Aurelia
Realizing her comment might have inadvertently offended the queen, Aurelia's lips turned into a more sheepish smile. Her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her features. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear self-consciously.
Her voice carried a hint of apology and a desire to smooth over any awkwardness. "Actually," she began, her tone more tentative now, "if it's not too much trouble, I'd love a drink. Something strong, maybe. It's been a long journey, and..." she paused, choosing her words carefully, "I could use something to... steady my nerves."
Her gaze remained trained upon Flora's, a silent plea for understanding shimmering in her eyes. "I didn't mean any offense," she added softly, "It's just... been a while since I've been here."
A brief silence fell, punctuated only by the clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversation around them. Aurelia made no notion to, in this moment, declare her past title. The war had changed everything, and she had changed with it. The crown no longer fit, and she had no desire to reclaim it.
Although she wondered at what happened to Maeve...
"Soooo you won't be back on the Ark then?"
Aurelia's smile faltered, replaced by a look of quiet determination. "No," she replied simply, her voice steady.
A spark of curiosity flickered in her eyes as she leaned forward, eager for information. "The Feverlands and the Greatwood too... what about the other regions? What's the situation here in Torchline?" Just how far had it spread? "Do you know anything about its weaknesses?"
Her questions tumbled out, a reflection of her eagerness to understand the enemy and contribute to the fight. The years spent in isolation had left her hungry for knowledge, for a sense of purpose beyond her own personal struggles.
Her voice carried a hint of apology and a desire to smooth over any awkwardness. "Actually," she began, her tone more tentative now, "if it's not too much trouble, I'd love a drink. Something strong, maybe. It's been a long journey, and..." she paused, choosing her words carefully, "I could use something to... steady my nerves."
Her gaze remained trained upon Flora's, a silent plea for understanding shimmering in her eyes. "I didn't mean any offense," she added softly, "It's just... been a while since I've been here."
A brief silence fell, punctuated only by the clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversation around them. Aurelia made no notion to, in this moment, declare her past title. The war had changed everything, and she had changed with it. The crown no longer fit, and she had no desire to reclaim it.
Although she wondered at what happened to Maeve...
"Soooo you won't be back on the Ark then?"
Aurelia's smile faltered, replaced by a look of quiet determination. "No," she replied simply, her voice steady.
A spark of curiosity flickered in her eyes as she leaned forward, eager for information. "The Feverlands and the Greatwood too... what about the other regions? What's the situation here in Torchline?" Just how far had it spread? "Do you know anything about its weaknesses?"
Her questions tumbled out, a reflection of her eagerness to understand the enemy and contribute to the fight. The years spent in isolation had left her hungry for knowledge, for a sense of purpose beyond her own personal struggles.
looking in the mirror, drop of rum on my tongue
with the warning to help me see myself clearer
with the warning to help me see myself clearer
