The sun barely came over the tops of the mountains as Luc, and the Rogues whose curiosity about the new Queen overruled their feelings about the past trauma in their lives, rode into the village the first day of Winsol. More people than usually milled about the Queen's Square in front of the Queen's Residence, and as the group rode closer Luc saw why. The entire front of the home had greenery hanging from overhanging with twinkling colored light throughout caught the eye first, which led to the candles in the bedroom windows and a large tree with the same twinkling lights in the parlor window. A smile graced his lips and he let out a heavy, contented sigh, giving off a cloud of steam in the cold air.

"Welcome home Prince Grayhaven!" a voice called from the crowd, raising a cheer from the crowd and more greetings. One of the Scelties from the stables came and grabbed the reins of his horse when he slid off it's back with a wave to the crowd. Some of the Rogues stayed on their horses while some got off. The wagon with gifts from the women in the mountains had two men sitting in the seat, and the one in the back got out with a grin. Luc walked over and threw an arm over the man's shoulder with a grin of his own.

"Welcome home cousin," Luc said as he gestured to the house.

"For a while at least," the young man laughed while the travelers wagon rolled into the square.

"Blayne, are you sure it was wise to bring Kierman?" Luc asked, dropping his arm and watching as the horses came to a halt.

"You and I both know he wouldn't let what he saw go," Blayne sighed with a gesture to the other men. "I didn't want to keep these men from coming down a moment longer than I had to. Kierman planted his feet and stated he knew for a fact if he didn't go their would be some form of misfortune on the journey. The others refused to budge until he was loaded into the wagon. I had to bring him Luc." Luc sighed and watched as the large man stepped down from the wagon. Taller than anyone he had met and wide in the shoulders, Warlord Prince Kierman would be an asset to any Queen's Court or guard with a Green Jewel and his "rugged good looks" the women in the Rogue camps giggle about when they thought no one could hear him if not for one simple issue: Kierman was a natural Black Widow male.

Kierman's mother came from a long line of Black Widows. His side of the family could trace the bloodlines back to Lady Shira, the Black Widow and Healer who served The Rose Queen until her own death. Blayne and Kierman also came from the line of the third child born to Lady Cassidy and Prince Jared Blade, making them Luc's cousins since he was a descendant from the first child's line. They lived in the mountains most of their life, Blayne only coming down for supplies and funerals and Kierman only once before to attend the funeral of a Black Widow he respected. This would be the first Winsol the two spent in the village, preferring the rough life to the hustle and bustle of the village. Luc hoped the two would be able to stay the entire Thirteen Days of Winsol and not have to make an escape from all the ruckus and excitement, and also the festivities he didn't have time to help plan lived up to their expectations.

"Those illusions spells are charming," Kierman laughed while running his large hand through his dark curly hair.

"Yes, the Ladies here really-"

"Manny?" Lady Mirana shouted from her room window. Kierman's smile grew wider and his eyes sparkled as he raised a hand in greeting. A surge of jealousy came over Luc as Mirana squealed and climbed out the window.

"My Lady!" a young woman screamed as Mirana slid on air down to the street and proceeded to launch into Kierman's arms.

"It is good to see you too," Kierman said, engulfing Mirana in his arms for a spinning hug.

"I had no idea you lived around here!" Mirana shouted while leaning back and punching his upper arm.

"You never asked," Kierman replied with a smirk.

*They know each other?* Luc asked Blayne on a spear thread.

*Bet they met at Briarwood.* Blayne told him. *Kierman spent a sizable amount of time with the Black Widows before he had to come back into hiding because Queens started to rumbled about distrusting a male Black Widow. Briarwood gave him his passing exam and sent him back home with hopes he would be able to keep out of trouble. Guess they were right since he lived this long.* Luc grunted and stepped forward, making sure he was in prime position for his Lady who had another Warlord Prince's claim on her he didn't know.

"What in Hell are you doing here?" Mirana burst out with a couple of smacks from both hands on Kierman's chest.

"I told you, when you were ready to form your Court, I would be serving," Kierman chuckled as he set Mirana down. "I saw it."

"That was centuries ago!" Mirana squawked while punching Kierman's upper arm again. "I can't believe you really waited this long."

"Lady Mirana, may I introduce my cousin Lord Blayne?"Kierman said with a gesture to Blayne.

"Oh!" Mirana blushed prettily and smooth her hair with a sheepish smile at Luc. She stepped forward and made her greetings to Blayne with a dazzling smile. Kierman strolled over to where Luc stood with his hands in his pockets as Blayne took Mirana's arm and began to introduce her to the rest of the men present.

"Before you decide to kill me cousin, I have not designs to serve in the bedroom of our Lady," Kierman stated as Mirana laughed at something one of the Rogues said. "I will point out, however, my prior claim does stand." Luc nodded, not taking his eyes away from Mirana for a moment. The burning desire to hold her close and not share her overwhelmed him, almost overtaking his sensibilities when she finally made her way to him with her hands outstretched in formal greeting.

"I am happy to see you home, Prince Grayhaven," Mirana told him barely above a whisper. Luc took her hands in his own, and yanked her to him. She tensed when his arms wrapped around her, but he didn't care. His inner beast needed to feel her under his hands and smell her, fill his sense with her. She relaxed enough to wrap her arms around his waist and tuck her head under his chin. The temptation to take her inside and spend moments alone to explain what happened the night of the Autumn Dances and why he stayed away almost overcame him, but was cut short by Coren coming out of the house on Prince Allan's arm. Luc stepped back with a final brush of his hand over her Mirana's dark hair.

"Lady Coren," Luc said, stepping forward with a held out hand. "I have someone I want to introduce you do." Kierman and Blayne stood behind him as Coren took his hand, and Luc could feel the waves of emotions coming off the two men when Coren gave him on of her brilliant smiles.

"Does these mean we will have more guests for dinner?" she teased with a nod to the men behind him. "They look like they could put away quite a bit of food."

"She looks just like her," Blayne breathed.

"Mother Night she has her hair," Kierman muttered.

"Lady Coren," Luc said as he turned to face the two tense men with her arm in his. "I would like for you to meet Lord Blayne and Prince Kierman, some cousins of mine."

"Welcome to Eyota gentlemen," Coren stated with a bob of her knees. "I assume you will be staying in the Queen's Residence since you are family, though I have no idea where unless you already-"

"You look like Mum," Blayne said, shaking hard enough to rattle his teeth with each word. "Hell's Fire, Mother Night, and the Darkness be Merciful. You look like Mum." Luc took a step away from Coren and dropped her hand while preparing to shield everyone around in case this reunion turned ugly.

"Your mother?" Coren asked while looking over at Luc with wide green eyes.

"My mother died of a broken heart," Blayne gasped, tears filling his eyes as he reached a hand up to cup her cheek. "I was only fifteen when Father took her to town for a visit to get supplies. They refused me going but took you since you were too young to be left without your mother. Father told me I could have a pastry if I stayed and did my lessons. Even at fifteen I felt the guilt of not being there to protect my mother, and to protect you from being stole from her arms when my father looked away at the wrong moment. The guilt ate away at my for years, watching her pine for you, weep for you. Males are suppose to defend and protect, but you can't protect women from themselves. She died with your name on her lips."

"You…your mother…was my mother?" Coren whispered as Blade wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"Which makes you my sister," Blayne replied with a sad smile. "My little sister come home."

"As much as the reunion is touching to watch for all, I think the rest of this conversation should take place in private," Kierman murmured to the pair, nodding to another group of wagons approaching. "We don't need to air out any more family secrets."

"And I don't think Blayne will be able to hold himself together much longer,"Luc agreed while stepping forward and motioning toward the house with a smile. The leaders will go into the house for refreshment while the rest of you will get settled into the home we have picked out for you, or the area to set up your tents for your stay. More people are coming and we need the space for Lady Mirana to greet the others. Please, make way for them." Mirana finished speaking to the group of men and walked over to him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Luc offered his hand, and held his breath until she placed hers on his. He could feel her discomfort coming off her in waves as the people went their ways and forced her closer to him. He tried to send as much comfort to her as he reached for her mind. *You only have this batch and one more. Then, you can go back inside and get some breakfast.*

*There better be some fruit tarts left.* Mirana retorted with a squeeze on his hand as the people shifted to make room for the newcomers. Luc smiled, allowing himself to relax a bit more and smoothly move his hand down her arm to the small of her back. Her body tensed a moment at the familiarity, but the savage part of him wanting to tear apart every male was soothed by her relaxing under his hand not even a few moments later. We will be all right, he told himself as an older woman he recognized as a leader from one of the female camps approached to greet Mirana. May the Darkness be Merciful, as long as I continue to be patient, we will be all right.

Unther opened the curtain of the travel coach and smiled at the house in the distance. A large festively decorated tree decorated the well trimmed lawn. It would still be a least half an hour before they made their way around the winding drive to the front doors of Lady Phillipa's manor. The first night of Winsol always made him bitter with the memories of his family and their last Winsol in the house. His mother and sister had been themselves again, out from under his grandmother's watchful eye for the entire Winsol season due to an illness that swept through the area weeks before only to leave a lingering few to have to suffer it's effects for the holiday season. He played games with his sister and escorted his mother to functions she wanted to go to instead of ones his grandmother insisted on attending for more social reasons. The entire household relaxed enough to enjoy the festivities while the First Circle danced attendance to his grandmother's demands. It was one of the few happy memories he held onto as he rebuilt his District in what he and his people wanted, hoping there would be other Winsol seasons like that. He held the same hope now as Lord Christopf maneuvered over to see out the window as well.

"Her Ladyship will want to see this," Lord Christopf said with a grin as the tree came to life with colored lights.

"See what?" Jolin mumbled. Unther turned his head slightly to watch her come from the sleeping compartment, cheeks prettily pink and eyes still bleary from sleep as she made her way to the window. A thrill of small pleasure coursed through him when her shuffling walk brought her against his back with her mouth pressed against his shoulder.

"That," Unther whispered, pointing out the window with a grin as he watched her face brighten when she finally registered what was before her.

"Lady Phillipa told me there would be a tree, but not how huge it would be!" Jolin squealed as she pushed around him to press her face against the glass.

"We should be there within the next thirty minutes or so," Unther told her while glancing over at Lord Christopf, who prudently stepped away and took a seat at the desk he vacated moments before.

"Oh Hell's Fire," Jolin cursed with a tug on her wispy-braid as she turned to Unther with her face full of panic. "I need to look presentable! Why didn't you wake me sooner?"

"Fret not, my Lady," Cinda said, rushing out of the sleeping compartment with a little wave to Christopf. "I only need a few moments to make you beautiful. Come along now." Cinda tugged Jolin back into the sleeping compartment as the two chattered in excitement over the decorations and possible activities planned for the next few days. Unther waited to for the compartment door to close to throw up his own sight shield and change himself. Lady Phillipa invited Lady Jolin to her house party for the first four days of Winsol to appease Lady Jordyn's request the young Queen be watched closely until she formed her own Court and Lady Jolin's want to celebrate Winsol in a traditional manner. The reprimand for Jolin's actions could have been worse than just having supervision by Unther and Lady Phillipa together at any event held outside the District of Stargrove until she had a First Circle. Invitations for Winsol rolled in, and Jolin's mood turned more and more sour until Lady Phillipa's house party invitation came. Though the party would only be for the first four days of Winsol, Lady Phillipa confessed she would probably keep Jolin till the day before Winsol to attend a few plays and a party or two held at some of the other Queen's estates. Cinda demanded to come along as well to make sure Jolin would be properly prepared for the events, and Unther agreed only because since the young woman had taken over as Jolin's personal maid his Lady had taken a turn for the better with only one outburst over the unfairness of her having to be watched like child when she was a Queen and three grumblings about having a Black Widow in residence. Cinda being the daughter of a Queen didn't hurt either, though her mother did send him missives almost daily requesting him to send her daughter home so she could marry the man picked out for her. Unther politely declined with one missive skating on the boundaries of Protocol in wording two days ago, stating her daughter would be visiting for the Winsol season and they would revisit her coming home after the festivities died down.

"Her Ladyship does seem to have calmed down a good bit," Lord Christopf stated while throwing up his own sight shield. "Though I wish she would sleep better. Cinda told me she has been tossing and turning for the last few nights."

"Might have to do with a missive her father sent," Unther grunted as he pulled up his pants. Jolin spent the night in her suites after she dropped the missive on his desk with a blank face. She left the letter open on his desk, and what man wouldn't read something so obviously upsetting to his lady. Jolin rarely went quiet, and he learned she only stay calm when something truly upset her. Memphis said Lady Orian did the same thing, as well as some of the other Queens he had the pleasure of knowing. It was apparently a personality trait most solid Queens held in their personality traits, which gave Unther hope she really was what the Black Widow told him he would find even with the wording of the letter her father sent with his regrets on his inability to come visit for Winsol.

Unther knew Jolin understood the message beneath the words. Her father clearly didn't want to spend time with his daughter, and Chris made a very discreet inquiry to his brother about the possibility of her father attending the Winsol celebration in Eyota to make sure he hadn't chosen to spend the holidays with Teral to make sure her father didn't go spend time with another Queen for a more prestigious connection. The pleasure coursing through him still over the knowledge their father had been refused a place in the holiday celebration. However, the hurt the man caused his lady almost sent him over the killing edge if Keith hadn't come in with his lessons to show him how well he was doing. Her shutting him out of her rooms and eating away from the court almost sent him over the edge again, but Solye assured him Jolin just wanted some peace as she stood between him and the door to Jolin's suite with a smile that told him he could try to get to his lady with little success. He instead spent the evening chopping wood and planning on how to get revenge on a man who would dare upset his Queen.

"Almost there," the driver said through the little window of the driver's compartment before shutting it once more.

*This driver will not take us anywhere ever again.* Chris sent on a private thread, and Unther agreed. The man sneered at them more than once while loading their luggage, and his roving look of Cinda made Unther's hackles rise. It helped Cinda was a light Opal while the driver only sported a Summer-Sky and he had to keep his eyes and mind on the Winds to get them safely to the Queen's Residence. He would discuss with Lady Phillipa the possible use of a Court travel coach for the trip home.

"Hell's Fire!" Unther roared when the Coach landed roughly. The sound of gravel scraping the bottom of the Coach almost covered up the sounds of a body hitting a surface hard in the sleeping compartment. He threw up a physical shield around himself as the Coach began to turn over, sending papers and ink in the air. The women screamed and Unther braced himself for impact. How he and Lord Chris managed to not hit each other as the Coach tumbled end over end amazed him. When the Coach came to a halt mid-turn, he braved moving to an opening in the now broken walls of the Coach to see if anyone else had been hurt by the accident. His eye instead found a furious Queen with three of her men standing behind her with a Green shield surrounding the stopped Coach. Lady Phillipa's hand flicked and turned the Coach enough to set it up right. Unther waited until the Coach had been set upright to scramble to the sleeping compartment. The door popped open as his hand reached for the knob, and a very composed Jolin and Cinda stood in the doorway. Not a hair out of place, rip of their dress, or even a mark on their skin indicating their had been an accident.

"Lord Unther, will you please assist Lady Cinda and I out of here?" Jolin stated while holding out her hand.

"Allow me to assist," Christopf replied as he held out an arm to Cinda, who took it without pause while Unther took Jolin's hand and settled it in the crook of his arm.

"Of course," Jolin said with a smile up at Unther while using Craft to bust open the mangled door. Unther stepped out of the Coach first, only letting go of Jolin long enough to help her down. Unther watched his Queen stay composed as they walked toward Lady Phillipa arm in arm once the shield had dropped.

"Thank the Darkness you are all right," Lady Phillipa cried while pulling Jolin to her and holding her tight. "Mother Night, I think I stopped breathing until you stepped out of the Coach."

"Just some nerves it all," Jolin replied, stepping back and turning slightly to the once again shielded Coach. "Someone needs to check on the driver." Unther almost believe the worried look on her face. Could have if he hadn't been reading her emotions for the past few months enough to see the anger boiling in her eyes.

"My men shall look into him, but you shall see a Healer," Lady Phillipa stated as she took Jolin be the shoulders and shielding them both. "My personal Healer is already brewing a calming draught for you. I know you don't want to take it, but as a favor I wish you would. It will give you a chance to sleep to be prepared for the games tomorrow."

"But the party this evening…"

"The guests will understand," Lady Phillipa told Jolin with a look back at Unther. He knew that look. Seen it many times when Lady Phillipa and himself had to maneuver around a difficult matter in courts the two of them served in when they were younger. Waiting until Lady Phillipa safely had Jolin through her manor doors, he turned to face the other three men with a grim stance.

"Lord Christopf, escort Lady Cinda inside to the Healer's room as well. The rest of us will see to the driver."

"Yes, Lord Unther," Chris replied, guiding the young woman into the manor with a knowing glance. Unther waited until Lady Cinda walked through the doors before nodding to the shielded Coach with the now panicking driver running back and forth in front of the damaged Coach.

"Let's see exactly what happened," Unther sighed with resignation as he lead the three men to the Coach. When he reached the wreckage and driver, the thought of being a leader being far more trouble than what it is worth flashed through his mind as the man began protesting as soon as the four men were in earshot.

Mirana took one last look in the mirror as the rest of the women left to take their places in the Winsol Tree Ceremony. Of course, the rest of them didn't have to chose their Court in front of the entire village they would be living in and possibly be insulting several members of the Territory by not choosing a male or female to serve in her First Circle. Most of the Blood now understood the Queen would choose males who belonged to her for a First Circle position, but many still believed they could gain social status from being in certain Queen's Courts. Her heart knew who she would have in her First Circle of the men she met so far, and the rest would present themselves at the Ceremony tonight. Tangled webs were difficult to read when you were so close to the matter at hand, and you sometimes didn't want to know the answer, but she saw what she needed to see to assure herself she would be successful in choosing the males needed for her Court this evening. The appearance of Kierman only solidified the vision in the web she had spun just the night before.

"Are you ready?" her uncle Alec asked from the doorway with a small smile.

"For what?" Mirana snorted as she turn to him with her own smile. "After all, no one can really be truly prepared until the day of Winsol, and even then some may not be done with their shopping. Didn't Allen scramble to the attic to piece together a gift for my mother in the wee hours of Winsol morning a few years ago because he found out my father got her the same book he had for Christmas?"

"We check each others lists now," Alec laughed, holding out his hands for her. She took them in her own and shook her head with a sigh.

"I am as ready as I can be for someone who is setting up her first Court," she told him while looking at her Sapphire ring. "The letters other Queens sent in support helped. My heart still hurts when I realize I will be out of my parents shop and in a Territory so far away from them."

"You had to grow up at some point," Alec replied as he ran his thumb lightly over the ring. "My sweet niece, you will be a very fine Queen. One of the best in my opinion. That is just me being biased I suppose, though I have been around enough Queens to know the difference between a good Queen and a bad Queen."

"So I am a 'fine' Queen and not a 'good' Queen?" Mirana teased while tugging on his hands.

"You know what I meant," he laughed with a tug on her arms. He held her against him and sighed into her hair as she rubbed her back. "You won't know how things will turn up, but you will never know unless you try."

"You guys coming?" Prothvar asked as he came down the hall. "The small ones are getting restless, and Lady Carol isn't faring well with the crowd. I would like for the whole thing to be done shortly if you don't mind. For her sake."

"We are coming," Mirana replied, moving to stand on her uncle's right side. The three of them stepped out of the Queen's Residence to the large crowd of people now cheering around a large open area of the square.

"Time for us to do our thing," Paulina murmured while taking Mirana's left hand from Alec. Nerves fluttered in her stomach as she and Paulina made their way to where the webs to create their elaborate illusion were stationed. Rhina stood at her assigned web with a smile on her face, and her son right behind her with a sparkle in his eye rivaling all the kids in attendance excitement. Mirana shook her head with a smirk and took her place by her illusion web.

*Do you want to take a bet your man will be up all night looking at the tree?* Mirana sent to Paulina on a distaff thread. She then schooled her expression in an appropriate smile as she used Craft to enhance her voice over the crowd. "People of Shalador Nehele, it is my honor as your chosen future Queen to create the Winsol Tree for all to enjoy for the next thirteen days. I hope this tree helps get you in the Winsol spirit as much as it does me." She turned to the web on the stand and descended to the strength of her Ebon-Gray Jewel. She could feel the other two women gathering their own strength as she pulled out a small chip of her Ebon-Gray Jewel. Securing the chip, she briefly looked up to see Luc staring at her from his position with the other Warlord Princes of Shalador Nehele. Her hands shook with emotion as she held them in front of the web and tried to clear her mind. This illusion spell required her to be very precise in her casting with the other two Black Widows, which meant she had to concentrate on the spell instead of what will happen after the tree was created. The spell was simple if she were trying to make something smaller, and less realistic, but with the amount of power and skill Paulina, Rhina, and herself possessed it would be a travesty if they didn't use it to make the best tree illusion possible.

Her hands steadied as the other two women's power reached out and she started to focus on the task at hand. The weaving of the different Jewel strengths could turn out badly if she didn't pay attention to what she was doing. The subtle Black shield over the area to protect the people if something went wrong was difficult to ask for from Luc, but she had no doubt he belonged to her when he agreed without hesitation. As the illusion began to bloom in front of her, she relaxed enough to look through the for the moment transparent illusion to give Luc a tentative smile. Power flowed into the web with controlled precision as the Winsol Tree took form, and the crowd gasped when the colored lights began to appear. Mirana raised her hands to the sky with joy when then golden sparks rained down to land on the tree, spiraling down from the top to cover the tree like garland. Small silver icicles formed on branches while festively wrapped packages appeared under the tree. She stepped back with a please grin as a large ribbon in a bow appeared at the top of the tree, signaling the illusion was completed. A cheer rose from the crowd and Mirana turned to take her uncle's offered hand. The crowd parted once more as she and the other two Black Widows filed over to the platform nearby the men had set up earlier in the day for her to offer herself to males willing to serve.

A hush came over the crowd as quickly as the cheer when she took the first step onto the platform. Her hands clench in her skirt as she held it up to walk to the middle of the platform and look over the crowd. Anticipate rolled off the crowd in waves, combining with her fear and causing her stomach to roll. It didn't help she consumed only toast and coffee that morning. She clasped her hands in front of her at hip height once she reached the center of the platform, and gave the crowd a hopeful smile while using Craft to enhance her voice. "The time has come to choose my Court. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to have all of you to trust me to rule a Territory full of amazing people, fantastic culture, and a history I wish to become a shining star. My heart is too full for words you are giving me the chance to prove to you I am the type of Queen you deserve. Now, is there anyone willing to serve?" Luc, Teral, Allan, her uncle Alec, Prothvar, and two more Warlord Princes stepped forward. Her chest tightened and pulled too all but one of the Warlord Princes standing in front of her, and she didn't care what the man's name as called forward Teral.

"Prince Teral, will you serve?"

" Your will is my life," Teral replied, kneeling in front of her with his fist over his heart. He stood and took his place beside her, his Red Jewel glittering in the witchlights on the platform. She called all the Warlord Princes forward but Luc and the one didn't feel like he belonged to her. Each of them took their place on the platform, and it broke her heart to call for the next group.

"Will anyone else serve?" Luc's face did not change, but Mirana could feel his blend of anger and disappointment coming off him in waves as he stepped back to allow Yarek, Kierman, and two other Princes whose pull tugged her hard stepped forward. They all offered themselves to her, and took their place on the platform with her. She called again for those willing to serve, and the Warlords stepped forward. Richard, Blayne, Jared, and three others stepped forward. Those, too, took their place on the platform at her side. Fourteen men in all to serve in her First Circle, which is more than the standard twelve but not unheard of when Queens of her similar strength formed a Court. The anguish coming off Luc threatened to collapse her as she presented the Master of the Guard ring to Prothvar. Lord Richard accepted the Steward's ring, and anger rolled over Mirana when she offered the First Escort ring to Jared. She gestured to the men on the platform with a smile to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen of Shalador Nehele, I give you my court."

"Shall we celebrate?" Yarek yelled as two casks appeared on either side of the platform. The people cheered and rushed the stage, causing Mirana to lose Luc in the crowd of faces now congratulating her on her success.

Much later, Luc had Mirana's arm through his own as he escorted her to her suite of rooms in the Queen's Residence. He wanted to refuse her, to run away from everything to wallow in his emotions. Every time he tried to slip away from the celebration, his people pulled him back into their fold. Protocol dictated he stayed for every request as it was made, and the thought of murdering Yarek or Jared when they asked or had one of the ladies ask for something crossed his mind more than once. When people began to drift away, Lady Mirana asked the Prince of Shalador Nehele to escort her away for the evening.

"Prince Grayhaven," Mirana stated when they reached her door, dropping her arm and turning to face him.

"Yes Lady?" Please, make this quick so I can finally allow my heart to break in private.

"I have a question I wanted to ask you in private," she replied while putting up an aural and physical shield at the beginning of the hallway.

"Of course Lady." I would crawl over hot coals for you, he thought as he watched Lady Mirana shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other. My life is yours, in your hands for the taking, and you didn't call me to serve. Mother Night, just ask me the damn question and I can go off to the Rogue Mountains for a few weeks till I don't feel the betrayal of trust we had been building for the last few weeks and heal the wound in my heart you have created.

"I am didn't want to ask this of you in public," Mirana breathed shakily with a tentative smile. "The embarrassment of rejection doesn't sound appealing, and after the Autumn Dances I wasn't sure this would be welcome."

"Lady?" His heart jumped in his throat when she called in a box, the box he knew belonged to the Consort ring handed down from Queen to Queen to use since the first Queen after Lady Cassidy had it made for her Consort who eventually became her husband.

"Prince Grayhaven, would you accept the position of Queen's Consort in my Court?" Mirana asked through the hazy fog now surrounding his brain.

"I…I…"

"It is understandable if you do not want to," Mirana blurted with red cheeks and she shifted her gaze to the floor. "I mean, we haven't been on the best terms the last few weeks, and you might still be angry with me for assuming things about Lady Flora that I know now aren't true. You have also been avoiding me, being away for weeks, and I wasn't sure if I was the reason or something else. I don't mind if you say-" Luc grasped her face in her hands and pressed his lips to hers, effectively stopping her next protest. Once he felt he had sufficiently expressed how much he did want to wear the Consort ring, he finally came up for air, but only pulling back enough to keep his nose touching hers.

"I would be honored to be your Consort," he whispered as he stared at her eyelids.

"I'm not ready for the more…intimate aspects of the relationship," she laughed softly while using Craft to float the ring box up to his eye level. "But I will take more of that if you please."

"Oh, I will me happy to give you that," he told her, taking the ring box while she turned away from him and walked into her suite, leaving the door open for him. His mouth pulled into a grin as he put the Consort ring on, and hoped he could convince her to allow a few cuddles along with the kisses she wanted as he followed his Queen into her private quarters.