As we walked in, I should have grabbed Cor and hoped young Kestrel stopped Twin but... The Brothers shot forward directly to the front of Annianka’s dais with her Guards in position to block them. Annianka was already giggling ignoring the improprieties of their actions. Munin’s face had paled upon seeing them.
“Hello sister!” they chimed together. Annianka giggles turned into true laughter. She had received the memories of them from ‘Joy’ and could easily match her merry mischievous nature around these two adoptive brothers.
“Play any good tricks on Loki since I have been gone, my brothers?” she asked with childish glee. The nobles in the room looked stunned, confused, and shocked at this sudden shift in their Queen. Munin eyes went from her to the Brothers as his face turned white in shock and terror.
“No, but we got Lockey to make a rude face at Kestrel!” Cor told her. She giggled and kicked her feet as the images of this event filled her mind. “He actually laughed about it!” he continued. The shock was clear in his voice as he spoke.
“You must have been working on his sense of humor since he’s arrived here, sister.” Twin returned proudly. A strangle gasp from Munin drew their attention to him.
“Did we not paint him blue at one point?” Cor asked teasingly.
“I believe we did.” Twin answered. “I hope you did not take it too seriously, little Munin.” he concluded. They took a sliding step towards him as Munin flinched before straightening on his throne.
I stood rubbing my temple as the three of than banter about the long list of dirty tricks they had played upon the Asgardian while growing up there together. The mirth of the stories swayed the nobles to a normal relaxed and jovial mood. Munin only grew more tense and leery until he stood and slink away. I notice Lady Shala look pass me to nod at young Kestrel while her shoulder shook from giggles. I received a shrug from the feline when I glanced at him. I started laughing at how easy it was to dismiss Munin from important discussions. Young Kestrel purring chuckle floated around next to me as I reigned in my mirth.
“Enough you two.” Annianka reprimanded them once Munin had left. “You are here on serious business and not a simple family reunion.” she corrected them. She still giggled eyeing them mirthfully. This oddness was not the ‘Joy’ act but the Annianka I met upon my first arrival on Atlantis and it warmed my heart. It was rare to see her smile since the forced married to Munin.
“Can we give our gifts to our little niece now, or should we wait?” Cor asked.
“Now would be fine so Princess Sara can return to play and learn with the other children of Atlantis.” she replied easily. I choked and straighten as these words. She motioned Ichcui and Sara to move closer. Sara peeked shyly through her hair at them as she took a shaky step towards them holding out her hands. My mind was only noticing Sara on the edge of my vision while looking at the Queen. I could not understand why she believed Sara was freely going to school and playing with others. This was either an act for the nobles or she did not know the sheltered life her daughter was forced to endure. I would have to see who or what was behind this seclusion order placed upon my daughter.
Cor took a slow step forward before dropping onto a knee before Sara. He held out a box wrapped in silken brightly colored paper and a large red bow. She quickly pulled the ribbon off to open the box. The lid popped open revealing well crafted wooden blocks with the symbols that represented letters of different languages of the world. She smiled up at him saying her thanks. Luckily she did not call him ‘Uncle War’ while thanking him. She placed the box aside with a silly sly smile as she played the perfect child role for all present. She returned to stand before Twin that had already knelt on one knee. He held out a leather wrapped bundle and a small finely made soft leather pouch. She opened the bundle to reveal a skillfully made advanced sling and the pouch held polished round stones to be used as projectiles. Sara giggled thanking him but warning him she can’t use it inside. She handed the sling to Ichcui while placing the sling stones in the box with the blocks. My only confusion was why Brother War handed her a toy while Brother Death gave her a weapon.
After about another hour of silly banter from the Brothers to the assemble nobles and the Queen, they finally settled into explaining their plans for peace regarding Lemuria. While the world seemed to worship Atlantis as a centre of diplomacy and peace, the world thought of Lemuria as an advanced warmongering society. The fastest way for the world to change their view would be the removal of the crystals powering the weapons of Lemuria effectively rendering them equal to all others. Annianka nearly screamed her protest to this plan if her brothers had not held up their hands to forestall her objections. They quickly explained that the crystals used to power the defenses of Lemuria itself would still be present allowing them to protect themselves just not attack their enemies with superior technologies.
“And would they agree to allow themselves placed in such a weak position?” Annianka asked bewildered.
“I believe that their honor of an equal combat would make it impossible for them to resist such a treaty.” I remarked. Both Brothers nodded violently their agreement.
“It will just take time for them to see it that way.” Cor stated.
“We will continue slowly insinuating this idea into the minds of their people.” Twin commented with a bow.
“We just have a problem with where the crystals could be sent to keep them safely off Lemuria without handing them to Atlantis.” Cor remarked softly.
“They would never agree handing crystals that could be used for Atlantis to attack them while they are effectively defenseless.” Twin returned with a shrug.
“This treaty is to make the world feel safer, yes?” I asked gaining dark glares. “Would separating the crystal be against their ideology?” I moved the thought forward ignoring them.
“I cannot see it as being a problem since only Atlantis could potentially use the crystals against them.” Cor returned. The spark of my indirect suggestion turning into an ideal plan in their mind.
“A great honorable peace offer on their part to hand the crystals to the ones that fear them the most.” Twin finally giggling.
“Giving such power into the hands of the humans and non-humans might not be wise.” Annianka countered.
“The non-humans are not the major ones that need to be appeased by such an action.” I corrected her gently. “The crystals would be of no use to them since humans lack the technology to use them.” I explained slowly. “Peace would be possible as long as the humans accept and believe that Lemuria has actually disarmed itself fully.” I cautioned them.
“Which would be our job to make them see the light.” Cor agreed directly.
“It might take longer doing this than convincing the Lumurian to hand the crystals over.” Twin reminded us.
“A stipulation in the treaty they sign forcing them to not send them to Atlantis.” Annianka told us. “When we sign the treaty with Lemuria, we would back it, by reporting any attempts as part of our treaty.” she concluded with a smirk.
“Everyone gets something and peace becomes a reality in this world.” I said solemnly. “I believe it can be accomplished without exerting force from either Atlantis or Lemuria, other than words of wisdom.” I concluded with a smile and a nod.
“Does this mean we have to leave right away?” Cor grumbled.
“You must still present these ideas to the Council of Atlantis.” I reminded him.
“And a formal visit to the island is in order for such dignitary.” Annianka commented.
“I or Meli would be ready to give them a tour of Atlantis while you prepare the Council for their visit tomorrow.”Sert suggested finally speaking.
“I am certain we can show them many things without exposing them to any real secrets.” Meli chimed in smiling. The flinched from my Brothers was less now from seeing her fangs.
“And a Royal Celebratory Banquet would be needed before your departures after meeting with the Council.” Annianka reminded us merrily. “Chef Chichi would have all our heads if we forgot to give him a chance to show off.” she explained herself.
The laughter filled the Royal Court from her simple comment. The Brothers left the Royal Court with Sert, Meli, and Bryan with Deas in tow. This allowed them to visit the training facilities from different groups of Guards upon the island. I headed for the Council with Cole and young Kestrel to inform them of the visit and treaty ideas that would be presented to them.
“You have been uncommonly quiet Cole.” I asked while we walked. “Any problems?” I casually suggested.
“You have shown much advanced political understanding while upon Atlantis.” he replied with a nod of his head. “Unless the Council is having another ‘absent’ moment, they should accept the ideas fully without complaints.” he continued. His pace had slowed but not stop. “It is the time table that they might want a clearer details about.” he informed me.
“Patience is the greatest political gift and tool anyone can have in this case.” I replied casually. “They will be kept updated as events unfold to smooth over any snags Atlantis might be in position to help.” I added softly. His feet stopped as Redpath moved ahead for us to form a triangle.
“Will it work?” Cole asked bluntly. Young Kestrel looked confused by his direct question. “Does your gift help you know if this is in vain or not?” he corrected his question. I sighed and shrugged at him.
“The future is a malleable thing and not set in stone with the exception of a few key moments that tie the known past with the possible future.” I replied in a soft whisper. “Atlantis must face a one of these knots with or without peace attained.” I added. The confidence the feline had shown towards Cole had me allowing more information to be given to him.
“Can we not unravel these knots to stop them from happening?” Redpath purred out softly. “Or make them easier to face?” he added slowly. I knew this was him becoming prepared to accept my energy within him to be the new Brother Order.
“They are a moment of great decisions created long before even I existed.” I supplied calmly. “The outcome of the knots can be changed if the right beings are in the right place at the moment the knot arrives.” I explained easily. “My gift might help me see the knots coming and give me hints of whom are needed to face it, but not how it might turn out because freewill exists in this world.” I concluded.
They glanced at each other and fell back in place as we returned to our path toward the Council Hall. I could sense so many changes in all of retinue since I faced the shard of the Heartstone and what lay within it. They had all become to see beyond Atlantis and wanting to fix the world to avoid negative futures. To do this, they wanted to know more information about what was coming. I suspected they had discussed about my moment of weakness and how difficult it had been for me to finally recover. I knew Cole would not be facing the darkness but safely away from Atlantis at the dreaded day.
I also knew he was doing his best to have those here turned into powerhouses to fight in his place. He was the one that forced the Council Guards to start training with the Royal Guards and having mixed patrols to learn from each other. The Militia Reserve was a combination of Sert and Cole ideas while Meli and him had worked to get basic medical training for all the Guards of Atlantis. A pale replacement but their strength grew while mine dwindled. My own ending was feeling like it approached faster, as each time I used my powers, the infection killing my spirit and soul ate more of me away. Another twelve to twenty years and I would not be able to use the smallest gift without collapsing from exhaustion. I refrain putting full power forward but few would have noticed as I tried remaining on Atlantis lately. At the moment before true death takes me, I will release my gifts and knowledge into Redpath as the Ley’รค’Luna have shown me. Nothing of myself would be left after that moment when I can join in nothingness with she whom I love, my Lyra.
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