[i]Queen Louise[/i]

It was nightfall by the time the fugitives left the Academy proper, camping in the charred ruins of North Unity with a picket line around their entire encampment although those expected to fight camped closest to the gate; if any enemy appeared it'd be their pursuers although they would probably give up the chase over night. The Queen was speaking to one of her aides when Gwen arrived to report to her.

[b]"You are referring to those bandits which attacked us on our way to the Academy? Princess Elaeria is somewhat more used to war and raiding than Henry is, especially since we've been at peace longer than Fristha. Do not worry about our safety, we're in the best hands possible. That's as long as the enemy don't catch up with us, of course."[/b] The Queen seemed to be thinking of something else, despite the severity of their current predicament. [b]"Walk with me, Gwen."[/b] She said, gesturing for them to move away from the others who were taking what rest they could before they moved on again. When they were a fair distance away the Queen looked at her guards who acknowledged the order and stayed where they were, keeping an eye out while staying out of earshot.

[b]"Henry will most likely be angered by my telling you of this but I believe it is in his best interests which I think you and I know he does not look after well."[/b] She began, finding a seat in the shell of the building, presumably a tavern by the numerous chairs in varying condition littered around its inside. [b]"You see, Henry is the second son of his family and was meant to be a scholar... or possibly even the High Priest. He certainly had the aptitude for it. As such his family and mine wanted to secure a bond of friendship between him and I so we were mentored together, Henrietta was already my servant then."[/b] She paused for a moment, caught in an old memory before shaking her head sadly and then continuing.

[b]"I suppose it was when he was around the age of seven that it first showed. His brother had returned from the war, for a short time anyway, and was teasing Henry about his feminine company and upbringing. Back then he had quite a temper but for some reason that time it triggered a fit. We called the physician immediately, of course, and he was stopped from doing any harm to himself or anyone nearby but it scarred him quite deeply. After that he was always very careful to stay calm... he was never the happy and energetic boy he had once been. His brother, Samuel, was very apt in bringing out his temper though and seemed to enjoy in causing Henry's fits. He suffered through half a dozen, that I know of, before Samuel... disappeared on the battlefield."[/b] The Queen glanced back towards the camp, as if looking for the subject of their discussions.

[b]"After that Henry was raised as the firstborn and his father was very strict, forcing him to 'make up lost time' as he called it. I rarely saw him but I heard from the Royal Physician whose son serves House Charlton that Henry's fits had become quite frequent, brought about by severe pressure and stress. Overtime they became less and less frequent as he started to seal away his emotions, bit by bit. When I saw him next he was a different person, so stiff and formal and saying so little. Then he went off to war and it only made him less of who he was. He has loosened a little since then, thanks to the peace, and to you, I believe."[/b] Here the Queen smiled slightly at Gwen, envious that despite her long friendship she had not been able to return Henry to his former self. Then her smiled disappeared.

[b]"But he suffered another one of those seizures today, I saw it in his face. I do not know what caused it but he will need to be watched for if he has begun to fall victim to his infirmity again."[/b] Standing up, the Queen began to walk back towards her guards. [b]"I'm trusting him to you, Lady Ashburn. He's an important childhood friend of mine."[/b]