Raif - Christine

_{Good Bond}



Christine didn’t get out much—especially not unescorted. It wasn’t because she got into trouble, or that trouble found her… it was simply because her delicate body and absent-mindedness often lead her to becoming lost. She also had this annoying habit of fainting dead away with little warning. She couldn’t go very far alone… and yet, even this kind-hearted woman needed to get away from her family every once in a while. She loved them dearly… but still.

Trembling slightly as she walked, one hand over her heart she moved slowly through Aurora City, admiring the bustling town. It wasn’t that often that she came so far into the inner-city and she always found it so lively and vibrant.

She had hitched a ride into the city—her family lived about fifteen miles out in a small town called Schön. It was a beautiful and secluded little town—perfect for her family… yet Christine found herself enjoying a break from the delicate fields of flowers and gentle babbling creeks ever so often… The city was like a whole other world—it was so interesting and there always seemed like something new to discover. Back home… it was always so calm.

Christine had felt guilty at first when she accepted the ride to Aurora City. A worn but gentle looking farmer and his son asked if she was heading to Aurora. Christine had thought for a moment—no, she had thought. She was just strolling… With a slightly apprehensive glance back towards the manor she could still barely see through the apple groves, she gave the man a winning smile. Kindly the son had helped the pretty girl into the carriage, and for no fee at all, had brought the half-angel to the city.

The guilt over leaving without telling her parents had started to subside, but she was beginning to realize that may just simply be because she was growing so weary. The hot sun baked down on her pale skin and she was starting to feel lightheaded. Her eyes were becoming harder to keep open. Slightly tipsy on her feet she made her way to one of the benches in the town square and sat herself down with a shaky sigh. She prayed that her parents wouldn’t be upset—and prayed harder that she could find someone to bring her back home before they realized she was gone and started to fear the worst. With a gloomy look around her she started to feel the weight of the day sinking down her thin shoulders. She was starting to remember why others always accompanied her.

A painful ache began to start in the back of her mind and she winced, reaching up to place her hand over her eyes… She was a Seeress… a woman who saw the future—both the good and bad—of those all around her, near and far. Her minds eye was picking up on someone in the city and unable to fight off the visions she simply tilted her head back and allowed them to flash before her eyes…

…Raif didn’t always see such large groupings of people, but when he did he often found an amusing magician or particularly voluptuous belly-dancer in the middle of all the fuss. This time, Raif realized with a worried frown, he was sensing a different sort of gathering. This didn’t seem as light-hearted as usual.

The crown prince of Aurora smiled, nodding to some of the townspeople as he squeezed past them. Many gave him startled stares, but most were use to seeing the raven-haired elf wandering the streets. He was quiet, but he was personable. The citizens were pleased he was in line for the throne.

“Excuse me, what is going on here?” he asked curiously.

A woman looked to him—her chestnut colored hair was pulled back into a tight bun and a few strands had escaped and had fallen around face. She was wearing an apron that was covered in flour. He quickly recognized her as one of the tavern owners in the city. His father, Yami, had actually attended the academy with her. She had been one of the few people there that hadn’t avoided the crimson-eyed man at all costs. Because of that, Madeline was one of the few people that Raif had grown up knowing outside of his family.

“Oh, Raif. Good to see you. It’s Christine… I don’t know how she got here or who’s with her… but she’s fainted. It may be the sun or that little body of hers, but she’s just out like a light!” Madeline put her hands on her hips, frowning down at the unconscious white-haired girl. Someone was fanning Christine with a large straw hat worriedly. “That girl has got to take better care of herself, Raif.”

Raif let out a soft sigh and knelt in front of his little sister. He pressed his cool palm to her forehead. She was a little warm, but the heat probably hadn’t played a huge factor in her fainting. Christine was easily worn out, and if she was hit by sudden visions during those times it was more than likely that the frail woman wouldn’t be able to take all the stress.

“She’ll be all right, thank you, Madeline,” Raif said, smiling to the woman. Madeline half-smiled back before shaking her head with disapproval at Christine. The woman may only have been a commoner, but she and her family had a strong bond with Prince Yami’s family. Yami had very little concern with having his children being chastised or disciplined by Madeline when they misbehaved in town. Raif always liked how confident Madeline was around them. He considered her to be like an aunt to him, she probably considered him like a nephew too.

Gently, to try and not disturb her, Raif lifted his little sister into his arms. She was light—too light. No matter how hard Christine tried she never seemed able to keep weight on. It was probably another reason why she was so sickly all the time. The poor girl barely weighed a hundred pounds—and being five-foot-four it was only painful obvious how thin she was.

Most of the townspeople eagerly moved out of the way for the prince, but some simply gawked at the siblings. It wasn’t often that a white-haired-golden-eyed person came through the city. They were thought to be descendants of angels—whether that was true or not, no one knew. It certainly made great gossip though.

A carriage was easily provided for the prince and so he readily accepted it. He placed his little sister gently inside and held her close to keep her from being jarred about too much from the ride. Even the smallest of bumps would turn into bruising. She was more delicate than the finest crystal.

It wasn’t long before she came around—it may have been the dark carriage or maybe just the gentle way Raif was absent-mindedly stroking her white curly locks that roused her, but when she did she sat up she gave her brother a guilty and horrified stare before looking away quickly. She was flushed with embarrassment and more so, she couldn’t quite fight the sudden onslaught of guilty tears.

Raif frowned quietly at her before looking out the other window and crossing one leg over the other. He tapped his knee. “What were you doing in Aurora all alone?” he inquired gently. She didn’t respond and so forcing himself to be a little stern he continued, “You know you shouldn’t be alone, Christine. You’re lucky Madeline was there. Who knows what could have happened.” Still, no response. Finally, Raif turned his dark blue eyes to his sister. She was hunched over, head bowed shamefully, her hands clenched together. She was shaking, that wasn’t unusual, but it seemed to be more related to the sobs she was trying to hold back. Raif swallowed thickly. He didn’t like chastising his siblings—especially not his sisters—but he knew how dangerous it was for his sister to be out alone. Especially little Christine.

“Raif…?” she asked gently, turning her flushed pink face to him. Her gold eyes shimmed with tears. “I’m… really very sorry, but please… Please don’t tell Papa or Daddy… They’ll be so upset with me…”

Not willing to make any promises, Raif deterred answering by asking a question, “Why did you go alone?”

“It… was spontaneous…” Christine said, blinking widely. “I know… how much of a burden I am to Papa and Daddy… and I didn’t want to bother them…”

“That’s not true…” Raif said, frowning at her. The carriage gave a particular jerk to one side and Raif reached out to steady his sister. She was so small… it was hard to think of her as being a burden. “Papa and Father love you, Christine. That’s why they want to make sure you’re safe. You can’t just leave without telling them.”

“I’m not a child,” she stated bravely. She swallowed thickly and sighed. “I may be sick all of the time… but I am not a child.”

She was right. She was older than he had been when he had left permanently for the Aurorian Sorcery Academy. However, too sick, Christine was homeschooled by their parents. It may actually be to her advantage, though, Raif thought. Their father was one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable people he knew—and Papa? Papa was well-educated himself, he was a master of the arts. It wasn’t like she was at any disadvantage learning from home… Yet there was also that loss of childhood—that simple pleasure of being away from your parents and forging long-lasting friendships. Christine had friends, yes, a few villagers in Schön had taken quite a liking to her… but that never seemed like enough.

“Look… Christine,” Raif said softly, “I know it’s hard to be around Father’s seriousness and Papa’s ever-present enthusiasm all the time… but you know that they’ll let you do what you want if they just know… Next time Father goes into town why don’t you ask him to take you with him? While he’s running errands, you can explore the city. That way Father’s close enough to know where you are and you’re far away enough to be able to do what you want freely.”

She looked at him, wide-eyed, mouth parted and utterly surprised. It was a why-didn’t-I-think-of-that expression. Her surprise suddenly turned into one of relief and happiness, “Yes, Raif… that is a good idea. Thank you, brother. You will be a wonderful king.” Although she said it from the feeling she got from being around him, she knew through visions that Raif would indeed, be a magnificent ruler. If only she would live long enough to see it.

Raif reached out to pat his sister hand delicately, but to his surprise she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, even kissing him on the cheek. A little embarrassed he hugged her back.

It was sometimes odd to see himself as an older brother at times. He was so much older than the rest of his siblings—he had been twenty-one when the triplets had born, and so he hadn’t really even grown up with them. Even so, it was times like these that he found himself pleasantly surprised of being reminded that he did have the responsibility of being someone important to his little brothers and sisters. Someone they could come to for advise for—or in this case, someone to come to when they needed to get out of trouble.

Raif was going to do some mighty fine lying to keep his sister from a stern (and probably tearful) questioning.

But that was what big brothers were for, right?


[Ramirez]

<sub>A/N:Story Bond 26/81 of a project I'm working on.

I'm a little disappointed in myself that I had to use a character outside of the main focus in this story bond, but I think that having a sentence or two said by someone outside of the story bond made it easier for the story to well... progress.

Christine is a bitter-sweet character for me. I like her a lot, but I have given her such a sickly and sad life. I feel kind of bad about it, but... she's an interesting character for me.

Raif is still strange to write with when he's an adult. I'm so use to him being a young child or very young teenager. I like how regal and diplomatic he is all the time, but he's also personable. At times he's so calm he almost feels flat and uninteresting to me, but I seem to get good feedback for his character so I guess it works. He's too calm for his own good. Also, Raif was sort of raised almost on his own. He has an older sister that is 18 years older than him and the triplets, who are born after him, are 21 years younger. So he's kind of in a strange limbo area and can almost be considered being raised on his own.. but he's never had a normal raising family considering he has 3 fathers--Yami, Kaelin and Ankei. Ankei's sons were 14 when Raif was born, I think it was... so I think Raif finds it odd at times that he is a big-brother figure to his little siblings.. yeah I'm ranting. I'm done XD;;</sub>




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