Post by Rachy on Aug 14, 2016 20:39:12 GMT 10
Title: Royal Visits
Rating: G
For: Idleness
Prompt: Silver: Dove makes a royal visit/Dove receives royal visitor.
Summary: For the celebration of five years of Dove's reign, Tortall sends the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. A slight follow on/between of A Suitable Suitor in Tortallan sentiments.
“I will be glad once all of this is over.” Dove tells Winna and Petranne, and smiles at the reflected pout Petranne wears. “Pet, every night this week has been the same. A ball, perhaps two if I am unlucky, held in commemoration or in remembrance, dancing with the same men and exchanging compliments with the same women. I then wonder at how I have not seen the same outfit on anyone, knowing the state of the treasury before and after my wardrobe was finalised. We then talk the same conversations as we did the night before, and there is no meaningful discussion to be had.”
“Won’t you have the same when you get married though?” Petranne asks innocently, and Winna smiles as she straightens wayward curls.
“I’ll issue a royal decree to prevent it.” Dove says firmly, and is rewarded with giggles. “Are you excited to meet their Royal Highnesses?”
“I think it’s sad they left their children at home.” Petranne frowns.
“As you are ready, Petranne, you should stop and see how Aly and Nawat are coping with the triplets tonight. And while you are there, be sure to ask her how she handled you and Elsren on the ship to Tanair. It is sad, and I am sure they miss them dearly, so do remember that if you happen to speak with them.” Winna smiles gently.
“Aunt Nuritin won’t let me near anyone of importance until I tell her what I want to say, and then she hovers over my shoulder for the whole conversation.”
“She remembers Sarai at 11, and then she remembers your conversation with Duke Nomru and his friends.” A reproving touch enters Winna’s tone, and Petranne kisses Dove’s cheek, curtsies and quickly leaves. Winna chuckles softly.
“And you, Winna?” Dove asks, twisting in her chair to look up at her stepmother.
“I think they are being quite brave. It is almost too confident, really. These celebrations, both for your birthday and for your fifth anniversary of your coronation, have ignited chaos of all forms, which we have managed well enough, thank Kyprioth. We never would have considered sending you away to visit, even if we had allies that we were confident were secure allies, and we still have hesitations about sending you to the outer Isles. Not until you were married, with heirs.”
“King Jonathan did have age on his side, and the luck of a good marriage to secure his throne. I merely have hopes that I may choose to be betrothed by spring.”
“And now is not the time to make hasty decisions on betrothals, no matter how successfully we think you will choose your betrothed. I think it is brave to visit, no matter how well guarded or informed, when celebrations are such an occasion for dissenters and the Isles may well enter civil war the instant anything happened to you.” Winna replies calmly, and rests her hand on Dove’s shoulder.
“That is remarkably cheery of you. Perhaps they thought I would be speedily betrothed, and would endeavour to wed while I was already celebrating. Why did no one suggest that to me?” Dove scowls slightly, her forehead crinkling.
“I’m not sure your council has the temperance to arrange three of the major events of your life at one time, my dear.” Winna steps back and Dove stands, shaking out her skirts.
*
“Your Highnesses, Cousins.” Dove stands and descends the steps with care, her dress floating behind her, and holds her hands out to her visitors, beckoning them to rise. “I welcome you to the Copper Isles and to Rajumat, and I thank you for your kindnesses in accepting our invitation to visit and join in our celebrations, especially during Midwinter. I hope too that you enjoy your time in the Isles, and your stay in our palace, and that you will experience the delights that we have n offer. Should you need of anything, or if anything does not meet your satisfaction, you will be sure to let one of my staff know.”
A brush of lips across hands, a soft-spoken reply, calm and utterly correct, devoid of any extravagant enthusiasm, three smiles and three glances exchanged, all the better to assess and judge how numerous and firsthand accounts differ.
Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami are colder than she had anticipated. Perhaps she is colder herself.
She watches them as subtly as she can for the rest of the night, whirled away in dances, watches who she speaks with and who they speak with until Fesgao tells her, quite firmly and with a little reproach, that Aly is being perfectly watchful, and that she herself is a cat with the twitching tail. She wonders softly to him, holding a hand to her mouth to cover a yawn, why they are here when their country has no interest in offering suitable candidates for marriage, but they send their heirs for celebrations when they too have no interest in here. He smiles and tells her he is glad that she is the one who plays the game. She frowns and seeks out Duke Vergudun, and takes an ever-growing party out into the terrace to observe the stars. It is a delight that a game of chess incorporates only two people, and Duke Nomru scowls and berates about his lack of concentration if the simpering is too loud.
She is conveniently surrounded by suitors when she spots Aly make her approach, and there is warmth on both sides conveyed. Aly had mentioned, shortly after their invitation was accepted, that the first exposure they had had to war and battle was a siege of her home by Carthaki and Islander raiders, and that she had been four while the Prince was ten. It was a reminder that Aly had quite grown up surrounded by a quasi family of the children of the most powerful men and women in Tortall, and while she trusted Aly and did not doubt her loyalty, she knew that connections were not broken easily. In many ways, from the letters and biannual visits, she thought that Sarai was closer to her now than she had been before, ever, and that Sarai possessed more of knowledge and interest in politics and everything that made Dove a queen than someone who had banished that life would want. For Mequen’s sake, or for her own, or for Dove herself, she did not know.
*
A garden party in the wintery grounds takes place three days later, and from all accounts (twice a day from Aly, observations from Chenaol, reports from Taybur by way of his guards, and putting all of these together with Fesgao and Winna), Roald and Shinkokami are entertaining themselves well. Visits to the temples, a trip to the palace markets and the palace armoury, a guided tour through the highlights of Rajmuat. She had thrown herself into neglected matters of governance, and resigned herself to the fact that both the desk in her private study in her suite and the desk in her public study were piled full and would remain so for quite some time.
She arrives late, stopping to make apologies along the way, and spots the Tortallans talking to Aunt Nuritin. She makes her way across the gardens and greets them carefully, and they make brittle small talk for a while. Everything she has read indicates they are reserved, as she is herself, but both had a love of tactics and military strategy that left them besotted. An interest that being Queen had sparked of necessity, and a little more, but nothing to the degree that Fesgao or Taybur could converse over.
“Would either of you like to join me on a walk around the lake?” She offers abruptly, calmly, and she watches the glance of a thousand words pass between them, the touch of a wrist, and she is surprised that it is Roald that takes up her offer. He offers her his arm and she takes it, and he looks over his shoulder out of habit. Fesgao and Taybur have already fallen into step behind them, and there is a small smile on his face when he turns back.
“I thought we would walk to the obelisk first.” She indicates with a wave of her hand, and he nods. “It is a memorial for those who passed in the Rittevon storm.”
“You have my sympathy for your losses.” He says quietly, and she turns her head to him.
“Thank you.” She replies. They reach the obelisk and her fingers trace the etched ship, as they always do, and she presses a kiss to her fingers and then to Elsren’s name.
“I look to make a marriage outside of the Isles, Your Highness, to create new ties for the Isles away from old allies and enemies. Would you offer any advice, having had an arranged betrothal yourself?” She closes her eyes and feels the mortification rise. Winna would not be pleased, and Aunt Nuritin would hover over her shoulder for years if she had heard. She startles a laugh out of him, long and soft, and he grins at her in surprise.
“Your Majesty is direct.”
“Impolite is the word you sought. Please do not feel you should answer.”
“I would have welcomed advice from others besides my parents. My father had arranged betrothals, and I had had another betrothed before her death. I was lucky enough to find love in my marriage, by fluke, and I could hope the same for you, though I was always told it unlikely. Common ground was the most crucial development, and we would not have found that without help of friends. My siblings and I were raised to find duty over love, and Shinko and I were blessed to find another who understood both."
"That is a wonderful thing for you both. I hope I find a similar happiness." She replies, and the talk flows smoother from then, from history to books.
"I have heard you play chess." Roald suggests, as they approach Shinkokami, who is sitting with Winna.
"It is a game I have some skill at."
"Will you ask my wife to play? It is one she enjoys."
Rating: G
For: Idleness
Prompt: Silver: Dove makes a royal visit/Dove receives royal visitor.
Summary: For the celebration of five years of Dove's reign, Tortall sends the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. A slight follow on/between of A Suitable Suitor in Tortallan sentiments.
“I will be glad once all of this is over.” Dove tells Winna and Petranne, and smiles at the reflected pout Petranne wears. “Pet, every night this week has been the same. A ball, perhaps two if I am unlucky, held in commemoration or in remembrance, dancing with the same men and exchanging compliments with the same women. I then wonder at how I have not seen the same outfit on anyone, knowing the state of the treasury before and after my wardrobe was finalised. We then talk the same conversations as we did the night before, and there is no meaningful discussion to be had.”
“Won’t you have the same when you get married though?” Petranne asks innocently, and Winna smiles as she straightens wayward curls.
“I’ll issue a royal decree to prevent it.” Dove says firmly, and is rewarded with giggles. “Are you excited to meet their Royal Highnesses?”
“I think it’s sad they left their children at home.” Petranne frowns.
“As you are ready, Petranne, you should stop and see how Aly and Nawat are coping with the triplets tonight. And while you are there, be sure to ask her how she handled you and Elsren on the ship to Tanair. It is sad, and I am sure they miss them dearly, so do remember that if you happen to speak with them.” Winna smiles gently.
“Aunt Nuritin won’t let me near anyone of importance until I tell her what I want to say, and then she hovers over my shoulder for the whole conversation.”
“She remembers Sarai at 11, and then she remembers your conversation with Duke Nomru and his friends.” A reproving touch enters Winna’s tone, and Petranne kisses Dove’s cheek, curtsies and quickly leaves. Winna chuckles softly.
“And you, Winna?” Dove asks, twisting in her chair to look up at her stepmother.
“I think they are being quite brave. It is almost too confident, really. These celebrations, both for your birthday and for your fifth anniversary of your coronation, have ignited chaos of all forms, which we have managed well enough, thank Kyprioth. We never would have considered sending you away to visit, even if we had allies that we were confident were secure allies, and we still have hesitations about sending you to the outer Isles. Not until you were married, with heirs.”
“King Jonathan did have age on his side, and the luck of a good marriage to secure his throne. I merely have hopes that I may choose to be betrothed by spring.”
“And now is not the time to make hasty decisions on betrothals, no matter how successfully we think you will choose your betrothed. I think it is brave to visit, no matter how well guarded or informed, when celebrations are such an occasion for dissenters and the Isles may well enter civil war the instant anything happened to you.” Winna replies calmly, and rests her hand on Dove’s shoulder.
“That is remarkably cheery of you. Perhaps they thought I would be speedily betrothed, and would endeavour to wed while I was already celebrating. Why did no one suggest that to me?” Dove scowls slightly, her forehead crinkling.
“I’m not sure your council has the temperance to arrange three of the major events of your life at one time, my dear.” Winna steps back and Dove stands, shaking out her skirts.
*
“Your Highnesses, Cousins.” Dove stands and descends the steps with care, her dress floating behind her, and holds her hands out to her visitors, beckoning them to rise. “I welcome you to the Copper Isles and to Rajumat, and I thank you for your kindnesses in accepting our invitation to visit and join in our celebrations, especially during Midwinter. I hope too that you enjoy your time in the Isles, and your stay in our palace, and that you will experience the delights that we have n offer. Should you need of anything, or if anything does not meet your satisfaction, you will be sure to let one of my staff know.”
A brush of lips across hands, a soft-spoken reply, calm and utterly correct, devoid of any extravagant enthusiasm, three smiles and three glances exchanged, all the better to assess and judge how numerous and firsthand accounts differ.
Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami are colder than she had anticipated. Perhaps she is colder herself.
She watches them as subtly as she can for the rest of the night, whirled away in dances, watches who she speaks with and who they speak with until Fesgao tells her, quite firmly and with a little reproach, that Aly is being perfectly watchful, and that she herself is a cat with the twitching tail. She wonders softly to him, holding a hand to her mouth to cover a yawn, why they are here when their country has no interest in offering suitable candidates for marriage, but they send their heirs for celebrations when they too have no interest in here. He smiles and tells her he is glad that she is the one who plays the game. She frowns and seeks out Duke Vergudun, and takes an ever-growing party out into the terrace to observe the stars. It is a delight that a game of chess incorporates only two people, and Duke Nomru scowls and berates about his lack of concentration if the simpering is too loud.
She is conveniently surrounded by suitors when she spots Aly make her approach, and there is warmth on both sides conveyed. Aly had mentioned, shortly after their invitation was accepted, that the first exposure they had had to war and battle was a siege of her home by Carthaki and Islander raiders, and that she had been four while the Prince was ten. It was a reminder that Aly had quite grown up surrounded by a quasi family of the children of the most powerful men and women in Tortall, and while she trusted Aly and did not doubt her loyalty, she knew that connections were not broken easily. In many ways, from the letters and biannual visits, she thought that Sarai was closer to her now than she had been before, ever, and that Sarai possessed more of knowledge and interest in politics and everything that made Dove a queen than someone who had banished that life would want. For Mequen’s sake, or for her own, or for Dove herself, she did not know.
*
A garden party in the wintery grounds takes place three days later, and from all accounts (twice a day from Aly, observations from Chenaol, reports from Taybur by way of his guards, and putting all of these together with Fesgao and Winna), Roald and Shinkokami are entertaining themselves well. Visits to the temples, a trip to the palace markets and the palace armoury, a guided tour through the highlights of Rajmuat. She had thrown herself into neglected matters of governance, and resigned herself to the fact that both the desk in her private study in her suite and the desk in her public study were piled full and would remain so for quite some time.
She arrives late, stopping to make apologies along the way, and spots the Tortallans talking to Aunt Nuritin. She makes her way across the gardens and greets them carefully, and they make brittle small talk for a while. Everything she has read indicates they are reserved, as she is herself, but both had a love of tactics and military strategy that left them besotted. An interest that being Queen had sparked of necessity, and a little more, but nothing to the degree that Fesgao or Taybur could converse over.
“Would either of you like to join me on a walk around the lake?” She offers abruptly, calmly, and she watches the glance of a thousand words pass between them, the touch of a wrist, and she is surprised that it is Roald that takes up her offer. He offers her his arm and she takes it, and he looks over his shoulder out of habit. Fesgao and Taybur have already fallen into step behind them, and there is a small smile on his face when he turns back.
“I thought we would walk to the obelisk first.” She indicates with a wave of her hand, and he nods. “It is a memorial for those who passed in the Rittevon storm.”
“You have my sympathy for your losses.” He says quietly, and she turns her head to him.
“Thank you.” She replies. They reach the obelisk and her fingers trace the etched ship, as they always do, and she presses a kiss to her fingers and then to Elsren’s name.
“I look to make a marriage outside of the Isles, Your Highness, to create new ties for the Isles away from old allies and enemies. Would you offer any advice, having had an arranged betrothal yourself?” She closes her eyes and feels the mortification rise. Winna would not be pleased, and Aunt Nuritin would hover over her shoulder for years if she had heard. She startles a laugh out of him, long and soft, and he grins at her in surprise.
“Your Majesty is direct.”
“Impolite is the word you sought. Please do not feel you should answer.”
“I would have welcomed advice from others besides my parents. My father had arranged betrothals, and I had had another betrothed before her death. I was lucky enough to find love in my marriage, by fluke, and I could hope the same for you, though I was always told it unlikely. Common ground was the most crucial development, and we would not have found that without help of friends. My siblings and I were raised to find duty over love, and Shinko and I were blessed to find another who understood both."
"That is a wonderful thing for you both. I hope I find a similar happiness." She replies, and the talk flows smoother from then, from history to books.
"I have heard you play chess." Roald suggests, as they approach Shinkokami, who is sitting with Winna.
"It is a game I have some skill at."
"Will you ask my wife to play? It is one she enjoys."