"You are sad.' the Knight said in an anxious tone: 'let me sing you a song to comfort you.' 'Is it very long?' Alice asked for she had heard a good deal of poetry that day. 'It's long.' said the Knight, 'but it's very, very beautiful. Everybody that hears me sing it - either it brings tears to their eyes, or else -''Or else what?' said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause. 'Or else it doesn't, you know. The name of the song is called 'Haddocks' Eyes.'' Alice and the White knight- Lewis Carroll (1871)

Cisco stared down at this girl's arm, when she was brought into the temple she was severely injured. The rage he had felt towards his wife, well, it was something a holy man like himself would be ashamed to admit. But, he could not believe his wife's irresponsibility. When he sent the girl off with Tetra to be treated, Halfmoon did her best to justify her actions.

Cisco couldn't even believe his ears, "She has his eyes!" Halfmoon exclaimed frustrated and stressed, "What are you even talking about my love?!" he asked, despite his joyful voice there was fury buried deep inside. He had gone to the barracks to visit his wife, only to find her attacking a defenseless girl. Halfmoon gave him an exasperated look as if he was stupid for not understanding her repetition of "She has his eyes." Over and over again. For good measure, Halfmoon pointed to her own eyes. But the gesture was meaningless to Cisco at the time. 

"Dear," he said firmly, "We'll speak later." He decided to end the conversation there. Halfmoon tried to argue with her husband, but she was ushered away by the two large stone golems that stood guard by the temple doors.

At the time Cisco had thought his wife had lost it. It wasn't a surprise if she had, Halfmoon was a well-aged elf woman. Despite her youthful appearance, her mind was eventually bound to wander. This is what he had thought, however, now... Staring at the completely healed arm.

Cisco didn't know what to think. 

"Who are you?" he asked the young woman, hours ago she was on death's door. Now it seemed like that never even happened. The girl seemed just as surprised as he was, "At this point, fuck all if I know." Was her response. 

Cisco sneered lightly at the crass language, he never took kindly to that sort of speech in such a holy place. But, he would forgive that for now, after all this was quite the shock. Cisco supposed that even he would have the slip of the tongue if such a thing were to happen to him. 

Cisco let out an airy breath standing up to his full height, the girl on the bed below looked at him in confusion. He did his best to study her face, it did seem vaguely familiar. But it was hard to tell in this light. After all his vision at night had never been the best.

"Cisco?" One of his young priests in training questioned him, "We'll discuss this in the morning." He announced to the room. His two followers nodded without question. "Tetra be sure to get some rest yourself." He ordered the princess, Tetra gave him an incredulous look. "What is it?" he asked cocking an eyebrow, "She..." Tetra seemed unsure, Cisco sighed preparing himself for yet another tirade of complaints from the princess. "She's in my bed." Tetra managed to get out what she wanted to say.

This actually gave him pause, she did have a point... There wasn't any other bed in the temple that could hold the large princess either. 

"We can share...." Shura spoke up hearing this, "But only if I get to be the big spoon!" She added jokingly, Tetra's face flushed red hot at the sight of the girl wiggling her eyebrows at her. "I'd sooner sleep with the horses than sleep in the same bed as you!" She exclaimed, Shura laughed before letting out a whiny voice. "Come on Tetra! It's just for tonight! Don't you want to feel safe in my arms?" The much smaller girl teased. 

Having enough of the back and forth between the two Cisco spoke up once more. Sure to use his usual gentle tones as he spoke. "She makes a point Tetra. You ought to share the bed with her. We can't have you sleeping in the stalls with the horses." Tetra let out a low whine, "Why can't we just move her?" She asked motioning to Shura who let out a mock gasp of offense. "I have been injured! My arm has been healed but there's no telling what kinds of wounds I bare inside of me!" Shura dramatically recited flopping over in the bed.

Cisco looked over at Tetra after such a display of dramatics. The princess looked like she wanted to murder the girl in her bed. The girl in her bed looked like she had a death wish anyway by continuing to egg the temperamental princess along. "You two will share the bed for tonight." Cisco broke his calm demeanor for only a moment threads of annoyance and anger slipped out in his words. Tetra catching these subtle changes quieted herself. "Yes, Cisco." She reverted to a much more submissive form.

Shura who watched the exchange furrowed her brows. That didn't cotton well with her, "Good night." Cisco bid them good night and left the room. Once the door closed, Shura slowly slipped out of bed. Tetra had yet to move from her spot from where she had stood when that mage guy had been in the room.

Walking over, though to be honest, she more or less stumbled with the grace of a newborn foal to Tetra's side. Looking up at the much larger young woman Shura carefully placed her and in hers. "Hey." Shura broke the silence, Tetra stiffened at the noise. "I was only teasing. You can sleep in the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." Shura's voice was quieter now, it was a different tone than what she normally used. Shura's normal voice had cracks in it that sounded like logs burning on in a fire, but this tone was softer and soothing. She had used this tone a few times but only on her brother. Nightmares or unjustified scoldings from their parents seemed to be the occasions she'd use this voice.

What she just saw now between Tetra and that man, seemed far too familiar for Shura's liking. She had been in Tetra's place, it seemed no matter where you were. People never seem to like women who know what they want.

"It's... fine." Tetra sniffled raising her head from its hanging position. Shura saw the tears in the young woman's eyes. A firm frown etched itself on her face, Shura pulled Tetra's face to her level. "I know you don't care much for me." She started wiping the tears from Tetra's eyes, "But, I want you to know I like the loud and angry you more than this." Shura pushed a lock of hair behind one of Tetra's ears. Tetra adverted her eyes, she didn't respond directly to Shura's remark. But there was a small smile on her face despite this.

"You should get some rest." Tetra spoke up, "I'm sure you'll have a long day tomorrow." Shura frowned, at her, but she let it go. After a moment of silence between the two, something occurred to Shura. "I..." She spoke up, "What?" Tetra sounded tired. "I'm going to need help getting back to the bed," Shura said in a matter-of-fact tone. Tetra furrowed her brows before spotting a red spot growing on Shura's side through the nightgown she had on.

Shura noticing the sudden wetness on her side looked down to see the spot growing. "I think one of my stitches popped." Shura said with a straight face, Tetra, horrified shouted, "YOU THINK?!" 

After some quick work, Shura's side was once more bandaged up and stitches were fixed. Tetra pulled the blanket over her and glared slightly. "Don't be getting up like that anymore. You'll bleed out." She ordered pointing a finger in Shura's face. Shura grinned feeling tired from bloodloss but happy to see Tetra looking more like herself. "Excellent bedside manner princess." She joked, Tetra rolled her eyes not fully understanding the remark. 

Tetra then made her way over to the other side of the bed. Shura gave her a sideways look grinning. "Not a word." Tetra hissed noticing the shit-eating grin on Shura's face.  "Oh come on princess, how many people in the kingdom can say they've had the honor of sleeping with you?" Shura teased, Tetra's cheeks lit up scarlet as she climbed into bed. "You'd be the first," Tetra admitted feeling a bit embarrassed. It's not like men were lining up around the block for her. Minnow was the only one who seemed to be able to speak with her without cowering in fear.

Shura patted her shoulder with a bandaged hand, "Don't worry, I'll be gentle." She assured her, Tetra swatted her hand away. "Stay on your side of the bed." She snapped, "My love, isn't it, our bed?" "I hate you." "I love you too." 

With that Shura leaned over to her side and blew out the candle. The room fell into darkness and Shura tried to get comfortable. She had never been the sort to easily fall asleep. It didn't help that everything hurt right now. Without the distraction of other people, Shura became very aware of the pulsing waves of pain that washed over her body. 

She sat there in the darkness quietly waiting for sleep to take her. She wasn't sure how long she sat there. But before long she heard the soft snore of Tetra next to her. It seemed that despite all the princess's objections... She did end up sleeping in the same bed as her. 

Shura spared a passing glance over to her side. Tetra's form slowly rose and fell in the moonlight. It seemed she was finally alone with her thoughts. Looking to the moon Shura stared at it for the first time since she arrived here. It was different than hers, the dark marks didn't look like a face or a rabbit. She slowly searched what she could see of the night sky, none of the stars were familiar. Shura would've never guessed not seeing familiar lights in the sky would cause such a panic in her. Shura took a shaky breath, so she really was somewhere different?

Slowly processing everything that happened throughout the past few days, Shura's breaths became shorter. A heaviness fell on her chest and a lump formed in her throat. This, this wasn't what she had in mind when she wanted adventure or to go somewhere new. She had plans back home, sure things were shaky at the time. But they would've eventually gotten better!

Tears leaked out of Shura's eyes slowly at first, then as if a dam was busted open. They came flowing out quickly. Shura covered her mouth to silence her sobs. Everything hurt, she had been almost killed so many times in the past few days... A soft whimper leaked from behind Shura's hand. She slowly brought her knees up to her chest as she cried.

This... All of this... Was too much.

She had always wanted to be like the heroes in her favorite stories, strong and willing to take on the world. But she was much too meek of a person and had felt nothing but fear and confusion in the back of her mind since she had arrived here. Maybe that's why she put on such a show for everyone else. As if somehow trying to convince herself that she wasn't terrified of the new world she found herself in.

Shura found herself missing things she didn't think she would. Her mother's smile, her father's stupid jokes. She wondered what they thought of finding her missing? Did they think she was kidnapped? Would they spend the rest of their lives wondering what happened to her?

After what felt like an eternity, the tears dried up and the lump in her throat went away. Shura's eyes felt heavy and swollen, she was so tired. Slowly turning to her side away from the window. She did her best to make herself comfortable, maybe things would be better tomorrow. 

Within the orientate halls of the temple of kings, Cisco, the temple mage found himself sitting among the seats in the grand hall. The imagery of all the finest of kings that ruled over this land was depicted in stained glass and statues. Of all the kings, the largest image that stood over them all was the first king. Haddock the great. 

Cisco found himself staring at the tall statue from the back pew through the smoke of incense that wafted through the temple air. The statue's depiction was said to be the most accurate in the country, as described by the current King. King Requiem, who was a close friend and lover to Haddock. 

Haddock's statue depicted him as a well-trimmed man, with lean muscle that was in contrast to some of the other Kings' larger forms. Though small, his presence was mighty. He stood tall with his shoulders squared and both hands resting on his trademark battle hammer. Fine robes adorned his body, the most precious of jewelry rested on his neck and around his fingers, and a crown rested on his head sitting just above his eyes.

Cisco froze on those eyes, sharp piercing eyes. The statue was grey so he didn't know if Haddock and this Shura shared the same eye color. Cisco's eyes traced down his face. Cisco summoned up a mental picture of the girl in the other room doing his best to compare the image of the two of them. 

Their hair was both short and messy, though that hardly meant anything. Their eyebrows rested on their face in the same way. They even had that flare on their left eyebrow that made a bit of hair stand up in the front. Their faces were shaped the same, though Haddock's appearance was more masculine in nature. His jawline was sharper compared to Shura's softer jawline.  It seemed they were close enough in features it was almost uncanny. As if they could be related somehow or as if... They were the same person.

But, if she was him, why come back as someone so similar? But at the same time, they were different. Shura wasn't fit like Haddock was, her presence radiated bravado and baseless self-confidence. Like a small dog trying to make herself look bigger than what she was. What little Cisco did see of Shura, he could tell that this girl was no warrior. Her hands had been too soft and her skin unmarred by markings from battle. 

It was almost like she had come from a time free of most conflict or hard labor and had never seen actual suffering in her life. Cisco paused that thought to make a correction, this young woman hadn't seen conflict in her life until his wife got a hold of her. 

The imagery of the state that his wife had left the girl in flashed in his mind once more. It looked as if the girl had charged first into battle rather than been caught up in a rather rough sparring match with his wife. Though Cisco couldn't lie to himself, it looked less like a sparring match and more like attempted murder on the girl's life.

Clutching the ring that hung from his neck Cisco sighed, "My dear... What goes on in that head of yours?" He asked out loud. Not expecting an answer, even if Halfmoon had been here. He was sure he'd never receive a straight forward answer anyway. All he would've gotten were vagueries and half-truths. But he supposed that's what he got for marrying a woman as old as Halfmoon was. A small smile spread across Cisco's face. Maybe he should've listened to his mother and married someone less mysterious than his beloved Halfmoon.

Cisco sparred one last glance up at Haddock's statue, maybe in the morning, he could decide for himself. If this girl from Olisvine had Haddock's eyes.