Edward couldn’t remember when he had been this nervous. Before any war or battle, of course, but that was a familiar feeling followed by a soldier’s calm. Here, he didn’t know, really, what to expect, even if he was told he would be reunited with his younger cousin. He tried to hold a picture of her face in his mind, hear her voice, and Narda’s too, if she was, indeed, the person accompanying her. He stood, one hand lightly on the chair in case he needed to steady himself.

Kire and Narda, after a brief conversation in Taakalon, decided to leave the Ring to Ruli. Kire had trusted him enough with her own life so far, she might as well trust him with the jewel. Besides, it wasn’t as if he could go anywhere else at the moment. She stood a moment outside the cell, her mind already clearing as soon as she had stepped out of the dampening wards, and cast a look at him. Hopefully the elves would really keep their word and not harm anyone while they’ve separated the group. 

The Amrians gaped at the way the court shone with an impossible luminance. It was strangely warm, such an ironic contrast to how it looked and felt during the day. But as they continued walking, Kire was silent, her mind trying to picture what she would find. Best case scenario, Ed, whole, unharmed. Worst—was there anything worse than finding him dead? Kire’s hands shook, and she felt Narda’s hand touch her shoulder. Kire patted it, as they followed her up the stairs, to enter a crescent shaped chamber in the second tier adorned with an elaborate table.

Kire didn’t notice that. Her eyes immediately met those of the tall, blonde soldier standing in elven garb by the chair. 
“Ed,” she breathed.
Edward’s brow was furrowed. “Who are you?” he asked, gesturing at her. “I don’t know you.” 
Kire’s lips trembled, and immediately her eyes welled up, her mind confused. “W-why--?”
Edward broke into a wide grin, and raised his arms. “C’mere, my little crybaby cousin.”
 Behind her, Narda let out a choked cry at this, the giantess already crying amid her laughter. 
“You—you [i]bastard![/i]” Kire ran forward and pulled him into an embrace, crying into his chest. “I hate you so much,” she cursed, even as she laughed and cried in turns against him. She could feel him trembling; he, too, was shedding tears. “Don’t ever do that again!” 
Edward held on just as tight. This was no illusion, no doll, no dream. He was holding Kire, as dear to him as if she had been born his sister, and she was safe. “I needed to make sure,” he murmured. “Needed to see if you were real.” 
“It’s me, I’m here.” Kire murmured back in their tongue. “I found you.” 
Narda had come forward, bending to embrace them all together. “Haven’t changed a bit, you sly dragon,” Narda said, beaming through her own tears. Ed smiled fondly at the giantess and reached up to touch her hair. 
“Nor you, milady. Radiant as ever.” He gave her a wink, and Narda laughed, kissing his forehead. He looked down at Kire, and he gently nudged her to look up at him. He frowned, seeing the scar. “Does it hurt?”
Kire shook her head. “Not the worst scar I’ve gotten, cousin.” 
“And Earnest?”
Kire, smile disappeared. So did Narda’s. “He—he didn’t make it, Ed.”
Nine months was long, but not nearly long enough to soften the blow of this. Ed slumped backward onto the seat. “I’m sorry. For everything,” Kire whispered. “For not having found you sooner. And for Ern.” 
Ed bent forward in his seat, face buried in his hands. Kire wrapped her arms around him again. “I gave him his own command that day.” His voice was shaky. 
“Not your fault, please Ed,” Kire whispered. “And I know he wouldn’t blame you for it, too. None of us would blame you for it.”

Narda stepped back to let the two grieve together, close to where Aera and Zeke had been standing, wiping her own face on her sleeve. When the cousins had finally composed themselves enough, Kire straightened up, with Ed gripping her shoulder. “Princess, I would like to formally introduce you to the Empress of Amria, my cousin, Akire.”
“About that…” Kire said, frowning. “[i]Former[/i] Empress. Tell you later.” 
Ed’s brows rose, clearly surprised at this, though when he met her gaze he didn’t miss a beat. “Not when we take it back.” He had fully expected them to have taken back the throne sometime within the last nine months, but no matter. He hadn’t been around, and couldn’t make any real assessment of the situation, anyway. He felt lightheaded, overwhelmed with having Kire and Narda here, with the news of his brother’s death shortly after his disappearance, and with the reality that he might be, finally, on his way home soon.