Chapter Text
"Does that mean that you... hurt you?" The little girl asked, her eyes watering.
Beatrice held her against her chest, Alyn wrapped her little arms around her.
"Very much, it hurt so much." Beatrice said, as she stroked her daughter's back.
Her gaze focused on Ava, who's tear ran down her cheek. "In due time, yes."
Alyn shifted, to look at her mother. "Does it still hurt?"
Beatrice smiled at her, "Not anymore. As time passes, wounds heal...the only thing that hurts, are the memories of how they were formed, my princess." She explained.
Alyn nodded, doubting it. Beatrice noticed.
"Do you want to see it?" She asked, wanting to convince her daughter that they are just scars.
Alyn has no problem with scars, compared to other children who freak out. Maybe growing up with warriors, it's already common to look at wounds for her.
Alyn nodded. Beatrice unbuttoned her shirt.
Bea took her daughter's little hand, "Alyn, I promise it doesn't hurt. It stopped hurting a long time ago... look". Beatrice allowed her daughter to touch the scar, the little girl closed her eyes before she touched her mom's skin.
Alyn's eyes widened. As seconds passed, she had the courage to feel the wound with confidence.
"Wow," the little girl let it slip from her lips.
Beatrice giggled, "Yes, baby. Wow."
Alyn pulled her hand away, "It's a scar," The little girl cocked her head, "...it's real."
Bea nodded, "Now do you understand why I have a lot of scars?"
The girl nodded, in a split second she pounced on her mother, who as usual, caught her. Beatrice cradled her in her arms, then turned her over on the bed and showered her with tickled. The little girl giggled, as a result of Beatrice's tickling.
Ava smiled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand
Five years have passed, which are still a dream for Ava. A beautiful dream. 5 years in which she woke up every morning next to Beatrice, 5 years in which Alyn had her mom by her side. Those 5 years, made up for every month he spent without Beatrice by his side. Everything is back to normal, the most normal thing for a princess who is married to a General and even has a daughter with that woman.
Let's make an account of everything that has happened.
Lilith, Camila. The bridal couple, they got married as soon as the war was over. For those who are wondering, yes, Lilith proposed marriage. 6 months later, considering that Beatrice had healed at least enough to be able to attend, they were married in the Silva's garden. It was a simple wedding, but very well designed. Their honeymoon was a gift from Beatrice, who had reserved a cabin for them near a lake, where they could be alone with no one to interrupt their time together. Two years later, the couple announced the new member of the family. Camila carried the baby, taking into account that Lilith could not, due to her work.
Mary and Shannon, the couple took a vacation after Cam and Lilith's wedding. They traveled to different kingdoms, sampling the foods, recommended sites and so on. They adopted a child as soon as they returned from their travels, this child was a beautiful girl. Polite, cute, and a girl who loved her new mothers. They were both doing wonderfully, however, they returned to the Young kingdom. There they settled down and got a comfortable home.
Dominic, Elizabeth. The kings were happy, their granddaughter brightened their lives. At least, as long as Beatrice and Ava were with them in the kingdom (we'll talk about that later). Their kingdom underwent great changes after the war, restoration of houses, trade, agriculture and jobs. As the years went by, Dominic resigned from service. The king was getting old, of course. As long as he was not needed, he would be at home. Elizabeth busied herself with meetings where she listened to her people, solved problems. She also took up the hobby of making sweaters for her granddaughter, embroidering or even getting varieties of books for when the girl was visiting with them.
William, Alice. They both had a lot of healing to do when the war ended. William thought he had gone mad looking at his late wife in front of him. Alice felt like she was in a dream, William was still the same. The same features, but with a few years added. They both healed over time, learning from each other. William cried, apologized to his wife for all the hurt he caused Beatrice, the hurt he did to his daughter. Alice hugged him, kissed him and told him that she forgave him, that he tried to fight his own pain. In spite of everything, Beatrice was a strong woman. Both of them, 3 years after the war, made the decision to name Beatrice as the queen. On her 25th birthday, Beatrice would automatically pass to the kingdom. With Ava as his wife, she became the queen next to Beatrice, and Alyn became the legitimate heir in the future. William and Alice went on a trip, making up for lost time between them.
Rory, Eleanor. Both are in the depths of a dungeon, rotting in the vilest. Both of them, they didn't have a horrible dungeon. In spite of everything, Eleanor was Lilith's mother. In an act of kindness, Beatrice gave them the same dungeon Eleanor gave Alice. Rory stayed with Eleanor, they were both locked up, guarded 24/7 by warriors, who had the best pay and benefits.
Now, what we are all waiting for... The Young-Silva marriage.
Fuck, where do I start...
Let's go back to the day when Beatrice was being cared for by her family at the Alik palace.
After her family's teamwork, Beatrice's wounds were sutured. With great care, her family took her to a room so she could rest. As expected, Ava stayed by the General's side the entire time and no slept through the rest of the afternoon and evening that day. Ava did not want to leave Beatrice's side, fearing the worst.
Her tears ran as she looked at the one she loves so hurt. Finally, she allowed herself to fall in pain. All the fucking emotions she felt could finally reveal themselves in the privacy of her room. Ava leaned down, with all her pain, she kissed her wife's lips. So afraid was she of losing Beatrice that she considered killing Rory with her bare hands if he dared to end his wife's life.
As the days went by, when Beatrice was getting better, a carriage was prepared to move to the Silva kingdom. Finally, it was all over. All the suffering, pain, sorrow, grief, tension was gone. Beatrice cried that night, it was not of pain, it was of peace. After almost 20 years, she could have peace for herself. She could have a better start than years before. Her mother is alive, Eleanor and Rory are in a dungeon, no one could hurt them. She could have a quiet life with her family and friends, a normal life.
Months went by, until a year had passed and the General's healing was 100% complete. Then came the wedding of Lilith and Camila. The Young-Silva couple gave them as a gift a place far away, where the newly married couple could enjoy their honeymoon without being interrupted. The place was near a village, which had resorts that they could visit together and enjoy.
During that time, Beatrice was named queen of the Young kingdom. With Ava as his wife, and Alyn his legitimate daughter, they too ascended to the throne. Alyn was solidified as crown princess. Ava as the queen next to Beatrice. Unfortunately, upon being named, all 3 had to return to the Young kingdom and live there. That was a drastic change, not only for Ava, but also for Beatrice. The woman had grown attached to the Silva kingdom, and to each of the family members that made it up. The hardest part was watching King Dominic embrace her and wish her well in the Young kingdom. He was like a father to her.
For the naming, a big party was held in the Young kingdom where all the villagers attended. This party felt different for Beatrice.
With Eleanor reigning, she could organize things as she wished. The villagers took a back seat with Eleanor, she never invited them, she only invited renowned dukes, generals, kings, princes and royalty. Now, with Alice back, she changed everything. That party, warmed Beatrice's heart and brought her back to her childhood when her mother was still with her. Now, with her own family, Beatrice felt fulfilled. She felt happy.
Alyn was growing up. When Beatrice learned of Ava's pregnancy, she became excited and imagined her daughter's life where she would be. She idealized watching her daughter's first words, her first crawl, her first steps, her curiosity to the fullest.
The day Alyn said 'Mom' to her, she cried. Ava was touched by her wife's reaction. Beatrice is strong in every way, but when she breaks down or feelings overwhelm her, the General usually lets her feelings out unconditionally.
Beatrice was at her daughter's first steps, along with Ava. They both smiled as their daughter walked towards Beatrice one day when she arrived at the palace after the General had finished morning training with the young recruits. Alyn was 1 year and 5 months old when she took her first steps, after that, they couldn't keep the little girl still.
Do you want to participate in this special moment? Well, I'll tell you...
"Ba-bua-ahh." Alyn babbled, as Ava held her arms and the little girl took small steps across the palace lawn.
Ava smiled, she knew that at any moment the child would walk on her own. All Ava wished, was that her wife could see their daughter take her first steps.
"Oh, my princess," Beatrice exclaimed excitedly, as she walked into the garden with her family.
Alyn jumped up and down excitedly as he looked at Beatrice, the little girl always got excited at just her mom's voice. When the whole morning passes without seeing Beatrice, she gets so excited that she jumps up and down and even tries to get out of Ava's grip when Beatrice returns to the palace to be with her family.
"Mom-Ba-Ba-Buah," Alyn babbled again, reaching out for her mom.
Ava knew her daughter was about to walk, let's call it mother's intuition. Beatrice walked over to her daughter, squatted down in front of the little girl, exactly four steps away, and opened her arms.
"Hi, my sweet, beautiful princess. Did you miss me, daughter?" Beatrice exaggerated her voice, as she always tends to do with her daughter.
Ava had found it funny how a 'monster' could act that way with a baby.
"Ba-ba-ma!"
Ava smiled, as Alyn began to take steps, she slowly let go of the child until she was able to stand on her own.
The queen would never forget Beatrice's expression.
"Alyn," Beatrice formed a smile, "That's right my princess, walk to me!" She encouraged the little girl, who was trying to keep her balance on her own.
Ava smiled excitedly, "Go to Mom, Alyn!" Ava clapped her hands, "Great job, Alyn, go to mom!"
The little girl smiled at her and even pinched her nose as Beatrice held her against her chest.
"Ava," The General looked at her wife, "Ava, our daughter-her first steps." Beatrice was still excited, looking between Ava and her daughter.
Ava approached her wife and daughter, her right hand went to her daughter's back while her left hand rested on her wife's back. "Our daughter's first steps, Bea!"
Beatrice formed a big smile, "It is!" She bounced the little girl in her arms, who guffawed.
"Did you wait until I got home to walk, Alyn?" Beatrice asked her daughter, who looked up at her. "Yes, didn't you, did you want me to be?" The little girl giggled.
Ava sighed, treasuring this magnificent moment in the company of her wife. For a while, Ava knew this might just be a dream. With Beatrice dead, Ava imagined moments like these without Beatrice to share and it broke her heart. Now, with Beatrice by her side, she feels grateful to heaven for giving her a second chance.
As Alyn turned 4, he became increasingly curious. At times, he would pester Beatrice with thousands of questions, which were difficult for a 4-year-old to answer.
Like, for example: Am I going to have a baby brother?
That day, the General choked on her drink. They were having dinner, so the question came as a surprise. Beatrice looked at her wife for help, but only found her laughing and her cheeks flushed. They've been talking about trying to have another baby, but it's still on hold.
Anyway, the little girl loved to have bedtime stories read to her. Whether it was Beatrice or Ava, but she always loved to be told goodnight by her parents with a kiss on the forehead. When she had nightmares, she would call her parents and they would go with her to cuddle her until she felt safe enough to fall asleep again.
Alyn lived with the recruits, and brought smiles to Beatrice's face when Beatrice imitated what she did during training. If there was one thing Alyn had, it was that she looked at the recruits with something known as admiration. That fact made Beatrice wonder if she would ever enlist in the military when she grew up. Of course, that wasn't something Beatrice was so fond of. Bea wants her daughter to have a say in her own decisions. And she's doing her best to make that possible.
Since Alyn is the princess, and Beatrice is in command of two of the most powerful kingdoms in the south, all the kings have tried to make arrangements to have weddings with their children. Beatrice has told Ava that she does not agree with these deals....
"Do you realize that you and I married, and even fell in love because of the same circumstances? I mean, you made me fall in love because of the arrangement." Ava said, as she hugged Beatrice in bed.
Bea laughed, Ava felt her shoulders shake with laughter.
"Love, I didn't fall in love with you to make the deal happen," Bea cupped her wife's chin, "I fell in love with you, because I fell in love with you. And because we were basically obligated to get married now that I seriously think about it."
Ava smiled, stroked her wife's cheek with her hand. "All right, my General," Ava paused, "What will you do to stop all these arrangements they have for our daughter?"
Bea sighed, "I don't know yet, but I'm confident I'll find a way."
"Won't refusing that get you in trouble?"
Beatrice shrugged, "I have no idea. I don't know how they'll handle my position yet. I have no idea if I'll still have the title of General even."
Ava draped her leg over Beatrice's as she tucked her hand under her wife's shirt. Her fingers played the General's firm abdomen.
Beatrice giggled, watching as her wife snuggled against her. Unimpeded, Beatrice allowed Ava to settle in as she pleased.
Ava nestled her face into her wife's neck, letting out a sigh as she found the perfect sleeping position.
Beatrice scratched her scalp, slowly and gently. "Are you comfortable?"
The queen nodded, "Very comfortable, Bea."
Beatrice kissed her hair, "No matter what happens, Ava. I will not let other people dictate my daughter's life, even make decisions that are hers to make. I will not let my daughter marry out of commitment. A marriage should be for love, not obligation. Being together with someone should not be forced or it will never work."
"You told me the same thing when we first met," Ava said.
"Because that's the way it is, Ava. My queen, I gave you the option to talk, to make your own decisions regarding our marriage. Remember I gave you a window of time to get to know each other? If we didn't work as a couple, I would let you go...I was willing to let you off the hook with me."
Ava smiled against Beatrice's neck, remembering those days. No one had ever given her the opportunity to make her own decisions. All her former suitors, they all wanted her, her body, her beauty, her status, her kingdom. Therefore, they all wanted her as a wife. Only Beatrice showed her the right to choose, that's why Ava fell in love with that fearsome General.
"For that and more, you captured my heart. You gave me the option to love, to choose. I love you, I trust what you plan for Alyn's future." Ava said, as she nuzzled her nose against the neck of her wife, who was falling asleep.
"I love you, Ava."
Jennifer had a comfortable life. After watching her house burn down the day Alice was captured, she stood in the same place, watching as the only memory of her parents vanished along with the smoke from the house.
When the war ended, Lilith was sent to find her. She found her in the ashes of the house, weeping and breaking down in pain. Beatrice took her to her kingdom, to the Young, where she herself supervised the construction of a house for the woman. With her memory, she attempted to recreate Jennifer's home. Even though it was not the actual house, Jennifer was grateful to Beatrice for giving her help, even though they owed her nothing.
The woman met a cute and charismatic fruit vendor. They dated for two years, then married. The girl had a fairly comfortable and quiet life. Beatrice always took care of her in everything, financially and health-wise. She never lacked anything.
During all that time, things quieted down. When Alyn turned 9 years old, a new member of the family joined the family. Now, there were no longer only 3, but now there were 4 Young-Silvas. A family of 4, something that filled Beatrice's heart with love.
If you were to ask the 8 year old Beatrice, she never imagined she would have a beautiful family. Little Bea, would never imagine having a beautiful wife, a beautiful daughter, and a beautiful son who looks just like her wife. Little Bea, you wouldn't believe me telling her that after so much pain, love would heal her.
If you were to ask the Ava of the age of 15, when suitors paraded before her, that she would meet just one person who would make her fall in love to the degree that she would give her all to satisfy that person's joy, Ava would not believe you. If they told little Ava that, she would have two beautiful children, she would never believe it.
"Don't fall in love with me", a phrase that Ava changed when she fell in love with Beatrice.
Now, that phrase has become something she wishes for every day: "Fall more and more in love with me".
Ava had told her once in bed, when Beatrice was hugging her against her chest after they had celebrated their wedding anniversary and were bare under the sheets.
"Fall more and more in love with me, Bea, please."
Beatrice had smiled at her, then kissed her hard.
"And you, don't fall in love with a monster... fall in love with what I am..... fall in love with me."
When the stars run out, when war breaks out, they will always seek their paths again. For no matter what happens, they cannot defeat them, not as long as they were together.
And so it was, they were never defeated.
Do you know why? Because they were together.
In sickness and in health, they loved each other, they loved each other and they will love each other.
In this life and the next.