"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you."
― Elbert Hubbard
Now Agustin and Canary had made up the only problem in this situation was that Canary was spending most of her time with Stellan instead of him. Throughout the whole time they were at the market fair Canary stuck close by Stellan browsing the stalls and not talking to Agustin who begrudgingly had to hang out with Eddison who was looking at things for Amara and the baby.
"It seems that Canary and the Wolf boy are enjoying each other's company". Agustin said looking at a brown tassel that reminded him of Canary's eyes. "That's what they're supposed to do, he's in the middle of courting her". Eddison said. "Sourting huh". Agustin said, putting the tassel back down. "Yes, courting". Eddison said. "Glad to see you two made up although it is indeed weird that my best friend is now friends with my sister in fact all three of them are". Agustin nodded. "Think of it like this then Eddy both of the Whitewood siblings are just so likeable". Agustin smiled. "It;s three of us". Eddison said.
"Amara doesn't hang out with us like that you can't really count her". Agustin said raising a eyebrow at Eddison like he was the weird one here. "Tearina really likes her". Eddison said. Agustin nodded. "Tearina could use a friend like Canary all of her other lady in waiting are crazy could hardly call them ladies in waiting more like lions in waiting they should really be called the queens ladies in waiting". Agustin said huffing.
Tearina was unlike any other crown princesses. She did not come from the south like the other crown princess nor from a well known family in the north or in the riverlands. She came from deep within the north, the true north of the empire. Where the snowy mountains were vast and the snow fall seemed to come down forever. Where each step you would take your whole lower leg would be engulfed by it. This is the true north of the empire. This is where Tearina Longoak came from. Her dark curly hair and dark brown eyes they barely lit up when the sunlight hit them were a common trait in the true north of the empire. But in the south and false north which some would call it wasn't common. Nor was Tearina's pale skin that was paired with rosy cheeks of blood common either. Some false northerns had a tan and as did the people in the riverlands and south did also. But in the true north of the empire their skin was sometimes pale if you weren't caucasian. Tearina came to the south one day during the empire's social seasons. There she and her family met with an equally small Shimon and the king and queen. And there an arranged marriage was set to weaken the power of Shimon (Due to the backing of his mothers side of the family). But what was set to weaken Shimon's power only made it stronger. There in the true north was made into a sort of vacation spot for commoners and nobles alike.
Cold springs were founded and soon the nobles began making vacations homes in the true north and would travel to the true north and spend time with their family in the true north. This was overseen by the Longoak family. What started a true and strong friendship between Tearina and Shimon turned into something more once they had gotten married and the fruit of that love was soon to be born. Tearina was once in a long time a true crown princess and soon to be queen. She was smart and a true noble.
But the queen, however jealous, did not like Tearina and was hoping to have a weak daughter in law to push Shimon around. But the Queen did not know that although the women of the north honored and were obedient to their husbands the same could not be said to those who bullied them. Tearina showed the queen utmost respect but she would not be bullied by the maids and underlings sent by the queen to torment her. The queen wasn't expecting this strong Tearina one by one the underlings the queen sent to break Tearina down came back or quit and so what else could the queen do but send ladies in waiting who would not be so easily fired or sent away seeing that they were of a noble household and the everyday palace servants weren't.
So now Tearina was surrounded by snakes everyday. She did not trust anyone but her handmaid. Shimon could not do anything but visit and stay by Tearina's side. He could not freely do what he wanted either seeing that this was something from the queen. The king and queen also wanted to break down the strong bond between Tearina and Shimon but this bond would not be broken easily or most likely ever. Seeing that they were one of the rare royal couples who slept in the same room together, even the king and queen who seemed so close did not sleep in the same room. But Tearina and Shimon did and others around them could see how close they were.
"How about we tell Shimon and Tearina to make Canary a lady in waiting". Agustin said. "How can we do that when she's leaving for Lyikar permanently you forget she wont be back". Eddison said. "Trying to find another way to keep her here"? Eddison said. Agustin nodded. "I forgot that quickly huh". "Well at the very least she won't be marrying Stellan". Agustin mumbled.
Agustin in some type of way felt that he was letting Canary go. In his head he felt he was letting Canary go, especially seeing that she would be going to Lyikar for sure. Neither him nor Stellan would be marrying Canary. Then it hit Agustin the reality of this situation that just because no one wanted to marry Canary in Grania didn't mean no one wanted to marry Canary in Lyikar. What was the reason no one wanted to marry Canary in Grania other than the beauty standards. In his mind Canary was the dream girl to marry and surely someone in Lyikar would think so too. That they would possess the same feelings as him towards Canary.
Someone would snatched Canary up in Lyikar. This dreaded him and now he was in anguish all over again thinking that someone would take Canary away. He understood now…or maybe was starting to realize the real reason he was feeling like this. Maybe this wasn't just a feeling of worrying he would lose the business deal or lose someone as a friends. Perhaps it was deeper than this but Agustin didn't truly understand the feelings of like and love even when seeing Eddison and Shimon with their wives and they were clearly in love with them.
He simply didn't know but he knew this that he didn't want Canary with anyone else but him and this made him go into great thought. He was silent for the rest of the night only giving simple answer or saying short words in conversations and questions. It raised quite the concern especially to Eddison who thought he maybe was too harsh on Agustin whom he, Tearina and Shimon had spoiled in their teenaged years due to them pitying him for his upbringing. Which seemed to only anger Agustin even more. The fact that he Agustin Kamias Abarca was getting pitied. Even his nanny didn't pity him. It made him feel soft as though he had to strengthen something in him and in the past when he felt soft and felt the need to strengthen something he used his mind..and when his mind seemed to not work he used his fist.
But when Eddison and the others came he didn't see the need to use his fist when his mind wouldn't work instead he had others to bounce off of now. He felt comfort by this an odd sensation that he hadn't felt before and even now when Canary came.
And while Agustin was distracted by these thoughts he nor anyone else was able to noticed the dark and sinister things that were unfolding in the background. Laughing and full of joy the king and the head of the Wolf family had began to despise a sinister plan. One that would not only harm them (To make it seem as though that they had no part in this) but others too.
They began to whisper in secret of the plan they began to call the great fire and those servants who were near to the king and Wolf thought of it something of old for who would call a plan the great fire. And yet they did as cheesy as the two were, The great fire happened in the dead of the night.
Where no candles were lit where only the stars gave light and a deep and thought Agustin who wasn't trying to ignore Eddison and his rambling on about something their eyes were lit up by the fires. At first they thought it to only be one fire. Thinking to themselves should they go help and get help but upon seeing the many servants and soldiers running to an estate they asked arounf for the situation and the servants told them they had it handled.
So they continued on in their walk and as they walked more darkness came and then went as their eyes were once again lit up by a estate that was on fire. And Agustin began to look around and noticed that it was not just this estate that was lit on fire but many others and a deep fear fell over him and Eddison for the Whitewood estate and they began to run down the road went seemed endlessly for the Whitewood country estate was alone in the back of the long road of the country surrounded by woods.
And when Agustin and Eddison had come upon the country estate of the Whitewood home their eyes which were dark brown were alight with the light of the fire. The flames of the fire flickered in their eyes and the screams of those trapped within the mansion rung in their ears. They stood there staring at the mansion lit up with fire with no one but themselves to help those inside. They stood there in both awe and fear of the large fire that was before their eyes.