[table][row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/Vm0zswe.png[/img][/cell][/row]
[row][cell][sub]Location: Village Square & The Tavern.
Time: 10am [/sub][/cell][/row][/table]
Octavia left the Lunaris royal guard with an aching suspicion in her stomach [color=a464b0]— my father must have sent them to report back.[/color] She could not think of any other reason why the guards would be sent here. There were dangers, yes, but she knew her father. He always had double-sided intentions with anything kind that he did. Quickly making her way to where she assumed her husband would be, the princess of Lunaris had slightly pink cheeks from frustration. 

When she saw her husband, she felt a tinge of relief, but an overwhelming amount of all the other emotions. “[color=a464b0]Flynn,[/color]” her voice came out more desperate than she wanted it to sound. “[color=a464b0]Did you know my father was sending royal guards?[/color]” Those words popped out of her mouth before she could even think. They were not what she initially wanted to say, but it opened up a conversation with them at least. 

She wanted to talk about her list, how not one-fourth of it was completed, and it was the list for the winter. It should have been completed around today. Everything on the list wouldn’t be completed for another month. She was worried about the Aurelians and she was specifically worried for Flynn and Sunni —- be that she might interact with them the most. She was still worried about the harsh winter presenting itself at their doors. 

[color=28645A]"There you are."[/color] Flynn's expression was fraught with worry as he heard his wife call to him, [color=28645A]"Are you okay?"[/color] Ignoring her question for the time being, he put his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her to face him as he looked her over, as if the royal guards might've harmed her. Even under the glow of the torches that lined Dawnhaven's streets he could see that her face was flushed which made him even more worried than he already had been.

While he had been searching for her, and that military unit sent by her father, Flynn's mind raced with scenarios of why the King of Lunaris would possibly send a group to Dawnhaven without Flynn and Octavia's knowledge or consent. They had been granted full autonomy of this land and yet it was being intruded upon by Octavia's family already. Did the King intend to use this as a way to control them? To keep Octavia and Flynn in line? To watch them and report back? To intimidate Flynn? To take matters into their own hands if Flynn and Octavia did not find a cure or have a child fast enough? Each scenario he thought of was more unsettling than the last. Knowing Octavia was just as skeptical of her father as he was of his, Flynn's concern for her safety was at the forefront of his mind.

“[color=a464b0]Depending on your definition of fine, either way, but currently mine is not. Do not trust them. I wrote to my father asking for seamstresses or the common folk he mistreats to come help with construction and he sent his personal royal knights,[/color]” She did not quite ask her father like that in the letter. It was worded more professionally and vaguely than that. Her eyes glanced at Flynn’s hands on her shoulder and her body tensed slightly though she had to remind herself. Sunni told her to try and warm up. Flynn isn’t that bad of a guy. [color=a464b0] — He is allowed to touch you. It is fine. —[/color] Her thoughts ran through her head as she closed her eyes to help her think. 

Her blue’s opened up, “[color=a464b0]Do not trust them. Those guards will report anything and everything back to my father. True or false. Be careful what you say to them. I fear that he sent them because of the blight born in Dawnhaven. He had immoral and horrendous plans to slaughter those people out of fear,[/color]” Octavia only knew of her father’s possible plans when she snuck into his study to see what he was up to. She was nosy, especially with her parents' mysterious activities. Her father especially intrigued her when his statements would be indirect and avoid giving her answers. 

“[color=a464b0]They sent Adonis Cowain, he was supposed to be the head of those plans for my father,[/color]” Octavia was most concerned about that man. He was charming and attractive, tall, and someone that people were intimidated by along with instantly respecting with blind eyes. She didn’t care for his lackeys either. The princess had suspicions, worries, and no good feelings about their arrival. 

Noticing the way Octavia glanced at his hands, Flynn released his grip on her shoulders and took a step back to give her some space, clasping his hands behind his back instead. [color=28645A]"I agree, they are not to be trusted."[/color] His eyes moved past her and looked towards the home that had been built for one of his trusted advisors who was, in fact, a blight-born himself. [color=28645A]"I will have Orion keep an eye on them, discreetly."[/color] He looked back towards Octavia then, his green eyes meeting her blues. [color=28645A]"They will have no place here should they step out of line even once. I will see to it."[/color]

Although Flynn did not yet love her, he was still concerned for Octavia's safety and wellbeing. He took his oath to her very seriously, even if they had been forced into it. She had been somewhat cold to him in the two months they had been married, but he didn't blame her. Octavia had been thrown away like a pawn by her family, just as Flynn had been. Not only that, but she had been dragged to this place in the middle of nowhere to create a town by her new husband who did not offer her a say in the matter before making such a decision. He sympathized with her and felt guilty at the same time, but he always struggled to find the words to communicate that with her.

Just then, Flynn noticed a small white speck float from the sky and land softly atop Octavia's dark hair. He looked up towards the sky, the full moon illuminating the dusting of snow that was beginning to fall. [color=28645A]"Oh, look at that."[/color] He smiled, ignorant to what the snow truly meant for how quickly the climate would begin to change in Lunaris. [color=28645A]"I've never seen the first snowfall of the season before."[/color]

Octavia could not help her sigh of relief hearing her husband be stern and forward on the matter. It eased her worries a little bit. She was worried for the blight born and she knew how negatively her parents viewed the cursed ones. They were still people. “[color=a464b0]Thank you. I appreciate it,[/color]” It gave her a little more securing faith in her husband. She was not used to him or this whole situation — marriage and starting their own settlement. It was overwhelming. 

Then his attention seemed to go somewhere else and she followed his eyes up. “[color=a464b0]Snow?[/color]” she whispered as if she had never seen a fleck of it in her life. That caused the sinking feeling of what she came to Flynn for in the first place before the guards interrupted her little mission. “[color=a464b0]Snow.[/color]” Her voice was panicked. 

“[color=a464b0]That’s the reason I was trying to find you in the first place. I had a list that was to be done before snowfall. Before the first day of winter, Flynn. It’s not even a third done… The winters are harsh and unforgiving. My father would let people suffer and die for he believes only the strong should survive and that creates a prosperous society. I need to bother Mister Emberani as well,[/color]” She began to rub her temples in a tad bit of stress. She was frustrated —- not necessarily at anyone but everything. The material shipments she set up with Sunni were running behind. “[color=a464b0]People will surely die if we do not prepare for the winter. It is supposed to be the harshest winter in at least two decades,[/color]” Octavia mentioned as she stared up at the moon with wide eyes and a sadness in them. “[color=a464b0]People will die,[/color]” She sounded so certain of it. 

Flynn's playful smile fell as Octavia became visibly stressed, his brows furrowing with worry once more. He listened to her intently, feeling the panic that was beginning to exude from her. Although he knew that the Lunaris winters were harsh, it was clear that he and his kingdom must have underestimated it if Octavia was so concerned. Flynn had been making preparations for winter, but he thought things were going well and that they would be supplied enough to make it through. Clearly, his wife thought otherwise.

[color=28645A]"I will send word to my contacts in Aurelia to send supplies immediately."[/color] He replied, his mind churning with ideas of how he could speed up the process. [color=28645A]"Sunni will be able to help..."[/color] He glanced past Octavia to look at the tavern that had been built, sure he would find his best friend there. [color=28645A]"...I think."[/color] Sunni was reliable when people needed him - most of the time. He was very well connected within the merchants circle as well, which would help. There was no telling whether his family would actually help him with this task or not. Perhaps Sunni could do more for them.

[color=28645A]"We won't let people die."[/color] He assured her, though he wasn't quite sure if he believed himself yet. At the very least, Flynn wouldn't stand idle and watch people die like their fathers would. [color=28645A]"These people followed us here willingly..."[/color] He looked around the village square, at the cabins and shops that were being constructed and the small handful of people who walked along the dirt and gravel streets. [color=28645A]"I'll have them sleep in our own home in the warmth and eat our food before I let them die."[/color]

Seeing his playful smile fade caused a neutral expression to overcome his wife’s features. She didn’t mean to ruin the mood. That was something she felt like she was good at when it came to her new husband. Her eyes fell to her hands that had managed to fold into each other. “[color=a464b0]Thank you… I know that I have been an issue when it comes to my demands. I just want to make sure there are minimal casualties and issues. If the winter gets bad. Supplies will not make it through the mountain passes,[/color]” Octavia felt like she needed to explain herself a little. Being stressed along with the forced marriage had rattled her, placing her into a defensive position, but she was being encouraged by Elara to ease up on the prince of Aurelia. 

Her eyes glanced up and a slight warm smile appeared on her face, a little twinkle of hope in her eyes, “[color=a464b0]I know everyone has been trying their best to help. I feel bad for bothering Mister Emberani all the time. He looked exhausted last night when he came to see me,[/color]” She had Sunni in her room last night when they were talking about shipments and dates of arrival. She was requesting more from him as well though she had noticed the dying expression on the man’s face. He was working himself into the ground. 

“[color=a464b0]Thank you for supporting our people,[/color]” She felt like he needed to be thanked even if it felt weird to do so. Octavia understood that if she felt so stressed that Flynn was probably feeling even more stressed about his own duties. Gaining enough courage in the moment during these words, she went to reach for his hands, but they were behind his back. That was when she anxiously tucked them under the midnight blue and maize shawl that she had around her shoulders. Trying her best to make it look like she was adjusting her clothing instead of reaching for his touch. 

A wave of guilt washed over Flynn as Octavia explained herself apologetically, making him wonder what he had done to make her feel like a burden, or if it was her family who had always made her feel like a burden. [color=28645A]"You are never an issue. You are my future queen and you shall make any demands you please, even of me."[/color] He replied with the smallest hint of a smile before his expression turned serious once more. [color=28645A]"I should have consulted with you earlier... I.. I'm very sorry."[/color]  He bowed his head respectfully, staring at the dirt beneath their feet, where small flecks of snow were beginning to collect and quickly melt.

Flynn lifted his head again, a smirk on his face now. [color=28645A]"You should never feel bad about bothering Sunni, either. He bothers me all the time."[/color] He joked of his friend, glancing towards the tavern. [color=28645A]"In fact, why don't we bother him now? I think it's time I return the favor."[/color]

Reaching out his hand, the Prince waited to see if she would oblige him and entwine her fingers with his so they could walk hand-in-hand to the tavern. [color=28645A]"Shall we?"[/color]

Octavia and her younger sister were considered burdens onto the royal family of Lunaris by their father. He wanted sons. His first born was Octavia, then his second was Sylestar, and then years later their younger brother was born. The favorite child. When Flynn reassured her that she could bother him and make her demands, she really didn’t know how to respond, so a somewhat forced smile appeared on her face before she glanced away. It was difficult to navigate how she should interact with the man in front of her. With the experience of her own father, along with hearing about the king of Aurelia, and how the majority of father’s appeared to be — she was fearful that Flynn was hiding another side of himself. 

“[color=a464b0]No, do not apologize,[/color]” she commented while anxiously dusting off her clothing to flatten it out upon her body. She was thinking, “[color=a464b0]Everything will get here sooner and later. The list will be completed but I hope it is completed before the brunt force of winter starts,[/color]” Octavia was worried about the majority of the list not being completed by the time the snow started getting heavy and dangerous. 

A light laugh left her when Flynn said Sunni bothers him, “[color=a464b0]I believe he bothers quite a few people,[/color]” The redheaded man even bothered her at times. He was energetic and sometimes she couldn’t handle the hyperness of that man. “[color=a464b0]I suppose we can,[/color]” her blue eyes went towards the inn that was built. It was a nice place for how small the town has been. 

Then she noticed his hand was reached out to her in an offer. Octavia seemed to stare at it for a few seconds as if she was considering a few things. Her eyes glanced up to his greens. Her eyes glanced down to his hand again before she cautiously reached out. The woman seemed so on edge when it came to touching the man. As she hesitated, she began to pull her hand back, and her face almost looked serious as if she was making a bigger decision than holding hands. 

Octavia finally made a decision and her hand fell into Flynn’s, “[color=a464b0]We shall,[/color]” She replied quietly but her eyes didn’t meet his, she seemed to look at their hands more than anything, as if she was having plenty of conversations in her head. 

When Octavia finally slipped her hand into his, a flutter of nervous energy surged through the Prince. Her touch was soft, and her hand felt so much smaller compared to his, yet their hands seemed to fit perfectly together. The initial contact was both exhilarating and nerve wracking, but Flynn felt like he had finally made a positive step in the right direction with his wife. For the first time, he felt that there might be hope for them.

[color=28645A]"After you, my love."[/color] Holding the door to the tavern open for her, he decided to try out a pet name, uncertain of her reaction but bolstered by his recent success at hand-holding. Glancing inside the tavern, he noticed the military unit seated at the bar. His playful demeanor quickly began to dissipate as he realized the importance of maintaining his princely persona, especially in their presence.

Octavia couldn’t stop her expression from twisting when the man referred to her as — [i]my love[/i] — she wouldn’t necessarily say that title fit, not yet. Forcing down the little rumble of a comment she wanted to say, a smile was forced to her lips, and instead of saying what she initially thought, she let out, “[color=a464b0]Thank you.[/color]” Before she entered the inn which was livelier than other times she had stepped into the building. 

Noticing the military unit and personal guard of her father, she tensed, though her eyes shot other places. She was looking for Mister Emberani though she could not spot him in the common area. Her eyes glanced by her husband before they took a second look at him. He was tense as well [color=a464b0] — The guards must be bothering him. Maybe I shouldn’t have warned him like I did… —[/color] Her eyes glanced up to his face before moving around the room a little more. 

[color=28645A]"Good Morning."[/color] Flynn greeted as he stepped forward, his voice resonating with a deep timbre that commanded attention and respect without the need for raised volume - a lesson instilled in him by his father. [color=28645A]"Welcome to Dawnhaven. I've just been informed of your visit."[/color] He looked at each of the three faces that sat at the bar, trying to gauge what sort of people they might be beyond the surface. [color=28645A]"Do you intend to stay long? Shall we have cabins arranged for each of you?"[/color] He questioned, each word carrying a weight of authority to it, though Flynn was attempting to be cordial with them while assessing their intentions.
[hr]
[sub]Interactions: [@PrinceAlexus]
Collaboration with [@The Savant][/sub]