Quiet evening

[Lady Edfeil]

The evening had been the quiet and peaceful harbour she had longed for. Nae worries over attacks or bandits or people conspiring loomed over them, only the every day worries of weather and harvest and matters of the realm. She had settled in before the fire, with her husband's company and spoken of their marriage. It was hard to believe that they wear nearing half a year of such, and naught of it had yet settled or faded. Yet each new day of peace seemed to make her more at ease, more relying on his presence and support.

There was one worry though to mar the simple joy of a quiet evening shared. Both their thoughts had gone to his nephew whom had barely been seen of late. He came into the castle in the late hours when all but the guards were abed. For the rest.. it seemed patrols dominated his days, which was strange considering the peace that had settled over the lands like a comfortable blanket.
She nae wished to have him ordered before her. And she nae was skilled enough a interrogator to find out what was bothering him. But she knew those who were.. iffen he nae felt comfortable confiding in his family.. mayhap his brothers in arms would be able to make him speak of what was amiss.

[Dorian Hawkmoon]

After departing the Hall last eve, bidding Her Majesty goodnight and then seeing Sarah to her room…just the briefest of kisses so that both would have something to remember each other by until they were together again…he made his way to the lower areas of the Castle where items were stored. Conscripting a couple of the guards, he located the braziers he had told the Queen of and had them taken to the roof for the guards that walked the walls on patrol. He assisted in having a fair number taken up there, then had wood taken from the pile that was constantly replenished up as well to have the fires built that he’d promised to have for the men. His motivation wasn’t entirely from mercy, however…those fires would shed light and also announce that Windstorm would never be caught sleeping, The guards seemed most pleased and thanked him copiously, then he went a step further and visited the Kitchens to see what could be done about having hot cider delivered to the men to help keep them warm. That task done, he had asked about to see if anyone had either seen, or spoken to Prince Dieter recently. None had seen his brother in arms and he thought hard on what the Queen had said. He rarely gave an outward show of such, but her words had him concerned for Dieter…assuming that something truly was amiss. Had the beast somehow found a way to exert more influence over him, or was it something entirely different. He would not allow the fact that a single night had passed to deter him, and would continue to seek out Dieter to see if there was anything he wished to talk about. Dieter had to know that the Queen worried over him as much or more as she did of himself…whatever the case may be, he would do his best to have at least SOMETHING he could tell the Queen to assuage her concern…