Topic: Safe ... For Now

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:45 EST
There were few things stranger, to Ines Matilde's mind, than waking up in absolute safety after six years of being on the move, never knowing if she would have a full night of sleep in one place. That this place of safety was the royal castle of the High King of Pomerania was almost beyond belief, something that stayed with her through her late morning waking and breakfast, right up to the point where she was summoned to the High King's presence. That was when it came fully home to her that this was truly happening. The High King was kind, but stern, and before long, she was stepping from his study, at a loss for where she should go or what she should do. She had never felt quite so alone as she did in that moment, safe, but surrounded by strangers.

While it was true she was surrounded by strangers, they were strangers who had her well-being and safety in mind, if only in part for political purposes. And yet, they were only strangers until they became friends. Miguel, of course, was no stranger to her, though they had not seen each other in many years. But it was not the Prince of Epirus who waited for her outside the High King's study, but his eldest son, Stephan, the Crown Prince of Berengaria, and the second most powerful man in all of Meringia.

Still wearing her travel-stained gown, Matilde brushed her hands awkwardly over her skirt, curtsying to the Crown Prince nervously. "Your highness."

Stephan smiled warmly as he offered his arm to the young woman, knowing she must feel a little bewildered and overwhelmed at the unexpected events of the last few days and the next few days to come.

"Walk with me, my lady?" he asked, though he held such authority over her that he could demand it if she wished.

It had been a long time since she had been at a court, but some lessons were drilled into her so hard she could never forget them. Smiling, she took his arm with a grateful hand. "Thank you, your highness."

"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked, knowing her journey was a difficult one and that she must be feeling a little overwhelmed with it all. He led her away from his father's study and down another corridor that would eventually lead to the rooms he and Marianne shared when they were at the castle.

"A little stiff, a little tired," she admitted without shame. "I am not used to traveling quite so hard for quite so long, but I understand the necessity of it. Thank you, for getting us here safely."

"Of course," Stephan said, with a smile and a small nod of his head in acknowledgment. It wasn't only for her welfare that they'd helped, but for the safety of Pomerania, as well. "Did you sleep well?" he asked further, as he led her through the castle corridors.

"I did," Matilde answered with a smile. "Though it was a little strange. I did not quite remember getting into bed, and I rarely sleep past dawn on a normal day, so it was an odd awakening. I must remember to apologise to the lady who came to see to me; I do not think she is used to being threatened with a chamber pot."

Stephan couldn't help but chuckle at her story, already finding her charming. "I am sure she will forgive you ....eventually," he teased, hoping to put her more at ease than his father may have ventured.

She didn't laugh, but her smile seemed to relax a little more. "She did seem more concerned that it might be full, rather than the damage I could have done with it," she mused. "Have you heard from Prince Maksim yet?"

"Hmm, have you ever had a chamber pot thrown at you before it's been emptied?" Stephan queried, shaking his head with a huff of breath. "It is not the friendliest of greetings," he told her, a hint of that smirk crinkling the corners of his eyes. His only reaction to her question regarding his brother was the brief arch of a single brow. "Yes, he arrived a short while ago and is hopefully sleeping," he informed her. One never really knew with Maksim.

"I am glad he is well," she said softly. "He risked a great deal for Miguel and I. And to stay behind when we might have been pursued ....it is bravery and kindness I have not come to expect from those who offer sanctuary."

"Indeed?" Stephan queried, unsurprised to hear of his brother's bravery and commitment to duty, but of the hint that those who she'd sought help with in the past had not been so trustworthy. "I can assure you that you are safe here. There is nothing you need worry about. No one will harm you, and anyone who tries will answer to me personally," he assured her, in case she had any doubts.

"I do not wish to imply that your people have not been welcoming to me," Matilde rushed to assure him. "Merely that I have not had a place that could be called home for several years, and not everyone is immune to the temptation of money or jewels in exchange for a life."

Stephan frowned, a look of remorse on his face, but he could not have known. There had been far greater concerns these last few years than a single exiled noblewoman. Still, he was not unsympathetic to her troubles. "I am sorry we could not help sooner," he confessed.

She smiled, gently dismissing his concern. "If Miguel had not come to you to for help regaining his crown, you would likely never have known about me or my life," she pointed out. "It would be unjust of me to hold you responsible for my hardships."

"Well, better late than never, yes?" Stephan asked, glad she did not hold it against him, even if he did wish he could have helped sooner. "Maksim tells me you were not alone, at least."

"No, I had Pedro," she agreed. "He has looked after me ever since I was a child. When I was sent into exile, he insisted on accompanying me. I do not think we will see the guards again, but they were loyal for the time we had them with us."

"If he has been with you that long, he must be like family," Stephan said. It was not a question. "It's a good thing my brother convinced him to accompany him here," he added with a sly smile.

"Pedro has been a better father to me than my own ever was," she admitted, glancing up at him. "He would not have allowed the prince to travel alone, not when we knew there might be danger on the road. And now we are all here, he will be able to sleep and regain his strength."

"Then it is a good thing he is here," Stephan said, arriving at last at a door, two men standing guard outside. "Well, here we are," he said, gesturing to one of the guards to open the door and let them inside. "My wife is very eager to meet you," he explained as he led her past the doors and into the rooms the crown prince shared with his family.

Matilde managed to quell her nerves at the prospect of being introduced to the miraculous Crown Princess of Pomerania, who had borne three children at once and lived, swallowing down the urge to bolt as she followed Stephan into his rooms. For once, the triplets were nowhere in sight, since this was their time for playing outside under the close eye of Marianne's ladies, which meant only adults were present in the chambers beyond the doors.

There were only two adults present at the moment - Marianne and Miguel, the pair of them seated at a table, where the crown princess was laughing at something Miguel had said and the prince was doing his best to make up for several missed meals.

Entering behind Stephan, Matilde hesitated a moment, uncertain quite how to approach either seated person, though she visibly relaxed at the sight of Miguel. Marianne, on the other hand, noticed immediately, pushing herself from her seat with a warm smile.

"You must be Ines Matilde," she said cheerfully, offering her hands to the uncertain noblewoman. "I am so glad to see you safely here."

Behind Marianne, Miguel pushed hastily to his feet, his cutlery clattering against his plate as he reached over to right a goblet that had nearly tipped over, wine sloshing over the rim. From the look on his face, he had not been expecting to see Matilde just yet and was a little startled by her appearance.

Distracted by the sudden rush of motion from Miguel, Matilde didn't realise Marianne had hold of her hands until it was too late, finding herself face to face with a tiny woman, heavy with child, and smiling brightly just to see her.

"It is an honor to be here, your highness," she said softly. "Thank you."

Marianne's smile only warmed. "My name is Marianne," she corrected the other woman. "And you are very welcome. Come, sit, relax for a while. We will do something about your wardrobe this afternoon, but for now, be rested."

"Yes, and in the privacy of our chambers, I am Stephan," the crown prince interjected, moving over to settle a protective and possessive hand at the small of his wife's back and touch a kiss to her cheek, the love he felt for her obvious in the tender way he touched her and looked upon her.

It was touching, the way the royal couple interacted with one another; in a way, it felt almost intrusive to be watching it. Reclaiming her hands, Matilde bit her lip, looking to Miguel for some kind of rescue from staring at a husband and wife so obviously in love. "Did you sleep well, Migs?"

Thankfully, the other prince was not drooling, nor did he have any half-chewed mouthfuls of food dribbling from his mouth. He had been startled by her unexpected arrival, and though he felt a sense of relief to see her safe and well, he also found himself feeling strangely nervous - like a boy at his first ball. He cleared his throat, clearly nervous.

"Ahem, si, and you?" he asked, as politely as he could manage, while wringing a cloth napkin between his hands.

"Si." She smiled at him, reaching out to rescue the napkin from his flexing fingers in amusement. "I am still tired, but I feel rested enough for the day." She glanced uncertainly at Stephan and Marianne, reflexively lowering her voice to add, "I have signed the betrothal agreement, Migs."

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:45 EST
For some strange reason, the touch of her fingers as they grazed his seemed to calm his nerves, as if making her presence here all the more real. He mirrored her smile a little nervously, but obviously pleased at her words. "As have I," he whispered back, leaning closer, but careful to still maintain a polite distance.

Behind them, Stephan tossed a knowing wink at his wife before clearing his throat to regain the younger couple's attention. "There is no lack of food here, so please eat, drink, relax. The cook will be insulted if we return even a small morsel to the kitchen."

Marianne was giggling in response to her husband's wink, easing herself down into her seat once again with a weary sigh, one hand on the crown of her bump. Matilde took the invitation as it was offered, moving to seat herself in the chair next to Miguel's and serve herself a small portion of food from the platter on the table.

"I am afraid I do not eat much at each sitting," she offered apologetically.

Though Stephan did not say so, it looked like Miguel was more than making up for Matilde's small appetite. He remembered being that young once and that much in love, even if Miguel did not realize it yet.

"You are free to eat however much or little you would like. No one will condemn you here," he assured the pair as he poured himself a glass of wine and took a seat beside his wife.

"Thank you."

A little shy, but too hungry to dwell on it, Matilde began to eat, taking dainty mouthfuls and chewing slowly. It was obvious that she had learned to make every mouthful count over the past years. Marianne frowned for a moment, casting a quizzical look at Stephan. It was rare to meet any noble who knew the value of money and what it could buy so obviously.

Stephan gave Marianne a slight shake of his head, telling her without saying so out loud that he would explain later.

"So," he began, breaking any uncomfortable silence that might have settled on the little group. "If it is agreeable with both of you, we will have the wedding here in two days time, and then we will travel to Epirus in about two weeks."

"We do have several letters to write and send," Matilde said between mouthfuls. "I am reasonably certain that the barons of the Valdemar will rise up in support of Miguel, but there are many others that should be approached."

"Si," Miguel added, in agreement with Matilde. "We will need as many allies as we can get. I do not expect Alfonso to give his place up easily," he said, eying another slice of meat, but making no move to snatch it up, with Matilde eating so daintily beside him.

"The earl will be doing whatever he can to undermine your efforts," Marianne warned, biting down on a smile as Matilde dropped two slices of meat and a pile of vegetables onto Miguel's plate before returning to her own meal.

Miguel looked momentarily astonished to find more food on his plate before grinning in amusement and digging in, his appetite that of a man three times his size. Stephan wistfully remembered when he'd been that young and could devour equally large portions of food without gaining any weight. Thankfully, he still kept active.

"Yes, he will," Stephan agreed, momentarily watching Miguel with envy. "Which is why we must be ready for every possibility."

"Do you think it will come to a battle?" Matilde asked worriedly. It was the one thing she truly dreaded; the battlefield was utterly unpredictable, after all. Even if Miguel's forces won, he could be cut down on the field, and she would be left alone to rule a country she had not lived in for six years.

Miguel glanced to Stephan to answer that question while he chewed on a slice of meat. He was not so naive not to think there would be bloodshed, no matter how much he was hoping against it.

"I think the Earl will do anything and everything he can to retain his position, and that includes battle. We must be sure our forces outnumber his. There is no way he can succeed, and a snake is most dangerous when he is cornered."

"Is there a way to get the queen out of his control before it comes to that?" Marianne asked, glancing between them.

Matilde hesitated, not confident enough to speak up until she had heard what the men had to say on the matter.

"Perhaps if someone sent for her on some business she could not ignore," Stephan suggested.

"Or if we sent word to her in secret of what we were planning," Miguel interjected, still hopeful his mother was loyal to him and not to the man he was convinced had been responsible for this mess.

Matilde cleared her throat. "As I recall, she is still good friends with my aunt," she offered. "If Lady Mowbray was to invite her to visit, she would be able to do so without arousing much suspicion. My aunt has been very careful not to show any affinity with our family since her husband was killed in support of the king."

Stephan seemed to consider this a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face, while Miguel waited, watching the crown prince expectantly. He was no fool, but as for himself, he could think of no better arrangement.

"Yes, that might work," Stephan murmured, thoughtfully stroking his beard.

"So long as the invitation cannot be traced back to you or Miguel," Marianne added. "And if your aunt is as loyal to your bloodline as you believe her to be."

Matilde frowned. She didn't know for certain that her aunt would go through with such a plan, but then, they didn't know for certain that they would all live through the week. Some things had to be taken on trust.

"Perhaps there is another way," Miguel murmured, the stirring of a small plan forming in his head. Maksim, he knew, was the real schemer, and he wondered if his friend couldn't come up with something a little more certain than the one Matilde was suggesting. "What about Maksim and all these little birds he speaks of so often?" he asked, with a wave of his hand in the air.

"Does he have people in Epirus?" Marianne asked, genuinely curious. Unlike Stephan, she wasn't quite as in the know when it came to Maksim's spy networks.

It was Stephan who answered for his brother, rather than Miguel, though even the Crown Prince did not know the entirety of his brother's dealings.

"I would not be surprised," he replied, assuming his brother most likely had spies everywhere.

"Perhaps we should wait until he is awake, then," Marianne considered thoughtfully. "He may actually know what is happening there at this moment, which would be enormously helpful."

Matilde was looking utterly gob smacked. "Your brother is the spymaster of the realm?"

"If there is anyone who would know, it is Maks," Stephan replied with a knowing smile at Marianne before looking to Matilde to answer her question. "It keeps him busy and out of trouble," he told her, looking amused at the irony of his reply.

"I had no idea that royal houses took such an active interest in the workings of their country, or beyond," Matilde commented. She glanced at Miguel a little worriedly. "Should we have a spymaster in the family?"

"Perhaps we do," Miguel said, with a shrug and a smirk. "Maksim is like a brother, after all."

"It is beneficial to know what is going on in all of Merengia," Stephan explained. As unagreeable and even distasteful as spying might seem, it was a necessary evil in a world like theirs, where loyalties could change without warning.

"Perhaps he would help you set up a network of your own," Marianne suggested, shifting a little in her seat with a faint wince. She nudged Stephan. "Your child is being particularly ruthless with my ribs today."

"I am sure we will need all the help we can get," Miguel said, repeating what he'd said earlier. He was not so proud or stubborn that he was afraid to ask for or accept help from friends and allies. His gaze darted to Marianne at her wince, but it was Stephan who turned to his wife and reached over to lay a hand against the swell of her womb, as if his touch alone would still the child within.

"Be good for your mother, little one," he whispered to the child she was carrying inside her. "You will be born soon enough." But hopefully not so soon as to interfere with a wedding.

"May I ask something about ..." Matilde gestured toward Marianne's gravid belly.

The pregnant princess smiled, nodding. "Of course you may."

Biting her lip, Matilde took a moment before plunging on. "Is it very different, carrying one when before you carried three?"

Marianne chuckled lightly, her laughter making the babe in her womb kick out at Stephan's hand in response. "It is very different," she said with a nod. "Easier in many ways. With the triplets, I could barely walk without help when I reached this stage."

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:45 EST

Stephan smiled upon feeling the baby's kick, despite the discomfort it caused his wife. "You see how strong he is?" he asked, though it was hard to tell from where the other couple sat across the table. "I am sure it is a son," he declared, though he would be just as happy for a daughter.

Reaching for her goblet of water, Matilde could feel her cheeks warming as the thought crossed her mind that in just a few months, she could be carrying Miguel's child in her belly. "And if it is a daughter?" she asked Stephan.

Stephan smiled adoringly at his wife. It was hard to tell when he was with her that he could be a hard man in battle who showed no mercy to his enemies. He gently stroked her cheek, unafraid to show his affection for her in front of their guests. "Do you think I would not love her, as I love our other children, if she is a girl?"

"I have not seen you with your other children," Matilde offered, her entire tone apologetic. "Forgive me, I did not mean to give offense."

Marianne lifted her head from where she had tilted her cheek into Stephan's touch. "You have no need to apologize," she said firmly. "No offense was taken."

It seemed Stephan's reply had been addressed to Marianne, almost as if he'd momentarily forgotten Matilde or Miguel were even there. He chuckled at his own mistake, smiling apologetically at his guests.

"I'm sorry. I was momentarily confused by the question," he said. Or more than likely distracted by his wife's charms.

"But, yes, there is to be a wedding in two days," Marianne then said, turning the topic away from any miscommunication. "I'm told you will have to have a bedding ceremony. Ordinarily we would prevent such a thing, but in this case, you need no doubts over your marriage being legal and consummated."

Stephan still looked amused, if not a little abashed, by his mistake. He and Marianna had often had that same discussion, alone in the privacy of their quarters. It was a matter of teasing between them whether this child would be a son or a daughter, both of them knowing they would be pleased with either.

Miguel frowned at the mention of the ceremony. He'd already been told this, but had been reluctant to break the news to Matilde. "Is that really necessary?" he asked, appealing to them both.

Marianne met his eyes, both apologetic and sympathetic. She and Stephan had gone through it themselves, of course, though Stephan had somewhat fudged the whole thing for her sake. "Perhaps we can change the ceremony a little," she suggested. "To have the company leave before the consummation?"

"There are ways to ensure the, uh, consummation without having anyone there to witness it," Stephan said, judging such a ceremony as distasteful as they, but understanding the necessity of it.

"What ways?" asked Miguel curiously.

"Maiden's blood," Marianne answered, knowing that Stephan found the whole thing difficult to talk about, despite being quite a lusty man himself. "We can display the sheets the next day, and you will keep them in case proof is required another time."

Miguel wrinkled his nose in distaste, but understood why it was important. "Is that really necessary?" he asked again.

Stephan looked apologetic about the whole thing, but knew it couldn't be helped. "I'm afraid so. We can likely convince witnesses to wait until morning to view the, er, proof, but it is important people believe this marriage is not a ruse."

Matilde couldn't hide her blush now, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. "If that is what we must do, then so be it," she agreed in a low tone, not daring to look at Miguel as she spoke. "At least there will not be a crowd waiting to ....to hear us finish, as it were."

"I do apologize, lady," Stephan said, hoping she would not hold it against them. "I promise we will make it as short and painless a ceremony as possible," he assured her, though he could not ensure she would not still feel some measure of embarrassment.

Miguel reached for Matilde's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "If this is what we must do to be together, then so be it," he said, not liking it anymore than she did.

Matilde took Miguel's hand into her, covering it with the other. "We will do it together," she agreed, meeting his eyes a little nervously, but prepared to be brave in the face of this obstacle.

"Si," he told her, smiling as he lifted her hand to his lips for a kiss. He had not yet kissed her lips, but it seemed he would not have long to wait. That kiss was met with momentary silence from the other side of the table as Stephan and Marianne exchanged knowing glances.

"Perhaps you would like to see the gardens. They are lovely even in winter, if a bit chilly," Stephan suggested.

"That is a wonderful suggestion," Marianne agreed happily. "I hope you do not mind, Matilde, but I had one of my ladies steal away one of your chemises, and the dressmaker is working on some clothing to those measurements. She will want to see you later on to fit the gowns to your form."

Matilde tried not to laugh at this. "No, I ....I do not mind at all," she assured the princess, glancing at Miguel for a moment. "And I should like to see the gardens, too."

"In winter?" Miguel asked doubtfully, biting off a hunk of cheese.

"Yes, in winter," Stephan said, giving Miguel a look that he hoped would tell him he was trying to arrange for the pair to spend some time alone together.

Miguel coughed, almost choking on the cheese as he realized what the man was about.

"We can send someone for your cloaks, to keep you warm as you walk," Marianne promised Miguel with half a smile. "Though you may not need them."

Miguel nodded, lifting a hand to assure them he wasn't choking, though no one seemed very concerned about it.

"And we will arrange for something warm for you to drink when you are through," Stephan added. There was no reason they could not spend some time together, so long as they remained in public.

Matilde might have been concerned, if she hadn't been sitting right next to him. It was obvious that Miguel had just barely avoided inhaling his mouthful, but that his life was not in danger. "That is very generous of you."

Stephan shrugged, an almost smug grin on his face. "Not really, but thank you for saying so," he said. "Unless you are still hungry?" he asked, looking from one to the other, with a wave of his hand, prodding them to take advantage of the gardens while they could.

"Uh, oh!" Miguel exclaimed, pushing to his feet again, thankfully not knocking anything over this time. He offered Matilde his arm. "Shall we?"

"I think we shall." She smiled up at Miguel, taking his arm as she rose, only to turn and curtsy to the prince and princess. "Thank you for your kindness. It means the world."

Miguel offered a bow, just as grateful as Matilde, relieved she was safe, the stirrings of some deeper feeling for her making itself known in his heart.

"Go," Stephan urged them with another wave of his hand. "Enjoy each other. You have been apart for too long."

"Let me call my lady, and she can find your cloaks for you," Marianne added, moving to her own feet to do just that. Within a few minutes, both Miguel and Matilde were wrapped in cloaks that were decidedly not theirs, fur lined and warm, and had been directed to the side door that leads out into the neatly laid gardens whose paths had been swept clean of snow.

It was all like a dream to Miguel, all of it moving so quickly, he wasn't sure it was real, almost too good to be true. "Are you really here, Matilde?" he asked her, once they were alone, her arm on his, light snow crunching under their feet.

"I am." She let out a soft huff of laughter, ducking her head for a moment before straightening once again. "This does not seem real. I hope it is."

Miguel came to a halt and turned to face her, a serious expression on his face, as he had been thinking the same thing. "I am sorry for everything you have suffered, Tilde," he told her, his eyes and voice sincere and full of regret. "This is not how I wanted our lives to be, but perhaps we can still have our dream."

"I am not the only one who has suffered, Migs," she told him in return, taking his hands into hers. "For all that I have spent the past years constantly in motion, I have been safe, for the most part. You have lived those same years under the thumb of a man who wants us both dead. But together, we can remove him and claim the future we were promised as children."

"I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and to make sure Alfonso pays for his sins," Miguel said, clenching his jaw at the mention of his mother's lover. Now that they were alone, he felt a little more comfortable lowering his guard.

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:46 EST
"Migs, there is no point in keeping me safe if you do not keep yourself safe, too," she said in a sharp tone. "I have no desire to be on the winning side, only to have to rule alone because you got yourself killed in battle. What if I am with child when this all comes to a head" Would you really countenance leaving me and your child alone to deal with the world left behind you?"

Miguel frowned, as if only just now realizing all of that was a real possibility. "Tilde, I promise you I have no intentions of being killed." Then again, their fathers and brothers most likely did not expect to meet an early end either. "I will not be alone," he reminded her. He had the support of the High King of Pomerania, after all, but it would only take one sword to end his life.

"Don't leave me alone in this world, Migs," she pleaded softly. "I need to be beside you, where I should have been these past six years. I would rather die at your side than be left to continue on without you."

"Tilde, I know you are afraid, but this is something I must do. I cannot expect Maks or Pedro or anyone else to do this for me. But I do not intend on dying. I promise you, I will take every precaution. I will let the guards do their job. I will be careful. But I cannot stay here while others fight my battle, when it is my battle to fight," he reasoned. "If you wish, we will give up the throne. We will go somewhere where no one knows us and where we can live in peace. If that is what you wish, you must tell me now, before this goes too far."

"I want you to live." Her hands gripped his, brown eyes staring into his own, needing him to promise that he would not die before they had a chance to truly claim their future together.

"Tilde, my heart," Miguel started, gentling his voice as he held fast to her hands. They both knew there was no way he could promise that. No one could. "I cannot promise that. No one lives forever. One day with you is worth a thousand years of loneliness, but I can promise that I will do everything in my power to come back to you. You see, I love you, Matilde. I think I always have."

"Oh, Migs ..." Abandoning her grip on his hands, Matilde pressed herself into his arms, wrapping her own arms about his waist beneath the hang of his cloak. Her face turned into the crook of his neck, touching a soft kiss to the tender skin of his throat. "I missed you so," she whispered. "It hurt to be away from you. I think I love you, too. That's why I can't bear the thought of you dying."

He sucked in a breath, shuddering briefly, at the feel of her lips against his neck. He had never before been kissed in such a way by anyone, and was stunned at the way such a simple caress made him feel inside. It was like there was a flame burning inside him that only she could quench. He held her close, clinging to her words like a drowning man would to a lifeboat. He could hardly believe what he was hearing, and yet, he had only just confessed his feelings himself, unable to hold those words and feelings inside him anymore.

"What do you wish me to do?" he asked, leaving his fate, as well as hers, in her hands.

Her breath was warm against his neck for a long moment before she lifted her head, nose to nose with him to look into his eyes. "We won't ever know peace unless we deal with this problem," she said regretfully. "Being born into our families put us on this course. So we will stay the course, and we will rule our country as it should be ruled. Just ....be careful, tesoro. Please."

He was watching her, meeting her gaze as she lifted her head to look into his eyes, studying her expression, memorizing every inch of her pretty face that he knew so well already. From the look on his face, he had the same concerns about her.

"I want you to stay here while I am away," he told her, as gently as he could, but for the same reasons she was worried about him. "I will be careful, but it is not safe in Epirus. You will be safe here, until it is over, and I have reclaimed the throne."

"I can't do that," she answered, just as gently. "We are trying to unite a country that our fathers divided. If I am not by your side, then the Valdemar will not rise to support you. I have no intention of going into battle, but I have to be there, Migs. It's how I can support you."

He exhaled a sigh, torn between the logic of her argument and his concern for her safety. "And if there is war?" he asked. How could he possibly protect her then"

"Then I will retreat to a loyal castle, or even come back to Pomerania, if you choose," she told him. "I need you safe, as much as you need me safe. I'll rally my people to your cause, and I will let you protect me however you see fit."

"Our cause," he corrected her. This wasn't just about him or his right to the throne anymore. It was about the promises that had been made before they'd been betrayed and those promises had been broken. He might have started out wanting revenge and to set things right, but it was bigger than that now. This was not only about the rest of their lives, but the future of their country.

"Our cause," she repeated, knowing she was going to have to get used to that. She had never considered herself to be of the blood royal, but enough people had agreed with her father for that to be indisputably the case now. "You will not stop me from accompanying you?"

He frowned at her question. It wasn't that he didn't want her there with him, so much as that he was worried for her safety. "I will not stop you, but you must promise me you will do as I ask if it comes to war."

"I will swear an oath if you wish me to," she assured him. "I have no desire to be part of a battle, Migs. I just want to be able to help as much as I can."

"Keep Pedro with you," he told her, hoping she would at least agree to that. "He will keep you safe." As he had been for the last six years. He would keep her safe when Miguel could not.

She smiled faintly. "I do not think he would leave my side even if we ordered him to," she said in a soft tone. "It is you I worry for, tesoro, not myself."

"I do not ask you not to worry, querida, but I have no wish to die. How could I now that I have you?" he asked, not waiting for her to answer.

There she was in his arms, close enough to kiss. Though he longed to taste her lips, he had not yet done so. It was time to change that. He leaned a little bit closer, his lips hovering over hers a moment, giving her a chance to draw back, before touching his lips to hers in the tenderest of kisses.

The lips that touched his were hesitant, uncertain what to do nor how to do it, but the hands on his back were warm and certain as her arms tightened about him. Matilde had never been kissed, never wanted to kiss anyone before this moment. She could not have been happier that her first kiss belonged to her childhood sweetheart.

He deepened that kiss, slowly, tentatively, letting her decide how far he could go. In a few days, they'd be married, and then they'd learn each other in their own time and their own way. For now, he held her tenderly in his arms, his heart beating a little bit faster, doing his best to ignore the way his body was reacting to her kiss.

She let out a soft sound - not a protest, nor a whimper, but a sound that vibrated with pleasure as her own heart quickened, unconsciously rising onto her toes to deepen the kiss even as he did the same, daring to part her lips and taste him with shuddering breath. Had anyone looked out of a window in that moment, they might have smiled indulgently to see such an obviously loving couple sharing such a tender moment as the snow began to fall once more.

After a long moment, he finally broke the kiss, pausing a moment to draw a soft breath, in wonder of the miracle that was happening between them. It didn't matter if she only thought she loved him; he was sure he loved her, and there was nothing he wouldn't do to protect her and keep her safe.

"We will be happy, Tilde. We will be as happy as the Crown Prince and Princess ....but perhaps with fewer children," he added with a smirk.

A little breathless from that kiss, she was about to rest her brow to his when he spoke, instead letting out a soft giggle at the prospect of ever matching Stephan and Marianne in their miraculous brood.

"Perhaps as many, but one at a time," she countered in amusement.

"Perhaps," he said, neither agreeing or disagreeing. What would be would be. He would pray to the goddess to look after them - to look after Matilde - and put his trust in Her. He leaned in again, this time to touch a kiss to her brow, only just realizing that snowflakes were gently falling all around them, turning their cloaks and the ground white. "We should go back inside before you catch cold."

Matilde's smile was soft, if a little teasing. "How can I catch cold when I am so warm in your arms?" she asked sweetly, hugging just that little bit tighter as she spoke.

Miguel laughed, a happy sound he was unaccustomed to hearing coming from his own mouth. "You have a point. Should we walk a little farther then?" he asked, perfectly happy to just stand there wrapped in each other's arms, if that's what she wanted.

"And what should we talk about?" she asked. There was so much to talk about, and yet she could not think of a single thing, too enamored of gazing up at him and holding him close.

"We do not need to talk of anything," he said. So happy just to be with her that nothing need be said. "Tell me ....tell me about your favorite flowers," he said, picking a topic out of thin air. As much as he thought he knew her, there was a lot he didn't know.

She laughed quietly, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder, her breath once again warm on his neck. "I like the spring flowers," she murmured. "The irises and daffodils, the bright colors that come up to tell the world that spring is coming."

"Mmm, irises and daffodils," he murmured, only half listening, obviously distracted by her closeness - by the sweet scent of her hair, the warmth of her breath, the softness of her body so close to his. Yes, she was very distracting and very desirable. How had he not realized it before, or had he only been holding himself back?

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:46 EST
"What of you?" They were barely speaking above a whisper, but so close that this volume was all they needed to hear and be understood. Matilde closed her eyes, enjoying the wrap of his arms about her, how safe she felt in those arms. How long had it been since she had truly felt safe"

"What of me?" Miguel echoed, unsure what she meant by the question. Was she asking him about his favorite flowers" He blinked in confusion, but was content to remain where he was, in her arms.

She huffed out a soft laugh at the sound of his confusion, enjoying the gentle brush of snow against her cheek as they lingered together in their rather sweet embrace. "Your favourite flowers, Migs," she clarified. "You now know mine. What are yours?"

"My favorite flowers?" Miguel echoed. Was a man supposed to have favorite flowers" Wasn't that more of a female thing" "Um ..." he had to think about that a moment. There were few flowers he actually knew the names of. "Roses?" he asked uncertainly.

"What do you like about them?" she countered, still murmuring, still utterly content to be where she was. There was something so incredibly soothing about just being in Miguel's arms. She was certain she would never find anywhere else that made her feel so loved.

"I, um ..." He had that uncertain look on his face again, as if he wasn't too sure what to say, but then no one had ever asked him questions such as these before. "They smell nice, I suppose,"  he replied, searching for something else. "And they're pretty," he added, almost as if it was a question.

This produced another soft giggle from the young woman in his arms. "What is your favourite smell, tesoro?" she asked then, seemingly looking for all the little details that they had missed out on knowing about each other as the years passed.

"My favorite smell?" he echoed again, brows arching upwards before he chuckled. "I do not know how to answer that question, querida," he confessed. "Perhaps it is you," he teased, a smirk on his face.

Lifting her head, she showed him her smile, more relaxed now than it had been since he had stepped into her rented room in Gwareth. "You do not know how I smell when I am properly clean," she pointed out to him. "I smell like horse and leather right now."

"Perhaps I like the smell of horse and leather," he teased further, as a wind whipped up around them as if coming from nowhere, and he had to clutch her closer, as if to stop her from blowing away. "Perhaps we should go back inside," he suggested, with a small frown. He'd been enjoying the time spent alone with her, but he didn't want her to freeze.

She shivered in that sudden gust of wind, her smile turning a little rueful. "Perhaps we should," she agreed. "I like the snow, but not up my dress. And the Princess seems to have plans for me this afternoon."

"I wish ..." Miguel frowned as he left the rest of that thought unsaid. He sighed, sliding an arm around her as they turned to head back toward the castle and relative warmth. "Are you eager to be married, Tilde?" he asked her curiously.

"I didn't think I was," she admitted as they ambled toward the castle once again. "But ....I didn't think I would ever see you again. For all that the circumstances may not be ideal, there is nothing I would like better than to be your wife, Migs."

"I did not think I would see you again either," he admitted, furrowing his brows thoughtfully as he tried to gather his thoughts into words. "You are even prettier than I remembered," he told her, a bit shyly.

"So are you," she said without thinking. "Oh! Not pretty, I mean, but ....Well, you were always handsome, but you have grown into it. I like the new look."

He smiled, amused by her mistake, a mix of flattered and embarrassed by her praise. "I am not at my best," he admitted, also smelling of horse and leather and probably a good deal of sweat. His hair had grown long and wild, and though he was in need of a bath, at least he was rested and fed.

"I think we are both going to be looked after while we are here," Matilde predicted, though it was obvious that the royal family, at least, wanted to build them up for what was to come. "It will be strange to have more than one dress for once."

"I am glad you are here, Tilde," he told her, though she must know that already. "I am glad you are safe. I worried about you when there were no letters," he confessed.

"I tried to write," she assured him. "My father was ....difficult in his last years." She shrugged one shoulder, slipping from his side to duck in through the door and shake the snow from her head and shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he told her, though whatever had happened to her father had been no fault of his. He'd been too young to fight in the war that had torn their country and their families apart. His only regret was his inability to have saved his father and brother from death.

"Miguel, none of what happened is your fault," she said, turning to him as the servant closed the door, standing by to take their cloaks from them. "We must simply make the most of the world we have been given, that is all."

"Si, I know," he said, trying to ignore the servant who was patiently waiting for their cloaks. "We will do better than make the most of it, Tilde. We will make it a better world ....together," he promised her, almost kissing her before remembering the servant was waiting for their cloaks.

She smiled as he aborted his suggestion of kissing her, her eyes sparkling with a teasing light as she undid the clasp of her cloak to hand it to the servant. She didn't miss the way the woman glanced at the travel-stained gown she wore beneath.

"I don't think many noblewomen come to court looking less than their best," Matilde murmured to Miguel in amusement.

"It does not matter, querida," he murmured in return. "When we return to , you will have clothes fit for a queen," he promised her quietly. He wasn't sure if the servants knew who they were, but he saw no reason to announce their presence. It would become known soon enough.

"I do not need finery, tesoro," she assured him. "Until we know what our finances look like, we should not make too many plans for spending money." She curled her arm through his. "Do you remember the way back to the Prince's quarters?"

He shrugged off his cloak and handed it to the servant before offering his arm to Matilde. "Si, I think so," he told her, leading the way back toward what he hoped was the Prince's quarters. It was a big castle, after all.

"I hope you do, because I have no idea where we are, really," she said, a certain nervousness returning to her voice now they were passing through halls filled with people. "This is Berengaria, yes?"

"Yes," he replied in the common tongue, spoken by most of the people in this particular country. He had lapsed into their native tongue while they'd been in the garden. It had just seemed natural. "Do you truly not know where you are?" he asked, looking a little surprised by that.

She looked a little shame-faced at that. "I barely remember much past leaving Gwareth," she admitted. "The ride was ....much harder than I am used to. I am not so delicate that it has made me ill, but I would not like to have to do that too many times again."

"I hope that you will not have to," he said, pausing as they reached another corridor and he had to choose which way to turn. "This is Castile Garia," he said, looking both ways, as if trying to decide which corridor to take.

"We truly are at the heart of the High Alliance, then," she mused, watching him look around, patient enough to wait until he decided which way he was supposed to be going. "You are fortunate that they are so ready to assist you, Migs."

He'd been about to make a choice as to which direction to go in when something she'd said made him pause. "We, Tilde," he corrected her gently. "We are in this together and they are helping us both."

She managed an apologetic smile in answer. "Forgive me," she said softly. "It will take time for me to remember all the time that we are in this together. We have both been alone for a long time."

"Too long," he said, gentling his voice. He had not been trying to scold her, but only remind her that she wasn't alone anymore, and that the High King was helping her as much as himself. "You know, it was King Phillip's idea to summon you here and for us to be wed," he told her, choosing to make a right turn.

Walking with him, she glanced up, a little surprised. "You ....you did not want to wed?" she asked, a little concerned. She was still not entirely convinced that he was absolutely on board with this plan of theirs, though she would do whatever he asked of her within reason.

That was not what he meant when he mentioned it, and her question put a thoughtful frown on his face. "I did not think it was possible. I did not even know if you were still alive," he confessed sadly. "I came here to ask the king's help in helping me reclaim what rightfully belongs to me, but I did not know of your whereabouts. I-I was afraid I'd never see you again," he said, repeating something she'd said earlier.

"We won't be apart again," she answered, sounding confident despite her obvious nerves at being in the midst of the bustling courtiers around them.

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:46 EST
A young girl joined them suddenly, dropping a curtsy to them both. "Lady Ines?" she asked, glancing between the two as though expecting Miguel to claim the name as his own.

Matilde looked at the girl in confusion. "Yes?"

Dropping another curtsy, the girl rushed as she spoke again. "Her highness, the Crown Princess, requests that you and your companion join her in her chambers."

"Both of us?" Miguel asked, brows arching upwards in obvious surprise. He could understand if the Crown Princess wanted to speak with Matilde, but what could she possibly want with him"

"I only know what I'm told, sir," the girl said uncertainly. "If you would come this way?" She gestured back the way they had come; Miguel had apparently taken the wrong turn.

"Of course," Matilde agreed, gently exerting just enough pressure on Miguel's arm to make him turn with her to follow the girl.

Miguel frowned upon realizing he'd taken a wrong turn, but then he hadn't been at the castle long enough to know his way around yet. "After you," he told the girl, gesturing for her to lead the way. Whatever it was the Crown Princess wanted, it seemed they would soon find out.

As the girl lead them through the mingling groups into the private hallways of the family wing, Matilde squeezed his arm gently. "What do you suppose she wants?"

"Perhaps to ask us something about the wedding?" he asked, uncertainly. He really had no idea, but could think of no other reason Princess Marianne would summon them both to the family's private quarters.

"Perhaps." Matilde didn't seem convinced, but they did not have to wait long to find the answer. Marianne was waiting for Matilde with her dressmaker, quick to sweep the younger woman off into a side chamber to have her fitted and changed, and probably bathed as well. But Maksim was there, apparently rested and fed, and lounging in a chair, talking to Stephan.

Miguel arched a brow at the pair of men, even as Matilde was ushered away to the dressmaker. "Are you planning on taking me to see a tailor?" he asked, looking doubtfully between the two men.

"We already had you measured," Maksim pointed out, gesturing for Miguel to take a seat. "You just have to get fitted tomorrow. No, you're here to keep us company."

"Or are you here to keep me company?" Miguel asked, turning Maks' statement around on him, as it seemed more likely. There was a hint of amusement in the young prince's voice. Though he might be feeling a little out of his element, he had not lost his sense of humor. He offered the Crown Prince a nod in greeting, "Your Highness."

Stephan lifted a hand to wave the younger man into a chair. "Relax. You are going to have some busy days ahead of you."

"We should have word of what is happening in Epirus within a couple of days," Maksim added. "My little birds are working on it as we speak. I've sent word for them to take a closer look at Matilde's aunt, too."

Miguel settled himself in a chair across from the other two men, his expression turning serious. "Matilde's aunt?" he asked curiously, wondering whether they were just being careful or if they suspected her of being less than trustworthy.

"Stephan mentioned that Matilde suggested that her aunt might be able to get your mother out of the palace safely without rousing suspicion," Maksim said, calling back to a conversation he had not been present for. "I can have my people check her and her home for suspicious activity. Just to make sure she is truly loyal to you and yours, rather than to the earl."

Miguel nodded his understanding, remembering that conversation. "Si, I remember. I only hope he will not be suspicious," he said, not bothering to mention the earl by name. They all knew - or at least, suspected - who had been to blame for the uprising, if only to have instigated it. "I believe he covets the throne for himself," he added, though that much seemed obvious.

"Indeed?" Maksim's brows rose. "You do not think he is content to rule through the queen and prevent you from taking your rightful place?"

"Why would he wish to rule through my mother when he can have the throne for himself?" Miguel countered. "He has been using her, ruling through her, biding his time, but what if something were to happen to her?" he proposed. "Why would he stop at earl when he can be king?"

"If he were to do that, then he could either force a full usurpation, or he could legitimize his power grab by wedding your Matilde," Maksim pointed out. "I understand from Pedro that they have been avoiding his people for years."

"All the more reason for you to be wed," Stephan pointed out. "But that would not stop him from wedding her if something was to happen to you," he added, fingers steepled beneath his chin, elbows resting against the arms of his chair. "If I were the earl and I coveted the crown, as you suspect, I would remove you first. Make it look like an accident, perhaps. Something that wouldn't throw any suspicion on him."

Miguel paled a little at their line of thinking, worried both for himself, Matilde, and his mother.

"But this is why you are here, and why you will be under the High King's protection when you leave here," Maksim said cheerfully. "They'll keep you safe, I'll make sure you have all the information you need. All you need to do is rally your nobles and oust the man."

"I do not think that will be enough, amigo," Miguel said, a strained expression on his face. He did not much like the business of murder, but he did not think the man would let them rest until he was died. He wasn't even sure if exile or imprisonment was enough.

"He has to die as well," the younger of the Pomeran princes said dismissively. "But getting him out of his position fast means that you get on the throne fast, and he becomes an outlaw. All the vassal kingdoms will be on the lookout for him, so even if he escapes, he'll be shipped back to you for punishment."

Miguel nodded grimly. It was unpleasant business but necessary, if he wanted to not only secure the throne, but ensure the peace and prosperity of Epirus. "I have no doubt he is the man responsible for my father's death."

"You don't even need to bring that charge against him," Maksim said. "He attempted to prevent you from taking the throne, as is your right. That is treason, and his life is forfeit. Don't complicate things if you can help it."

"Maks is right," Stephan interjected, though his brother didn't really need him to say so. There was a reason Stephan had made Maksim his spymaster - Maksim was the one man in all of Meringia who seemed to know what was going on at any given time. "You must be rid of him and his allies as soon as you are able. We will help you do just that."

"Once we have the names of those who will pledge to support you, I can have my people make sure they're honest and loyal, and insert people into the houses of those who aren't," Maks added. He grinned at Miguel. "I love playing this game."

"I suppose it is good someone does," Miguel murmured at Maksim's remark.

Stephan chuckled at them both. "He's very good at what he does. That is why I made him spymaster," he said, careful not to praise his brother too much and inflate his ego too much.

"Until a few years ago, he had no idea what I do to fill my time," Maks said rather proudly. "He just thought I was a slutty wastrel, like everyone else does."

"You do have a reputation, amigo," Miguel remarked with a smirk, while Stephan got up to pour three glasses of wine. He didn't need servants to do every little menial task for him, after all.

"I do," Maks agreed. "And I worked very hard on it. There is a reason every prostitute in the city knows me by name." He chuckled, glancing at Stephan. That particular connection had come in very handy once upon a time.

Miguel winced. "You should be careful, amigo," he warned him. "You wouldn't want it to fall off," he said, gesturing vaguely to Maksim's crotch. He had heard of men catching diseases from sleeping around with the wrong kind of women.

"Now, that would be a sight," Stephan remarked with a chuckle as he brought over a bottle of wine and some glasses.

"My dear Miguel, I'll have you know that the brothels are likely one of the few places where you won't catch something dreadful," Maksim informed him cheerfully. "And if I ever do," he added, looking at Stephan, "you will never see it."

"I should hope not," Stephan replied, contradicting what he'd just said a moment before. "But I trust you are careful," he said, filling the glasses and handing one to both of his companions.

Miguel was still frowning. He had never slept with a woman before and was hoping he'd only ever sleep with one.

Maksim sighed, just about preventing himself from rolling his eyes at the two of them. "How is it you trust me with the continent, but not with my own health?" he asked his brother plaintively.

"Because I know you," Stephan replied simply, without explanation. In point of fact, he did trust his brother with both the continent and his own health, but he'd sleep a lot better when his brother didn't need to gallivant around the countryside anymore.


Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:47 EST
"Just because I may have just gone two days with next to no sleep does not mean I do it regularly," Maksim protested, though he was smiling. It was good to know his big brother cared enough to worry about him sometimes.

He might not outwardly express his affection for his brother very often, but there was an obviousness bond between the pair. "And you will be well rewarded," Stephan assured his brother with a smirk. It was his way of saying thank you without actually saying the words.

"You have a third brother, yes?" Miguel asked curiously.

Maks snorted, toasting Stephan with his cup before looking to Miguel. "Yes, we have a baby brother," he confirmed. "Felipe is currently in Carib with his wife and brand new baby. Trust him to get Jane pregnant on the journey there so they couldn't come home for a year."

"A year?" Miguel echoed. "That is a long time to be away from home," he said. Much longer than he'd ever been away, but not as long as Matilde. That thought made him frown.

"Technically, they're still with family," Maks shrugged, smiling. "Jane and Elspeth are very close, and Felipe gets on with our cousin, Henry. And he's been quietly inserting himself into Valentin politics while he's there, too."

"I see," Miguel admitted, realizing he still had a lot to learn about politics as a vassal state of Pomerania.

"We miss him, but we will see him soon enough. In the meantime, there's plenty to keep us busy," Stephan pointed out. Not the least of which was another baby on the way.

"You're not going to be on your own on that throne, Miguel," Maksim said gently. "You will have advisors, experienced men who know the political sphere and who will assist you. No one will expect you to know exactly what to do right from the start."

Miguel nodded, looking tense but a little relieved by Maksim's assurance. "My brother was to be king," he pointed out, his frown deepening. Though their father had made sure they were both well trained, Miguel had always assumed his brother would inherit the throne, until the uprising changed all of that.

"Well, there is a reason why the saying is an heir and a spare," Maks said wryly. "In case of unforeseen circumstances. And in your case, my friend, no one could have foreseen what happened in Epirus."

"My brother, least of all," Miguel remarked. Even after six years, his brother's death was still a painful memory that had left a hole in his heart.

Stephan exchanged a glance with Maks, sympathizing with the young prince. He couldn't imagine what that kind of loss might feel like.

Maks held Stephan's gaze for a long moment, his expression somber with sympathy of his own. "You can have a son to remember him by," he suggested to Miguel. "I'm sure your lady wouldn't mind."

"Perhaps," Miguel murmured, a faint smile on his face at the thought of that.

"But first, a wedding," Stephan reminded him, hoping the thought of marriage would be a happier one than of his brother's death.

"Indeed," Maks added. "How does it feel, knowing you will be a married man by tomorrow evening?" He grinned over at the younger man, secure in his bachelorhood.

"It feels ..." Miguel paused to think about that a moment, or to find the right words. He chuckled a moment as a word came to mind. "Frightening, but in a good way."

Stephan chuckled at the younger man's answer. "You love her, yes?" he asked, to which Miguel nodded his head. "Then, you will be fine."

It was the first time Miguel had openly admitted his feelings to anyone, other than Matilde.

Maksim looked back and forth between them, not having anything to add to this part of the conversation. He had been in love just once, but she had already been married and, indeed, still was. That love had faded, but the daughter being raised by another man as his own would always survive as a reminder of it.

"I have asked Maksim to stand at my side during the ceremony," Miguel revealed, unsure if Maksim had shared that with his brother yet.

"Indeed?" Stephan said, leaning in to refill their glasses, draining the last of the wine. "That is quite the honor."

"I'm an honorable man." Maks countered his brother's comment, gathering his newly refilled cup to his chest as he settled in once again.

"I do not argue the fact," Stephan said, despite having teased his brother only a moment ago about his reputation. He knew what it had cost Maksim to let both the woman he loved and the daughter that love had produced go, and he respected his brother for having made what had to be a painful and difficult decision. It was not something he was going to discuss in front of Miguel, though.

Maks chuckled. "You are right, though," he agreed, nodding to Stephan before turning his eyes to Miguel. "It is an honor to be asked, Miguel. It will be an honor to stand beside you and guard your marriage bed from prying eyes."

"That is the real trick," Stephan admitted, remembering his own wedding night. "But Marianne has suggested we alter the ceremony or forgo it all together," he added with a shrug. Maks had not been present for that discussion, as he'd been catching up on sleep.

"You can't afford to forgo it entirely," Maks pointed out. "There have to be witnesses that see them in the bed together, at the very least, and some form of proof the next day."

"That is simple enough," Stephan said with another shrug. "I am trusting you to make sure things don't get out of hand," he told his brother. "There will be proof enough the next day."

"Things didn't get out of hand at your wedding," Maks pointed out. "And Felipe was drunk as a skunk for most of it. I imagine you didn't know that, did you?"

"Things didn't get out of hand because I didn't let them get out of hand," Stephan countered. He thought he understood how Miguel felt  about allowing people to witness the consummation of his marriage, as he'd felt the same. He'd wanted to protect Marianne from the embarrassment of it, and he had a feeling Miguel wanted the same for Matilde. "And what does Felipe being drunk have to do with anything?" he asked his brother, arching a curious brow.

Maks raised a brow in amusement. "I spent your wedding day protecting the dignity of the family, dear brother," he said merrily. "You do remember that Felipe was armed that day, yes?" He grinned, letting Stephan imagine what their usually reserved younger brother might do with his sword when drunk and awkward at court.

"It's a good thing he has Jane," Stephan remarked, not bothering to fill in the blanks of that. "I presume your lady love is getting fitted for a dress. Have you thought about what you are going to wear for the big day?" he asked, the question directed at Miguel, who frowned again and shook his head.

"I have not had much time to prepare." In truth, he hadn't had any time to prepare. Though the young prince had plenty of clothes suitable for the occasion, they were all back home in Epirus.

"Hmm, I trust you can find him something suitable to wear?" Stephan said, turning to his brother and possibly offering what amounted to "busy work".

Maks sighed through his grin, recognizing a way to fill the time when he heard it. "I'm sure the tailor would appreciate an earlier visit than tomorrow to fit his creations, yes," he agreed, tilting his head at Miguel. "And it means you won't see what Marianne is dressing Matilde in for your wedding ahead of time, either."

"You can trust Maks. I am told he's the best dressed prince at court," Stephan assured Miguel, the hint of a smirk on his face.

A sudden ripple of laughter from the room in which Marianne had sequestered Matilde found its way to the main chamber where the men sat. Maksim grinned at Stephan.

"I think leaving him with a giggly wife and her new friend would be a perfect idea."

Miguel looked almost terrified by Maksim's remark. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy Marianne or Matilde's company, but he didn't really want to be privy to conversation regarding female things. "Now you are joking," he told his friend, though he wasn't too sure of anything where Maks was concerned.

"Yes, I am," Maks was quick to assure him. "Let's do that to Stephan instead." He rose to his feet, gesturing for Miguel to rise with him. "Let's make you beautiful, darling."

Stephan couldn't help but chuckle, amused by his brother's remarks and unafraid of the women. "Just remember, Maks, he's a prince, not a princess," he teased.

Miguel rolled his eyes as he moved to his feet. "Be careful, amigo," he warned his friend. "I might take offense."

Luis Miguel

Date: 2020-03-08 15:47 EST
Despite Miguel's threat, they all knew he wasn't going to do anything about any insult, feigned or otherwise, when he was in need of their help. He wasn't afraid to swing a fist though, if necessary.

"Yes, but once I've got you in a skirt, I can run faster than you," Maks countered with a chuckle, patting Miguel's shoulder. "Come on. Let's leave the domesticated pair to coddle your lady for a while. She needs it."

Miguel scowled in annoyance, but he knew Maks was only teasing - having a little fun at his expense. "I have heard there are men in some countries who wear skirts," he remarked as he followed after his friend, their voices echoing in the corridor as they moved farther away.

"Only when they can't convince people they're wearing robes," Maks replied, the two voices fading as the door closed behind them.

Stephan chuckled for another moment at the sound of the fading voices - that of his brother and the young, untested prince, as well as that of his wife and the equally young, soon-to-be princess. He sighed as he rubbed a forefinger against his temple. In a few days, there would be a wedding and cause for celebration. He did not want to think much farther than that, but he had no choice.

It wasn't just the fate of a young couple newly in love that was depending on them, but the fate of Epirus itself. Stephan was putting all his trust in Maksim to ensure this turned out well, but despite his teasing, there was no one he trusted more than his brother. After all, he had said that Maks was the best spymaster in all of Meringia. Now it was time to prove it.