Tea and Taren's Request

After the sisters finished their breakfast, they each said their goodbyes and headed towards their own duties assigned for the day. Save for, Daisy who had stayed behind to help Anastasia chose her outfit for the tea party today.

A white simple gown with deep blue embellishments on the edge was the base for the attire of Daisy's choosing. A sort of sheer shirt was placed over the base of the dress. It too was deep blue, with sleeves that puffed and tied in handsome little bows near the wrist. Tassels hung from the shirt and lengthened it to be just past her thin waist were a blue sash tied into a bow finished the ensemble.

Being careful to not cause another headache, Anastasia braided her hair and allowed babies breath and hyacinths were woven into her hair. She also brought a parasol of white and blue to shade her from the sun. Although the event would take place outside again, Anastasia feared the outing much less knowing her head didn't ache the same way it had yesterday.

As Anastasia got dressed, Daisy talked about everything from the weather to what she had been practicing on the piano. Soon though, the conversation durned to that of the days events.

"I wish I could go."

"You will have to attend this sort of event soon enough. It's better you enjoy the days you have."

Daisy crossed her arms in a rather childish way, but Anastasia simply patted the shoulder of the young girl.

"But you Bryn and Cora get to go."

"We are required to go as envoys of the country. That is a lot of responsibility."

"I can handle it."

"I'm not saying you can't. I just now if I had a choice I would choose to enjoy a fantastical tea party with the likes of say unicorn and a mermaid before I had to listen to one more stuffy diplomate talk about the weather."

Still not convinced, Daisy pouted, but Anastasia couldn't allow her youngest sister to be unjustly thrust into the spotlight of princess just yet.

"I'll tell you what. Why don't you have a tea party all you own. You can ask a maid to bring you tea and then invite one guest to share it with you. You can even use my private gardens if you promise to behave respectfully."

With that Daisy's face lit up. She rushed to hug Anastasia and nearly squealed before pulling away.

"Thank you Anastasia."

"You're welcome, now run along, you have a tea party to plan, and I one to attend."

Daisy nearly skipped out of the room leaving Anastasia to finish getting ready. When she had stilled herself and put on as much of a guard as possible, she left her rooms as well. Today as she headed towards the garden pavilion her ladies-in-waiting closely followed behind.

However, she was glad for their closeness today. Because when the eyes of the court fell upon her, she stiffened. There were going to be questions about yesterday's episode. However, she could not let that be what determined the course of today's activities. There was no time for wishes of good health or the weather. The enemy was closer than he had ever been before, and she needed to know why he hadn't struck when he had the chance.

When she got to the gardens she was greeted by the gentle mummering's of her people. When they saw her, they stilled and bowed towards her and her ladies-in-waiting. She nodded toward them sorry to have interrupted their conversations, but eager to know what had changed in the few short hours she was gone.

After having settled in her designated spot for the party, she was quickly offered tea and tea cakes, and soon the conversation of some of her suitors. Today would begin the part of the Spring Season known as turns. Turns were spend with the suitors that still feel they are in the running for the queens hand. From today on out, each suitor will be predominantly matched with the Queen to spend the day and its activities with her. Although other suitors are often at these events, it is up to the suitor to allow further conversation between the suitor and himself or not.

Before Anastasia could even find out who the first suitor to have his turn was, Duke Phillip Vern stooped low before her in a bow. He then addressed the Queen, and seemed to assess her for himself before speaking. "Your Majesty, I hope you are feeling better."

It had been the last time they had seen each other since she had given him his portion of the seeds for the Planting Ceremony yesterday and he looked worse for wear than he did then. If her sisters had been correct, he had waited outside her chambers for several hours waiting to hear if she was okay after yesterday's episode.

He looked tired, and she feared he had been up worrying about her all night. However, she could do little about that now. Instead she simple nodded in response and uttered a simple, "I am feeling much better. I thank you for your concern."

"All of Karthia wants nothing but your health and continued ability to rule Karthia as our Queen."

"I can assure you that nothing will be hindering my ability to rule Karthia for a long time yet."

By then Bryn had come up to her sister and stood to her right. She gave a nod to Duke Vern, and he returned it with a slight bow before then turning and leaving the princesses.

Bryn placed a reassuring hand on Anastasia's shoulder as Prince Taren walked towards the duo. He bowed lowly before speaking. "It is good to see her highness looking so well today after the events of yesterday."

"From what I understand it is in part thanks to you that I have recovered so quickly. It has come to my attention that if it was not for your strength I may not have gotten the care I needed as quickly as I did."

"It was nothing your highness. I did what any loyal subject of yours might."

"And I thank you for that. If there is any way that I might repay your loyalty, please do let me know"

"I might know of a way you can repay me, your Majesty."

"And how is that?"

"It would be the highest honor unto which I could be bestowed if you would agree to go on a walk with me."

Before Anastasia could even speak, Bryn was interjecting, "I'm afraid my sister is much to weak to go on a walk with any of her suitors at the moment."

"Well I would ask if we could have tea together, but I am afraid that is much to intimate an event for just our second meeting, third if you count fainting into my arms."

Anastasia spoke before anymore attention could be drawn to the situation, or Bryn interject on her behalf again. "If you are willing to wait a few days more, I may find the time and strength to go on a walk with you."

"I am willing to wait for as long as her majesty requires." was his response.

"Then it shall be so." She smiled, out of convention more than conviction, but she needed to get on his side or within his head before he did the same to her. Perhaps this walk would be the perfect time to figure out what his true intentions were while still holding to respectable conventions. She needed to solve this and soon, before all of Karthia suffered for her negligence.

Lord Henry was now nearing the Queen's location, and with a deep bow interjected. "My apologies, I mean not to interrupt."

Bryn smiled down at him and soon spoke for the Queen, "No need to apologies. Today is your turn, so it's your right to interject." Now turning towards Taren she spoke, "Thank you for your time today Prince Taren. The queen now has other engagements, but someone from her staff shall be contacting you with information about our bargain."

Taren bowed and mumbled a thank you before leaving Anastasia with Lord Henry.

"I hope you are feeling better today your highness." Lord Henry spoke.

"I am feeling much better thank you."

The tea party continued on in a typical way. Attendees mingled and some came to speak with her when they noticed a lull in the conversation between her and Lord Henry. Overall, he was pleasant enough company. She was glad that he seemed to carry a good deal of teh conversation and was highly considerate of her.

However, she found her attention divided. Although she had been tracking him on and off, Anastasia felt a small tinge of fear rush trough her when she realized that Prince Taren was no where in sight. He normally kept to the outskirts of the group, but would stay until most of the party had left. Today, it appeared the tea party was not interesting enough to keep his intrigue. Either that, or there was something far more interesting to him beyond the party.