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Administrator Sophiel negotiates a treaty with Sootscale that she hopes will aid the Kobolds, and herself, and begins to send some of the ore she extracted to them directly. She contacts Orri to set out rough boundaries with the help of her diplomat, Alidar. And she expands west, into the woods, setting up a new sawmill for wood, mindful of not overtaxing the forest. She has her ingenious farmers build a new mixed produce farming community on the outskirts of Tri Firinnean, starting with a plan of rotating the crops to reinvigorate the soil naturally, and a mill to process some of the proceeds in the settlement. She then turns down the aggressiveness of their recruitment, but rewards the people for their diligence with a holiday in the town, celebrating their accomplishments. At the holiday, many craftsmen sold their wares from far afield, and her canny merchants were able to turn the resources they had found into a tidy profit for the burgeoning state.
Orri is glad to host Bella as she arrives while he is preparing things for his growing kingdom. He re-introduces her to Isla, but she likely finds it odd that the next night he when she comes to have dinner instead of Isla, Lily is there with him. In any case, when he hears word she plans to visit their other friends Orri requests she asks their aid in joining up this month to clear out Candlemere since they never got around to it before.
When Bella heads out he gets to work on his kingdom. He claims some lad to the west wanting to expand his waterways for trade and constructs a quarry in the mud bowl, putting the resource to work for his kingdom. He also founds a mine near Orrville to start obtaining some more regular income. In his settlement he wants to ease shore up any concerns of stability so has a cistern built near the homes he had constructed previously, supplying consistent fresh water for himself and those living nearby. Taxes went really well, so far it seemed to go in cycles either the people were overly generous or only paid the bare minimum. Either way things were proceeding as planned.
Round 3
Chrysa should have known there would be contention over the gold found in the hills. On the very hills in question, King Impeek and Baroness Chrysa sat down for a chat and a nice dinner of rabbit with a delightful moon radish sauce. Both with camps of guards and followers not too far apart, waiting on word of fighting or cooperation.
Cooperation, it would be. Shadowfall would claim the mine and the expense for building it, the kobolds would be paid well for mining the gold itself. Other bits and bobs were discussed, but they both left on good terms and not drenched in blood.
One thing the growing community did not need was continued dependence on Restov for tools, horseshoes, even nails, so a smithy was her next order of business to concentrate on when she got back.
A contingent of 'all non-main stream races deserved to be enslaved' needed to be put down. The freedoms specifically frowned on slavery so it was well within her rights to correct a few of the leaders. A quiet evening with the Rasberry Baker is all it took.
Her people had gotten word of a slightly plump warrior woman riding through the lands, and it screamed Bella, which made the little horned woman beyond happy
and prepared to greet her.
Tea and sweets aplenty, and a hot bath waiting for her to deRoad before talking. "Oh, not those..." she points at the honeyed biscuits. "Sventlana likes putting extras in everything she can get away with.
I don't know enough what effect it might have on 'Him'." she miles wide everytime they talk about the baby. "These-" she lifts a plate of glazed buns "- are yummy and safe."
When the time is over, she includes a basket full of whichever munchies Bella liked the most, safe or unsafe, and several rolls of woven fabrics made in her shops.
"Say hello to Anna, and tell Orri for me, I'd love to clear out Candlemere with him. There is a lot to do here, but getting away for a week sounds lovely."
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With the distraction of Tiressia and her revealed history set aside for now, Annalla is able to focus on things running smoothly in her newly settled domain. And with Isabella finally moving along with the wedding plans, the android is a happy leader. She even takes time to reread through the books that Sophiel had given her. Those appeal to her so much that she decides to dedicate some resources to acquiring more of the same.
Along the way, a number of missives pass back and forth working out a potential border between Gealladh Dòchas and Sophiel's expanding lands.
Ipmeek shakes hands with Chrysa as a deal is made. "Good, good," agrees Ipmeek in Draconic. "We are experts in mining, especially precious metals. You'll learn a thing or two." It was disappointing not to get the gold mine for himself, but King Sootscale saw an opportunity. Humans and kobolds were not on the best terms. But if the humans saw the kobolds as builders and workers, then perhaps the long enmity between their peoples would subside. At least this kingdom encounter didn't start with a kobold raid.
* * *
The negotiations complete, the kobolds focus their expansion elsewhere, following the Shirke river eastward.
* * *
Bella finds that the kobolds have been busy expanding the caverns where the kobolds live. It's hardly anything formal, but there at least appears to be some caverns dug with taller folk in mind. And surprisingly, there seems to have been a cave dug for a hill giant, Munguk!
"Bella, so happy you have big wedding with Annalla! We bring many gifts to celebrate royal marriage!". When talk goes to Candlemere castle, Ipmeek hesitates. "Lizardfolk protecting selves, not fighting. Just like kobolds. Better to make deal than fight war."
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Sophiel receives Isabella warmly, her settlement seemingly running smoothly. She mentions that Orri wishes to deal with whatever monsters are in Candlemere. When Isabella indicates that they wish to attack or displace the lizardfolk, Sophiel is aghast, and vehemently opposed to the idea. "It is unconscionable to judge those who live there now for the actions of a violent aberration that was controlling them. They only seek to live in peace, now." She asks that they discuss the issue when they meet up to explore Candlemere, after Isabella is finished with her rounds.
"You are in charge, Tonith. I'd give you advice on how to handle the others but you've managed to put the fear of 'death' in enough of them, there won't be a worry." the bespectacled pencil pusher of a Pharasman priest gave her a lazy smile. Lazy his smile might be, but Chrysa could see the eagerness in his eyes though behind those smudge ridden glasses.
Made her consider writing an I'm Sorry letter to Orri and the others. To make sure she still had a job when she got back. No she told herself. A week with people she can trust will do wonders for her gut.
"The mill at the radish fields should be ready by month's end, as well as our potion of the Kobold road." Chrysa rattled off a few other details that the man already knew, but she felt the need to say. She finished with "Do NOT forget to have someone water the flowers."
Gathering up her mule, who missed her terribly these days, she passed her newly planted flower park. A present of sorts for the newlyweds. She hoped she got the colors right.
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Orri travels to Chrysa's kingdom, mostly up river on boat and the rest of the way on horse back with a small contingent of his followers. He stops off at Sophie's capital to see if she wants to join him for the trip to Chrysa's lands for Bella's wedding to Annalla. He brings with him a number of gifts for the happy couple, some small toys he had made, a few pieces of furniture for the child, and most importantly some booze for the parents to celebrate. After the wedding, Orri returns home to settle matters with his Kingdom before the group meets up at Candlemere later in the month.
As the days began growing shorter and the colors of nature start to shift to autumn tones the people of Orrville begin to get a bit restless with the first major harvest for the settlement occurring soon. Orri does his best to ease people's concerns but decides it is finally time to start building something more tangible to make people feel safe. As such, he starts construction on a barracks so he will have the capability of housing soldiers in the months to come. This does a lot to ease the general populace's concerns, especially as he sets aside more farm land in his previously claimed land.
Claiming another parcel of land to the southwest, ends his expansion south as he butts up to the border of Mivon. He starts another mine as the continued income is helping to cover any slight shortfalls in taxes. Speaking of taxes, this was the first time since the founding of his kingdom that the payment of taxes weren't excessively high or low, but were still a bit above average.
Once things are ready back home Orri sets off to meet to others at Candlemere.
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Sophiel spends time negotiating the request of her advisor to take control of the aquatic glade near Tiressia's abode. Sophiel claims the space at Melianse's request, but the logging stand she develops is a little less efficient than it should be, and can't quite properly claim the valuable greenwood in the area. Under the watchful gaze of Melianse, they are instructed in the manner by which harvesting such a wood keeps it alive, and Tri Firinnean starts to gain greenwood as a building material, imbuing the very buildings with the vivacity of the natural world. Sophiel also builds another farm nearby
Such a thing comes in handy when Sophiel, hearing of the beauty of the dancers in Shadowfall, opts to build her own dance and performance exhibition space, with an adjoining house for the people who would live there.
The dancing exhibition hall seemed to have been quite a hit, terrifically improving the tax revenue for the month.
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Sophiel packs up what she can, and travels to the next place on their agenda.
Chrysa's flower paths are in full bloom. Blue hydrangeas, red velvet yarrow, blankets of heavenly scented cream alyssums, and of course plenty of chrysanthemums (because how could Chrysa not plant her namesake).
The dance hall has been scrubbed in every nook and cranny, with some crannies requiring a second and a third scrubbing, followed by an exorcism by the priests. Dyed cheesecloth of blue, red, and white have been woven together like braids and draped along the banisters, columns, and eaves. Newly woven linen flutter with the breeze on all the windows and doors.
Stone firepits have been banked in the area behind the hall, as the kitchens are not prepared for the guests and the mad half-elven baker on her way. Svetlana is still a tad put out that she is not making the cake, but is eagerly planned all sorts of little savory nibbles.
Tents and temporary wooden pavilions have been erected to house and provide dining space. Everyone is decked out in the finest the bustling town can provide, and all are invited and given the day off from their normal duties (the promise of two days for those working as serving girls, ushers, guards, and the like).
All is ready. Chrysa says to herself for the twentieth time this morning. All that is needed now is the guests.
The kobolds continue to expand in the lands surrounding Silvermine. While there was temptation to continue East along the Shrike river, those lands were unexplored and thus potentially dangerous. The kobolds do the same thing they've been doing throughout their lands--building farms and mines, always searching for more wealth. Meanwhile, in Silvermine itself, the problem of refuse thrown willy nilly has become too great to bear. King Sootscale issues a rule to bring some order in this process, and a dump is established. As the harvest comes in, the kobolds reap their first excess and the grain is milled and placed into the granary for future use should winter be harsh.
* * * * *
The coming of Rova meant the event of the year--the wedding of Annalla and Isabella! Ipmeek is grateful that it is being held at what was once Oleg's Fort. He and his entourage marvel at the road that has been built. "We'll build our own road next month to connect to here!" he declares, resolving to do so at the next opportunity.
Arriving at Haven, Mikmek gives the nod to the kobolds dressed in bright, garish clothes, adorned with tribal feathers and colored beads and jewelry. Kobold drummers begin a rousing beat as the kobolds march in file into the town. Ipmeek rides astride his horse, now wearing a simple crown of silver and gold. Behind him, more kobolds bear a litter with cargo that dazzles in the light--silver of all sorts fashioned into rings, bracelets, cups, and other items.
Walking through the flower paths, Ipmeek goes in search of Chrysa, and anyone else who might have arrived.
Annalla asks for the tenth time "Isabella, are you ready to leave? We agreed we would depart at first light."
"Yes, Yes. I know. I just want to make sure everything is in order before we leave Anna." she said as she checked things for the fourth time. "We wouldn't want to leave something behind or forget to lock something or forget to-"
"Isabella, you already locked that door an hour ago." Annalla says, hands on her hips.
Isabella throws her hands up, relenting "Alright, alright. Fine. We can go." Anxeity flooded her and she was extremely nervous. After getting the official invitations out, Isabella had been nothing but nerves.
What if my aunt makes a spectacle of this? What if Sophie doesn't show? What if Chrysa has too much punch and sleeps with Orri and gets pregnant and they get married instead of Lily and...
Isabella puts her hands over her eyes and shakes her head, clearing her mind. "Alright, alright. Quickly, let's leave before I think of something else."
Chrysa comes out of the hall talking to a smirking half-elven lady, not Sophie. As soon as the horned woman sees the kobold deligation she excuses herself with a few words and a nod, then goes to see her friend.
Dressed not in her armor, but in a short black coat with silver buttons, cream blouse, and split gray skirts, she still her swords on her hips, in new soft leather scabbards and belts at least. She had been told he was arriving soon, the stunning colors of the kobold entourage would be hard to miss by even the dullest spymaster, which Chrysa was not. But there is just so much one can do in a day so wasn't there to greet him first thing.
She gives the king a formal deep curtsey, as fitting a head of state, then lowers herself down for a hug, if allowed. "I have limited accommodations, so the majority of your deligation will have to stay in the tents provided, your majesty. There is, of course, a room in my place for you, and whichever attendants you want with you. Hopefully, those are few though, we are low on space. For some reason, I choose to spend time having the garden planted instead of building a proper inn."
Annalla takes a moment to center herself, trying to understand the nervousness that Isabella must be feeling. The android has been learning more and more about emotions and the complexities they involve in the reading she's been doing.
She covers the few steps between them and places her arms around the anxious human. Noticing again the slight belly-bulge, she shifts her position just a bit. "Take a breath, Love. Everything is going to be fine. You'll be there and I'll be there. That's all that's really needed. Everything else is frosting on the cake." A thought occurs to her. "There will be cake, right? There's supposed to be a cake at a wedding if I've read correctly." Seeing the anxiety threatening to return, she hastily adds, "Not that it's required - just traditional."
Isabella screams, eyes wide. "I forgot about the cake! I-Oh. Wait. No. Hold on, I asked Sophie to bake the cake. Okay. We have cake. Yes." she says, breathing a sigh of relief.
And so it goes for the remainder of their trip up north in the caravan. Though Isabella can ride the horse still, it's not comfortable and she chooses instead to ride in the wagon for the majority of the trip.
When the entourage approaches Chrysa's kingdom however, Isabella insists on switching to horseback. She explains to Anna "I shan't let them see me weak and riding in a wagon. I am still capable of riding on a horse, I'm fine."
As they make their way into town, she is about ready to slide off her horse when Akiros says "Wait, M'lady." and moves to her side to help her off the horse. His positioning of his hand on her rear end is probably not required, but then again, Isabella did have more weight than the last time you saw her.
She still walks normally, but her belly is pronounced with more than a little bump and perhaps she's put on a few extra pounds that show in her cheeks. Perhaps.
She approaches a group of people around Chrysa. She's not dressed in her armor today, she's wearing some loose-fitting clothes that look like they are geared more towards comfort than protection or style. A blue cloak hangs loosely around her body and she makes her way over her hostess, holding out her arms wide "Chrysa!" she calls, embracing her friend. "Ah, how I've missed you so!"
Pulling out of the hug, she asks "How are things going? Everything is okay, I hope?" She does her best to mask her anxiety, waiting for her friend to tell her that everything is a disaster.
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Chrysa slides into the hug with welcome relief. "Bella, it is lovely to see you" she whispers, then as they disengage "Everything is fine, perfect, couldn't be better, and you don't need to worry about a thing. It is all taken care of." she smiles, then moves to Annalla, offering the woman a more formal curtesy, then a hug. "You are looking lovely as always, Ms. Bride to Be." leaning in she whispers "What are you feeding Bella, she looks like a balloon about a burst"
King Sootscale is delighted to see Chrysa approach and offer greetings. After bowing formally, he returns Chrysa's hug. The kobolds behind him begin muttering to themselves as he does so, a mix of surprise, amusement, and consternation to be found.
"Yes, they sleep in tents, no problem. Everyone excited for big party! You make town very pretty, good for wedding."
As they catch up on lost time, King Sootscale sees Isabella approach and allows Chrysa to greet her. "Queen Isabella, it is honor to see you. On behalf of kobold kingdom, we celebrate happy wedding with Queen to be Annalla!" Ipmeek raises his arms triumphantly and the drummers behind him beat a round of celebratory rhythms.
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Sophiel travels up to Haven with Orri on the rough-beaten path that has begun to be surveyed. Her engineers are hard at work creating plans for review and approval, but she simply did not have the finances to build the road itself yet. She chats amiably with Orri while driving her bison-led wagon up, the cart filled with cooking supplies, vegetables, and fish from the lake.
Alidar sits at her side and takes the reins when she got tired. He was polite to Orri, as diplomats tend to be, but it was obvious he only had eyes for Sophiel. They arrived at the border of Shadowfall, and Sophiel shimmered slightly, her cloak and form shifting slightly in composition. She drove the bison to Haven and looked for a place to unload. Seeing as Sootscale had brought a goodly number of supplies, she thanks him quietly, and gave him a hug (regardless of his protestations) and used his gift to try and make the feast a bit better.
She makes her way to the dance hall, and unpacks, saying goodbye to Orri. She muscles her way into the kitchen and surveys what was available. It would do in a pinch. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work, ordering around the prep cooks like she owned the place. Alidar, of course, pitched in, though his contribution tended to lean towards 'carrying things' and 'handing things', as he was hopelessly out of place in a kitchen. Always eager to learn, and work though, he tried his best. She gratefully accepted the aid from Svetlana, though she still watched carefully what Svetlana put into the food.
Sophiel prepared three courses for the wedding. The first, appetizers and soup, she makes a rich and delicious fish stew, with black peppers and pieces of crab, with hunks of thick vegetables.
She also creates finger-foods for the before-party: sausage-in-dough, vegetable skewers cooked separately, crab cakes, fingerling potatoes cut in half and fried, then drizzled with truffle and cheese for those who can eat it. The starting meal doesn't come out as she wants it, but the cooks she asked for assistance help her and make up for inconsistencies
From there, the food only becomes more decadent. She offers different meals for different dietary restrictions. A whole boar, roasted over an open flame, stuffed with a wild turkey, which had inside of it, a wild pheasant. It was roasted with a honey glaze, from honey harvested from Sophiel's personal apiary. For those who only cared for fish, she cleaned and roasted a pair of enormous bass that she got from her fishing stocks. Deboned and stuffed with herbs, the fish was placed on enormous silver trays brought by Sootscale, with root vegetables on the side. For those who ate no meat, she prepared a special noodle dish, and risotto, both savory and using a decadent mushroom cream sauce.
The pies de resistance, of course, was the wedding cake. She used crushed blue wildflowers mixed with sugar to make a cake that smelled as good as it looked, the blue frosting of various shades accenting each of the six layers of the cake. She made three different cake types - one, a vanilla cake (using vanilla that she grew from her own orchids), two, a chocolate cake (using cocoa she procured somehow...), and three, a nut cake (using fresh wild nuts), alternating as the cake grew taller until it reached the top. Candied wildflowers of purple and blue were strewn onto the cake, all of which were edible, and somehow, delicious. The top of the cake was reserved for whatever piece the bride and bride wished to put on top, figures, or a notice.
In addition, she had tubs of a strange dessert that she made, something made of frozen cream, and sugar, and fruit flavors, which she offered to any who would have it. She never explained how she made it, but it was easy to guess that a powerful druid had tricks up her sleeve.
She spoke little to the others as she worked, preferring to keep to herself, even though much of the reception.
Along with Svetlana there is a bear of a man in the kitchen. With mutton chops, a Sunday best though common suit with sleeves rolled up, and an apron. He screams thug but is rather polite.
"That's Einer, our very own Rasberry Baker" Svetlana tells Sophie. "He'll help with dessert, without question. Chrysa insists."
Chrysa does make it back to the kitchens after a time, having been distracted while Sophie arrived. Leaning over the counter, she gives the half-elf a wide smile "Lady Medvyed always busy making amazing things" the horned woman moves around the island "If you have a half a second, I'd love a proper hello?" she holds her arms out but doesn't push.
Annalla accompanies Isabella in the wagon for the majority of the journey, only taking to horseback when her companion does so.
When they reach Shadowfall, her eyes dart about, attempting to take in everything at once. It's not clear whether she's looking for threats or gathering ideas for her own settlement. Perhaps both. She shows no reaction at Akiros' over-familiarity with her bride-to-be. Either she didn't notice it, she doesn't care, or she masks her response very well.
She accepts Chrysa's hug with good grace. "Isabella partakes of that which Isabella chooses," she responds vaguely to her query.
Her greeting to Sophiel is polite and perfunctory, but when the cake is finally revealed, her eyes widen in joy. She claps her hands together in delight and throws her arms around Isabella.
Minutes later she finds Sophiel. "I wish to offer my gratitude for your labor on behalf of Isabella and myself. The food and especially the cake is wonderful. Thank you," she says.
Sophiel nods at Annalla when she comes by the kitchen, absentmindedly, one eye towards the kitchen. She shrugs, "people working hard, together, on a shared task, can accomplish marvelous things. It was not my doing alone. Thank Chrya's preparatory chefs, Svetlana, and that big guy. He added the raspberry cream part." She glances towards them, as they're struggling with cooking Sophie's grand, complex feast. She sighs and turns back to Annalla, smiling, "you are welcome. As I said, I only wish that you have the best of luck. Both of you." She then extends a flour-covered hand to Annalla, and nods, "however, I have to monitor these guys constantly or they'll cock-up my fancy plans. Sorry, forgive me for my rudeness." She grins sheepishly, and departs.
As Sophie rushes off to start baking and cooking Orri sees to his men, instructing them to take the gifts and deposit them in the Dance Hall then enjoy to party, but be on their best behavior. Orri walks around Haven for a bit checking out some of the various changes that have taken shape at what used to be Oleg's trading post.
Eventually he runs into Chrysa who is in the midst of making sure everything is just right, he walks up behind her tapping her on the shoulder then holds his arms out for a hug, with a big grin on his face. Orri hugs her for a long time and eventually whispers in her ear "Seems you are doing well, I have missed you."
Chrysa is looking at her attendant in irritation "I don't care who their niece is, they can-" but the tap distracts her and her irritation turns to bright joy. She dives into the hug "How in the hells did you sneak up on me." she whispers, but not upset in the least at the surprise as she buries herself in his scent. "Well enough, though it is a brute of a chore keeping it all together... and I missed you too."
Orri smiles and gives her one last squeeze before letting go. "Yes it is." He gives the place an appraising look as he lets out a whistle "You've out done yourself. I'm sure Bella and Annalla are overjoyed with the arrangements."
Turning back to look Chrysa in the eyes he notes "Thank you for doing all this. I'm glad we could all get together here." He pauses a moment before grinning "I need to find Bella but maybe after the festivities we can grab a drink and catch up? It has been too long."
Isabella grins ear to ear when the kobold greets her "King Sootscale, it is my honor to have you and yours present for this occasion. I can think of no other brave warrior that I would rather have present for my day of matrimony."
Leaving Sootscale, Isabella tugs Chrysa away from Sophie and begins to needle her with questions ...okay, but what about the music, oh, yes, okay, good, but did you remember where my aunt, oh, I see. Okay. Okay. You've thought of everything!" She smothers her in another hug and gets teary-eyed. "Thankyousomuch." she blurts out all at once, wiping her eyes. "Now, I know you are busy. You better go before I ask more questions."
She spots the amazing cake and her heart almost melts as she starts crying over the cake.
She heads off to make sure that their belongings are being unloaded and to verify that she didn't forget her dress. Finding her items already unloaded, she unpacks her dress and lays it out, admiring the garment and pacing back and forth in her room.
"Oh Bella is a bundle of nerves and excess water weight. Seeing you will make her settle a bit I think." the attendant she is ignoring is waiting only semi-patiently, so she sighs "Later would be lovely, Lord Lebeda... oh, Sophie wants to talk to the both of us about something... probably unpleasantly kingdom related since our Soph never relaxes. After the wedding though." then she is turning to answer "The aunt can only have one room, that's it, we simply do not have anymore. I'll go talk to her!" walking off and swearing.
Feeling like an outsider even still, Annalla leaves Isabella to catch up with her brother while the android moves about the rest of the guests. Still wearing her travelling dress, with the exception of the glowing traces on her skin and the stone on her forehead, she blends in with the choas.
Like Isabella, she also ensures that her effects (including her dress) have been delivered to their temporary quarters. Once she's verified that her dress and her secret gift to Isabella have survived intact, she heads back out to mingle and listen to rumors and gossip.
"Lady Annalla" Chrysa interrupts the taller woman's listening. She has an odd moment of calm suddenly and looks worriedly at the blue woman "Has anyone taken you on a tour of the flower garden yet?" if no, and she is amicable, Chrysa will offer to show it off, talking about each choice "The hydrangeas are representing you, of course, the yarrow for Bella, the rest... because I like them." oddly enjoying the simplicity of garden talk.
When they are far enough away from onlisteners, she asks softly "Is everything okay?"
Annalla's face softens and cares seem to vanish at the sight of the flower garden. "This is wonderful," she says, pausing to sniff at the flowers. "I must do something like this back home."
Initially considering brushing off the woman's question, Annalla observes the garden silently for a moment. "I think so. I have concerns, but no more so that either you, or Sophiel, or Orri, or even King Sootscale has. The act of balancing so many forces is ... challenging. And so often, I feel ... alone." Her gaze shifts to seek out where her beloved stands talking to others. "I love Isabella with all my heart and I am looking forward to this ritual of the wedding and what it symbolizes."
She frowns and looks down at the flowers again. Reaching out, she delicately traces a blue petal with the tip of her finger.
"And yet there are times when the weight of my ... 'differentness' hangs about me. I have made no friends since founding Gealladh Dòchas. Perhaps it was naive of me to feel that I could. But I had hoped ..." She turns to look at Chrysa. "I wasn't always as I am now. I have gained access to many of the memories that I had ... before. There are memories of friends." She considers mentioning that they were all fey, but refrains, knowing the woman's view on that world. "But even the ones that I had before ... They see me differently now in this life or they don't believe me. One has gone so far as to accuse me of ..." She trails off as her voice rises and collects herself. "In any case that world is now closed to me." She looks over at her betrothed again. "Isabella is everything I could possibly ask for in a love, but I cannot ask her to be with me every hour of the day. Even lovers need time away from each other or so I've read. But when she's gone I have no one and I am sad."
Leaving Chrysa for now Orri goes to find Bella when he see's her frantically double checking on things he walks over and spins her around as he puts his hands on her belly "My gods Bella you sure you aren't growing a giant in there!" He gives her a smile and a wink to let her know he is just teasing and then pulls her in for a hug. As he asks "You ready for this?"
Isabella frowns for only a moment until she sees his wink before shoving him playfully "Hey!"
"HE is going to be a mighty king, so yes, he is going to be strong and giant, just like his mother but not his uncle!" She sticks out her tongue and puts her hands on her belly "Between you and I, I am much fatter than I thought I would be. I not think I would put this much weight on. Annalla is letting me eat whatever I want, so I suppose I have been enjoying myself a little too much in the end. Sophie's cake isn't going to help neither, did you see it? It looked amazing!."
She keeps talking for minutes, about everything other than the second half of his question. When he shoots her a look she sighs and stops talking "I'm petrified. Maybe Aunt Sarrona, Lander and Elanna won't be able to make it. Maybe they wagon broke a wheel or this was too far or too inconvenient for them. Maybe they won't show and everything will be fine."
She looks pleadingly at Orri "Right? And if she does come, she, they all will be happy for me? Not make this into some kind of spectacle? They wouldn't ruin this for me, would they?" Isabella grabs Orri's hands in her own and looks into his eyes, looking like she's ready to cry again, something she has been doing far too much recently. "Tell me everything will be fine Orri, please?"
Orri rolls his eyes when Bella mentions she invited the rest of their 'family'. "Why did you invite them if you thought it was going to be a problem?" He frowns but then let's out a sigh "Don't worry, Lander will be alright and if Elanna or Sarrona make a fuss I'll cast a spell and cover them in grease, then we'll all get a good laugh out of it, at their expense of course." He squeeze's Bella's arm to reassure her "Everything is going to be great."
A few hours pass, and a few more guests arrive from the region. Eventually a footman rides into town clad in red and blue attire with white trim. He circles on his horse in place a couple of times before dismounting and handing off the reins to a servant. He approaches and announces to Chrysa ”My Lady, House Lebeda has arrived for the celebration. Where would there appointed quarters be?”
As he speaks, a small contingent of knights clad in fine armor and bearing the House Lebeda crest on their tabards ride into town surrounding a carriage. In front of them rides young Lord Lander Lebeda, who smiles at his cousins as he spurs his horse forward faster than the procession to meet up with you both. ”Cousins!” he says with a genuine smile.
"I invited them because it is what a proper Lady should do. I can't imagine the backlash if she found out that I wed and was as Baroness and I didn't even tell her. It would be infinitely worse!"
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath "Okay. Thank you, Orri. This is day is very important to me and I don't want it to get messed up. I appreciate you helping looking after things."
She holds his arm before he departs "I want you to give me away, okay? Father isn't here and you are the only man I have ever had in my life, so it seems fitting you should do it."
Chrysa listens as she always does, keeping her judgments to herself. Her eyes take on extra interest at the return of her memories, but she puts that aside since it is unimportant at the moment.
She is quiet for a time listening to the chatter a distance away and the breeze weaving through the flowers. "I cared for one person most of my life. A single person." Kan she remembers her foster father fondly, a sad smile on her lips. "Then he was gone." She doesn't elaborate on how.
"That could have been it. I was drowning myself in sorrow and drink, and a sliver of duty... until I met them." she smiles, a little less sad. "I can't help, I don't know the answers, all I have is the sympathy of someone who understands, and the suggestion of... Hope." her mouth quirks "Which sounds like a bunch of bullshit really, but it is something."
"I do have matters to attend to. Your soon to be aunt just arrived and by all accounts she will be the bane of my existence. Stay... hopeful Anna." she nods then departs.
Orri gives her a nod "I'd be honored." He hears the call of their family and his eyes go wide a bit. As he sees Lander though he smiles "Lander good to see you."
Chrysa groans mentally at the sight of what seems like an army. "One of the houses will be at your disposal, along with tents and pavilions for your servants and guards." she needs more tents, goat f*#$ing nobles, and their need to be waited on every second of every f@*+ing day. If this wasn't for Bella, she'd sit them all down in the nether regions of a troll "I'll show you myself."
Lander dismounts from his horse and he steps forward with his arms open in preparation of a hug. ”Orri! You’ll have to tell me EVERYTHING about what you have done up here. I know your letters are leaving things out!” he says excitedly.
The carriage and it’s escort comes to a halt and a valet steps over and opens the door. Lady Sarrona Lebeda steps out from the carriage first, her valet aiding her descent from the stair. She looks around disapprovingly at the area around them as she steps away from the door. Behind her a younger woman steps out of the carriage, her daughter Elanna. She immediately puts a hand to her nose and mutters ”By Abadar, what is that smell?”
"I believe one of your horses just defecated." Chrysa points out with a straight face and a smile "I'll ask that one of your men clean it up in a moment."
Knowing that she was going to have to meet these people sooner or later, Annalla figures that she may as well see them at their worst and follows Chrysa to introduce herself to her future in-laws.
"Lady Lebeda," Annalla says, stepping forward and giving a small curtsy. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you. My name is Annalla. I am Isabella's fiancé and the Baroness of Gealladh Dòchas."