Inevitable War (Jalapeno x Shelby)

There was sunlight flooding through the window now, but the day itself did not feel sunny. No day ever felt as such anymore for Avram. There was a cup of wine in his left hand and the letter Ser Gerold had instructed him to read in his right. The prince had read it three times over last night prior to going to bed, but he was far too exhausted to grasp the true meaning of it at the time. Reading it now, the message was plainly obvious. Lord Maryn Lodar of Tallarth was now wedded to Giselda Taolor, the eldest daughter of Lord Gorlin Taolor of Rhayne. Rarely did noble houses ever create such bonds with each other, especially two that were so far from each other geographically. Normally the lords and ladies of the highest of houses, second only to the royal house of course, would wed their own vassals and lesser lords within their regions. A marriage of such great proportions could mean only one thing. Tallarth and Rhayne were preparing for war.

The door opened behind him and Avram turned to see 'Ingrede' hesitantly walk into the room. A soft thud sounded as it shut behind her. She seemed slightly worried about what he had called her here for. That was hardly unexpected given that most common folk would probably wonder why they were being summoned by a prince. But this one would soon know why, and it was likely that she already did, at least in the back of her mind. There was no doubt in Avram's mind who she was. Some would have called it a coincidence, but he was not a believer in such random occurrences. The gods were showing him a sign, a sign saying that old bridges must be restored.

He put on a warm smile for her and poured a second glass of wine, handing it to her without hesitation. It would help to calm her nerves if nothing else. The prince then poured some more for himself and took another sip. Yaryk had told him many times already that if he continued to consume this much wine he would fall ill sooner than his father. It almost sounded like a blessing sometimes. "I hope you will enjoy the new position that was given to you. Trinity is at the age where it would be best to have someone of relatively close age accompanying her. I'm sure she will grow to like you more as she gets used to you. Though I can't necessarily say the same for my mother..." There was more to that last sentence that Avram was prepared to discuss, but that would have to wait until later.

Meandering over to the window, Avram beckoned for her to come peer out over the beautiful courtyard and architecture that stood before them. The castle walls stood high and formidable next to most of the buildings, and beyond that laid the rest of Sarvayl, the enormous capital city he presided over. The faint rim of the city walls could be seen just beyond that, though at this hour one would have to look towards the sun to see them. "You saw my other sister not too long ago as well. You that spot over there?" Avram pointed to a small entrance into the courtyard that sat under a bridge connecting the armory and the main castle. "Mina stood right in that spot one day when we were all just kids. As soon as she walked under the bridge I poured a bucket of water on her head. She was livid." He chuckled lightly at the memory and turned to look at the young maiden. "I wasn't alone of course. I needed help lifting the bucket, and a good friend of mine at the time was willing to help. Her name was Myla, the daughter of the late Lord Jensen I spoke to you about last night."

The story lingered in the air for a short time. Avram remembered the king being even more upset than Mina about the incident. His punishment that day was to clean the horse dung out of the stables, and it was by no means the last punishment he would receive. Myla went unpunished, as Avram had taken the fall for the both of them. "Were she here now I would take her presence as a sign from the gods," he said as his smile faded. "I have hope that she is still alive and well. More and more I feel as if the gods have been telling me that old friendships must reemerge in order to fix what is broken. Her presence and knowledge of the north might help me to end the monstrosities that persist there. But until she does show herself I can only pray. I just hope she finds solace in working as a handmaiden."
 
Myla swallowed, quirked her brows, but turned her head to look in Avram's direction as she heard his footsteps begin to approach her, the door behind her being closed, though she only wished that she could turn around and open them right back up. She had no doubt that the guards would be blocking the door, unwilling for her escape, but, nevertheless, she figured that she probably wouldn't have made it that far anyway. Besides, it would only make her more suspicious and make her more known, though, if she had to be honest, she knew that if anyone knew of the Prince calling her to his chambers that word would spread around. Neither of those scenarios seemed well in her opinion.

It came as a bit of a surprise when he handed her the class of wine, that warm smile gracing his lips before he turned back and headed over towards the window. What could he be up to? Perhaps he had been drinking too much of this, or perhaps something was just wrong with the drink. "I surely do hope that I will like the position as well. Thank you for changing that for me." His mother... Why might she not like it so much? Shaking her head, Myla pushed the thought aside and took a sip of the wine. Her face scrunched at it a bit before she shook her head again. Definitely nothing as strong as she had grown used to. But she pushed that thought aside and took the steps towards him as he beckoned her over, wondering whether or not she really should do such a thing, yet she couldn't resist. The view certainly was beautiful, something that captivated her eyes as she looked over the landscape. So many familiar things, so many things that she oddly found herself missing.

And his story only took her back all the more. Made her body tense as she looked at the spot where she had helped Avram with one of his many endeavors to pester his older sister to no ends. It had been an amusing day, especially in her mind, though the moment that always stuck to her more was when he covered for her and said that she had nothing to do with it. Now that she thought about it, hadn't he always covered for her in situations like that? It had definitely been something she admired about him with, however she knew it was more so because of the security his actions seemed to bring and how he covered for her; she would always be protected from being punished...

But why was he telling her this? Could he... No, he couldn't possibly know who she was. That would be absurd! But, then again... She looked down into her glass, the liquid gently swaying as the light from the sun bounced off of it, giving her just the hinting of a look at her appearance, not that she hadn't looked at herself enough since she had stepped foot back into this castle because of her own paranoia. But it had been years. Surely they, or he rather, would have forgotten what she looked like. They would have forgotten the small freckles that danced across her cheeks and across her nose and were still there, though not as prominent as they had once been. They even would have forgotten her eyes and how many people commented on how they looked just like her father's; hazel. She had grown, a lot of the childhood 'plumpness' having been shed from her as she grew more into her figure. Her hair still a dark brown, still falling in loose waves...

Maybe it had been a bad idea to come back.

Myla pursed her lips as she straightened her stance, continuing to listen to what he continued to say. Her presence being a sign from the Gods? No, she doubted that. She had only come here because she was tired of being in the north and because she was tired or running. But then his last statement came. He knew it was her. He knew she was Myla. She took another sip of the wine and continued to look at the scenery beyond the window. Maybe he didn't. Maybe she was reading too much into it. Either way, she refused to give herself up now. It was probably what he wanted. "If you're instituting that I am this... Myla you speak of, then I'm sorry to say you are sadly mistaken. Just because I am from the north means nothing, and I've already said all that I know of that family. The last I heard, they were all no longer living, so I doubt if she will ever be able to show herself." She frowned before taking a breath and then letting it out. "If I may ask, your Highness, but why am I here? Surely you haven't called me here to speak of your younger years. After all, you have other people to speak with that about, such as your fiance or even your sister."
 
She would not budge as easily as he had hoped. Avram had expected her to be eager to jump at the opportunity to save her home in the north from all of the violence and destruction. But the memory of her family's demise must have left a permanent scar on her mind, and it was forgivable that she would never want to be set up in such a position for it to happen again. Despite his empathy for her, however, Avram could not simply let her go just like that. This was becoming less about Myla and more about the realm. He was already formulating a plan to end the chaos, a plan that was flawed of course, but she could help him fix it. The north was in shambles, but if they could be reunited once more, reunited under a common banner, then perhaps all hope was not lost. Though her father was long dead, his name and legacy lived on in Myla. Would the bickering lords of the north pledge their loyalty to her? Unfortunately that was where the plan faltered at the moment.

Avram decided to switch gears and take a different tactic, realizing that playing to her past was not working. "My friend Larcin gave me some letters that I accidentally left in the kitchen last night. He claims you gave them to him at a late hour." He took another sip from his cup before continuing. "I was surprised to find that the seals on all of them were still intact. Any other maid in that kitchen would have opened it without a second thought. They always need something to gossip about and what better material for that could there be besides a letter addressed directly to the prince himself?" It was not a complete lie. There were a handful of maids around the castle that had enough integrity to resist breaking the seal, but none of them were any less than forty years of age.

Letting that nugget of knowledge sink in for a moment, Avram refilled his guests cup with the refreshing liquid. "Most maids also don't have the courage to speak to one of my guards as if he is an idiotic imbecile. Don't get me wrong. Larcin is indeed a haughty one. That comes with being the son of a world renown knight. But never has a kitchen maid dared to say such, and to his own face at that. You're rather lucky he was too shocked to say anything in return or he would have had an excuse to arrest you or possibly even stick you with his sword, and I don't mean the one made of steel. And with you being a simple handmaiden I would have had no reason to believe your end of whatever story took place beforehand." He almost smiled at her but continued speaking, turning the conversation once more. "If you are still curious, the letter on the bottom stated that Lord Maryn of Tallarth and Lady Giselda of Rhayne are to be wed. Two of the most powerful seats in the kingdom joining hands, probably to take down my father and me. And to think I thought I would be able to see peace in the north before spring ended."

Finally the prince came to the point that had been eating at him since the moment he awoke. "I know it's not the most useful source of information, but I had a dream about you. Your face and your stature were the same as they are now, though somewhat accentuated by the light of the fire. But you were not dressed as you are now. You wore much more extravagant clothing, silks fit for those of noble status, possibly even royal status. And on this gown you had embroidered the colors and the sigil of the once great house that I wish to see rise again. You told me that I betrayed you and that it would never happen again." He refrained from mentioning the final part of his dream.

At this moment Avram narrowed his eyes and his gaze penetrated her's as if he were attempting to speak to her mind rather than her face. "If my home were ever in shambles the way the north is now, I would do everything I could to ensure that order was reestablished before too many lives were lost. Don't tell me your name is Ingrede. We both know the truth. I can't handle a war against the crown and find a solution for peace in your home at the same time. Nobles all over the kingdom are turning against the crown, so I don't know who to trust. That is why I must go back to the beginning, back the ones my father, grandfather, and great grandfather all trusted. It's humbling to admit, but I need help. I need you, Myla."
 
He wasn't letting up, and he surely wasn't letting any of this go. He was determined about something, that much Myla could tell as soon as she looked at him. Yet... What was he determined about? What did he want from her? And the conversations that he continued to make were making no sense at all. Jumping from topic to topic, making her roll her eyes in annoyance at the thought that petty little gossip was something that she actually wanted from those letters, making her brows twitch when he mentioned that knight she had spoken with the previous night. He probably was right though; she had been lucky that the man hadn't done or said anything to her, however she still figured that it was out of his own incompetence. She even went to comment on the matter, to tell him to get better friends or guard, but he spoke above her quickly, mentioning what was in the letters, or one of them rather.

The news made her brows furrow, her head whipping to the side so that she could get a better look at the Prince. Why would they do that? It didn't make any sense. Unless, of course, there were underlying motives to the marriage and not just so that they could be allies with one another. They obviously needed the strength for something or the resources, or even both. So, the speak of war was true, because what other reasons would there be for that event to take place? And to think that most people around here worried about Avram's own wedding when there were greater things to worry about. Sure, she could think of a few benefits, if she had all her information correct about his wedding, but were they great enough?

It surely wouldn't fend off a war, and it wouldn't even begin to solve the problems as far as she was concerned. But Myla knew that she could always be wrong. She had stopped worrying and heavily following any ounce of news she could hear of the royals or nobles in the kingdom because, in a sense, it didn't matter to her. It didn't matter how she thought of it. She could do nothing about any of it.

"What makes you think I can be of any help to you? I left the north for a reason, the reason that nothing was being resolved there and that I had nothing left there, but what makes you think I can change anything?" She had grown serious under his gaze, gritting her teeth a bit as she took a breath. "I am no one. After the family name was stripped of its power we became worthless and we lost every bit of respect that we once had. People in the north think of us, think of me, to be a fool! I may still have the name, but it has lost every ounce of its meaning to a point where no one will even so much as give me a serious glance back there. They wouldn't listen to my father when he was alive, and they surely won't listen to me now. But why should I even attempt to save those people when they were the same ones who killed my family?"

In a way, she figured helping them would make her a bit of a disgrace. Yes, she knew that it had only been a few people to take down her mother and brother, and that there were far more people living in fear there rather than resorting to the violence that now seemed to overtake the place. But was it right?

"But you even said it yourself that in a dream you saw me and you heard me say that you betrayed me. Why should I trust you, especially since it was your father who took everything from my family?" Now she narrowed her eyes to him, pursing her lips together.
 
The last thing Avram had expected was to see her anger flare up. And her words rang true in a way. What did she owe him? What did she owe anyone? It was difficult to say what her motive for helping him would be, and at the moment he could think of nothing that would benefit her. Of course if everything worked out perfectly, she would have her noble seat back and might even have the chance to start a new family of her own. But all of that would require an enormous amount of luck, and she was far too intelligent to think all of that luck would fall in her favor. If things went wrong they would hit hard, and she would be hurt the most.

The mention of his father stung a little more than it should have. He could not deny the fact that he was responsible for her current position. Avram was still clueless as to why the feud had occurred. Myla was not the first one to associate the king's faults with his offspring. In the past Avram had learned to ignore it, but hearing it from her felt like a sword through the gut. "My father has gone mad." His voice was louder than he had intended, and he quickly lowered it again. The last thing he needed was for someone to pass by and hear their conversation. "I don't know why our fathers suddenly despised each other after years of friendship. What I do know is that from the moment your family was removed from power he has never been the same. He has been ill. He speaks in riddles. He doesn't eat or sleep. He lies in his bed all day staring out the window. He's not a king anymore. Not even the best healers in the kingdom know what is wrong with him. And now everything falls on me. I have to clean up the mess. I am the one everyone will point to when they right the history of this war to come. The King Who Failed."

He stopped speaking and let himself breathe for a moment. The wine still sat on the table before him, but he would have none of it this time. His head needed to be clear, and he was afraid having more might bring out too much aggression. After a few moments of letting his head clear he turned back to her and spoke much more calmly. "You have every right to despise those who wronged you. But the last thing I want is for this kingdom to bleed more than it already has. It's not just the highborn in the north that are dying. The common folk have suffered more than anyone. Women and children have been torn apart, killed by merciless, power hungry rulers. My lead general wants me to send an army north and deal with it that way. What good will more bloodshed do?"

Outside the sun had already reached its peak in the sky and began making its downward descent. His fiance would be arriving before dusk, as would her entire family and an escort of nearly five hundred lords, ladies, and knights. None of that mattered to Avram at the moment. He simply looked out over the city again. If he let things get out of hand the beautiful sight before him would be reduced to ashes. "I don't know what the dream meant. And I can't give you a better reason to trust me other than that your participation might help. The commoners in the north are tired of their supposed rulers and their endless quests for control. They want someone who will bring them peace. You've lived the way they have for years now, and they would respect you all the more for it. Show them that there is still someone out there who wants to see them stop the killing."
 
This wasn't how she figured their conversation was going to end up being like. Actually, Myla didn't even think that he would figure out who she was, but, then again, perhaps she had been asking for too much. What else could she expect? She had willingly come back here, to get back in the castle, but for what reason she still had yet to conjure up for herself. She wanted to say that it was purely for the sake of getting away from the north so that she could finally stop running and actually just stay in one place without having to worry if someone was going to kill her or steal what little possessions she had, but she couldn't. Myla couldn't deny the littlest bit of frustration that she held within herself because of her family's fall from their position and she wanted answers to why it happened and why the King did it. But while she did want answers, there was a part of her that didn't want to know, because what if it really was her father's idiocy that lead to their fall? What if the King just found some hatred and wanted to see them pay?

She nearly took a step back as Avram raised his voice, her eyes flickering over to the door before she turned her attention back to him. Apparently his father was a weak point, though she couldn't blame him for it. And even though she had known that his father was ill, she hadn't expected for him to say that he had gone mad. But why would taking their title away be the cause of that? Could it be guilt, or did he completely regret the decision? It could have been another reason too, though she didn't know why, but all she did know, or thought rather, was that had her family not been taken down like that then maybe the Kingdom wouldn't be in this shape. Maybe the King would be fine and he would be better able to handle everything. Maybe then Avram wouldn't be but under the scrutiny that he was.

"Why have you done nothing previously about the north then, before things escalated to the point that they are now? You want to cease the killing and destruction happening there, so why haven't you tried harder before?" Sighing, Myla leaned her hip against the edge of the windowsill, knowing that it wasn't fair to ask something like that of him. He had other matters to worry about with the rest of the Kingdom, and the north was not the most important. Besides, none of this was his fault; he was thrust into becoming the head of the Kingdom when he probably wasn't ready, and having to deal with everything? Well, she certainly didn't envy him, but she could understand if he had many other things holding him down.

"I don't know how I can help you. I may be my father's daughter, and I may have lived through the hell that is now is my home, but I am no leader." She folded her arms across her chest before she gave the Prince the flashing of a sympathetic gaze, but she quickly wiped the look from her face, figuring that he wouldn't want anyone to pity him. He seemed sincere. Like he actually did need her help and he couldn't do this alone. Again she brought back in her mind the fact that he already had many things on his place to worry about, but could she handle something like this? This was not what she had come here for, but... "What can I do? Do you have any plans?"
 
Why hadn't he done anything about the north yet? The answer to that question was actually a lot simpler than she probably would have expected. So much so that he almost snorted when he answered, "Politics. Nothing is better for slowing down progress like a debate." Every one of his advisers seemed to have a different solution to the problem in the north. General Byron wanted to send fifteen thousand troops to settle the conflict. Unfortunately that could easily be taken as an act of war by the nobles vying for power. Yaryk had suggested holding a council with the lords who held the most power in the north, hoping to settle the issues through conversation and cooperation. Unfortunately none of the lords seemed content in parleying. A few of them had even stated that they refused to even be in the same room as their bitter rivals. Ser Gerold suggested that Avram meet with each noble individually, which the prince would have been more than ready to do. But General Raulet had seen such tactics utilized before, and he claimed that the lords would often change their minds between meetings, leading to confusion for everyone. And the bigger problem in this scenario was that all of these lords were attempting to gain power through war. They would rather lead their respective armies to victory than meet with the prince who wanted to deny them all such a high seat.

He placed a hand on his forehead and thought for a long time. The plan to have Myla unite the north under one banner sounded great in theory, but her questions were legitimate. Even if the common folk approved of her they had very little power. The lords and their vassals had the armies, and none of them were likely ready to see the daughter of Lord Jensen take her family's seat back. Avram could give her the crown's support, claiming that it was her lordship by birthright. But with Rhayne and Tallarth preparing to strike he would have to keep most of his forces ready to do battle against the bigger threat. If he did the numbers in his head correctly, he could only provide her with about a thousand knights, five thousand foot soldiers, and thirty ships. While they were all well trained they would not be enough. The only other option that remained was for Myla to gain allies from other regions of the kingdom. And this would be the perfect time to do it. His wedding was only a short while away, and lords from every corner of the kingdom would be in attendance, though Avram was prepared to assume that neither the Lodars nor the Taolors would be present.

"You may not be a leader yet, but we can help you there. We hold council meetings every morning. I can invite you to attend them. You will be able to learn about what is happening throughout the realm and eventually come to understand how to negotiate. If I can grasp the concepts then I am sure you can." He offered her a smile in thanks. She had not officially said yes, but her inquiry as to what she would do if she chose to help was reason for optimism. "The best option for the time being would be for you to gain allies to your cause. My wedding is merely days away, and many nobles will be present, the perfect opportunity for you to woo some followers. The lords in the north may have despised your father in the end, but there are plenty left in the rest of the kingdom that considered him a pious and honorable man. They would more than certainly see you in the same light." Truthfully Avram did not know how many of these lords actually remained, but there had to be at least a few. Lord Jensen's influence was once spread almost as far as the king's.

Avram placed a hand on Myla's shoulder and looked at her in an almost pleading fashion. "And you would have the crown's support as well. That doesn't mean as much as it used to, but it still holds strong in word."
 
"Politics. Of course." Myla nodded her head slightly at the mention of it. If there was one thing in this world that would stop people from coming to a compromise about any subject that involved their land it was politics, or economic stability. It wasn't something that was necessarily surprising though, however if the stopping of coming to any sort of means with the north had only been something as simple as that, then why did he make it seem as if she could do something about that when it hadn't been resolved yet? When her father was alive she never delved into the problems that he had to trouble himself with, mostly because at the time she was a child and hardly had much of a care in the world, but what she did remember of it it seemed so technical so... Tedious and something that she never wanted to find herself worrying about. After all, since she did have a brother, or had one rather, he would have been the one to handle anything should their father have passed earlier.

Nevertheless, apparently she was going to find herself getting more involved in it then she thought she ever would, or ever wanted to for that matter. But that was besides the point for the time being. As soon as he mentioned her trying to make allies with other lords in the kingdom, assuming that they would take someone such as her seriously, especially when they found out who she was. It was a bit of an unnerving plan, because either way she could see it going horribly wrong or either completely right, but even if she did gain those allies it didn't mean that it would solve the problems with the north unless Avram was suggesting she get those allies purely for the sake of any support should there have to be war.

Now she was finding herself with a headache. And here she thought she would finish her days out with being a maid to the castle. "I do hope that you aren't suggesting I try and gain those allies just in case a war might break out with the north, because I can almost guarantee that if any of the leaders in the north feel like they're being threatened by any way then they will strike when they get the opportunity and you know that just as well as I do. And you and I both know that you can't handle that right now." But what other choice was there? Regardless if the north continued on with their ways something or someone would give and probably break out into a war, and that didn't need to happen. "But that may be your only choice. Do you really think your council will allow, or even like, me being to any meetings? I'm sure you have more say over it seeing as you are the Prince, but if any of them know of me or my family, which they more than likely do, they may not like me being there."

When he laid his hand on her shoulder she turned to look down at it before she looked back at his face, catching that almost pleading look he was giving her. He needed help, an old friend of hers, someone who had helped her years ago in the past no matter how trivial those moments had been. She was silent for a few moments before she closed her eyes and sighed, opening them back up as she, somewhat hesitantly, nodded her head. "So long as you stop giving me that look, then I'll help. I cannot guarantee that everything will go how you want it to, and I know you cannot promise the same, but I'll try."
 
Allies were a crucial part to her success, regardless of whether or not there would be a war. In time she would come to understand that to its fullest. "I'm not saying you need allies to fight for you. I'm saying you need them to show you have influence. And if this does work out, you will need their help to protect you when the crown is focused on other matters. This does not have to end in war, but if it does you want to be the one who holds the advantage." Avram could not attribute her lack of understanding in this to ignorance. She was simply too soft in her heart to see an army as anything other than a tool used for violence. "You don't have to threaten anyone with violence. But when they see how many supporters you have they won't have a choice but to step down." Obviously he was being a bit optimistic, but this was one of the few things to give him a reason for it so far.

The council would obviously be a question mark. Avram was quite certain that Ser Gerold would be more than welcoming of the newcomer. He himself was once a squire to Lord Jensen and was later knighted by him. The others he could not say for sure. Yaryk was always skeptical of everything but Avram could probably find a way to convince him eventually. General Byron and General Raulet would be harder to predict. He was not sure where they stood on their opinions of Lord Jensen, but it was likely they had come across him at some point in the past. The castle's steward, Orfin Wyle, was also unpredictable. His main criticisms of Avram usually occurred when the prince was late to court, normally not through any fault of his own. He would call a council meeting tonight before the welcome feast to ensure that they were all informed as quickly as possible. Lord Corlan would likely be joining them as well. It would be interesting to see how well his new father-in-law would work with them. But it was troubling to wonder if Myla's presence would rub him the wrong way. Obviously she had once been thought of as the future bride for Avram, but that was many years ago and so much had happened since then.

"I don't expect it will be too much of an issue. They want to see this conflict in the north resolved as much as I do. And if there are any issues they will be ruled out by myself. The only one with the power to overrule me is my father, and he has not attended a council meeting in years." Another thought occurred to him then as well, something that had slipped his mind for years. But now it was suddenly relevant again. "The Viricof Legion. Your great grandfather created the legendary legion of knights himself. True, they were disbanded after your father was stripped of his titles, but I am sure many of its former members are scattered across the lands. If there are any knights that would honor your family's name it would be them." Some of them might even be present with the lesser nobles at the wedding. He did not mention that just yet as he did not want to get her hopes up. But Avram was quite sure they would follow her to the end.

The gratitude that filled his chest when she accepted the responsibility made him swell with relief. She was on his side. He couldn't say for certain that she actually trusted him, but he was willing to trust her as long as she gave this her best effort. "We don't need everything to go right. We just need enough of it to go right. I will call for a council meeting to be held right before the welcome feast tonight. In the mean time I will have Belin arrange living quarters for you." Avram had not had this much hope in a long time. This could be the spark he needed in order to make his rule successful. He could not help but beam at her with all the gratitude he could muster. "I cannot put into words how grateful I am to you for doing this. It saddens me to think about how suddenly our friendship was ended. If it's all the same to you, I hope that friendship can be rekindled. If not now than in the future. I have longed to see the days of old return."
 
The optimism that Avram held with everything he spoke of with this entire plan almost seemed a bit foolish to Myla, but she knew that she couldn't discount him for any of it. He probably needed this to go well for himself and just wanted everything to go right. Despite the fact that there were obvious flaws to the plan, things that could go wrong or just turn out differently then they expected, maybe having that hope that things would go right was the way to go. If anything it gave a reason to strive for it. Yet, Myla couldn't find herself to be as confident with it, but it mainly had to do with the fact that she found it hard to believe that the lords of the north would simply stop their nonsense because she had some allies with her. Well, if there was still any of that 'Auvray charm' in her, she figured now would be as good of a time as any to bring it back.

But she knew she couldn't say too much with the matter. She had no knowledge of how supporters could change the outcome of a dire situation, and she had no way to find out until now. What did she have to lose? There might be a lot, more than just her integrity, especially if the reasons of failure for this to succeed would fall completely on her. But in her mind she was already agreeing to this. Perhaps she really was a fool for delving herself into these matters when she really had no knowledge or experience with any of it. But the council meetings should help her learn, should they not be filled with rambles and disputes about her presence there, however if those men were smart enough they would just leave the matter be and attend to the matters that really mattered.

"There has not been word of any of the Viricof Leigon in years, and I myself have not come across a member since our power was taken from us. And while I do believe for there to still be a lot out there, there is just no way of truly saying where any of them are." But having them would be an important asset if they wanted to have strong supporters, especially since they were once reigned as powerful knights in the north, and generally all around as well. They had been strong, but was there any chance of that coming back with the army having been disbanded, as well as with her father no longer being around to lead them as his father taught him? "We may not want to put any strong faith in them with this. Let us just worry about the lords and other influences that will be here in the coming days, rather then people who may be scattered about." Nevertheless, she couldn't help but let the thought of that army being around again. To have their strength and power, and to know that there would no doubt be people who would stand for her and for what her family once was.

Her eyes tipped down to the glass she still held in her hand as she unfolded them across her chest, herself taking another sip of the wine. "But I could be wrong, after all you know more about any of this than I do, so perhaps I should trust your word." She would have to depend on it, depend on him probably, though, again, that turned her stomach a bit. Why was he so ready to trust her with something like this and ask for her help when they had not spoken with one another in years? "You are an old friend after all, but those times are not with us anymore. We are not children. We are not the same people we once were with one another. Yet, if our friendship does come back because of this? Then so be it. Maybe it is a sign from the Gods." She finally put her eyes back on him, her brows beginning to relax just a bit. "Does this mean I am no longer a handmaiden for Princess Trinity? Or do you still expect me to carry out those duties along with everything else?"
 
Avram knew the truth well enough. The members of the Viricof Legion were spread far and wide now, and some were killed in battle while trying to maintain stability in the north. Others yet were likely still angry with the crown for ruining their proud legion. Avram would not let that discourage their cause, however, for they needed all the help they could get. He was the face of this kingdom, and that meant he had to show hope and optimism in the face of all adversity despite how hopeless he himself felt.

The manner in which she spoke confirmed the notion that Myla was not the same little girl he was once friends with. Her experiences as a member of the lower class had hardened her exterior. The sweet, innocent days of her youth were nothing more than faded memories now. The seeds of their friendship were still planted, but the trees themselves had been cut. Avram wanted to see them grow into fruition again, but trees took years to regrow, and it was likely that their friendship would as well. But if he could see it return before the end of their days then it would be worth the wait. Was it because he genuinely valued her company? Or was he just so set on seeing the realm return to the days of his youth?

"You've grown wise through your experiences, however tragic they may be. It takes a great person to grow stronger in the face of adversity rather than crumble into misery." Saying it out loud made Avram realize what an admirable quality that was. Despite her family's deaths, despite being ridiculed and spat on by the people of her homeland, despite having to serve those who wants served her, she was still prepared to work with him to clean up this mess. "I only placed you in Trinity's service because I was suspicious. I thought she might be able to learn a few more things about you. But since that tale is now at an end it is safe to say that you will no longer be in her service. You will be an honored guest here. The welcome ceremony is at dusk, and you will have a seat there. I will make sure that every council member knows of your presence before the arrival of my fiance." Avram still was not thoroughly happy every time he mentioned his marriage. Of all the things he should be worrying about now, this was not one of them.

"I will have my squire take you to your new room. I will see you again at the welcome." With that he wandered over to the door and opened the large, oaken work of art. "Belin, we have an honored guest in our presence. I believe there are some empty rooms in the eastern tower. Take her to one of them and send for three handmaidens to assist her." He turned his head to look at Myla and half-smiled at her with a simple nod, then made his way down the corridor. There was still one other person he wished to talk to before he met with his bride.

Avram had not come to this floor of the castle in months, and when he had it was only to speak with his mother. But she would not be here at this time. The queen was still off with her daughters discussing trivial matters and gossiping. The prince cam to a large wooden door flanked by two guards. With a wave of his hand they stood aside let him enter. Upon opening the door he immediately caught the stench of old fish settling in the room. That was likely do to the uneaten meals sitting on the tabletop near the leftmost wall. On the other side of the room sat a man who looked far older than his true age. His hair was in a mess, his beard unkempt, and his eyes were pools of darkness with gray lines forming below them. He did not acknowledge Avram's presence until the prince finally spoke to him. "Father..."
 
Would her father had been happy with the decisions she made this day? Myla couldn't help but let the thought cross her mind as she turned her eyes to look out the window, once again taking in the scenery before her. It had been years since she had been here, and the last time had been with her family, but now they were no more and never would be. But maybe with this, maybe if everything went right and she truly was able to stop the destruction and bloodshed in the north, then she could bring back her family name. She could give herself back the power that her father once held and be, once again, looked upon with respect and integrity. She would no longer have to live her life on the run, and though she knew that none of this would bring her parents or brother back, perhaps this would at least make them happy. Perhaps, if they were looking down on her, they would be proud.

But then what if she failed? What if she defiled her family name all the more and instead made things even more sour than they were now? Everyone would turn their backs on her, maybe even the crown, but maybe that was a risk she was willing to take. She already had nothing, and surely if that happened then death would be knocking on her door but perhaps that would just be for the best as well. The reward for this seemed almost too great for her to pass off.

She nodded her head to his words, almost feeling a bit flattered over being called an honored guest to the welcoming. It certainly was better than being called a lowly kitchen maid, however she pushed the thought aside and gave him the slightest bit of a smile. She knew not to let it get to her head though. She still was a lowly peasant, after all, and despite the fact that Avram might have considered her an honored guest, she figured others may not be so inclined to think the same way after finding out her name. After all, she still was no longer a noble.

After he opened the door and spoke with is squire and turned to look back at her with a simple nod, she walked over towards the little table where the wine bottle sat and set her glass right next to it. "I do hope you know what you are doing, Avram," she muttered to herself before picking her attention up at the sound of Belin clearing his throat and motioning for her to follow him, once again. How many times would this man have to carry her places and ensure that she make it there?

When they had made it to her new room, Myla looked over the scenery before nodding her head to Belin's words, him mentioning that handmaidens will shortly be here to assist her, especially with getting ready for the welcome. How long had it been since she had had anyone assist her with anything? Not since she was young. "Yes. Thank you." And the door was shut, Myla finding herself once again by herself. She breathed out a sigh before she headed over to the bed and sat down on it, her eyes going to the ground as she pursed her lips. She hoped that she knew what she was doing. Again she found her mind asking what her father would think, but also asking what the King and Queen will think of this. Surely they would know, they would hear her name and remember her father and his family. But would they be more unnerved of her presence than relieved by it such as Avram seemed to be?
 
The demented king turned his head and set his aged eyes upon his son, unblinking and unwavering. No words came from his mouth. He simply sat there, slouched and heavy, staring at the young man his queen had given him three years after seeing their first daughter born. Avram met his gaze but felt an odd sensation come over him. Seeing his father like this was still too much for him. He had once been regarded as a great king by many, and to Avram he had once been a good father. Every time he thought about the position he had been left in because of the king's condition, Avram felt nothing but loathing and contempt. But here he stood, the once great man sitting before him, and all he could feel was pity and remorse.

"Lyanna Eburhart is arriving tonight. I'm sure you have already been told that I am to marry her." There was no response from him, nor did it seem like the words had registered in his head. The prince continued anyway. "I will be meeting with Lord Corlan and the council before the feast to discuss diplomacy matters. If it is all the same to you I will be sitting in your chair since you will more than likely not be in attendance." Again there was no reply. "In other news, Rhayne and Tallarth seem to be preparing for war. Lord Maryn and Lady Giselda are to be wed to form a blood alliance. That means I will more than likely be marching to battle soon." Once again, nothing. Avram inched a little closer this time. "One more thing. Myla Auvray has returned to Sarvayl." The name Auvray finally pulled a reaction from the king. He inhaled deeply then turned his head away to look out the window again.

For some reason that bothered the prince. It felt as if he was being ignored, and by his own father at that. "Look at me," he insisted. The king's head did not move, though he did finally blink for the first time since Avram entered the room. "Look at me." This time he was louder and colder in his tone. The king's eyes shut for a moment and fell upon his son once again. What exactly did he want to say to this old king? Nothing? Everything? "I am going to make amends with her. Our two families will be reunited once more. The Auvray house was always a close ally until you pushed them away. You took everything from them. Why?" As expected there were no words to answer his question, but the king did seem to show some emotion on his face, though Avram could not discern what it was.

He turned his head to look out the window once again. "Look at me," Avram said even louder this time, fighting the urge to scream. But his father would not budge this time. "Look at me!" he shouted, refusing to acknowledge the tear that was sliding down his cheek. He stomped his way over into the king's line of vision, blocking him from the window. "LOOK AT ME!" With no other choice, the king looked up at Avram's face, watching the tears flow from his eyes. "You did this. I have to clean up your mess because you lost your senses and your health." His voice was shaking uncontrollably, but he continued anyway. "I have been set up to fail because of you. I don't know how to rule but I am going to anyway, and with no one experienced to guide me."

Why was he saying all this? In all likeliness his words were not registering in the king's mind at all. And yet Avram continued his rant towards him, knowing that the man had no control over his health at this point. But his anger was gone for a brief moment, as the king finally uttered a few words. "Are you going to kill me?" Avram was at a loss for what to say. Did he really think Avram was there for murderous purposes? Did he even realize this was his own son? Without another word, he exited the room and returned to his own chambers.
 
It almost didn't feel right to Myla anymore to be assisted by the handmaidens that had come into her quarters shortly after she was left by herself. She even had had half a mind to tell them that she could take care of her own self, but she forced herself to stay silent and let them do their work. After all, she didn't want to look ungrateful in the eyes of anyone that may be looking upon her in this castle, especially as seeing that now she was going to have to try and bring an air of trustworthiness to herself. It was an odd feeling, one that she still had yet to come to grips with, but it was only because of the fact that she had not trusted anyone in years. For years after her family passed, after her father lost the life out of his body, she had been on her own and one of the last things her father spoke to her was to trust no one yet always know who she was and never let anyone tell her any differently, no matter if their power had been taken away or not.

The thought made her furrow her brows, her face scrunching up in confusion as her father's voice permitted through her mind again. Trust no one except herself... She shook her head, biting her lip as she set her eyes down to the ground, her ears partly taking in the little chatter that the handmaidens spoke of, herself having before put her own voice into the conversation though never saying too much and generally staying silent. But when one of them asked what was the matter, she picked her head up and shook her head. "Just... Pondering on my thoughts."

It made her wonder, though, if maybe she was being hasty with this in trusting Avram and his plan.

They changed her out of her kitchen garbs and put her into something more presentable, something they said had been brought to them in order for her to change into so that she would look more presentable in the eyes of everyone else that would be attending the welcoming. After all, they didn't want her looking like a lowly servant to the castle any longer and wanted her to look relatively decent. Though she knew her dressage would be nothing as extravagant as what she expected others to wear, she had to admit that she looked down at herself she knew that she had grown unaccustomed to wearing anything of the sort of this. It felt... Nice. No tears or tattered fabric. No mud or dirt stains hiding the original color. It even fit nicely as well.

But while it felt nice, it also made her feel uncomfortable, because even though she still wanted to think she was high in power she knew that she wasn't, and even a peasant like her should not be treated this way. It was a conflicting battle she waged with herself about this entire ordeal, yet she knew that she would have to get a hold of herself and get over it. If she wanted to follow along with Avram's plan with trying to gain supporters for herself, she would have to be confident, and she would have to act as if she really knew what she was doing and that she had the will of her father running through her veins. She had to act strong, but she knew that even with this welcoming she would have to be the same. Otherwise they would look down on her, and that could not happen if she wanted to be taken seriously and not thought of as some last desperate attempt on the Prince's part to try and gain back stability in the north. Then again, maybe she was his last desperate attempt to gain stability in the north.

Nevertheless, she figured she had at least a few days before the wedding would come to pass and enable her to speak with many of the different lords and nobles that would attend the event. But then, hopefully, if she attended the council meetings she would have at least learned a little bit. Either way, she knew that she could not dwell on the matter for too long. The day was beginning to pass, the sun setting and casting an orange glow about the entire kingdom. The window to her room showed her as much, and she found herself making her way over to it after the handmaidens had stepped back and left her be for a moment, though still staying in the room with her. The view was still nothing as Avram's was, however at least it was something.
 
The better part of the afternoon had seen Avram preparing himself for the arrival of the Eburharts. He had only met Lyanna once before, during the Tournament at Ilinwine. She was a rather shy and timid girl if he remembered correctly. That was about seven and a half years ago from what he recalled. Back then the king was still on his feet, but his illness was already on him in full force. He missed the final tilt between Ser Gerold and the Knight of the Cross, Ser Dawin Blusberg. It was a fond memory of Avram's. The tournament had been spectacular from the moment he arrived and only continued to awe him even more. The only other tourney he had attended in his life was at Riverkeep, and he was no more than three years at the time. Unbeknownst to him at the time, their trip to Ilinwine was when his mother had first spoken to Lady Osalle, Lord Corlan's wife, about arranging a marriage.

After informing his council members of Myla's presence, Avram was in his chambers once more, prepping his garments with Belin's assistance. They all had their various reactions to the news. Yaryk was silent for a long time, obviously thinking about every possibility the situation could lead them. His only words were, "I hope you know what you are doing." Ser Gerold suggested that it would be almost an insult to spring this on Corlan the Mighty without any prior information sent to him. Avram had already realized that, but his only plan for that was to hope that Corlan did not think too much of it. General Raulet seemed almost overjoyed. Lord Jensen himself was the one who suggested that Raulet be named General of Sarvayl's ground forces, and the two of them remained friends until Jensen was removed. General Byron was of a slightly different mind in that he did not approve at all. It was not because Myla was an Auvray, but because it was unheard of to see a woman on the royal council. Avram insisted that she would not be permanent, though the Head General still grumbled on about it. Orfin was worried about her becoming a distraction to the prince. The last thing he needed was another woman to seduce him on the eve of his wedding. The prince insisted that was unlikely and highly improbable.

"The buttons on this damn thing are far too big," he mumbled, attempting to slide the buttons of his doublet into the thin slots while his squire furnished the cloth around his shoulders as well as he could. "They are easier to button and unbutton when you are not the one wearing them, your grace. Probably meant for the ease of your lady," Belin chided with a snort. Avram rolled his eyes but said nothing. Lyanna would not be removing any clothing from him until their wedding night anyway. Outside the sun was dipping below the horizon and the beautiful colors of the sky were taking their places before enveloping the realm in a calming dark blue. There were clouds in the distance, but large enough to produce rain.

The royal court was not nearly large enough to greet the numerous guests. So the welcome was held on the steps of the castle entrance. The city's front gates had been opened and the entire city watch was out in full force, lining the streets to make a path for the procession. And what a grand procession it was. Stallions carried the knights of the Ilinwine household guard at the very front, and just behind them was a large carriage being pulled by four oxen. That was likely where Lyanna sat with her handmaidens. Behind the carriage rode Lord Corlan on a steed that appeared as mighty as himself. Lady Odalle rode beside him on a beautiful mare of chestnut brown. Behind them were Lyanna's twin brothers, Harrick and Warren. And the procession stretched even further beyond them. They brought along cousins, second cousins, close friends, many more knights, and even a jester. The Eburharts were clearly doing all they could to impress the royal family. The common folk were out in mobs, fighting each other to get a glimpse of the long line of nobles.

When the procession finally reached the castle, Avram stood at the top of the steps to greet them. He was flanked by his mother on the right and his sisters on the left. The carriage doors were opened and out stepped Lyanna. There was no denying that she was beyond gorgeous, and her grab was made of the most elegant silk Avram had laid eyes on. Her parents led her up the steps just in front of her and her brothers walked on either side. All five of her handmaidens strolled behind her, scuffling around to ensure nothing was out of place. Lord Corlan was the first to reach the top, and Avram met him with a strong embrace. Queen Meredina hugged her good friend Odalle happily, who then greeted the prince and both sisters with a gentle kiss on each cheek. Then both mother and father alike stood aside to let Lyanna come forth to greet her soon-to-be husband. She was just as quiet and reserved as he remembered.
 
Though it was something Myla continued to tell herself throughout the years she would never do and reprimand herself should she ever let the thoughts cross her mind, she couldn't help but imagine a different time. Imagine a time where her family hadn't lost their power and they hadn't lost everything to their name. When they were forced to live in poverty that they had never experienced before in their lives, nor had they ever imagined to ever dwell through. She could remember her mother, occasionally, making simple comments and statements about the peasants that would roam the streets. Dirty and starving, looking as if they just needed someone to help them. While her mother hadn't necessarily talked down upon the peasants, it could obviously been seen that neither her father or mother wished to ever live a life like that. They pitied those people, and Myla admitted that even she did as well. But after living the life that they went through... She pitied them even more, and she even pitied herself for it.

But she knew that it was pointless and futile to think of the better times and to think of what could have happened had a certain situation not happened, because that wasn't life, and she knew that if she ended up continuing to ask herself things like that, wondering what went wrong, then she probably would end up like her father. And she refused to have that happen to her, which was why she was so determined to not let her life depress her too much. Yes, there had been moments when she had wanted to give up and go like her father, certainly not like her brother or mother, but she couldn't let herself do it. Call it her undying pride for having once been just right under the royals in social standings, but she couldn't let that happen to herself.

Wincing as her head was jerked back slightly from the bush that one of the handmaidens ran through her hair, Myla turned her eyes to look at the girl who profusely apologized before Myla told her that everything was fine. She still wasn't used to the help of others, but after the little amount of time that they had left her be as she stared out the window and watched as the sun slowly sun descended they continued to tell her that they needed to get back so that they could help her, but even though Myla almost refused at first, she relented. But it seemed that by the time they were finished fixing her hair up the sky had gone from orange to a dark blue, few stars lighting up the sky.

Sighing, as the handmaidens let her finally stand, she brushed her hands over the front of her dress and headed back over to the window, leaning over just the slightest bit as she looked down in time to see the line of people march their way down the streets to the castle, the regular folk gawking under the eyes of what they were seeing. Apparently the guests of honor had arrived. Could they have tried to make any less of a statement that they wanted to be regarded highly in the eyes of the royal family? She found herself frowning at the thought, her lips pursing as she watched as the line finally stopped, the carriage opening to reveal a woman, presumably the one that Avram was marry. She could not see past the few steps that the family strode up, two females, three males, but she could only assume that Avram along with his mother and sisters were standing at the top waiting to greet them. Myla didn't fancy her thoughts that the King might also be standing there.

"I must stay that she is either a lucky girl, or an unlucky one," one of the handmaidens spoke, to which Myla learned was actually named Ingrede. Ironic that she would have a handmaiden with a name she had used to cover for herself so that she could become a maid here. Myla turned to the girl with raised brows. "Perhaps she is just what the Prince needs, however." A smile graced her lips, but it only made Myla frown. Gossip. Apparently it was something that not only the kitchen maids settled themselves with. "It has been said that he has been in a slump with his new position. Maybe she will help."

Doubtful, Myla wanted to speak out but kept the comment to herself as she merely turned her attention back to the window. She wasn't ignorant; she knew that had her family's position not been taken from them that she would be in the position to marry Avram. The only reason she had ever caught wind of that news, however, was because of her father, not to soon before he let his own life end. "You were fit to be royal," he had quietly spoken to her. "You almost were and would have been." And it didn't take her long to understand the meaning of his words. But she had already resided herself to the fact that she would never have a family again, and that she would be by her lonesome. That fact, though, no longer worried her. At least, then, she wouldn't have to wallow over the death of her husband should he have gone first, nor would he have to wallow over her should she have passed first, along with any children she might have had.

But, thinking of this new family that would be joined with the royals, it made her wonder... What would they think of her being there, should they know of her family's past and position? She furrowed her brows as the thought. She shook her head though. "Perhaps she will," Myla finally spoke as she turned her eyes from the window and to the maids. The welcome would be soon, so she figured that at some point she would have to face the opinions of the ones that she would be around. But while it made her nervous, she wanted to see how it would play out.
 
Numerous lanterns lit the streets, revealing the path that the procession had taken through the city. There were so many that for half a moment Avram was sure that the sun was still up. They illuminated the faces before him, making them clear enough to view for everyone present. And the expression on Lyanna's face was just as plain. She was not ready to be given away to a stranger. Unfortunately she had no say in the matter. Lord Corlan was not one to be trifled with when it came to matters of his own house. It was doubtful that anyone in his family refused him when he made a demand.

Before he knew it, Avram found himself standing face to face with Lyanna, a forced smile resting on her lips. He lifted her hand and planted on it a small kiss. "I am thrilled to see such a beautiful face illuminate Sarvayl tonight." He offered her a friendly smile, though it was just as forced as the one she gave him. And they would be expected to make conversation with each other at the feast. It was going to be a long night if this first meeting between them was any indication. But they probably would not see much of each other until the day of the wedding anyway. He would be spending all of his time at court and in council meetings while Lyanna was tended to in her chambers or off with the queen somewhere.

After greeting both Harrick and Warren, Avram took his bride by the arm and led her into the castle along with everyone else. He went slower than he normally would have, allowing her handmaidens to do their job and keep up at the same time. They did not get very far into the main entrance when the prince turned to the woman at his side. "I hope you enjoy your time here. I will see you at the feast not too long from now." With that, he parted from her after planting a kiss on either cheek, as was custom between a couple on the verge of wedding. Appearance is everything he continued to repeat to himself.

Avram received a quick security update from Ser Gerold's second in command, Ser Klyde Foswer. Hearing that everything was in order, Avram sent two guards off to escort Myla to the council chambers. He would join them soon, along with Lord Corlan, who was at this moment talking to the queen and looking rather amused. Curious, Avram meandered over to them and raised an eyebrow. "Lord Corlan the Mighty. I am glad to see you enjoying yourself in the capital. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we have a council meeting scheduled for right now, and we were expecting you to attend." The big man put his hand up and chuckled lightly. "Of course you have. My apologies, your grace. It's been so long since I have spoken to Meredina. You know she has planned a tea party on the morrow for the ladies of the court? Sounds like a spectacular idea to me. But I digress. Let's get a move on and not hold up this feast." Avram was, in fact, completely unaware that his mother had planned this. It did not matter to him much anyway, but it still would be nice to know what was happening under his own roof.



Meredina watched her son and the mighty lord make their exit, admiring the leader he was growing into. She then spotted Lyanna and decided it was time to make sure the girl understood her place here. "My dear sweet," she gasped with a joyous outburst, embracing the girl as if they were old friends. "You look just as beautiful as your mother did on the eve of her own wedding. So how do you like your new prince? Quite the charmer I'll bet?" She didn't care to hear a response and continued to talk as per her usual fashion. "I have no doubt you will have little trouble giving him an heir worthy of true royalty. But in the mean time I should inform you that there will be a tea party on the morrow in the gardens. And I will be hosting it in your honor."
 
Myla was only able to allow herself a few more minutes of looking out the window, once again half catching the quiet whispers from the handmaidens behind her, before a knock was sounded on the door and it was opened, revealing one guard with another one standing behind him. She nearly frowned at the sight, however after it being told to her that Avram had requested her presence in the council chambers and that they were there to escort her to the room, she nodded her head and headed along with them. Before, though, she turned her head to look back at the three handmaidens, looks of confusion bouting across their faces, and, despite herself, it made Myla crack a little smile. "Thank you for all of your help, however I believe that it would be best for you all to not come along." Her head tilted back to the guards for a second before looking back at the three girls before giving the all curt nods and then following the guards.

Her eyes scanned the walls, her ears listened to the sounds that preceded around her before she found herself in front of another set of doors, the pounding of her hear beginning to beat in her chest. Frowning, she looked down at the ground and took a deep breath, telling herself to calm her nerves otherwise she may not be able to keep her focus in front of the other men that would be apart of the council. She had no knowledge of what they would think or say, had no knowledge of who they even would be, but nevertheless she couldn't help but let this sense of nervousness come through her. But she didn't want to seem weak an incapable of doing anything. So before the guards opened the doors before her, she picked her head up, squared her shoulders, took a breath and the nodded her head for them to open the doors.

She stepped into the room then, keeping her hands in front of her, her eyes already catching the looks of the others that were already in there. More than anything she would have liked to have been the first one there, however apparently she wasn't lucky enough. But she stopped after walking a few paces into the room, her lips pursed, her eyes blinking. Avram wasn't there yet. Of course he wasn't, but, as it seemed, they had all been known of her presence, since there had been no sudden outburst, for the moment, of her having stepped into the room. That at least made her feel a little better, but she pondered on the thought of whether or not to put on a smile. But after thinking of it, she decided against the action. This was not the place, nor the time. Besides, these men wanted to be serious, or so she assumed, and she should be the same despite never having been in a situation like this.


Lyanna as quite taken a back when she was suddenly embraced by the Queen, however she put out a smile before they pulled back from one another, her eyes admiring the woman before her, almost as she normally did her own mother. She went to open her mouth to speak of a response to her questions about Avram and thank her for the quick compliment, but found herself unable to as the woman continued on speaking. Her eyes blinked, but then widened just the slightest bit before she gave the nod of her head, widening her smile just a bit. "Oh, you should not have gone through the trouble of setting up a tea party in just my honor," she spoke up, her soft voice ringing out, "but your hospitality is appreciated greatly and I do look forward to the event. I hope it will give us more of a chance to speak." If she would do much speaking, that was, however since this would be in her honor she figured that a lot of the conversation would be on her. As per usual as of lately, however it was something that she was going to have to do, whether she wanted to or not.
 
The room had been fairly empty when Ser Gerold first walked in. Only Yaryk, the royal scribe, had been sitting there when he entered. Both generals trickled in after he did, and finally the grumbling old steward trudged in as well. The welcome ceremony had just ended, so it was likely that Prince Avram would take some time to join them. But all mouths were silent when the daughter of Lord Jensen Auvray strolled into the room, the man who was once thought to be the second most powerful individual in the kingdom. No one was the least bit subtle when staring at her face, attempting to discern the similarities between her and her father. Gerold immediately noticed that her nose was exactly the same as her mother's, though it suited her face much better. In truth he saw more of her mother than her father in her, but the expression she wore on her face, one of determination masked with sternness, was identical to that of Lord Jensen. She truly was the daughter they had been told about.

Finally, Gerold himself broke the silence by greeting the young woman. "Apologies for staring, my lady. I'm sure you can understand how curious we were having been told of your presence only earlier today. If you will forgive me for saying, we thought the last of the Auvray line ended years ago." That seemed like a sour note to end on, so he continued his thought. "We should have known better. You had not been born yet, but there was a time when I squired for your father. I was forced to side with the king when that infamous quarrel occurred, mostly because it was my duty. But my respect for him never wavered even after he was dismissed. I owe him more than I can state for my good fortune." He verbalized the last sentence in a slightly hushed tone, though he knew the only ones that might take offense to it were the king and queen, and neither of them would be present any time soon.

Orfin released a snort of what sounded like contempt, and Gerold shot the steward a glare. It was already known among the council members that he was not in favor of having Myla present for these meetings. He held nothing against the Auvrays in particular, but he thought it would complicate the delicate balance of an already frustrated council. The queen herself would have to know about it soon, and she was not likely to be very happy with the news.



A burst of hysterical laughter erupted from the queen's throat. "Oh don't be ridiculous, love. Of course I had to. You are marrying my son after all, and it's not just any wedding. You are going to be a part of the royal family in only a few days. A simple tea party is the least I can do for showing affection for a new daughter. Besides, your mother and I go back so many years, to when we were children in fact. And now to be able to see our own children saying their vows together... it's simply wonderful." Meredina had made sure long ago that whatever queen took her place would not outdo her. She liked her power and did not intend to lose it even after her husband's death. The last thing she wanted to see was some young, naive girl with thoughts of asserting some influence over the realm the way she had. Luckily there would be little to worry about with Lyanna. She was not the most outspoken girl from what she had gathered so far, and she did not seem to crave power either.



Avram and Lord Corlan were the last two people to enter the council chambers. The mighty man immediately noticed the woman sitting in the seat beside Ser Gerold but did not say anything of it. He was clearly, as everyone else had done before, studying her face as best he could. Avram took his seat in his father's chair and decided this was not the time to mince words. "I'll get straight to the point. Lord Corlan, I would have sent word to you before you arrived, but unfortunately I did not make the decision until this morning and decided that it would have been pointless not to just tell you upon your arrival. So let me explain. The woman you see before you is none other than Myla Auvray." He let the name sink in for a moment, but Corlan showed no change in emotion whatsoever. Avram continued, "I believe she is the answer to solving the issues currently plaguing the north."

After the prince finished introducing their new member, Orfin took it upon himself to voice everyone else's concerns. "She owns no lands, commands no armies, and has been living as a kitchen maid. How exactly do you expect to use her in this?" Surprisingly, Avram was not the one who spoke up in her defense, though he was prepared to if it would shut Orfin up. Instead Yarky spoke, withdrawing a few papers from the enormous stack in front of him. "I did some quick research on this, actually. Based on recent letters there are currently three major lords vying for control in the north: Lords Kalcifan, Dorri, and Donagale. And none of them are loved by the common folk to put it lightly. In addition, I recovered a document recorded by Lord Jensen himself that lists every single member of the Viricof Legion from its first days until its disintegration. I'm not saying they will respond to his daughter the way they did to him, but it's a start."
 
Trying her best to keep the strained and forced smile upon her lips, when the sudden eruption of a laugh came from the queens mouth Lyanna couldn't help but flinch a little. Hopefully the sight wasn't caught by the woman. "Well, again, I truly do appreciate the welcoming and the tea party. I just hope that you wouldn't have gone through too much trouble for it all, but if you insisted then I can only assume how plentiful and beautiful the simple tea party will be. After all, you are the one planning it." Flattery and kind gesture and words. It was what her mother and father had consistently told her before arriving to the castle. From now on she was going to have to regard herself as someone with a higher power. She gave another smile before looking back at her handmaidens that stood behind her before looking back at the queen. "Well, I surely do not wish to take any more of your time, seeing as I'm sure you have more important matters to attend to, so I think I will take my leave to my room. Unless there is something are other matters you wish to speak with me about, that is."


Myla let their scrutinizing gazes sweep over her form as she stood there for a few longer minutes, giving them the amount of time that they would need in order to discern whether or not she was who she was, or whether to figure out how they, now, truly felt about her presence in these chambers. With already having known that this is generally not a place where a woman would tread her feet upon especially with matters such as this, she had no doubt that at least one of them did not want her being there, but she knew that it was an entirely different matter because of the fact that she was an Auvray. Nevertheless, she willed herself to stay confident with her look and to not waiver anything of herself, but when one of the men finally spoke in greeting to her she turned to look at him, listening to the words that he spoke.

So he had been a follower of her father, or at least a man who owed a lot to him. Perhaps that would mean something to her, or rather maybe that would mean that she would at least have someone on her side for the time being. At least he wouldn't take an utter distaste for her being there, nor did he seem to really have any, but she knew that if she wanted to keep his thought she would have to play along. After all, if there was at least one person in the council that wanted to at least show some sort of respect, or at least enough to directly speak with her, that was a good thing whether or not it was because of who her father was. But the man seem strong, well equipped as well, yet... He looked familiar. Not in the sense that she had seen him before, perhaps, but as if she had seen someone that had his face. Myla found herself narrowing her eyes to the man a little, disregarding the little snort she heard from one of the other councilmen before her eyes blinked and the recognition came to her. Larcin Godfrey. That was where the similarities came in, or if she remembered Lacrin's features correctly. But if she was right, then this man, the one who had spoken before her, must be his father, Ser Gerold, the man that so many people talked about.

She found herself quiet as she tried to piece together her thoughts, but when she finally came back to her senses she gave him the slightest hinting of a smile. "Ah yes, I believe my father had spoken of you many times before. He said that you were a man of great integrity and strength, to which I still believe to reign true even today." It was a blatant lie upon her part, seeing as her father never spoke of any diplomatic matters towards her ever, nor did he ever bring up much of anything that had to deal with the capitol or castle after their title was taken away. But, that was something that none of them had to know. The man still seemed strong though, to that she wasn't lying about. "It is an honor to be in your presence, as well as with the rest of you. I can understand where your reservations lye with me seeing as I have come out of the blue so suddenly, and I don't blame any of you if you do not like me being here because I'm sure that had I been in your position I would more than likely feel the same way. But, I can assure you that I am only here to be of help to try and dissolve the ever growing problems in the north." Her eyes swept to all of the men before she gave a curt nod, her smile dropping off shortly after. Maybe making a better case for herself would at least let them regard her not so much as a bad presence.

Myla was brought over to one of the seats then, one sitting right next to Ser Gerold, but her stature continued to stay still and rigid before the doors were once again opened and Avram's presence was revealed, along with another man who she could only assume was to be the father of the bride. She rose her brows, but let them drop as soon as the Prince's voice rang out as he tried best to explain himself since it seemed that the man had had no previous knowledge of her being there. However, as unnerving as it was, he seemed to have not been effected by the words or notion. Myla frowned at the thought, but quickly pushed the expression aside before looking back forward as everyone was now seated.

No land, no armies, no power... Essentially she had nothing, and it was obvious. How could she, then, really be of any use to them, seeing as she had no influences any longer other than a name that people no longer regarded after their power was stripped? The man raised a strong point, and Myla could not argue with it, nor could she be upset with it because it was all true. But when the statements were brought up that one of the other men had done research on the matters, the three lords he had brought up were familiar to her, and yes she could agree that they were not well liked among many of the people in the north, herself included. But one of the things that stuck out most to her was the fact that he had found papers that her father had written naming all of the members in the Viricof Leigon. How come she had no knowledge of that? Because her father never spoke to her with matters such as that, even when it had only been the two of them left.

She sighed. "I may say something," she spoke up as she picked her head up and looked to each of the men in the room. "You are correct about those three lords in the north. Many of the northern folk have a great disliking towards them, though it mostly has to do with the fact that they have been one of the largest reasons why the north is in the state that it is in now. Now, that is not to say that they are all at fault, however I can only imagine how things will continue if something doesn't change with them, or anything else dealing with the north for that matter." She pursed her lips for a second. "I cannot lie and say that I know what can be done to make everything better, nor will I even give you false hope that I truly can change anything. Despite the fact that I have lived there and through it all, I don't know. But as I've said before I will help in any way that I can, even if we do something with the Viricof Leigon. But since my father never spoke with me about them, I hardly have any knowledge other than the basics about them. There may be a chance that if we, somehow, do gather the members in a timely matter, and should there even be enough of them, that they will follow under me, but there is also a chance that they will not. Just because I am an Auvray and my father's daughter may mean nothing to them, however I am willing to work with anything we may have to build our chances." It might have been a bad move, Myla realized, to admit that she was not sure if she could do anything, however she knew that it would be pointless to give them any sort of false hope so that they could be more angry with her should nothing go right.
 
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