A/N: Whoa! Two chapters in one week! Crazy! Anyway, thanks for the review crazykid666, you made my day! :) Enjoy!
Dancing was not something Sophie usually took a lot of time to do. She could count the times she had danced on one hand: with her father and mother when she was a mere five year old, with Aquilo when he had first brought her to her castle, and with Aquilo again on their wedding day. Because of her lack of experience in the area, Sophie was slightly nervous to dance in an Alarian ball where not only would she be dancing unfamiliar dances, nobility would be watching. Rebetha assured her that it would be fine, but Sophie couldn't help but fret. However, when she entered the Grand Hall her eyes immediately found and focused on Aquilo and all of her worry melted away. He did not succumb to the Alarian dress of toga's, but remained in his tunic and trousers, however, he had on finer garb than he normally wore and a knee-length blue cape. His long white-blonde hair was pulled back and it looked as if he had trimmed his goatee a little. When he spotted his wife across the room his face lit up with the most charming smile Sophie had ever seen. In a moment he was by her side.
"My darling, you look stunning this eve." He grinned, kissing her hand.
"As do you, Aquilo. I must be the luckiest woman in the world to have you as a dance partner." Sophie smiled.
Aquilo grinned cockily. "Lucky indeed!"
They both laughed and before she knew what was happening, Sophie had been swept onto the dance floor by her husband. Somehow he seemed to know all of the right movements and made it seem as if she actually knew what she was doing. It was pure euphoria to being in his arms as he guided her gently along with the music. Feeling graceful, Sophie was twirled by Aquilo. They moved as one across the dance floor and outshone all other couples.
Many people stared at them, mostly because of Aquilo's peculiar appearance, but partly because of the elegant way they flowed across the dance floor. Rebetha, who had entered the Grand Hall before the party even began and taken her seat on her throne, watched Sophie dancing with her husband and felt a pang of envy. She wished she could be dancing with her own husband on that brightly polished floor. Sortine may not have been perfect, but he was her husband and she had loved him. When he had died by an assassin's arrow the empire had mourned deeply. Little Sunshine barely understood what had happened, and when she did have some comprehension she did not really care. After all, a war lord is not generally present in the raising of his child. This saddened Rebetha greatly, but it did make her realize how little she had taken part in the upbringing of Sunshine. She had been doing her best to remedy her poor parenting, but it had only been four days since the death of her husband and she was still attempting to deal with her emotions whilst building an empire.
The empress shook her head, scolding herself. She recalled that Sophie had not spoken to her son in four years because of a great evil. Suddenly raising Sunshine seemed like the best of blessings. Rebetha smiled and cast her gaze to a group of chairs at the far corner of the room. One of these seats was occupied by a little girl. The girl had dark brown hair for the most part, but one lavender streak stood out and was twisted into braid. The girl had tanned skin exactly like Rebetha's and big brown eyes. She smiled and chatted with a woman by her side - bringing sunshine to all those around her. Rebetha stood, causing the music to abruptly stop.
"Please, don't mind me! Continue with your dancing!" She called, when all eyes focused on her. She waited for them to start dancing again and stepped off of her platform. She approached the group of chairs and sat down next to her daughter, who giggled delightedly.
"Mama, this is my new friend! Her name is Cecelia." Sunshine declared, pronouncing the woman's name with care.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Imperial Majesty," The woman said, "Pardon me for not rising, I'm afraid I've sprained my ankle."
"Do not worry, Lady Cecelia. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. Tell me, are you the same Cecelia of Gershire?"
The lady nodded. "You've guessed correctly. My husband and I are here because of this darling little girl of yours."
Rebetha's face lost emotion. "Ah, yes. The marriage treaties. You have a young son, do you not?"
"My sweet Cameron!" Lady Cecelia cooed.
"Indeed," Rebetha muttered, "Is he here tonight?"
"Yes, he is out dancing. I can't keep him off the dance floor tonight." She pointed a long slender finger at a boy of at least twelve years dancing with a girl of the same age.
"His age?" Rebetha asked coldly.
Lady Cecelia laughed. Her laugh was like a honk of a goose. "Thirteen, but when has age ever mattered in marriage treaties?"
Rather than answer the question, Rebetha scooped up her elegantly clothes daughter and balanced her on her hip. "Come along Sunshine, there is someone here I would like you to meet." She carried her little girl over to where Sophie and Aquilo were resting for a moment and set her down.
Sunshine curtsied. "Hello."
Sophie's polite smile widened. "Hello sweetheart, what's your name?"
"Princess Sunshine of the Alaric Empire, may the Alaric Empire stand forever!" The girl announced proudly, "But you can call me Sunshine."
Sophie giggled and looked to Rebetha. "She is stunning, my friend, and looks just like her mother."
While Sunshine was talking to Aquilo, the two women stepped aside. Sophie squeezed her friend's hand. After being reunited with her true love she felt slightly guilty that her new friend's husband was not around.
"So," Rebetha said, "Have you and Aquilo caught up some?"
"Yes," Sophie sighed, "I had forgotten how wonderful it was to be with him."
"And has he told you anything about where your son might be?"
"From what he has told me, Eos was keeping Jackal in her palace in the east and allowing Aquilo to visit. Then Aquilo told Jackal some of the truth about Eos and she disappeared. Aquilo and his brothers have been searching their realms but with no luck so far."
"How is it possible for that woman to hide where even the four winds cannot find her?"
"Truly I do not know."
Rebetha frowned a little. "Unless perhaps one of the winds is not actually searching?"
Sophie's eyes widened. "You don't think…?"
"Now, I do not know the winds as well as you do, but it is their mother that they are hunting. Perhaps one of them is not as keen on the idea of giving her up as the others."
Sophie covered her mouth to hide a gasp. "Oh, that would be terrible!"
"Do not jump to conclusions, I am merely expressing a hunch."
"But that is a very good hunch. I shall have to ask Aquilo which of his brothers he thinks is the most loyal to their mother." Sophie glanced at her husband, who was nodding his head to something Sunshine was saying. He looked amused. In a moment a teenage boy walked up and grudgingly bowed to the little girl. He offered his hand to her and she took it with a curtsy.
Rebetha made a face. "That is Cameron of Gershire. His mother thinks he would be a suitable match for Sunshine."
"I take it you do not think so?"
"Look at him! He is six years older than her and obviously does not want to be around her." The empress gestured to him as he held Sunshine as far from himself as possible.
"I agree with you that he does not seem to be very excited about dancing with her," Sophie wrinkled her nose, "And he is a bit older than her - however, I am really not one to judge on that matter. My husband is quite a bit older than I."
Both women chuckled and Aquilo approached them with a smile. "That girl is very diplomatic, Rebetha. She had me convinced that the best thing for the both of us would be if I helped her steal one of the little cakes on the refreshments table."
"Oh yes, she is quite the little schemer."
Sophie smiled warmly as Aquilo put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek. She snuggled into his side and looked up into his piercing blue eyes. It was such a happy thing to be by his side again. She didn't want to spoil the moment by speaking of a possible treachery in his family, but for the sake of her son she was willing to do so.
"Aquilo, Rebetha and I were talking about finding Jackal."
"Oh?"
"Yes," Sophie bit her lip nervously, "And we think we may have come up with a possible explanation of why none of your brothers have been able to find him, but you won't like it."
"Tell me, dear. If it will help us get our son back I am willing to hear anything."
"What if one of your brothers isn't telling us the truth? What if he is helping Eos to stay hidden - or at least is not searching for her?"
The North Wind's expression darkened. "I find that very likely, actually."
"Why is that?" Sophie asked, slightly shocked that he would find this plan likely.
"Tell me, Sophie, in my time away from you did you ever come across a man named Mano? I believe he was a knight."
Sophie felt her stomach churn nervously. Her hands began to shake slightly at the mention of that name. Stepping back slightly and steadying herself on a pillar, she nodded and attempted to swallow her fear.
"Yes, I knew him," Sophie nervously met her husband's curious gaze, "Aquilo, I must admit something to you. He had intentions to court me and I… I nearly let him."
The wind man did not explode with anger as Sophie expected. Rather than throw things about with wind-force he only looked sad. His eyes filled with sorrow and he nodded slightly.
"I see," He took her hand, "And I understand that it was my own fault. I left you for four years with no notice of if I would ever return to you. Let me assure you now, I will always come back to you, my Sophie. I was foolish to let my mother get in the way of our family being together."
Sophie smiled in relief and gave her husband a kiss. "And I will always stay by your side from now onward, my sweet wonderful Aquilo."
"This Mano fellow, I met him at Bardolf Manor. After we spoke for a bit I discovered that he is one of my own brothers. I did not uncover which brother he is, but I know that he is in league with my mother and that he was trying to steal you for himself."
Sophie's brow creased. "That scoundrel! I cannot believe I considered him a friend!"
"If we figure out which of my brother's he is then we will know where to search for Jackal." Aquilo declared.
Rebetha cut in. "Then this is good news! It will narrow our search considerably, will it not?"
Sophie grinned. "That is true. Tomorrow we must find a way to determine which of your brothers has been galavanting as Mano."
"And then we shall find Jackal."
All three began to devise a plan of how to uncover the traitorous brother when the already windy room got a great deal windier. The pillars holding the roof shook violently and guests shrieked in fear. Sophie clung to Aquilo and looked at him questioningly. He shook his head to let her know that this was not his doing. Rebetha had stayed firmly rooted to her spot, but her eyes were scanning the crowd. Sophie thought her friend must have been looking for the source of the incredibly strong winds, but then realized that the young princess was not accounted for.
Sunshine and her dance partner darted past Sophie's line of vision suddenly. The two children took cover by a pillar, but did not notice that it was beginning to crumble. Sophie instinctively rushed to their aid and pushed the children out of the way just as a huge piece of the pillar broke off and dropped toward them. Now Sophie herself was in the way of the rumble. She screamed when she realized how close it was and ducked down a little. However, the piece of the pillar never hit her. Aquilo had shot it aside with a blast of wind of his own. He rushed over to his wife and walked her to safety along with Sunshine and the boy, Cameron. Rebetha hugged her daughter tightly and gave Sophie a thankful look.
"Aquilo, what is making this wind?" The empress asked worriedly.
"I wish I could say that I do not know, but that would be a lie," Aquilo growled, "It is one of my brothers."
Rebetha looked around once more and realized most of her guests has already escaped the Grand Hall to the surrounding courtyards - much to her relief. "We must get out of here before the pillars break and the ceiling comes down on us!"
"You speak truth, Rebetha, take Sophie and the children into the gardens. I shall stay and meet up with my heinous brother."
Sophie and Rebetha ushered the children out and into the courtyard, but as soon as they did the wind followed them outside, leaving the ballroom entirely. In the sky a man-like form took shape and surveyed the cowering groups of people in the courtyard. Sophie gasped as she recognized Temani.
"Where is the ruler of this land? Present the leader to me and I will leave the rest of you in peace!" The south wind called.
A few shaking hands pointed toward Rebetha. Sophie hid her face a little, not wanting to be recognized by her brother-in-law. After all, she was supposed to be dead.
Rebetha stepped forward, hiding her daughter behind her. "I, Rebetha of the Wild Forest, am the ruler of this empire."
Temani looked at her with hatred in his eyes. "Then you, Rebetha, are the one I blame."
"What do you blame me for, Lord Wind?"
Temani landed on the ground in front of her and Sophie turned away, taking the children off to the side with her. The Southern Wind scowled. "For the death of Sophie Pruina."
In a moment of boldness Rebetha rolled her eyes. "Not again! You are the second wind to do this to me!"
Temani looked surprised. "Aquilo has been here? And yet you still live?"
"Crazy, isn't it?" Rebetha chuckled, "He's actually here if you would like to speak to him."
"Aquilo is here?"
"Yes, he has been enjoying the party I threw in his honor."
"But you killed Sophie!"
"Apparently the North Wind is very forgiving."
Temani growled. "No matter. I will kill you myself."
"Brother! Do not touch a purple hair on that woman's head!"
Temani turned to see who was calling his name and his eyes bulged when he saw Aquilo flying out to meet him on the lush lawn. "Aquilo?" He asked in disbelief.
"Hello brother, I think it is time you and I had a little chat."