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."
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."