The wolf king began his tale from the start.
He told them a little bit about Nanako's relationship with her father and the then Fox king's . How she was sent to harness her skills and at the students' camp where pupils both the tribes would come to gain knowledge and skill.
He signed and reminisced, "Ahh! Those were some good old days. No clan fighting or wars. But sportsmanship. There used to be huge crowds for the competitions. Ah! What golden days those. You kids have no idea how good it used to be before all the misunderstandings and . " He said pointing at the two, then continued, " Anyways, let's continue with the main . Nanako had met Jin, my older brother. " He had to stop instantly after uttering the words" brother ", in an attempt to stop Mia and Lin from seeing his tears.
"My brother used to be the most competent and intelligent among us. His speed with the bow arrow was envied even by our most skilled archer. His skills were all encompassing and about this was widespread and well known throughout our kingdom. However his , even surpassed the excellence of his skills. Many folds. " He looked at both with a in his eyes as he emphasized on the word, knowledge.
He then took them for a very uneasy ride over the part where Nanako was mistakenly by Jin. It was awkward talking about it infront of his new found daughter and her . But they very maturely handled the part. After that he explained how their love story .
"After finding out about Nanako's pregnancy, they were both shocked, very shocked to be . It was unexpected and unsettling. They had no idea what they were supposed to do. My was very protective of his beloved and wanted to go ask for her hand from her father away, but your Nana stopped him, thinking they ought to approach more gently. She made brother return home, promising she would send somebody with words. Though reluctant, he 't want to offend his beloved anymore and did exactly as she wanted. Nanako went back to palace. She was coming up with ways to tell her father about Jin and ask for his blessings.
But destiny had a bitter future planned ahead for them. Nanako's father had already gone to the vicious and dark shaman in his kingdom. As I had already mentioned, he loved his way too much. Her returning home disheartened had been disrupting his night's .He had tried talking with Nanako but as was obvious she couldn't share the details of her with him. This made him worry so much that he didn't hesitate to approach the man for his dark arts. He needed to know what was bothering his daughter at all cost. "
The wolf king sipped a few gulps of water and so did Mia and Lin. They were so engrossed, it like they were reliving the lives of Jin and Nanako themselves.
"The shaman didn't take much time to unearth Nanako's heartbreak. He very quickly was able to the Fox king know about Jin's bet and how he had slept with Nanako under the influence of . The fox king was furious. The word furious itself isn't sufficient to describe how furious he .The Apple of his eyes, the beloved daughter whom he had raised and protected with such , was so mauled and mishandled. His blood was boiling with the thirst of vengeance.
He wanted to raid into the wolf clan and behead Jin then and there. But he knew he could not.
He was well aware of Jin's reputation. In a fit of rage he promised the shaman a piece of his . In exchange he was to prepare the most horrible end for the vicious criminal Jin. He had made lavish offerings to the shaman, asking him to make his daughter happy. He pleaded him to make her smile again. " A deep sigh followed, then the story was back on its track.
And so did she. Nanako was smiling when her father was back. She was exactly like he wanted to be. But the reason for her smile was entirely different from what her father was thinking.
She was relieved the misunderstanding between Jin and herself was done with. She could love him guilt free. She could finally savor the sweet essence of his affection. She could feel with all her heart. She was waiting for the perfect moment to initiate the topic of Jin her father but he always seemed to desperately avoid her. She thought he was too busy, he was unwilling to face her, lest his tears would make her sad once more.
Nanako had started eating up well. She took good care of her health. She wanted to keep the . She wanted to become a bride. She wanted to be in Jin's arms and life ever after.
One day, Nanako finally picked up her courage and went to face her father. Her father was her as usual but she went and sat right beside his chair in the council.
"Father, I need to talk to you about something important. It's urgent. It can't wait. Ask them to back after I'm done. Please. " Nanako said, pointing at the councilmen.
Her father couldn't help but agree. "Alright, Alright. I need a few moments to talk to my daughter.
"
He excused himself and took her to the adjacent waiting room,"Tell me darling. Make it quick. "
He was having difficulty having a proper conversation with her, looking at her eyes. His tears difficult to hold back.
"Ummm, father, I have been meaning to talk to you about something very important. But you are busy these days. But it's really important and urgent, so I couldn't keep it any longer, "
Nanako said, fighting with her hands.
"Is this about what happened back at the teacher's place? About that wolf puppy Jin? " He had quickly finish with the topic as it was becoming unbearable for him.
Nanako was taken aback. But she felt suddenly shy too, talking to her father about her love life.
She just nodded her head confirming his query.
"Don't you worry about that my darling. All your worries are now mine. I will call that Jin in my the next full moon. You just need to wait and watch what I have in store for him. Don't your little head at all, alright. Just eat and sleep well. " He ruffled her hair affectionately a big smile, " Now go get playing. Go. Father has work to do. " The fox king marched out, and willing his tears. He was assuring Nanako about her revenge but she was all excited glad that her father already was aware of her choice in love. She thought he already knew she wanted like always. She thought her father would bring her her groom like he always whatever she ever wanted in her life. She was so happy that her father had already Jin, she went to her room, jumping and helping with joy.
None of them knew what terrible and tragic miscommunication they had just engaged into. A was just brewing in the corner masked but the silence.
*******
Confusion
"She was thinking that her father had approved of her choice of a life partner but her father was that he was helping his child get her revenge? In this living world, is that kind of even possible? " Mia was dumbfounded. She looked at Lin and then at her father for words of reassurance.
Her father nodded his head saying, "Miscommunication is the key to all misunderstandings and . Having a good talk and clarifying things are as important as strategising a battle . Even the slightest carelessness could lead to heavy casualties. " He sighed. "You can take example the affection between your mother and myself. "
Mia looked up at the mention of her mother from her father's mouth for the first time. She was for this her whole life.
"The thing that we had, your mother and myself is something indescribable. It was like love at sight. An eternal attachment, an instant connection. The moment I had laid my eyes on
Crystal, I knew she meant the world to me. But I was already married at the time with the helm my kingdom in my immature hands. I was never in the front line for kingship as that spot was covered by my brother Jin. But after the tragedy, my entire family was losing stability.
There was chaos all over the kingdom. My father was so depressed with grief, he didn't ever out of his room ever since. My mother too passed away soon after my brother was locked . " The ferocity of the incident was still fresh in his memory as was visible from his vivid expressions.
"Locked away? Locked away you say? ", Lin however was intrigued by what he said about Jin, "
Your brother was just locked away? What exactly had happened? " He was totally inside the .
"Huh! Yeah, yeah! The story is long from being over. And you need to hear all of it so you could equipped well to deal with what's coming in the future. " He rearranged his sitting position to the rest of the tale.
"But father, what were you saying about mother? Mia interrupted, holding her father by his for the first time. The king looked at her touch, then at her face, then he looked at Lin and , " You will need to wait for a little young man. My darling yearns for something else. " He with a smile.
"We had a very short period of time to cherish together. Though I was immediately attracted to mother, I had to hold back because I needed to confront her with the truth of my marriage. I hoped she would be able to accept me along with my responsibilities. However, fate had other plans. Before I could do as intended, we had some momentary weakness. " He . It was awkward talking about how Mia was conceived in front of her. " That is the time might have been conceived. But I had no idea at that time. Even after that, I didn't get the to clear everything to your mother, before leaving for an emergency at the capital. However
I had her brought to my palace so that I would be able to explain everything to her. And if she , take her as mine officially. "
Mia was getting goosebumps in her stomach. She looked eagerly towards him for the rest of the .
"However." He had to stop again, " However that day, your mother saw me with my queen from distance. I still remember the horror and hurt in her eyes, " He paused again, " I still remember few minutes. The way she had run towards the river and jumped from those cliffs, " He pointing out from the window.
Both Mia and Lin hurried towards the window to get a better look.
"She jumped from there? While she was with Mia? " Lin asked. He was always the logical one.
Anything odd, never got to bypass his mind.
The king nodded, " I searched for her, " He paused yet again, " Or her body for three months right at the end of the oceans. But nothing. I found nothing. "
" How is that even possible? How can a human survive such a great fall and even survive, that while pregnant, " Lin wasn't buying anything until he was satisfied.
The king nodded with agreement. " That's absolutely correct. I had my doubts when I had met
Crystal. The way her wounds healed in water. Her agility when she was in the stream. Things made her seem inhuman. But I wasn't very sure. Her smell too was a little different from the human folks. After what I thought was her demise, I hadn't paid much notice to those anymore. But now I see Mia in front of me. There's no doubt that you are mine. You reek my blood and your mother's image. Now I can finally confide between you two that Mia is not a wolf but also something other than that, that's not human. "
Mia was looking at the King with astonishment filled in her eyes, " Wait. Are you telling me you 't met me before? Ever? "
" Who me? Meet you? I didn't even know you existed. If I knew I had you, why would I let you away from myself? " The wolf king answered, astonished at Mia's question.
"Then how do I have all those memories? How did I even know you? Your face, your smell, is so vivid in my mind, " Mia was holding her head as she tried making sense of what was saying.
"What memories Mia? What are you talking about? " The king got up from his place and came Mia to comfort her.
"Have a seat and tell me what's in your mind. Tell me everything. Without any hesitation. "