Kedus, 21st of Dragon Moon, 847 Age of Prosperity
"This year started so well," the maid whispered as she hung black linen over the massive windows in the front hall.
"I know," her companion said sadly, "The king out of mourning, crowned, took himself a bride, and an heir on the way. But so much happiness can only end in sorrow." She hung fine, transparent linen as a shroud over a massive portrait of a smiling young woman barely out of her teens.
"What will happen now?" The first maid asked, moving to the next in a long line of windows overlooking the forecourt.
"I expect the king'll marry again. The sooner the better, in my opinion, the babe being a girl-child and all."
"Not about that, but about the princess. With the wee thing's mother gone, what will happen to her?"
"I'm sure they'll find some noble family to raise the child."
"But will it be safe? I mean..." She trailed off.
"You mean with the rumors of war?" One of the footmen asked. He was carrying in more lengths of black linen, setting them down on and end table. "After the old King died – Volsaag keep him gently," the two maids echoed him in a murmur, "I thought we'd seen the end of these shrouds for awhile."
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"Do ya think, with a new daughter, the King will put aside his thoughts of conquering, at least for a few years? He is young, and if he dies without an heir..." She trailed off. It was a thought none of them wanted to finish. From their lips to the Gods' ears, especially Lani's.
They all stood there, staring at each other a moment, too apprehensive to put their thoughts into spoken word. Too worried a wandering bit of magic or an invisible fey being might take those thoughts and twist them.
"What are you three lollygagging about?" The harsh voice of the House Mistress snapped them to attention. "Bess, if you're done with these windows," her tone said she could clearly see she was not, "I need you to do the front parlor. Rayne, if you are done with her Majesty's portrait – Volsaag take her gently," they repeated after her, "then go up and start on the windows in the portrait gallery. Ned, they need your help carrying in enough water to warm for the cleansing of the body."
"Yes ma'am," they said softly, quickly.
"Well, get to it. This household won't put itself into mourning, now will it?"
As the three underlings hurried to get busy, the House Mistress stared up at the shrouded portrait of the young Queen, though she had only been one for all of 11 moons.
"Ardelaine, you poor thing. You were supposed to be our savior, tempering his hot-headed brashness with your calm level-headedness." She sighed, "May Volsaag grant you eternal life, my dear, and shepherd you on to Danath and Zenearia’s court with all speed. As you were a gem in this Jeweled Citadel, may you be a gem in the gods’ court.”
