The decision: a husband for the queen?

[Lady Edfeil]

The long mongths of illness had given her time to think. SHe was getting old, past two scores already and nae wed, nae a mother. It was a failing for any woman, but for a queen.. it would be nearly sinful.
She hoped... she wished for the story of the Pebble and the Rock to continue. There had been ballads written about it, when matters seemed so close to resolution. She had been convinced she would be wed soon. And yet things had nae come to pass. The negotiations with Kent had taken longer than expected. And then... she had become ill. So ill. She knew the best wishes and prayers of the Kent court were with her, but the negotiations had stalled. She would write a letter once more, hoping.. praying. But if nae.. she could nae wait anymore. She would soon be too old to bear many a child, and Windstorm needed heirs. Being so close to death had made that clear. She could nae be selfish any longer, and therefor had asked those of her, who like her bore the mantle of rule, for their aide. She needed a husband. She needed to be wed, and be wed soon. Before christmas would come again after this season, that was her intention. She would nae be foolish of course. Bloodline was important of course, to compensate for her own. And there were so many other considerations. It would be a long year, yet with the help of those around her she hoped to chose well for Windstorm.

[Lady Edfeil]

The first month of the year. And she had become stronger. Much stronger. That was a good thing. Her announcement last year had shocked people, she knew. But it had to be done. She would nae risk Winstorm falling in the turmoil that an unsettled succession could bring. Her brother was her heir now, but he was oft away from these lands. And she nae meant to be made unhappy, even if she would nae receive that what she had wished more than anything in the world. There nae had been an answer to the letter to Kent. She would write again. Mayhap one last time. Then she would nae write anymore. It would be unfair as well as unmaidenly. Yet it seemed harsh that God had sent such into her life to take it away.
Still.. when she had accepted the crown, she had accepted that her life nae belonged to her anymore. And she could find... a good man still. A kind and wise man that she could respect. He would be good to her, and good to Windstorm. He would give her children and Windstorm heirs. And they would be comfortable together. Contented. SHe nae had expected more in her childhood, in fact had considered herself blessed to have such to look forward to it.

But now it was time to take another step. She needed to travel mayhap. See other realms and get to know those in it. And she needed to speak to Lord Caius. If there was any who would advise her wisely, it would be him. Ulbrecht had offered her the use of his ship and she meant to take him up on it. As soon as there was a chance and the winterstorms eased, she would go see him. He would know where to start, and he had told her he wished to have words with her on it. Mayhap he knew a candidate. That thought by itsself was reassuring. She might just accept any man he advised on blindly. *she thought with a chuckle* It would make things easier by far. They could be married by proxy and get to know eachother after. The thought of talking of such to Lady Beren made her grin. It was good to feel.. alive again.

[Lady Edfeil]

She needed to talk to Beren too. And Lord Kyle. They might be harder to persuade of her point of view. They would urge her to wait, she feared. Wait for Providence to bring her romance, love.... She understood. She had seen those that married for love and remained in love. But she too had seen love fade till it was but a hollow word with two people trapped in a shell. Besides, she had nae more time to wait.

She needed a list mayhap. A list of qualities that the right candidate should possess, though she feared still that such a list would include too many of Sighehelm's traits. It was hard, so hard to leave the dream behind, but the years of their courtship had grown so long. Her own fault. Her hesitance, her delaying matters, her wish to have everything done according to the forms and formalities. Then again, he too had been bound by the rules of his homeland, the traditions of courtesy. Duty came first for both of them. Mayhap that was why it had been so easy to love. They were alike. Raised in the old ways, the formal ways. And then there had been his strength. But she must nae dwell on such. Had she been more forward, had she cut through the negotiations faster or but announced the plans to wed, they now would have been. His mother might nae have liked the idea, but once the match had been made, pride nor family honor would have allowed her to say a word against it.

So now she needed to start a list, so she could give Caius an indication of what she sought.

Honourable. Aye, that was a good start. She needed to have a man raised with honour. A man of duty. Of moral convictions. Aye... that was how she needed to start.