[B]Esmee Tarmalene in Elband - Early Morning[/B]

Nearly every waking hour of the past week had been filled with festivities. There had been feasts and balls, tournaments of wit and skill, plays, even an entrancing show of magic from a wandering group of Sendai performers. All of this, purely for the sake of giving the nation's princess a proper send off. Truth be told, Esmee found it all to be quite overwhelming. She enjoyed all of the revelries as much as the next girl, but lately more than ever, her mother had been strict on her regarding the maintenance of a proper, queenly demeanor. This was the last time that most at court would see her for several years. She needed to leave them with the image of her as a calm, clearheaded young lady, one who could be expected to shoulder the burden of ruling the moment she returned, if need be. Anything less left the potential for civil unrest.

Esmee was well aware of this, but it didn't stop her from regretting her inability to truly just let loose and enjoy herself. Her last days at court before she could fully be considered an adult should have been just the time for that, in her opinion. Unfortunately, as in all aspects of her life, she simply did not have the final say. When the last feast had ended the night before she was expected to leave, she was almost grateful to be able to retire to the North Wing. That night several of her noble tutors had approached her privately, to give her lists of books that she could find in the White Island libraries that would keep her caught up in her non-magic related studies, to wish her luck, and some even to express their fondness for the young woman. Of the six of them, most had been teaching her since she was a small child. It was almost as difficult to say goodbye to them as to the court life itself.

In contrast to the warm farewells from her tutors, breakfast with her mother was simply more of the same. As long as they were in the same residence, Alisande made it a point to take breakfast with her daughter in their private quarters. Especially as Esmee grew older, these breakfasts became less about socializing and sharing time together, and more about going over their schedules for the day and the queen giving small lessons and reminders to her heir. Today was no different. The only acknowledgement granted to Esmee's leaving was its small mention as they went over the events for the day. After that, the two ate in silence. When some time had passed, Alisande excused herself with the explanation that she had a meeting in the Morning Room. It went without saying that it was with the newly arrived Sendai, whose presence in the capital had been announced as soon as she passed through its outer gates.

Upon returning to her own quarters, Esmee was greeted by her nursemaid, Maude. She was the eldest of the girl's some fifteen personal servants, and generally a very stern woman. Today, though, she was almost abnormally sweet to to her mistress. Judging by the red puffiness of the skin around her eyes, Esmee suspected that she'd been crying.

"Maude... Are you alright?" Esmee questioned as the older woman, along with two younger maidservants, helped her into the kirtle she'd be traveling in. It was of a light, cream colored silk, contrasting well against her dark skin. The silk was reasonably soft, but stronger and more resistant to tears than her court gowns. Maude, ever the prideful woman despite, or perhaps because of, a life spent caring for royal children, bristled.

"I am just fine, your Highness," She nearly snapped, the title added almost as an afterthought. Esmee smiled, having full well expected such a response. Of course Maude would never share any personal feelings. In spite of the teachings of her mother and tutors, Esmee couldn't help doing so herself.

"Well, you should know that I am going to miss you terribly. Thank you, for everything," She said, in an odd sort of defiance towards her lessons that she very rarely showed. Maude turned away, and for a moment both maidservants watched her instead of helping the princess into her surcoat; a very sturdy thing that buttoned up over the bodice, and parted to show the skirt of the kirtle beneath it. It was a darker tan, though still lighter than Esmee's own skin. 

"I do not need thanks for doing my job. Besides, you will have many more things to worry about than missing an old woman like me, Highness. Like your studies. You must be vigilante if you wish to grow up to protect our country as your mother and her mother before her have." Some might consider the old woman's speech just a touch too informal, but she'd been with the royal family far longer than most people had been alive. This time, if nothing else, allowed her more freedom of speech than most servants.

"Yes," Esmee said with a nod, lips suddenly pursing into a tight-lipped frown. That lapse from serious thoughts was, like always, rather short lived. She silently contemplated the trials before her as the woman went about fixing her hair. Instead of her usual style of intricate braids piled atop her head, the whole of her hair would be pulled back into one long braid, falling past her waist. A silver belt and a dark blue travelling cloak, with a white gold clasp in the shape of a rose, would complete her outfit, but these would not be added until it was closer to the time to leave. Similarly, she still got to wear her lovely lace slippers, instead of the rather boring, practical boots she'd be wearing for the trip.

Shortly after they were done dressing her, the servants took their leave. Esmee planned to send for Marie. Despite the wishes of both girls, she would not be allowed in Esmee's entourage; only two maidservants and a small handful of elite guardsmen would be accompanying her. This in mind, she wanted to take the opportunity to say goodbye in private to her closest friend. Before she could do so, though, there was a knocking at her door. She bid them enter, and in came a guard wearing the familiar blue and silver Tarmalene coat-of-arms. He bowed, holding his fist against his heart in the salute reserved for superiors in the military, the noble the soldier was sworn to if he was not in direct service of the royal family, and the royals themselves. "Your Highness, Tamara Sendai of the White Island is at the entrance to the North Wing, and she seeks your highness's permission for a meeting."

Esmee nodded, and considered her options. She could not turn away the woman, not that she'd have any desire to do so; this [i]was[/i] a woman she'd be spending a lot of time with during her travels, after all. So, she could either take the woman in the sitting room of her private quarters, or somewhere more public. "You may escort her to her to our private gardens," Esmee instructed, "I shall meet her there at my earliest possible convenience. That will be all," She dismissed him. Of course, she'd actually be heading over to the deigned meeting place right away, but it was important, as royalty, to never make it seem as though she was waiting on someone of lower rank than she. So she took the long route to the northern edge of their quarters. The royal garden was surrounded by high sandstone walls, and filled with flora from around the world. Several rivers ran through it, under sandstone bridges. There were statues of the original Sendai, past Mendarian kings and queens, and one cast in pure gold of Emperor Altalan himself. The garden was a wonder, even in a castle filled with wonders.

Her arrival was preceded by a single guard, who announced her. Upon entering the garden she found the Sendai, waiting. This woman was shorter than Esmee herself, but then, so were most. Despite her young age, she was taller than most grown women. She carried the white staff of a Sendai, similar to that of Fendrel's. Her robes, however, were much lighter than his. Perhaps so that she may remain inconspicuous? No matter. Esmee approached the woman with a regal stature, and a carefully practiced expression hiding her youthful curiosity. "You are Tamara Sendai, of the White Island?" She asked.