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February 13, 1200
"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting," Haldred began once Riona had shut the door behind them. "My apologies for having King Oswald arrange it on my behalf, but I believe I needed some reassurance of this idea myself, and he seemed the optimal source there--apart from you yourself, of course."
Riona raised an eyebrow. She didn't know Haldred Kelistine well--only as the heir to the Earl of Sarona, and as a man whose late wife had been sister to her late husband. His introduction to this matter was a fair example of why they'd never gravitated to each other beyond that: he was a cerebral man, with enough of a textbook understanding of etiquette that he couldn't be faulted but no real appreciation for his place among the nobility. Privately, he probably found her frivolous, as she herself found him aloof and alien. She'd seen little of him since Holladrin's passing and even less since Lonriad's, and that hadn't been a problem for her. She'd assumed that lack of feeling had been mutual.
"So... what is this about, then?"
"Right; I'll get to the point. I believe we should marry."
"That... might be the sort of idea that requires more build-up." Holladrin had been the pinnacle of a princess, but Lonriad must have been right when he'd said his sister had found her husband's peculiarities endearing; she surely might have taught him more social nuances otherwise. "But, since I'd imagine you put some thought into this and our mutual father-in-law doesn't think it so horrible an idea to forbid us from speaking, I'll hear you out."
"Thank you. I'll admit that I got the idea from my sister Cladelia, when she informed us of her engagement to her sister-in-law's widower. It's unconventional, perhaps, but undeniably practical. The children are cousins, and therefore already have an inherent basis for a sibling-like relationship--and neither spouse will attempt to usurp the place of their predecessor, out of respect for their own first spouse and those they loved."
"That explains why you thought to involve King Oswald."
"Yes. No one can speak for Holladrin or Lonriad, but Oswald is their father--plus, I'd imagine Celina told him about her experience when Nythran and Cladelia married."
Riona nodded, though she kept her eyes to Haldred's face as her head bobbed. Perhaps he wasn't emotionally removed as she'd pegged him? At the very least, he seemed to realize that other people might have their own opinions and feelings--and, if she were honest, that was a thing she herself had always struggled with somewhat. "That's probably true."
Haldred forced his mouth into an unpracticed smile. He'd never much bothered with expressions as far as Riona had seen, but he was a handsome enough man; he wore his own unease well. "I'd understand if you need some time to think about it; Lonriad hasn't been gone all that long, after all. But the issue of the children and our late spouses aside, I believe you'd make a fine Countess of Sarona one day, and I don't plan on seeking out anyone else's hand without allowing you the opportunity to give me your earnest answer first."
"I appreciate that." Lonriad hadn't been the crown prince, after all; 'Countess Riona of Sarona' did have a fine ring to it, she would admit. "You've convinced me to at least consider it. Once I have my answer, I'll waste no time in letting you know."
NEXT CHAPTER:
March 4, 1199
"You're staying here tonight?"
Lily only asked because she and Cambrin had a castle, while Conant and Meera were in their mother's old house. Cambrin didn't need the stress of hosting his widowed sister-in-law and her children on the night after his brother's funeral, and Riona didn't have it in her to be any sort of gracious house guest.
And in truth... the relative smallness of the house would suit Riona tonight. If she wanted to check on her children as they slept, she didn't fancy a candlelit journey to another floor, another wing. She'd sleep here, in her mother's old bed, with her two small girls beside her. Her boys would be in the next bedroom, from where she wouldn't miss so much as a skipped snore.
So, she nodded. "Meera told me she doesn't mind. I won't impose longer than tonight.
"I just... I think I need a night elsewhere before I can sleep soundly in that bed without Lonriad."
It had been a political match, arranged by their mothers years before they'd ever met. She'd grown fond of Lonriad, Riona supposed, and she thought he'd felt similarly about her, but it had hardly been a fairy-tale romance. She hadn't expected to miss him quite so much.
Then again, she'd never thought much about him dying. Lonriad had been a healthy man, and healthy men didn't waste away, leaving their wives time to prepare themselves for the inevitable. Healthy men died suddenly in freak hunting accidents.
Riona would have preferred if he'd been sickly.
"You're sure?"
At least she had her choice of sisters here in sweet, open-hearted Lily--even if all she really wanted, just for a moment, was her only-somewhat-more-than-platonic husband back. "Yes. Thank you, though."
"I can call here tomorrow morning, if you like."
"All right." Her sister, bless her, would be worse for wear if she didn't at least let her try to help. There wasn't much help to be had, but there was something to be said about the effort. "I could probably use some adult company for the ride back home after breakfast."
NEXT CHAPTER:
April 9, 1191
"You look lovely, sister." Riona was not usually one for sincere compliments, preferring only to flatter when she might gain flattery in return and keeping it to herself if genuinely impressed, but Lily knew her sister well enough to know when she spoke her mind. Riona didn't have the energy for social games these days, anyway. Her older son was quite ill, and not one of the healers she'd summoned expected he'd last the year. With the death of her daughter ten years prior, that would leave her with only one child--and for all of King Roderick's children who weren't Leara, babies were few and far between.
While 'sweet' was not an ideal word to describe Riona most of the time, Lily thought it was just that of her to show up to her wedding at all.
"Thank you. And thank you for helping me prepare."
"You're welcome." Riona sighed. Lily knew in her gut that she was about to say what they were both thinking. "I wish Mother were here."
"Father too, as long as we're dreaming," Lily agreed. Her brother Farilon would be the one giving her away. She'd hardly be the first bride to walk down the aisle an orphan, but it was a fate she wouldn't have wished on anyone. Certainly not herself.
"Maybe they are, on some other plane." She sniffed, hardly believing it herself. But for the sake of her children, perhaps Riona made more of an effort where the divine was concerned than Lily gave her credit for.
Riona reached for Lily's shoulder and rubbed. The stiff fabric of her wedding gown scratched as it folded, but Lily let it slide. "Wherever they are, I know they're proud of you. And pleased that we'll be sisters twice over now."
"True." Riona's husband Lonriad was one of Cambrin's older brothers. "That will only bring us closer."
"I should hope so. With Mona so far away, the two of us have to stick together."
Even then, she'd write Mona first thing the next morning.
For their mother's sake. "Yes."
NEXT CHAPTER:
April 15, 1171
"There you are!" Princess Riona grinned in triumph as she spied her brother at last, slumped on the couch in their father's study. "I've looked everywhere, you know--why do you always have to be in the last place I look?"
"Because why the hell would you keep looking after you've already found me?" Well, someone sure was grumpy today. Not that Riona could see why; if preparations had started for her wedding, she would have been absolutely over the moon, not to come down for months. Maybe it was just a boy thing?
Yes, that must have been it. Ietrin frowned. "What do you want, anyway?"
"You're needed in Mother's dressing room." Why did she have to tell him? He'd known the seamstress and the tailor was coming today--hadn't he?
"Why?"
Apparently not. "Silly! Leara got fitted for her gown, and now they're almost done with Camaline's, and they're going to do your tunic next!"
Her brother didn't seem enthused; indeed, he might have even been annoyed. Another boy thing, no doubt. "And why do you care, exactly?"
"Because after that, it's my turn!" Riona clasped her hands together and released a dreamy sigh. "Mother did say I could have a new dress too, you know."
"Well, good for you."
She smiled for a second, just before it dawned on her that he hadn't meant it literally. "You're not very happy right now, are you?"
Ietrin blinked once. Twice. Thrice. "Wherever did you get that impression, Riona? I'm fucking ecstatic."
NEXT CHAPTER:
February 2, 1165
As usual, Ietrin needed to be met with his stepmother's elbow in order to be reminded of his manners. "Hello, Uncle Oswald," he greeted his uncle dully, rubbing his arm with a grimace; Laralita did have a good elbow on her, Roderick knew for a fact.
Oswald replied with the subtlest of nods. "Ietrin. Where are Leara and Camaline?"
Ietrin rolled his eyes. "Oh, they're at Armion for the day, them and my stepsister Elhina. They were allowed to go because Father likes them so much more than he does me," he added, the bitterness clear in his young voice.
As often was the case, Roderick had half a mind to smack the boy, but he did not think it worth the five steps required to reach him. "Ietrin, we've been over this; it's not because I like them more than you, but because their behavior has been better than yours, and therefore they were allowed to go as a reward."
The boy slouched and began to grumble. "And I have to stay here as punishment."
Roderick shot his son a warning glare, then turned back to his brother. "Don't mind him; he gets it from his mother's side."
Again, Oswald barely deemed this worthy of a response; it seemed a blink and a slight shrugged were all he thought necessary. "So, how are things in this little kingdom of yours?"
"Well, other than the occasional incident of someone being brutally slaughtered in the middle of a forest or poisoned by some variety of roses or something of the like, I suppose we're doing well enough."
Even this seemed to bounce right off of him; Oswald had never been among the most emotional of men, but in this instance, Roderick might as well have been talking to a statue. The body was present, but the mind seemed to be elsewhere. "I see. And how are things in your own household?"
Roderick nodded toward the two girls playing on the floor. "Perfectly fine, thank you very much. These two are absolute angels--just like their mother," he added with a wink Laralita's way. This merited a rather charming giggle; it was nice to know that his wife, at least, found him worthy of a suitable response. Really, what was Oswald's problem--he was a king, for God's sake! "Anyway, how long are you staying?"
"Until after Holladrin has her baby," Oswald informed him, "which should be sometime within the week, she claims; she asked if I would be the godfather, so I plan to be here for the christening. Are there any other events that might cause me to stay longer?"
Most unusually, he sounded almost hopeful; Oswald had never been keen to stay too long in Naroni before. "Uh... well, Celina's not due until late April or early May, and I don't doubt that you'll be needed back in Dovia before then. Other than Holladrin's baby, the only upcoming event of any interest is my former steward's wedding, and obviously that's not too important."
Oswald's eyes narrowed. "I take it that you weren't invited."
Well, at least the man had not forgotten how to joke, Roderick mused as he began to laugh. "Oh, Oswald, you fool! I am a king, in case you've forgotten--if an occasion is announced, then I am automatically invited. In this case, I am simply choosing not to go, as I have much more important things to attend to than a mere gentleman's wedding."
His brother frowned. "Especially if said gentleman once impregnated your late wife."
"Indeed--and would you believe it? He's marrying some girl who's currently carrying another man's child; ironic, is it not?"
Oswald failed to appear amused; if anything, he seemed annoyed. "Roderick, I didn't haul my sorry carcass all the way to your godforsaken, backwater country for idle gossip about who's marrying who and who's pregnant with whose baby. I'm here to inquire as to how things are going for you, and nothing more; I'll stop by before I leave, but I did plan on spending most of my time here with Holladrin and Octavius. Thank you for reminding me exactly why."
Roderick sniffed. "You forget who is king here, Oswald. You should be very fortunate that you are my brother, for there are very few from whom I would tolerate such rudeness."
Behind him, he heard Laralita shift on the couch. "Ietrin, would you mind grabbing one of your sisters? I think your father and your uncle would rather speak in private."
Ietrin snorted as he pulled himself off the couch and grabbed the squirming Riona, leaving young Ramona to his stepmother. "I'm sure."
The girls in arms, they hastily brushed past Roderick and Oswald, Laralita stopping only to plant a kiss on Roderick's cheek and Ietrin not at all. Seeing her stepson into the corridor, she closed the door behind her, the fading sound of her light slippers against the tile following Ietrin's heavier, booted tread. Roderick waited until he could no longer hear either set of footsteps, then allowed himself to lock eyes with his brother. "Is something wrong, Oswald? You don't seem yourself."
He chose not to give an immediate answer, but Roderick refused to break eye contact so long as Oswald remained silent. He was a king, after all; it was his duty to see to it that all questions were answered. Finally, Oswald sighed. "Roderick... do you ever look at your second wife and see a woman who is both pleasant and loving, and then feel horrible for resenting her just because of her one great flaw of not being your first wife?"
Roderick shook his head; what a ridiculous notion! "Honestly, I can't say that not being my first wife is a great flaw."
His brother's lip curled inward, but he remained otherwise motionless. "Then you cannot possibly understand."
NEXT CHAPTER:
