[center][h3][color=#E15436]King Maddox Auclair[/color][/h3]
[img]http://68.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6ecv71SqD1rp62eq.gif[/img]
[color=#E15436][b]Location;[/b][/color] The Kingdom of Abhainn
[color=#E15436][b]Interacting With;[/b][/color] Julianna Hardin, Future Queen of Abhainn {[@HushedWhispers]}[/center]

Soft sunlight dappled on to Maddox's skin, the already tan skin seeming to glow under the golden sunlight. He slowly took a knee,
 a soft smile gracing his features and causing his eyes to crinkle subtly. [color=#E15436]"My lady, I humbly welcome you and your party to the Kingdom of - ah!"[/color]

The water of the bath had been drawn too hot, as it often was, and it scalded his flesh for just a moment before he retracted it. Ever the innovator, he had decided to practice select phrases before the Princess arrived, lest he embarrass himself in her presence or the King of Sliabh's presence. Maddox moved away from the bath slowly, as though his presence prevented the water from cooling.

His fingers, callused from years of swordplay and riding, deftly unfastened the ties on his underclothes, allowing the thin linen garments to fall to the ground. A mirror caught the movement, and Maddox found himself glancing in it for a time. He had not a clue what Julianna would look like, and similarly, she hadn't a clue what to expect. Paintings and verbal descriptions could only go so far, but he hoped she was comely. It would make the whole "settling down" thing he was expected to do much, much easier.

The thought of such a thing - of giving himself up completely to a woman he had never met was off-putting. He was a king, wasn't he? A king had needs, and he'd be a fool to ignore them. But he would do his job and play his part.

Slowly, Maddox rounded back to the bath and lowered himself into the water. His eyes flickered over towards the mirror again, though he found he was frowning back at himself.

[hr]

Hours later, there he stood in a red and gold doublet, smoothing the front of it down as he watched the carriages from Sliabh pull into the courtyard. Maddox gave a gentle exhale. The horses were pulled to a stop, and he clasped his hands before him for a moment before letting them fall to his sides a bit too mechanically.

All of a sudden, there she was, descending the steps of her carriage as an announcer named her for him. But he would have known who she was regardless. The coterie of guards, the jewels she wore - they all told him wordlessly that she was to be his bride.

Maddox smiled back at her, his smile far more genuine than the nervous one she sported. [color=#E15436]"Good day, my lady,"[/color] he responded, taking one of her hands gently in his. [color=#E15436]"It is my pleasure to finally meet you. Your beauty -"[/color]

But he cut himself off suddenly as a commotion erupted back at the carriages. A dark-haired man emerged from the front carriage, his fist flying towards the announcer and connecting with his face in a flurry of red.

Maddox clenched his jaw as a flag was jammed into the announcer, forcing the life out of him as the crowd gasped and then fell silent. The king exhaled sharply through his nose, his hand squeezing Julianna's slightly as the man approached him. It was only when Jack grew close that Maddox identified him as a king.

[color=#E15436]"It is...a pleasure to meet you,"[/color] he finally choked out, inclining his head slightly out of respect. [color=#E15436]"Your sister is as lovely as I could have imagined."[/color] He had heard of Jack's cruelty, his disregard for others, but this surpassed anything he could have imagined.

[color=#E15436]"And...to address your question, my lady, we are to celebrate your arrival this evening."[/color] He was finding it hard to speak, taken aback by his future brother-in-law's actions. He could only imagine what the rest of this damn country's royalty was like - including his future wife.