Chapter Text
Pure Vanilla lets his staff poke out of the carriage to see the familiar hills, valleys and forests of his homeland. The castle could actually be seen up ahead.
"What do you see?" White Lily asked.
"We're almost home. Look for yourself, if you'd like.
Lily peeks out from the veil, only to see the kingdom's guards running towards the carriage, then feeling it suddenly stop, jolting them both forwards.
"What happened?"
Lily stammered, “The guards are out.”
There were hardly ever any guards surrounding Pure Vanilla, save for the wedding trip. Even then, they weren't just right there. He lifts up the veil to see two of them standing right beside the carriage.
One of the guards spoke. "Your Majesty, a rebel group attempted to infiltrate the castle."
"What?!"
"They weren't from here...but they were looking for you. So we'll be surrounding the carriage until you and the Queen get to safety."
“Were they captured?”
“Yes. They’ve been put in separate holding cells in the castle’s lower level. We just don’t know if there will be more following them.”
“Alright. That’s all I need to know right now.” He dropped the veil again, and the carriage started moving again, but a lot slower.
Lily was looking down at her bandaged hands and twisting her ring nervously. “We’ve never had rebels before.”
“I know. But this kingdom is so young, it was bound to happen.”
“And they weren’t from here…so what do they even want?”
The question bothered Vanilla as well. He knows his kingdom isn’t perfect. He tries very hard to make it one, a safe haven for anyone to come in. That’s why his castle has so many bedrooms inside of it. They weren’t meant for specific people, they were there so newcomers had a place to sleep before they could get a home somewhere else in the kingdom. The big kitchen on the ground floor is even communal. It’s not even used for him, or Lily, or any of the castle’s staff, only the civilians. What could possibly be so bad about housing the homeless and feeding the hungry?
“I really don’t know, dear.” He answered finally.
“I’m scared, Vani. We just got married, and now there’s rebels being held inside the castle.”
He reached out a hand for her to take. He held her hand firmly, knowing the pressure comforted her.
“I just want to lay down in the dark.”
“That’s alright, dear. I wasn’t expecting this to be the first thing you’d face as Queen.”
She leans on him and closes her eyes. “What if they wanted to hurt you?”
“They won’t hurt me. Or you. We’re protected all around. And I’m sure whatever they wanted, they had a reason for it.”
The carriage entered the kingdom, and safely returned the newlyweds to the castle. It was supposed to be relieving to return.
~
White Lily had her own room just as a place to calm down. Even if something made the slightest threat, she retreated in here with the curtains drawn to lay down on the bed, curling up as small as she could, with her knees pressed against her chest, letting gravity pull her back down to her senses. It was the only method of self-soothing she knew for a very long time.
Breathe in, breathe out. You’re safe. Vani’s safe. The rebels are locked up. We’re safe.
“Lily?”
Vanilla was peeking into the room, making sure not to make his voice too loud. It had been about half an hour since they got back, and he had chosen to stay on the ground level during that time while Lily went to the top level, to their rooms.
He steps closer to her, and she loosens herself up to look at him.
“Are you alright, dear?”
Lily only hummed in response. She straightened out her legs completely, laying flat on her bed. She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him closer to her.
“Oh. I see.”
Vanilla carefully got up on the bed, careful not to hurt Lily or his staff. He knows what to do, though. This became routine for them when they got together at the academy. He would help Lily get her comforting pressure by laying on top of her, and nothing more. He seemed to fit perfectly on top of her, and felt her stress melt away as he listened to her heartbeat.
“Ready to talk now?” He whispered.
“I think so.”
“I found out a little more about the rebels who came in.”
No response.
“...There’s three. All of them are women. The guards took all of their weapons…so we’re safe.”
“Anything else?”
“No. That’s all I heard.”
Lily sighed. “What will we do?”
Vanilla prided himself for not being a traditional leader. Violence was never the answer, and it always made things worse. It was the whole reason he made his friends swear under an oath to create and keep peace all over the world. “...We’ll talk to them. If they can tell us what was so bad that caused them do this, We’ll create a solution.”
Lily grew up afraid of everything, surrounded by awful people who never saw her as the heroine she has the potential to be. And she could never get them to just respect her either. She had no idea that someone like her could even get to be a Queen. “...It’s not that easy. Not everyone is so willing to just talk.”
“I have to try, Lily.”
She held him tighter. “Do you remember what I told you at the academy? Don’t let your kindness betray you. I can’t let you get hurt.”
“I remember. It hasn't happened yet.”
She kissed his scalp. “That doesn’t mean it won’t.”
“I know.”