Twin Tiff (Auron/Aurora 5/25, Evening)

[Auron Sterlyn]

Auron was already tiring of travel, and the ship had yet to arrive at the first major destination. They'd left Nystra nearly a week ago and been sailing ever since. Auron had always enjoyed the water, but enjoying the water and returning home to a cozy and familiar bed was far better than staying out on the water forced to sleep on a less than comfortable bunk bed, complete with wooden rails to keep a sleepy passenger from pitching over the side and onto the floor. His back wasn't used to the harder mattress which was nothing like his soft feather bed at home. And the constant rocking of the ship woke him numerous times during the night. The poor sleep was starting to show, and Auron had a few darker circles under his eyes. He'd also grown a short stubbly beard, for fear of cutting himself trying to shave while the ship listed in the waves.

He stood on the deck now, leaning out over the railing. The other downside of traveling was that boredom set in rather quickly. He'd simply run out of books to read and beyond an occasional game of cards with the stewards there was little else to do.

Especially because he'd been avoiding Aurora, at least as best as one can on a cramped and crowded ship.

They'd argued after arriving in Nystra. Another chat about their upcoming marriages but this one had been more heated. Auron had been more accusing, angry, and outspoken. And Aurora had been less than pleased by the attitude he'd given her after she'd asked him why he'd left her standing solo in the courtyard. He'd been sarcastic in his reply, claiming he was only doing what their dearest elder brother had commanded. "How might I fall in love with my future bride if I'm busy running around like your puppy dog?" he shot at her. The rest of the conversation had deteriorated, one of the few times Auron could remember the pair leaving the room without resolving their differences.

And the point of the matter was that he was still upset by the entire thing. He knew deep down that Aurora cared for him deeply, but he couldn't get past her words and he couldn't convince himself to simply forgive her. Auron was no fool. There were far stronger reasons for his refusal to make amends than just Aurora's own words, but he'd never admit those reasons either.

At least they'd be in Alska soon and blending into the crowd would be far easier in the castle with a hundred or two guests than on a ship with limited space.

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora, much like her brother, was bored. She had been on the ship for long enough that the amusement of being at sea had worn off. She longed to be back at home, with all of her belongings and where everything was normal, and calm. There was much less excitement, yes, but if they were home that would mean that there would be no Sommara, Rex, and no weddings. Her and Auron would be talking, not fighting and avoiding each other.

It was easy enough for her to slip out of her room when any guard would be otherwise distracted, and Aurora had done it several times previous. Doing so again, she made her way through the ship and headed up to the deck. She wore a plain pale blue gown, and covered herself with a rich velvet cloak of black. Aurora made sure to raise the hood so as not to let her bright blonde hair give her away if anyone was paying attention to those on deck.

She walked along the deck, glad that there were not too many around to notice her. It was improper for her to be out at night on the deck unescorted, and if seen would be sent straight back to her room. Then a maid or instructor or other such woman sent to look after her would be sent, and the evening would be ruined.

Spotting Auron, she made her way over to him, coming up quietly behind. She pressed herself against him, cover his hands with her eyes. “Guess who,” she asked, making her voice as deep as possible. Aurora was tired of avoiding her brother.

[Auron Sterlyn]

He hadn't been expecting her, but when Aurora's soft hands slipped over his eyes and pressed against his cheeks he knew immediately they belonged to her before she even spoke. Auron reached up with his own hands and gentle grasped her wrists. He wasn't in the mood for teasing and joking, but he found himself relieved that Aurora had approached him despite the fact that he'd been avoiding her.

Gracefully, he lifted her hands high enough so that he twist around, bringing her arms, now crossed, down between them. "Aurora," he greeted her, his voice a melancholy chord. He only had to look at her, her beautiful blond hair tucked beneath the dark velvet cape, to realize he'd missed being her brother. She was his other half. He wasn't completely whole without her.

That fact didn't change their argument though. Nor did it erase the knowledge that in a few short months his other half would forever belong to House Letalis.

"What brings you on deck, sister?" he asked her, avoiding the subject that hung between them like a half-ripped curtain. Not strong enough to keep them apart, but with enough presence that they couldn't fully reach each other either. Auron was ready to rip it down one moment while wishing for wall in the next. "The evening is no place for a lady."

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora pouted as he turned around, disappointed at his response. Evidently he was still angry, which was fine with her. She could argue with him again if he didn’t want to let it rest. “Auron,” she said, her tone mimicking his dour tone. She moved to the side of him, resting her arms against the rail. Dropping her hood, she sighed as the salty breeze ran through her hair.

“Bored. These ships are so boring, and the evening is fine for me. If only Rex was here.” She slid her glance over to him, anticipating how he would respond. Aurora had mentioned Rex intentionally, hoping to anger Auron. His attitude was annoying her, and a fight was better than his melancholy attitude. In truth, she just wanted them to be friends again, but her pride wouldn’t allow herself to just forgive him.

[Auron Sterlyn]

Auron gripped the ship's railing tightly as Aurora's melodious voice spoke such a hideous name. He found himself gritting his teeth, trying to bit back the slew of wild insults that were flying across his mind like a flock of crows lifting into the air after tearing through field of corpses. If only Rex could be their meal... Auron imagined himself driving a swords through Rex's guts, and watching as his internal organs came spilling out of his navel to pile on the ground in front of him. Auron would laugh as the crows came to feast on his remains. The thought made him smile briefly.

"Rex would look better on the sharp end of my sword," he told her, deciding to air his thought allowed. "Perhaps I'll challenge him to a duel on our wedding night eve and send him back to the scummy island he was born on."

[Aurora Letalis]

“Don’t be so vulgar, Auron,” Aurora replied, clearly annoyed. Just because Rex was a Letalis or would be whisking her away to Strom did not mean he needed to be punished by death. Besides, she wanted to at least kiss him some more before that happened. “Why? You can’t marry me, that’d just be silly. My wedding will not be ruined by bloodshed. Go hunting with him instead,” she suggested. It would be easiest for her if Auron and Rex were to become friends, though Aurora sincerely doubted that would ever happen.

“Should I challenge Sommara to a stitching duel, then?” Aurora asked. If Auron could be annoyed about her betrothed, then she had a right to poke fun at his. “Of course she’d probably bend the knee to me instead. Should have waited a few years and married her sister, Horatia, she seems much better.” Aurora considered Sommara to be too timid, which translated into someone not worth her time. Being too timid was just as bad a trait socially as being too outgoing or boisterous. Sommara didn’t seem to understand this, but it wasn’t a surprise with the way Ashpools had been raised.

[Auron Sterlyn]

"'Wedding me would be far less vulgar than wedding Lord Island Scum," Auron shot back, staring down at Aurora, his eyes smoldering with barely contained ire. "Keep you from being soiled by his filth. He's nearly as bad as bringing that Mar-Stellar girl into the family. You would think that a line as noble as Sterlyn could attract the cream of the crop when choosing our marriages. At least Celeste has an honorable match." Auron pictured Rex's smirking face in his mind as he spoke. How much fun he'd have smashing his fist straight into Rex's nose, watching it break in two while blood ran in streaks down his chin and onto his shirt. Auron wondered if the stupid lush would cry. I wouldn't mind castrating him either... that would solve the problem.

Because the thought of Lord Island Scum Letalis with his sister was enough to make Auron vomit.

Auron waved a hand flippantly at Aurora's next words. "Challenge her for all I care, although you're probably right. Sommara would crawl on hands and knees if we asked her too. I suppose there are benefits of that." He almost laughed. "I wonder if I ordered her to sleep with your Lord Island Scum if she would." He never would though. If she was to be his wife, then he wanted her as pure and untouched as he was. Proper Sterlyns gave themselves only to their spouses.

[Aurora Letalis]

“That I have to disagree with,” Aurora said, cringing in disgust. Incest was gross and creepy, and she couldn’t eve think of Auron in that way. Just ewwww. “Yes, Celeste does have a good match,” she said, pouting a bit at the thought. If only Victor had been a bit younger, or she had been born instead of Celeste. Marrying a Castell was far better than a Letalis, even if Rex was cute.

Aurora laughed at Auron’s words, though she felt guilty for it. A little, anyway. Aurora did not truly enjoy being mean to anyone, though sometimes she couldn’t help, but act just as spoiled as Auron. His snobbiness rubbed off on her sometimes, as well as the training that they were better than everyone else. “Don’t do that!” She said, insulted that Auron would even suggest something. Ordering a woman about was one thing, but having someone sleep with future husband? Not that was just cruel. Aurora knew he had slept with women in the past, but now that they were to be married, it was different.

“If you hate Rex so much, then why did you abandon me?!” She finally asked, wanting to get the point.

[Auron Sterlyn]

Auron shrugged at Aurora's response; she could disagree if she wanted, but Auron could never see Rex as anything but a parasite on the land. The entire Letalis family was nothing but island baseborns raised to Lordship because of wealth. The Sterlyns and the Castells were the bloodlines of Kings. Royalty did not wed beneath themselves. He eyed her as her lips curled into a slight pout at the thought of Celeste's husband, leaving Auron to wonder what his sister was pondering. Her reaction to his comments about Sommara were expected; he hadn't been serious about any of them.

Auron's brow furrowed as Aurora brought up the entire reason he'd been avoiding her. Between Nystra and the ship, he'd nursed his anger keeping it fresh by preventing his sister from slipping in with her piercing gaze and demanding that he explain himself. But now that she'd asked, he felt compelled to answer. "Isn't it obvious Aurora? Can't you see how much these betrothals bother me? Hurt me? I..." Auron gripped the railing of the gunwail and stared out over the ocean. "I'm not ok with everything changing. But you are. I didn't escort you, because being around you means hearing how much you can't wait to be Rex's wife, and when you're Rex's wife you'll be gone."

[Aurora Letalis]

“I...” Aurora hesitated, not knowing what to say. Of course she knew the betrothals upset her brother, but she thought that they just angered him because of the way Alrik had handled of them. Auron had spoken much about how much he hated the Letalis family and how rude Alrik was, but not as much about how he would miss her. She would miss him, and she knew that he would miss her, but she hadn’t really thought about her words might affect that.

“No, I’m not okay with everything changing!” She exclaimed, and it was true. Aurora didn’t really want to change, but instead of pouting about it, she found it best to just go with he flow. She’d rather be happy and making the best of it than being miserable. Plus, the idea of marriage excited. She didn’t want to leave Solbra though, no, of course not. To leave her brothers and the castle for a tropical island was not something she was looking forward to. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I don’t want to leave.” Aurora didn’t know what else to say, and so she hugged Auron, pulling him close.

[Auron Sterlyn]

Her sudden hug caught him off-guard, but he responded with a deep warmth. Auron wrapped his arms tightly around Aurora and closed his eyes, wishing he could stop the clock and hold onto that moment forever. But he was only fooling himself, the same way he'd managed to fool himself into believing that the twins could spend the rest of the lives riding horses and drinking wine in Castle Argent.

He pulled back and stared down at her. He couldn't stay mad at her, not when she'd finally told him she didn't want to leave. "It's not just that you're marrying, Rex," Auron continued, trying to respect his sister by not using his more derogatory terms for the island Lord. "I know I've made it clear how I felt about him." He paused and took a deep breath, "But honestly, I would probably feel the same no matter who you were to wed. The day we say our vows will be the day that things change. Forever." There would no going back to lazy days in the sun, quiet evenings in the library, dinner on the patio as the sun set on the horizon and painted the sky in brilliant shades of crimson and orange and violet.

You will do all those things, Auron Sterlyn, he reminded himself, But Lady Sommara Sterlyn will share a laugh, a book, or a roasted lamb with you as the days pass instead of Aurora Sterlyn.

Still looking into Aurora's blue eyes, the same eyes that Auron was graced with, he nodded his head slightly. "I forgive you, sweet sister. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I hope you can excuse my poor behavior in Nystra. I can promise you it won't happen again."

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora held onto him tightly, relieved that Auron didn’t reject the hug. That only would have hurt her further, and she was slightly sad to have him pull away. Now that he had mentioned they would be separated forever after their marriages, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Aurora didn’t know what she would do without Auron; doubting that Rex would ever be as supportive as Auron had been her whole life.

“I know it will change,” she said, her tone serious as she stared into his eyes. “But I don’t want to focus on the negative. I don’t want to spend the rest of our days unhappy, we should enjoy them instead of thinking about what’s going to happen.”

“Oh don’t be silly, you know I can never stay mad a you. I forgive you! This is so much better than fighting and being grumpy, don’t you think?” Aurora said, sighing dramatically at the end. Yes, this was fantastic. Aurora hated negative tension. It was much easier to just move on and be happy.

[Auron Sterlyn]

Auron leaned over and kissed Aurora softly on the forehead, a sign of affection for his sister. "I was foolish to let my anger cause me to waste so many as it is. Between now and December, I hope we can share as much time as possible. Just," Auron paused, his gazed locked with Aurora's, "Let's speak of matters others than then weddings. Let us pretend as long as we can that we still live in yesterday. Without the constant reminder, we can just be ourselves again." What he wouldn't give for a few more carefree years running the halls of Solbra.

He paused, then smiled. Forcing away thoughts of the future would be difficult, even if he had been the one to suggest such things. But there were other topics to speak of, and news he had yet to share with Aurora. "I would have you know I asked our brother for a position on the council."

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora smiled at his gesture; it was more tender she was used to. She found it lovely and sweet from her overprotective brother. “That is an excellent idea. No wedding talk, though... We will have to talk a bit. Just plans for the actual ceremony. But other than that, no wedding discussion! I promise.” She smiled brightly at him and thrust out her hand to give his a squeeze.

“Oh really? That’s fantastic Auron. Make sure to keep our brother on his toes,” she said, laughing at her comment. Pulling away from him, Aurora leaned against the rail of the ship. Reaching outwards, she smiled, and inhaled the salty scent. Though boats weren’t her favorite, she loved the ocean, and found the smell and sight to be relaxing.

[Auron Sterlyn]

Auron squeezed her hand back and nodded, but in truth she could plan the whole affair if she wanted. He had no desire to talk of fabric or food; he'd look at the decorations and eat the dinner and none of it would matter much to him. But Aurora seemed so thrilled at the idea of planning her wedding, that he refused to topple her from her pedestal. A nod was all the response he could manage.

He shrugged and leaned against the railing as well, watching as the waves broke against the hull of the ship. "It's more about taking my place in the family. I'm an adult now and I should be able to voice my opinion as one. Our brother is wise to offer me a position. I will be in charge of the kingdom's treasury. I feel that would be best anyway, to keep the coffers in the hands of House Sterlyn, not that my brother's current treasurer has done anything but prove his loyalty. He is old though, and needs retiring and another Lord could be distrustful."

Most of Alrik's bannermen and stewards had been serving House Sterlyn for so long, Auron couldn't imagine them disloyal. But only one bad apple could spoil the pie for all; why take any risks? And if Sommara bore him a son, then he could take up the position after Auron. His line could perhaps always become treasurers for their King.