Over the months Davian, Sitara, and Inara spent together after the Bandha ceremony they grew very close especially Sitara and inara. Sitara took on a motherly role in Inaras life and took care of her constantly. This pleased the Czar as he saw his daughter start laughing and actually behaving like a normal child. In response to Sitara's care of Inara the Czar promoted her father to general of the fae army and moved them to the capital.
Davian grew very protective of the girls as well and trained tirelessly with the guard. His response when asked why was he needed to be the best to protect the princess and he didn't trust anyone else to do the job.
Bonus chapter-
The high fae of the spring court and rulers of the unseelie realm had been summoned to the palace for a dinner to discuss a betrothed for Inara.
Lady Haru had just entered the room which made the czar and inaras faces light up. She was as usual followed by her guard Syrus. Neither cared as she was home and was going to enjoy a meal with them for the first time in years.
"Come let us eat and enjoy," lady Haru turned everyone's attention back to the dinner.
"Haru it is so good to see you," lady alette beamed excitedly as it was the first time she has seen her cousin since inaras birth.
"It is good to be home granted it's only a visit but still good to be home," lady Haru gave a soft smile. She hated that she could not live with Inara and Ciro but her health was fragile and being with Ciro often resulted in their marital relations. An act though simple could kill her if she became with child.
"When do you return?" Lady Alettes face fell. She looked at her brother who just walked into the hall. She glanced between her brother and Lady Haru's guard as they shared a quick smile. She smiled to herself as she recalled her brother was engaged with the guards older sister during the war but she passed and he had refused any engagement since. She invited him to the dinner so he could mingle with old friends.
"Shortly after dinner once I tuck Inara into bed. If I stay any longer Ciro and I will get in trouble," she blushed looking at her husband who only nodded but smiled at her warmly.
"Of course,"
"But we have much to discuss. So Lord Bardu and Lady Adva you have not presented your oldest as a possible suitor for Inara may I ask why?" Lady Haru asked her face now serious. Of course her quick change in demeanor made everyone tense except Ciro who only looked at his wife lovingly as he loved this side of her.
"Oh we do apologize your majesty however he is uninterested in marriage," lady Adva the Queen of the unseelie said looking at her daughter and husband.
"Or of the fairer sex my majesties," Lord Bardu added after a pause from his wife. His wife quickly jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
"I see," lady Haru said watching their exchange she looked at her daughter across from her and smiled.
"No matter I do hope he is happy in his life," lady Haru said giving a simple bow to the unseelie rulers who smiled in return.
"Lady Alette and Lord Pavan. How are your children?" the Czar asks them turning the attention at the table.
"Oh we have been blessed with 3 beautiful boys your majesties," Lady Alette says looking at her two older sons who could attend the dinner while their youngest only a spring old had to stay with the nanny.
"They are handsome Ciro," Lady Haru leans toward her husband. He only nods not entirely thrilled that his daughter is to marry or that they are talking about who she will marry while she is only 6 springs.
"Lord Pavan, what are your boys studying?" Ciro asked trying to calm his anxiety.
"Well Kagan is expertly trained in sword fighting as well as hand to hand. He has surpassed all in his age range in battle strategy. Zyaire has taken to the bow, his hand to hand is quite good, and he's only just started political studies," Lord Pavan stated smiling proudly of his children. Ciro and Haru both nodded.
"Lady Haru?" A small voice asked down the table.
"Yes Sitara?"
"Does Inara have to get married? Isn't she to young?" Sitaras question seemed simple to her but the older fae all pursed their lips.
"Sitara darling it's a complicated tradition. It's an old way that we hold to for us to feel close to the old ones," Bardu said to his daughter not wanting to tell her that the female fae are forbidden to rule since the last one caused a genocide and wiped out an entire race of fae. If not for the rule Inara would be allowed to marry who she wanted.
"Oh okay," she chewed on her lip not liking the rule but knowing none of them really had a say.
"Well Ciro who do you think is more suited for Inara?" Haru asked her husband. He was always a good judge of character and ruled with his heart and mind as one.
"I think we should discuss it a bit more but Kagan as of now is my primary option," he took a sip of his wine. He hated this. His daughter had a good head on her shoulders and often left the palace with Sitara and Davian to feed the poor and even sneak fertility herbs to those in need. She didn't know he knew and he would never tell his wife but she cared for everyone and listened to the injustice of those in her realm. In his eyes she was the only one fit to rule but even he can not go against the Aenor.
"Then it's settled when she is 14 summers it will be announced and their courtship will start," Haru clapped her hands excitedly. The other lords and ladies at the table also smiled. Soon they all parted ways to rest for the evening.
End of bonus chapter.
After two years their bond was unmatched. They fought, trained, and lived together. Davian was allowed to enter the palace early since he was able to beat anyone they put him up against even the princess. This irked her to no end however she saw it as a good thing since he deemed himself her personal body guard. Sitara always watched them train as she honed her skills in archery. She had trained herself to shoot the wings off a fly from the third balcony of the palace into the courtyard below.
The three children refused to be separated from each other that while the girls bathed Davian stood guard and let no one in unless it was the maids to tend to them. Even then they were fully vetted by him.
One day Sitara was summoned into the Czars study.
"Sitara please join me," he gestured to the chair in front of his desk. She sat and watched the king of the fae who over the last few years looked more worn than he should. She attributed this to his life partner being separated from him.
"How can I serve you today my Czar?" She asked him.
"I know you and Inara have grown extremely close these last two years and I have never seen her happier. However her physicians are concerned," he leaned forward.
"Is there something wrong with the princess?" Her voice concerned.
"This is not common knowledge dear but Inara was suppose to be a twin. However when her mother's own twin died there were some complications. This caused her mother and I to loose her brother. Since birth her powers were never at full strength and her life force is not that of a full fae," he pursed his lips watching Sitara's reaction.
"I didn't know my Czar. But why does that require you to summon me here?"
"Before you and Davian joined her she took baths that would strengthen her life force however those have stopped since you and Davian don't allow the attendants to accompany her. While that is fine and I am pleased you take care of her so attentively since her mother is unable to she needs those baths if you've noticed she has not been as strong as when you first arrived," he stopped looking at Sitara as his words sunk in. He was right Inara had grown weaker not by much but it was noticeable.
"Oh no, my czar I had no idea. How can I fix this?" She asked her eyes wide as she realized that her dear friend had been hurt by her actions.
"All you need to do is let the attendants bathe her. However due to this you cannot be in the water with her. While it will help Inara your life force is full and so it may hurt you and seeing you hurt would upset Inara to no end," he said getting up and walking around the desk to stand in front of Sitara. She looked up at him and nodded her head tears threatening to leave her eyes.
"Of course I will inform Davian straight away. He will agree once I explain it to him you know how protective he is of her," she got up and quickly bowed and rushed to the door wanting no needing to rectify this.
"Thank you Sitara," the Czar watched her leave with a small yet mischievous smile.
"Will we be able to return to the extraction my lord?" A dark figure spoke as it came out of a dark corner in the study. The Czar turned to the figure.
"Yes she wont be a problem. I told you she cares for her she wont even pay attention to what goes in the bath," he returned to his seat not even looking at the face of the one that entered his study. While the figure wasn't entirely disfigured he was still unsettling to look at. The scar went up his face and his eyes were white where they should be black and black where they should be white. His skin was also pale as ice.
"I hope you're right my lord. We recently acquired a human and I do hope to run a few tests on him. He appears to have traces of fae blood in him so I am truly intrigued about those prospects," the man's voice was coated in excitement. While the czar agreed with the man he didn't like how he said the last part. The czar didn't say another word as he watched the man leave his study as quietly as he came.
He let out a sigh and looked at the portrait of his beloved wife on the wall.
"Oh my darling soon we shall be reunited and be a family again," he closed his eyes and let sleep take him.