[b]"You are too kind, your Highness."[/b] The old lord said as he seated himself opposite the Princess and a fresh cup of tea was poured for him upon the table between them. He returned her own watchful gaze as the refreshments were reset. 

Apart from a very brief conversation the night of the Princess's arrival to the city, they had not really spoken to one another before. Manawyndan had been seating on the other side of the King at the feast, and there had been few courtly events or functions in the times since. Perhaps they both had some reason to be wary of each other. It was partly Manawyndan's machinations that had brought the Princess to Morganyth, but he had yet to gauge her character, and now he found other actors potentially trying to use her to their own ends.

[b]"It has been a morning for unexpected visits then. Did you discuss anything of import with Lady Cheldarine?"[/b] He took a sip of the tea that had been poured for him, the delicate cup sitting incongruously in his gnarled and callused hands. When he returned the cup to its saucer, the smile that parted his lips was pleasant enough, but his dark bronze eyes did not match it. 

[b]"I will be plain with you, Princess Elise. You have had time to... reconsider... certain decisions you made in regards to your upcoming marriage to the King. My purpose in coming here today is to see if you have come to a more... reasonable... position?"[/b]