balloon to land at your feet." The queen remained impassive, one eye raised as the door closed behind the elder princess, she then turned back to the window, a tiny smile quirking the corner of her mouth. Slowly she lifted her watching mirror to watch her daughter.
--
"Father!" Azkadellia called as she approached the gazebo where Ahamo sat. The consort turned from watching one daughter to greet the other.
"Hello dearest." Ahamo said, taking her hand and pulling her into a one-armed hug. "What troubles you?" Az smiled and leaned against the strong side of her father, enjoying the safe feel of his arm around her shoulders.
"Not bother me so much as frustrate me." She admitted. "Mother seems intent on marrying DG to some noble milksop. Why she can't just announce the marriage of DG and Cain I don't understand." Ahamo smiled as they watched the two laugh in the distance.
"She worries about the strength of the O.Z. now, especially as it comes time for you to take the throne. You know that." Az smiled up at her father, leaning her cheek on his chest.
"I know, Papa." She said lightly, "I got her to agree to allow them to marry should one ask the other." Ahamo's eyes widened as he stared down at his daughter, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Dearest, I don't think that we need to wait much longer for the topic to be brought up." Ahamo said, still smiling as he nodded at his younger daughter and her escort, who had just dropped to his knees. Azkadellia smiled as she heard DG's squeal from where she stood with her father. She knew that her mother would soon be going crazy and that she would be employed as mother's little helper.
--
The slight swooshing noise of the waves lapping on the shore of Finaqua was gentle and accompanied by the bubbly laugh of the youngest princess as she danced happily around her tin man. The blond man walked at a slightly more sedate pace, smiling as he watched the antics of his younger charge. Her blue eyes were sparkling and a wide grin spread across her lips as her bare feet danced across soft grass.
"C'mon Cain, dance!" She laughed, raising her hands and spinning, eyes closed happily. Cain felt his heart clench in his chest as he watched her, such happiness on her face.
"I don't dance." He said stoically and his heart broke at the sadness that flickered across her face. She brushed a soft hand across his cheek.
"Why so serious, Tin Man?" She asked, blue eyes peering into his paler ones, as though trying to see through his barriers. His face softened as he looked down at her, hand coming up to brush aside a strand of her hair from where it ghosted against her cheek.
"Why so happy, Princess?" He asked, light blue eyes gentle and rough hands surprisingly soft. DG smiled and leaned into his touch, eyes drifting close.
"I realized something this morning, and I feel like a fool for not saying it sooner." Cain's hand stilled, his thumb froze mid-stroke along her cheek. Her eyes opened slowly, and the lidded orbs froze him where he stood.
"What?" He asked, barely daring to breath. She stood, looking as though she was trying to build up as much courage as she could muster.
"I love you!" She finally blurted, Cain's eyes widened, hardly able to believe what he'd heard. Unable to respond he stared at her, DG fidgeted, fearing that his silence meant that her feelings were not returned. "I know that you are still in love with your wife, and I don't want you to feel guilty, but I just thought that you should know." Cain just kept gaping at her, DG could feel her eyes filling up with tears at what she thought was his rejection. "I'll just go now.. if you don't feel comfortable staying as my bodyguard I understand..." Her words were suddenly silenced as his warm lips crashed against her, his strong arms pulling her tight against him. DG forgot what she was saying, all she knew was that his lips were on hers, and somewhere fireworks were going off.
"Stop." Cain finally said, pulling back reluctantly and catching her hand in his. "I'm sorry, you just surprised me, Deej." DG stared at him, hope bubbling back up. "I love you. I have since you attacked Zero with that twig."
"Sturdy branch..." DG grumbled, smiling chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist and pulling her against him in an intimate hug.
"I talked to your father today." Cain said, DG's eyes grew even wider, lips parting as she stared at Cain in wonder. "I told him that I loved you and that I wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.
"Wyatt..." DG breathed, hand reaching up to brush across his cheek, coming to rest on the back of his neck. "Do you really?"
"DG..." Cain dropped to one knee, "Marry me." DG squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Yes!" She cried happily as Cain stood, arms around her waist and spun her in a circle. She laughed as he set her safely back on the soft grass. She stood on her tiptoes, arms still tight around him. "Promise you love me even when I'm going crazy and you want to throw me off a cliff?" Cain laughed and kissed her again.
"Sweetheart, I've always loved you, and always will.. I thought it was obvious."
FIN