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Autumn was quiet as she moved to the table, pouring water into the kettle. It was kept warm by a trick the elves had taught her and she was glad for that. As her tea brewed she listened to Serenade speak about the impending event. She thought about it, the fact that she would be going with her family. She looked at Serenade as she stated that her men were distracted. Smiling softly, Autumn looked up at Serenade. "I do grow curious Serenade, what exactly do your knights do for training? It s not often a fight is faced here or that someone tries to attack us within the Kingdom." she explained, though her mind strayed to the problematic poisoning she had endured hours before. She'd not had trouble with illnesses in months, actually feeling as good as she could.

With the tea brewed, Autumn sat down and poured the tea into the two cups. She looked at Serenade and motioned for her to sit as well, smiling as she let her sit. "I trust you'll be joining us in the journey? That'll prove nice" she explained, "Though I don't want to ride in a carriage the entire time. Though my parents will insist it" she continued, taking a drink of the hot liquid, leaning back as she thought about the boredom she would endure on the ride.

Autumn listened to Serenade as she spoke, explaining to Autumn how she trained the knights. Autumn had never seen magic up close. It made her curious as she looked at Serenade, curious as to how magic worked. She was quiet as she took a drink of her tea, smiling as Serenade continued on, Autumn looking up as she explained how their presence ensured nobody acted out of place. That Autumn could understand. It was not often that they saw anyone in the Kingdom with ill intentions toward the royals, especially someone who was from the Kingdom itself.

Her attention on her tea again, she took another drink as Serenade went on to explain how they would be travelling to Muriel. When Serenade offered her own horse, Autumn shook her head gently. "I have a horse. A Mare named Bristle." she explained, "She's the daughter of my parents horses." she continued before taking the last drink of the tea. "If I were to be able to ride on her instead of in the carriage, it may not be as boring as before. She leaned back and sighed softly.

Seven Days.... Seven Days it had taken for them to get home from Muriel. Seven long days, daylight by horse, sleeping at dark. Seven days Autumn had spent on horseback and now that they were home, she had suffered for it. When they arrived, it was late into the night and all Autumn wanted to do was sleep. And that she did, lying in bed until sleep took over. As she waited, she thought about the weekend before they left, what all had gone on after the ball. They had spent the day after with their cousins, learning about Muriel until it was time to go. She enjoyed it, being in the sunshine and warmth of Muriel. When they left, King Soren had promised to come visit soon, so he could her mother could make mischief in the stiff kingdom of Estherel. It made Autumn smile then, thinking about her mother when she was her age. Sleep soon found her and within dreams, she dreamt of her family.

A few hours later as the sun began it's crawl into the sky, Autumn woke. She groaned as she sat up, pushing her light hair from her face. She stretched and stood from her bed. She went to the window and pushed the curtain open. The castle was quiet, much of the royal family still asleep. Autumn drew in a breath and looked at the ocean. It was angry though she couldn't blame it. A storm was brewing, one she wasn't sure she would like. Looking around she went to get dressed. Choosing a green dress and to braid her hair back, she drew in a breath before walking out from her room. She made her way down to the courtyard and looked around as she found a place to sit, watching servants around her as they worked and talked. She loved Muriel, being there. But she loved home more, the smell of the ocean over took everything and she'd missed it.

Leaning back to look at the sky, she began to think harder about what was to come. She would be forced into marriage soon. To find someone to build a family with that would give her Father a great deal of loyalty... She looked ahead as she thought about it. Loyalty? What good was that going to do... Standing, she looked around the courtyard once more. She watched a young horse hobble over to her and smiled as she knelt down to it. "You're the new life everyone spoke of?" she asked, "You are a sweet little one" She laughed as she straightened up and the animal ran around her. She spun with it, almost like a little kid again. "Alright" she said after a few moment. "Go back to your mother" she shooed the animal and watched as it ran back as the mare called for it. She let out a breath, a smile on her lips. It was nice to let loose. And she began to wonder how long her family would take to wake up.

Autumn had been entertained, watching the small foal as it ran away, kicking the air, bugging it's mother and coming over to investigate the pale haired princess. Everytime it came over, Autumn smiled and scratched it on the nose or behind the ear. She had always loved animals, even as a young girl. She was petting the small horse when it's attention was drawn beside her. It spooked and back off for a minute before coming back to Autumn. She smiled more and watched as the mother whinnied. The little horse was hesitant to return, enjoying the attention but after a second call, it ran off to join it's mother. Autumn sat back and turned, watching her mother sit beside her. She smiled softly and looked ahead as the Queen commented on the fact that they had rode so hard. Autumn shook her head as she looked up at her. "I'm the one who asked to ride Mother. It was fun. I got to see things I do not normally here in Estherel. Or had I been stuck in the carriage reading or sewing. Plus, Cyneric taught me a few new things on horseback." she spoke softly as she looked at her mother.

Her gaze shifted back to where the small horse family had been before moving back to her mother. "What are you doing today Mother?" she asked, "I was thinking of enjoying the beach. I missed the ocean while we were away." It was true, she had longed for the sea water since they'd departed Muriel. With the kingdom landlocked and the ocean far away, all they saw was an ocean of sand. That was the part that irritated Autumn. She was raised near the sea, the smell of it something she welcomed. And when she couldn't, it made her rather nervous. Brushing a loose strand of hair back, Autumn looked up at her mother.

Autumn looked down as he mother told her she would be staying there. She drew in a breath, having expected it but wanting to spend time with her mother nonetheless. She looked at the ground a few short moments before looking at her mother once more as she spoke. "Cyneric has lessons today. Rowan is caring for Arioch who seems to be under the weather." she continued. She shook her head gently and looked at her mother as he touch found her. Autumn looked down a bit as her mother spoke about the Prince of Muriel. "Mother, he has six women to choose from. He and I agreed that we would be friends. Nothing more" she explained, "If he chose me. I do not believe anything would come from it." She looked up at her mother as she told her there may be hope for her own future. "How can I be happy Mother?" she stood and sighed softly. "I want to sail... to go on a boat trip. Not far. But enough to just spend time on the open sea. Do you think that would be okay?" she asked, hopeful her mother would allow her to do this. She knew she would not be missed by the King but she was sure this would be fun, and who knew, maybe she could get her brothers to join her? One or all... that would be fine!

Autumn listened to her mother as she spoke and kicked a pebble beneath her foot. Her mother used to be more fun, doing things without worry of the Kings approval. Autumn and Rebekah had gone on many excersions just the two of them when Autumn was a babe. They would horseback ride through the forest or have a picnic. She kept her gaze on the ground as she continued to speak. "What if I simply refuse to marry? The worst Father could do is disown me. or Kill me." she shook her head. "He's not the mad king though... more like the sad king for not allowing his family to enjoy what they do." she sat up a bit and looked at her mother. "There is only one possibility for a Princess like me and the Prince... he has other wants." she drew in a breath before her mother asked if she wanted to join them for breakfast. "I've already eaten" she explained as she stood. She drew in a breath before looking down and smiling. "I'm going to the beach myself." she explained, "I will be back soon." She hugged her mother gently and kissed her cheek. "Don't be too cross with him Mother, at least when he goes you will be Queen alone" she had whispered the words, letting go of her Mother and stepping away, smiling before she turned, walking away gracefully.

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Mayah Playah

He was really not sure which part of the trip was worse: the one week journey into the unknown, the week in that inhospitable climate, or the one week trip back culminating the terrors of this tour. Never showing excessive weakness, he remained with his family for a goodly part of the rest of the day, even joining his babybig brother for a stroll through the garden. However as the day faded and they were summoned for supper, Ulric dismissed himself, saying the trip had absolutely exhausted him, and he still needed some time to reacclimatize his lungs to the salty sea air. ”But please, dear Flori, do go join them. I am probably just going to be reading in my room, no emergency you need to jump to, though…” he gave his beloved brother a wry little smile, ”if, perchance, you happened to get your hands on a little bit of bread for me, I certainly would not be one to deny admittance to my best nurse.” And with that he took his leave, bidding his retainer follow him (though frankly the retainer generally followed his master most anywhere unless instructed otherwise.) Though Ulric was not actively watching his brother as he ascended the steps, he was keeping an ear out to make sure the dear boy did not lurk in the hall or try to follow him. Half way up, Ulric stumbled and would have fallen, save his retainer could catch his master like a cobra catching its prey. Ulric thanked the man, but continued upwards on his own, well, until about three quarters of the way up, by that point he was stumbling with practically every step and he was none too sure of his step. Without a word, the retainer moved from behind to his master’s side, put the prince’s arm across his shoulders, then held the man tight to him. It was awkward, but it gave Ulric the stability he needed to counteract the lightheadedness which currently dimmed his senses. Finally achieving his quarters, Ulric directed his retainer to help him alight upon the bed and help him partially undress. His shirt and breeches would remain, as he expected Rowan to come visit at some point, but he could still be comfortable and decent enough at the same time. The retainer did not leave until his master was set up comfortably in bed and had whatever mysterious tome it was that he wanted, and of course, he only retired to his own quarters practically beside the prince once he had been dismissed.

Likely it had been little time indeed, but Ulric was already beginning to drift off here and there. He would inadvertently read the same sentence over and over, and lost track of a few minutes here and there. Still, he was determined to wait up…and just like that he was asleep, the book closed and resting upon his lap whilst his head had listed back into the pillow set up for him. It was not an ideal way to sleep, yet it was the position in which he now reposed.

Sunlight streamed in through the stained glass window, a million and one different hues of light dancing across the Prince’s pale skin. Like a morning glory, once he had absorbed a bit of the light, he began to stir awake. ”Poor Flori, I must have fallen asleep before he arrived…” He paused his sympathetic thoughts for a moment. ”I was sitting up last I recall, but now I find myself in a supine position?” He could only figure that Rowan must have come in last night, seen his little brother sleeping awkwardly, and tucked him in to bed. A moment later, another realization dawned upon him: he was not wearing the same clothes he had been when he fell asleep. ”That minx! Perhaps I should pay him back…” Well, whenever he saw him that was, but he was just waking up now, so of course there was always a fair chance that Rowan was in the room (or maybe even in the bed) with him, or waiting in a nearby room, or who knows what. It was hard to say what Nurse Flori might be up to at any given moment.