Arcaea/Dining Hall/The Final Block
Jenred rushed into Nocaneb. Fortunately, the final block was being placed on the section of the wall furthest from danger, which was near where he entered. He made it just in time for the ceremony, and watched as Edara inscribed her name onto the last block, and the crowd erupted into cheers. After all, no one wanted another army to ransack the place, whether they were loyal to Arcaea or not.
He made his way over through the dispersing crowd and wrapped his arms around Edara as she was heading back to the castle.
"Hey there, love...Finished the fortifications, and I saw the court didn't fail completely, sounds like a good day!"
Jenred gave her a quick kiss before taking her hand and beginning to walk with her.
Sir Jenred Bedwyr Imperial Magistrate of Arcaea
It had been a busy day. Her meeting with Brother Dren had left her with much to ponder. Edara had but recently joined the Church and so much of it was still a mystery to her. Would a grander temple really attract a greater Aenil? That didn’t seem…quite right to her…she had thought that it was…people to whom the Aenil were attracted…but…maybe she just didn’t understand properly. Dren was the priest, afterall. Still…Jenred would know. She would ask him about that later.
For the first time since she had become Duchess, Edara was able to hold court. It had been…rowdy…and the people…hateful. She had been so nervous and she hadn’t been able to hold it properly in the Hall because of Goffrey being laid out on the table. The tourney grounds had seemed a good alternative…but…it was so open. She would have felt much more comfortable in her own Hall. Edara had felt so young and inexperienced—like a little girl playing dress-up in the Duchess’ robes—and she was sure that it had showed. Edara didn’t think they had gone away very happy…but…they hadn’t laughed her out of court…or caused so much disruption that she had to halt the proceedings.
But the most exciting thing…finishing the next level of the fortifications. It was so grand! Edara had not expected the engineers to invite her to actually carve her name onto the final stone. Her name would be inscribed there forever…well…at least until someone knocked the walls down again. And the people actually cheered! That was the first time that she had actually heard pleasant sounds sent in her direction from the people of Nocaneb. It was a lot nicer than catcalls and spit.
And Jenred was there to see. She was afraid that he might have missed it…but…he was there…to see the people cheer for her. Edara was glad he hadn’t seen the court…those people hadn’t been nearly as…kind. She smiled up at him, “It was a good day! I think this was my best Duchess’ day…did you hear them? They actually cheered for me…that’s never happened before…” Edara trailed off happily, lost in the moment.
“Oh…how was your day, then? Did you have a good one?”
Lady Edara Kindon Duchess of Nocaneb
"Well...I had you in my arms...And you look happy...I think my day is just about perfect."
Jenred smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm glad your day worked out so well! And the negotiations are done, now we just wait to see what Sartania says...Things are looking up for Arcaea...And once we finally get Nocaneb settled and Sartania pacified...We can finally get married!"
Jenred squeezed her hand tightly, eyes glowing with delight and love. His eyes dimmed, and he frowned with concern.
"Has Goffrey improved any?"
Sir Jenred Bedwyr Imperial Magistrate of Arcaea
Edara beamed at him as they walked along. She loved how he made her feel, and she loved how…excited…he was about getting married…he was so beautiful.
“Goffrey still lives, and Idelle says that he is improving somewhat…also, there’s some Master Healer with him now…came all the way from Lantzas with Brother Dren,” she bit her lip, “Jenred…you know a lot about the Church…Dren thinks that a bigger temple would attract superior Aenil…but I thought they were attracted to people…am I confused?”
Edara ran on before he could answer, “OH…the other thing…I wrote to the Lady Madelena and invited her to come and visit us. We really need to have a party…things got a little messy here…but I want to introduce Harmony and Uncle Dougal to everyone…and wouldn’t it be nice to have Madelena and she could meet everybody, too? And…now I have another region in my Duchy…I feel like a proper Duchess…holding court and having regions and having people cheer…I really want to have a party!”
Lady Edara Kindon Duchess of Nocaneb
Jenred considered this, frowning a little.
"I have never heard anything of 'superior' Aenil being attracted to larger temples...Everything I know says that the Aenil are only attracted to people, yes."
Jenred's eyes grew bright at the rest of the news though.
"Goffrey doing better, excellent...Ooh, a party! That sounds like an excellent idea...On all levels..."
Jenred grinned as they walked into the castle.
"You know...I think that maybe you deserve a reward for managing things so well..."
Jenred leaned in and whispered as they walked...And Edara clutched his hand and started walking faster towards their rooms. Almost running, really...
Sir Jenred Bedwyr Imperial Magistrate of Arcaea
Risika couldn't really see the point of carving your name in a hunk of stone. But she was glad that the ceremony went so smoothly. The people really seemed to be cheering up. When she had first come to Nocaneb, everyone had seemed...depressed. She was glad that they were adjusting. She thought about going to see the duchess, but she noticed her and some man walking away fairly quickly. Risika grinned. She turned to her archers.
"All right men! Pack it up! We're headed to Orbeh!"
Lady Risika Hart (Dame of Remton)
Though the last few days had been busy, Harmony had managed to stop by and see Goffrey a number of times…though usually he had slept or been so…delirious…that she was certain he didn’t know that she was there. Idelle had told her that he had lucid moments—though she missed them—and that the wizened old Healer had high hopes for his recovery as no rot had set in. Harmony was still amazed that anyone could live through those wounds.
She had been present to see her cousin inscribe the last, ceremonial brick of the re-built fortifications. Harmony had moved to approach her after the ceremony, only to halt when Jenred dashed up and caught Edara in his arms. She had watched them as they embraced and walked off together hand-in-hand, talking animatedly. Harmony felt a sudden pang of envy…their love for each other was palpable. She could see it in the way they looked at each other, in the way Jenred gently steered the oblivious Edara around obstacles, in the way they touched each other without even thinking about it. She had never truly believed that people could…love like that.
After the ceremony, Harm had drifted along with the dispersing crowd, lost in thought. She found herself caught into another gathering where a…priest…was speaking to the populace. She listened abstractedly; she had never held much with Gods herself—didn’t think much of the way they managed things—if you could even call it that. Still, it would be politic to join the local church. And…if all of their priests looked like that—big, hunk of a man there—then going to temple would not be an onerous…affair.
When he had finished speaking, Harmony made her way towards him…wondering if the priests of his faith practiced celibacy.
Lady Harmony Kindon (Dame of Nocaneb)
