[b]"Mhmm, well Your Highness, I am glad that you have felt welcomed in our country thus far."[/b] Lady Cheldarine's amber eyes glanced over  to meet the Princess's for a moment. Despite the inconsequential nature of her words, there was a seriousness to them. Her gaze broke away as a fillet of flaky white fish drizzled in a buttery sauce was set down in front of her. Bowls of steamed tubers and root vegetables accompanied it, along with a series of savoury pastries stuffed with spiced meats. She thanked the servers as they laid them out, waiting for them to leave before continuing. 

[b]"It is good that you are adjusting, I personally believe change to be a good thing. Though I hope you will soon have us making changes of our own, some are long overdue. This war..."[/b]  She stopped herself, even though she had spoken softly so as not to be overheard. She glanced at the King, but he did not seem to overhear, still swilling wine and talking battle with Manawyndan, his plate barely touched. [b]"Let me say that I am very glad you are here. Very glad indeed."[/b]

Lady Cheldarine picked at her food daintily with her fork. She had not broken her composure despite the gravity of her words, and anyone looking from the outside would only read polite sympathy on her face. She ate in silence for a moment, turning away to exchange a word with  her elder son who sat next to her. At the far end of the high table, a peel of laughter broke out from the plump curly haired man on the far right. The man seemed to be sparring words with the elderly woman sat on the other side of Manawyndan. The severe looking councillor seemed unimpressed, whilst his young wife expressed amused disbelief at their actions.

In the hall at large, spirits were running high, four guards were restraining a pair of men who had exchanged blows at the bottom of one of the tables that ran length ways in the hall. One of the two combatants was dressed in the long robes and scarves of an Ashlander. The soldiers pinned the arms of the unruly guests behind their backs and marched them out of the hall. The fight did not seem to greatly disturb the merriment of others. 

Ozragad broke away from his conversation with Manawyndan to listen to a whisper into his ear from the female guard captain with the shaved head who had been roving around the hall since the start of the feast. He paused, nodded at whatever she had suggested, and she too marched out of the hall in the wake of the minor brawl. As she passed behind Elise the Formori soldier shot the Princess a venomous look and turned up her nose. The King faced back to his right, and the Lady Cheldarine turned back to Princess Elise once more, an easy smile on her face.

[b]"I hope we can become better acquainted in the weeks to come Your Highness, after all, we are to become kin soon enough if all goes as planned. Or did you not know that?"[/b] She frowned momentarily again. [b]"I am not sure exactly what is known in Eorzia about our country. The length of the war, the difference in our lifespans, it makes things difficult to comprehend sometimes. I am cousin to King Ozragad, on his father's side, I have known him since I was a girl."[/b]