It was unquestionable that the young Prince Rowan's affection and concern lie solely for his younger brother, the terrifying Prince Ulric. He followed Ulric around like a puppy, crowing with delight at every instance of praise. Rowan practically threw flowers at his brother's feet whenever they met, attempting to dazzle his beloved sibling with whatever he could come up with at the time. It was a shock, therefore, when Rowan decided not to follow his brother up to his quarters and remain downstairs with his mother who was directing some of the servants in their effort to move the luggage from the trip quickly and efficiently. He stood beside the woman, glancing up towards the stairs with concern for a moment before his mother asked him a question and he turned to answer her.
Time passed and the day went on. There was a small feast to welcome the Royal Family home, but no one's heart was really in it. Especially Rowan, who was particularly quiet at the table. His father paid no attention to him as per usual, only speaking to him once to strictly command that the Second Prince sit up straight and represent his country well. He didn't know who he was supposed to be impressing but straightened his spine anyway. No use creating unnecessary tension, after all, although that was already present. Mother was distressed that Cyneric had connected with an Ishgarian princess rather than the Murielese one, Father was irritated that Autumn had not succeeded in cementing a proposal from the Murielese Crown Prince, and he could feel a migraine coming on already. Father never let Rowan speak about how he truly felt about things. He wasn't a healer by any means, but he suspected that this stifling of himself was one of the reasons for his migraines. It didn't help that he was stifling a lot of himself.
Once the feast ended, Rowan excused himself and carried himself up the stairs to his private quarters, a napkin filled with bread and cheese tied up and held tightly in his hand. An attendant followed closely, carrying a bundle of the souvenir soaps that he'd fond while wandering one of the Muriel markets during the time that his mother was distracted by her cousin, the kind King Soren. He stripped himself when they entered the room, gently slapping away the hands inching forward to help him. His bath didn't take long, and soon enough the sun had fallen to a dark night. He dressed in dark breeches and a loose shirt, slipping on his boots and lighting a candle. It was already late, he noted to himself, smiling at a guard as he left his room. They all knew where he was headed. The Second Prince had trouble sleeping alone, even as an adult.
"Ari?" whispered Rowan as he crept into his brother's room, quietly shutting the door behind himself. He looked around, searching for the figure that he found sitting up in bed, a tome on his lap and fast asleep. Well, that probably wasn't comfortable. Rowan smiled to himself, this smile a far more private, endearing smile than the one he'd given the guard, and set the food and his candle down after blowing it out. The fire was roaring, bright enough to give him the light that he needed. Once he located the correct bedclothes, Rowan walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers. He changed his brother's clothes, blushing as hotly as the fire, and refusing to allow himself to look at anything that might give him uncomfortably pleasurable thoughts when he was alone. He moved to the other side of the bed, removing his boots and peeling back the covers to slide into the bed himself. He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around his cold brother, grateful for his own warmth and praying that it would be enough to keep his beloved sibling warm for the night.
The next morning, Rowan did not wake before Ulric. He only began to stir after his brother did, curled up close to Ulric with his hands pulled into loose fists and his hair a right mess. It was during these few moments before waking that Rowan truly looked like his mother, the dark-haired beauty of Muriel. He grunted when Ulric moved, turning his head to the side and breaking the spell. "Ari, it's so early. Go back to sleep," he muttered, uncharacteristically grumpy at being woken up. "No one will be awake for hours." He scooched closer, wrapping an arm loosely around Ulric's waist and licking his lips absently before settling once more with his head on Ulric's shoulder.
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He had been considering getting up and maybe raiding the kitchen (saying his dear brother hadn’t left him anything,) when the tiny growls of his sleepy little puppy alerted him to his presence. Well, that would explain why he was warm when he had awoken, Rowan was a furnace comparatively and had no qualms lending some heat to his generally chilled companion. Well, chilled in most environments, apparently deserts were great for roasting him alive. ”And good morning to you, my delightful grump.” He smiled gently before giving his sweet little big brother a quick kiss on his forehead. That was a platonic thing to do, right? Having already picked up the scent of the bread, his eyes finally managed to locate it on a plate within an arm’s length of his position on the bed. ”I’ll go back to sleep in a minute, ok? You go ahead, I’m just going to get a few bites of the dinner you so kindly brought up last night. Don’t want it to go to waste.” Despite being the tallest brother (though not by much, there was a whole two inches between the tallest of the brothers and the shortest,) he might also have been the lightest in the whole family. Potentially his little sister, who was nearly a foot shorter, weighed less due to her size, but Ulric doubted he was too far off. He had always been a rather slight youth, likely a good characteristic for him he thought, but ever since the twilight of his adolescence, things began to change. At first he just couldn’t overindulge or have anything super rich, but as time passed both qualifications became more and more restrictive until he arrived at his current state: constantly sick and only able to small portions of particularly bland things. It wasn’t really an ideal way to live, but it was what he had to deal with to live.
Unsurprisingly, Rowan had brought up just the right amount, and now sated as much as he could be, he could return his attention to his favorite nurse. Even if he had wanted to get up now, he was practically trapped with no way to get out unless he made a concerted effort to extricate himself. Too much work for first thing in the morning, really. Settling back down, he was already enveloped in sleepy affection. He had to admit it did make him feel a little better, though he could not see how someone’s presence could cause improvement in a physical condition. Perhaps it was purely psychological? By having someone around who care for him and whom he cared for, his spirits were lifted in such a way that he did not notice all of the general complications of his existence. Regardless, he easily slithered back into his brother’s warm embrace with a contented sigh. Brushing a few strands of hair out of his brother’s face, he couldn’t help but smile as he gazed upon the handsome gentleman who deigned to share his bed. How had he gotten so lucky?
He tried to fall back asleep, but neither his body nor parts of his mind would allow it. ”You shouldn’t let him do this. What kind of pathetic excuse of a brother are you? Rowan would be a loving husband and an excellent father and you know it. Can you give him anything like that? Of course not! You can give him a corpse and misery. Are you worth his happiness? He cares for you too damn much, you’re going to have to push him towards happiness otherwise you won’t be able to rest even in the grave.” Yet he remained undecided. Maybe what they were doing was fine and everything would work, or maybe it wouldn’t? That argument was the one thing that scared him about death: had he lived right by Rowan? His brain racing like the wind, his body wanted to get in on the action even though that was far from possible. He was starting to get tired of laying on his back, and though changing that would only give him partial relief, anything was better than nothing. Trying his best not to create too much of a disturbance, he shifted in bed so that he was facing his brother, then proceeded to wait in silence, all the while stroking his brother’s hair, until the other finally decided to rise.
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He couldn't help the small smile that emerged as a result of the sweet kiss. His cheeks burned, but he didn't open his eyes. He knew that it would only give him more of a desire to envelop his sweet little brother in his warm embrace and pulls him back into a hungry, but restful slumber. However, he wasn't so selfish that he wouldn't let his already-underfed brother starve. Rowan reluctantly forfeit his grip on his brother and pulled away enough to allow the younger man to resituate himself in order to eat. He opened his eyes just a little, settling on the slight form of his beloved sibling. "Don't take too long," he muttered, then closed his eyes once more and nuzzled his face into the pillow under his head. It wasn't as comforting as Ulric's, but at least it was softer. Ulric's bones poked out every which way, the waifish young man bringing concern to his elder brother at every turn. Rowan knew there was little they could do in regards to fixing this, but at least Ulric tried to eat when it was just the two of them. Something small was better than nothing at all. Rowan's worry was etched onto his handsome face, familiar lines creasing his forehead. He was still young enough that they weren't a permanent fixture, but a lifetime with Ulric's sickness was sure to take a toll on the elder royal. If not now, then soon.
Rowan's expression did not soften until his brother was safely nestled in his arms once more. He returned one arm around Ulric's waist, draped almost thoughtlessly across the young man's midriff. He brushed his fingers against Ulric's hip every so briefly, but they were gone as soon as they'd appeared. He had managed to slip into a very light sleep, still present of mind enough to understand what was happening but resting nonetheless. He sighed contentedly as Ulric touched his hair, an affectionate smile slipping onto his sleepy face. This was what he craved so often: time alone with his precious sibling. They understood each other in a way that Cyneric and Autumn never could. Maybe their relationship was a little too intimate, but that was bound to happen when two individuals care for each other as Ulric and Rowan did. Besides, it wasn't like they'd crossed any lines or like they were going to anytime soon, right? Right?
Ugh, who was he kidding? Rowan was awake in more ways than one and fighting every urge that he had in his body to not roll over, drag his beloved brother on top of him, and cross all the boundaries that even the deviant Ishgarians looked down upon. He knew that he wasn't alone in this. There was no way that Ulric didn't know and if he did know, he wouldn't encourage it like he did. He certainly wouldn't allow the man who wanted him so carnally to sleep in his bed. Rowan lifted his arm a little as Ulric moved to rest on his side. He must be getting stiff from all this laying down. Rowan dreaded starting the day, but at least he could tempt morality just a little here.
Rowan's hand settled on his brother's back, gently and slowly rubbing up and down Ulric's spine. He stopped just below Ulric's shoulder blades and fall to the small of his back before moving back upwards again. They were slow, lazy strokes that moved at a slower pace than Ulric's did, but the meaning behind them was heavy and not easy to misconstrue. He waited a few moments to open his eyes, staring into the sweet gaze of the one person he truly loved the most. He smiled lovingly, hand still slowly tracing up and down Ulric's back. "Good morning," he mumbled, licking his lips and scooting just a little closer so that his knee was just barely touching Ulric's. He resisted the desire to slide his leg between his brother's legs and do something very unbecoming of a prince. "I suppose I'm officially up for the day. Is it dreadfully awful of me that I don't wish to leave bed yet?" He chuckled softly, eyes twinkling with something too daring and taboo to name aloud. "We still have time to lounge around if you're feeling up to it, Ari. The palace won't be waking up for another couple of hours or so. We can stay here in bed and ignore everyone until then." Rowan was very much a people person, but he was an Ulric person first. He reached his free hand up and gently touched his brother's jaw, biting his lower lip for a split second as he did. "I like ignoring people with you," he dared to say, hoping his deep, dark meaning could be conveyed through honestly rather blatant flirting.
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This was the kind of behavior he was supposed to be discouraging if he ever wanted Rowan to have a life of his own, but he had to admit it felt pretty good. The obvious seduction was surprisingly pleasant, but also his back had been a bit sore and now his brother was rubbing it, soothing the unease away. If only all of his ailments could be solved thusly. There was no way his brother could do this in his sleep, so he waited patiently for the first sign of consciousness (well technically the appropriate term was arousal, but he didn’t entirely feel comfortable using the word in this situation.) A few moments later, Rowan finally opened his eyes which immediately fell upon the pale waif before him that had somehow captured his heart. ”Good morning, Flori.” There was a decidedly restricted list of who was allowed to call the dear Prince Rowan “Flori,” and as one of those members, he used the opportunity whenever he could, almost as if passively letting others know that there was a special closeness to the two of them. He could feel his brother draw near long before he actually saw anything: his brother was like a living furnace beside him and the closer he got the hotter things became, though he supposed that couldn’t be entirely chalked up to homeostasis alone. It was a double-edged sword in this setting, yes it was how Ulric could stay warm at nights (his body seemed absolutely repulsed by the idea of making its own heat) but at the same time it was further temptation to commit indiscretions they would likely not be able to live down. But as long as one of them kept their head, the risk could be managed, he assumed. ”I suppose you are not officially up until you have gotten up, wouldn’t you say? And as there are no servants about, I am the only other who knows when you awoke. I think I can see to keeping that quiet…” Normally he would have gotten up and started about his day already, but he was quite willing to delay given the pleasant distraction which currently occupied him. ”I’m not sure I can lie about quite that long, but I can and most certainly wish to stay here with you until then.” For now he was comfortable enough lying on his side, but eventually he would need to roll over to the other side and not long after get up. Rowan wasn’t the only one who found him somewhat uncomfortable to sleep upon/against. Coming from Rowan, saying that he liked ignoring people with his baby brother was a high compliment. Rowan was a people person and loved attention and love (hence the eternal puppy comparison), for him to willingly deprive himself of this worldly affection meant this target of his affection had to mean a lot to him. Ulric on the other hand, he could do without most people. Not that he had any enemies or particularly disliked people, but they just weren’t necessary for the Dark Prince, and frankly he would rather people stay away lest they start to care about him. He gave his brother a brief smile, ”oh? Are my asocial tendencies rubbing off on you?” Yes he knew it had been rather obvious flirtation, but he didn’t want to enflame things overly much. ”Well, whenever you decide to officially start your morning, perhaps a stroll amongst the people might be nice? I’m certain that they miss you, and I would be twice over the Dark Prince if I denied them their light of hope.” There, maybe that would help cool things down.
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He smiled despite himself, the concern never really fading so much as merely being gently nudged to the side of his more urgent thoughts. Currently, he was preoccupied with rejecting his dark desires that he was certain his body would soon be reflecting. He could blame that on the fact that he'd only just woken up, but Rowan wasn't so stupid that he thought that excuse would really work. Not with Ulric, not with someone who knew him so well as his precious little brother did. He blinked slowly, the haze of the early morning carrying with it a sense of foreboding that was making his stomach flip. Rowan wasn't magical, not by any means, and he was absolutely incompetent at potions, but he was sensitive to the world in more ways than one. His gut could tell when something very bad was going to happen. He liked to think that it was a family trait inherited from his mother who also had that sort of sixth sense, but who knew what it really was? Instinct or learned? Either way, he was feeling it right now. Something was looming over the comfortable and familiar blanket of sexual tension that shrouded the two young princes that lay in the younger royal's chambers. The thought made Rowan hold his brother just a little tighter before he realized he was being spoken to and returned to the present.
"I wouldn't mind more of you rubbing off on me," he muttered, blushing brightly before carrying on past it as though he hadn't spoken at all. Flirting with his brother was all well and good, but it wouldn't do to be so outright so early in the morning, especially after such a long night. Rowan's back was still stiff from all that dancing that his mother had instructed he do with that silly nobleman's daughter. She was holding out so much hope for him, it nearly broke his heart knowing that he would likely never give his beloved mother a grandchild. Not if he followed his heart like he so desperately wanted to right then. His hand moved slowly up his brother's back to gently touch the back of his neck. He leaned closer, eyes closing as he touched his forehead to Ulric's and inhaled deeply. "I do wish you wouldn't refer to yourself like that. It's bad enough that the people try to treat us as foils to the other." He sighed, then pulled away and moved to sit upright. He stretched his arms above his head and yawned, then ran his hand through his hair before turning to look at his brother with a small smirk on his handsome face. "Come on. Ari. It's a lovely day, we could probably go out together. I'll even have us trailed by the palanquin in case you get tired." He moved closer, lips pursed into a pout. "Or in case you need some privacy." He winked, feeling empowered by their solitude just enough to be openly cheeky.
It seemed Cordelia's routine was the same. Wake up before Autumn, bathe if she could, fix her hair and freshen herself up. Then it was to eat breakfast and wake Autumn up for her to eat and get dressed. She would even get small bouquet of flowers each week for Autumn and would set her breakfast on the side table and then sit in one of the chairs and make some jewelry until it was a good time for her to wake up. Cordelia would think of things they could do that day if she was free.
Today it seemed like Autumn did her thing without Cordelia. As a lady in waiting, she was adamant about helping the princess, but if she was given other chores, she would do those. Having completed those, she took a letter she received from the aviary with her on her way to find Autumn. The man stated that it was from the High Priestess Athena Locke and she had personalized each letter to the members of the royal family. Cordelia did check the seal to show the Sun Temple sigil. Quickly, she made her way to the markets to see if she could spot her princess and there she was. Feeding what looked like orphans or maybe even just hungry children. Cordelia stopped and waited until the children and Autumn were done. Once she did, "Princess, a letter." She smiled, handing the letter to her.
Autumn looked up at Cordelia when she arrived having aided the child in eating before making sure it was cared for by a passing woman. She offered to check on the child before looking at Cordelia again. She took the letter gently and opened it before reading it over. She smiled and looked at Cordelia. "The High Moon priestes... She's given birth to twins." she explained, "We must tell Mother. She'll want to send gifts." She took Cordelia's hand gently and smiled. "Come, we can tell her the news to cheer her up. Father has not been kind." she smiled before they began the walk back to the castle.
When they arrived, Autumn found her mother, assuring her father was not around before going to her. "Mother" she exclaimed as she went to her, taking her hand gently. "Mother the Ishagrian Queen gave birth. Twins. A boy and a girl." she smiled, the idea of no more royal deaths in Ishgar making her happy. She knew how sad it made her when the first queen died, the stories from her older brothers enough to realize how important she was. Looking from her mother to Cordelia, she smiled.
It was rare for Rebekah to find time for herself. She sat alone in the garden with a needle in one hand and an intricately embroidered tunic in the other. Cyneric was due to receive court in a week or so and she wanted him to look his best. That and there was just something very calming about embroidering. She used to do it all the time when she was pregnant. Entioch had a thing about her performing her wifely duties, so she'd taken it very quickly to please him and had found she had a knack for it. At least it kept her busy and it showed her affection for her children. She smoothed over a piece of stray thread and sighed softly. It was a hare, much like the one on her family's sigil. Her home country's, she meant. This was her family now. She looked around with a familiarly sad expression. Estherel was beautiful and her garden was stunning, but it was moments like this that she wished to be fifteen once more and running around her grandfather's palace with her brothers. To be young again. To be full of hope again. She treasured those memories of easy laughter and innocent happiness like the dragons treasured gold.
Hearing her daughter's voice, Rebekah set aside her sewing and listened, a surprised and rare smile erupting on her beautiful face. A boy. Asta had finally given the Mad King a boy! She stood and held bother of her daughter's hands in excitement. "Oh, happy day! We must send them our congratulations immediately! A boy, my love. A boy! The gods have smiled down upon us mortals at last!" The bloodshed was finally over, she thought with joy running through her. Looking to Cordelia, she reached out and gently touched the young woman's wrist. "Cordelia, we must organize a celebration at once. We'll have a feast and a ball and we'll send them gifts. Oh, so many gifts! For the children and for the queen. My ladies in waiting are sitting in my tea room, please collect them and have them meet us in the dining hall. Oh, we have so much to do!" She smiled at Cordelia, squeezing her wrist gently before returning her eyes to her daughter. "We must write to Queen Asta and send her our personal congratulations. You haven't told your father, have you? He's been rather cross lately, I don't expect this will lighten his mood any."
Cordelia put her hands in front of her waiting for Autumn's response. The small indicated it was good news and smiled along with Autumn, grabbing her hand back and walking back to see the queen. Her smile did fade a bit already knowing of the unkindness done to Rebekah. If she could do something about it, it would be done. However, it would be considered treason and well that thought wasn't welcomed for her. She was a lady in waiting, not an executioner. The event of Asta having twins was exciting. Usually the arrival of babies was always good news. Maybe there was a boy this time. She may not have the stomach to hear of another queen or even the high priestess being executed.
Once in front of the queen, Cordelia kept an eye and ear out.The king already made her feel uncomfortable and she wanted to make sure Autumn and Rebekah were okay, too. A sigh of relief escaped her hearing of finally a boy. No execution for Asta and that was wonderful. She then couldn't help to smile at a genuine happy expression Rebekah showed. Been a while since she saw one and it was heartwarming. Cordelia then moved the free hand to place upon Rebekah's nodding at the request. Of course. It was something to celebrate and rejoice for. "Of course, Your Highness. Right away." Being quick to the draw, she went to collect the remaining ladies in waiting and waited in the dining hall for Rebekah and Autumn. She even started thinking of gift ideas for them and Asta. She wasn't sure if Hernando would enjoy a gift from her, seeing how he didn't even know her.
As she waited for Rebekah, Autumn and whoever joined them, she sat with the other ladies in waiting.
Autumn smiled when her mother's enthusiasm for the new additions to their rival kingdom matched. She nodded as she explained a gift would be agrand idea, but not just one. They would send a great deal of them. Autumn drew in a breath and nodded as she looked after Cordelia. Her gaze then moved back to her mother and Autumn thought for a moment. "Mother, can we go visit the Murielese? Without father knowing? Just the two of us. I miss Remy and would like to give my congrats in person if I can." Autumn thought about it and the more she thought; the more she liked the idea. Remy was her friend, would he enjoy a visit? She shook her mind clear and looked up at her mother once more. She then began to think of what gifts she could make for the newborns. "I hope they are as beautiful as their mother. The High Priestess Asta is a very gorgeous woman."
When the mention of whether or not she told her father came, Autumn shook her head. "I haven't seen father at all today." she explained, "He has been far to busy." She smiled and looked down before up at her mother again.
As Cordelia left, Rebekah set to work putting her needlepoint away. She was nearly finished, anyway. She started to lead her daughter out of the gardens and back into the castle, pausing just before they entered. "Autumn, you know your father keeps tabs on me at all times. I wouldn't be able to leave for any longer than a day and it takes a full week to travel there." However, she did still want to see her family. "Perhaps we could ask them to come and visit us. After all, I did promise to have my cousins at the palace for a few weeks. I'll send King Soren a letter tonight." She placed a hand on her daughter's back and lead her into the palace, then folded her hands over her belly and walked at an even pace. She nodded every now and then at passing courtiers, her face as serene as ever.
"As women, it's probably for the best that we stay out of your father's way. We can only act as a distraction." It was hard to tell whether or not she fully believed this. Either way, she kept her gaze forward and her expression calm until they entered the dining hall. Surrounded by her ladies in waiting, Rebekah reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small letter, handing it to a young woman who nodded and curtsied before hurrying out. There was no name on the letter nor her Queen's seal, but only a wax seal of a delicate lily and a tiny pair of rabbit ears. She trusted her servant to know where to take it and looked back to the other women in the room. "Ladies, we have a celebratory feast and ball to prepare for. We also must prepare a gift list for the Queen of Ishgar and her newborn twins. Any questions?"
Just like that, Cordelia did as she was asked. The rest of the ladies in waiting were in the room with her, talking among themselves and waiting for Autumn and Rebekah. When they entered she turned her attention to Autumn and watched as the queen handed off a scroll. There was one simple rule with her, she didn't want to know what was on the scroll. The queen made it look important and the less she knew, the less of a threat she would be. The less she'd get in trouble from anyone. Cordelia watched the girl scurry out and then looked back at Rebekah. She had no questions. Autumn would instruct her on things if she had anything to do, but as her job as lady in waiting was to attend the princess. Finishing her jewelry for the twins was her gift.
Autumn looked at her mother as she spoke, explaining that they could ask their friends to visit. Autumn smiled as she looked around, thinking of getting to see Remy. She brushed her hair back and looked up at her mother as she continued to speak once more. She explained how their father was busy and how they would simply be a distraction to him. She nodded, agreeing with her before drawing in a breath. "There is a small toy store in town mother. I think a few Estherelian toys would be a wonderful gift" she explained, thinking of the trinkets she had seen many people get.
She turned to Cordelia and smiled once more. "We shall go tomorrow to the little store and choose a few gifts. For now lets make some blankets or outfits." She turned and looked at her mother. "What do the moon elves wear mother?" she asked.
Curious sent in too as she wondered what the moon elves even wore. She saw Athena wear light colours and whites, but that was different because she was a sun elf. Maybe dark and neutral colours? Cordelia listened in to gift ideas and nodded as Autumn told her of their journey to the toy shop later. Sewing she could absolutely do and finding an excellent material and colour would be it.
Rebekah sat down, her dress billowing as she did and she tried to make herself comfortable. Her time in Muriel had reminded her of the flowy gowns of her youth that had been so easy to move in. After all this time, she still hadn't quite figured out how to move as easily in these dresses as the Murielese fashion she'd loved so dearly. She paused and waited as a lady in waiting adjusted her dress, raising her hands briefly before clasping them again and setting them on her lap. "I'm certain that the fashions have changed since my time in Muriel, but I do recall how freely they moved. Moon elves shone quite like the stars, in my opinion. I can send out for our ambassador to Muriel and ask his wife to sketch out a few of their designs, as I'm certain she has been acquainted with them." She smiled softly, her memories running through her mind. "I do recall how often my grandmother encouraged the female nobility to maintain good relations with the moon elves." Even now, after all this time, she remembered sitting at her mother's side and watching the moon elves enter into their dining hall, their beauty an aspiration for herself and her sisters. She had been an awkward child, a tomboy who liked feeling pretty but liked shooting arrows more, but one look at those women and she knew she could be both. She could be feminine and a warrior.
Of course, that didn't last. She was sent home in the middle of her first real battle and married off very quickly thereafter, but she had enjoyed it while it lasted. Clearing her throat, Rebekah looked around at her companions and reached a hand out to take one of her daughter's hands. "We have no time to waste. Eliza? Go and ask for Lady Harrenhal. Thank you, dear." The young woman rushed off for the ambassador's wife, leaving them to plot their gifts for the new royal mother.
