A return to Aegis

Duty was at times a heavy thing at times, and it was a duty as a daughter as well as a princess which carried her from her first visit so sharply. Words were left to her queen though she was unsure if it made it's way to her attention, the servant she left it with, seemed flighty at best. But she stood now within the entrance of the palace once more, a sigh of relief passing through her lips, jade hues holding a bit more of life to them as they cast their gaze upon the grand features before her. Much had gone on in the time she had been away and much surely her dear friend would wish to know. Despite her best efforts she knew she would not be able to hide what was upon her thoughts now and of course they were trailed back to the toreador whom caused her to seek refugee in other lands. But it was a deep and dark past that Ava did not know of. And to her mind only few knew of. Of course if Ava took part within politics of the underdark she would have heard wind of it, but again those were days she was not proud of, days that many did not know of, she hid it well from everyone. She was not Letala then, and such tangled events that formed within that time, she herself refused to talk of so lightly or even wish to express. Leaving it all behind her some might view as cowardly or running but to her it was to save her family, her father and brother's alliance and credibility were were called into too much question and now even it was still a delicate situation between her family and the Asharien line as well as those in the underdark. A fate she would have never could have imagined.

She came not within a royal carriage as before but alone, upon a black stead. Legs woulds swing to fall meeting the ground, her riding boots scattering a small cloud of earth about her feet. Gloved hands would pull back the heavy hood of her dark blue cloak which too covered most of her body, only when she walked would small glimpses be given of the simple green gown which hugged her body. Hair flew freely golden strands catching the light, giving a slight glow. One last sigh would be given as her expression was turned into a warm blankness, no longer the tired heaviness that was upon her before. Eyeing a guard she would smile to him and ask for his assistance, hoping he would remember her from last time.

"If you could please take my horse to the stables and alert the Queen that her friend has returned."

The guard would nod to her, his stoic facial features refusing to budge. "Yes M'Lady"

A stable hand would be called by the guard and sooner than she would know it, he was at her side taking the reins from her grasp. Eyes would look as the horse and servant would walk in a slow pace from her, her attention held as to not see the guard send another to within the castle walls to seek out the Queen. Falling back to the view in front of her, she would stand for a mere moment, surely she would be welcomed back within the comfort of the palace walls but she wished not to intrude, for if she was busy it was not her attention to pry into the busy life she knew she led. nerves came again as she began to walk, moving over to a near by seat. Eagerness was within her but she was taking much gratitude within the time, time to figure out the scattered thoughts of her mind, the many words always seemed a burden to her. But none the less she was glad to be back in Aegis soil.

Ava had indeed caught word of Letala's return from the servant and had made a point to leave the throne room and meet her friend in the main entrance way, a rareity for her. On this occassion, she was simply glad to hear of Letala's return, and had been eagerly awaiting it.

Taking strong strides with her long velvet burgendy gown trailing behind her, Ava shoo'ed away a maid who attempted to pick it up for her and chided her for it.

"Can't you stop fussing me for but a minute?"

She shook her head, remembering now, why she took the effort to travel to other realms and how she had met Letala to begin with. Ava was very much a free spirit in her own right, and the crown always weighed so heavily on her shoulders.

Her thoughts were disrupted by the fact that she was standing there, at the doors, awaiting for the guard to escort Letala through.

The guard would break her train of deep thought, glassy hues focusing to the source of the deep voice that spoke with a harshness, a tone she only figured was his nature, not to intimidate or purposely to be cold.

"Her Majesty the Queen is ready to see you Princess."

A slight eye brow would raise followed quickly by a slight smile. Surely that was her friend's doing, to be addressed in such a manner. She could always count on Ava to be welcomed within her realm with the greatest of respect. Normally such formal titles to be called it bugged her but here it warmed her and she was unaware as to why such a simple thing curved her lips into that delicate smile. She would rise slowly to her feet, brushing out the folds of fabric, the smooth nature of her attire once more. Following the guard she would be at ease, the nerves that she had held now gone, a welcomed surprise . No words were exchanged between the two as they walked. Only the sounds of their attire, from the clink of metal upon metal from the guards armor to the soft rustle of fabric as it skimmed the ground and the crisp click of her boot heal.

The double doors would open at the hand gesture of her escort and eyes would soften that much more to see her friend waiting. Her own pace would quicken as she passed the guard. Open arms were extended her attention now completely upon Ava.

"Ava my dear as always you look ravishing"

The doors opened swiftly and as did Ava's arms, ready to greet her dear friend with a fond embrace.

"Letala, I'm so glad you came back to see me again!"

Her voice resonated with sincerity as Ava moved foward and hugged her.

"You look wonderful also, I see you are well. Come inside, the travel must have made you weary. We can gossip over food and drinks, shall we?"

Ava smiled, looping her arm through Letala's and heading back towards the throne room, ignoring her staff who stood poised to the side.

The business of her surroundings was very much to the back of her mind, as her arm was taken within her friends she walked side by side in great lightness of being there once more as if nothing had ever changed. But she knew it was far from that dream she wished was a reality. Yet still the talk of food and drink widened her smile.

"yes that would be good, I feel like I have much to explain since my last visit, I do apologize greatly for leaving as quickly as I did and with little word. I hope I did not worry you."

Eyes would be set to the chair before her and gently she would pull from her friend's grasp to take a seat within the chair. The flames comforting her weary bones. For travel as much as she loved it, there was always a toll upon her body. She had forgotten how much so these past trips. Once she was used to the road, always moving and always going, never in one spot for too long but since Disideri she found a great love for staying within one place, for planting roots and finding a place to call her home and sanctuary. She might even dare say she loved it more than her life before, the life of a gypsy. But the grass is always green as they say for the moment she was tied down she wished to feel and now she wished to find a home once more to call her own. A place she had many to choose from but her heart was still wandering, still undecided as to where her life was to go now.

Her body sunk into the cushions of the chair and eyes would momentarily close taking a deep breath, to only reopen to focus upon Ava once more.

"so what gossip my friend must we discuss first?"

"You have much to explain? Oh, I do hope nothing serious has happened."

Ava mused, curiously as she continued to walk down the hall. Her eyes continued to be focused on her dear friend, wondering what she might have to say, and if it involved Asriel at all.

"No, do not worry about why you left. I'm glad that you have returned, and thats all that matters. I was worried that we had scared you away..or perhaps Rensain had."

With this, she smirked slightly and shook her head.

"I do plan on having a dinner party, you'll simply have to invite someone else. We'll find someone."

Ava turned and walked through the huge double doors that would lead into the main throne room.

"As for here...well, the good news is that my son Jared, and his wife Amarra will be returning home - so you'll get to meet them."

They walked in that steady pace side by side, no real rush, a complete ease about them both. She would listen to her friend intently as she spoke of her no concern for leave without word which in truth did ease her mind a bit, Letala was always the one to over worry, and even though she detested at times the manners that were expected of her as a royal, every word and phrase needed for such simple things as coming and going, it was just a mere common courtesy. Ava had been so welcoming, the last thing she wanted her to think was that she left because of her dislike of Ava or how she was treated. Rensain's name causing a slight eye brow to raise as she mentioned it. She remembered them both speaking of their tumultuous past and perhaps she did think that was the reason she would leave. But it was far from the truth.

"Well perhaps I speak with more urgency than I should, I was needed within Westral and my father demanded I see him...it was for a lack of a better word interesting."

Interesting indeed, the word itself did not cover it but soon in time she knew she would go further into details. Her mind would linger a moment thinking of being back within her father's home. The last time she was there she was fleeing it. Her feet upon that soil was unnerving and even now she could almost feel the hairs upon her neck stand. But as thoughts would attempt to cling to her she would again push back all the nagging concerns.

"I have greatly enjoyed my time in Aegis and even with Rensain's misleadings notions, as it may seem, I think no ill of him nor could I. He was just as welcoming to me as you are. But to talk of better things I have been looking forward to the dinner party with much anticipation to meet more of those here within your kingdoms, especially your family. And I do not need to invite anyone, perhaps Asriel one of these days will make his face known to me and he can come."

She would let out a soft laugh, even if it was to act as a mask, there was still a genuine lightness about the tone. But Asriel, a fleeting thought it seemed now more than ever, to have him at her side as she was by him in the past, pulled to balls and meetings, always seen upon his arm, if not near his side. It would have been an odd and welcomed change to be able to have him at her request, an even further dream it seemed to be his wife and not just his loyal first lady. No, it was something that seemed impossible now. But the pressure was coming down upon her like an antiquated house falling in upon itself. Stones pushing and colliding causing nothing but damage, destroying the picturesque structure that once stood tall. It was becoming harder and harder to maintain the veneer that her heart wasn't hurt. But even to have him within Aegis she knew might be tricky due to the past between him and Ava, the clamorous display between two kings and their Sénéchal. The damage causing bridges to be burned politically and she knew was very detrimental to Ava's and Asriel's friendship.

"But none the less, I should have sorted out all my necessary duties that would pull me away to stay for a night of frivolity, and I know I will enjoy myself greatly, again my time in Aegis has been relaxing."

"Your father called you back? In such haste? I do hope all is well with your Kingdom - and if so, you needn't feel obligated to be here if duties cause you to be elsewhere."

She listened as her friend continued to speak, Ava's emerald hues firmly focused upon Letala. Briefly she would nod her head in understanding.
"I'm amazed you can't think ill of Rensain, I think the man is an absolute moron. I won't invite him to the dinner party if it will make you feel uncomfortable."

It was indeed true that Ava still could not stand the man, for his very presence made her skin crawl. It vexed her that Vladamir had found a use for him, worse still that he was doing such a good job of his position.The idea of asriel attending one of her dinner parties made her laugh lightly.

"Asriel wouldn't last five minutes, here, unfortunately. Vladamir saw right through him and they did not get along in their last encounter at all. Of course, that was all such a very long time ago now."

As letala was no doubt learning very fast, Aegis was a different type of place. Nothing was ever as it seemed.

She would smile fully upon Ava's words as she spoke making note of all of it, she was almost expecting every response, not inviting Rensain, and even though she knew of no negativity between Vlad and Asriel, it was not surprising to her that they did not get along. Asriel, was not abrasive as Chimera, but he was something else something she couldn't put her finger upon, but she knew it was that individualistic characteristic that could lend it's way for there being a clashing of minds when he was present. She herself has witnessed it and even fell victim to it.

"Things within Westral are fine, A few duties were needed to be addressed but I do think my Uncle just wished to see me alive. I think he worries too much. As for my father...my father is one of many who has something to say about Asriel and I, although he more a support, if not trying to meddle than anything else, and not for the sake of love but safety and politics reasons."

She would trail off her words surely Ava would notice there was something she was not saying, not that she did not wish to tell Ava but in truth very few knew what she hid, that part of her life was something she did not want publicized, it wasn't shame either that cause such an emotion, but mere privacy, something she felt she rarely ever got. And in truth she could not remember how much she had told Ava, her own memory had been wiped and though it was years that have passed, small pieces were still missing. She knew that Ava knew of her blood, and drow ties, But she was more than positive she did not know of her life within the Underdark, let alone of The Nightstalkers, though being close to Asriel, she might know of them , the name causing a slight spark in her memory.

"Rensain is more than welcome, do not invite him on my account. As for Asriel, it was but a mere joke, If he actually showed up I would not know what to do with myself, the pure shock alone would have me speechless. And if Vladamir and him did not have a pleasant encounter, no matter how far in the past it was, I do not wish to have any sort of folly that evening. This dinner should be light and fun, yes?"