Tornedalians

"Helpful."

"As a friend I can see being possible," She replied, offering him a gentle smile in response.

---

"The same to you,"

---

Dragomir nodded.

"Then I will be the greatest friend you have ever had, your grace." Lucian returned the smile. "The stableboy has his own room in the shack behind the stables. He was offered a place inside with the rest but he prefers it out there. I shall cover for you if you wish to go see him." he said softly, brushing the back of his hand across her cheek.

---

Rhaenys nodded, "I cannot wait for the day..." she smiled, before asking; "You aren't going to turn cruel, are you?" she whispered. "Men put on false acts before the wedding, and then afterwards..."

"Why is that? Isn't a man who is in control a good thing?"

She smiled and she looked at the guard on the door.

"Who are you?"

"If I were, you would know," He replied, adding quietly, "I am not very skilled as an actor. It is why I am in horse breeding and selling work, and not any of that kind."

---

Lilliana smiled brightly at that and leant up to kiss his cheek, whispering a quiet, "Thank you, my lord," before turning and leaving.

---

"Yes, I never said it weren't." Sence whispered.

---

"The lady Charlotte has given us permission to enter." Dragomir replied.

"Then don't be so worried about me".

"I can not help but worry though,"

"There is nothing to worry about Sen".

Lucian nodded and headed upstairs to his sisters room, knocking on the door and trying to open it, frowning when he found it was locked. "Sister?"

Rhaenys pulled away from Vladomir at the noise, and put a finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet. "I am being undressed, brother, what is it?" she called.

"The stableboy, are you taking him with you?"

"I was going to, to save him from fathers cruelty, yes."

"Her Grace wishes him to stay here until she leaves, she is fond of him since he works so well with her mares. If we are to marry I believe she would want him here full time, she would be good to him, as you have been."

Rhaenys frowned deeply at that.

"He told you the message, let us in."

"You heard them Cale." Charlotte walked to them, with a group of humans. "You know where to take them." She watched the man take the humans inside, and she headed inside as she walked to the stairs. "This way and I can show you where you will be sleeping."

Dragomir followed Charlotte inside silently.

---

Sence just sighed softly, going quiet then.

---

Vladomir frowned deeply and interlocked his fingers with Rhaenys gently in silent comfort.

---

Lilliana knocked on the door when she got to Leo's home.

She brought them both to two doors. "You can choose."

"Your new husband breeds horses, surely he can look after them so you do not need a groom, dear sister." Lucian continued when it didn't get an answer.

Rhaenys gave Vladomir's hand a small squeeze back. "We shall talk about it tomorrow, brother." she sighed.

---

Leo got up from his bed and opened the door, staring at Lilliana in surprise. "Y-your grace." he bowed his head. "Is there something wrong? What can I do to help?"

"What's the matter? I said something wrong, didn't I?"

"Nothing is wrong, I simply wished to apologies to you. I did not intend to get you into any trouble at all." Lilliana replied quietly, adding, "Your job is secure, so you needn't worry of that any more."

---

Vladomir gave Rhaenys a sympathetic frown.

---

"I do not mind," Dragomir whispered.

---

Sence shook her head in the negative.

Rhaenys waited until she heard her brother slink away before she said anything; "I am to lose a dear friend because he wishes to bed the princess." she sighed, moving to sit on her bed. "He will still be under my fathers thumb, still a possible victim of his."

---

"You do not need to apologise at all your grace, Lord Lucian was right, I should not speak out of turn in front of you, I shall hold my tongue the next time." Leo said quietly.

Thaddeus let out a slow breath and opened his arms to her as he leaned back into the pillows on his bed.

"He was not right," Lilliana replied instantly with a shake of her head, "I wish us to be friends, if you did not gather that impression by now. You needn't hold your tongue. I do not wish for you to hold your tongue."

---

Vladomir sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her, whispering quietly, "If the princess has requested it then she must have seen in him what you do, she may not allow him to fall victim to anything. Do not fret."

---

Sence leant into him silently.

"I am no beneficial friend, your grace. I have nothing to offer you to accompany friendship."

---

"I hope so, he is a good man." Rhaenys whispered, relaxing into his arms without much thought.

Silently he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Ariagne chose her room.

Lilliana just shook her head and lowered her gaze to the ground almost shyly then, whispering, "You have company to offer, friendship in itself is plenty. I haven't any friends, it gets lonely,"

---

"It will be fine," Vladomir assured.

---

Sence yawned after a few moments.

---

Dragomir choose the other

((Sorry, I'm getting distracted by a game on my laptop xD ))

Charlotte watched them. "You might want to wash up for dinner,"

((It's fine haha))

---

Rhaenys nodded, lifting an arm to pull the pins out of her hair, letting the curls drop out of their style and down her back.

---

"And what about when you leave, your grace? Is there any point in making a friend when you are to leave them anyway?"