[center][h2]Lalrial, the Heartlands[/h2][/center] An arrow whizzed into its tree target. Immediately following the thud of the point sinking deep into the wood a yelping “yes” sounded. A sudden glare shot from Allianna and dug into the smiling Gowa, the latter on her way to retrieve her arrow. The green leaves of the garden trees rustled overhead as the two casually maintained their independent businesses. While Gowa was dirt stained and hopping from archery target to archery target with no heed for the gentle orange petals of the yard flowers, Allianna sat in the golden sun beams, formally on a white painted bench between two twisting beech trees, a pad of paper in her lap. Aside from the activities of Gowa, not many sounds originated in the cool shades of the imperial park, and the soft tittering of chipmunks and burrowing rodents were only blotted by the very distant grinding of wagons from the city that hung almost unseen past a thick stone wall. The birds even seemed to respect Allianna’s wishes for peace, as they fluttered nigh silently, their efforts drowned once more by another victorious cry from Gowa. Allianna dropped her graphite piece onto her pad and groaned, “Gowa, seriously?” The wide smiled athlete turned to her distraught cousin, “it was [i]you[/i] who asked me to accompany you on everything save using the chamber! You can live with it.” “I can [i] live [/i] with it? Is that some kind of sick- sick- pun?” Allianna pinched the bridge of her nose, “just keep it down.” Gowa made a face before shrugging and striding off to procure her loosed arrow. The peace was once again disturbed, not this time by archery practice, but by a messenger in the characteristically verdant green livery of House Caernavir. He bowed low to Allianna in the typically pompous Gwethyn fashion. “My lady, Princess Haldetrude di Caernavir requests an urgent audience,” He said after straightening up at some length. Allianna practically threw her pad and pencil down on her lap, a strained smile contradicting her aggressive response, “let her in!” A distant laugh sounded from the direction of Gowa, straining Allianna’s smile all the more. Haldetrude entered at that moment, fluttering through the gardens with all the virginal innocence that someone in her position could muster. Her long green gown swept idly across the flowers as she did so. She approached Allianna directly. “Your highness,” She proclaimed, dipping into a curtsey that was almost as strained as Allianna’s smile. “I hope you can forgive my intrusion. I would not infringe upon the time you spend in your gardens if the matter was not of the utmost importance,” She said, twisting one white-gloved hand over the other nervously. Her young face was lined with doubt and concern, and one of the silver bands holding her long auburn hair in place had slipped down a tad in her hurry to get to the gardens. Allianna’s face softened slightly, but her eyes bore into Haldetrude curiously, “you are not intruding, surely, Princess. What urgent news do you carry?” “It is my brother the King,” Haldetrude said with a hint of desperation. “I fear he is set to make the wrong choice in the upcoming election. It is not the choice that the Kingdom has mandated to him,” She said wryly, tapping the sigil of her mother’s house that she wore around her neck idly with her index finger. “We arrived into the city at the back of your own brother, and I fear that he is blinded by his love for chivalry and battle. Forgive me, but I fear that if your brother Jakinius becomes Emperor then this realm could see more bloodshed than it has seen for centuries,” She paused tentatively. “Aethlar is a man with a man’s appetites. I know that I can convince him to take the truer course when he casts his vote, but I need your help,” She finished, her green eyes scanning the grass and flowers thoughtfully. “It is well known that Jakinius aims north, as many miles as he can strew dead sons of Ethica, I agree,” Allianna nodded, “what do you want from me? “Aethlar is not a complex man. To win his vote, you need send him a few letters… perhaps pay him a few compliments in person. Make him feel important and tantalise him with the prospect of a military role in [i]your[/i] Empire. If you do so, he will be your own,” Haldetrude said, a small smile spreading across her face. “I am sorry that I have to ask such a base thing of you,” “A letter?” Allianna’s face seemed to show her sudden thought, “if the parade I keep hearing about is true, why not do one better and just meet with him personally.” “If you could spare the time,” Haldetrude nodded encouragingly. “That would work most well. If you can shower him with a few kindly words and assurances, I am sure that the attention of any female of your stature will be sure to ignite some newfound loyalty. You need only press the right buttons. Of course, you may be inundated with unwanted deliveries of romantic poems for a moon’s turn or so…” A smile seemed to creep on Allianna’s face, “poetry aside, I think that you should accompany me on this escapade of politics. I feel that standing beside his own house member will assist in his choice.” “Very well,” Haldetrude bowed her head in acquiescence. “I shall act as liaision in this matter, as needed,” She paused momentarily, adjusting the fallen silver band in her hair. “Aethlar is well known in the city as a supporter of Prince Jakinius. He made sure of that with his self-assured shouting at the gates this morning. Once we are assured of his loyalty to your cause, however, we can be sure that any misfortune that befalls him or any member of my house was the doing of only one faction in this three-way struggle, I believe,” Her eyes rose to meet Allianna’s. “Jakinius will remain none the wiser,” A silver brow arched over an equally silver eye. Allianna spoke carefully, “do you expect ill of Aethlar?” Haldetrude bit her bottom lip. “I love my brother dearly, but this is a game with players and with pieces. Aethlar is no player. I do not expect anything of this process, but my mother taught me that nor should I discount anything,” She said after a moment’s pensive reflection. Hiltruda’s presence seemed to hang heavily in the air for a moment, like a particularly gouty spectre. “Well, let us hope he is safely tucked away from the more malicious players after he decides to place his loyalties with myself and my administration,” Allianna’s words trailed slowly, as if contemplating the sudden thickness of the air. “This is not his world. I will not insult you by suggesting that you are not aware of the state of governance in Gwethydd. The soon he returns to his idle pageantry the better,” Haldetrude ran a hand through her hair as she watched a bird lope lazily overhead. “Our kingdom steers the middle path. I hope that, in your triumph, you will remember that we have always been the foremost friends of the Empire,” She trod carefully, not elaborating any more than was necessary. “Oh trust me,” Allianna smiled warmly, letting her fingers fold in her lap, “I tend to remember everything.” “As do we,” Haldetrude said with her own small smile. “From Light comes Life,” She bowed her head reverently at the motto of her own house for a moment. “I would not want to see the light of this Empire snuffed out by greed or by foolhardiness,” Allianna stood up and gave a curt nod of her own chin, “we rise, princess, and we rise with our friends.” “The Queen-Mother of Gwethydd sends her regards,” Haldetrude said, tapping the silvery sigil of her mother’s house of birth once again. “This Empire was birthed by a woman. The Caernavir will not stand by and watch it be torn asunder by the ambitions of man,” “You have my thanks in that,” Allianna nodded, “very much so.” [center][h1]***[/h1][/center] Boom. The doors to the Great Chamber of the Green Manse, the Caernaviri residence in Lalrial, swung upon with a crash. Through them stepped Lady Eadgifu di Faz-Caernavir, the bastard daughter of the deceased Aethlar V. There were what sounded to be two immense intakes of breath and a hurried scampering, and the silver-haired woman took a few strides into the room only to see a brief flurry of colour and the door at the other end slam shut. Her brother, Lord Gaewin, looked up at her blinkedly, his black robes in a state of temporary disarray. Eadgifu stepped gingerly over the discarded footman's robes that lay between her and her brother and approached. "Now now, brother," She said teasingly, swishing over to the desk in the centre of the room. "There will be time for imperial pleasures later. You have a meeting with a Tallurian delegate..." She paused, running a hand through her silvery hair. "I would tell you not to be tempted by her beauty, but I'd just be wasting my breath," She laughed chidingly, poured herself a glass of the sickly but bitter grapefruit wine and sauntered out through the same door which had just slammed moments ago, only stopping to pick up the dropped clothing and calling out playfully into the next room. "You left something behind, Aedlan!" Gaewin ran a hand through his dark hair. The blush about his features paled as he realised that he had just been caught in situ moments before meeting a Queen. A Tallurian, nonetheless. He had studied their magic as much as the literature in the Eldva had allowed, but there was something mystical and slightly ethereal about them that struck him as particularly intimidating. Clambering back onto his seat, the willowy Prime Magistrate poured himself a glass of the wine, downing it in one gulp, then straightened the parchments on his desk. The arrival of the Tallurians, Queen Varminia of Tellaria and her youngest sibling was not dramatic. The two women were accompanied by a number of guards in the white and crimson regalia of Tellaria as they arrived at the Green Manse. After which they proceeded into the manor house. The Tallurian Queen looked somewhat drained, her face, normally youthful was showing her age more plainly than it often did and for a change she actually looked middle aged. Varminia had ruled for nearly 20 years, and her weary gaze reflected the strain that such management caused and the toll it took upon people. Still she moved with confidence and purpose regardless of how tired she looked. As she often did Varminia was clad in white and green, softer colors that augmented her red hair and eyes. Her younger companion, Valoria on the other hand was possessed of great youth and beauty with that spark that only the truly young posses, no matter how well preserved on looked. She was dressed in crimson, perhaps causing something of an overdose of the dark red color, in fine and rather tight robes that reflected her place as a practitioner of at least one form of the magic arts. Gaewin rose as the doors swung open to admit the two royals and bowed lowly to both as they entered, firstly to Queen Varminia, to whom he addressed as "Your Majesty," and secondly to the Princess, who was addressed as "Your Royal Highness,". The grandiose gestures common to the Gwethyn reverence for etiquette aside, he introduced himself. "My name is Gaewin di Faz-Caernavir. I represent His Majesty King Aethlar VI as his Prime-Magistrate in Lalrial. I thank you for agreeing to come here to treat with me today, Your Majesty, and I regret His Majesty's absence. He is much concerned with the upcoming imperial election, having arrived into the city only today," An attendant hurried forward, pouring out three more glasses of ambery grapefruit wine. "Please do sit," Gaewin motioned, only taking his own seat after the two ladies took their own. "Of course I understand King Aethlar's reasons for not being present." Varminia spoke evenly as she took her seat, crimson eyes glancing over Gaewin as she took his measure. "It is unfortunate however that a matter of importance sees only the presence of one head of [i]titular[/i] head of household." Still Varminia did not seem offended by the lack of the King's presence and she smiled, a weary smile but one that had clearly once been full of life. Valoria for her part curtsied to the prime magistrate and smiled winningly before she took her seat. "It is a pleasure to meet you Gaewin." There was some trace of amusement in the young woman's voice as she noted the lack of effect she was having on the man. "Truth be told, your Majesty, King Aethlar is not predisposed towards the intricacies of marriage contracts. I am sure you shall encounter him in one charming form or another during your time in the city at any rate," He paused, drumming his fingers on the desk for a moment thoughtfully. "Do you know much of Prince Lethlin?" Gaewin said after a moment, looking between Valoria and Varminia. "That he is well bred and educated, and that he will make a good match for my sister here." Varminia said after a brief pause. Marra had been supposed to arrange for a match for Valoria years ago and had failed to do it. Varminia could see a use in ties to Gwethydd and to house Caernavir and it would resolve an old problem at the same time. She looked over at the young woman beside her as if prompting Valoria to speak as well. "I can't wait to meet him." The younger Tallurian said quickly as she brushed stray red hairs out of her face and smiled. "And I look forward to seeing your university. It has quite the reputation." "Prince Lethlin is well-learned indeed, and a keen administrator. Above all, he is kind, and handsome. He has all of his teeth too!" Gaewin laughed for a moment at his own joke. He nodded enthusiastically at Valoria's comments about the university. "The Eldva is an integral part of Harksmoor. You will be living in the Royal Apartments in Caernan Castle which means it is only a short walk to be amongst its sprawling cloisters," He smiled wistfully, remembering his own roots in the institution. "I know that scholars there have been very excited about the possibility of this betrothal. Tallurian magic has always been a popular field of study and debate. Perhaps you could lecture enough to enlighten some of our students?" He suggested amicably, taking a sip of the amber wine. Discussion of the academic institution certainly seemed to have perked up his mood. "Perhaps." Valoria said still smiling. "But I'm not fit to teach anyone. I am still learning myself." There seemed to be some genuine modesty as she spoke. "Maybe in the future though, once my own studies are finished." "Now, onto the circumstances of the match," Gaewin said slightly tersely, turning a little more to the Queen. "This process can be somewhat impersonal. There will be discussions that will need to be had between lesser administrators; transportation of goods, dowries, the such, but I am wondering on a slightly more personal level what motivated your nation to seek this match. The Kingdom of Gwethydd is, of course, wholly grateful for the opportunity to regild its arms with such beautiful stock," He, flashing Valoria a winning smile. Varminia did not hesistate as she replied fluidly. If there had been any attempt to make her hesitate or to reveal something with a probing question it had failed. "We have long had strong ties to many of our neighbors. And while we do not share a border there is much to be gained from joining our common cultural elements together." It was likely clear to what the reigning female queen was refering to as she spoke. "And Valoria would be miserable if we did not send her somewhere where she could continue her studies." "Well there is no chance of such a disruption in Gwethydd. I am sure that Prince Lethlin will continue to spend a good amount of time here in Lalrial, too. There is little chance of one becoming disenfranchised from the educational establishments, as it were," Gaewin nodded slowly. "Does all of this sound amicable to you, Princess Valoria?" "It sounds wonderful." Valoria said after a moment, seemingly quite pleased with the arrangement as it was being worked out. "I am glad that we could come to some sort of accord so soon. You may travel to Harksmoor at your own leisure, and spend some time living with my sister Princess Haldetrude and Queen Eadrith in order to acclimatise yourself to the Gwethyn court and get to know Prince Lethlin before you marry him," He continued primly, straightening up his parchments and smiling. "You will also have the opportunity to meet your future mother-in-law Queen Hiltruda," He said slightly more ominously, the corners of his mouth turning down momentarily. "I had hoped to accompany your delegation when it returned after the election. This is to be a historic event and I would like to witness it." Valoria smiled winningly again. "I am eager to meet my betrothed and the rest of your family. Should they all be so charming as you I am sure I will fit right in." Gaewin smiled at Valoria's diplomacy. "I have an excellent feeling you shall fit in perfectly,"