=== Vander & Alfred ===
--- C ---


[Alfred]
Vander, I owe you an apology.
[Vander]
An apology? What for?
[Alfred]
I messed up big time.
[Alfred]
If I'd been quicker about getting to Lythos,
I could've saved Queen Lumera.
[Alfred]
I know the queen meant a lot to you. I'm really
sorry she's gone.
[Vander]
You are mistaken, Prince Alfred.
[Vander]
If there is blame to cast, I bear as much as you.
More, in fact, as I was her retainer.
[Vander]
So you see, you have nothing to apologize for.
[Alfred]
But I...
[Vander]
Without your presence, Prince Alfred, our losses
may have been even greater.
[Vander]
As I see it, I have ample reason to thank you
and none to resent you.
[Alfred]
Well, if you say so. Happy to help.
[Alfred]
Hey, uh, is it OK with you if I visit again?
[Vander]
Of course. Let us share stories of happier times
with Queen Lumera.
[Alfred]
Happier times, huh?
[Vander]
Indeed. I think Queen Lumera would prefer that
to brooding over our failures, don't you?
--- B ---


[Alfred]
When I was little, Queen Lumera gave me
flowers for my birthday.
[Alfred]
They were these real pretty white flowers.
Couldn't tell you what they were called.
[Vander]
Windflowers, most likely. Queen Lumera was
especially passionate about growing them.
[Alfred]
Windflowers. I'll have to remember that.
[Vander]
Queen Lumera once made a gift of windflowers
for me as well.
[Alfred]
Oh, was it your birthday too?
[Vander]
No. There was nothing special about
the occasion.
[Alfred]
Oh. Hmm.
[Alfred]
Maybe it was her way of saying, "Good work,
my loyal retainer!"
[Vander]
Perhaps. Such gestures were typical of
our queen.
[Vander]
The garden where she tended her windflowers
was trampled into mud during the battle.
[Vander]
Thinking about it now, I wish I had spent more
time with the queen.
[Alfred]
Well, we all have regrets. Nothing to do with
them but keep moving forward.
[Alfred]
It's up to us now to keep our people safe, just
like Queen Lumera used to.
--- A ---



[Vander]
...
[Alfred]
What's up, Vander? Your invite caught me
a little off guard.
[Vander]
Have a look at this.
[Alfred]
Are these windflowers? A whole garden full...
but why here?
[Vander]
I thought it would be a waste for them to grow
only within the castle.
[Vander]
I planted what I could find of them here, so that
everyone may enjoy them.
[Vander]
I must admit...I didn't expect them to thrive
quite so much.
[Alfred]
Heh heh, they're some real good-looking
windflowers, I'll give you that.
[Alfred]
When I gaze at them, I have the strangest feeling
that Queen Lumera is here at my side.
[Vander]
I know just what you mean.
[Vander]
I wanted you to see the windflowers too,
Prince Alfred.
[Alfred]
Thanks. It means a lot, you know.
[Alfred]
Once we get our peace back, why don't you
and me plant even more windflowers here?
[Vander]
Yes. We shall plant them together.
[Alfred]
And this time, we'll make sure the garden
stays safe.
[Alfred]
That way, Queen Lumera can watch over her
people from here.
[Vander]
It is as she would wish, Prince Alfred.
--- S ---