Ozragad had not realised how close they were until she had reached out and took his hand in hers. Almost on instinct he began to pull away, but as her fingertips brushed his own he stopped himself. He could feel the difference between them, her soft smooth skin against his own, rough with scars and callouses. Why did she take his hand so? She had called him bloodthirsty warlord but a few days before. Could she not feel the blood that dripped from them still? 

They were so close that he could breathe in the scent of her. He wondered then, what perfumes and oils did they used in Eorzia? What fragrances did she bathe herself in this morning before she came here? If he pressed his lips to that small, delicate, white hand that held his, what would it taste of? 

He pulled his gaze up and away from that hand and found that she was looking back at him. There was something in her eyes, a look he had not seen there before. He had seen her anger and her fear, they were emotions he had learned to gauge in those azure pools, fish them up for their depths. But whatever she felt now, it was not fear, it was not anger. It was something else. It made him feel strange, it made it feel afraid, and he did not know why. 

[i][color=f7941d]Get a grip of yourself. You are a King, do not be unmanned by the mere touch of a woman.[/color][/i]

With hesitance Ozragad pulled his hand away from her and rose from kneeling to stand again. He stilled his face, calmed his nerves, set his walls about him once more. Stiffly, he strode back to his seat at the opposite end of the table. 

[b][color=f7941d]"A new start?"[/color][/b] He rolled the words around his mouth slowly, considering them. [b][color=f7941d]"Perhaps this would be for the best. As for the wedding, we have largely left the planning of the ceremony with your Father's council. The ceremony is to held in Eoriza, once the final treaty has been devised."[/color][/b]

[b]"If I may intrude, sire."[/b] Manawyndan began to move from his position at the rear to the hall to approach the table. [b]"There are perhaps some Formori customs that could be seen to here before the wedding itself? We did not discuss such things at council today considering the erm... circumstances, but they could some way to familiarise our people with their Queen-to-be."[/b]

The Lord Steward stood behind a chair equidistance between his King and the Princess. He appealed to Ozragad for permission to join them. The King gave it with a wave of his hand and the old man cautiously took a seat, his dark flinty eyes darting back and forth between the two royal persons at either end. 

[b]"Perhaps there are some Eorzian traditions that could be preformed here too, before we leave for Novrandt? It could help the court... prepare... for the ceremonies in Eorzia. Assuming of course, both of your Royal Highnesses assent?"[/b]