Interview Series: Crown Prince Aric DeMarian of Mancera

"Madame Golivanth," announced the servant who opened the door. The elven woman stepped into the room. She was gowned in lavender velvet, with a fashionable hat perched atop her perfectly coiffed hair. A long white plume curled gracefully over the hat. She looked extremely up-to-the-minute as far as her clothing went, but her expression as she took in Aric sitting on the floor of the sun room, playing with his daughter while Talia cuddled their son, was anything but lady like. Her mouth opened in a surprised gape, and she looked quite stunned.

Talia looked at her with the small smile that told Aric she was trying hard not to laugh in the woman's face. "Madame, how good to see you again. Please, have a seat wherever you like."

The elven woman blinked and shut her mouth; Aric could almost hear her teeth clicking together as she glanced about. She chose a chair near the window, and settled onto it with more decorum than Talia even used. She watched Aric for a moment, and then said, "I would hate to interrupt you, Prince Aric. Have I come at a bad time?"

Her tone and expression made it clear that she hadn't at all expected to speak to Aric while he was on the floor, making his daughter giggle and grab for the rattle he dangled above her.

Aric looked up, smiling, and said, "Heavens my lady, please relax. This is by far the best time of my day and also quite possibly the only time I am still for more than a few minutes."

Mme. Golivanth looked mildly pained, and Aric saw Talia suppress another laugh. Then the elven journalist took out her paper and pen, and set them on her lap. With a murmured word the pen came to life and hovered expectantly over the page.

"I will try to make this brief," she said. Talia, with an expression as close to a smirk as Aric had ever seen on her, said, "Oh, don't hurry on our account, my dear."

Golivanth glanced at her, and her cheeks flushed very slightly, before she asked Aric, "The stories surrounding your past are wildly conflicting. Some say you were orphaned in the War, others say you were rescued from your mother's madness and brought to your grandfather. Even stranger tales abound, most of them in increasingly poor taste. So where were you born?"

Aric smiled, looking down at his daughter for a moment; making faces and enjoying the sound of her laughter as it filled the air. He said, still looking down, “I was born in a place I believe is called the Red Keep. I do not remember what happened exactly; because when I was born, the only thing that kept my mother from killing me was a random act of mercy. She gave me to her handmaiden and told her to leave with me. That was the last time she saw me."

Aric looked up and continued, "The hand maiden that left with me died inside the walls of Ceranna, but not until she was able to deliver me to the front gate of a temple where Brother Egil raised me. He was not my father, and I knew that, but he was the closest thing I had to one.”

It was fortunate that Mme. Golivanth had the magical pen to take her notes for her; there was a long silence as she absorbed what Aric had told her. "None of the street gossips have any of the details correct," she murmured. She glanced at Talia, who looked smug. "Princess Talia, have you had a hand in the misinformation at street level?"

Talia nodded, without even blinking. "I manufactured seven different stories and made sure they reached the ears most prepared to believe them," she said calmly. "I did so in order to protect my husband's reputation. There's nothing shameful about his origins, but there were too many who would have raised objections, based on the notion that he was merely a "street rat" aspiring to the Crown. He is not, and has never been, a street rat."

She dimpled. "And I think if he'd had the option to refuse the Crown, he would have."

Golivanth looked sideways at Aric. "That seems unfortunate. After all, if you don't desire the Crown, milord Aric, what does that mean for the people?"

Aric glanced up; his eyes were afire with passion that barely shrouded the former anger that once plagued his sleepless nights. Closing his eyes he composed himself, shook his head, and opened them. He looked upon his daughter, meeting her curious stare. Aric glanced over to Shadow, his wolf, who was now on his back sprawled belly up in the sun and said, “I swore once long ago that I would protect this city, even if it meant giving my life for its salvation. Nothing has changed, except that now I can do so with more than just the swords on my back and the blood in my veins. That old man and I,” Aric said, nodding to Shadow (who curled his lip at his master), then turning back to Mme. Golivanth, “have not stopped protecting this city. The crown only means I have more tools at my disposal. However should the people of the city choose to take the crown away from me, then I will continue to protect from the shadows if need be. The life of this city and its people are second only to my family. And should the nine hells open up and free an army of demons upon the walls, I will send my family away to safety and fight that army for the safety of this city. I was raised on the streets of Ceranna, and if necessary I will die upon them.”

Aric looked back down to his daughter and proceeded to tickle her belly.

Mme. Golivanth swallowed and nodded. After a long moment - not a silent one, as the baby's delighted laughter filled the room - Golivanth cleared her throat and asked her next question.

"You grew up on the streets," she said, cautiously. "So how was it that you met Lord Cervil and Lady Silverleaf?"

“My first official mission for king and country was guarding a crime scene. I do not know or remember much about the mission, because I was responsible for keeping people outside. That, and things have happened recently that have caused my memory to suffer. That was the first time I met Cervil, Pale and Felina, and when I first met them honestly I thought I would spend most of my time protecting them.” Aric laughed. “Boy was I wrong. As it turns out they have saved me more than I did them.”

She eyed Aric, and clearly he saw her decide not to ask for an elaboration of his comment. Instead she said, quietly, "Many young people in the city look up to you, not only as the Crown Prince but as a dashing hero. What would you say to those who might wish to emulate you and become adventurers?" Her tone was neutral, but her eyes were keen as she watched Aric, waiting for his reply.

Aric paused then said, “Honestly, I would not really. Adventuring is sometimes a lonely business that can leave one with no family or friends. Before I met Cervil and the others, my only family was Shadow.” Aric gestured to Shadow who turned over at the mention of his name, “Now because of them I have not only found a life and love. I found a reason to live. I guess what I would say to someone wanting to enter my line of work would be to be certain once you step into this life you may have trouble stepping out. The challenge will make you feel alive but it is about balance I have gained great things but I have lost them as well.”

Madame Golivanth murmured the stop command to her pen, and obediently it settled into her hand. She put the pen and papers away, and slowly stood. She walked towards the door. As she reached the door, she turned back toward Aric.

"Is what you have gained worth what you have lost, milord? I ask only for my own curiosity."

Aric slowed down staring at his daughter for along minute before answering,

“Honestly I could not completely answer that question. On the one hand I lost my life sleeping on rooftops and living in the streets, and more recently I was encased in stone the resulting effects cost me some memory. So that is something that I will not miss but my adventuring life has also cost me two of my childhood friends. Rassiun and Elizabeth were both close friends and a group of assassins recognizable by the black arrows they carry were both responsible for the death of Rassiun and the corruption of Elizabeth who later took her own life. So looking back what I have now is great, greater than I ever expected I would ever get but I have lost a great deal along the way.  To answer your question, what I have now is more than I felt I ever felt I deserved, but I have lost friends I wished were here now to see what I have become.”

Madame Golivanth nodded, and said quietly, "Thank you, milord." Her tone was tinged with deep respect, and without speaking again, she left the room.