Mustard seeds on the wind (Where Shines the Sun Aslant)

[badass_tiger]

Title: Mustard seeds on the wind
Fandom: Original/Where Shines the Sun Aslant
Characters: Adalhard, Solange, background Hilbert/Solange
Summary: A conversation, a year after Hilbert's arrival in Fleuyan.

Hilbert never said anything to him, of course, but it was easy for Adalhard to pinpoint the precise day, the hour, the moment that he knew Hilbert's domestic happiness would be complete. Outwardly, the king and queen acted the same as they always had, but that was because Queen Solange had been so careful in putting up the facade that she and Hilbert were the very model of a wedded couple from the start. But Adalhard knew, because of the queen's brooch, because of the way Hilbert turned away from Brigitta (thank goodness), because Hilbert and Solange were late to breakfast the next morning, and Adalhard felt as if it was his shoulders from which a weight had been removed.

And after that, he found it easy to forgive Solange of every misgiving he had ever had of her, and love her as his queen.

'Do you ever think of going with the hunting party, Your Majesty?' Adalhard said as they watched the party leave the courtyard one autumn evening.

'What use would I be to the hunting party?' she said incredulously.

'To keep their morale up, perhaps. But I was thinking you might find it pleasant to watch them someday, or at least determine whether or not it was something you would enjoy.'

Solange gave him a sideways look. She no longer took offence to his jesting as she once had, perhaps knowing him now, and being able to look past his words to discover his true meaning.

'Why don't you ever go with them?' she asked.

'Out brandishing swords and spears with those brutes? I think not. I would much rather stay at home.'

She laughed. Yes, they were beginning to understand one another now.

'I have good news for you, Queen,' he said. 'We had the crop report this morning. Hilbert has decided to hold the All Hallow's Eve feast this year.'

'What?!'

It was a treat for Adalhard to see the queen's mouth briefly sag open in surprise before she quickly shut her mouth.

'Yes, indeed. You shall have your dancers, your singers, and your poets parading down your streets the day before winter. He means to tell you this evening as a surprise.'

'Then why are you telling me?'

'To deprive Hilbert of the pleasure, of course.'

'Adalhard, I sometimes think that you are not Hilbert's dearest friend, but his greatest enemy.'

'Both, perhaps,' he said happily.

'Or perhaps you are mine, and are trying to deceive me.'

'Oh dear. A false friend am I, that neither the king nor queen are able to trust me! Which side do you think I would benefit from the most?'

'Well, I suppose you would gain the most enjoyment from taking it away from Hilbert. Then I will accept your words as truth.' Solange paused, smiling at the castle gates as if she could still see her husband beyond them. 'After the past year, I suppose I thought that the All Hallow's Eve feast would never be held in this kingdom again. I would be happy to be wrong.'

'Do you think that Hilbert denied you the feast out of perverseness? He was devastated to tell you he could not have it,' Adalhard said, and about this, he was completely serious. He had not completely forgiven Solange for the effect her quarrel with Hilbert had had at the time.

'Of course not. This kingdom grew very suddenly when Hilbert came here with his people. I didn't know if it would ever be a good place for so many people to live, let alone a place that could hold a yearly feast.'

'Hilbert would do anything for you. If he had to go to the ends of the earth to make this feast which you so treasure happen, then he would.'

'Then,' Queen Solange said, turning away, as the scent of the year's last mustard plants blew across the courtyard, 'it is fortunate that I would do the same for him.'

Adalhard smiled. Indeed, he had nothing to worry about anymore. With Hilbert's happiness complete, so was his own.