| |
|
Alorha laughed softly when Sage admitted just how stubborn he could be, the sound warm and genuine as she leaned back more comfortably against the headboard. The blanket was still loosely gathered around her shoulders, and with the morning light filling the room she looked far more relaxed than she had the day before. “Oh, that sounds like a challenge,” she said with playful interest, her eyes bright with amusement. “Now I’m curious what it takes for you to actually decide to argue with someone.” She tilted her head slightly as if studying the thought, clearly entertained by the idea. “I suppose if it ever happens I’ll know something truly important is going on.” There was no sharpness to it at all—just a friendly teasing tone that made it clear she wasn’t worried about being argued with in the slightest. In fact, the idea seemed to amuse her more than anything. As he spoke about his parents, though, the playful curiosity in her expression softened into something more thoughtful. “I imagine that makes things… complicated,” she said gently after a moment, choosing her words carefully. “Families have a way of doing that.” Her gaze drifted briefly toward the drawing again before returning to him. She didn’t press the subject further, but there was a quiet understanding in her expression, as though she recognized that some things didn’t need to be dug into too deeply to be understood. When the conversation shifted back toward the art supplies, however, her energy returned almost immediately. She sat up a little straighter now, clearly warming to the idea the more she thought about it. “You should absolutely use them,” she said with cheerful certainty. “In fact, now that I think about it, we could probably bring some things up here later. A small box of paints, maybe a proper set of pencils, a few sheets of good parchment.” Her eyes lit up as she started thinking through the details. “There are so many unused rooms in this place that I doubt anyone would even notice if a few supplies disappeared for a while.” She paused for a moment, then added with a small, conspiratorial smile, “And if anyone does notice, I can simply tell them the queen authorized it.” The idea clearly delighted her a little more than it probably should have. When Sage mentioned that there were no meetings until after dinner, Alorha blinked once in surprise—then her entire expression brightened immediately. She sat up straighter, the blanket slipping down slightly around her arms as excitement replaced her earlier sleepiness. “Nothing until after dinner?” she repeated, sounding almost delighted. For a moment she just sat there considering that rare gift of free time, and then the thoughts began spilling out rapidly as she started planning ahead. “Well, that gives us an entire day,” she said, already thinking aloud. “Which means we could actually do things without worrying about rushing back to a meeting.” She glanced toward the window where the gardens were visible in the distance, her expression lighting up further. “I haven’t properly explored the gardens yet. I’ve only seen them from the paths near the entrance, and they looked enormous.” Her gaze flicked back toward him with growing enthusiasm. “Do you know if there are greenhouses here?” she asked suddenly. “Most large palaces have them somewhere. If they do, I would love to see them.” The thought clearly appealed to her quite a bit. “And the library too—I found it once by accident but didn’t actually have time to look through anything.” She paused only long enough to grab a piece of fruit from the tray before continuing, her mind clearly racing ahead with possibilities. “Or,” she added thoughtfully, chewing for a moment before continuing, “we could explore the palace a bit more properly. I’ve only seen maybe a quarter of it so far, and half of that was because I got lost.” A small laugh slipped out. “I’m fairly certain there are entire wings I haven’t even stepped into yet.” Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked back at him again. “What would you rather do?” she asked, genuinely interested. “We could walk around for a while, or find those art supplies, or go outside if the weather’s nice.” She gestured vaguely toward the window. “Or all three, honestly.” She leaned back again, clearly energized by the idea of a day that wasn’t immediately packed with formal obligations. “And later,” she continued thoughtfully, “we should probably also start thinking about the northern trip. Not in a stressful way—just… planning things properly.” Her tone remained upbeat as she thought it through. “If we’re going somewhere cold, we should make sure we have enough warm clothing, and I’d like to understand the route better before we leave.” She paused then, glancing at him with a curious smile. “You’ve traveled there before,” she said. “What’s the journey like? Is it long? Are there villages along the way, or do you mostly stay on the main roads?” It was clear she wasn’t just asking casually. Her mind was already working ahead, trying to understand the world she was now responsible for navigating—even while she enjoyed the rare calm of a quiet morning. |
|
|
| |
|
As Alorha wondered what it would take for him to actually argue, he threw her a rather amused look. "A lot," he noted with a chuckle. "Keeping my temper in its place and my mouth shut took me a while, but I figured it out," he added with a soft chuckle. But, he would be more likely to argue a point with her, especially if they were alone, than anyone else or even if they were out in public or other parts of the castle. He nodded along to her comments about gathering the supplies up, still half thinking about it when she started talking about what else they could do before their meetings. That pulled him back from his thoughts and to the present, a chuckle escaping him as she rambled on. It was cute, in a way - not romantic, but he was glad that she liked him enough to show her true face around him. She wasn't just....trying to seem important or above him. She was just being herself. It was endearing. "There's some green houses down by the gardens," he noted lightly. "We could explore the castle a bit more and like around the library until lunch, then once it's a bit warmer we can go out to the gardens and greenhouses," he suggested. It was still a little cold this early in the mornings, so going outside later once it warmed up to the days normal temperature was a good idea, he thought. Plus it gave them time to get art supplies and explore the library and such as well. When she brought up their trip up north, he found himself thinking towards it as well, humming in thought. "It's maybe two days by carriage, if the horses aren't going faster than a trot," he recalled. "I believe we stayed on the main roads, but if you wanted to visit villages they might extend it to three or four days and make some stops in towns," he added. The last queen had never wanted to do things like that - she preferred to be seen as someone intimidating, almost like a god to her people. Untouchable. She rarely showed her face to the public. The people might appreciate someone who showed that she cared for them. "It might be a good idea," he mused after a moment or so. "They'd have to bring more guards with though," he added as an after thought. There was more room for trouble if they were stopping at towns and the queen was just wandering around. |
|  |
|
| |
|
Alorha’s eyes lit with amused curiosity when Sage answered her question about arguing, and the grin he gave her made it very clear that he found the whole idea entertaining rather than uncomfortable. She laughed softly when he admitted it had taken time to learn how to keep his temper and words in check, and she leaned forward slightly, clearly interested in the thought. “That sounds like it must have taken quite a lot of patience,” she said warmly, though there was a playful spark in her voice as well. “I imagine learning when not to argue is sometimes harder than learning how to do it.” She tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment before adding with a small smile, “Still, I’m glad you didn’t lose the ability entirely. Someone should be willing to disagree with me if I’m being unreasonable.” The comment was delivered lightly, but she clearly meant it. She had already realized that most people in the palace were far more comfortable nodding politely than challenging anything a queen said, and the thought of everyone simply agreeing with her forever sounded rather unhelpful. When she began rambling about possible plans for the day, she didn’t notice right away that Sage had gone quiet for a moment while listening. Her mind had already started moving quickly through possibilities, one idea leading naturally to another. The palace still felt enormous and full of unexplored corners, and the idea of actually having time to wander through it properly filled her with a bright sort of curiosity. His suggestion about the greenhouses and the timing of the day immediately caught her attention, though, and she nodded eagerly as she pictured it. “That sounds perfect,” she said, clearly pleased with the plan. “Exploring inside first would give us time to actually find those art supplies too.” Her expression brightened further as she thought about it. “And I’ve been wanting to look through the library properly anyway. The last time I stumbled into it I only had a few seconds before someone came looking for me.” She gave a sheepish little laugh at that memory. “Apparently disappearing into a tower full of books without warning anyone causes mild panic.” Her gaze drifted briefly toward the window again, imagining the gardens beyond it. By midday the sun should warm things up nicely,” she continued thoughtfully. “And I’d really love to see those greenhouses. I’ve always liked places where things grow all year round. They feel… hopeful somehow.” She smiled faintly at the thought before turning back to him again, clearly energized by the simple plan. When the conversation turned toward the northern journey, however, her curiosity shifted into a more focused kind of attention. She listened closely as Sage described the travel time, mentally mapping the route as he spoke. “Two days by carriage doesn’t sound too terrible,” she said thoughtfully, though it was obvious she was already considering the practical details behind it. “Though three or four days with stops might actually be nice if it meant seeing more of the countryside.” Her eyes brightened slightly at the idea. “I’ve barely seen any of the kingdom beyond the palace walls.” As he mentioned villages and towns along the route, she leaned back a little, clearly thinking through the possibilities more seriously now. “I wonder what the people there are like,” she said aloud, her tone thoughtful rather than distant. “Most of what I’ve seen so far are palace servants and council members. That’s not exactly a full picture of a kingdom.” She paused briefly, considering the idea of actually visiting those smaller communities along the road. “If we stopped somewhere… even briefly… it might be a chance to see how people actually live.” The thought seemed to genuinely interest her, though she nodded when Sage mentioned the added need for guards. “That makes sense,” she agreed easily. “It would probably require more planning than simply traveling straight through.” She rested her chin lightly in her hand for a moment, clearly thinking ahead again. “But if it can be done safely, I think it might be worthwhile.” Her expression softened slightly, though the optimism in it remained steady. “A queen should probably know the people she’s ruling,” she said simply. “Not just the nobles who speak for them.” After a moment she straightened again, the thoughtful mood shifting back toward her usual upbeat energy. “But that’s something we can ask the council about tonight,” she added, sounding perfectly comfortable with the idea of bringing it up later. “For now we have an entire morning to explore.” Her eyes flicked toward the parchment with Liz’s finished sketch again before returning to Sage. “So,” she said brightly, brushing her hands together lightly as if preparing to start the day, “after breakfast we go hunting for art supplies and books.” A small grin spread across her face. “And hopefully we manage not to get lost in the process.” |
|
|
| |
|
Sage couldn't help but laugh when she mentioned how the nobles had panicked when she'd stumbled across the library and they didn't know where she'd gone. "I can imagine them freaking out over it," he agreed, playing the science out in his head. "They do tend to be rather dramatic about things, though I imagine loosing the only heir to the throne and new queen within a day or two of her being at the castle would be rather embarrassing for them," he added with a wide grin, clearly amused by it all. He nodded brightly when she mentioned it would give them time to gather some art supplies as well, clearly excited to have something for himself. Maybe they could decorate this place a little better too, like she'd suggested the other day. That wasn't likely to happen today, but they'd get to it eventually he was sure. He nodded when she said she liked the greenhouses, humming softly. "I haven't been out there too often, since I had to stay by the queen, but they were nice the last time I managed to get out there," he thought out loud, the familiar tilt of his head appearing as he thought. "It was early spring then, though, so the gardens weren't in full bloom like they are now," he added. If he was being honest, he'd quite like to see the gardens too. He had always enjoyed being outside .... especially so now that he was most often cooped up in this room. He always liked opening the windows at least, but the queen always complained about them when he did open them, so he rarely did it. The chance to go just wander the gardens seemed very nice. Peaceful too. When she mentioned two days wasn't bad, he shook his head. "No, they keep you fairly comfortable," he noted. "The carriage is big, and there's plenty of room and cushions and all that stuff," he added with a shrug. "The old queen always just wanted to go negotiate and leave, we never stopped anywhere....the people would probably appreciate seeing you," he admitted. "No one liked the old one much ....she liked to think she was God." The council would need to agree, but it would likely be a good idea. They were going to negotiate after all...this was sort of a way to negotiate with their own people, in a way. To prove to them their new ruler was kind and just, and that they could trust her. Believe in her. That was important for a country. "I'm sure they'll agree, you'll just have to figure out how many more guards you need and whatnot," he added when she mentioned asking the council. He grinned at her as she mentioned trying not to get lost, shaking his head. "I've been here for over ten years, I think I can manage to get us to and from the library safely enough," he noted, a line of amusement threading it's way into his tone. "The gardens too." He wrinkled his nose slightly then. "The greenhouses in less familiar with, but they can't be that difficult," he noted, knowing that anywhere they went outside, the castle would be in clear sight. It would be rather hard to get lost out there. |
| |
|
| |
|
Alorha laughed when Sage described the nobles panicking over her disappearance, the sound bright and genuinely amused as she pictured the scene unfolding through the halls of the castle. She could practically imagine it: stern council members suddenly rushing through corridors, servants being questioned in a panic, doors being opened one after another as everyone searched for the queen they had apparently managed to misplace within their own palace. “Oh, I’m certain they did,” she agreed with a grin, clearly entertained by the idea. “A room full of very serious nobles suddenly realizing they’ve somehow lost the queen would probably cause a bit of chaos.” She shook her head lightly, her eyes still bright with amusement. “Though I suppose you’re right… losing the only heir and newly crowned queen within a day or two would be rather embarrassing for them.” The thought seemed to amuse her even more the longer she considered it. “I imagine half the council would be blaming the other half while they searched the castle.” When the conversation shifted toward gathering art supplies, her attention brightened again immediately. She nodded enthusiastically at the idea, clearly pleased that he seemed excited about it too. “I think that would be lovely,” she said warmly. “If there are rooms full of supplies sitting unused, we may as well borrow a few things.” She glanced briefly around the room as if imagining where things might go. “And perhaps we can make this place feel a little less… plain.” The faint smile on her face suggested she was remembering the earlier conversation about decorating. “It doesn’t have to happen all at once, of course, but slowly adding things might make it feel more like a place people actually live in.” When Sage mentioned the greenhouses and the gardens beyond them, her curiosity returned almost instantly. She listened closely while he described the last time he had been out there, her expression turning thoughtful as she pictured the scene he described. “If they were already nice in early spring,” she said slowly, “then they must be beautiful now.” Her gaze drifted toward the window for a moment as if she could already see them in her mind. “Everything should be blooming by this time of year.” She smiled faintly at the thought before looking back at him again. “I’ve always liked gardens. They’re peaceful, and they feel… alive in a very quiet way.” When he admitted he hadn’t been out there often because he had needed to stay close to the previous queen, her expression softened slightly, though she didn’t linger on it. Instead she brightened again, clearly determined that the day would be different. “Well,” she said lightly, “today we can both explore them properly.” The idea clearly pleased her. “It sounds like the sort of place where one could wander for a while without feeling rushed.” As the conversation returned to the northern journey, she listened with interest while Sage described the carriage and the travel arrangements. She nodded thoughtfully as he explained that the trip itself was fairly comfortable. “That’s reassuring,” she admitted. “I was imagining something far less pleasant.” Her expression turned more thoughtful when he described how the previous queen had traveled—arriving, negotiating, and leaving without ever stopping to see the people along the way. “That sounds rather distant,” she said after a moment. “Almost as though she preferred to rule from behind a wall.” She rested her elbow lightly on the table, thinking ahead as she spoke. “I would much rather people see their queen as someone real. Not someone they’re supposed to fear or never approach.” A small, thoughtful smile appeared on her face. “Respect matters, of course… but trust matters too.” When Sage suggested the council would likely agree as long as additional guards were arranged, she nodded easily. “That makes sense,” she said. “They’ll probably want everything planned very carefully.” She didn’t seem bothered by that thought at all. “But if it means we can stop in a few towns along the way, I think it would be worth discussing.” Her thoughtful mood didn’t last long, though. When he confidently assured her that he could guide them through the castle without getting lost, she laughed again. “Well, that is certainly comforting,” she replied with playful relief. “Because I was beginning to suspect the palace might secretly be designed like a maze.” She leaned forward slightly, clearly energized again as she thought about the rest of the day. “So the plan is the library first,” she said, almost as if organizing the day aloud. “We find some drawing supplies, perhaps a few interesting books if anything catches our attention.” Her smile widened slightly. “Then once the sun has warmed things up a bit, we head out to the gardens.” She paused briefly, clearly picturing the path ahead in her mind. “And after that we can find those greenhouses you mentioned,” she added with growing enthusiasm. “I’d love to see what they’re growing there.” Her eyes brightened again as she glanced toward the window, the thought of exploring clearly appealing to her. “That actually sounds like a rather wonderful way to spend the morning,” she said warmly. “Exploring castles, collecting art supplies, wandering through gardens.” She looked back at him with a cheerful expression. “Much nicer than sitting in meetings all day.” Then another thought seemed to occur to her, and she tilted her head slightly with curiosity. “Actually,” she added thoughtfully, “while we’re in the library… do you know if they keep maps of the kingdom there?” Her voice carried that same curious, planning tone again. “If we’re traveling north soon, it might be useful for me to see the route properly.” She gave a small, slightly sheepish smile. “At the moment most of my understanding comes from watching people point at very large maps during council meetings,” she admitted lightly. “It might be nice to look at one without five people arguing over it.” She reached for her cup again, clearly energized now that the quiet morning had turned into a small adventure. “And besides,” she added with a bright grin, “if we’re going to explore the castle, we may as well do it properly.” |
|
|
| |
|
Sage had nodded along with a grin as she continued speaking, the thought of the kobles running around anxiously still in his mind. "Sounds like they found you quickly enough....they didn't drag me out there at all," he mused, just shaking his head with amusement. "Can't say I'm upset about that," he added with a small chuckle. As she mentioned the art supplies and the greenhouses, he found himself just listening and nodding in agreement, clearly excited to go wander around for a bit. "I'm sure no one will even notice anything is gone," he noted, knowing that most of those closets and old rooms no one ever really used. There were whole rooms of decorations and such that were only used once a year, and not all of them were even used. Personally, he thought some of the decorations were rather ugly, and the people in charge of them never did a super great job, but he couldn't exactly just walk up to them and say their streamers were a shade different than their curtains or stuff like that. When she mentioned the library, and asked about maps, he cocked his head in thought. "They should," he thought out loud. "I don't often spend much time there....I don't read super well...but I think there's a section with maps of different towns and things as well as maps of the whole kingdom," he noted with a nod. He wasn't sure exactly what maps were there, but the library is where they often got maps for meetings from, he knew that much. So, they had to have at least those. "It's a good idea to look at them ahead of time," he agreed. "We can map the route and see what towns you might want to stop at," he added with a sort of chirp. Admittedly, he was finding himself rather excited about this, too. He hadn't seen much of the kingdom outside these walls, despite how long he'd been here, so he did want to explore more. There was a lot of the castle he hadn't seen too, just because he was restricted to his tasks and such. But with Alorha, he could go pretty much wherever as long as they were together, and he couldn't get into any trouble if she just said she wanted him there. So, he was clearly excited to just go wander. Besides, he enjoyed his time with Alorha, so he did enjoy just wandering with her. Even if he had to be careful around other nobles and such in the castle while they were walking, or if there were others nearby in the library, he still enjoyed just listening to her ramble on about things. He gave her a grin as she mentioned exploring properly, nodding excitedly. "Let's make the use of our time then," he noted lightly, taking the last few bites of the fruit he'd wanted and then setting the tray off to the side so he could take it back to the kitchen later. There was no need to try and do that now, after all. |
| |
|
| |
|
Alorha’s expression brightened as the plan for the morning began to feel more real, the quiet excitement in her posture growing as she pictured the day ahead. The idea of wandering the library, gathering art supplies, and then heading out into the gardens felt far nicer than sitting around worrying about council meetings and responsibilities she still barely understood. For a moment she simply enjoyed the thought of it—something simple, something curious, something that didn’t require her to pretend she knew exactly what she was doing. “That actually sounds wonderful,” she said warmly. “Library first, then the gardens once the sun has warmed things up a bit.” She nodded slightly as if committing the order to memory, her mind already wandering ahead to what they might find. “And the greenhouses after that.” She paused for a moment, clearly thinking it through. Truthfully, she knew almost nothing about the castle yet. She had been there only two days, and most of that time had been spent being ushered from one place to another while people explained things very quickly and assumed she understood them. Aside from the room she slept in, the dining hall, and the library she had accidentally stumbled into, the castle was still largely a mystery to her. “I suppose it will be good for me to actually see some of it,” she admitted with a small, thoughtful smile. “Right now I’m not entirely sure where anything is. I feel like I’ve only seen the same few corridors over and over again.” The thought didn’t seem to bother her too much though. If anything, it seemed to make the idea of exploring more exciting. “And I’d like to see the greenhouses properly,” she added with a spark of curiosity. “I noticed them from the outside when I was being shown around on the first day, but we didn’t stop there.” Her expression brightened again as she imagined it. “They looked beautiful through the glass though. Everything inside was so green.” The conversation reminded her of something else almost immediately. “Oh! And the art supplies,” she added quickly, the enthusiasm returning to her voice. “If there really are rooms full of things no one is using, I’d love to see what’s there.” She tilted her head slightly as she thought. “Paints, charcoal, brushes… there could be all sorts of things hidden away.” She looked like she was about to continue listing possibilities before she caught herself again, the familiar awareness crossing her face that she might be talking a little too much. Alorha pressed her lips together for a moment, letting out a small breath that almost turned into a laugh. “I’m doing that thing again, aren’t I,” she said lightly, amused at herself. Pushing herself up from her seat, she smoothed her hands over the fabric of her clothes before glancing down at them thoughtfully. “Well,” she continued, “if we’re going to wander through libraries and gardens, I should probably change into something a little easier to move in.” She looked toward the wardrobe across the room and walked over to it, opening the doors and studying the rows of dresses and garments inside. Most of them were far more elaborate than anything she would normally choose, clearly selected with the expectation that a queen should always look impressive. After a moment of consideration she pulled out something simpler—still neat and presentable, but far more practical for walking around the castle. “I won’t be long,” she promised. Stepping behind the small dressing screen, she changed quickly, the soft rustle of fabric carrying through the quiet room. Her thoughts continued drifting ahead while she dressed, still turning over the small plan they had made. The library, the art supplies, the gardens… it all sounded far more enjoyable than the tense uncertainty she had been feeling earlier that morning. A moment later she stepped back out, smoothing the last crease from her sleeve and brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “That should be better,” she said with a small, satisfied smile. She glanced toward the door, excitement slipping back into her expression. “Alright,” she added brightly, already ready to start moving. “Vamoose!" |
|
|
| |
|
Sage had just grinned over at Alorha when she mentioned she was doing the thing again, just shaking his head slightly, earrings brushing against his jaw softly. "Maybe, but I don't mind," he pointed out. "It's nice to be around someone happy for a change," he added, lifting his shoulders in a somewhat sheepish shrug. It was true though....her enthusiasm was wearing off on him, as did her happy chatter. He left like they could actually talk honestly between them about most things, which was really nice. He nodded when she mentioned that she'd need to change though, waving her off with a hum. "Go on then," he noted with amusement. "Find a dress that you'd be willing to get some dirt or paint on," he noted with a grin, knowing she'd be likely to bounce around and touch the flowers and haul art supplies around with him, which meant she'd likely get something on her. He made sure to get himself into an outfit that he could get away with getting some stuff on, though he doubted the small amount of fabric it had would get too messy ....and the metal plates and jewelry would be simple enough to clean if something got on them, so he wasn't too worried about it. He did just pull his hair back into a messy bun as opposed to the styles he was supposed to normally wear, figuring it would be easier without it being in his face. Alorha would tell any nobles off who saw it and got upset or tried to mess with him. He waited by the door then, grinning when she came back out and nodding as she moved towards him, pulling the veil over his face and shifting to open the door for her before slipping out of the room behind her. "The library's this way," he noted quietly, casting a nervous glance around to make sure they were alone. He really was t supposed to talk unless spoken too, so he knew if anyone of them realized how they acted by each other things would likely get fairly ugly fairly fast. He moved quickly through the hallways, keeping an eye out for anyone else. He was leading Alorha, since she wasn't as familiar with the hallways, and that was also kind of a taboo thing for him to do. He'd dropped back a step or two behind her a few times as they moved past someone on the way there, but for the most part they were in the clear on the way down. The whole way took only a few minutes, of course, but he was still wary about it. When they got to the library, he slipped into it and then closed the doors behind him and Alorha, so they would have the library to themselves. "Right, I'm not sure where the maps are but they're here somewhere," he noted, peering around the vast rows of bookshelves and desks and other various bit of furniture, including a fireplace that was in it at the time, but he could imagine how cozy the area would be in the colder months with it lit. "What do you want to look for first," he asked Alorha, turning away from the fireplace and peering towards the shelves by them. |
| |
|
| |
|
Alorha smiled softly at Sage’s comment about her chatter as they stepped out into the corridor together, the warmth of it lingering as she took her first proper look down the long stretch of hallway ahead. The castle still felt unfamiliar in a way that made her feel both curious and slightly small within it. Everything seemed large—larger than necessary almost—as though the building itself had been made not just to house people, but to remind them of its importance. The corridor stretched out beneath tall vaulted ceilings, pale stone arches repeating themselves one after another in a long line that made the distance seem even greater. Sunlight filtered through the high windows along one side, spilling pale gold light across the polished floor and catching faintly on the dust that drifted lazily through the air. On the opposite wall hung several long tapestries, their colors slightly faded with age but still rich enough to catch the eye. As they walked, Alorha found her gaze drawn to them again and again, the scenes woven into the fabric slowly revealing themselves the closer she looked. “This place feels older every time I see another hallway,” she murmured thoughtfully as they walked. One tapestry showed what looked like a battle—rows of soldiers on horseback moving across a green field beneath banners she didn’t recognize yet. Another depicted a harvest scene, people gathering wheat beneath an open sky, baskets piled high around them. She slowed slightly beside that one without even meaning to, her eyes tracing the careful detail stitched into the golden stalks of grain. “I wonder how many people have walked these halls before us,” she added quietly, half lost in the thought. “Generations of kings and queens… and everyone who served them.” Her fingers hovered near the edge of the tapestry as they passed, though she didn’t quite touch it, as though she wasn’t entirely certain she should. The castle felt full of history in a way she didn’t yet understand. Every wall seemed to hold something—stories, decisions, lives that had unfolded long before she had arrived here only two days ago. It made her feel a little strange sometimes, stepping into a place that had existed so long without her. She glanced sideways toward Sage for a moment, noticing the familiar quiet caution in the way he moved through the halls, how he occasionally shifted position slightly when someone passed them. “I still feel like I’ve barely seen any of it,” she admitted with a small smile. “Two days here and I think I could only find my room, the dining hall, and the library without getting hopelessly lost.” Her eyes lifted again toward the tall ceiling overhead, where the arches met in elegant curves. “And even those I only know because people keep escorting me everywhere.” The thought didn’t seem to bother her as much as it might have once. Instead, it stirred something more curious in her. “It’s a bit like living inside a maze,” she said lightly. They turned another corner, the hallway opening into a slightly wider corridor lined with tall windows overlooking the gardens outside. The morning light was stronger here, illuminating the pale stone walls and the carved details along the pillars that framed each window. Through the glass she caught brief glimpses of greenery far below—trees and winding paths that must belong to the gardens Sage had mentioned. Her attention lingered there for a moment, her expression softening. “They look beautiful from up here,” she said quietly, glancing toward the distant shapes of the garden paths. “I didn’t realize they were so large.” She forced herself to keep walking though, knowing they would see them properly soon enough. By the time they reached the library doors she felt that same quiet excitement returning again. When Sage opened the door and they stepped inside, Alorha slowed almost immediately, the scale of the room unfolding around her in a way she hadn’t properly noticed the first time she had wandered in. The library was vast. Tall shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed tightly with rows of books that looked as though they had been gathering knowledge for centuries. Some were neat and well-bound, their spines carefully labeled in fading ink. Others looked older, their leather cracked slightly with age, their pages yellowed with time. Long wooden tables sat arranged between the shelves, scattered with reading lamps and empty chairs that suggested scholars had spent long hours there once. The air inside the room carried the quiet scent of old paper and wood polish, mixed faintly with the coolness of stone walls that had likely stood there for hundreds of years. Alorha stepped a little farther inside, turning slowly as she tried to take it all in. Her eyes drifted toward the large fireplace set into the far wall. It was cold now, but she could easily imagine it lit in the winter months, the glow of the fire warming the room while someone read beside it. The thought made the place feel oddly comforting. “It feels different when it’s quiet,” she said softly. The first time she had seen the library, there had been people rushing around searching for her. Now there was only silence, broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps and the distant creak of wood somewhere deeper in the room. She wandered slowly toward one of the nearest shelves, her gaze scanning the rows of books with quiet fascination. “There’s so much here,” she murmured. Her fingers hovered just above the spine of one book before she lightly touched it, feeling the rough leather beneath her fingertips. She didn’t pull it out yet, instead letting her hand drift along the row as she walked slowly down the aisle. When Sage mentioned the maps somewhere in the library, she nodded thoughtfully, glancing back at him. “That would probably be useful,” she admitted. “If we’re going north, I should probably know what the journey actually looks like.” Her mind drifted briefly to the trip they had spoken about earlier. Two days by carriage, maybe longer if they stopped in towns. She tried to picture the road stretching north from the castle, villages scattered along the way, people she had never met living their lives far beyond these walls. It felt strange to think she would soon be traveling through those places as their queen. Her attention returned to the shelves around her. “But before we bury ourselves in maps,” she added thoughtfully, “I am still very curious about those art supplies.” She glanced across the wide room again, trying to imagine where something like that might be stored. “If there are storage rooms attached to the library, they’re probably tucked somewhere along the edges,” she reasoned quietly, her mind already working through the possibilities. “Most places like this keep extra materials nearby so scholars can reach them easily.” Her gaze moved slowly along the far wall, noticing a small side door partially hidden behind one of the taller shelves. “Oh,” she said softly, pointing slightly. “There might be something through there.” Then she smiled faintly to herself, glancing back at Sage with a hint of amused curiosity. “Although knowing this castle,” she added lightly, “it could just as easily lead to three more hallways and another room full of books.” |
|
|
| |
|
Sage had kept quiet for the most part in the hallways, since anyone could pop up at any time, hear him talking, and get upset. He certainly didn't want that. The nobles could be.....Intense, and while Alorha would defend him, he was t always by her side. That was when he'd get hurt, when they found him alone. Luckily, he moved around getting meals before most of them would even think about waking up, and by lunch and dinner the castle was populated enough if something happened it would likely get back to Alorha sooner or later. But still ....he would rather be safe than sorry. He did hum softly in agreement when she mentioned the large tapestries and how old and large the castle was. "Took me a while to figure it out," he noted softly. "I'm still not sure I believe it sometimes," he added with a sort of sheepish chuckle. He didn't belong here, he knew that, but he'd been here for so long he was staring to forget what his home village looked like. Certain memories he'd held on to - the smell of the beaches, and the chatter of the townsfolk as they worked. Things like that, little pieces of memory. But he'd forgotten much of it....and he knew almost nothing of the towns surrounding the castle, as he'd never been to them. He could agree the castle was too large to ever fully understand. It had a history that seemed to go beyond the history books at the library, as though it had always been here. They entered the library soon enough though, and Alorha was already pointing out possible storage spaces. He chuckled softly and nodded, moving to wander towards the door shed pointed out to him, beside her. He tested the doorknob once they got there, glancing over at her with a grin. "If it is a secret passage and we step into some secret meeting I'm counting on you to keep me out of trouble," he joked, though he supposed that was a possibility....a small one, but a possibility nonetheless. That wasn't the case as he opened the door and peeked into it, though. Instead, he noticed boxes full of....all sorts of things really. Some art things, some decorations, and some other bins that he really wasn't sure what they held. Everything was covered in a fine layer of dust, some of which had been blown into the air when he'd opened the door. He had backed up a step, sneezing from the initial burst of dust and then wiping the dust off his skin with a hum. "Well, these clearly haven't been touched in ages," he half grumbled, nose still a little tickly. That was good though ....it meant no one would notice anything was missing, once he and Alorha found something they wanted. Or multiple somethings, he supposed. He figured they'd likely come out with armfuls of stuff. He slipped into the closet like room then, doing his best to keep from kicking up too much dust as he moved, though he admittedly didn't do too great at it. It didn't take much to move the dust around. But they managed to peek into the bins close to them, working their way forward and taking out anything of interest to place outside of the room for now as they kept looking. |
| |
|
Partly Cloudy with Afternoon Drizzle
