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It took two more weeks to receive a quick letter from the mountain keep, straight to the King informing him that the citizens of Balamb were ready. Packed, cleaned up, and ready to make the trek back home, either to Ferndale where they joined the party so many months ago, or back to their homes in hollow bastion, or to the castle itself to their old rooms that had been vacated of soldiers and cleaned for their arrival.
Sora was glad, that the castle would come alive again. In days past, he hadn't seen much life in his castle or city, when he was a young man and before his eyes were opened this last year. Coming back to this empty and torn city and home was hard for him, but with repairs moving along steadily, with the two days he'd spent with Riku overseeing the cleanup in the city, he saw the wreckage cleaned away and it was almost like the castle was new, and ready to be settled once again.
The Prince was glad that he was there at receiving hours, at the end of the day, when the letter came. He could barely wait, sitting anxiously in his Father's study for him to finish his own letter giving the OK to return. He excused himself to run (well, he wasn't QUITE running yet but he could walk normally now, no limp needed) to meet with Riku and tell him. They had only three days to make sure the ladies rooms were ready, the make sure the stables were ready for the influx of horses. To make sure they were back up to proper stock of food for the castle, and especially to have a huge dinner for the arrival of the ladies and noblemen back to the castle. The real feast would come at the Prince's Autumn tournament in a few weeks, this was a small celebration.
Of course, it wasn't just that. The guardsman barracks were rearranged to accommodate the visiting Trabian soldiers. No one was quite sure how long they'd be staying. A few weeks, heading back before winter set in? Or settling down until the spring for a long stay? Sora wasn't quite as concerned about that right now.
Everyone was coming home. His Sister, his Aunt, his cousins. Abe, his court. Conrad and Lady Belle. Riku's brother and sister. However they dispersed after that, his Aunt and Uncle and cousins back to Twilight town, Abe back home to Ferndale, Corin and Namine back to their native Trabia, Belle home to Mire and Conrad to Caloria. Even if they all left eventually for their own paths, they would be together here and now. The Prince couldn't wait. The expected arrival was at sundown, an hour or so from now, and he needed to find out what he should do. Ride out to meet them just outside the city? From the foot of the castle hill? Stand at the gates? In the courtyard? Stay in the throne room? So...could Riku come with?
That was why he was hurrying down the hall into the throne room where his parents were sitting, finishing up their duties here, and sneaked in while they were still talking to someone to perch on his own throne impatiently.
Sora was glad, that the castle would come alive again. In days past, he hadn't seen much life in his castle or city, when he was a young man and before his eyes were opened this last year. Coming back to this empty and torn city and home was hard for him, but with repairs moving along steadily, with the two days he'd spent with Riku overseeing the cleanup in the city, he saw the wreckage cleaned away and it was almost like the castle was new, and ready to be settled once again.
The Prince was glad that he was there at receiving hours, at the end of the day, when the letter came. He could barely wait, sitting anxiously in his Father's study for him to finish his own letter giving the OK to return. He excused himself to run (well, he wasn't QUITE running yet but he could walk normally now, no limp needed) to meet with Riku and tell him. They had only three days to make sure the ladies rooms were ready, the make sure the stables were ready for the influx of horses. To make sure they were back up to proper stock of food for the castle, and especially to have a huge dinner for the arrival of the ladies and noblemen back to the castle. The real feast would come at the Prince's Autumn tournament in a few weeks, this was a small celebration.
Of course, it wasn't just that. The guardsman barracks were rearranged to accommodate the visiting Trabian soldiers. No one was quite sure how long they'd be staying. A few weeks, heading back before winter set in? Or settling down until the spring for a long stay? Sora wasn't quite as concerned about that right now.
Everyone was coming home. His Sister, his Aunt, his cousins. Abe, his court. Conrad and Lady Belle. Riku's brother and sister. However they dispersed after that, his Aunt and Uncle and cousins back to Twilight town, Abe back home to Ferndale, Corin and Namine back to their native Trabia, Belle home to Mire and Conrad to Caloria. Even if they all left eventually for their own paths, they would be together here and now. The Prince couldn't wait. The expected arrival was at sundown, an hour or so from now, and he needed to find out what he should do. Ride out to meet them just outside the city? From the foot of the castle hill? Stand at the gates? In the courtyard? Stay in the throne room? So...could Riku come with?
That was why he was hurrying down the hall into the throne room where his parents were sitting, finishing up their duties here, and sneaked in while they were still talking to someone to perch on his own throne impatiently.