(M) To Love & Never Hold (Natora x EvelynWillows)

[EvelynWillows]

(Rated M for violence, betrayals, intrigue, sexual themes, drugs & alcohol, assassinations, and possibly more as the plot becomes more developed and complicated.)



To Love & Never Hold

Magic rolled across the dark thunderclouds as the wind ripped the mage's hood from his head. Dark hair whipped around the golden eyes of the Elf. He fought his horse and kept the beast focused on the muddy roadway. Their destination was less than an hour away; the Slyvan castle where his next assignment awaited him.

Tyrfayn Ambrians was not a young elf, as far as elves go. He had seen his share of winters and human kingdoms pass as he remained virtually unchanged to their more mortal eyes. He had begun working with other longer lived races nearly sixty years ago when his best friend, a human ranger, died of old age. Eighty-three years his friend had. It was much too little for a lifetime; an elf of eighty-three would be a young adult. Tyrfayn was considered in his prime. Most elves his age would have found a mate and started a family. Indeed, a successful and respected man like Tyr would have had many offers to share his life with another of his people.

But Tyr's magic required a sacrifice. His deity was jealous. To maintain the highest level of power that Master Ambrians enjoyed, he had to give his full focus to his art. And to do that he had to remain celibate.

He wiped the rain out of his eyes and pulled his hood back up. The magic was thick in the atmosphere. The gods had something in their plans, some kind of change was in the air. Tyr hated change. It was unpredictable. It ruined plans and destroyed goals. He drew in a deep breath, steeling himself for any signs of what might be coming lest it catch him off guard. The castle could be seen over the next hill; it's spires reaching high above the neighboring trees. Once he was at his next assignment he could find out the details of what the royal Sylvan family desired, and then he could start planning his next move to increase his standing in the circle of mages.

[Natora]

Reinatia Sylvan sat in her rooms with her maids. Soon the man who would write her ticket to doom would be here. Well he wasn't a man, he was an elf. Very different from her kind. Elves were foolish and easy to corrupt, especially by her own kind. She was a nnymph, her skin a beautiful soft cream as with the rest of the royal family with markings in various shades of brown on the right side of her face and over her forehead in the shape of branches and leaves. Her hair was a dark brown and being braided as she watched out the window with angry dark green eyes for the man that would bring all her happiness to an end. She had some slight magic abilities that she had never quite learned how to master yet but still was able to grow vines and the like, manipulate the trees. She wished she could do as much now without her father noticing but she knew that he would know it was her.

She sighed as she saw the elf ride over the last hill and start to descend down into the valley where their castle was set. She sighed and stood up, causing the maids to rush through braiding the last bit of her hair. She started walking with her ladies in waiting down the stairs to the throne room where she knew her parents would be waiting to receive their new guest. So easy to corrupt if she wanted to. Just as all the other men that her father wanted to see if appropriate to her. Reinatia was more than willing to just stay home and rule the kingdom herself for the rest of her life but her father had insisted that she find a man to help her rule their kingdom. She kept adament that she didn't need a man to do it but her arguments fell on deaf ears. So she stood and waited for their new guest beside her father who was beside her mother.

[EvelynWillows]

In the great roundabout before the castle adept groomsmen took Master Ambrians' mount and led her to the stables to be unpacked and rubbed down. Castle pages removed the mage's cloak as he strode into the hallway, and outside the receiving hall two armed guards relieved him of his sword and dagger. No one presented himself to the Slyvan king fully armed unless they were either part of his royal knighthood or they desired immediate death.

3455

Tyrfayn kept his eyes lowered as he approached the throne, a sign of respect and of his position here to serve the crown. Many distrusted mages, even still, and saw their direct gaze as a threat. Since Tyrfan was here to help as a gesture of goodwill between the Elves and the Sylvan he was very careful not to appear too eager to approach the noble family nor too reluctant.

Once he was near enough to see the foot of the throne pedestals he stopped and knelt on his left knee, his left hand on the ground and his right bent across his heart. "Master Tyrfayn Ambrians, order of the Five Swords, here as commanded Lord King. King Hirset of the Elven Nations sends his regards and well wishes." Only after his greeting was acknowledged by the Slyvan king would he raise his gaze to view those he would be serving for this assignment.

[Natora]

Reinatia watched with her parents as the man walked in. She would never admit it to anyone but herself but the mage was quite attractive once he was decloaked and all. She started absentmindedly thinking of what he might like shirtless. She shook her head slightly as he kneeled down in front of the royal family. She looked to her father after the stranger's introduction, waiting for his reply.

The king paused, considering him for a while before he decided to speak. "We have heard a great deal of you, Master Tyrfan. I hear you are the best at what you do and I expect no less for my daughter. We have agreed to marry our daughter to a prince or lord of elvish or nymph descent and I am relying on you to make a decision that will bode well for both my kingdom but more importantly, my daughter," he instructd easily. "Once you have finished this for me, our good graces will be with those of elvish descent."

He snapped his fingers and at once a servant rushed up to them, bowing and giving him a parchment. "This is a list of possible suitors. You will determine a final four with the help of our daughter and then you will take her to meet these suitors. If anything happens to her under your watch there will be a war and I warn you that we have not lost and I never intend to," he said to him evenly.

[EvelynWillows]

Once he was acknowledged Tyrfayn looked up at his ward. She was lovely; her skin was flawless and soft in shade, and the markings on her face only served to augment her features. Above all this was luscious dark brown hair braided in intricate patterns and she wore a tasteful but obviously expensively wrought outfit. For all outward appearances she would make a fine bride.

He listened to the king's requirements and bowed. "I will do everything possible to ensure a suitable match, my Lord." He took the parchment and rolled it up, not bothering to look at the names. "Before I can ascertain who the best match is for your daughter I must know more about her. With your permission, my Lord, I would like to understand what kind of woman she is, and what her hopes are for her match."

Tyrfayn took one step back. "I promise, my Lord, not even death will keep me from protecting your child." He let his eyes return to Reinatia's face. Not even she will keep me from doing my task. He was used to dealing with spoiled, petulant royal children. Lord Ambrians expected nothing less from this one. "By your leave, I'd like to have a few days with the princess before we begin to consider her suitors."

[Natora]

The king looked to Tyrfayn and considered his request. "You have two days, sir. Two days. On the third we are having a ball in my daughter's honour and you can learn more about the suitors there as well," he said to him simply, nodding. "Sneevel will show you to your rooms and I suggest you settle in for the night. We will have food and drink brought to you but it seems we are in for a rather nasty storm so I expect everything to stay in the castle and be locked within an hour," he said. As if to emphasize his point, a large wooden beam was lowered across the doors. "I think we should all start heading to bed," the king said with finality.

Sneevel ran out from behind the king and up to Tyrfayn. "Right this way, Master Tyrfayn," the rat nosed fidgeting servant said, bowing quickly. "Your rooms are down the hall from the princess," he said nodding again as he went to scuttle away.

"Sneevel," Reinatia said quickly before he could get too far. Her eyes hadn't wandered from the new addition to their keep. "If his rooms are the ones across from mine, I am sure that I can show him the way," she said, her voice flowing like silk to keep attention easily on her as she spoke. She nodded to Tyrfayn and gently said, "Follow me." Her ladies in waiting waited until both the new Master and their princess were walking before starting to follow. "How long of a journey did you have, Master Tyrfayn?" she asked curiously as she walked down the stone hallways.

[EvelynWillows]

Two days? Two days was barely long enough to properly introduce oneself. How was he to learn enough about his ward to guide her towards a suitable husband in merely two days?

Tyrfayn maintained his composure and inclined his head towards the king. Had this been his own ruler he might have spoken up and reasoned with him, but the mage had not spent enough time among the Sylvan to know whether to do so would incur the king's wrath or respect.

Sneeval looked exactly as his name sounded. If Tyr had believed in wererats he might have pegged the sylvan servant as a lycantrope in disguise. He followed the servant out of the receiving hall, pausing long enough to retrieve his sword and dagger from the guards outside the great entrance. As he was tightening his sword belt and sending the end of the leather through the loop the princess caught up with them. The sheer fabric of his tunic did little to hide the toned and well-muscled arms and chest under his half-robe. He had the lean body of a warrior and the eye of an intellectual. The best of both worlds in a nearly immortal form.

The mage regarded her with a curious expression. His golden eyes danced momentarily in amusement. Volunteering to show a guest to his room was hardly the behavior Tyr expected from a princess. He accepted his cloak from another attendant and draped it over his left arm before following Reinatia down the hallway. His ears flicked slightly as he heard the soft titterings of her ladies-in-waiting as they waited for the proper distance to grow before following their lady. Women.

"I've been on the road six weeks Princess Reinatia." When he said her name the sounds were distinct; foreign. It sounded like 'Rain-ah-ti-ah', with the emphasis on the 'ti'. "Though if I were to have traveled directly the trip would have been merely a moon. And you, my lady? Have you traveled far outside your father's protective walls?"

He regarded the way she held herself as they walked, and noted that she kept a friendly but respectable distance. That boded well for her. Thus far her conduct bespoke of good breeding and fine morals; a must when searching out the finest of suitors for his ward.

[Natora]

It wasn't easy to ignore him and his beautiful body that he had. She knew better than to speak in front of her ladies-in-waiting about certain things, though. As wonderful as they could sometimes be, they could also be the worst gossipers in the kingdom. She led his beautiful body down the hall and made a turn as he answered her question. Where on earth had he gone so he wouldn't have a direct route? What would he wante to see? She would save that question for a time when they had more speaking time than they did now. As it was, they were nearly at the rooms.

"The longest bit of travelling I have done before was about a week to our summer home. We make that trip every summer and I feel that when I was a child I might have made it take longer," she said simply, allowing a few fond memories dance in her head of the travels she had made before. With the pursuit of a 'partner' for her, as her mother liked to call it, she would be doing much longer travelling and as much as she may not enjoy spending more time with this man she was walking beside, she would at least like being allowed to spend a little time away from her family.

As they got to the hall with their rooms, Reinatia waved her ladies away and they scurried off to her room while she remained in the hallway with her new 'friend'. She waited until she heard her door close and then turned to look at him. "Your rooms are right here. There will be maids and servants in and out so if you need anything ask them," she said to him softly, her voice like honey. She started walking towards him, more like slowly strutting. Even though he towered almost two heads abover her, she still had a look in her eye that said she wasn't afraid of him and she was in charge here. Lowering her voice before speaking, she said, "And if you think that I will enjoy two seconds with you you are sadly mistaken." She put a hand gently on his chest and let her nails gently tickle his tunic, making sure he felt something as she pulled her hand down to his waist. As she did, she added, "The only part of the time that I am required to spend with you that I will enjoy will be watching your muscles as I make you wish for things you could never have imagined."

With that, her hand hesitating, wanting to stay on him, she turned and meant to walk back into her own rooms.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyr was mildly curious when the princess sent her ladies-in-waiting away. Was she about to plead her case for a preferred suitor? Or perhaps she wanted to live in a certain region of the kingdom. Whatever her reasons, she required privacy. Certainly it was her right, but it was highly unusual.

He recoiled noticeably when she placed her fingertips on his chest. Tyrfayn had let his guard down, and had she been an assassin he would have been helpless. His eyes widened slightly as the princess's threats sank in.

As she began to turn away the mage grabbed her wrist with his left hand. He jerked her back towards himself, his strength overcoming the surprise of her unexpected and unsolicited touch. "I don't know what you expect from your other guardians Princes Reinatia, but I am not here to enjoy your presence or to desire anything from you. Least of all your touch. You may be royalty, little one, but I am here to guard your father's interests. Touch me again and I will take you over my knee and spank you. Do you understand?" His voice was a low growl, tamed fury threatening to unleash itself upon her.

His golden eyes flared with anger and disappointment as he watched her expression. His hand was like a vice around her wrist, and already the faint metallic presence of magic was hanging in the air. If she tried anything more he'd be ready for her foolishness. "I asked you a question, princess. I expect you to answer me, and from henceforth you will address me as Master Ambrians unless I state otherwise."

If she answered Tyrfayn politely he intended to release her, but he was also ready to follow through on the threat of discipline if she pushed the issue. Princess or not, she needed to learn what the roles were than they were to play.

[Natora]

At the grab of her wrist she was tempted to turn back and slap him for being so abrupt with her. The only people that had ever grabbed her like that were someone trying to save her life or her parents. She lost the chance to prepare herself to turn and slap him when he pulled her back and instead just glared up at him as he threatened her right back. A battle of wits it seems, she thought to herself. She had little care for this man and she wasn't afraid to tell him why, not matter how perfect his outwards appearance seemed to be.

"I will not touch you again, Master Ambrians," she told him simply in understanding. "But while we are on the subject of getting to know each other's boundaries, let me be very clear. I do not care who you think you are or how immune to any form of penance here, but I am around the same age as you so let us be clear that I will not be treated like a child and spanked by anyone," she insisted, her honeyed voice getting a touch of venom in it.

She stood tall so that she was at as full a height as she could be, her body not far from his as she looked up into his eyes, her face calm, her voice quiet though it kept the bite in it. "Also, as you requested time to know me, there is really only one thing that you need to know. I do not wish to be married and that is why you are here. You are here because the last fifteen proposals that came my way were turned down by me. My father is tired of me turning useless, stupid men away who only wish to marry me for my title and so you are here to choose a suitable match since I have been deemed incapable of doing so. The sooner you make your decision, the faster I am to be forced into a loveless and horrible marriage where I sit quietly at one end of the table while my husband ruins both himself as well as his part of the country. That is why I despise you without knowing you but, as I must be, I will be cordial and pleasant while we are in company of others. Are we clear?" she asked him simply.

Though her words seemed angry and upset, it was clear that she was more furious with the situation than with him. Behind her eyes, she screamed of wanting out of this situation and to be given the right to live on her own terms. They were sad and tired with the effort it took to turn down all the men in this kingdom. Her eyes hid the fright of what could possibly be as they knew of the marriages that had only ended because the wife had spoken out one too many times and was swiftly executed. The possibilities were endless and she hated it all.

[EvelynWillows]

"Well then, Princess Reinatia, if you do not act like a spoiled child I will not treat you like one." He continued to hold her wrist as she straightened her posture, standing tall and proud next to him. Tyrfayn could feel her pulse against his fingertips and she steeled herself and explained her frustration with the entire ordeal. Her complaints made complete sense to him. Once her pulse slowed enough to indicate that she was calmer he nodded.

"Don't leave me." He released her wrist as if she was a pure vapor that escaped his grasp. "We only have two days, Princess. I am here to ensure that your father's and your kingdom's needs are met, and that includes your needs as well. Two days are not enough time to determine who will be the best match for you if we waste time by sleeping." He brought his fingertips together to steeple them in front of his chest, tapping them together lightly as he thought over her testimony.

"You deserve a husband who respects you as his equal in all things. A person who you can respect as well, who will not keep you as his token wife while the kingdom is destroyed one idiotic decision after another." He began to pace slowly as his mind worked, his entire focus now the princess' plight and the task ahead.

"Bring forth your two most trusted ladies-in-waiting, Princess. They must attend us as witnesses that no untoward act was committed while you and I discuss what lies ahead." He glanced sideways at her and pressed his lips together, one eyebrow arched sarcastically. "That is... if you can spare your beauty sleep for the good of the kingdom."

[Natora]

Reinatia looked at him confused when he dropped her wrist and started pacing. It was as if she was listening to the rumblings of a mad man. She didn't know what to expect from him yet and perhaps testing him so soon was a mistake. When he finally stopped his mutterings, though comprehensible mutterings, she looked surprised at his request. She was almost going to tell him no until he turned back and made that wonderful sarcatic remark, 'if you can spare your beauty sleep'. Now determined to show him otherwise, she nodded. "I will see you in your rooms soon," she said to him simply.

Turning, she walked gracefully to her rooms, going inside quietly. Once she was inside, she changed into something less heavy and more fitting than the royal gown she had been wearing before. She changed into a simple green gown that had no layers to the bottom of it so showed off how thin she truly was. She wasn't sure what he wanted to gain out of them staying up all night to learn about each other but she didn't figure she needed to be in formal attire to learn such things. After explaining that two ladies would be joining her and the others would stay, she led them back over to the guest rooms across the hall and knocked on Tyrfayn's door, waiting for him to answer.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn had brought little with him. At least it appeared that way. When he opened his bag though he pulled several tomes out of the small pack and placed them on the wooden table. Then he threw open the doors of the armoire and began to hang up the clothing he brought. Certainly the inside of his saddle bags seemed larger than the outside would indicate. The bag was simply Enchanted to hold his things in another dimension of space; a convenient way to easily transport his entire laboratory if he so desired.

He removed a well crafted small chest and set it reverently on the table next to the books. He had prepared several items to help with the tasks to follow, and they were certain to come in handy in the next week.

Tyr next lit a few lamps and candles throughout the large room he had been given. He removed his sword, setting it carefully near the bed, and was in the middle of pulling off his tunic to put on a softer one when the princess knocked on the door.

"Ah, good." He nodded at Princess Reinatia. "Send one of your servants to fetch us tea and a platter of food. He turned away and walked back into the room, pulling a soft maroon shirt on as he did so. "Make yourself comfortable Princess, I'll be with you in a moment."

[Natora]

Reinatia watched as he answerd them shirtless. She appreciated the show but knew the ladies would as well. She knew they weren't deaf, dumb, or blind and nodded for one to go get that done for her quickly. The maid scurried off, eager to be back now. Rein walked in with the other lady-in-waiting to sit down on one of the plush, lavish couches in the room. She looked to her maid as they sat and waited and commented, "You would think that he's the one who owns the palace, not the other way around," soliciting a laugh from the two of them.

She looked around the room and noticed the amounts of things she could see just by looking around the room. She hadn't seen him come in with any bagage and assumed some type of magic or trick played a role in that. She relaxed a bit and the other lady returned jsut a little later with two servants bringing in tea and two trays of food from fruits and vegetables to meat and cheese. Reina nodded and the ladies took to eating while she decided instead to simply sit and study everything she could so far about Tyrfayn.

[EvelynWillows]

The mage had finally found what he was looking for; a list of questions he found useful in determining what a person's true desires were. He returned to the area where Princess Reinatia and her women were waiting and looked at the ladies eating while their princess simply waited. "Ah... I see. Your servants eat before you or your guest. Is that how it is in this kingdom, Princess? You do realize that you teach people how to treat you; either your future husband will find you worthy of cherishing or he will decide you are little more than a nuisance." He waved a hand forward and a wooden chair moved nearer to the princess. Tyrfayn sat down and crossed one ankle over his knee as he studied the Sylvan woman.

He drew in a deep breath and let it out. In truth this moment was the first time he was able to take a small break since he arrived. He had neither been given a bath, nourishment, or time to unwind, but he decided it was more a case of differences in custom than a purposeful slight on the Sylvan people's behalf.

"I want you to be completely honest with me Princess. We're going to go through some questions that will help me to understand you and what you hope to gain in a husband. I already know that your preference would be to remain unmarried, but we both understand that option is not open to you. Are you willing to be honest, even if it may embarrass you to answer some of these questions?"

[Natora]

When he commented on her mannerisms she looked at him curiously. "There are two reasons they are eating before me. First, I was always taught never to eat after a dinner is had which we did some time ago now. Second, I'm not remotely hungry. I don't see a reason for me to gorge myself while there are others who want and require more to eat right now," she said with a simple, soft shrug. Why did it matter that she wasn't eating and the other ladies were? One handed her a cup of tea and she thanked the woman before taking a sip from the cup.

"If you're offended that they began eating before you did, I can assure you that if you wanted more food it would be brought. The principle of the matter still stands, I suppose." She put a hand up and the ladies put down the two separate plates they had for their own and brought the platters closer to Tyrfayn along with a separate plate he could serve himself on. It was obvoius that he wished to be treated as royalty was here. She nodded to the ladies and they stood behind the couch that she was sitting on, waiting. They weren't maids but they could already read the agitation on Reinatia's face.

She waited until they were in place and looked to Tyrfayn. "And, as for honesty, I will admit to anything you need me to admit to. I have no secrets that will prevent you from learning what you wish to know," she said to him, trying not to let the annoyance leak into her voice too much.

[EvelynWillows]

"Very well." He accepted the platter of food and set it on the air next to his chair. It hovered motionlessly within reach of his hand though no visible means of support could be seen. "I need you to admit to nothing Princess. Only to be truthful." He looked down at the paper in his hand and raised an eyebrow as he read over the questions. After a moment he looked back at Reinatia. "When you think of who you are, what words come to mind? Who are you in your estimation, and who do you wish your future husband to think you are?"

He set the parchment down. "In other words, is there a persona that you wish for him to see and how does that differ from who you truly are?"

As he waited for her to compose her answer he took a small cluster of grapes from his platter and began to eat them slowly, one by one. He seemed to be a spectator watching a game of cricket on the lawn; slightly disinterested by engaged enough to keep score.

[Natora]

If I might be telling you embarassing things, it will be me admitting the truths you want to hear. Nothing else, she thought to herself but decided to keep her annoyed tone under wraps for now. She heard him out, listening to his question and actually took some time to think about it. What kind of woman did she think she was? What kind of woman did she want to be? She certainly wouldn't want to hide a personality trait of hers from her husband or try to act differently and add one. The easiest way would be for a husband to accept who she is rather than trying to fool him into something she's not.

Not afraid to hide anything she admitted, "I find I am a determined and stubborn person. I am very independent and outspoken. I am obedient to those that hold more power than I do, my parents for example, but challenge those who who have less status than me and yet still try to control me, like you. What do I want my husband to see? All of that. I want to want to change that I challenge those beneath me since unless I marry an elven prince, I will not find someone that isn't below me," she said to him. "But the rest should remain the same."

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn gave a startled blink when Reinatia stated that he was of lesser status than she was. He made a small note on the parchment but said nothing until she was done describing herself. "Would it be fair to say, then, that you are headstrong and prejudiced? And perhaps, that you resist those who try to influence you?"

He took notes when she answered and then rested the end of his quill against his lips as he stared down at the papers.

"All things being equal would you prefer a man of status, perhaps a prince or king who took other lovers and allowed you to do the same, or a man who was a commoner who was faithful to you and expected the same in return?"

[Natora]

She noticed his started look when she said that he was lesser than her. It seemed obvious to her but now she was curious what kind of status he held where he was from. "As much as I hate to say it, yes I suppose I am prejudiced against people I do not know and very headstrong. And if you haven't noticed or couldn't pick it up on your own, yes, I resit those who try to influence my opinions." As she thought about her answer, though, she needed to add, "But to have a man that would only do as I say would be a very boring and intolerable relationship. He should have some sense about himself."

She thought again at her next answer before giving it. "I suppose, I would want someone of similar status as myself so I wouldn't lose all the grandeur of being a princess by getting married. However, when I marry I do not believe that there should be any infidelity on anyone's part. Marriage should be about two people who love each other or, as it will be in my case, who can learn to. I would never take another lover other than my husband."

After a short pause, she spoke again before he could say another question. "Master Ambrians, I must know. Why were you surprised when I said that you were of lesser status than I? In your kingdom are you considered higher or on par with the royal family?" she asked him, geniunely curious and not being snide at all. "I understand that you are a respectable elf but I never assumed so high with only the title of Master," she explained.

[EvelynWillows]

"I was surprised, Princes Reinatia, because you have formed opinions of my status based upon my service to your father's throne. You know nothing of my history. That is all. I am only as you see me, and the title I hold as Master of the Arcane is one I've earned." He smiled and inclined his head slightly. "How others may regard me does not affect my duties to you or your kingdom at this time, and I hope you will not let that influence you to disregard my advice when I give it."

"Now... let's go to the next level of questioning, shall we? What are your expectations for sex in the marriage and what is your knowledge of the more intimate relations between a man and a woman?"

At this line of questioning one of Reinatia's ladies tittered a nervous giggle which she quickly covered up with a gloved hand.

Tyrfayn made a short note on his parchment and waited for her answer.

[Natora]

Reinatia heard the giggle behind her but knew that the experience wasn't as the rumors said it was. She looked to Tyrfayn and considered him a moment before answering. "I would hope the sex would be enjoyable for both parties," she said to him simply, not blushing at the idea. "And contrary to popular belief, I have no experience in the act of sex but am fairly experienced in foreplay," she admitted to him, unashamed of her actions.

She leaned back into the sofa and made herself comfortable. "What is your past experience with women?" she asked him curiously. "And as for whether or not I accept your advice I will be putting my own opinions in as well, of course. But I was just merely curious to know what your status would be simply as you seemed to think that it would rival my own."

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn sighed. "Princess Reinatia I give no quarter to status. If I were helping the local blacksmith find a suitable husband for his daughter I would give them the same regard as I do to you. People are just... 'people' to me." He leaned forward and took a piece of bread off the tray, breaking it into a smaller piece before putting the bite in his mouth.

"My experience does not come into play in this situation. You can rest assured, however, that I will give you and your needs my complete attention while I'm with you. Next; what kind of interaction do you expect your husband to have with you regarding kingdom decisions? Are you content to let him take the reins with no input on your part? Or would you prefer to have complete control and have him let you rule as the king-en-nombre?"

He took a sip of his tea, and finding it cool waved a hand over it. A small wisp of steam rose up in the air.

[Natora]

Reinatia laughed gently and looked at the man who was not concerned with status. "You cannot sit there and tell me that people are just people if you demand the respect of a king but claim that you would happily treat a pauper the same," she said to him. "Demanding that you eat before the servants is not something I would expect of a man who thinks all people are equal." His reactions before told her that he expected the treatment of a Lord at least. To have him claim otherwise was laughable.

She shook her head and added, "I wish to have my husband be willing to advise me on matters of my kingdom but not expect me to agree to ridiculous and idiotic decisions that he may choose to have. Also, I want to know exactly how many and which needs you intend to meet that I may have." A smirk danced on her lips. He claimed nothing in sexual experience but he had said he would give her need his complete attention.

[EvelynWillows]

"You misunderstand me, Princess. I expect to be treated with respect because of what I am doing, not because of who my parents are. I believe that everyone is born with equal worth; it's what we do with our lives that should be weighed, not what rank we are born into. That's completely different from judging people ba- " he stopped and drew in a breath. "You know, it's completely out of line to be discussing me. We are here to help you make the most important decision of your life." He leaned back in his chair and switched his legs, crossing the other side over as he had the first.

He seemed to not understand Reinatia's innuendo at first. Tyrfayn raked his eyes over her face and then looked at her ladies-in-waiting. Comically the Elf opened and shut his mouth several times before answering. "I meant that I am here to help you and your father the king completely in your search for the appropriate mate, Princess Reinatia. I am not on your list of suitors, nor do I wish to be, so you may set aside any concerns you have regarding my motive for understanding you better. I am not marriagable. I do not even wish to sample your wares."

He took another drink from his tea cup and looked out the window at the night sky. A few moments later he returned his gaze to Reinatia's face. "Describe to me the perfect husband for you. What would he look like, how would he act. What would he do with you that would demonstrate his affections for you, and how would he best handle any disagreements you had?"

[Natora]

Reinatia laughed gently when he told her that he was not on her list of men that her father would consider worthy. It was an amusing thought, this man who kept to himself and didn't wish to spend any time with her might actually be a suitor for her. She looked at him almost accusingly. "So are you saying, as women are truly limited in what they are able to do unless they have a title, that all women are beneath even the lowest of men?" she asked him curiously.

Ignoring her question for a moment, she took a sip of tea before answering his next question. "The perfect husband," she mused laughing gently at the thought. "He would be strong, unwilling to let sloth take him over. A man who wishes to better the lives of the people he rules over. A man who would not be ashamed to admit if he has made a mistake instead of blaming the problem on the people or possibly myself." She gave a half smile when he mentioned how he would show his affection. "Not being afraid to hold my hand simply or show small piece of affection even in the eye of the public. I do not see why some men decide to cease such actions once they are married. It makes no sense," she said to him.

"Now, you should answer my question before I will answer another of yours," she stated with finality as she looked at him.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn was busy taking notes about the princess' ideas of how her husband should be when she gave him her ultimatum. "What question? You mean that nonsense about women being less than men?" He quieted and then shook his head. "I never said that, and if my words seem to insinuate that I believed that to be the case I apologize. It's true that women are limited by what they can do, especially if they are not given a title. But the same holds true for men. Had I no title or name of rank it is highly unlikely that your father the king would have agreed to solicit my assistance. Even if I had a perfect track record of reading people."

He set the parchment on the floating tray and steepled his fingers in front of his chest. "Women and men are different for a reason, Princess. They compliment each other with their differences, and can only be considered 'whole' if they have found the right mate. That's what I'm here for; to help you find the right mate. Unfortunately your choice must be tempered by what is also best for your kingdom. Had you a brother you could consider marrying for affection alone but since you are the sole heir..." he opened his hands as if to catch a sphere falling to his lap, "it's possible that you may have to place the needs of the kingdom above your own."

[Natora]

The princess nodded to his response, satisfied with his answer. She uncrossed arms that she realised later on had become crossed as if to protect herself. She sipped once more on her tea before setting it to the table beside her. "Very well. I accept your apology and will hear the rest of your questions," she said to him. This truly was amusing to her and she had a small smile on her face, unwarranted as it may be. As much as he was learning about her, she was also learning how timid he really was around women no matter how educated and talented he may be.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn smiled at her acceptance. She was hot or cold, it seemed. Nothing in between. He nodded and picked his parchment up again. "Very well. Tell me about yourself. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? If you have a full day to do whatever you'd like to do what would it be?"

As he spoke to the princess he noticed one of her ladies slowly licking her bottom lip as she eyed hid body. He glanced down and noticed that he had neglected to button his shirt so it hung open slightly, revealing the lines of his body underneath. He could have sworn that he buttoned it. As he idly began to fasten his shirt it occurred to him that he might have been so engrossed in focusing on Reinatia that he neglected to ward against simple charms and enchantments.

It was laziness to be so focused. He had dropped his guard again, a fatal flaw in one like himself. His brow creased slightly as he pondered this change in his behavior.

[Natora]

"I wouldn't argue if you wanted to leave the undone, Master Ambrians," she said as she noticed him starting to do up his top, a smirk playing on her soft and supple lips. She shook her head and broke her gaze for a moment before returning it to his eyes where it had been resting ever so happily before. If there was one thing that she enjoyed about the time together, his form was certainly one. She hadn't been looking at his torso outright once but had noticed it all the time.

"As for what I would do with my free time, riding and practicing magic is always fun," she said easily. She seemed a bit uneasy for a moment before looking to her lap. One of her ladies looked nervous behind her seeming to know what the princess's thoughts were. "Of course my studies of the history of our kingdom and battle strategies take up some time as well," she added before pausing again. As Tyrfayn had done before, she opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again.

Finally, she looked back up to him, speaking very calculatedly. "What I am about to tell you, Master Ambrians, will not leave this room. Everyone in this room besides you knows this secret and has for some time. If it finds its way to my father, I will be sure to wring your neck personally," she threatened easily. She paused as if still unsure she could trust him with this secret. She took a deep breath and finally started. "When I do have free time, I hide from my father. Not in the place you would expect. I request my lady's clothing and dress as a commoner, going into the town, learning secrets that no one would dare tell royalty. What I enjoy doing in my spare time is finding how to help my people. I go to my father when I return and recommend things to him. The people often get at least a portion of their request and my father never knows nor needs to know what I do when I am gone."

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn had indicated that he would keep her secret. He was, after all, to advise her in the most intimate of decisions. Certainly he could keep a secret. Her past time surprised him. He stared openly at her for a few minutes. "How is it that no one recognizes you, Princess? You do not appear common in the least. Even in rags you would stand out among the people. Do you use enchantments?"

He found himself intrigued at the idea that she would conceal herself to find out what the people thought and needed. Indeed, she may not think that a commoner was fit to marry her, but she did care for their plight it appeared.

"Do you use a pseudonym when you go to town? And have you developed relationships under this other persona?" The questions had nothing to do with her impending marriage but he found the idea captivating. He realized as he asked the questions, though, that he was asking for personal interest and not as part of the screening process.

[Natora]

When he kept demanding more of her, she put up a finger to make him pause and then covered a deep yawn. She took a deep breath after then looked back to him. "There are many ways that we use to cover my identity. It does not matter what they are. The people know me as Yeldana, a traveller that uses Candor as a stop during my travels to see my parents and my grandmother. There are many people that I have come to enjoy the company of but I will admit that the most difficult thing to hide is the way I speak. I appreciate my people, Master Ambrians but, as I'm sure is going through your head, I would never marry one of them. As much as they dream of this life, it is not one that I would wish on someone who doesn't understand it," she said softly.

She was surprised by his quick curiousity at her actions outside of her required time. She smirked and asked, "Should we maybe concern ourselves further with the questions you are supposed to ask me?"

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn found himself feeling tired as well. He rubbed his palm across his face and peered at the princess from above his hand. "I'm sorry, Princess. I'm more tired than I thought I'd be. With your leave I'd like to continue with you in the morning. Perhaps after breakfast? I've been awake for three days and it has caught up with me finally."

He let the platter of food settle slowly to the ground. He sat there for a moment, his head resting in his hand as he watched the princess. He seemed concerned, like a craftsman examining an item and finding it not as he had left it the previous night. The mage drew in a breath as if to say something else, but then closed his eyes and relaxed.

Tyrfayn was asleep.

One of the ladies behind Princess Reinatia shifted. "What should we do your highness?" She rested her fingertips lightly on the back of the couch.

[Natora]

Reinatia noticed the curious look that he was giving her right before he passed out where he was sitting. She shook her head and yawned one more time. She stood as the lady asked what they should do. "Call one of the guards in to put him in a proper place to sleep," she said simply. The other of the ladies went out and immediately brought a guard back. He went over to the mage and carefully lifted him and put him in bed. The princess walked up beside the bed and pulled the covers over him before turning away and looking towards the three that were now in the room with her. "Take the trays and finish them if you wish. We go now and let the man sleep," she insisted before walking with them out to her own rooms.

As she crawled into bed, she couldn't help but think of the man she had met tonight. What did he mean by the curious look he had given her before he fell to sleep? Why hadn't he been able to sleep in three days? Were the roads that ridden with bandits? Many thoughts went through her head until she fell into a restful sleep overnight.
***

She woke late the next morning and had breakfast brought to her instead of joining her parents. It was a good enough breakfast before she changed and, instead of disturbing Tyrfayn, went for a morning ride. Trying to be as considerate as possible, she left one of her ladies to wait to see when he would wake up. If he woke before she got back, he would be told of her whereabouts on the sunny morning after the dark storm had finally finished howling.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn woke with a start. His heart pounded against his chest and his breath came in short gasps. It took a moment for him to remember where he was. The Sylvan kingdoms. He was talking to Princess Reinatia and -

He sat up quickly and looked around. He was alone. Alone. Tyrfayn drew in a relieved breath. He swung his feet out of the bed and saw with an amused chuckle that however he had gotten to bed it was fully clothed. That was better than the alternative. He remembered a story of another Master of the Arcane who had been captured, tied down, drugged and raped. When he realized what had happened the other man had taken his own life in anguish over losing connection with his power source.

Tyr shuddered. He, too, was close to reaching the True Adept level. He didn't want one night of carelessness to destroy the lifetime of work that it took to get him there. He cleaned himself up and got dressed in fresh clothing. He brushed his dark hair out of his eyes and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He looked lost. Tyrfayn blinked several times. Finally his eyes lost their bleached out color and returned to the rich gold that was customary to his family.

He spent time in prayer before going out to face the others. Since his powers were tied so closely to his god it was essential that he didn't neglect his relationship with Him. It was like cultivating a love affair; it took constant grooming, time spent together, and communication, to keep the connection strong.

Once he was done he went to find the princess. Her lady-in-waiting stopped him and told him Reinatia's whereabouts. "She went out alone?" He didn't like the sound of that. At the lady's affirmation, Tyr went to have his horse saddled. It was dangerous for her to be out alone, whether she understood it or not. She was the sole heir of the kingdom; the peace of her nation relied on her.

He quickly found his way out of the castle and the city and began to track the direction that the lady had said the princess would go. Inside he felt his irritation growing. Why couldn't she have waited for him or taken a few guards? Why did she feel like she had to go alone?

[Natora]

Reinatia had ridden out into the center of the woods where she normally went when she wanted to clear her head and just relax. She calmly rode up to her common clearning, yet again taking a different route to get there. Never taking the same route twice when she was on her own helped to ensure she remained as safe as could be. Her powers over the forest certainly helped with that as well. Finally finding her clearing, she dismounted from her horse and let it roam as she walked into the open field.

Here was a perfect circle of trees missing, the grass growing to one's knees. If you laid down, you could go missing to anyone who happened to stumble by your hiding place. She smiled and walked to the center of the circle, the grass tickling against her feet, paying attention to every new turn of soil since her last visit. Paying attention she would be able to tell what animals and if any people had come through. Paying attention to the forest was the easiest way to tell if she was being followed.

At the center, she sat down in the grass, sitting on her knees. She closed her eyes and put her hands on the ground, reading it, taking in every movement within one hundred yards of her spot. She could tell every movement of every creature, just by sitting there and touching the ground.

Then she felt something new, a creature that wasn't used to the forest. A traveller maybe? Lost after a long day's journey? She whistled softly, a bird hearing her call and going to see who it was. When the bird returned describing a man of Tyrfayn's description, she knew what he was looking for, or rather whom. She used her powers over the forest to part leaves and branches, showing him a direct path to where she was.

[EvelynWillows]

He was beginning to grow concerned. The princess had a glade that had been described to him; a place that he was assured would be impossible to miss. Yet he couldn't find signs of her passing anywhere. His horse sensed the rider's nervousness and it translated into his legs. His hooves hit the ground with a jarring sharpness that was almost a physical attack on the ground.

Where was she?

He was about to send forth a seeking spell when a soft breeze seemed to blow some branches aside and he saw her. She looked like a forest guardian sitting there, her hands deep in the grass. He felt as if he would always remember the way she looked. She was perfect. No artist could replicate the way the light hit her just then.

Tyrfayn wove his horse towards his goal. Once he was within polite conversational distance he dismounted and allowed his horse to graze.

"Princess Reinatia. I was concerned." He found it difficult to take his eyes off of her. "Until you are safely wed would you please do me the favor of always taking a guard with you? I'd be a terrible mage if you wound up dead or a hostage before you were properly joined with another."

He stood near her and seemed to be at a loss without any furniture around. "May I sit with you?" He had taken off his cloak and was busy folding it while he waited.

[Natora]

The green eyes remained hidden under her heavy lids as she stayed in her place, calming herself as he rode clsoer. At his request once he got close enough, she laughed amusedly. Her eyes stayed closed as she answered, "You may sit anywhere you like Master Ambrians. And you have no need to be concerened. I have been riding to this glen alone since I was twelve. Not many are able or welcome to find me here. Consider yourself honoured." With her eyes still closed, she took quick inventory of what was around them and finally opened her eyes.

She looked over at him as he sat down. "Also, I do not understand why having a guard near me until I'm married rather than when you leave will do me any good. There is an attack on my or my father or mother's life almost every week. Not once has it been this far from the castle unless on the road," she admitted to him. "I would be able to tell if one was coming anyways."

[EvelynWillows]

"Well, thank you for honoring me then." Tyrfayn sat down near the princess and looked across the glade. "it's beautiful here. It's no wonder you seek the solitude of this place." He found sitting uncomfortable and leaned back on an elbow. It was more like lounging than sitting. "I suppose you are right. If you are as attuned with the forest add the books day your kind are then you have little to fear. Still... I would be more comfortable if you had someone with you."

"I must admit that of all the elven kind I know the least about yours. Where does your power come from? "

[Natora]

She looked over at him as he leaned back, noticing his change of clothes and that he seemed more fresh and alert than he had last time she had seen him. The question caught her off guard but she shrugged softly. "I'm not sure I understand your question but I will explain as best I can. Each nymph has a certain control over an element. We are given that priviledge at birth. It chooses us before we have a chance to understand what anything means. It starts off rather small but as we learn to master it all, we can find great strength in our powers," she explained.

"I was given power over the earth. I come here to practice as much as I can. It's a wonderful gift to have, being able to make things grow," she said to him. As she did, she made a bright purple flower grow near him, circling up a stem near his hip. "I cannot create things, just enhance what our Mother has already given us," she said to him as she looked at the flower. "Sadly, I can also age things too far, creating much pain and death for them," she said as her tone and face became darker. "It is an interesting burden to control."

[EvelynWillows]

He carefully watched the change in her as she spoke about her gift. It seemed like she had a love hate relationship with it. "You sound as if you've felt the burden of using your gift too far, Princess. I didn't realize that your powers extended to creatures as well as plants. Would you tell me about your experiences?"

Tyrfayn "And you never mentioned the source of your power. Who gave you the power over the earth?" He had experiences with those who were gifted by deities, such as himself, as well as those who learned to manipulate the energy within things and to create powerful relics and potions. There was a move towards using the alchemist knowledge in more ways by commoners, and even a small but profitable market in such things. Tyr found it difficult to approve of, though. The people who bought potions and items did not have the wisdom to wield them reponsibly in his opinion, though he was sure that his views would seem elitist to some.

He idly caressed a clover stem as they talked. It was nice; this quiet retreat seemed to shut the rest of the world away from them.

[Natora]

Reinatia shook her head softly. "It does not extend to creatures," she said softly. "I'm sorry if I made it seem so. I once killed a section of forest because I didn't know how to stop it," she said softly to him, in explanation. She shook her head and relaxed, laying back in the grass so she almost disappeared. "I was born with my powers. I do not know where they come from. When I was young I do remember that I had to learn to control them and that was when I killed that forest," she said softly in remembrance. "I thank the Mother that I have the powers but that is the extent of my knowledge," she said to him softly.

[EvelynWillows]

He had discovered in the past that if he couldn't see who he was talking to it was difficult to read their underlying emotions. So when Princess Reinatia laid back in the grass, Tyr moved to where he was next to her and could look across his chest and see her face. They laid side by side that way, a half an arm's length away from each other.

"It wasn't that you made it seem that you were referring to creatures, it was that I assumed only creatures could experience pain." He paused.

"I brought a gift for you; something to help you discern whether someone was telling you the truth or not." He reached into his vest pocket and drew out a delicate bracelet (http://cdn102.iofferphoto.com/img/item/530/426/400/natural-gem-emerald-ruby-sapphire-925-silver-bracelet-07e1.jpg). The vines of platinum twined around precious sapphire and ruby gems, formed into flowers. Emerald accents imitated leaves in the design. "The enchantment will only last a month, Princess, but it may help you to make your decision more confidently. Here, let me show you how it works. May I?" He held his hand out for her left wrist.

[Natora]

Reinatia shook her head. "Anything can experience pain," she said to him softly before he offered her the bracelet. She sat up and looked at the beautiful piece of jewellery It was stunning and she was quite impressed that he would think so much of getting her a gift that would actually be useful. "It's stunning," she said in quiet awe, holding out her wrist as he had requested so he could put it on for her.

The thought was more than she could have asked for since it was actually something more than a simple piece of jewellery. She had been given gifts before but this was so delicate and beautiful she could help but get a little softer towards him for giving it to her. Maybe she had been judging him too harshly before. "So what exactly does it do?" she asked him curiously, looking up at his beautiful golden eyes.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn clasped the piece of jewelry around her left wrist. "It tells you whether someone is telling the truth. But you must activate it. When you meet a suitor allow him to take your left hand. Most will kiss your hand," he said, bringing her hand to his lips. His eyes met hers. "There, now for the next day anytime you speak to me you will know if I'm telling you the truth based upon the temperature of your bracelet."

The jewelry was warm and comforting on her wrist. Truth. "If I were to lie it would turn cold." He looked away slightly and then back at her. "I want to set you up with a man who will ruin your kingdom."

The bracelet crew cold. Lies.

"If you wish to continue scanning a suitor after the first day is over simply touch him with your left hand and it will renew its connection." Warm. Truth.

[Natora]

Reinatia looked at the bracelet curiously as he explained how it worked, curious to know if it did. When he demonstrated the way it work she smiled widely. "It's incredible," she complimented him. "Thank you so much." She looked up at him, smiling warmly. She could at least be more gentle towards him. He was showing her an amazing amount of kindness and seemed to never think anything of it.

She opened her mouth to say something to him but stopped. Silence followed as she stayed quiet and listened. It was obvious she was searching for something. The trees around her sounded dead. Putting both her hands on the ground and closed her eyes, staying silent for a long drawn out moment. She opened them suddenly, an intense and almost frightened look in her eyes as she looked in a certain direction. "Run," she said, almost a whisper at first. She whistled to her horse and stood. "Run!" she demanded more firmly as she reached up, mounting the horse as it was running and rode off in the opposite direction of where she had looked only moments before.

As if to help with her incentive, an arrow lodged itself in the ground where she had been not moments before.

[EvelynWillows]

He enjoyed that expression on her face; the look of quiet, unexpected surprise. Someone is going to spend his life trying to keep her happy just to see that smile, he thought. When she grew quiet he turned to look in the direction that she seemed concerned with. He wanted to ask her what she sensed but didn't want to disturb her magic.

"Go!" He shouted at her. "I'll shield you!"

Tyrfayn turned towards the threat and swept his arm across the glade. A shimmering bubble of air fanned outwards across the forest. Where it met each aggressor it would outline him in glowing light, making them ready to spot.

Another arrow flew at the mage but slammed harmlessly into an unseen barrier three feet from his body. An enchantment against missiles courtesy of his magical bracers. Tyr was waiting to see where the majority of the attackers were coming from so he could ensnare them in a magicked web before disappearing.

[Natora]

She rode her horse to the edge of the clearing and stopped, turning back to watch Tyrfayn as he started using some magic. After she saw the shimmering bubble and was very confused, it didn't take long for her peripherals to see something shinig in the forest. Looking at it, she gasped. The outline of two men in the trees overlooking the glade could be seen. "Incredible," she whispered. She had never seem magic in any form other than the powers of the elements that she had seen the nymphs use.

Deciding that helping him might be useful, she made a motion with her hand and pulled the trees back, giving him a perfect line of sight to them. She could have let the vines eat them alive but she was curious to know what Master Ambrians would do to them as well. She sat and waited patiently though her heart was drumming hard and fast.

[EvelynWillows]

He waited to see the attackers and was surprised to see the trees move aside. Reinatia. He found it hard not to smile. Even though she ordered him to run, she herself had not gone far. She had loyalty. Or...Maybe she simply wanted to see him falter.

Tyrfayn brought his hands together and then spread them wide. Instantly a large web engulfed the two would be perpetrators.

One cried out in surprise and the other loosed a final arrow in Tyr's direction. It arced high and fell impotently to the ground.

[Natora]

Reinatia watched as the net enveloped the attackers. She smirked gently and rode slowly back over to him, keeping an eye out for flying arrows. "I was wondering when they would come by," she commented absently. "We should head back to the castle now. Magic or not the net won't keep them there for long and we will just have the same problem on our hands," she said to him.

There were always attempts on the royal family's lives. It just happened that this week was a slow week. She was lucky this time to have had Tyrfayn there. If he hadn't been she would have been simply running for her life.

[EvelynWillows]

"Wait, do you mean for us to simply leave them here? We should bring them in to the constable your highness. They tried to kill you." He unconsciously stepped closer to her partially in a protective manner. "Those who seek to harm you should fear the repercussions of being caught. It's inevitably will lead to more attempts if they're not made am example of."

Tyrfayn looked at the would be assassins. They still struggled in the webs though every movement made them more entangled.

[Natora]

"Master Ambrians, I am not sure that how things happen here is the same as where you come from. Twice a week someone is after my life or one of my family's and once a week we execute them," she said to him. "I will tell my father and he will execute the next set of them that come," she said to him. "Come. I will tell my father of your bravery," she said to him with a small smile.

She looked back up at the assassins. "Mind, they did try on your life as well. If you want them executed, you're welcome to bring them back and have them executed," she said to him. She was regarding them with a cold, hard stare, her light and happiness from moments ago seeming gone with the wind.

[EvelynWillows]

"To execute them would be a kindness." Tyrfayn watched the men continue in their struggle. After a brief moment of consideration he nodded to Reinatia. "This is your kingdom, Princess. We will conduct ourselves in the manner you would prefer. And so...they live."

As they walked back towards their horses he frowned in thought. "Do you always execute the 'every other' assassin, or is it more random than that? And may I ask if that method has shown any success in lessening the attacks?"

He waited for his horse to turn towards him before he closed the final five feet to the stallion. The large grey nuzzled Tyrfayn's hand and then lowered his head and snorted.

"Don't worry," he teased the creature, "you're not rid of me yet."

[Natora]

Reinatia shrugged and said, "At a time there was an attack almost every other day. They gamble on being the attack that we kill in a week. Some my father takes away to do... something with." The last part was said with distaste and a small quiver. "I'll admit that I have often been a soft heart, not one to see them killed or tortured. That is one reason my father always encourages me to have a husband with a firm hand. That way one of us will be able to make the hard decisions," she said to him with a shake of her head.

She gently kicked her horse's flanks and he started trotting off towards the castle. "Are you hungry, Master Ambrians? I'm sure lunch is about ready to be served," she said to him simply.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn shook his head and grinned at the king's suggestion for a firm-handed husband. "And you, Princess? Do you want a husband who will be the steel to your velvet?" He urged his grey horse to keep up with hers. At the same time he glanced behind himself and sent sleeping magic back towards the bandits to secure them until the king's men arrived. The morning was growing warm and the perfume of the wildflowers in the meadow was already thick in the air. He hoped that would augment his enchantment. "Do you want a Prince in shining armor who will ride in and slay those who dare threaten you?"

At her mention of lunch his stomach protested. He frowned disapprovingly. "Yes, actually. I didn't eat prior to seeking you out this morning." They passed through the gates to the castle. Unlike human cities where stone and metal shielded the castle, here large thickets of thorns and vines made an impassable barrier. The gates were made of ornately carved ironwood and enchanted by the Sylvans to resist fire. It was like passing through the wild forest into a tamed garden of life and magic.

Several of the guards regarded the pair with interested gazes. Many did not know of the impending nuptials and had not been introduced to the mage. The grooms held the horses for the pair and waited for them to dismount so they could tend to their horses.

"Today, Princess, I want to learn what your hopes for your kingdom and yourself are. I'd like you to tell me everything, from how many children you yearn for to whether or not you want to expand the kingdom itself, and if so whether it is through war or negotiations. I'd even like to learn what kind of lover or friend you hope your husband to be so we can both search out your suitors with the same standards when they arrive in two days."

[Natora]

"All in due time, my friend," she said to him as she dismounted from her horse and started to led them back into the palace. "First, we have lunch. Then, possibly even as we are eating we will talk," she said to him. As they walked through the doors many ladies in waiting and attendents came to them, starting to fuss over the princess and offering their guest anything he desired. The princess stopped walking and held up a hand to silence them all. "We will be having lunch in the gardens. Bring it there, please, and wait for anything else until we are done." It was a simple order and they all went about their things to do though a few ladies remained with the princess to which she didn't object.

Reinatia led the way to the gardens. "It's a pitty you couldn't see the gardens last night. They are lit up beautiful by little lightning bugs," she told him. When they walked out there was a lavish garden bearing all number of different flowers and greens. She walked with him to a place where a small table and chairs were set, all made out of curling wood, covered by a large willow tree. "It's one of the most private places there is to talk," she told him. "The ladies walk around the garden and we are free to stay and talk as long as we need," she explained. As she sat down, a few servants rushed up with water glasses and trays of food for lunch. After setting everything down they were off again. "Shall we?" she asked gently.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyr had smiled softly, both at her admonishment to be patient and at the fact that she called him friend. Even in the short time they had been around each other it was evident that she was a woman who seemed confident enough to change her mind as she learned more about the situation. He thought that whomever ruled with her would have a fine partner if he respected her abilities and kept her heart cherished.

He followed her quietly and watched how she handled her attenders. There was strength and have in every interaction. "Are you inviting me to accompany you back to the gardens tonight? " he asked once they were seated. He saw that she waited for the servants to depart before inviting him to dine and he found himself approving of her mannerisms. It wasn't for him to approve or disapprove, he reminded himself. Only to observe. After all, she wasn't too be his wife or he her husband.

"I am honored that you called me 'friend', Princess. In fact, that is the most appropriate description of who I am to you. I am here to protect your father's Kingdom and your heart. I hope you will trust me to do that." Tyrfayn held her gaze as he paused before eating. "This is likely to be the most important decision of your life."

[Natora]

She laughed gently when he remarked that it would likely be the most important decision of her life. "This decision may be important, Master Ambrians, but it most certainly is not mine. Your suggestion will be taken as a proposal to my father and he will demand the wedding happen between the man you choose for me and myself. My decisioin, as I have said before, is simply to not marry." She took a few bites of lunch and sip of tea before continuing.

"In either case, I will do as you request and tell you the answers to your list of questions as we rode in," she said before taking another bite of food. It was a good lunch. Sandwiches with some fine flavouring herbs. "Now, why not start with the kingdom. I would love to see the kingdom grow, have it protect and earn from some of the small communities that are just outside our borders yet not in anyone else's. Those can be attained by bargains and words, simple enough, I think. As for getting lands by force, I do not believe it wise to start an agressive move. I think it would always be easier to try and begin with words leaving the threat up to them but then defeating them at their own game. Much more fun that way. I would never want to try and steal lands from a large kingdom since it seems that it would probably end with the surrender of my own part.

"As for what I want for myself, there isn't a man that fits that description that my father has tried to suit me with so far. Of course, as any woman, I want a handsome man but that is not the most important thing. A man that knows how to show a woman respect and love. One who will treat me so kindly and wantingly, as if he spending time with me and me alone is the only thing he wants. I will know he loves me when he cherishes every part of me and compliments me well. I do not need lavish or expensive things to know he loves me and I want him to understand that. Unlike you, most of the men here have decided to give me expensive pets or gaudy jewellery," she said to him, shaking her head. Most men were so clueless. "I would love a man that appreciates the finer and more simple things in life, a man that would fight for me and my serenity. As you put it earlier, yes, a steel to my velvet. He will want grand and glorious things for my kingdom and not be so foolish as to run it into the ground, maybe even listen to the people," she said to him. "Does that about answer all your questions?" she asked him with a small smirk before starting to eat again.

[EvelynWillows]

He was riveted by her description of the kind of man she hoped to marry one day. His hands paused in the air, midway between the plate and his mouth. Slowly, as she continued her description, his hand lowered to the table. "Have you seen the most recent list of suitors, my lady, to speak so of them?" He saw that his sandwich remained uneaten and took a bite.

The taste of cilantro, oat bread, creamy dill sauce, cucumber, and avocado. He was surprised at how good it was despite its vegetarian fare.

"And what of you, my Princess? What kind of wife and friend would you be for your husband?" For a moment an unfamiliar emotion crossed his face. He frowned slightly when he realized it was akin to envy. There was no reason for it, he chastised himself. He took another bite as he considered his reaction to the princess. In all the time he has advised others to similar decisions he never felt anything show from slight contempt or amusement in regards to the children of Kings. Why was this time different?

[Natora]

Reinatia considered both questions before she began to answer them. "The list of suitors my father has given you is the list of men that I have already said no to for many reasons. Some too old, some too young, some too pompous, too timid, too... really anything," she explained to him. "I have not yet met a man that I would want to marry that is eligible," she added. "And what I would be for my husband?" she asked. When she thought of the woman that she wanted to be for her husband, her face softened and the kindest and most soft of smiles graced her lips. She knew what she wanted to be...but she wasn't sure she already was that. She had more to grow herself, she knew.

"The woman that I want to be for my husband would only be complete when I met him. I would want to be his most trusted friend, a woman that he could share all manners of secrets to. I want to be his confidante so he could share anything with me and he would trust my advice. I would want to give good advice for him," she said, laughing a bit at the irony. She'd want to give advice but to give good advice would be better. "I want to be an amazing mother and wife. I would want to give him at least one son. Maybe more, if he would want that." She paused and finally turned to look up at Tyrfayn. "I honestly couldn't imagine anything better," she said truthfully, the perfect bit of sincerity written on her face.

[EvelynWillows]

His eyes watched hers as she described how she wanted to be for her husband. "He would be a fortunate man," Tyrfayn remarked. "Let's narrow down what you absolutely must have in a mate to eight things. Then we will add more traits as 'would likes', keeping in mind that the eight are qualities that you feel are not arguable."

He brought out a small book from an unseen pocket and opened it to the middle. "Okay, you'd like a man who will respect you, is that correct? That would be number one. You also mentioned that you wanted someone who would defend and protect you." He glanced at the page. "I believe you said a man who would fight for you and your serenity. That would be number two. Let's fill out the other six and then we can go over the list together." He took a drink of of the bubbling peach nectar that was served with lunch. "I know that you do not believe this yet, but it is not my intention of forcing you to take an undesirable mate for your husband. Once we find the right match I believe that you will look forward to this union, Princess. I've not had one person regret the partners I've helped them chose."

[Natora]

Reinatia started eating again as he took out the book and explained how they would go about their next move now. He really was quite beautiful, even if he was an elf. She finished her sandwich before taking a drink. She watched him pull out the book and took a small sip of a drink with him. "I mean no offense, Master Ambrians, but you have been suiting elves so far. Do you truly think that we, nymphs, are so easy to deal with?" she asked with a small smirk.

She agreed with his first two points and considered what else might be unnegotiable in a husband. "He should want to have children. And another would be that he must want what's best for the kingdom. If he's power hungry, as most who do not have it are, then I would hate him in the end," she pointed out to him. She didn't think that she could really have a man that wanted nothing but a throne. She picked up a small bunch of grapes and started eating them happily. It was a beautiful day and the willow provided just enough shade.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyr found himself both grinning and blushing at her first question. He had to take another drink to quell the smile off his face. "Ah... well, I've helped humans and dwarves, and even a gnome crown prince or two. But you're one of a kind, my princess." He noted her two other ideas and spoke softly under his breath as he wrote down what she indicated. "Three ~ must want children. Note; must be fertile. Four ~ must be comfortable with power and put her kingdom first."

He rested the quill thoughtfully against his cheek as he thought about the princess. "What about habits, Princess Reinatia? Does it bother you if he eats meat, drinks, wine, or smokes a pipe? And how about personal hygiene? It may seem strange, but would something like bad teeth or body odor make you unhappy? Or do you care if a man wears a beard or is clean-shaven? Although these considerations seems frivolous at this time they can become very important qualifications when you consider lives as long as ours."

He reached out and pulled gently at a strand of hair that had come undone from Reinatia's braids. "One man wouldn't marry a woman I picked for him because her hair was shorter than her shoulders. He married a long-haired woman that he wasn't compatible with instead. They fought bitterly for years and she only produced heirs for her lovers, not the king. Later he became obsessed with the woman I originally chose for him, and he wound up murdering his own wife and kidnapping the other woman, instigating the War of Faleene many years ago." His eyes grew sad. "Things like hair can be modified to fit a preference, but personalities are fairly stagnant. However, if beards and such are a concern for you it's worth discussing."

[Natora]

When he was gently tugging at her hair, she pushed a blush back a bit from her cheeks. She nodded her understanding. "So the man you choose for me will most likely be the best match for me," she pointed out then, learning from her story. "And I think that hygiene should be a given considering the class of men that my father would accept as worthy but maybe we could write it down in case. And... hair... I find your length to be perfect. That or shorter but that is something that can change. Facial hair is not a concern of mine. My father's beard is thick and full but you look perfectly handsome clean shaven. It depends on the man. But, if we consider personalities again, he should care for all creatures and plants, as strange as that may sound, for me to be happy with him."

She tried to think if there was anything else in a man that she would not be able to negotiate on. "And he must be an immortal. To marry a man who I would outlive by centuries seems rather pointless to me," she finished. "How many more non-negotiables do we have left to name?" she asked as she looked over at the book and the words written there.

[EvelynWillows]

Five ~ hygiene, six ~ hair any, but handsome, Tyrfayn smiled that she kept coming back to that. Seven ~ care for all creatures, eight ~ immortal. He moved his chair next to hers so that they could look at the notebook together. He leaned nearer to her as they looked over the list. "You mention handsomeness several times, Princess. What happens if your husband starts off handsome and then is injured and disfigured? Would that affect your feelings for him?"

"Now we consider the wants. The things you'd like to have, but don't consider completely necessary. For instance, you may prefer that he not hunt or that he knows how to cook, but they would not be factors that made him unacceptable to you if those preferences aren't met. You may want a man who prefers cats over dogs or who enjoys evening sex rather than morning sex." Tyrfayn shrugged. "Or you may want a man who ravishes you whenever possible. It's your preference, Princess. But don't chose to ignore them out of embarrassment if they are important to you."

He touched the patterns on her cheek curiously. "Are these marks part of you or do you apply them daily like others do with make up?" His fingers were slightly rough and strong, but his touch was gentle on her skin. "They're fascinating."

[Natora]

She laughed gently when he mentioned she had said handsome several times. "I know I may sound repetitive at times but I do understand that if there isn't a personality behind that pretty face he is not a man that I could live with," she told him. When he reached out to touch her cheek, her heart started racing slightly. She tried to hide it as well as she could and breathing softly and slowly. She could feel a slight tension building around them as guards decided to be more alert now that there was contact between them. She reached out to put a hand on the tree, making the branches of the willow droop more to cover their torsos from prying eyes.

"They are part of me and you would understand better if I could show you all of them. Being that I am a lady and still wanting to keep my place as princess I will keep that a secret. They change as the seasons change and in the winter it is simply the branches everywhere," she explained to him softly. She could feel the presence of magic in him and it was oddly calming to have that. The bracelet around her wrist hadn't gone cold in a while. It was nice that it was warm around her wrist, relaxing almost.

"Back to the matter at hand, I don't know when I would prefer sex but a man that would be willing to experiment with me would be wonderful. I would want him to want me at all times but understand that there are inappropriate times to have sex," she said to him with a soft smirk. "If he didn't hunt that would be preferable but I understand that some men use it as a past-time. I thought you would have realised by now that I am lover of all animals so I don't think that his preference would matter. I would like that he enjoys reading and having outings. If he preferred to stay inside I'm not sure how I would handle that."

Finally she sighed. "Enough about me. Please. I really am starting to get bored with the topic. Can we please talk about you, even just until we finish lunch," she said gently. "Please. I would like to know more about you."

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn's eyes briefly roamed across the pattern on Reinatia's face and down her neck. He grasped what she meant when she said that the pattern covered her body and his eyes widened slightly. Drawing in a quick breath he glanced to the side and fought the flush that sprung up. "Oh. I... see. Forgive me, Princess, it... never occurred to me that they were such an integral part of you." Her bracelet remained warm in his presence. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to trespass on such a personal topic."

He nodded when she spoke about sex and hunting. "It does become important, though. I sense that you'd prefer a husband who doesn't even eat meat, which would exclude the Wildland Elves. They'd not only eat anything they could kill, but if your husband desired you in the middle of the day he'd have no qualms about bending you over a tree trunk and taking you in the middle of the city." He smiled apologetically. "I haven't looked at your father's list yet. I didn't want the knowledge of who was on there to affect the questions I asked you at first so I do not know if there are Wildlands on the list or if your father has considered non-fey kingdoms for his daughter." Still the bracelet remained warm.

He seemed genuinely surprised at her inquiry. "Very well, but only until we finish lunch. We have a short amount of time before you have to make your selection, Princess. I'd like you to stay as focused on that as possible."

Tyrfayn took a small orange and began to peel it. He seemed to be wondering where to start. Once the orange was peeled he pulled it into two halves and placed one on the princess' plate. "I uhm, hmm. You were right to question the way I treated your servants yesterday, Princess. I do not make a habit of revealing who I am to those I serve simply because I want them to focus on themselves, not on me." The bracelet stayed warm. "When I was younger and studying the history of kingdoms I noticed how many times marriages became the cusp of a kingdom's downfall or success. Ah... my tutors had been impressing upon me the idea that our kingdom's happiness was interlaced with the ones around us, and a pattern began to appear to me. I chose to become a matchmaker to help my own people. It's not as altruistic as it may at first seem." He chuckled.

"So... this is what I do now. Aside from matchmaking I sometimes help with negotiations. I have been very fortunate, my lady, in having the ability to help boil down issued to the core concerns and to help those in opposition understand each other." He tore off a wedge of orange and took a bite. It seemed that he was focused on his life task; there didn't seem to be anything very personal that he wanted to share aside from what he did for his livelihood. "What else should I tell you? My favorite color is green. I prefer salty to sweet."

[Natora]

Reinatia looked down at the half of orange as he put it on her plate before smiling gently and picking it up. She started to slowly pick away at it as he explained his work and why he had begun doing it. She thought it was very intriguing at how true his words were. Amazing really that a country's demise could be in the form of a bad marriage. A frightening thought that she had considered all too often. When he finished telling her about his work she looked a little surprised. All she had learned about him so far was that he liked the colour green and preferred salty to sweet, really.

She looked curiously at him and finally decided to ask, "How do you find time to pursue a life and wife of your own with moving about so much?" It was a true and honest question. "I mean, a man of your caliber and honest good looks must have women that you entertain in various cities," she mentioned gently. She found it odd that all he spoke about himself was either not about him or very trivial.

[EvelynWillows]

He paused, a bite of orange halfway to his mouth, and cleared his throat. Setting the food down he instead took a slow drink as he considered how best to explain his situation to a princess of the sylvan nation. "That's... a fair question. I, hmm." He took another sip. It seemed like the answer was not one he had vocalized to another in a long time.

"My magic is not quite like yours. It comes from a different source; the basic things I do are skills anyone can learn if they apply themselves. They come with study and understanding of how the world is put together and how the energies that surround us interact. For instance," he picked up her fluted glass and held it for a moment. A soft heat seemed to radiate from him, but at the same time her glass frosted and the nectar inside grew cool. He sat the glass down for her. "That is simply a matter of taking the heat from your glass and moving it through my body so that your drink was cooled. It's a matter of moving energy; just as one would move a basket from one side of the room to the other."

He smiled softly at her. "It's rather simple once you understand the concept and have strengthened your faith in what the Creator allows us to do. There are other 'secrets' that He is less generous in sharing with His Magus." Tyrfayn grew more solemn. "Everyone is asked to sacrifice some aspect of their lives if they want to progress. There are only five of us who have reached the level of... ah... 'fidelity', I think is the right word. We are the Masters. Each of us are asked to give a different part of our lives. I always knew that I'd have to remain alone to be gifted with this power. It's slightly ironic then ~ I help others find their best match in a husband or wife, but the Creator has asked me to remain celibate and matched only to Him."

"So... this is the entirety of my life. I will never have a wife and I do not entertain women in different cities. I serve those who need me. My siblings will have plenty of children for our family, and I've stepped aside to allow my younger brother to rule. It has, for the most part, worked out well."

[Natora]

Reinatia was attentive to him as she snacked on the foods in front of them and he explained how his magic worked. It made sense as to how the magic worked but when he said that he had to remain celibate, though, she looked at him in stunned awe. A man remaining celibate was almost unheard of in Sylvan. That was... impossible. It didn't surprise her now that he only spoke of his work when he spoke of himself. That is what he had defined his whole life on! That is incredible that a man would have so much control.

Now she blushed and looked down. How she had behaved on the first night... That was so embarassing knowing what she knows now. "I am so sorry Master Ambriens. I would not have been so bold in my words before if I had known better," she admitted to him softly, feeling terrible about putting both of them in that situation. "Thank you for having patience with me, though. I know there are many times where I am not as easy to get along with as others," she commented.

It seemed as if she was about to say something else but one of her ladies broke through the leaves of the tree. Reinatia gently touched the tree again and it returned to normal. She looked at the young woman expectantly. "Excuse me, your highness, sir. Your mother is insisting you keep to your dancing lessons and they should be beginning shortly," she said to her looking as if she actually felt bad for interrupting them.

Reinatia sighed and rose. "Very well. Lead the way," she said to her lady. She looked to Tyrfayn before she left. "If you wish to join me you're more than welcome," she said before quicky following behind the small woman and going back into the palace and into the large hall where the ball would be held in two nights.

[EvelynWillows]

"You were being forthright," he said about the first night. "But I do accept your apology, and I thank you for understanding." He was so focused on the way the light glinted off her eyes that the servant's entry startled him. He gave a resigned sigh when it was revealed that the queen still expected her daughter to attend her classes. The most important decision in her life was only a few weeks' away at most, and here she was, expected to practice moving across the floor to the rhythm of music.

Of course he wished to join her. Tyrfayn saw more servants appear to clear their picnic and he hurried after the princess and her lady. It would be interesting, in retrospect, to see how the Sylvans danced. Surely they didn't move in the formal pomp of the Elven courts. Perhaps they were more like the Wild Elves, or maybe, like the humans, their type of dance depended upon the purpose of the dance. He'd seen some very sensual dances that made him regret his vow of chastity.

As they entered the large hall he saw the musicians all look up at Princess Reinatia's entry. Tyrfayn felt slightly out of place and moved to lean against a large pillar as he waited for the lesson to being.

[Natora]

The princess went to her instructor who quicly made them start the music. It was a soft and calming melody that took the entire space of the room to use. It was a more traditional dance than anything and it was over with a quick and level of civility. The movements that Reinatia had made didn't seem calculated or practiced but much more natural than that. Her movements spoke of softness and gentle eases. At the end of the dance, her instructor bowed down and kissed the hand with her bracelet on it. It seemed it was part of the dance and Reinatia didn't seem concerned.

A few more dances were rehearsed between the two of them. As there were a few traditional dances that happened there was also a few romantic ones and one that, as Tyrfayn remembered, was quite seductive. Reinatia seemed the most uncomfortable with that one. When they had finished moving about the room the instructor said, "Well done. Let's do it again." When he said it though, the bracelet turned cold against her skin. She had almost forgotten about it and was quite startled and she looked down at it. She thought for a moment and shook her head. "Give me a moment."

She walked over to Tyrfayn and said, "I cannot do that dance with him. It feels awkward. Would you be so kind as to do it with me?" It was a simple request and now that she knew of his resolve she wouldn't be trying to seduce him into her bed any longer.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn stood away from the pillar when the princess approached him. "Awkward? Very well, Princess, but I've never danced like that before. I'm certain that you will be disappointed." He held his hand palm upwards for her to lay her fingers across, and walked to the center of the room.

The instructor watched them like a hawk. A small look of disapproval crossed his face, but he simply clenched his jaw until they were in position. "Very well, let's start from the beginning."

Master Tyrfayn stepped closer to the Princess. He was acutely aware of the curves of her body underneath her clothing and the soft scent of flowers on her. He slid his left hand across the small of her back to where it rested, large and warm, above the curve of her buttocks.

"Move your hand higher up Master Ambrians." Snapped the instructor. "It is highly inappropriate for you to touch her so intimately."

Tyrfayn raised an eyebrow slightly as he complied and brought his hand to the small of her back, aligned with with her lower ribs. He had simply been imitating what he saw the instructor do. His other hand still provided a platform for Reinatia's hand to rest on. He leaned forward slightly and whispered to the princess "I might step on you. I apologize in advance." He smiled and looked down into her eyes as he waited for them to begin.

[Natora]

Reinatia looked over to the instructor as he instructed Tyrfayn to move his hand higher up his back. The instructor's hand hadn't been where Tyrfayn's hand was now. She would make sure to mention it to him again later on if he tried to dance with her again. She looked back up at Master Ambrians with a small smirk on her face. Without looking away from his dazzling eyes, she gently said to the instructor, "Let's take it from the top and slowly. Maybe we'll both become better at the dance if we're to learn it again."

The instructor didn't look impressed but didn't argue as he made the musicians play it through rather slowly so he could instruct them through all the steps. Finally, Reinatia was learning to flow through the steps much easier with her new partner, willing to be intimate since she knew that it would lead no where. She thought about him as they danced together. Would he choose to live his entire immortal life with the gifts that he was given and yet no wife to bear him children. It was a sad thought, his form and appearance would give beautiful children to a lucky woman.

When they had made it through the whole dance slowly, she didn't move to break the hold between them, her eyes still gazing up at his, not wanting to watch her feet as she learned the movements. Any stepping on feet had been completely forgotten the moment the music finished. The instructor seemed less enthusiastic, though. "Now, your highness, if you would do it with a partner who knows the dance-" he stared, obviously implying that he was going to dance with her again.

She cut him off with a simple, "No. I think Master Ambrians has the right idea now. Would you be so kind, Master Ambrians, as to lead me through the dance at its regular pace?" she asked him.

[EvelynWillows]

Parts of the dance required them to step through each other's legs, their thighs brushing as he stepped forward and she back. It was very intimate; by design intended to cause soft caresses and movements to arouse hidden erogenous zones on their bodies. When they switched direction his fingertips brushed across her hips before pulling her body closer to his, and the small changes in movement made his arms flex underneath her hand. Tyrfayn had never held a woman so close, nor felt the way her skin shifted underneath clothing. The emotions that were flooding his senses were wholly confusing and simultaneously delightful.

He had faded into her clear gaze, even forgetting that there was anyone else about. When Reinatia asked him to lead her through the dance again he simply nodded.

Words might fail him.

He drew her in closer as the music started, this time more brisk and the movements more sweeping. Long, sure steps brought their legs close together. He stepped forward between her legs, nearly carrying her backwards as she stepped back. Occasionally his thigh would brush her in the most intimate of ways as they twirled and moved together like ribbons flying in the breeze.

One move required him to catch her in a reclined position in is left hand and then bring her across his chest to the other side, his arms encircling her in an open but tight embrace. For a moment his face and hers were incredibly close, suggesting lovers about to kiss, but the music shifted and they were moving again. Another moment in that pose and he might have brushed his lips across hers.

Once the music stopped Tyrfayn still held the princess in his arms. His breath was slow, but forcefully controlled, as he considered the small shivers that had accompanied the dance. "Perhaps we should try another dance," he suggested. "Something a little less... robust." He would love to dance again with her and feel her moving next to him, but the feelings that came with their movements frightened him.

[Natora]

Dancing with Tyrfayn felt so much better and much more natural than with her instructor. She swiftly through the music with him, feeling every bit of movement, every breath that was close enough to grace her skin. It was incedible and so much more understandable with him. When they finished, she felt chest slightly raised and flushed as she looked back up at his eyes. As he spoke though, she remembered their positions in this and gently released him just a bit.

"Perhaps you could teach me something from your country," she suggested. "If my father wishes that I might find a suitor of elvish decent maybe I should learn to dance to something they would enjoy," she suggested.

The instructor looked at them and said, "Perfect suggestion, your highness. Perhaps we could-" Once again, the bracelet around her wrist grew cold and she was tired of him.

Reina looked to the instructor and simply said, "You are dismissed. Perhaps again tomorrow."

[EvelynWillows]

Master Tyrfayn watched as the expressions crossed the instructor's face. Obviously he had feelings for the princess, but his feelings translated more as lust and possessiveness than genuine care. Once the instructor left, Tyrfayn leaned towards Reinatia. "He's... not on that list, is he?"

He chuckled and went over to the musicians to speak to them and find out which songs they knew. He returned and they danced a few simple, traditional dances that only involved the touching and sometimes slapping of hands. He explained the dances that were actually made of circles of dancers, and some where the men and women would line up and switch partners. Many of the dances were very lively and carefree, as was appropriate to the elvish.

Once they had spent about an hour dancing, the king and two guards arrived. The musicians played a brief entry triumphant, and Master Ambrians stepped back from the princess slightly. He glanced at the ground and quelled the smile that was on his face, concerned that the king might think they were doing something inappropriate.

"So, is this part of your masterful technique, Magus? Dancing with the future wife of another?" The king had a tone of disdain in his voice and it was obvious that someone, perhaps even the dance instructor, had suggested unseeming things to the monarch.

Tyrfayn folded his hands behind his back and said nothing, merely looked at the ground where the king's slippers paced back and forth.

"It has also come to my attention that you, Reinatia, spent half the night in this man's room! Are you intent on meeting your husband already a spent woman?" His eyes narrowed as he looked at his pride and joy, imagining her writhing in bed with the adviser.

[Natora]

Reina laughed gently as he commented about the suitors list. He was most certainly not on the list and she was extremely glad for it. When he came back she learned how to dance a few dances from his tradition and smiled. This was much more her pace, she thought. She was enjoying herself so much that she couldn't help but keep smiling as her father entered. She curtsied politely to him but noticing the look on his face, she frowned slightly.

"Father," she said almost scoldingly. If she wasn't her father's precious and only daughter she surely wouldn't get away with that tone. "You should know better than to trust idle gossip that travels through the walls of this palace. I spent time with him last night, with two ladies-in-waiting, so he could work with the short time frame you have given us. We spent the night speaking about what I would want in a husband and what I am like so he can make an educated and proper decision," she explained, her tone more reasonable. "You know very well that I intend and will be pure for my husband. Please don't try and accuse me of things that have not and will not happen."

"And as for dancing, he was showing me some traditional dances from the elves. If you are willing to let some elves be considered as suitors then I should at least be able to be a proper guest in their houses, should I not?" she asked him simply. She knew that if his temper was foul enough that this would not go well but she hoped that he was able to see reason enough that it wouldn't matter.

[EvelynWillows]

The king harumphed at Reinatia's tone. "So, you spent the night talking. Which of the names on the list are in the forefront, Master Ambrians?"

Tyrfayn took a breath and raised his gaze to meet the kings'. "I haven't looked at the list yet, Sire. I wasn't planning to do that until I had an idea of what kind of man we were looking for." The princess' bracelet remained warm. "Tonight we will go over the list together, and tomorrow we will have a short list even before the ball begins."

"I don't have time to go over the list with you tonight." The king complained. "You should have told me sooner!"

"My apologies, Sire. I meant that Princess Reinatia and I will go over the list." He brought his hands to the front and folded them across his chest. "Your time is too busy for such idleness." The bracelet remained warm until the last statement. Either Tyrfayn did not think that the king was busy, or he did not consider reviewing the list idleness. Whichever it was wasn't discernable.

"Hmm... very well." The king looked at his daughter. "Be careful, Reina. Rumors can kill a kingdom." He waved at the guards and turned to leave.

[Natora]

"Yes, father. I am sorry," she said with a gentle nod. She waited until he and the guards had left before turning back to him. She knew the musicians were still there and so decided to keep her father low. "You lied," she said softly to him. "You lied to my father," she pointed out, her voice quiet in the large and almost empty hall. "I'm not sure I wish to continue dancing. Maybe we should retire to the library to continue our conversation," she suggested to him gently.

She led him to the library in silence, thinking the whole way about what he had said where the bracelet knew he was lying. Did he think her father wasn't busy? Did he think that going over the list was little more than pointless? What part of that was she supposed to not believe, or was it the whole thing? She waited unil they were in the library, her ladies joining them and choosing books to read before sitting around rich coloured couches in the large room that had books from floor to vaulted ceiling. "What more do we need to discuss?" she asked him curiously.

[EvelynWillows]

He didn't deny the truth. He had lied. The bracelet couldn't tell her the motive for the deception, though. The disappointment in her voice hurt to hear, especially directed at him. Once they were in the library he sat across the way from her with a small table between them. "You did not want your father to make the final choice for you, did you Princess?"

As the magus asked her the question he withdrew a large envelope from an impossibly small pocket and broke the seal. After glancing over the long list he made a slight sound of disapproval and frowned.

"I'm going to remove most of the suitors from your list, Rei- Princess Reinatia." He looked up and caught her eye. "Would you like to be a part of this? First we remove everyone who we know does not possess some of the basic qualities on your preference list, then we will go from there until we have six who you want to focus on tomorrow night. After tomorrow you should narrow your list to three, and those will each get to spend a day with you."

[Natora]

When he near called her by her first name, she looked at him curiously. Lying to her father? Forgetting titles? Surely this wasn't part of is normal course of action. She looked down to the list and simply said, "Suppose we remove all of them and consider me someone who just could not find a decent match even with your great care and attention to detail." She knew some of the names on the list and other that she knew she had already denied. There were some new names on the list though and it surprised her.

"And it truly does not matter what happens. I fail to believe that after this I will want to marry one of these men," she said to him simply. This whole process seemed like a lot of time waisted to her. She paused for a moment and decided to ask him something that she hadn't last night. "Why did you not take the direct rout here? Surely you have a reason that you chose to take six weeks instead of four," she said, pulling the list away from him and putting it on the other side of her. As she sat there gazing at him, she couldn't help but be truly curious at what a kiss with this man would be like. They had near been able to on the dance floor and damn it if she didn't want to now. He was so intriguing and intelligent.

[EvelynWillows]

He started to protest as she took the list and moved it away from him. "Fighting the process is not going to help your cause. Why not find the one you despise the least, if you do not think you'd care for any of them?" He moved to reach across her to retrieve the list but she stopped him with her next question.

"Well, I suppose an extra two weeks would have been nice to have in evaluating you, but I needed to understand your kingdom. This union is as much about the needs of your people as it is about you." He reached across her body again, coming nearly face to face with her. "I spent that time crossing the smaller villages of your lands and learning about those who can only be reached by dirt roads."

"Now give me that list. There's a dark elf on there who I refuse to see you paired with, and it looks like the king of Madrone is looking for wife number ten. It's unacceptable." He turned to look at the princess. "Don't fight me. I'm on your side in this."

Her bracelet remained warm, though it heated nearly painfully when he spoke about two of the twenty suitors. "Princess, I want this to be a good match for you. Let me serve you."

[Natora]

His pleas near burned her skin as the bracelet warmed to near hot. She sighed and gave the list back to him. She was still curious as to his motive behind finding her a good match. Surely he had to care a little bit about each person he suited in order to find them a good match. If he didn't, why would he care at all to find them matches. What kinds of investments did he make in these suitings?

"Which do you think, knowing me for a day, will be absolutely terrible pairs?" she asked him curiously. She couldn't help but notice he seemed a little desperate in getting the list of suitors back. She understood that the purpose of him being here was to find her a husband but truly, could he really not be interested in doing anything but finding her a husband? Life must get mundane doing the same thing all the time.

[EvelynWillows]

Anyone but me.

He thought the words but was able to keep himself from saying it out loud, and the thought surprised him.

The matchmaker shifted on the chair so they were once again facing the same direction. "Well, the dark elf definitely. King Madrone tends to kill off his wives once he grows bored of them." Each one of them he crossed off the list with a decisive flick of his finger, sending a dark line across their names. "By your own decision anyone who is mortal or has a limited lifespan is off the list, so these four are out." ~flick! flick! flick! flick!~

Tyrfayn paused and looked at the Princess. "How do you feel about dwarves and gnomes? I don't think you'd consider them romantic prospects, but if you want to leave them on the list at this time I will. Prince Borg son of Drudge is a level-headed man."

He tilted his head to the side and rolled his bottom lip through his teeth. "Although... it's likely that some of these suitors will want you to move to their kingdoms, Princess. Could you bear to leave these lands and perhaps only see your family once a year or less?" The warmth from his body next to hers was soothing, and the bracelet had thankfully returned to a comfortable temperature.

[Natora]

As the bracelet relaxed its hot hold on her wrist and they spoke more of the suitors and which would never be good, she could feel him and herself starting to relax more around each other. She felt his calm presence and was happier with him every moment that she spent with him. As they discussed the suitors, she couldn't help but think that this was what she wanted in her husband. Simply this with him. Calmly learning about each other and their likenesses and differences. Of course the rest of what she wanted would never be acheived with him but for good reason.

She looked from him down to the list as he crossed out names as they went. They had twenty and were already down to fourteen. "Well then we can take off those that are more than a moon's ride away. And I have met a few dwarves and gnomes in my time. The dwarves could stay as long as they are, as you say, level headed." She paused and thought for a moment before looking back up at him. "How is it that you know all these men and who they are? I would have thought my father would have taken into consideration the fact that a dark elf would not be a good match before he was even on the list."

[EvelynWillows]

"Ah, well, these two are more than a moon's ride away, but they are of lesser nobility and may consider moving here to be with you. After all, the hope is to have someone who will help you rule this kingdom, is it not?" He frowned. "I think that I momentarily forgot that aspect myself." He rubbed at his temple. He crossed off the Gnome lordling and also the five who lived far away and might try to rule the kingdom from afar. That was six more off the list, leaving eight.

"I travel a lot. Some of these men I've negotiated with in the past. I've worked with some of their fathers as well, or spoken to their commanders in the field. Some I only know through reputation. It's good to know your allies, Princess, and even more essential to know your enemies. Sometimes it's difficult to tell one from the other. As far as the dark elf, I think that might be more of a political move than anything. The worshipers of Lloth are trying every means to appear legitimate to those on the topside. Hence they have been trying to move their princes and a few of their lesser daughters into positions as advisers or priests and slowly instill their beliefs into our societies. Soon we'll see altars to the spider goddess alongside others if we're not careful."

He paused. "I'm sorry; they... I don't get along well with them. At all." He turned to look at the Princess. "In this case I've probably allowed my feelings for you to cause me to react too strongly." The bracelet stayed pleasantly warm.

"Here, we have eight. Of the two dwarves he is the best choice, so let us eliminate his cousin." ~Flick!~ "And of these seven, I know for a fact that he has a wandering eye. You shouldn't be mated to a man who beds every cute trollop he comes across." ~Flick!~ "There; we have six."

Tyrfayn leaned back on the long couch and looked over at the princess. "Six very fortunate men."

[Natora]

She paused a moment when he said that his feelings must have clouded his judgement momentarily. What feelings did he have for her? Could she support that with how his magic worked? She opened her mouth to ask a question just as the door to the library was opened and a maid interrupted them with a deep curtsy. "Parden, your highness but it is supper time and your father has requested both your presence as well as our guest's at the dinner table," she insisted gently.

Rein's shoulders fell when they were interrupted and she stood. "We will come now," she answered gently and the maid left, her ladies in waiting all putting their books back on the shelves as Reinatia smiled gently to Tyrfayn. "Master Ambrians, would you be so kind as to escourt me to dinner?" she asked gently to him. She offered a hand to him, palm down, so he could lead her to the dining hall for dinner. She certainly wasn't about to try and deny her father anything.

[EvelynWillows]

Master Ambrians placed his arm under her hand and nodded. "It would be my honor, Princess." He walked with her down the long, formal hallways to the dining hall. Already the excitement was beginning to build in the castle. A few of the suitors' retainers had arrived ahead of them and were vying for the best suites and tables for the next day.

As they walked into the dining hall many stood up to greet the princess. The king and queen would arrive last, as was customary. Tyrfayn accompanied the princess to her seat and pulled her chair out for her, making sure that she was seated before taking his own. Once she was seated the other guests found their seats as well. A moment later the king and queen arrived to the blowing of trumpets. Everyone stood in greeting.

The king was seated next to Princess Reinatia, with his queen on his other side. Long rows of food were laid out and the musicians played a soft background music while they waited for the king to make a toast so that the dinner could begin.

[Natora]

The king stood after not much more time had past. His voice easily boomed over the murmuring crowd as he spoke. "Friends, family, distinguished guests. Tonight, yes tonight, is the first of many nights where we prepare our daughter for her ball. As the lords and other royals arrive we will introduce them every night until we have the ball in two nights where they will have their chance to win her heart. As it happens we have three that have arrived tonight! Will you please introduce yourselves by presenting yourselves to our daughter," he said to the crowd. The three rose and came forwards to present themselves to the princess.

Reinatia didn't show an ounce of surprise or upset at this, knowing to do so would be thought of distasteful and she didn't want to sabotage her relationships before hand. Her father's voice announced them to her. "Delfire Elderwood, of the Setirs," he announced, the dark elf that Tyrfayn had spoke of earlier and he stepped forward, kissing the princess's left hand with the bracelet.

"A pleasure," he said to her and the bracelet went warm. He stepped back in line and the next man was announced.

"Berthias Stronghammer, son of Thrine," he announced, a strong looking dwarf stepped forward and kissed her hand as well, albeit a little more scratchy with the stubble his red beard had.

"Honoured your highness," he said and again the bracelet went warm. He smiled to her kindly and stepped back in line. So far Rein was impressed by him the most, to her surprise.

"And Megknot Urpsheep," the king announced before the last man, a satyr, stepped forward and kissed her hand.

"I am looking forward to this, highness," he told her. The bracelet on her wrist went cold but she didn't give a thing away.

When he stepped back in line, Reina put a gentle hand on Tyrfayn's thigh where it wouldn't be noticed with the fabric that was surrounding the table. The movement would be unnoticable to all there. She kept it there for only a moment before returning her hand to her own lap. He would ask later and she would answer. The king seemed pleased enough as the princess's soft smile still was on her lips and he raised his goblet as the three suitors returned to their places. "A toast to a happy and prosperous next week," he said. "To our lovely princess finding a husband." He looked down purposefully at Reinatia who raised her glass more delicately in her hand and nodded to her father before taking a sip in response to his toast. Once the king was seated again, the meal began.

[EvelynWillows]

Master Ambrians observed the suitors and Reinatia's response to them all. She was a good diplomat; able to go with the surprises her father threw at her without faltering. She had the breeding and training of a ruler.

When she put her hand on his thigh Tyrfayn raised his head slightly. He leaned forward and picked up the wineglass, raising it in toast with the king. Though he brought the glass to his lips he didn't drink from it. He set the untouched glass down and waited for the king to begin eating.

"You did well," he said quietly to her. He was still perplexed about her touch, but he knew it wasn't the right time to ask her. "I didn't know about this introduction. I'm sorry, Princess. Surprises are never a good thing during these proceedings." Her bracelet stayed warm.

He poured her a glass of clear water and then did the same for himself. As he looked around the table he saw that most of the food was vegetarian, though a few meat dishes had been prepared for the guests who normally dined on omnivorous fare. He found he missed the taste but didn't crave it; he'd much rather be near Reinatia and eat leaves than the finest of roasts apart from her. Slowly warning bells began to go off in his head as the dinner progressed. He knew that he was dangerously close to allowing his admiration and respect of the young woman to bleed into an emotion that was more powerful.

[Natora]

Reinatia smirked slightly to Tyrfayn's comment but knew better than to speak publicly without her father's permission first so said nothing. As she ate dinner, her thoughts kept continuously going back to last night and how wonderful he looked without a shirt or with it slightly opened. Then her mind wandered to today as they practiced that most intimate dance together, their bodies almost touching and sometimes doing just that. She had to shake her mind away from the train of thought, reminding herself that he was most dedicated to her practice and his magic.

Dinner progressed easily, nothing more interesting than the jesters entertaining them to distract from the meal. Reinatia was taught to not speak at dinner and so did not. When she ruled the country with her husband she would break a few rules but for now she knew to stay in her realm of order and stayed silent as to appease her father. When she finally finished dinner, she softly and quietly slid her chair back to leave. She curtsied to her parents and did so slowly waiting to see if Tyrfayn would wish to follow her.

[EvelynWillows]

The strangest thing about dinner was how quiet it was. No one told stories or shared jokes; it was almost like a funeral. Only the deceased were all seated at the tables. Tyrfayn missed the easy banter of the Halflings in Greensborough, and the laughter and lightheartedness in his own kingdom. Had then been in any of the great Dwarven halls, dinner would be filled with fantastical stories of great feats and rowdy jokes not intended for delicate ears. The sound of people chewing food and drinking wine was almost deafening in the Slyvan hall.

It was a relief when Princess Reinatia set down her silverware and scooted her chair from the table. The mage hastily stood up as well, his hand already going out to steady her chair for her. After she curtsied to her father, Tyrfayn bowed slightly at the hip and went to follow his ward out of the hall, taking care not to walk too closely to her lest rumors grew from their acts.

He nodded solemnly at the Dwarven contingent near the back of the hall as they passed the double doors. In four months Tyrfayn was scheduled to help their king find a suitable match for his favorite nephew, a youngish Dwarf with a penchant for fast ponies and strong drink. That assignment would certainly serve to be more challenging of a match then to find someone who would cherish dear Reinatia.

Tyr caught himself. 'Dear Reinatia?' What was he thinking?

[Natora]

Once they were as alone as they would be able to manage she looked over to him. "When I touched your knee... The last man that spoke...Megknot. He made the bracelet grow cold when he spoke to me. We can scratch him off the list. If he's not pleased to be here, I do not need to waste my time with him," she said to him gently. "If he's not already crossed off, that is. Is Berthias still on the list or did you cross him off for a reason that I am not aware?" she asked him almost teasingly. They came to their rooms rather quickly and she looked at him, stopping in the hall again.

[EvelynWillows]

"Megknot has too many lovers," Tyrfayn admitted. "He was off your list a long time ago in my mind. Berthais Stronghammer is a good candidate. I'll actually be in his father's kingdom in a few months, helping match up a cousin of his," the mage admitted. "He's an honorable man from a good family."

He looked over to her and smiled. "I'm glad that you didn't decide you wanted me to add Delfire Elderwood back on the list because of his good looks. I'm told the lack of sunlight keeps their skin looking young decades longer than other elvenkind." He paused as they reached a crossing in the castle halls. "You mentioned seeing the garden at night," he remembered. "Would this be a good time to stroll through them?"

[Natora]

She laughed gently when he mentioned Delfire. "Don't doubt that it didn't cross my mind. He does have incredible looks but you seemed rather adament about him not being a proper candidate for me," she said to him with a smile. "And this would be a perfect time to walk the gardens. Just let me change. If you can believe it, these dresses can get rather heavy if they want to," she said to him with a small smirk. She smiled and nodded to him before going to her own room, closing the door gently behind her. She leaned against the door and smiled as she sighed softly. What she wouldn't give to be given the chance to learn that man better and hae a reason to.

She got her maids to help her into something much lighter, a greed dress that was fairly loose but stlil form fitting. It didn't cover her shoulders instead resting easily just below her shoulders with full sleeves. His favourite colour was green and she thought that this might be nice for him to see. It didn't take long for her to change and she went to his room, smiling softly to herself before composing herself and knocking on his door. "Are you ready to go, Master Ambrians?"

[EvelynWillows]

He waited for her door to close. Tyrfayn supposed he could wait for her there, but he was getting tired of wearing all his clothing as well. He returned to his room and put on a soft silk shirt that was a golden brown and dark trousers. He liked the way the night air passed through silk; it was almost like not having any clothing on. Which to tell the truth, was his preferred state of being.

Master Ambrians set his vest aside and decided that tonight would not be spent discussing the suitors. He wanted to spend it with the princess; she was much more interesting than the matchmaking. Besides, he had her list narrowed to only two suitors in his mind, and he knew that it would be left to chemistry between her and the two remaining candidates. It was a simple thing; narrow the field using logic and then make the final decision based up on emotions. It always worked best that way when finding a husband. When seeking a wife the process was the exact opposite. He used physical and emotional attraction to narrow the field and then guided the final choice with logic.

When Reinatia came to his door he found that his heart was beating much too quickly. He stood for a moment and simply took in the sight of her. "You... you look breath-taking," he admitted. "Are we only going for a stroll in the gardens?"

[Natora]

Rein wouldn't admit verbally but the surprise at the compliment showed on her face. She let the look melt into one where she smiled softly at him. "Thank you," her voice near purred. She voice sounded as honeyed as it had the first night but this time it didn't sound as if she was trying to get something out of it. She was always one to pay back a sincere compliment with one of her own. "You look wonderful in silk," she complimented back. The way it shimmered down his body was incredible. Without being sheer it showed off his torso in great ways still. "And yes, we're only going for a walk through the gardens. This dress is only a step away from a nnight gown and so my father barely approves of it," she said with a great smile, showing her amusement at her own words.

"Come," she said gently and started to lead him back out to the gardens. As she walked with him through the halls of the castle, she could feel a restlessness growing inside of her, screaming to want to be closer to him but she quelled the little fire that was inside of her. It was not only completely inappropriate but also completely impossible if he wanted to keep living the way he was, with his powers and everything.

[EvelynWillows]

Don't talk about the suitors.

He drew in a breath and tried to think of other topics to talk about. Reinatia's soft dress moved against her body as she walked and revealed far too many contours and curves for Tyrfayn's comfort. He purposely drew his eyes upwards and down the hallway to keep himself from looking too closely at her. Part of him wanted to go back to his room and immerse himself in study or exercise, and the other part wanted to pull her into one of the many dark alcoves in the outer hallways and throw caution to the wind.

Which would leave me hanging at the end of a rope in the morning.

Tyrfayn moved forward and opened the last door for the princess. The night was cool and pleasant. Fireflies were already darting through the air, and the frogs were singing in the nearby ponds. "Even if I were blind the night would still be beautiful," the Mage remarked. "What do you want to show me first, your Highness? I'm all yours."

Her bracelet remained warm.

[Natora]

Reinatia smiled and led him out, walking into the gardens. It would be almost pitch black if it weren't for the fireflies lighting the bushes where they were resting. It was the most peaceful place she had ever found within the castle grounds. She was able to relax and just be herself here. It was much better than anywhere else where people followed and watched her like a hawk. She led him in to the center of the maze of bushes and flowerbeds until she was sitting on a bench around a fountain that was there. The fountain and benches, unlike what was in the human world, was made of brances and wood. Her first admission would be here. "I grew most of this garden," she told him softly as she sat there. "It was just a plain field before I asked my father to allow me the space to enjoy something for myself."

She looked to him once he was sitting next to her. "So what should I know about each suitor before I meet them?" she asked curiously. If they were already being introduced to her, she should at least know something about the men that she was about to dance with. She knew that he didn't really speak about much more than his work and so thought the topic would be fairly easy for them.

[EvelynWillows]

His eyes adjusted to the low light as the Elven vision set in. Everything that had life energy glowed a soft gold or orange to him, and things that were mineral were more blue. Here, everything seemed to be alive. It was like walking through a living creature. "You grew this?" He looked around again with new eyes. He imagined her planning the garden, planting the first seedlings and tending the earth. It was a labor of love; not something that anyone would want to abandon once it was created. "It's amazing to think that you did all this. Not... not that I doubt your ability. It's just unusual to find royalty who enjoy work."

Tyr sat near her but not close enough to feel the heat of her body. He looked away for a moment at her question, wondering how best to answer her. Finally he decided on the truth. "I was hoping to set aside your quest for this evening and talk of other things," he admitted. "Besides, at this point I'd like for you to have a chance to experience any emotional reactions you may have when you meet them. There's a lot to be said for pure chemistry." His golden eyes moved back to look at her. "It's my hope that you'll find yourself loving the man you marry. I want you to be happy."

And still, the bracelet was warm.

[Natora]

Smiling softly, she nodded. What could she really say to the fact that he didn't wish to speak of the things she didn't want to do? If they didn't have to talk about it, this day would go a lot smoother as far as she was concerned. She laughed though when he mentioned her working. "Let me show you exactly what I did to plant this garden," she said. She put a hand gently on the bush behind her. "I took a flower I liked from the forest, brought it here and put it in the ground. Then I simply did this," she explained. She quickly mad a few flowers grow in between them. Looking at them from the side wasn't obvious but absentmindedly she had made them grow in the shape of a heart.

She took her hand back and placed it in her lap. "So what should we talk about if not for the suitors?" she asked him curiously. "You know most all the important things about me," she said to him with a small shrug. "Tomorrow would you like to join me in a walk into town as we discussed last night?" she asked him curiously. She hadn't been in the town for a while and had been thinking about visiting there.

[EvelynWillows]

"They are very pretty," he said as he looked at the flowers. He put a hand out to touch a leaf and paused, watching the fireflies as they danced above. Slowly the flowers' edges began to glow (http://www.free-hdwallpapers.com/wallpapers/nature/221954.jpg)with the same pulsating light as the fireflies. "There, now there is something that we have made together."

Once the flowers were lit the heart became more apparent. Tyrfayn smiled at her cleverness. "Shall you call this blossom 'Reina's Heart'?" He asked softly. "Ordinary during the day, but at night it glows."

He nodded at her suggestion. "A walk with you would be nice, just don't leave without me this time." Tyr studied his hands for a moment. "I should go, Princess. Let us retire until tomorrow."

[Natora]

Reina shook her head when he suggested the name. "Why would I name something after myself that we made together?" she asked gently. She was thinking of a name for the arrangment, still surprised at herself for making the heart, when he made the suggestion of going to bed so soon. She looked at him curiously and asked, "Don't you find it a little early for bed?" Truly, it was earlier than when he arrived the night before. She wouldn't want to go to bed for a few hours yet. She looked from him to her own hands as she pulled them off the bush and put them into her lap. "I suppose you're probably still tired from your ride. I will see you in the morning, Master Ambrians," she said as she looked back up at him. She didn't let the disappointment at losing his company show in any way. If he was tired, then he needed rest.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn couldn't say what he felt so he held his tongue. He was confused enough as it was; he didn't want to confuse the princess as well. "I'm sorry," he said as he stood to go. "I wish I had the strength to stay with you in the garden but I don't." It was true, but not accurate. It wasn't physical strength he was referring to, but he knew she would take it as such. It was the strength of will. He knew that he was quickly sliding into an emotional maelstrum and he didn't know if he could resist its pull.

He couldn't leave her with the implication of a lie hanging in the air, though. What could he tell her that was truthful but not complete? He reached down and took her hand in his, turning it over so that the palm was upwards, and laid his other hand on it. "I wish I could stay here with you but I'm... feeling weak. I need to study." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm before turning to go to his room.

[Natora]

Reinatia nodded, thinking that she probably understood what was happening and that he truly was just exhausted still from being awake for three days straight to get here. When he took her hand to kiss it good night, she was surprised that he kissed her palm. She closed her palm after as if she could keep it for herself and never let it go. "Master Ambrians," she said quickly before he got too far. She stood but only took one step towards him. "Why did you kiss my palm?" she asked him curiously. She was used to men kissing the back of her hand but the palm was not something she was used to. Was it a custom that she was simmply not used to?

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn stopped and took a couple of breaths. He felt his heart pounding against his sternum and the blood rushing through his tapered hears. Could she not just let me go? He lowered his gaze and turned slowly to face the princess.

He brought one hand across his abdomen to hold in the pounding of his heart. The mage felt sick; not ill ~ but sick with the onslaught of unfamiliar emotion. "I'm sorry, Princess Reinatia. It was impulsive and inappropriate of me to do that." Tyrfayn found it nearly impossible to raise his gaze to meet hers. "In the Elven Nations it is appropriate for a man to kiss a woman's hand, the back of her hand, when they are introduced. The palm..." he blushed and closed his eyes briefly. He knew that she would know if he lied to her. As humiliating and shameful as he had just been, lying would have done neither of them any good.

"The palm is considered more intimate in my kingdom. More sensual. And... to kiss your palm is to declare my affections for you." He looked away. "I'm sorry; I've overstepped. I should go."

[Natora]

Reina looked stunned and in awe at him when he mentioned the truth about what he had just done meant. She was too stunned to stop him and hadn't thought of anything to say until he was gone. When she came to again, after words finished prcessing and going through her head, he was gone and she was left alone in the center of the gardens. She turned and looked back at the glowing heart of flowers that they had created together. She paused and looked at it for a few moments, letting her thoughts mill over in her head for a bit.

He had affection for her? Didn't he tell her just this afternoon that he had to remain celibate in order to retain his powers? Why would he tempt himself so much then? Perhaps wearing his favourite colour and revealing her shoulders had been too much for one evening. She didn't and couldn't deny that she had the same feelings but he wasn't one of the suitors that his father had picked out for her. She sighed and sat on the bench in front of the flowers. What could she possibly do to stop this, on both parts, to save both of them? It was simple. She would have to choose a suitor from her father's list and fast. The sooner the better.

Maybe that wasn't the answer. She knew a few ladies in town that might have a better idea of what would be considered more appropriate and sighed. Talking to them tomorrow would be top of her list of things to do. That meant, though, that she would have to leave before he woke. Easy enough to do if she went to bed now. Gracefully, even though she was alone, she stood up and quickly walked back to her room, telling one of her ladies what she wanted done before she got dressed for bed and went to sleep.

[EvelynWillows]

A dark form shifted in the shadows of the garden. Delfire Elderwood was used to the dark; he felt the most comfort in it, though the broad sky above unnerved him somewhat. Still, he was here for a purpose, and his handsome lips curved upwards as he witness the quaint love story before him. So... the princess has an unofficial suitor, hmm? The Magus is not as objective as he has professed to be.

He slid away once the princess left and set his mental clock for early morning. The two of them would be worth watching.

In his chambers, Master Ambrians paced angrily. God! I'm such a fool! I've ruined everything and now she'll be confused as well. He sighed and then changed direction. His books had all been opened and looked at, but try as he might, Tyrfayn could not concentrate on reading that night. His brain kept going back to Reinatia.

It was no wonder that his god insisted on complete fidelity. If this little taste of 'affection' had him this distracted there would be no way he could ever study enough to be worthy of the power he'd been given. He let out a frustrated growl and fell to his knees. He bent forward, his elbows to the ground and his head buried in his hands. He had no doubt that he would get very little sleep this night. No matter how this worked out there would be pain.

[Natora]

Reinatia woke early the next morning, about the same time as the servants. She went to her desk first and wrote a note for Master Ambrians. That is how I need to think of him for both of our own good. She gulped as she wrote onto the paper.

Master Ambrians,

I have already left for the walk and will be going alone this morning. After some careful thought after what happened last night I think it best for both parties if you and I remain completely separate until the need for your services arises again.

She closed her eyes and let a tear fall down her cheek. She knew she hadn't known him long and this shouldn't affect her as much as it was but this was not easy to do. He had admitted affection for her but that was a death sentence or his powers. She couldn't do that to him knowing how much he relied on his knowledge.

I appreciate your understanding in this matter and look forward to seeing you again at dinner.

Princess Reinatia

She absentmindedly signed it with a heart at the end of her name. When she looked at it, she sighed softly, hoping it wouldn't confuse him. She bit her lip and sealed the letter before giving it to one of her maids who slipped it under his door.

Quickly changing into her garments to go into town, the maids used make up to hide her tattoos completely. They also darkened her skin to make it look like she was in the sun more. After a few more things she was ready to go. They helped sneak the princess out and not long after she was walking out the back door of the castle and down the main street of the city.

[EvelynWillows]

A viper.

Tyrfayn's eyes snapped open and he glanced at the door, expecting to see a snake slithering under the crack. Instead he saw a folded parchment sliding across the stone.

Even before his feet hit the ground he knew that it was from Reinatia, and he guessed at the message. His fingers broke the seal and he stared at the message for a long minute. He read it again, to make sure that he had seen the words correctly, and then he re-read it a third time.

Damn.

Now he couldn't see her again until dinner. But...perhaps it was for the best. He had wanted her to have an honest, emotional reaction when she met her suitors. This allowed him to not influence her in choosing who she might prefer. With his emotions as confusing as they were it was possible he'd inadvertently manipulate her choice to his own preference rather than what was best. Tyrfayn signed and sat heavily on his bed.

Stupid. Fool. Imbecile.

He couldn't study. His mind was too scattered. Tyr dressed in sparing clothes and went out to the training fields. Hopefully he'd find a few knights who were working on drills and convince a few of them to spar with him. He took heart when a small group was there, and as the sweat dripped and hours passed he was able to slowly push thoughts of Reinatia to the back of his mind.

Delfire watched Reinatia walk out of the protective walls of the castle and into town. He pulled the hood of his cloak up and began to follow her from a distance. All kinds of questions popped into his head. Did she have another lover? Was she seeking an elixir to expunge an unwanted pregnancy? Was she seeking poison to kill off her suitors? He smiled at the last thought. That deed would make her worthy of Lloth herself.

[Natora]

Reinatia walked into the town, an empty basket on her arm and a small purse of coin strung to her hip. She kept to the side of the road, her hood up and covering half her face in shadow. As she walked she tried to put all her thoughts about Tyrfayn together so that she could talk about him with her friends in the town. She knew she couldn't use the true and real names but she would find a way to see what they thought of love.

Her first stop on the way was the fruits and vegetable stand. She often saw orphans running through the streets though sometimes curled up and sitting because they were so hungry. She always bought some fruit and bread and gave it to the children as she went through. She bought a few apples and then went to the baker's to get two loaves of bread. It didn't take long before she found the children running and playing with a ball. She stopped the ball quickly and they smiled when they saw her. "Yeldana!" they shouted excitedly. She laughed gently and hugged them all before giving them the basket of food. "Enjoy," she said softly and continued walking.

Her next stop was where the lady who made potions was. The local alchemist. She smiled as she walked in and sat down. "How are you, Gloria?" she asked gently as she sat down in the chair saved for guests. The lady named Gloria, an old hag, came out and sat across from her.

"Ah. My dear Yeldana. How are you my dear?" Gloria asked in a scratchy tone. She waved her hand and tea was poured for both of them. "To help you see clearly," she said with a small, almost toothless, smile.

Reina laughed gently. "How do you always know?" she asked as she started taking a small sip. She bit her lip and looked up at Gloria. "How can you tell, my friend, when you love someone?" she asked.

Gloria chuckled a bit and clapped her hands. "Oh! You're thinkin' about it now, are ya? Well, my dear, it's a wonderful feeling. You feel absolutely giddy inside. You can't stop thinking about them. You know that whatever you do, you make sure you do what's best for them first," she explained.

Reina laughed a little bit and nodded. "I was afraid you might say that," she said, feeling as if the woman had described perfectly how she felt about Tyrfayn. She sighed. She knew that it would never be if he wanted to keep what he had worked so long to have. "Then I have need of your powers, my friend. I will need a potion that takes away emotions. There is a man... I think he cares for me more than he should and I know it would be best if he did not. Can you do that for me?" she aasked gently.

The old woman sighed but nodded sadly. "Are you sure about this, my dear?" she asked worriedly.

Reina nodded. "That and a potion to help me see a man's true nature, if that's possible," she said.

The old woman looked at her curiously. "How many men do you want to see the true nature of?" she asked curiously.

Reina shrugged. "About twenty," she admitted. She didn't need to tell her what it was for but that would be enough.

The old woman nodded again. She looked at Reina in a way that said she knew more than she said. She disappeared into the back of her shop, pushing bottles aside and making a lot of noise before coming back out. "This one will help the first man. This other will be the one to pull out the other men," she said handing her both bottles.

Reina nodded. "How much do I owe you?" she asked.

Gloria shook her head. "Free for you, young Yeldana."

Reina laughed gently. She put the bottles away in a small bag she had also brought and then put some coin down on the table. "I will not argue about this," she said simply. With a quick good-bye, Reina left the house and looked up and down the main street, curious where else she should go today.

[EvelynWillows]

The swords clashed against each other, one man driving the other back with a vehemence that was reflective of the turmoil in his heart. They traded the advantage several times. At first the Sylvan pushed hard and forced Tyrfayn to defend or be injured during their mock battle, but then an opening would occur and the Magus was able to take back the advantage. Had this been an actual battle there would have been much magic involved, both natural and offensive, but this was swords and shields alone.

The mage needed to beat something to a pulp or be beaten himself. It was the one thing that helped clear his mind when meditation failed.

They were fighting to first blood or surrender, and the present fight had lasted six minutes already. It was a long time in a sport where the outcome was usually decided in the first thirty seconds. The Mage had already gone through the most ambitious four of the Sylvan knights. They didn't hold back, though, as was attested by the cut running across Tyr's left shoulder. During the current battle the Mage faked a stumble, and as his opponent rushed in was able to knock him to the side and pin him down with his arm across the knight's armored neck. True, Tyr had the advantage in that he was unarmored and fast, but it didn't change the fact that these men were trained and wonderfully skilled in their craft. Each spar was a true test and challenged both opponents equally.

"Surrender?" Tyrfayn asked the knight.

The Sylvan grinned. "I seem to have first blood." His eyes traveled to the Elf's neck, where a thin line of red was beginning to bead.

Tyr frowned and touched his neck, bringing back evidence of his defeat. "So you have. Well done." He smiled at the knight and stood, offering him a hand to help him to his feet. "Thank you, that was a good fight."

"And you as well," the knight answered. "Had you been armored..."

He shook his head. "I never am." They clasped arms and separated. Tyr turned to look for the next challenger and saw a red-bearded young dwarf grinning at him from the fence. "Berthias Stronghammer, son of Thrine," Tyr announced with a grin. "It's good to see you again my friend."

"Is it now? I thought the sight of a 'real challenge' might make you faint." The dwarven prince laughed as he hopped down from the fence and strode across the practice field. He shook Tyrfayn's hand heartily. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you were any kind of negotiations are being done. So...you helping out the Sylvans now, eh?"

"And your uncle next," he offered. "It keeps food on the table. And you; are you seriously entertaining a life in the Sylvan lands? Would you not miss your people?"

Berthias shrugged. "Family is what you make of it, eh? There are advantages and disadvantages, but I have to watch after the bottom line. And that, my friend, is why I'm here. So... care to practice some stick-fighting? I don't like swords and my hammer to your little pokey stick would be an unfair advantage." He grinned and tossed the Elf a long stick with padded ends before picking up his own. "Just... stay away from the mug, eh? I like to be pretty for my future wife."

[Natora]

Reinatia spent most of her day among the people, hearing stories, sharing with the rumors. It was a wonderful time and when she looked up, she near panicked when she realised how late it was. She excused herself from her current encounter and rushed back, as quickly as she could to the palace walls, sneaking in the back where the training grounds were. She saw the men there, one of her suitors, four guards, and then Tyrfayn. She was stunned and watched as him and Berthias started their sparring together. She was about to let it be when she saw that Tyrfayn's shoulder and neck were hurt.

Forgetting herself for a split second, she rushed forward, worried about him. She knew how she felt and the fact that he was wounded, even a little bit, hurt her deeply. What she forgot, though, was there were other knights there as well, just as intrigued and not concerned by the blood that was showing. When she got halfway to him, a knight stopped her in her tracks, grabbing her by the upper arm. The hood was still covering half her face but two things were obvious. One, she was a woman, and two, she was very out of place. "Whoah whoah. Where are you going in such a hurry, miss?" he asked as he held her back from going any farther.

Refusing to look away from Tyrfayn and noticing a few eyes on herself, she blushed harshly. How could she forget herself so easily? And dressed like a commoner? This could not go well. "I... I... Well... sir..." she started, trying to remember what a common woman called anything, "isn't that man hurt?" She was proud of herself. Her voice was slightly disguised still from the drink she had had in the morning but it was starting to wear off.

The knight laughed and shook his head. "He's fine, miss. You should be getting back, don't you think?" he asked her. In trying to pull away, her left wrist showed, including the bracelet she hadn't taken off. In the market, she had called it an antique of fine work, but what would she call it here? "Wait a second. Isn't that the bracelet the princess was wearing yesterday?" the knight who had her arm mentioned. They were paid to pay strict attention to every detail and the stunning piece wasn't hard to miss.

"Uhhh...." was her witty response.

Another of the knights who had been watching her looked over. "It is. Are you a thief, trying to run?" he demanded as he walked over.

"Oh yes because a thief runs straight into a sparring match," was her over confident and snarky reply. She almost regretted it immediately at the look she got from the guards.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias was a fine warrior. He stood tall for a dwarf, nearly five feet in height and solid muscle. He wasn't yet getting thick around the middle so that left him rather quick as well. When his opponent heard the word 'princess' and turned to look at who was causing the commotion, Berthias thrust the staff into his gut with a mighty blow, then smashed the Mage across the face.

Tyrfayn was spun to the ground with the forceful blow and money exchanged hands among the knights.

The one holding Reinatia scowled. "Damn it woman, I lost money on that fight." He shook her arm hard. "We'll see how witty you feel after a night in the dungeons."

"Wait!" Tyr groaned as he stood up, one hand cradling his jaw. He started to walk towards the guard and their little thief but remembered Berthias. Turning, he extended his hand to the Dwarf. "Good fight, Bert. You caught me off-guard; a good tactic."

The Dwarf looked slightly surprised but then shook the Mage's hand with a hearty grin. "Anytime, Tyr. Maybe when you come by the Berg to help my cousin we'll do a run on the barrels."

"Possibly," Tyrfayn answered. He limped over to the knights and the little thief they had apprehended. "She's not a thief, men. She's my assistant. I had her take the bracelet to get the clasp fixed for the princess," he said laying his hand on the knight's where he was still gripping the princess' arm. The bracelet grew cold. "Release her. She's not a criminal but a servant of the realm." With those words the bracelet grew warmer. "You have my word on that."

The knights looked from the Mage to the commoner in their grasp. "Well, remember your place, woman." The first knight warned as he released her with a shake. "You'll end up in the dungeons if you run around like you own the place."

"I'll make sure she remembers," Tyr assured the knight. He picked up his sword and slid it home in his sheath before nodding to Reinatia. "Let's go girl, before you get in more trouble."

[Natora]

"Women," the second one scoffed before walking back to his comrades. Reinatia had to bite her tongue, literally, to stop herself from giving them a complete what for. She had to remember how she was dressed. Giving a slight nod of her head she turned and started walking away from the training fields with Tyrfayn. Once they were safely out of earshot she quietly said, "I am sorry. That was stupid. But you were hurt and I was not paying attention to what I was doing," she admitted to him. She sighed softly as she grew quiet again, making her way up into the hall to their rooms.

She had to make this happen before dinner. It would be the easiest way. It broke her heart that she had to do this to him but to not do it would make everything more difficult for the both of them. She turned to him when they were outside their doors and gently said, "Let me show my appreciation by sharing tea with me before dinner? I'll have it waiting for you in my front room when you're ready." It was an easy enough offer and she had the perfect reason to offer him the glass.

[EvelynWillows]

"Don't apologize. Perhaps you needed to see how your men treat those whom they consider inferior to them." He looked down at her as they walked. "Indeed, if you had not shared your secret with me I would not have recognized you either. Except for my bracelet." He grew silent as they neared her doorway.

At her invitation he looked down and drew a long breath. "It's not a good idea for me to enter your chambers. But I thank you for the offer." He still didn't want to call her by her name, lest someone pass by unawares. "Would you still like me to meet you for dinner?" Tyrfayn raised his golden gaze to meet hers. "I promise you that I won't overstep again."

[Natora]

She nodded to him softly. "Thank you. I suppose I will see you soon even still then," she said to him. "As it is, I probably should simply bathe and get ready for dinner," she said softly. After a slight hesitation she turned and went into her room, closing the doors softly after making sure herself and Tyrfayn were the only ones to see her enter. After the ladies-in-waiting heard her tales of the day, the maids came in to help her bathe. It was quiet as they did and allowed her time to think. Simply think on how it would work once she knew that Tyrfayn would no longer have feelings for her. It would hurt and she knew that but it was for the best.

Once the bath was done, she took one of the ladies aside. She explained the two different bottles to her and insisted that she find a way to get the correct men to drink even a small bit from each one. Once she left, her task understood, Reinatia finally started to relax a bit. Where the knight had grabbed her earlier had bruised her delicate skin. With the long sleeves, she was able to hide it but would the maids' loose lips make the news get back to her father? If it did, what would she tell him? It wasn't as if she could blame it on falling from a horse. For the rest of the afternoon she simply sat in her front room and came up with all a manner of stories to explain the purpling that was happening under the sleeve of her dress.

[EvelynWillows]

He waited while the door closed on him. There was a finality in it that he had never felt before when she turned away. He stood there for many long moments catching his breath before finally going to his own room.

The Sylvan had a way with plants, and somehow they had managed to grow plants that siphoned warm water up from natural springs to fill their baths. He stripped down and sank into the water, washing away the salt and dirt even as he began to recite memory verses in his mind to keep himself focused. It felt calming to do what he had done for decades; study and serve. The sting of salt across his two wounds and the ache in his jaw kept him focused as well. Pain was a useful tool at times.

He dressed in dark colors and a high collar (http://www.lalitkhatri.com/images/1000x1000/S9520N/S9520N.jpg)to shield the cut on his neck from prying eyes. The outfit had a sever and harsh look to it; usually he only wore it when things were going poorly in negotiations and he wanted to begin to intimidate to help his side convince the other. Today, though, he wore it as a shield.

When the time came to meet Princess Reinatia, Master Ambrians found himself nervous. He didn't want to appear too eager and arrive early, yet he also didn't want to show up late and disappoint her. After pacing mindlessly a few minutes he finally mustered up the courage to knock on her door. He heard the sound of female voices inside, and was thankful at least that there were others about to chaperone them.

[Natora]

Dinner was set in the front room for the both of them, goblets of the sweet nectar on either side, his with a special addition to the drink. Reina just hoped that he wouldn't be able to sense the magic in it before he tasted it. When his knock came, one of the ladies-in-waiting answered it. She had a small giggle before opening the door to let him in. Reinatia was sitting at the table already, dressed in something more appropriate her title in a dark red colour. The colour was the exact opposite of what she had worn last night and she knew that she would never wear green next to him again.

Her mind was dwelling on the potion. She hadn't asked specifically what it would do but if she had, she would have learned that it would erase every memory of them together that he treasured, every moment he thought her more than what he should. She didn't learn that though and would have to find out for herself. She looked up when he came in and gave him a polite smile. "I'm sorry. I know you were against my chambers. We can go to your rooms if you would prefer," she said gently. She looked to the lady. "Milly, leave the door open. Then everyone will know exactly what happened here tonight."

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn was stunned. He stood in the doorway for a moment as the realization sunk in that the princess had intended for them to dine privately. "Your Grace, I assumed... I thought we would be joining your father and the suitors in the dining hall." He stepped past the smiling lady-in-waiting and into Reinatia's sitting room.

At her suggestion of dining in his chambers he visibly paled.

"No, I think that is not a good idea. We'll stay here." He pulled a chair out for her before sitting across from her at the intimate table. The ladies who remained lit the candles on the table and opened a window to let the cool night breezes in before leaving the two to their dinner.

"Thank you," Tyrfayn finally said. "This is a huge show of trust. I... I don't deserve this."

The princess' bracelet remained warm.

He reached forward to take the goblet of nectar. His throat had grown constricted in her presence, and his eyes wanted to trail from the neckline of her maroon dress to the delicate vines etched in her skin. It was promising to be a very difficult meal.

[Natora]

Reinatia sat down as he helped her but shook her head. "As far as my father is concerned I am not feeling well and I do not wish to spoil the evening for anyone," shse said to him."It might be a small lie but I owe you at least this much in thanks," she said to him softly. She watched as he picked up the goblet, her heart sinking with every inch it came closer to his soft and gorgeous lips.

She took up her own glass and before he could take a drink she insisted on something else. "A toast," she said softly. "To finally having faith that I can find love," she said to him softly. Truly she had found it but she would never admit it to him, as she was soon to make sure that he had no feelings for her. She watched him closely, wanting nothing more than to be able to have him but since it wasn't possible, she would make this easier on both of them.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn smiled and raised his glad. "To love," he echoed, and drank the nectar she had prepared for him. He gave a small cough and the end of the swallow, but managed to set the glass down without incident. His eyes were still soft as he looked at her in the candle light. As he layered thinly sliced cheese and fruit on a cracker his eyes grew more crisp. More business like.

He causally reached into his pocket and pulled out the book he had been using in their discussions. "Mich'ael Dappled had arrived, I've heard. And with him the Prince of the centaurs, Delvin Crussio. Their people had been left of the original list. I don't know much about them, I confess, but I wonder if you would consider a centaur for a suitor? Many might find the pairing uhm, challenging."

[Natora]

Reinatia took her sip with him and held back a sigh. She watched him closely, curious to know if his own magic would fight off the magic she had given him. The easiest change to notice was the change in his eyes. He had been happy and excited before. She had seen it. Or at least content and accepting. When his eyes finally changed so they were when he arrived, she closed her own in defeat. She couldn't help the memories that seemed to flood back over her with the new found knowledge that he wouldn't care for her anymore.

The first time she threatened him was a fond memory as they both learned that each other were not to be trifled with. Then in the field when he had given her the bracelet and saved her life both in a single hour. That was when she had first started feeling fond of him. Feeling like he was the kind of man that she wanted in a husband. She could help but let her thoughts continue to the dance and she felt an aching in her heart to dance the dances with him again, to be so close to him and intimate. Then there was the gardens last night. The most perfect of settings in more way than one.

She couldn't take it anymore, knowing that he didn't feel for her as he once had. When he started mentioning the suitors again, she stood. "I'm sorry, Master Ambrians, I'm really not feeling well," she said. Before he could protest, she left the table and walked out of the room. Her heart was breaking in front of her. She left an untouched plate and the man she loved behind her as she went to the gardens quickly. With ease she found herself in front of the bench they had shared last night. Sitting by the heart they had made together, she let her head fall into her hands, elbows on her knees, and started to cry.

[EvelynWillows]

He sat there for a moment, wondering why she would lie to him. Was it something she said? Perhaps a cultural opposition to the centaur? He decided to disobey her indirect command and follow her. He had never been to the gardens, to his recollection, but he somehow knew that was where she would be.

After moving through the complex maze he came upon a little courtyard centered around a fountain. The princess was there, bent over herself on a bench and weeping. The night was cool, and the fireflies danced merrily before them. Tyrfayn saw the chill raise tiny hairs on her neck as she sat and cried, so out of consideration for her he removed his jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders as he sat next to her.

"Princess Reinatia, I apologize if I've offended you. Please tell me what is troubling you; I'm here to help you in any way I can. Perhaps... would you like me to send for your mother? Is it a womanly concern you have?"

[Natora]

Rein was startled by the jacket on her shoulders. She looked up in surprise, brushing tears from her face quickly. "Yes, I am sorry. A fool's problem I have," she said softly. "I will be fine, Master Ambrians. I just need a moment. I can come back inside and we can speak more of the suitors in a small moment," she said gently. She looked up and looked around the courtyard. She could almost feel the soft, warm glow of the magical flowers behind her. "Having time with you here last night was one of my favourite times," she said softky before looking back down at her hands, neglecting to correct her poor posture. She would straighten up if someone else happened to come by.

She sighed softly and shook her head. "So you cannot be with a woman without losing all your abilities?" she asked for clarification. If there were a way they could be together wtihout him losing his powers, his only time at thinking clearly about it would be now.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn tilted his head slightly and laid a comforting hand on her arm. "Princess...I think you have me confused for someone else. I've never been in the garden before today." He withdrew his hand and clasped them lightly over his knees. "They are beautiful, though. It must have taken generations to get everything so perfectly groomed."

He took the time to look around as she asked him about his abilities. Standing, he slowly walked around the fountain to where the glowing flowers grew. "Not many people know about that aspect of a Master's magic, and fewer still know what my restrictions are." He knelt down to examine the flowers as he considered her question. "You must have a very good intelligence gatherer to know that much about me."

For a moment he grew silent. Then he reached out and touched the flowers. "What do you call these, Princess? My sister would be enchanted to have flowers like this in her garden."

[Natora]

She sighed at his mention of an intelligence gatherer. She supposed that was what she was now. "I suppose," she answered softly. When he mentioned the flowers she looked up sadly. "They're Tyrantia. Only common in these gardens. I had to grow them in a very specific way. I'm sad to say I'm not sure your sister will be able to have any but those that are here," she commented softly. She shook her head again, near tears at the mention of the flowers. "Should we go inside? There is probably a lot more to talk about," she said standing up. Being here had only made her problem worse instead of healing it. This would turn into a problem quickly.

[EvelynWillows]

His eyes lingered on the flowers for another moment. "They're lovely; perfectly matching the light of the fireflies and almost looking like they're weeping. Astounding." He returned to Reinatia's side and smiled softly. "These things are not easy. I am sorry, Princess Reinatia. If it's any consolation you are not the first person to feel devastated when faced with the reality of an unwanted marriage."

He began to walk back towards the building with her. "To answer your earlier question, though; yes. My understanding is that I lose all the power I've been gifted with if I am with a woman. Or, I suppose, a man. Either way; my deity requires complete fidelity to remain at the level of a Master."

Tyrfayn smiled at her and tried to lighten the moon. "I suppose that you'd love to be in my position but believe me; it's a lonely place to be. To only have One you can confide in, and to never hear a voice in response." He glanced across the gardens as they left the final few feet behind them. "You're fortunate, Princess. The only people I've ever seen who are truly happy are those who have found in their wives or husbands, first and foremost, a true friend."

[Natora]

That was it. She knew she had done the right thing. As lonely as he may seem somtimes, she knew that he did not want to give up his powers for want of a woman. That was why he was so conflicted and promised not to overstep again. She would continue to reason that she had just helped him to never overstep again. She nodded gently and asked, "Would it be inappropriate to see those of the six suitors that have already arrived tonight?" It might help her if she could feel some sort of affection from one of them. It would make her feel like she was actually making the right decision rather than just trying to hide what she knew.

[EvelynWillows]

"Of course, you have complete freedom to see whomever you choose." He reached over and adjusted his jacket as they walked, aligning it's wide width more accurately on her small shoulders.

"Forgive me if this is too intimate a question, Princess, but those vines drawn on your skin - are part of you, or are they applied by an artist? I've never seen such intricate designs on people, and only a few of your retainers here have such ornamentation on them."

As they walked the hallways, the drow suitor happened to pass them. He paused and bowed to Reinatia.

"Princess, I heard you were feeling ill and was on my way to call upon you," he said, producing a small red box wrapped with white ribbon. "I brought you a small gift; moon mint grown deep in the caverns of my homeland and excellent for settling nerves." Her bracelet remained warm.

The drow looked at Tyrfayn and nodded. "Perhaps I should be courting you as much as the princess, hm? The word is that you have more influence in this decision than even the Sylvan king. What is it like, Puppetmaster, to know you can slowly influence the tides of power?"

The Mage inclined his head. "The rumors of my influence are greatly exaggerated, Prince Delfire. I'm here only as an adviser. I assure you; there is no motive other than finding the best man for the Princess."

Warm, for Delfire.

Warm, for Tyrfayn.

[Natora]

Reinatia's heart hurt when he asked about the vines again. She was about to tell him when Delfire stepped in front of them."Well thank you, your grace. I was just about to call on you as well," she said to him. She had said she wanted to talk to some suitors. Why not Delfire even if he was already crossed off the list? She looked up to him after taking the gift and smiled softly. "A very thoughtful gift," she complimented. Looking back up at him she commented, "If you're done your bantering, could we continue to the study, maybe? We could sit and speak there," she suggested to Delfire. Speaking to him might be a bit of a chore but if she did maybe she could refrain from wasting part of a potion on him.

[EvelynWillows]

Delfire's smile was subtly triumphant. He gave her his arm to hold and proceeded to walk towards the study. The Mage stayed ten steps behind them, allowing the princess and her suitor some privacy.

The study wasn't too far away. "I know that it might cause a few frowns of disapproval across the realm if you were to select me," Delfire began, "but I can assure you that the one place I want to be the most is at your side." The bracelet stayed warm. "I don't know much about surface women, though, and all those I grew up with were intent upon killing each other to gain favor with Lloth. It would take gentle ministrations on your part to tame that opinion of mine." His black eyes sank into hers. The way his white hair brushed across his dark skin was interesting. It was different and exotic, and wholly sexual when the light moved across his body.

"All I know about you is that you are the most beautiful woman I've seen on the surface." Warm. "Will you share with me the things you enjoy doing? What... what is your favorite flower? I saw a lovely one in your garden early this morning. It reminded me of the glowing lines of fungi in our deepest caverns."

[Natora]

Reina paid attention to his words as much as the bracelet letting her know that he was actually telling her the truth, which she appreciated. As they walked together to the study, arm in arm, she thought about the fact that Tyrfayn had been so adament about them not being together. She wanted to find out what exactly the reason was that he didn't like him as a suitor. Answering his questions were easy enough, though. "I enjoy being around nature," she answered easily. The gardens are one of my favourite places in the palace grounds. "Making things grow is a wonderful past time of mine," she admitted to him. What harm would admitting she enjoyed growing things do?

As they arrived at the study, the doors were opened for them by a pair of knights standing close by. She walked in and chose a fluffy and comfortable seat for herself next to another that Delfire could use. She looked to him as she sat and gently asked, "What do you enjoy doing, Prince Delfire? What occupies most of your time?" As she got more curious about the reasons for Tyrfayn's doubt, she found herself also asking, "And what brings you here rather than finding a good woman from where you are?" before she could stop herself.

[EvelynWillows]

The Mage followed them into the room but he sat far enough away in the study to not listen in on their conversation. He watched them, though he picked up a book and began to browse its pages.

Delfire nodded pleasantly when Reinatia spoke of gardening. "I've heard that the Sylvan are masters at gardening; that you practically sing plants into being." He smiled and sat near the princess but not close enough to seem too eager. "Where I am from... life is very different. Of course, you know that ours is a society where women rule. They serve the goddess Lloth and it is a constant scramble for power." He looked sad. "As a man my prospects are limited, I'm afraid. We are trained to fight from the time we are weaned. Those who are weak...die. Others are used to battle for power, or if they are 'fortunate' are sacrificed to appease Lloth."

He grew quiet. "My mother is sentimental. Weak. She has allowed me to form this alliance with your kingdom as a show of loyalty to her and a way to increase our family's standing in the Underdark. If I were to stay at home the best I could hope for, Princess, would be as a favored concubine of a powerful Matron. Perhaps I'd get to see my children grow to adulthood. Eventually I'd die in battle or on the altar of Lloth, our spider goddess."

Warm.

[Natora]

She looked minutely surprised at his explanation. To have him as her king would seem to get him away from a fairly precarious situation. Maybe he was worth considering as possibly the seventh on the list. He seemed honest enough. "Excuse my saying so but you do not sound as if you enjoy your way of life," she said softly. If the women were the ones to typically rule, what would be his downfall? "And, suppose I should choose you, would you expect me to go with you to live in the Underdark or would you come here and rule with me?" she asked him curiously. That was a fairly important thing to mention, she thought.

[EvelynWillows]

"The life of a drow is not one I'd wish upon you, Princess. No, if you wed me I'd be happy to stay with you here. To spend my days making you happy. The sun is hard on me, it's true, but I've found that a cloak and some shade has kept it from being too painful to be out in the light. The sky... it still frightens me. I keep thinking that I'll start to float away without the walls of the caverns there to hold me down." He smiled. "I'd show you some sign of my sincerity, but there is no affection where I come from. Only obedience or death. But I would learn, my Princess. I would welcome the chance to learn how to love another."

Tyrfayn shifted uncomfortably in his chair and narrowed his eyes. An innocent like Reinatia would easily fall for such words. He wondered if there would be another name added to the short list.

[Natora]

Reina smiled to him and nodded. "Well thank you, Prince Delfire. I appreciate your sincerity," she said softly. The last few things that he had said had disappointed her in him but she didn't let on at all about it. The fact that he didn't know how to show affection when Tyrfayn had done it so easily. He was one who was supposed to remain celebate but showed his affections well already! To have him always wanting for a different life would be difficult to conceal and she couldn't see herself enjoying the time with him.

"Well then for the moment I only have one question left for you at this moment," she said to him gently. "Do you honestly think that you could be happy living here with me?" she asked him. She was going to rely on her bracelet a fair bit she realised. This question's answer would be simple, yes or no. If he answered one way but the bracelet went cold, she would know the truth.

[EvelynWillows]

Delfire paused at her last question. "I... do not know, Princess Reinatia. But I would be alive." He smiled softly and then took her hand. "Thank you for this time together. I will remember this for the rest of my life." He stood up to leave. When he first answered her the bracelet cooled slightly, but then it warmed for the rest of his answer. He drew a shuddering breath and then took his leave of the princess.

Tyrfayn set down the book he had been 'not reading' and looked across the room at Reinatia. She seemed contemplative and he was glad that it seemed like she was seriously considering each candidate as she met them.

[Natora]

She looked over at Tyrfayn once Delfire was gone. "I will not marry him," she said softly so it wouldn't be overheard. "I suppose it's getting late. I should get to bed," she said softly. "I pray you sleep well Master Ambrians," she said softly, truly hoping that he did. She knew she wouldn't but at least one of the two of them would. Maybe if there was a bit of the potion left over she could take just a lick of it for herself. It would help remind herself what she was supposed to be doing with her time.

Standing gracefully, she nodded to Tyrfayn in parting and left to walk to her rooms. She wasn't sure if she would be able to get to sleep soon or not so brought a book with her as she left the library. Couldn't hurt to have a back up plan.

[EvelynWillows]

"Goodnight, Princess," Tyrfayn answered. He set his book down and stood to escort her back to her rooms. He sensed that she wanted solitude so he stayed a few feet behind her, walking slowly and trying not to reveal the depths of his weariness.

Indeed, he was so tired that there were gaps in his memory. He wondered if he might have fallen into a half-sleep during the meetings. God, I hope not! He yawned quietly behind a closed fist as they neared her door. One she was safe within her own rooms he would collapse into bed. He knew that, try as he might, he wouldn't be able to concentrate that day. He was so tired his magic felt like it was just...out...of reach.

There was one more day by his reckoning before the ball. They didn't have much time to narrow it down to the final three.

[Natora]

After Reina let her maids help her change, she went to her bed, crawling in and closing her eyes. Tonight she wept silently as she slept, not wanting anyone to hear her. With her hopes for love satisfied and then dashed away, she fell asleep restlessly having nightmares about terrible things happening to Tyrfayn and not being able to help him in any way.It was painful.

The next morning, she woke early again, riding out so that she could leave the palace behind. It was the day of the ball and the entire afternoon would be spent getting ready and prepared for the day. As she rode out, she did pass by the training grounds of the knights. Hesitating, she stopped, remembering Tyrfayn's request the first time she had ridden out. She rode back over to the knights and requested their presence during her ride. Three willingly went to saddle up. Wondering if one of the suitors would join her, she sent a nearby maid to see if Berthias had woken up yet and then to request his presence for a morning ride. She might as well get some use out of this ride rather than just riding to clear her head. She knew well enough now that that wouldn't work.

[EvelynWillows]

Master Ambrians looked over the notes he had taken. They seemed foreign to him, as if taken by his hand but not by him. He noticed the answers to the questions he had asked Reinatia, and began to learn about her through his ledger. Perhaps he had pushed himself too far this time; his mind wasn't retaining information and he felt foggy when trying to remember what they had talked about. As he was shaving that morning he saw a cut on his neck that he didn't recall getting, and then he felt the cut on his arm. Frowning, Tyr brought a hand to his jaw and massaged the soreness where he had been struck the previous day.

He needed to see a healer. There was no way to deny it; something was wrong.

Berthias couldn't hold back the grin when he received the invitation to ride with the princess. Though Dwarves preferred ponies to horses he preferred the company of the lovely lass more than his own countrymen. He dressed quickly and went to meet her at the stables.

"Princess Reinatia, you honor me with this invitation," he truthfully said while bowing. "It's not every day I get to start the morning with the one I hope to spend my life with."

He mounted his sturdy mountain pony and went to join the graceful future monarch. "I trust you rested well last night?"

[Natora]

Reinatia laughed gently as she waited for Berthias to mount up and join her. "Well, I am sorry to inform you but I did not have the best of restful nights. I thought that your company might lift up my spirits after a restless night and a long day ahead," she said with a small smile. That truly was her goal in this so there was no reason to lie to him. She kicked her horse into a trot, something she thought the pony would be able to keep up with. Once they were on a path that would lead them down to the river that circled the farthest reaches of the land, she began to speak again, mostly because she needed something to distract herself from the thoughts of Tyrfayn and the nightmares that she had that kept plaguing her.

"Your grace, on what you said before, do you truly hope to spend your life with me?" she asked him. She thought it a curious statement since only reputations were known between the two of them. She had certainly heard of his conquests but had he heard of her family's? How could one assume he wished to spend his life with someone else whom he had only met in passing?

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias smiled. It was a nice smile, if a bit scruffy. His broad face was one that could be pleasant to look upon over the course of a lifetime. "Well, to be completely honest, Princess, I had always envisioned myself marrying another Dwarf. But all these years have shown me that I'm a bit of an oddity; I don't want to build my family under the earth or in the mountains, Ma'am. I like the feel of the sun and the breeze. So I started to pray."

His smile grew slightly embarrassed. "I.. ah, I prayed that if I was to find a wife she'd be shown to me, even if it meant going on a journey. And then this came." He motioned between Reinatia and himself. "This...something most Dwarves would never desire, but when I heard your name something inside me knew. This...was the answer to my prayer."

"But I suppose the real question, Your Highness, is whether or not I'm the answer to your prayer as well?"

[Natora]

Hearing him out made him seem so sincere and as far as she knew he was telling her the truth. She smiled and nodded to him. "Well wouldn't it be a terrible joke if someone else were to answer my prayers as well?" she asked him with a soft smile. As she said that, they came upon the river, finally. She dismounted gracefully and let her horse wander freely. The knights followed and fanned out once they made it to the banks of the river, taking him stations along the small bit of clearing they had.

She walked to the water and slipped her shoes off, letting her feet feel the grass a moment, seeing if any animals were nearby just by counting the vibrations under her feet. She looked back to Berthias and smirked a bit before asking, "You'll forgive me if I take off my shoes and pull my skirts up to my ankles, won't you?" She wanted to dangle her feet in the water.

[EvelynWillows]

"It would be heartbreaking," Berthias said regarding the joke. "But I can't think that Fate would be so cruel." He rode with her to the river and got off his pony, stretching a bit before loosening her girth and removing the bridle so she could rest. He hung the bridle over a low branch before following Reinatia to the riverbank.

" 'Tis your kindgom, Lass. If you wish to cool yer feet it's no quarrel of mind. You'll forgive me if I pretend I'm not stealing a glance at yer dainty toes I hope?" He smiled and blushed slightly before finding himself a log nearby to set on. He watched the knights keeping watch, and cleared his throat.

"Fergive me Princess, but I'd like to mention something to you. It's...it concerns the way yer knights treat the common folk. If I may have permission to speak about this I'd be much obliged."

[Natora]

Reinatia smirked slightly when he mentioned how the knights treat the commoners. It had only come to her attention very recently as well. And she need to... Wait. She looked up at him curious and interested. "How exactly do you feel about how the knights treat the commoners?" she asked him curiously. She knew how she felt about it; they were much too harsh on the poor people and she feared that worse would happen if noblemen or women weren't around. It was a terrible thing...but did he feel the opposite way? Did he think they were too easy on the commoners? IF he did, he would be stricken from the list immediately. She sat on the bank and put her feet in the water, patting the space beside her for him to sit as well. The vine that started on her temple cound be seen finishing on her foot.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias had blue eyes. It wasn't immediately obvious, because they had been so dark, but here in the sunlight the deep azure of his eyes was apparent as he gazed out over the river. "I'm not here to tell you how to run yer kingdom, but I canna' let it go too long less I start condoning it." He pressed his lips together. "Mind you, 'tis only what I observed from one incident yesterday so perhaps it's not indicative of the way things us'uly are. It seems ta me that the knights should be protectors of those weaker 'en themselves. Guardians of the realm, ye know. Yesterday I saw some men treat a little peasant much harsher than they'd a person of rank. They were quick ta judge, and I think they would'a thrown her in the hole fer bein' worried aboot a hurt man."

He stretched out a leg before him and looked over at Reinatia. "I think when yer born ta rank it's so ye ken take care of those weaker'n yerself, Princess. Not so ye ken push 'em down."

[Natora]

Reinatia smiled up to him and nodded. "Wise words," she said softly. Her smiled soft yet grand as it touched all corners of her face. She was glowing with how much she already enjoyed his company. "Please tell me, Prince Berthias, how you feel about deception," she said with a soft smirk. She wasn't dismissing the former subject but she wanted to know if she could have some fun with him and show the guards how they should be careful of whome they grab and speak to so harshly.

If things worked well, they could still have time to ride back, execute a small plan and then still have time to get ready for the ball.

[EvelynWillows]

"What?" Her question about deception caught him by surprise. "Lying, ye mean?" He pressed his lips together and clasped his hands together. "Well, we're not supposed ta' lie, but there are times when a little... eh, deception ken save a life or some such, I suppose. I mean, fer instance; my Auntie Mae makes a fyne mince puddin'. Usually. But one tyme she forgot the sugar an' made it flat." He grimaced. "But et's no' the worst I 'ad, and she meant well by it, so not tellin' her was a kindness. On the other 'and, there are lies that hurt. I think that on the whole I dun think it's a gut idea, but if I were to help someone by it then per'aps the reasons outweigh the damage."

He studied her closely. "but if yer talkin' aboot fidelity...I dun believe in lying there. If ye married me I'd expect ta be the only one fer ye, and ye fer me."

[Natora]

"You speak very well, your grace," she said with a smile. She looked up to him and asked, "What if we played a trick on the knights to show them how they should treat the people?" she asked him gently. "If that doesn't work there are always harsher forms of discipline," she spoke softly. She looked around to where the knights were. "Mind it is good to know how you feel about every other form of deception in any case," she said to him with a smile. As much as she had been wary about it, she was finding that she was quite enjoying her time with Berthias.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias grinned. "It would be my pleasure to be in mutual deception with you." He rubbed his hands together and bent his head to the princess'. "Where do we start?"

The High Priest peered into Tyrfayn's eyes and muttered discouragingly. "Hm...yes...I see."

"See what? What is it?" The Mage asked impatiently.

"All will be revealed in due time."

Tyrfayn rolled his eyes.

"It appears, good sir, that you have been poisoned." The aged priest straightened up and shuffled over to the table, where a plethora of bottles, vials, and powders sat in a haphazard array. "Not the kind that kills the body, good sir, but something designed to change your... ah... to calm you down. Or something like that." he raised a gnarled hand and scratched absent-mindedly at the tuft of white hair sticking out from above his ears. "Do you recall someone sneaking something into your food without your knowledge?"

Tyrfayn scowled and stood up abruptly. "If they did it without my knowledge then how would I know about it?"

"Exactly." The priest held up a finger. "The good news is; it's not going to get worse. The bad news is; the memories are gone forever."

"Why would anyone want to take memories from me?" He pulled on his shirt and began to button it.

"That is the mystery, isn't it? I'd suggest being more careful, Master Ambrians. You probably trusted this person very much to let them in so close. It's those you're not expecting who will stick you in the gut, yes?"

Tyrfayn nodded. The problem was he couldn't imagine anyone he trusted that much. He wasn't accustomed to having close friends, and the implication bothered him. He had someone he trusted, and now he couldn't remember who that was.

[Natora]

"I will explain on the ride back," she insisted with a smile. She stood from the water and stepped back into her shoes. "Let's go quickly before I am forced to put a tent around my body and carry it proudly," she said to him with a smirk. The dresses they had for balls were always more large and annoying than normal ones, what she was wearing now, for example. She quickly got back on her horse and waited for Berthias to saddle up before starting to ride back with him.

"Here is my plan," she started. "I will dress as if I am a commoner. If you'll go to the training grounds and get hurt accidentally, I will come and try to see if you're all right. With any luck, they will do as they did yesterday and stop me before I get close enough. When you come over I will reveal who I am and we will see how humiliated they look," she tried, not realising that she might have given something away about what happened yesterday.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias frowned as they rode back to the castle. "Did someone tell you what happened yest'day? A little gal was concerned 'bout Tyr's cut on 'es neck and..." he looked over at the princess. "Are ye keepin' secrets wi' yer couns'lor, Princess Reinatia? If I ask 'im aboot et, es 'e gonna say what you tell me ri' now?"

Doubt crossed his features, and with it a hint of hurt. He had no reason for it, of course; she wasn't his wife or even his betrothed, but Berthias had such a strong faith that he couldn't fathom the chance that this wasn't what Fate had intended for them both.

[Natora]

She looked at him confused. Then realisation dawned on her features. "Stories travel the halls well, your grace. Do not be so concerned," she said softly. "And what kinds of secrets would I have to keep?" she asked rhetorically. Every royal of any degree had a secret or two. "Do you wish to try this plan or not?" she asked gently, hoping that he would. If not she would bring the knowledge to her father and he would have to deal with them. The knights wouldn't directly listen to an order like that unless it came from her father and she wasn't so naive as to think otherwise.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias took a breath and decided to trust her. "Certainly, Lass. I'll do this wi' ye. Mayhaps pull Tyr back fer a rematch, eh? He was a bi' distracted at the last one." He nodded to himself as if to reassure himself of the plan of action.

"There might be tyme afore lunch if yer willin'. Tyr's an old enough friend o'mine tha' 'ell give me a fair bashin' ef I ask em." He grinned. "Eh might be lookin' forward ta a chance ta get me back! Twas a gut smash 'e got yesterday!"

He thought about what Reinatia said, and when he got back to the castle he sought out Master Ambrians. "Oi! Get yer head outa that book, Mage. Ye an I 'ave some unfinished business, eh?"

Tyrfayn looked up from his ledger, confused by the Dwarf's words. "What are you talking about, Prince Berthias?"

"Oh dun go givin' me any o' that. Our spar yesterday. I smashed ye' up pretty gut, ja? So's how aboot a rematch. Right now. Let's go; books are fer when yer too sick ta go outside."

"We didn't spar yesterday," he slowly responded as he closed the book and set it down. "Did we?" Tyr put a hand up to his jaw.

"That's right. Ye go' distracted by yer assistant an' I got in a lucky swing or two. I dun feel right wi'out gettin' ya fair and square, so ye go' ta let me try agin."

Tyrfayn nodded, standing. "Certainly friend, but I have no memory of fighting you and I don't have an assistant."

The Dwarf looked at him with a steely gaze. "No matter. See ye there in 'alf an hour, 'kay? We'll 'ave ourselves a little fun afore lunch." He left the Mage and returned to his quarters to get dressed, his mind swimming with possibilities and concern.

[Natora]

Reina went to her rooms as soon as they were done. She called the maids to get one of their own dresses to make the story more reasonable. The maids complied and quickly she was dressed as more of a commoner agan. She sighed softly. Having to be anywhere near Master Ambrians, as she was forcing herself to call him, was difficult as anything. She didn't enjoy being next to and not being able to speak openly to the one she loved.

As she snuck out of the palace walls though she thought of Prince Berthias. He really was a fantastic man and everything she wanted in a man, or at least all she had told Tyrfayn she wanted. Master Ambrians. He was caring for her people already and they had only just began speaking together. It was a fantastic match already. Much better than Prince Delfire. With all this she had learned about him she could easily say he would be a good match for herself. It was a good thought.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias and Tyrfayn faced off on the practice field. The knights who were training with the common guards were already placing bets on who would win the sparring match. The mage weighed his staff in his hand and looked across the ring at the dwarf. "Are you sure you don't want a longer stick, my friend, to make up for the height difference?"

The dwarf laughed. "Depends on what part 'o us we're measurin', ja? Now stop stallin' there ye pointed eared book werm an' let's get this goin'." He grinned, focused on their spar and only partially thinking about the plot he and the princess had come up with together.

Tyrfayn removed (http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb353/EvelynWillows/Tyrfaynshirtless_zps5bc1c25b.jpg)his vest, shirt, and amulet, hanging them on a nearby fencepost. "Very well my friend. I'll try not to embarrass you too greatly." He picked up the padded staff and the fight was on. The cut on his arm and neck had started to heal, but the exertion soon pulled the arm wound open and let a slight trickle of blood travel down his arm. It went unnoticed by him, though, as both men were completely immersed in their game.

[Natora]

Reinatia came out onto the training grounds and walked over to the sparring match that they had planned out. She saw the two men holding their own but wasn't very close to the match yet. That was when two knights approached her from behind. "Now what's a pretty maid like you doing in a place like this?" one of them asked and grabbed her before she could pull away. "Kinda suspicious if you ask me, eh Brutus?" he asked his buddy who just laughed unkindly.

"Very suspicious," Brutus agreed. "We might have to make sure you don't have any hidden weapons on you," he said, sounding excited for the prospect.

Reina's eyes went wide as she tried to pull away unsuccessfully. She had a fairly good idea at what they intended but with her head covered they still didn't know who it was.

[EvelynWillows]

A large, strong hand clamped over Reinatia's mouth, and the first knight easily picked up her lithe form with his other arm. Brutus glanced over his shoulder to make sure that no one was watching as his compatriot dragged the princess into a gardening shed. "Heh, much more fun than sweating in the sun," the powerful man said. "Good find, Harlow. Nice and feisty, just like we like our women."

Harlow's hand groped at Reinatia's shift while his other hand stayed clamped over her mouth. He grinned down at her and nodded. "Feels nice when you struggle, girlie. Stay quiet and do what we want and there'll be a little reward for you." His hand reached down and palmed her thighs before coming up and cupping the mound of her sex. "Scream and cause trouble..." he shrugged. "The river's just a short walk from here."

He was referring, of course, to the girls who were found floating on the river. Most were girls of disrepute, but some were presumed runaways or simply unfortunate females who had lost their way. No one really knew if they were all accidental drownings or something more malicious.

The knight's suggestion sounded more like the latter.

[Natora]

When they started touching her, she was shocked. This was much more than she had ever bargained for with the plan. How could the knights be so cruel to the people below them. She wrestled and fought them. What else would she do? After a fair amount of struggling, she got her mouth out enough that she could push it back and clamp down on the hand that was covering it. She bit hard until he released her mouth and finally shouted out. "I DEMAND YOU LET ME GO!" she stormed as she managed to get a good kick in the other's sensitive place.

Once he released her to hold on to his jewels, she kicked the door to the shed open and screamed, "BERTHIAS, PLEASE HEP ME!" She knew better than to think that she could out muscle these men on her own. Using the last bit of leverge she had, she pulled the hood of the cloak she had on back and glared at the men. "I am the Princess and you will release me!"

[EvelynWillows]

"Ah fuck!" Harlow jerked his hand away from the princess' mouth, but that only made the bite wound worse. "You bi-" he couldn't finish his thought, though. Her foot connected with his loins and his eyes widened in pain and shock. His natural reaction was to shield himself and fall to his knees.

"Get her!" He gasped.

Brutus grabbed for her, but missed as she jerked open the door. She yelled out for help and he slammed the door shut, then back-handed her across the face. "Stupid whore! Shut up!" He reached out to grab her by the collar and shook her violently. "Shut up!"

Berthias looked up and saw a flash of a scared face across the field. His expression drew Tyrfayn's attention as well, and both saw the door slam shut with a finality.

"What was that?" asked Master Ambrians.

"Oh no..." Berthias groaned. He dropped his staff and began running towards the shed, picking up his hammer as he went. "Come on! Reinatia's in trouble!"

A look of confusion crossed Tyrfayn's face but he ran after his friend unquestioningly. The other knights hesitated. They knew what the shed was used for and couldn't comprehend the princess as the peasant girl their partners had taken in there.

When she pulled back her hood Brutas paled. "Damn it!" He looked over at Harlow. "What do we do?"

The other knight struggled to his feet. "Bar the door!" He ordered. Then he shouted at the princess "You tricked us! You tricked us!" He slapped her across the face. "Damn it, you've killed us. But we're not going to go alone," he threatened, shoving her back into a chair. "Not without a fight."

[Natora]

Reinatia was controlling herself as much as she could but inside she was screaming and crying, absolutely terrified. She fell back into the seat, grateful that she didn't have to hold her own body weight anymore. "Yes, a fantastic idea," she sneered. She was offended and hurt that once they found out it was her they didn't stop. "I tricked you so that these escapades would stop. I didn't realise they were so violent," she said, raising her foot and sinking it against his stomach as he came at her. At least she could try and hold him off as long as possible.

Brutus ran to the door and blocked it off as well as he could. He wanted to die about as much as Harlow and bringing someone down with him seemed like a good idea. He drew his sword and walked over to Harlow and Reinatia, a furious glint in his eye.

Harlow wasn't dettered by the foot in his abdomen, her push being like that of a pillow. He pushed against it and forced her and her chair to start leaning back until it touched the walls of the shed. The chair slipped and fell, Reinatia's back on the ground and now winded. Her hands touched the ground and she felt dirt. Her eyes went wide and she started using her magic to pull a tree root. Brutus raised his sword but just as he was about to strike down, a root came out of the ground and grabbed it.

[EvelynWillows]

"But she's a commoner." Tyrfayn protested as they sprinted to the cabin.

"No! It's Reina - she's in disguise!" Berthias charged the door full-speed and slammed against the wooden barrier. "Open the door! You scoundrels! I'll kill you!" His eyes pleaded for help from the Mage. When he saw the Elven man calmly walking around the corner of the cabin the Dwarf's heart fell; he wasn't getting any help from him. "Open the door!"

Sir Harlow tried to shake the root off his sword to no avail. He cursed and released the sword, only to jump on the reclined princess and begin to choke her by the neck. "Damn it you whore! You tricked us! You condemned us!" He jerked her head up and slammed her down on the dirt, trying to knock her out.

Brutus was having a difficult time holding Berthias back. The Dwarf was much stronger than he looked. He was all compact muscle and determination, and given enough time he could break down most walls. But he didn't have much time. But he didn't have time. Reinatia's cries had stopped, and that could only bode ill.

A vapor moved through the walls and materialized. Before it became completely substantial, the Mage had ascertained the knight on top of the girl and the other one at the door. Berthias' yells were vibrating through the door almost as powerfully as his mighty body slams. The Mage waved a hand across the scene and extended two fingers, and the two knights slumped in place.

Sir Harlow's massive body nearly covered the Princess. At the door, Brutus fell back with a crash. Soon thereafter Berthias broke the latch and he came careening into the small shed. His eyes alighted on the feminine form beneath the knight's and he immediately feared the worst. "Reinatia! No! Oh gods, no!"

[Natora]

Reina watched as the man jumped at her and looked up frightened. Her hands stayed on the ground but she couldn't think of anything that would help her at this point. She felt his strong hands close around her throat and she closed her eyes, forcing her body to relax. To get more tense wouldn't help right now. Slamming her head against the ground made her stop for a moment and her head bounced on the dirt beneath her.

She blinked open her eyes for a moment but everything was fuzzy and the sounds of Berthias trying to break in grew distant. As odd as it was, she couldn't help but hear Tyrfayn's voice in her mind repeating, Someone who will protect you.... A steel to your velvet... . A moment later she closed her eyes again, wanting the bluriness and distance to go away. She wanted to be able to feel normal again.

Her chance came when she felt a large weight fall on her chest but the pressure around her neck disappear. She opened her eyes and looked up. After a few blinks her vision was sharper and she heard Berthias break through the door. She groaned and used the root that had been holding the sword from killing her to push the knight off on top of her. When she saw Tyrfayn there, Master Ambrians, She had a fair idea about what had happened. It hadn't been Berthias but Master Ambrians who had initially stopped the knights from hurting her further.

None the less, she stood up, with the help of a different root pushing her shoulders up, and walked over to Berthias. "Maybe that wasn't the best plan in the world," she said softly. She put herself close to him, forcing herself to be strong. To seem weak to a dwarf prince didn't seem like it would favour her well. Though she was trying to be strong, her shaking hands were giving away that she was much more shook up than she would willingly admit. She looked to Master Ambrians. "Thank you Master Ambrians," she said softly. She looked back up to Berthias and smiled. "And thank you for coming for me. Much worse would have happened if it weren't for you." Leaning over, she kissed his cheek gently in thanks. She did only stand a few inchest taller than him so the height wasn't a large issue.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias had thrown down his hammer and reached out to help the roots with Reinatia. His hands trembled when he saw the red marks on her neck. Marks that he had not been able to prevent from happening. "Oh lass, it was a stupid idea to put you in danger," he agreed. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Alright? She doesn't look alright to me," Tyrfayn interjected.

A few knights peeked in cautiously, and when they recognized the princess they immediately took a knee and bowed. "Our apologies, Princess Reinatia. We didn't recognize you. We'll make sure these rogue knights are properly discipline!" The lead ranking knight looked up at her in horror at what he knew might have happened. He feared the wrath of the king falling upon all the knights in the regiment, and possibly the castle guards as well; they were all guilty of taking a little liberty with the castle servants from time to time.

Prince Berthias sighed at her kiss and then squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. Then he pulled her into a strong but protective embrace. "I'm never going to risk your safety again, Princess. Please forgive me for not being wiser." His voice cracked slightly, full of emotion.

"Wait... what? You did this on purpose?" Master Ambrians stepped over the slumbering body of Brutus.

"We did," Berthias admitted. "I told her about the way your assistant was accosted during yesterday's spar and we got the idea to teach the knights to treat commoners better."

"I told you before, Bert. I didn't spar with you yesterday and I have no assistant. Why are you insisting that such a thing happened?" Tyrfayn bent down to check the sleeping knight's breathing. "This joke is going too far."

The remaining knights, however, looked at each other with concern. They had been there the previous day and witnessed the peasant girl and Tyrfayn's claim that she was his assistant. The look they gave to the Mage clearly indicated that they thought he was slightly insane.

[Natora]

Reinatia put a gentle hand on Berthias' chest when he started apologizing. "Please do not apologize, your grace. It was my idea after all, not anyone else's. You simply agreed to make me happy," she said to him. She could still feel the sting from the slaps that Harlow had delivered to her. It was a terrible reminder of what had happened. With that sensible note, she stepped over to the knights. The curious faces that both them and Berthias were giving Tyrfayn were ripping at her heart. She was simply praying that his lack of memories concerning her didn't get to her father and sway his judgement on trust of the mage.

For now though, she set a furious gaze on the knights. "These two men nearly raped and killed the only heir to the throne and you believe that your penance will be enough?" she demanded rhetorically. She knew she had told Tyrfayn that she preferred to keep her hands clean but this was a special occasion. Her hands were clenched as fists to prevent them from shaking more. "These two knights will be presented to the king. As for the rest of you, I advise you pass this message on. If I so much as hear a rumor that any of the knights have so much as touched a woman without her consent, every single knight under my father's command will be punished dutifully and harshly. Am I clear?" she asked.

A simple nod came from all the men in front of her with a clear, "Yes, your highness," from the lead knight.

"You are dismissed but have two men drag these bastards to my father. I will see him shortly," she said to them. Once the knights were all gone from sight, she turned to Tyrfayn and Berthias. "As far as my father will know these knights attacked a commoner and dragged her here. I fear also the reprecussions to myself if he knew that it was me," she said to them.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias looked to the princess and nodded. "Aye, I understand," he said, agreeing to her deception.

The Mage shook his head. "I will not lie to him if he asks me who the woman was. Perhaps it's best that he not know if my involvement," he suggested. "I'd rather not be in that position." He looked at the two and sighed. "Of course, this does tip the scale slightly in the search for a husband, Princess Reinatia. I'd say that concocting a plan together and then nearly dying before he rescues you gives Prince Berthias a few extra points in desirability."

Berthias managed to blush slightly. "Well... eh...ahem. Maybe we need to get our stories straight before talking to your father, your highness."

[Natora]

Reina nodded to Tyrfayn's comment. She was going to do everything in her power to make sure that she didn't mention any happenings with Tyrfayn ever. She didn't want to make him seem more crazy than he was. She looked to Berthias and said, "We will dress a maid as I am dressed. We will say they are delerious from whatever it is that Master Ambrians did to them and we will have them condemned just the same. I will go change and meet you there, Prince Berthias, in a quarter."

With that, she turned and quickly ran off, very unprincesslike but she was going none the less. She ran up to her rooms quickly and went to her ladies quickly, explaining all they needed to know for now. What mattered at the moment was hiding the red and bruising that was starting to form around her neck. The princess and her ladies set to work right away and Reinatia explained everything in all excrutiating detail that she could so that the woman would be able to give the best account that there was.

Within the quarter that she requested, she was down in the hall with her lady. The lady forcing tears into her eyes as she tried to get into character.

[EvelynWillows]

Prince Berthias was waiting in the hallway, still slightly disheveled from the excitement of earlier. He nodded slightly when he saw Princess Reinatia.

In addition to Berthias, a few other suitors who had arrived were milling about the antechamber. A pair of centaurs paced with barely reined in excitement. In addition, two human suitors (who were not on the short list due to their short lifespans) were there comparing notes, and a wild fey prince and his contingent. The wild elf had intricate designs etched on his skin and he wore exotic colors on his body. He was beautiful; like a painted bird of paradise.

The king was frowning at the knights who had drug in their co-warriors. He seemed very, very upset, and when his eyes found the Princess and her ladies-in-waiting they grew angrier. "Daughter! What is this I'm hearing?"

[Natora]

Reinatia walked confidently towards her father, most of her ladies staying back across from the suitors as she walked forward with the lady that looked closest to her in appearance. "Your knights attacked my maiden," she said back just as sharply and angrily. She was a fantastic actress when she needed to be. Her and her maids had found a yellow dress with high enough collar that would hide any markings on her neck. "Just as they and their comrades have attacked the ladies of the town. Milana, my maiden, has a full story she wishes to share with you," she said to him simply. It was obvious she knew her story and she was going to stick to it.

[EvelynWillows]

Milana walked forward nervously and curtsied to the king.

"Go on," he growled. "How is it noble knights have managed to act inappropriately towards you?" He leaned forward and scrutinized her. The two bound knights, Harlow and Brutus, began to sputter and protest.

"Sire! It wasn't her, it was the princess- " Brutus stopped, realizing what he was saying.

The king looked over at the knight with irritation. "Go on," he encouraged the maiden.

"I was walking towards the training grounds Sire, when the two men knights here -"

"Wait." The king held up a hand. "Kindly turn around, Miss, and continue telling me your story faced away from me."

The girl looked confused but she complied. "As I said, Your Highness, I was walking to the training grounds when those two knights grabbed me and dragged me into the gardening shed. I managed to get out and yell for help, but they dragged me back in. Fortunately Prince Bertrain was able to save me from their intentions, Sire."

"I see," said the King. "And can you describe the knights who supposedly snatched you?"

Milana hesitated. She tried to remember what they looked like. "They were both very big, Your Highness. I don't recall more than that."

"She lies!" Shouted Sir Harlow. "She's lying, Your Highness!"

The king leaned forward. "Do you have any injuries from this attack?" He rested his chin thoughtfully on his hand. "Remember, Miss, lying to the King is a great offense."

[Natora]

Standing there, listening to the testimony, she knew that the worry in the maiden's voice was nothing like she faced herself. Her father wouldn't hear the terror in her voice. As she continued standing there as Milana was turned to face herself, she thought of all the lies she had told in the last day and a half. What forces would she unleash in her father to admit her own fault? What pressure was she putting all her maids, Berthias, and Tyrfayn under with telling this one lie.

Closing her eyes, she knew that her father would dismiss this if he didn't find any bruises or hurt on her. She took a shaking breath and stepped forward, past Milana. "She has no wounds, father," she said, her voice firm in what she said. She reached behind her neck and gently undid the collar of her dress, pulling it down to reveal the bruises left from the knights kneeling before her father. "But her story does not change. I dressed as a commoner and went to the sparring grounds. The rest of the story is as she said," she told her father. "Prince Berthias will attest that this was my idea and my choice to trick them as we did. I wished to bring out the true nature of your knights around common women and we did just that," she said to him as she looked up at him on his throne, setting her eyes on his. "I apologize for my deception father."

[EvelynWillows]

The king's gaze grew steely. He glowered at his daughter. "All those not directly involved in this matter is to leave immediately." His hands clenched the arm rests of his throne. "Leave us!"

People scattered to vacate the halls until the only ones who remained were the two offending knights, the knights who delivered them, Princess Reinatia and her maid, Prince Berthias, and in the back of the room, Master Ambrians.

"Now..." the king said, sounding more calm. "Let me hear it all. And I want the entire truth, Daughter. Leave nothing out." He glanced back at the Mage, standing in the shadows. "This doesn't concern you, Master Ambrians! I'm certain you can find your amusement elsewhere."

[Natora]

"If you want all that are involved to stay, father, then Master Ambrians should be here," she said softly. She looked down and back pu at his father. "This morning Prince Berthias and I took a ride to the river. I... heard a story yesterday about a young woman who was stopped by the knights near the sparring grounds just for showing concern for Master Ambrians when he was hurt while sparring with Berthias. While his grace and I were at the river I thought of a plan that he agreed to help me with. I wanted to teach the knights a lesson; that they should never try and abuse their power. I told the Prince that I would dress as a commoner and he would reengage in a sparring match with Master Ambrians. When one of them seemed hurt I was supposed to go and show my concern, expecting the same to happen as yesterday.

"However, when I was near the sparring grounds, two knights, Brutus and Harlow," she said purposefully forgetting their honourifics, "approached me from behind and stole me into one of the sheds. They made their intentions very clear." Here she paused. She gulped slightly and looked down again for a moment before back up at her father. "With your permission I would appreciate not revealing every specific detail. After threatening to kill me since they knew they would die for their treachery, Master Ambrians managed to appear inside and used his magic to make them pass out. Prince Berthias broke in and the two of them helped bring me in and try to deceive you. I am sorry for what happened, father, but I hope you will understand that our people live in fear of our knights because of what they try to do to them," she finished her long story. She stood in front of her father, looking up at him and waiting, simply, for his reply.

[EvelynWillows]

The king's eyes narrowed. He looked at the Dwarven prince. "Is this true, Prince Berthias?"

"Aye," the young Dwarf agreed. "It's as she said."

Reinatia's father frowned deeper. "And you, Master Ambrians. Do you have anything to add?"

Tyrfayn drew in a deep breath. He knew what it would sound like if he told the truth, but he didn't like to lie. He looked over at the king and said in a convincing voice "I have nothing to add, Your Highness. It's as they say." Yet he knew that to his knowledge he was lying, still Reinatia's bracelet didn't change temperature. It was then that she might remember that she had to activate it by touching the men again after 24 hours. It had been over a day since she had touched Master Ambrian's hands.

"I see." The king turned his head to the two convicted knights. "And you two? What do you have to add?"

"She tricked us!" Sir Harlow protested. "She purposely dressed as a commoner and was walking in a provocative manner, Sire. It wasn't our fault!"

Brutus nodded his agreement. "We would have never have grabbed her if we knew she was the princess!"

Tyrfayn lowered his gaze as the two knights begged for leniency. He put a hand up to his neck, however, to the area where he had been cut earlier. A puzzled look crossed his face. It was fleet, but for anyone who could guess at his thoughts the concern was obvious.

[Natora]

Reinatia looked around at the ones who were here just as Master Ambrians touched his throat. Could one more small white lie fix this all? She looked sadly down and back up at her father. "That was exactly the point that I was trying to make father. Your knights should never be allowed to touch any person in such a way to harm another unless they are an enemy. The last I checked, the people that are your subjects are not our enemies," she said to him simply. She tied the collar to her dress back up and looked up at her father. "Them begging for mercy just goes to show how violent they have been in the past. I do not trust them to not repeat their actions, father," she said to him simply.

Finally she looked down at the two knights that attacked her. "I have admitted to my faults. To tricking them and lying to you, father. They, instead of admitting theirs, have decided instead to highlight those of another. That is in no way an honourable or gentlemanly thing to do."

[EvelynWillows]

The king nodded. "You will make a fine ruler, Daughter. You are right, of course; the men should be executed and made an example of. I cannot have my people fearing the very ones who should be protecting them."

At his proclamation the two convicted men began to struggle and curse, both begging for mercy and damning Reinatia in the same breath. They were drug away, kicking and screaming, but the very men who had earlier today called them brothers in arms.

"My dear," the king said, standing and approaching his daughter. "You should see our healers for that bruise. I cannot tell you how sorry I am. It must have been a terrifying ordeal." He turned to Berthias. "I thank you, Prince Berthias. You have proven yourself a true friend to our kingdom today." He looked at the Mage and nodded. "And...you as well."

He turned his attention back to the princess. "If you wish us to post-pone the ball by a day my love it shall be done. I don't want you to be overly tired when you view your other suitors."

[Natora]

Reinatia smiled softly but shook her head. Even the small motion as that, though, pushed her body past its limits. The bang on the ground she had taken had affected her more than she thought. "I'm fine, father," she tried to insist but stumbled sideways slightly. She closed her eyes and regained her balance quickly. Keeping her eyes closed she tried to insist, "Bruises do heal and to look upon suitors all I need is my eyes."

When she tried to open her eyes again, she saw black spots through out her burry vision and swayed a bit as she fought them getting bigger. In a few moments she fell sideways into Prince Berthias. Her eyes were closed and she was feeling limp. Now that the adrenaline from the event had died down the true depth of her injuries were starting to set in.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias caught her effortlessly. He picked the princess up in his arms, and shook his head at the king. "You're right, your majesty; she needs to rest."

"And to see a healer," the king agreed. He accompanied the dwarven prince to the healer, and once he was certain that his daughter was in good hands he left to go speak to his herald. The other suitors would need to be contacted about the new situation; it wouldn't do to have them feel slighted without some 'official' explanation of what had happened. They didn't need to know all the details, though. It was enough to know that the princess had been injured by potential assassins. The knights knew; that was enough.

Lord Ambrians waited until the princess had rested for a few hours before approaching her again. He pulled a chair up near her bed, under the watchful eyes of the healer, and poured a cup of strong, warm tea for her. "How are you feeling, Princess? And please don't tell me that everything is alright. An ordeal like that affects people. How are you really feeling?"

[Natora]

When Rein woke up in the healer's quarters, she looked around, still a little lost as to where she was. When she saw Tyrfayn sitting beside her she held back a groan and sat herself up so she was looking at him. Sitting here, in a quiet room with just him and no one else around was making her heart throb. She really couldn't be this close to him alone. It was a lot to put a woman through, as far as she was concerned. She looked down to her lap and almost missed the question he asked.

After accepting the tea and taking a small sip she still refused to look up at him. "I hope you'll understand Master Ambrians, if I do not wish to speak of many things with you. You were able to learn some of my deepest secrets but my feelings at this time are not something I would really like to discuss with you," she said softly. To accidentally give too much away would simply undo all that had already been done to protect him. She couldn't do that.... not to him.

[EvelynWillows]

He looked stricken; as if someone had slapped him. Tyrfayn leaned back in the chair and gave the princess a hurt look as he contemplated her answer. "Alright, I suppose that is fair." He brought out the journal that had been used for her wedding and her answers thus far. "I was looking over some of our notes from earlier. Some of these are unfamiliar to me," he said, turning to the middle of the journal. "For instance, here it says that we spoke a while and then we decided to not talk about your suitors for the rest of the evening."

"I was wondering what we talked about," he asked. "My notes show that we spent another hour and a half together, but nothing else is recorded. That means that somehow I've lost track of our discussion. I wonder if you could help me fill the gaps?"

He was talking about the time they first had a meal together and he had fallen asleep from exhaustion on the couch.the notes on his paper literally trailed off; a long squiggly line where there were once words.

[Natora]

Time for the little white lie that would save both of them. "Master Ambrians, I'm assuming you have spoken to someone about your gaps in memory," she said softly still not looking up at him. "My maid, actually one of my ladies in waiting.... she was what we spoke of, or rather you to, for the rest of the night. After a bit of time I became bored to sit there and listen to two people talking and left. I could not say what the conversation was or what the two of you talked about," she said softly to him.

It was more difficult than she imagined sitting here and lying to him. She had to close her eyes and remember that it was for his own good. Her chest felt tight as she fought a wave of emotion that was threatening her. She finally opened her eyes again and took another sip of tea. "I'm sorry, Master Ambrians, I am rather exhausted. Would you please leave me so I can rest?"

[EvelynWillows]

He studied her for a long moment. "I see," was all he said. Tyrfayn closed his journal softly and stood. He seemed like he wanted to say something else but decided against it. He set the journal on the table next to her bed and then left her, quietly closing the door behind himself.

The gaps in memory concerned Master Ambrians. He had learned of another master, a few generations before, who had begun to act erratically. He suddenly began to kill those around him, randomly targeting innocent people and destroying entire villages. It took three other masters to finally subdue him. His fate was undocumented, but Tyrfayn's instructor had said that they finally had to bury him alive; masters were not allowed to kill each other. Putting them somewhere that would 'allow' the crazed one to die was permitted, though.

Tyrfayn worried that he was beginning to lose his grasp of reality. More worrisome was the thought that he might unknowingly hurt those around him. He knew that he had been exhausted when he arrived and he wondered if that had contributed to his...malfunction. He shut his bedroom door behind himself and went to kneel by his bed; it was time for a heart-to-heart with his deity. Tyr needed to know what to do next, and he was hoping he'd get some answers if he spent the night in prayer.

[Natora]

As soon as the heavy door closed behind Master Ambrians, the tea cup fell from her hands and she let her head fall into her hands as she began to silently weep, trying not to make more sound than the crashing tea cup had on the hard stone floor. She let everything fall into her tears, the humiliation of today, the fear and upset over what had happened, the pain from having to force Tyrfayn away from her, all falling in useless, helpless pools of water in her hands. Eventually it was enough to exhaust her and she fell asleep again, sleeping through the night.

Her dreams were fraught with terrible frightening scenes of Tyrfayn and a guillotine or noose. Nothing would cure what was happening to them and it was the worst and most helpless she had felt in a very long time. She was a princess for damned sake. She had exposed all the knights in the kingdom in one afternoon and here she was, not able to love the man she wanted to love the most.

The next morning when she woke, she saw the journal on the table beside her. She picked it up, kissed it softly then summoned a maid to deliver the journal quickly to Master Ambrians and request her father's presence this morning. She wanted to talk to him about the ball.

[EvelynWillows]

The maid returned just as Reinatia was receiving breakfast in bed. She still clutched the journal to her chest as she curtsied nervously. "My lady, Master Ambrians has left the castle. All of his things are gone," she continued. "The maid in that wing didn't know where he had gone, but that he had a letter delivered to the king in the early hours of the morning."

She nervously held out the journal to the princess. "I didn't know what to do with it, your Highness. So I brought it back to you."

Guards preceded the king down the hall and stood on either side of Reinatia's door. He strode in, all confidence and health, and grinned when he saw his daughter. "Reinatia! My girl!" he bent down to kiss her cheek and then sat in the same chair that her counselor had occupied the night before. "How may I help you, dear on? Just name it and it's yours."

[Natora]

When she was told that Master Ambrians had left she looked dumbfounded, stunned, and hurt. She had dismissed him so suddenly the night before that she hadn't had time to say a proper good-bye. She took the journal back and held it in her lap. She stared at it even while her father came in and sat down in the chair beside her. She sat in silence, her breakfast untouched, her father unanswered as she felt the yearning her heart had for its lost love.

She swallowed nervously after she waited a moment and looked at her father. "I do not wish to attend the ball," she said softly. "Prince Bethias, father, is the man that I would like to marry if he will have me," she said softly to her father. "I will make a formal apology to all the other suitors if I need to but to have the ball would be pointless father. I am sorry," she said softly. She truly felt this way. Other than Master Ambrians, he was the only one that seemed interested in her and her people.

[EvelynWillows]

The king was flabbergasted. He opened and closed his mouth several times. He should have been giddy with happiness. After all, this was a far cry from the daughter who wanted to marry no one. He thought that it would be wonderful to have at least had his daughter not put up a fight, but to have chosen already!

Still, Prince Berthias was a good match. He came from a strong and honorable mountain clans people, and he had many ties with the dwarven community. "Well, that's good news, isn't it?" he reached out and hugged his sad daughter to his chest. "It's wonderful news, yes! Very good!" He released her and smiled. "I'll have the announcements made immediately, and if you like, your betrothed may come visit you until you are completely well. We can have the wedding soon; maybe within two or three months. Then you two can begin to start on creating more heirs for the kingdom!"

He chuckled at the joke, but in all seriousness he was ...serious. He wanted grandsons to assure that his kingdom would pass down to capable hands. He hoped to live long enough to pass the kingdom down directly to a grandson. Reinatia would be a capable queen, he had no doubt, but a queen on the throne was seen as less capable by other nations. They might see it as an opportunity to invade.

The king nodded to himself again. "I think you made a fine decision, lass. A fine one. He'll do quite nicely as your Prince and fellow heir to the throne."

[Natora]

Rein nodded gently, feigning a smile for her father's purposes, none of her own. "Thank you father. I am happy that you are please," she said, able to have a small but genuine laugh. "I would love if Prince Berthias could come and visit me," she said to him gently. It would distract her from the matter at hand which was Tyrfayn's disappearance. She would have to talk about that with him later...if she ever saw him again.

Resisting anymore sadness, she waited until her father left before she ate a breakfast that had been delivered before. She knew there would be some unhappy suitors, mostly ones that hadn't even been able to meet her but that was their own faults for not being as ambitious as Berthias, or that would be how she was going to explain it. She sat there, Master Ambrian's notes in her lap but under a blanket, not sure yet if she wanted to read what he thought of her.

[EvelynWillows]

About an hour later there was a knock at the door and Prince Berthias entered. He seemed slightly more awkward around her, but perhaps it was because they were official...

Or maybe not official enough.

He smiled to her and then went to the side of the bed and knelt on one knee. "I know that your father has said that you made up your mind, but I want to ask you properly, Princess Reinatia. You know that I've been praying for the right wife to be brought to me, and me to her, and I believe with all my heart that you are the one I was made for. I want to ask you now, Reinatia. Would you honor me by being my wife, my friend...the woman I long to be with and the one I can't wait to return home to? I promise that I'll always be loyal, loving, and honest with you, and I will always put your needs and those of our children before my own." He brought out a little box and opened it for her, revealing a silver ring (http://www.gatjewelry.com/images/women_rings/48819_1.jpg)with two different kinds of golden leaves set into the pattern.

"Tis but a small promise ring to for you, my love. A promise to give you my heart and all that comes with it."

[Natora]

Rein looked up as soon as he entered, a smile on her lips. "Good morning, Prince Berthias," she said gently but happily. She stopped though when he came closer, not speaking before he got down on one knee. She was curious to hear what he wanted to say and was touched by the show of affection, appreciation and love. It was so touching that a true smile came to her face, weaker than the one when Tyrfayn had given her the bracelet, but still true. "It is stunning my darling. Thank you. And of course I accept," she said softly with a wonderful smile on her face.

"That is a truly beautiful promise and I will return the favour when I am not sitting in a healer's bed and put on the spot," she promised. She leaned over and gently put a hnd on the side of his cheek. "You are a very handsome and cute man, Berthias," she said softly. She truly appreciated him for all that he was but after how she felt for Tyrfayn, she knew she didn't love him. She took solace though in the fact that she was doing this because she loved Tyrfayn.

[EvelynWillows]

The dwarven prince smiled and then stood, finding his way to the chair. "You've made me the happiest man in the realm, Princess Reinatia. I think you're lovely, inside and out, and I don't care if you're in a healer's bed or with uncombed hair. I'll love you no matter the circumstance."

He really did feel affection bordering on love for her. Whether or not it was because he loved the idea of loving her or because he truly knew enough about her to be in love, it was a difficult call.

"I was wondering if you'd mind if we visited my homeland and my uncle's house in two months, darling? I want to thank Master Ambrians for his advice in this matter, plus see my dear cousin before he's a married man as well. If you don't think you'll be well enough by then I understand." He blushed. "Or...if you're with child by then I know they'll understand too. It's not as safe when the babe's a wee shadow in yer womb."

[Natora]

She laughed gently at the thought of not visiting because she was pregnant. That seemed ridiculous. She wasn't going to stop being the way she was or doing what she enjoys just because of a baby in her womb. She shook her head gently. "Why don't we leave now?" she suggested. "We'll leave tomorrow and invite them to come here with us for the wedding," she suggested. "We are engaged to be wed," she said, looking at the ring on her finger. "All that's left is the formalities. We're immortal. We don't need to have children right away like humans do," she offered to him.

It would be nice, she thought, to spend some time with him on the road. It would give them time to get to know each other and learn to love every part of one another.

[EvelynWillows]

"Tomorrow? " he asked. "If you think you will be well enough then I'll be glad to do that. I can't believe how swiftly my prayers have been answered!" He took her hand and kissed it once again. "I'll make the arrangements. You just get stronger."

A moment later the princess was once again alone with her thoughts. Master Ambrians was gone and Prince Berthias was making travel plans. The Princess had turned her life little more that.

[Natora]

The next night passed swiftly. She was leaving against healers' advice but at last moment succumbed to taking one of the healers with her on the road. She was sure she was all right and that all the commotion was unnecessary fuss. As much as she enjoyed being royalty, all the attention sometimes was a large pain in the ass. That night she ate with her betrothed and her father at her bedside, grateful that both of them would come down from all their finery in order to eat with her. For the evening she was left alone again... with Master Ambrian's journal at her side.

If she didn't read it now, she wouldn't be able to read it without her husband to be's knowledge. But did she want to invade the Master's notes and privacy?Surely he wouldn't have so carelessly forgotten it if he intended her not to see it. She thought about it for so long that she ended up falling asleep without being able to read it.

The morning came quickly and Rein was out of bed as soon as the cock crowed. She got out of bed and had the maids help shower and dress her, all under relatively close supervision of the healers. Just before breakfast she was dressed and ready to leave. What she wore was light for now. She assumed the days on the road would get warm under the sun. It was a yellow dress with golden patterns sewn throughout to make detailed artwork. When breakfast was ready, she was served her meal in the healers' wing for the morning and when she was done she went to the yard. She went to the entourage that they were going to be taking, her ladies-in-waiting following her there.

[EvelynWillows]

Royalty never traveled light, even when they intend to. Princess Reinatia and her betrothed had not only the healer with them but two guards, Hildegard, an older lady-in-waiting to see to Reinatia's needs (and chastity), a cook, two squires to set up tents and tend to other mundane needs, and of course, a bard for the traveler's entertainment. The king waited with his topmost advisers to see his one and only child off on her adventure.

"Now remember," he said quietly to the princess before she mounted her horse, "your safety is the kingdom's safety, my dear. If anything happens to you then your cousin will try to edge his way into the throne, and though Lord Sigfried is a fine man I'm not certain that the people can take his penchant for taxes and fancy living at their expense." He winked at Reinatia. "So do take care, my love. It's difficult enough to see you go away from home with so few in attendance."

Prince Berthias Stronghammer, son of Thrine, looked quite dapper in his traveling clothing. His pony had had it's mane and tail freshly brushed and braided, and bright blue ribbons adorned it's locks. He shook the king's hand and pledged to keep Princess Reinatia safe, and to return her for the wedding. Once they were on the road for about a few hours he took out a long pipe and began to fill it with fermented thick leaves that had been shredded for smoking.

One of the guards rode by and nodded to the prince and princess. "I'll ride ahead, your highness. The city of Riverbank is just ahead; I can arrange for our horses to be watered and for a hot meal to be prepared, if that is to your liking."

[Natora]

The princess nodded to the the knight that requested she ride ahead. "Don't get anything too heavy for myself. I finally know why when I was a child we stopped so much," she said as she put a hand across her stomach as she rode along with them. She reached over and gently touched Berthias's shoulder, remembering how the bracelet was to work. If she wanted to start a conversation, she wanted to know that he was telling the truth. If there wasn't a single lie told to her on the way she would stop wearing and relying on it.

"Prince Berthias, how was your travels to the capitol? Were there many bandits?" she asked him curiously. She still hadn't figured out why Tyrfayn hadn't been able to make it to the capitol easily.

[EvelynWillows]

Prince Berthias smiled and lit his pipe. After a few puffs he reached out to take her by the hand. "Travelin' as I did to the capital was not too dangerous, my dear. But like you, I traveled with a sizable party. They're still packing up at the capital and will follow us back in a day or so. Travelin' alone's another matter altogether. Only the insane, the foolish, or the desperate would travel the roads solo. Even worse to not be inside a tavern or fortress at night." He looked askance at her. "The goblins are getting bolder, Princess. They've been known to attack small farms and leave nothin' behind but the bones."

He took a long puff of his pipe and gave her hand a squeeze before releasing. "Don't you worry, though. A group our size is bound to scare off all but the most determined bandits or goblins."

[Natora]

She nodded gently and smiled. "And of course, I mighty Stronghammer such as yourself would never allow himself or his fine betrothed to be taken in any way," she pointed out with a half smile. She didn't like that she was riding higher than her husband to be, feeling that if she was to marry him, showing him some respect and to his culture, would be a necessity. Surely her tiny frame and small stature would be able to be carried rather easily by a pony. She would keep her eyes sharp and open in the city when they stopped for lunch. It would be good to stretch her legs there. "So we will be staying in cities along the way?" she asked him curiously. They had brought squires to set up tents. Why wouldn't they use them for that specific purpose?

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias blushed slightly, his mind wandering to all the sexual innuendos that his last name invoked. "Ah... of course we're safe, dear. And we'll stay in the cities as much as possible, but eventually we'll have to camp. It wouldn't be right to camp unnecessarily though; you should have your comfort where possible."

The thick, sweet smoke of his pipe seemed to follow them as they made their way down the wide road. The first guard rode ahead to the city, and when they arrived he already had an entire second floor of rooms reserved for their comfort, plus a full banquet hall cordoned just for their group. It was about three hours until sun set. If they continued to travel they'd be stuck in the open and exposed to possible attacks.

Berthias helped Reinatia dismount even though he knew that she was a capable horsewoman and could easily descend on her own. It was simply a matter of the fact that he liked being near her. "Would you care to freshen up before we dine, dear? I believe the rooms here have a small bath at the end of the hallway if you do. It's very modern."

[Natora]

She nodded with a small smile. "Freshening up sounds wonderful if we'll be staying here over night," she said to him softly. Understanding that he knew she was more than capable of dismounting, she was okay with him helping her with the simple things. As long as he knew that she was capable she knew that he would give her enough independence when she asked for it.

"Shall I meet you in the dining hall in an hour?" she asked him softly. She would take some time and change out of the riding clothes into something more comfortable for dinner.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias kissed her hand and agreed to meet her in an hour. Their crew took up an entire room of the dining hall. The guards were stationed nearest the door, but they were invited by Berthias to dine with them. They'd be traveling together for over a month; he wanted to know the people who might be guarding his wife and children.

One of the waitresses kept looking at Princess Reinatia and she seemed awestruck. Finally she brought a pencil drawing to her, a perfect likeness of the princess with highlights from below, as if she was being lit by something glowing near her feet. "I'm sorry, your highness, but I was wondering if this was you in the drawing?" She seemed timid in her question. "The man who drew this did a few other portraits to pay for his room, but he left this one behind. Do you know who he is?"

Berthias leaned in and looked at the portrait. He whistled low through his teeth. "Must have been one of your other suitors, my dear. It's quite a talent."

[Natora]

Very tenderly, Reinatia took the drawing from the maid that had been staring at her for a while. Finally the uncomfortable situation was explained. The likeness was perfect, every vine and leaf in the exact place it was on her a week ago. She barely heard what Berthias was saying but quickly recovered with a soft smile and nod. "Must be," she agreed with him gently.

As she looked at the picture, she was trying to place any scenario where she had been in this position with one of the suitors and couldn't think of anyone that had travelled ahead of them. Then a thought, an impossible thought, struck her. What if it had been Tyrfayn? He had seen here in the day when there was a chance the light would hit her at the angle he was drawing. She shook the thought from her and gently put the drawing down beside her. She looked up to the maid and asked, "May I keep this?" She looked to Berthias and added, "As long as you don't mind."

[EvelynWillows]

The maid curtsied. "Of course, your highness! We were hoping it would find it's way home, and I'm glad that it turned out to be you." She smiled at the happy couple and went to get more drinks for their table.

"It's quite fine," Berthias said. "Maybe we can get the artist to do a wedding portrait for us? As long as there are no hard feelings I'm certain it would be alright." He smiled at her and took a drink from his ale mug. "You're a lovely lass, Princess. It's no wonder any artist wouldn't want to capture your likeness."

The rest of the dinner went uneventfully, and the party was able to rest well that night. The next day they would leave early; they had about six days of travel through heavily populated areas where they were certain that they could find shelter in inns and taverns, but after that they would be traveling through the Endless Plains for a week and a half before they began their trek up the mountain range. The plains had no permanent villages, but at the foothills they would be able to stay in a quaint halfling township known for their bakeries and meaderies. Prince Berthias was looking forward to picking up several cases of mead for his uncle the Chief of the clans. He was equivalent to the king, and he loved a good drink.

[Natora]

The artwork both intrigued and perplexed the princess. How could one man capture such detail off of memory. Someone with impecable memory would have done it for sure and obviously someone with talent. She hoped that they would find the owner of the artwork and in some ways she also prayed that it wouldn't be Tyrfayn. If it was, she would have to speak to him and praise him again before walking away... again.

The week went uneventfully and honestly she felt a little betrayed that no one had attempted to take her life while they were on the road. She had found a smaller pony and, after apologizing heavily to her stallion, used the pony as her mount for the rest of the journey. She didn't find it much different except for the pace. She wished that she could travel faster but it didn't seem to want to go as quickly as she wanted it to at times.

When they came to the Endless Plains, the first night was... adventurous. She had never slept on the ground before and it was a strange feeling. Being stiff the next morning wasn't enjoyable either. After two nights on the Plains she was ready for an inn. It was disturbing, really, how tall the grass was. She insisted on walking for a mile at a time in order to feel the vibrations through the earth so she knew that no one was following them. It was the third day when something felt odd. She paused in her walk and sat on the ground, disappearing momentarily in the grass, feeling the dirt and earth beneath her hands, searching for the extra vibrations that she felt. When she opened her eyes, she looked up at Berthias. "There is something following us in the grass. It's two hundred meters in that direction," she said simply, pointing to where she knew this thing was.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias shaded his eyes and looked at the direction that Reinatia had pointed. "I don't see anything," he mused. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry. He sent the two guards in flanking maneuvers to the area that she indicated. The guards rode out a distance before closing in again. During this time Reinatia could sense that the thing stayed still.

Once the guards were closing in, though, the huge cat roared to life and reared up to attack the nearest guard. A great plains tiger, claws bared, sprang forward and began to take down the guard's horse. It was then that Reinatia could feel vibrations from the other side approaching quickly. The tiger who had been tracking close to them had been a distraction; the others in the pride were even now closing in for the kill.

[Natora]

Her eyes went wide and she backed up until she accidently bumped her pony. She looked up at Berthias and said, "It's a hunt. We're the prey." She sounded very worried as she got up and mounted the pony in a swift movement. "We're surrounded. What do we do?" she asked worriedly. If there was one thing that her father refused to teach her it was the art of battle. She had no experience with any form of self defense and there was nothing she could do with her magic other than make the grasses grow.

Or maybe it was time to get a little more drastic. "How many could we hold back?" she asked him seriously and quickly.

[EvelynWillows]

There were only four tigers, but four large beasts armed with claws and teeth were a serious issue.

"I can take down one, maybe two," Prince Berthias considered. "I don't know, princess! Stay behind me!"

The priest rode up quickly to where the two royalty were. "Stay within ten feet of me! They won't attack you if you stay within the sanctuary and don't attack them first," he claimed. Still, though his words sounded assured, his eyes were worried that it wouldn't work. He'd never tried it in practice, and had only studied the power in theory.

The guard who was being attacked went down with his horse, who screamed in terror. Huge, three inch claws raked her neck and sent crimson drops across the plains. The guard who feel grunted to pull his leg out from under his dying horses' body, but it seemed like he was condemned to be trapped there.

The prince pulled out a crossbow and drew back the string. His fingers shook with the intensity of his panic that his beloved would be lost that day to tigers.

[Natora]

The princess nodded and looked to her betrothed. "Promise me that you will kill at least one of them," she said simply. When she was sure she could trust that, she hopped down from her horse and put her hands back down into the ground.She closed her eyes and started to concentrate. It was one of the hardest things she had ever done and like the priest she hadn't ever tried this before so it was going to be a test.

She found where two of the beasts were and shortly after there was a shaking in the ground. Her pony panicked and started to run off, her horse proudly walking back up to her and staying where it should. Not long after a large chasm opened up not twenty feet from where the party was, making a large gap in the ground that two of the tigers wouldn't be able to jump. Reinatia looked up at Berthias. "Please get the others."

[EvelynWillows]

"What are you doing? Are you attacking them? No-don't do that!" The priest began to hyper ventilate in fear and panic. His horse shied to the side, sensing his fear.

Berthias nodded and set the crossbow bolt into the groove and took aim. He was planning on taking out one from a distance before he used his hammer. The remaining guard tried to run down the first Tiger with his horse. He managed to keep the beast from ripping his companion to pieces, though the animal did tear a huge gash across the fallen guard's leg in the process.

Berthias' bolt flew across the distance and lodged itself in one beast's shoulder, sending it screaming away from the group. At the sound of the injured Tiger's retreat the others seemed to consider backing off. One of the squires saw a female Tiger charge the princess. He rode up to put himself between the princess and the beast. The animal roared and leaped onto the squire's horse, biting into the lad's shoulder with a sickening crunch. The lad's scream died off into a gurgle before he slumped to the ground, still clamped in the Tiger's jaws.

[Natora]

The princess looked to the squire as he was brought down to the ground before his horse in horror. All she had been able to do was create a large enough fissure that two of the four wouldn't be able to attack them. The other two however seemed completely content in continuing their tirade. She reached up and grabbed her horses' saddle, mounting swiftly.

She looked to Berthias worriedly and went back behind him, near ignoring the priest. His magic wasn't more than her own and she wanted to be sure that she and the rest of them were as safe as possible. "I'm going to go get the knight," she said nodding to the one that had fallen and been gouged in the leg. There was nothing she could possibly have done for the squire that saved her life but the knight she could pull back here.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias whirled around and pulled out his hammer, then slammed it against the head of the tiger who killed the squire. The animal went down with a whimper. He nodded to Reinatia as she declared her next move. "I'm right behind you," he gasped, spurring his horse to catch up with hers.

The tiger aggravating the fallen guard saw the two additional charging horses with their humans and he bolted. He didn't see the crevice until it was too late, and the cries of the beast as it scrambled to no avail to keep from falling were heart-wrenching. The other two tigers growled their frustration and then turned and sprinted away through the tall grasses.

The uninjured guard helped the horse off his companion. He looked thankfully at Reinatia, nodding in exhausted muteness.

"Looks like you got one yerself," Prince Berthias praised as he dismounted from his pony. "Tis a mighty princess who fights alongside 'er guardsmen, 'tis is. A mighty princess." He grinned and helped her with the injured guard. "Our bard will make a mighty song to praise yer actions this day, my love."

[Natora]

Reinatia laughed gently before whistling for her pony to come back. He did, his head hanging in shame. Reinatia helped the guard onto the pony and said, "We ride swiftly. The faster we get past here, the sooner we find a healer to make sure that stays as it is, a simple small wound," she said to the group. "We will ride longer and through some of the night if necessary," she added before looking back at the others that were in line. She returned to mount on her horse again and looked to Berthias. "And any songs about me better not be ones that would make my father wish he had never sent me travelling," she teased.

[EvelynWillows]

They knew that it would be days before they reached the next town; too long to bring the squire's body with them. The uninjured guard asked Princess Reinatia if she would allow them to put him in the chasm and if she would close the earth over him. Several days later they found out that the squire was that guard's little brother. He simply said that they were there to serve the crown and that his brother died protecting the princess. That was what they were born to do.

The injured guard was treated by the priest. Lucas was irritable, insisting that if Princess Reinatia had not attacked the tigers then she would have been safe in his protective circle, but the princess' lady-in-waiting simply smacked him on the side of his head and told him to shut up. That was the last the priest mentioned of his sanctuary circle.

Prince Berthias kept a close eye on their perimeter. He was horrified that he could lose his bride before they were even wed. His concern for her was almost...suffocating. There came a point where he insisted that her lady-in-waiting accompany the princess when she went out to relieve herself.

He insisted that they look to hire more guards once they reached the next town, completely forgetting that the town was inhabited by halflings. The short, happy people were not ones to be willing to raise arms unless it was absolutely a life or death matter.

[Natora]

With each passing day, Berthias' overprotectiveness was getting the princess more and more irritable. If he continued much longer she would certainly blow up and fairly easily. She rode along with the rest, sticking to her plan of riding longer days than she had originally intended, wanting to make it to the next town as soon as possible. When they found a river, though, she stopped. She didn't think that burying the body of the dead soldier in the chasm was enough. She allowed them to make a momentary stop and found a large palm, gathering wild flowers and sending it adrift in the river, trying to believe that it would find itself back to the capitol where she hoped they would understand the meaning.

It was the day that they were almost at the city when Berthias' overprotectiveness finally got to her. He was speaking of hiring the halflings as more guards for her protection and as far as she was concerned that was ridiculous. She turned to him as they continued riding and sharply said, "Prince Berthias. A halfling is one of the most peaceful people I know and they certainly will not consider raising arms in hopes of defending a princess they don't know. I am not about to disappear on you so I would appreciate your tenderness and caring to start becoming less so. It is impossible to get any thoughts, good or otherwise, through my head when I am to be no farther from you than my clothing is from me."

With that, she kicked her horse's flanks and rode ahead into the town that was ready and waiting for them with one of the knights that would prepare some arrangement for them. She just needed some time and space to breathe.

[EvelynWillows]

Prince Berthias sat on his pony, speechless as he watched Reinatia ride off. He seemed to be trying to come up with a response to what seems to him to be an unexpected outburst.

"Do not worry, Sire," Lucas crooned. "It's probably that 'Moon Time' for her, you know. Women get a little bit 'testy'." He grinned. "Give her a bit of time, she'll be glad to have you as close to her as her clothing is," he said, chuckling.

The Dwarf grumbled and said nothing. He spurred his pony onwards in hope of catching up with his betrothed and, hopefully, straightening out their little misunderstanding.

A halfling village is a beautiful thing. It rose on the foothills, straddling a wide brook and sporting several windmills on either side. Cattle and sheep grazed in the lush green fields, and perky gardens lined the streets and contented Halflings tended to their daily chores. Some looked up as Princess Reinatia rode in. Others waved or smiled at her as she passed by.

A small group of ponies grazed near the White Teacup Inn, and with them was a tall grey stallion. They seemed to be rather used to each other. A small trail of smoke danced from the chimney and the smell of baked goods, caramel, and fried potatoes wafted through the air.

[Natora]

Reinatia had a smile on her face as long as they rode through. To anyone who waved or turned her a sign of good faith she returned it happily. The small town was so adorable and quaint that she couldn't quite place where it was all coming from. How could they all be so extremely happy and not seem to have a care in the world? It was beautiful.

When herself and the knight got to the White Teacup Inn, they dismounted and Reinatia smiled. "I do not care if we find a bed here or not but we are most certainly eating here. It smells absolutely delicious," she said to him. They shared a small laugh and walked inside. She felt like a giant, the halflings being shorter than even the dwarves. She wasn't used to being around so many people that were shorter than her.

She waited patiently and the knight approached the bar counter. "Excuse me, we are a royal caravan, travelling into the mountains. We were hoping that you might have a floor of rooms to spare us as well as some of the," he said and looked back to the princess for a second before returning his gaze to the bartender, "delicious smelling food. Of course we will pay you a fair price for it all."

[EvelynWillows]

The innkeep was a rotund, jovial man with a soft brown mustache that reached his chin and thinning hair. He might have had more hair on his eyebrows than on his head, but a blue cap covered most of his skull. "A royal Caravan, hmm? Well I suppose we can rent you the second story. I have eight rooms empty up there."

"Is any one else on the second story?" The Knight leaned on the counter. Still, he towarded over the halfling even at just under two meters tall. "we need the entire floor vacant. Security, you know."

At that a sour look crossed the innkeep's face. "I have a few patrons on the second floor. You'll have to give me time to move them."

"Of course! Certainly."

"And you'll pay for all the rooms even the ones left empty."

The Knight began to sputter in protest, but the keep raised a hand. "If you expect me to empty the entire floor for you then I expect full payment. Fair is fair." He turned his blue eyes upon Reinatia. "Wouldn't you agree, your highness? "

[Natora]

Reinatia looked from the innkeep to the knight that was sputtering with a smile on her face. "I think that is perfectly reasonable, dear sir," she said, obviously ordering the knight to take to this well enough. She looked back to the innkeep with a charming smile and added, "And please allow us to pay for a meal for displacing your guests," she said to him. Looking back at the knight she added, "Unless you would rather leave the patrons as they are and simply take four rooms." She didn't see the need to displace so many guests.

The knight looked slightly defeated at the words of the princess and looked to the inkeep. "Very well. We will take five of the rooms that are on the second floor but I intend to meet with all the rest of the guests that are staying there," he said trying to put himself back in power.

The princess rolled her eyes and put two silver down on the counter. "For your troubles," she said to the innkeep gently. She was starting to feel the wear of the last week on her. Sleeping on the ground was not fun and she hadn't been enjoying a single second of it, not since Berthias had gotten overbearing. She looked to the innkeeper and gently asked, "Is there a room available now? I'm feeling rather worn."

[EvelynWillows]

The innkeep was a rotund, jovial man with a soft brown mustache that reached his chin and thinning hair. He might have had more hair on his eyebrows than on his head, but a blue cap covered most of his skull. "A royal Caravan, hmm? Well I suppose we can rent you the second story. I have eight rooms empty up there."

"Is any one else on the second story?" The Knight leaned on the counter. Still, he towarded over the halfling even at just under two meters tall. "we need the entire floor vacant. Security, you know."

At that a sour look crossed the innkeep's face. "I have a few patrons on the second floor. You'll have to give me time to move them."

"Of course! Certainly."

"And you'll pay for all the rooms even the ones left empty."

The Knight began to sputter in protest, but the keep raised a hand. "If you expect me to empty the entire floor for you then I expect full payment. Fair is fair." He turned his blue eyes upon Reinatia. "Wouldn't you agree, your highness? "

[Natora]

Reinatia looked from the innkeep to the knight that was sputtering with a smile on her face. "I think that is perfectly reasonable, dear sir," she said, obviously ordering the knight to take to this well enough. She looked back to the innkeep with a charming smile and added, "And please allow us to pay for a meal for displacing your guests," she said to him. Looking back at the knight she added, "Unless you would rather leave the patrons as they are and simply take four rooms." She didn't see the need to displace so many guests.

The knight looked slightly defeated at the words of the princess and looked to the inkeep. "Very well. We will take five of the rooms that are on the second floor but I intend to meet with all the rest of the guests that are staying there," he said trying to put himself back in power.

The princess rolled her eyes and put two silver down on the counter. "For your troubles," she said to the innkeep gently. She was starting to feel the wear of the last week on her. Sleeping on the ground was not fun and she hadn't been enjoying a single second of it, not since Berthias had gotten overbearing. She looked to the innkeeper and gently asked, "Is there a room available now? I'm feeling rather worn."

[EvelynWillows]

"Of course," the innkeep replied. He produced five large keys, each with a different symbol on it's handle, and gave the one with a rose on it to Reinatia. The rest he gave to the knight. "Will you just be staying for one night?" He asked. He indicated the stairwell to his right which led up to the private rooms. "There's a privy downstairs though the hall under the stairs, M'Lady. Otherwise there's a stall outside. I apologize, we don't have private ones in the rooms."

The knight insisted on escorting the princess to her room to assure that it was safe, and to meet with the occupants of the other three rooms before allowing her to retire. "It's for your own safety, your highness. Who knows how far the enemies of the kingdom may go to eliminate your family?" He looked at her with sincere though slightly self-important green eyes. His hand remained on the hilt of his sheathed sword, as if he was expecting trouble at any time.

Outside the inn the sounds of an arriving party could be heard. Many horses, a wagon, and a very enthusiastic bard was audible, and above it all was Berthias' voice.

A pair of footsteps came down the wooden steps, energetic and somehow sounding cheerful. "Hey Rudy, I'm going out to the Briarsford farm today. Can you pack a sandwhi-" the voice stopped as the owner came down far enough to see the knight and lady at the counter. "Why...what are you doing here? This is an unexpected surprise."

Taking the last three steps at a slower pace, a smile spread across the tall elf's face. Gold eyes sparked in recognition of the travel-worn and weary woman, and the man stopped at the base of the steps to give her a slight bow before pulling on his second glove.

It was Tyrfayn.

[Natora]

She heard his voice before she saw him. Closing her eyes, she tried to forget every emotion she had had about him before but it was no use. Opening her eyes she turned just in time to see him give a small bow to her at the bottom of the stairs. He looked just as gorgeous and perfect as always. "Master Ambrians," she greeted with a nod. "We are simply travelling to the home of Prince Berthias. I am surprised that you are surprised. He was one of your top suitors, was he not?" she asked him gently. She really wasn't sure how long she would be able to stay in the same inn as this man. Surely her feelings would take a hit now that he didn't remember her. Even though it had been some time, her feelings seemed to have only grown more fond of him and this was harder than she could have ever imagined.

She looked to the knight that was standing next to her and said, "There, one of three tenants that you do not have to pester. If we cannot trust a man who runs before his responsibilities are unfulfilled who can we trust?" The distaste in her voice was only there as a defense. She couldn't like him or love him. It wouldn't do. She nodded to both of them and walked past Tyrfayn, going upstairs to find her room. Right now all she wanted was a bed and a very long sleep. She didn't need anything else.

[EvelynWillows]

Rudy the innkeep laughed at Tyrfayn as the princess ascended the stairs. "So...history with that one, eh Tyrfayn?"

"No...I only knew her for a few days, and then she sent me away." He looked over at the knight, who was beginning to follow the princess up the stairs. "Have I offended her?"

The knight simply shrugged and followed his ward up the stairs.

Rudy slapped together a sandwich and slid it across the counter to the Mage. "And dinner's paid for. Her highness over there bought it."

"Be careful how you speak of her," Tyrfayn warned. "She deserves more respect than that." He bumped into Prince Berthias as he was leaving and they caught up some, then the Mage left the inn. Berthias went upstairs and knocked on the door.

"Darling? Princess Reinatia? Can I bring you some tea? Lucas made a special brew to relax you, my dear. And I sent your maid to find some sprigs of lavender to calm you. I also arranged for you to have a private warm bath tonight, dear, and the squire's checking around town to find a masseuse to work on your muscles. Darling? Can I come in?"

[Natora]

Reinatia was just starting to relax again when Berthias knocked on the door to her room. It was a quaint room, far less extravagant than what she was used to, but the bed was comfortable and that was all that mattered to her at this point. She looked up from laying down and sighed softly. She got up and walked to the the door, opening after a small hesitation.

"Prince Berthias, darling, why have you gotten so soft since we got engaged?" she asked him simply. "You can come in, though," she said and stepped back, going to sit on the bed and lean back against the pillows. She had chosen him because she thought he would be a man's man... not so soft and sweet as much. "Thank you, though," she finally conceded. She had agreed to a life with him and that was what she was going to have. "I will have the tea after dinner before bed," she said gently. "I really am fine. I just have never spent this much time with anyone other than my parents. It must just be wearing on me."

[EvelynWillows]

He tried not to be too insulted at her question, preferring to believe that it was the moon that was making her so 'testy'. "I...I'm just trying to keep you safe," he defended. "But perhaps you need a short nap before dinner then. I'll leave you to it, my dear, and call upon you in the evening then." he took her hand and kissed it.

"I do love you, Princess. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Her bracelet remained warm.

That evening the sounds of the dining hall came through the floor, waking Reinatia from her rest. It was an overall pleasant sound and one that invoked images of big farming families and holiday gatherings. A soft knock came to her door. "Mistress?" asked the lady-in-waiting, "Would you like any help preparing for dinner?"

[Natora]

Reinatia woke to strange sounds. They didn't normally have much chatter around the tables where she was from and it was actually heartwarming to hear all the talk that was going on. She heard the ladie and simply asked, "Will you please rebraid my hair? I will learn how to do it later on," she insisted. She sat while the maid redid the braid to bring all the hair together. It now looked the same as the night when Tyrfayn had first arrived.

She went down with her lady, smiling when she heard all the chatter that was happening between the men and families seated there. Finally she sat next to Berthias and too his hand, kissing it softly. "Please forgive me for my temper," she whispered to him so no one else would hear as a plate and drink were placed in front of her. She started munching on the bread and vegetables on her plate. It was delicious.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias nodded and took her hand gratefully, telling her that all was forgiven long ago. And she knew that he meant it, even without the bracelet. It seemed that he was typical of his people; quick to emotions and quick to forgiveness. Although many Dwarves nurtured long-term feuds, they were easily ended as soon as one side was able to admit their wrong-doing. It was only that they had a difficult time admitting such things when pride was on the line.

Shortly after the dinner began, a small group of boisterous halflings came into the inn, along with two human men and Tyrfayn. They all had a light layer of dust and mud on them, and for all intents and purposes they looked like they had been playing in the dirt. In fact, they had. Many of the wells in the town had collapsed recently, and the small work party spent the days traveling from one farm to another to repair them.

Tyr gave Prince Berthias and the princess a friendly nod but he stayed with his group. Where many of the other tables were content to keep their speech minimal, this table recounted stories of their day's adventures, punctuating the tales with sound effects and hand gestures that would do a mime proud. Laughter and guffaws were predominant in their conversation. It was very, very different from the tables in the sylvan kingdom.

"..and then Fayn here looks into the well and says...he says..." the story-teller had to contain his own laughter, wiping tears away from his eyes with two fingers, "...he says 'is that man supposed to be head-down in the water?'" The table erupted into laughter and one of the humans smacked the Mage on the back.

"Leave it to you, Elf, to understate the obvious! As if he had gills!"

Tyrfayn shook his head and smiled "It is your team, Marcus. Who am I to second guess your methods?"

That brought more teasing and laughter from the men.

Prince Berthias leaned forward on his elbows. "It's embarrassing to see a nobleman carrying on like that. It doesn't set a good example to the people."

[Natora]

Reinatia looked at him curiously but kept her voice impassive and calm when she asked, "Do you think so? It might serve to keep their spirits higher than as is done in my home." It was a fairly arguable reason she thought. "The boisterous laughing and high spirits is actually something I expected out of you as well, your grace," she said softly to him as she ate her dinner.

She finished shortly after, not being too hungry. "I think I should take the bath and relax more now," she said gently to her betrothed. "Will you join me after to watch the sun set?" she asked him curiously. It was one of her favourite past times. The colours that the clouds could turn was absolutely marvelous. She wanted to see if they would do the same when she saw the sun set here.

Another thing that she desperately wanted to do was to leave Tyrfayn's presence. What more could she do to keep away from him? She needed to stay away and make sure that her feelings were left as they needed to be. It was not an easy thing to do and with him lingering around it was getting more difficult by the second.

[EvelynWillows]

Berthias was taken aback. He had tried desperately to fit into Reinatia's culture; to be who he thought she wanted. It seemed like she wanted someone more...Dwarven. He agreed heartily to meeting her to watch the sun set.

The Mage had watched as the Sylvan princess left her party, her eyes never coming near his table. Though he didn't know exactly what he had done he was certain that he had offended her somehow, perhaps irrevocably. One thing that Master Ambrians did not want to do was create any bad blood with the future queen of Slyvania. He could not let it rest and chance allowing the offense to fester.

Once he had waited a goodly amount of time, and once he was certain that Prince Berthias and his guards had a few ales under their belt he went upstairs. He paused outside of the door marked with a painted rose and took a deep breath, hoping that he was not making matters worse. Inside he could hear the soft voice of a maid chattering about daily 'nothings', and the splash of water against a basin.

Perhaps it was a bad time.

He could always come back later.

Oh, shit. Might as well be now.

Tyrfayn knocked on the door and then stepped back, waiting for the maid to answer. He couldn't fathom why his heart was beating so loudly.

[Natora]

Reinatia was laughing with her maid and when they heard a knock on the door. They both looked up and Reina thought it was a little early for Berthias to be here. After this afternoon however, she wasn't about to turn him away. She nodded to her maid and got a towel wrapped around her so she could dry off.

The maid went and answered the door, looking at the man wide eyed. "Master Ambrians," she said a little surprised to see him.

Reina heard the maid and looked at her stunned. She walked over and replaced the maid at the door, her towel still clutched around her. She looked up and down the hall, not seeing Berthias anywhere. She finally let her eyes rest on Tyrfayn. "Why are you here?" she asked curiously, not sounding upset about seeing him.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn caught a glimpse of wet, bare leg as the princess stepped out of the tub and wrapped the ample towel around her body. An intricate vine pattern trickled down her slim form, danced across her curves and ended at her ankle. The mage blushed and turned around to put his back to the enchanting view and elicited a giggle from the lady-in-waiting.

"I thought we needed to talk. I have obviously offended and angered you somehow. Truly I do not remember doing anything that would earn such scorn from you, but just as truly I have lost pieces of time, my lady. Please, tell me what I have done, that I might make amends." He kept his gaze on the wall across from her doorway and fought the urge to turn around.

[Natora]

"Oh turn around and look at me if you want to know anything," she said a little irritated. "It's not like I am going to try and cheat on Berthias before I am even married to him," she said. Waiting until he turned around, Rein watched him move but kept her eyes about where his would be...not that she didn't have peripherals. He still looked so perfect.

When he finally looked at her she answered, "Do you not remember leaving before the ball? You were supposed to be there for that and to help me with my decision. After you left, I knew that I wanted Berthias and never wanted to go through the ball. Why did you have to leave so quickly without so much as a good-bye?"

[EvelynWillows]

He lowered his eyes and turned around. He could see her dainty feet peeking out from underneath the towel, and above the arch of one was a delicate scroll of vine and leaf. "I was dismissed. I...I should have said goodbye but I didn't have much time. It appears that I was becoming a danger to you, and your father was certain that you could make a good choice out of the short list without my help."

Tyrfayn drew in a shallow breath. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I should say good-bye now." He hadn't mentioned her name or title in all that time, in the event that she was traveling incognito. He couldn't raise his eyes to meet hers because he'd have to cross the delectable terrain of her body to do so, and thus he kept his eyes lowered. "I wish you the best in your upcoming marriage; the very best. And hopefully you'll find that you are not only friends with your husband, but that you come to love him as well."

[Natora]

Reina shook her head, not believing that he was just going to dismiss everything so easily! Mind, he was the one who didn't remember a thing about them and them being together. She bit her lip softly and looked at him. She tilted his chin up and looked him in the eye, her other hand keeping the towel together around her body. "I do have a question for you, Master Ambrians," she said softly. "Do you believe it possible for one person to love two others at the same time, not including family of course?" This was something she needed to know. If she couldn't, then she would end up never loving her husband.

[EvelynWillows]

She was torturing him. It was that simple, for why else would she draw his eyes across her form? Her spy had somehow found out the cost of his power. She was one of the very few who knew the demands upon him; Masters even kept that type of information from each other, lest a rival try to undermine one's power and destroy their abilities.

"Love? There are many kinds of love, my lady. There is the emotional love that can overwhelm a person and may arise for no logical reason. There is lust, which many confuse for love, and then off course there is the decision to love. I would hope that you would decide to love Berthias, to care for him and cherish him, and from that the other kinds of love will grow. Why do you ask me this? Was there another you wanted who was not on your fathers list?"

He knew that she desired no commoner, for she said they could not understand her life. And yet she was rumored to have no lover hidden in the town near her home. He wondered if she was already so unhappy before the vows were even spoken.

[Natora]

Reinatia listened and hung on to every word he spoke. She thought for a moment while looking at the ground before back up at him. "I did find another man that I loved. Sadly, the odds were stacked against us and we would never be able to be together. This was much before I met Prince Berthias and I do not believe that there is any possibility that he loves me anymore," she said sadly.

She laughed and shook her head. "I am sorry to have kept you from your company. I should let you go," she said to him softly. She was looking back down at her feet again, not really wanting more than to just disappear. She would be spending time with Berthias soon. She should get ready. "I am sorry, again. I need to get dressed. Prince Berthias will be seeing me shortly," she said softly. What she really wanted as to steal Tyrfayn into the room with her and get lost in a large amount of passion.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn sighed.

He caught her hand as it left his face and held her for a moment. "I am truly sorry, my lady. I understand what it is to be trapped by position. Please, before we part ways again, would you forgive me for leaving when you still needed me? I never wanted to hurt you. I hope that somehow you will still call me a friend."

The Mage waited for a moment to allow her time to arrange her thoughts. "I can't help but think that there is more my lady. Something I've done that you are sparing me out of kindness or embarrassment. Just tell me one thing; have I done anything in my forgetfulness that you would consider dangerous to those around me? Is there any reason I should withdraw from negotiating until this...ailment...is cured?"

[Natora]

Reina near gasped but composed herself quickly when he grabbed her hand. The touch from him was near enough to kill her inside, though she didn't want it to stop. She looked to his hand before quickly averting them back up to his eyes respectfully. "I will forgive you so long as you forgive me. Also, I want to be your friend, if that is what we will call it." She paused though and thought on his second question for a second. How much could she tell him about his lost memories?

"There is nothing I have ever seen you do that would make you a threat to anyone more than what you choose to be," she said evenly. She knew that he could do anything required of him but the memories only made him a danger to himself.

[EvelynWillows]

Tyrfayn laughed quietly. "Well, I suppose that's fair to say. Then if we're to be friends I hope you will call me by my first name, as I am no longer your counselor." He studied her carefully before releasing her hand. "Your betrothed is a fortunate man. Perhaps if you're still in his homeland at the end of the month we can find time to dine, the three of us."

He stepped away from her a moment before heavy footsteps began to come up the stairs. For some reason, Tyr felt a pang of guilt attack him. But...he had done nothing to be guilty of. Or at least, he didn't think that he had.

Prince Berthias had a huge bouquet in front of his face so he didn't see the Mage standing there until he was almost upon him. He startled for a moment, then managed to grin. "Hey! What are you doing up here?"

[Natora]

When Tyrfayn left, Reina quickly closed the door. Be a friend to him? What would she do with him as a friend? Probably end up killing herself with upset and pain. She looked to her maid and simply said, "Quickly. We need to dress me in something appropriate for both sleep and seeing the Prince."

They worked quickly and put a shift on underneath the nightgown she had, making it as reasonable as possible considering their circumstances. Not long after she sent the maid out with all the dirty clothing she had so that she could wash it and have a decent amount of clean clothing for the rest of their little adventure. As the maid went down the hall, she saw Berthias with the bouquet and giggled gently before walking by with the bundle of laundry in her arms. She didn't want to spoil anything for the princess.

[EvelynWillows]

"My room is up here," Tyrfayn answered. He gave the Prince a smile and went to his room, leaving the two love birds to their evening.

Berthias knocked on Reinatia's door and hastily smoothed his hair back. He fidgeted from foot to foot, nervous about their evening and hoping that the tea the priest Lucas gave her was selling her nerves and grumpiness.

He waited for the door to open and gasped softly. "Y you're beautiful. I ah I brought these. For you. I brought these for you to have." He grinned sheepishly.

[Natora]

Reina smiled to him when he opened the door. She had drinken the tea that had been prepared for her after her quick encounter with Tyrfayn and it was helping her calm down some. She saw the flowers and smiled. Taking them gently from him she brought them close so she could smell them. "They're lovely. Thank you," she said to him.

She turned and walked into her room, leaving the door open for Berthias to come in with her. She brought the flowers to the window and set them down, using her magic to make the roots grow up the walls and into the ground. "This way they'll stay forever. As long as I keep planting them each night, that is," she mentioned softly. She looked out the window and up into the sunset.

[EvelynWillows]

There was a sadness to Princess Reinatia that night. Berthias could feel it, and he wondered if she was simply mourning the end of her years as a maiden or if she was sad about marrying him. He told her about his homeland; how he was a younger prince, but he still had investments and shares in the Dwarven mining cities. He told her about the vast caverns under the mountains, lit by glowing veins of moon rock, and the lovely metals and gems that were mined and cherished the world over.

He told her that he could bring a contingent of Dwarven smiths and craftsmen to Sylvania to adorn their home with the fine artwork of the Dwarves, and he promised her that their children would be a bridge of hope between the Fey and their stouter cousins.

And during all this, he held her hand tenderly; his gruff, calloused mitt gently shielding her soft slim fingers from the world. "You'll plant our flowers each night to keep them alive, and I'll nourish you in whatever you desire, my love. If you want musicians or silks, or poets to sing for you - whatever you need to remain happy, Princess. Only tell me and it will be yours." Prince Berthias looked up into her eyes and smiled though his ruddy, thickening beard. "And I'm sorry for trying to be a quiet elf; your comment today made me realize that I was trying to be who I thought you'd want instead of who I am. I'm going to be who I am from here on out. No more pretending to be someone I'm not."

And her bracelet remained warm.

[Natora]

Reina listened to his tales and it was slowly making her happier with every story he told, thoughts of Tyrfayn being drowned out by the affection and happiness Berthias had with her. It was a wonderful evening and a beautiful sunset. She looked up at him when he promised her happiness.

When he finished, her bracelet warm, she smiled to him. "I am glad that you can finally see what I want to keep me happy," she said, slightly cryptic on purpose. "All I have ever wanted is for you to be as I saw you when we first met, your loud and wonderfully happy self. I didn't choose you because I wanted you to change and be like someone like me. I chose you because I wanted that breath of life that you bring into everything," she said to him happily, smiling warmly.

Her sadness at Tyrfayn's presence was long gone and she was at the very least happy that she had time with Berthias and the man that she had seen while sparring with Tyrfayn that day. He was fun loving and wonderful and that was what she wanted. She didn't want or need something that she had already turned down a dozen times.

[EvelynWillows]

They set off again in the late morning after a kingly breakfast and resupplying their gear. The second knight was fully healed by this time, the priest and time having done their magic on his wounded let. It was good, actually, because Princess Reinatia's lady-in-waiting had gotten sweet on him while tending to his wounds, and her doe-eyed swooning was beginning to become embarrassingly noticeable.

Prince Berthias had a chance to speak to Tyrfayn, and the Mage assured him that he'd be in Steinhelm for the Dwarf's cousin next month. He just had to finish helping with the wells, and they had six more to re-dig or replace. It seemed that he earned his way as he traveled; the fees for his 'official' service were sent back to his homeland. That didn't seem to upset the Mage, though Berthias teased him a bit about being a pauper nobleman. Tyr teased the Dwarf back just as thoroughly, wondering out loud if he would ever grow a truly Dwarven beard, or if he was going to 'go Fey' and keep it shaved smooth.

Berthias challenged him again to a spar, saying the last two were cut short, but Tyrfayn turned down the offer. His eyes flickered then, a hint of uncertainty and a lack of confidence, but they he was back to his normal self and he said his goodbyes to everyone before heading out to meet the well-digging crew.

They traveled up the foothills. At first the slopes were gradual and easy; a pleasant diversion from the days out on the plains. Soon they got up enough to look out over the plains back towards the forest where Reinatia's home laid. Her homeland was just a little line of darkness on the horizon. The plains had stretched out as far as the eyes could see. To the left was a glimmer of blue; a suggestion of ocean in the distance. To the right, the plains seemed to end in mountains. Behind them was a large mountain range that looked harsh and impenetrable, but Berthias assured everyone that the Steinberg mountains were the most hospitable place in the world.

[Natora]

Reina smiled, always happy to hear stories from Berthias, which he seemed ready to tell whenever someone protested even minutely to the hospitality of a mountain. The stories he gave were nothing like the ones that were given around the tables back home. She found, as they travelled the mountains though, that she missed her homeland already and couldn't wait to return to the forests.

The flowers Berthias had given her stayed close to her always, as she promised given routes every night. She nurtured them and cared for them as well as she could, the mountains giving her a fair challenge but she always managed to complete her task. After a few nights of entertainment, it was clear that Berthias' stories did little justice to the true capabilities of hospitality the Steinberg mountains supplied.

Sadly, they knew there would be a full night, just before they entered Berthias' home city, where they wouldn't be able to stay in a town but would need to camp in a cave in the rocks. Camp was set up easily and it didn't take long until they were all gathered around the campfire, listening to another of Berthias' tales of the good ol' days. Reina was riveted, every word captured her in the tale as he told it.

With everyone engrossed in Berthias' tale, they didn't realise they had visitors until it was too late. One of the squires was the first to notice one. He looked up during Berthias' tale and gasped. "Troll!" he shouted worriedly as he reached for his sword. The troll was just behind the prince and princess, a towering, ugly beast with skin the colour of the rocks around them. It was easy to see why they hadn't been noticed until they were so close. The one the squire had spotted grabbed the prince and princess, laughing jovially. "Eh, look a' this! I go' me a plump one," he said, eyeing Berthias hungrily.

Another of the trolls grabbed the squire as he tried to take his sword out and the hand maiden for the princess. He didn't waste any time in licking the squire from his boots to his head. "I dunno. They taste a li'l differen' than what we used to." He looked between the two he had in his fists. To the people they were happily grabbing into their fists at random, all this conversation simply sounded like grunts and groans.

Reina tried not to look too terrified but it didn't seem to be working. She looked to Berthias in the troll's other fist and simply cried, "What do we do?" There were still the knights and bard left on the ground but there was no telling how many more trolls were around at the moment.

[EvelynWillows]

Lucas grew wide-eyed and began to pray. "Sanctuary, sanctuary, sanctuary..." he drew his hands up and down, as if covering his body with some fairy-dust of protection. A third troll walked right by the priest, and he was able to begin to side-step himself towards the cave entrance unmolested.

Reinatia's maid screamed in terror. "Jeremiah! Help me! Oh God help me!" Her arms were pinned, and the poor guard, Jeremiah it seemed, pulled out his sword and tried to figure out how best to defend the royalty in the Trolls' clutches. He lunged, spearing one through the heart.

It should have been through the heart. His sword was diverted to the side and clanged harmlessly against the Troll's tough hide. The beast laughed, spewing putrid food particles in the hair of the hand maiden and shaking her for emphasis. "Puny! Weak! Stupid food!"

Prince Berthias struggled in the Troll's grasp. He put his hand out and widened his grasp, concentrating on his hammer which lay about twenty feet away. The hammer shook slightly, then flew into the Dwarf's grasp. "Be ready!" He shouted to Reinatia. He swung his hammer and prayed.

[Natora]

Yet another troll came up and picked up Jeremiah and Lucas, licking both in turn. "Meh. They taste not too bad. This one's a li'l tough though. We shou' cook 'em!" he decided. The other two didn't seem all that opposed to the idea and turned to go. The troll holding the prince and princess stepped on one of the other knights still left on the ground, squishing him quite well. "Whoops," he muttered and wiped his foot off.

As his hand was hit by Berthias's hammer, however, he hollered in pain and dropped both his meal tickets to the ground. Reina fell and rolled over until she was closer to the fire. The one long stick that they were using to poke around with was the closest to her and she grabbed it. There was no way that she could wield a sword effectively against these things so she might as well try something. She picked it up and started waving it at the trolls. "Berthias, how do we hurt them?" she asked him curiously.

The troll that had dropped them and squished a knight had turned back at them, angry. "Bad food! Come. Me eat."