It was only just nearing the middle of the day, yet Anna was dead tired. The Tournament was drawing to a close, and after days of talking with commoners and nobles alike, congratulating the victors, and explaining the rules of jousting to Kaira, she was emotionally-- not to mention physically-- exhausted. Her feet were sore, and she felt herself becoming a bit grouchy with hunger. So, she decided to sit down. Usually she would sit down, but in all the excitement of the rounds, one could never really stay seated. No-one, even in the Royal Tent, was sitting; they were all clinging to their clothes (or the shoulders of their partner, who was probably flinching in pain) and waiting in nervousness as the knights charged down the dirt arena.

Finally it was over and the winner was declared. Anna let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, then rose to find herself some food. She was grateful for the rather quiet stomach she possessed, but when it was empty, it growled. Fortunately for Anna, the noise of the cheering onlookers drowned out any embarrassing sounds. She wandered to the back of the tent, weaving in and out of clumps of nobles, greeting some with a few polite words and nodding to others. They would understand if she needed something to eat, she knew. Some of her nobles might have been rather annoying in meetings and discussions but very few could deny their Majesties the basic needs of humanity.

A platter of fresh fruit had been laid out, much to Anna's delight. She briefly looked around, checking that no-one was watching, and shoved several grapes in her mouth. The juice ran down the back of her throat, making her grin in delight. They were sweet, but not too sweet. Just the way she liked them. She grabbed a small handful of assorted fruit and dropped them into a small bowl. She could eat them sitting down, she had thought to herself.

After turning to head back to her seat, she yelped in surprise. Her hands jerked and she almost dropped the small bowl of fruit. Actually, some pieces had fallen out. In her rush to satisfy her grumpy stomach she hadn't noticed anyone approaching. Her surprise quickly subsided to a quiet smile; it was Jerold, her husband, and King of Tortall. "Dear, next time you wish to sneak up on me, at least give me some warning," she teased, eyes lit with amusement. She had no doubt that his intentions had been peaceful, but intended or no, he'd still given her a surprise (however wonderful it was). She bent down and picked up the dropped pieces of fruit. They were dirty, she noticed. She placed them next to the platter, knowing that someone would either give them to the palace animals or wash them.

As king, it was Jerold's duty to attend the Tournament. He must keep up appearances, plus it was enjoyable to watch. Sometimes, he wished he could still participate, but any chances of that ended when he was twenty. Being blind in one eye was not conducive to a good jousting match. Also, the fact that he was king would automatically put things in his favor. If those excuses weren't enough, Jerold was far too old to participate. Still, sometimes he wished. . .

It doesn't really matter what I wish for, Jerold thought as he walked toward the Tournament grounds. He had learned fifteen years ago that being king wasn't about what you wanted. It was about what others wanted and serving them. It was something nobody could learn until they were put in that position. By now, Jerold hardly wished things for himself at all. Unless, it was now and he simply wished to be back in the thick of things. Instead, he would be a spectator and give out congratulations to the lucky winner of the match. Perhaps he would get in a few conversations in the mean time. Giving a nod to the guard who was accompanying him, Jerold strode the final ten feet to the viewing area by himself.

Jerold made it just as the joust started and stood out of the sight of the contestants. The man realized that his position sometimes made other people nervous, and didn't want any poor performances to be on his part. When the match concluded, Jerold went to congratulate both the winner and the loser on a fine showing. On his way, he noticed his wife out of the corner of his eye. Usually, she would have noticed him as well, but Anna appeared to be tired. She was heading toward the tent and Jerold made a note to remember so he could stop by and see her after.

A few minutes of talk, and Jerold headed over to the Royal Tent himself. It only took him a second to locate Anna by a plate of fruit. Grinning softly, he headed over to stand behind her. Jerold had just made it there when Anna turned around. He must have surprised her, for she let a small yelp and dropped some fruit from her bowl. They both smiled when she realized who he was. "Warning you when I'm coming would take all the fun out of it," he informed her, while bending down to help her pick the dropped fruit. "I thought you would have learned what my footsteps sounded like by now." Looking at the pieces in his hand Jerold selected the one that had the least amount of dirt, brushed what little there was off, and popped it in his mouth. He smiled at his wife and offered his arm.

As the walked back to the seating area, Jerold noted his earlier thoughts. "You look tired, my dear. When did you last take some time for yourself?" Honestly, he felt much the same way himself, but Jerold knew how to remove himself from situations. There were always reasons he couldn't attend jousts or talk to other nobles. He had tried to do that as little as possible in the past few days, but when he felt the need, Jerold had no problem taking breaks. Anna, on the other hand, hadn't quite mastered that art yet. It was something Jerold had been trying to teach her for years, but she still couldn't quite grasp the concept.

Anna grinned; of course he'd say that. "I'm sure you'll remember that fun when I have my revenge," she retorted, eyes twinkling. She thought on what he had said for a moment. What would she say? That he was too quiet? That she had never had reason to consciously learn the pattern of her husbands footsteps as he would have no reason to harm her? Deciding to take a more amusing approach, she teased, "But that would take the fun out of it." Jerold had offered her his arm; she took it.

They wandered back to the seats with grace and ease. Royalty had the 'right of way', really, and this was shown as the other occupants of the tent discretely formed a path for the king and queen. Jerold began talking, and Anna returned her attention to her husband. She could have almost snorted when he mentioned the word, 'tired', it was so applicable. In fact, she did snort, very quietly. Her husband would pick it up, but no-one else, a very good thing. The two could usually communicate with limited words and body language; after all, they had been married for well over 25 years. It was only natural they learned to communicate rather well.

"Before the tournament began. I do intend on taking some time off tomorrow, before you get angry with me," she said, the perfect image of one who had planned well in advance. "I must admit," she added, a little exasperated, "this has been a rather tiring week. I don't remember being this tired last year. Maybe I'm getting old." She had kept a straight face while saying all this, but it was a rather cheeky comment on her behalf. After all, her husband was older than her. By complaining about cranky bones and a tired body, she was also making a little fun of the king.

Not giving her husband a chance to speak, she continued, "I was thinking, it has been a long time since the two of us went riding. And, you haven't been hunting for weeks, or if not, I'll be saying a few words to my servants for not keeping me informed. Perhaps in two days time, we could visit the Royal Forest?" Perhaps, had she not been so tired, she would have realised she was ranting. One could only hope the king would not mind, although, after having to put up with the lords, one would have thought he'd have the patience of a snail. ((OOC: 'cuse the parallel. I really couldn't think of what to put XD))

They had reached the seats, and Anna sat down. Her feet seemed to shout with joy, sentiment to the pain she'd put them through. "The tournament has been rather interesting this year, I think," she commented, frowning in thought. "Never before have we had so many female knights, and squires, compete. Perhaps the general outlook is beginning to become more favourable on their part."

Anna responded to his comment in the way that he loved best: with a retort of her own. When Jerold finally figured out that his marriage would have to be arranged, the boy had been worried for quite a while. As a page, he was too young to be much interested in girls, and as he got older, Jerold finally knew what it meant to have to sacrifice. His parent's did him good, however. Anna was so much better than Jerold even hoped for. He had been dreaming of the worst possible wives and then the young princess from the Copper Isles had been picked. It was a good ending to the several months the young Crown Prince had spent worrying.

The royal couple's walk to their seats was relatively short, considering that everyone moved out of the way and nobody stopped to talk. It was times like these that Jerold appreciated his position. He had barely spoken with his wife the past several days and they were both tired. Except that Anna didn't seem to think that the word 'tired' was appropriate. Jerold returned his wife's snort with a look of his own. He was about to comment but was stopped as Anna spoke. "Well, I'm certainly glad you think ahead," Jerold responded with a smile. He hadn't thought that far in advance at all. Before the week started, the king took a rest and planned for one after the week was over.

"Perhaps you are getting old?" Jerold asked, when finally given a chance to speak. He knew Anna just wanted to let her first statement slide by, but it was too good for Jerold to let it. "That's a relief, for I thought I was the only one. This tournament does seem to be a bit tiring. Probably because the last few months of rest was just too much for our bodies. We aren't used to doing things again." He was, of course, referring to the war that had only just ended. To Jerold, it had seemed like a lifetime ago. The three months since the end seemed longer than the three years since the beginning. It was odd how time seemed to pass as one got older. Time seemed to go so slow when he was a boy and now, Jerold couldn't get it to stop.

Jerold moved his thoughts of time to a more pleasurable subject: riding. His wife's servants had kept her well informed, for he had not been out on his horse in weeks. Ace was probably feeling quite neglected by now. "Two days sounds perfect. And maybe we can make it a family event, if our dear children can spare us a few hours." Jerold knew he wasn't quite up to par on his childrens' lives and intended to fix that. If he and Anna were going for a ride, why not invite them as well? Unless she was opposed; it wasn't likely they would be alone anyway.

The king barely noticed that he sat down; only his wife's apparent happiness at it alerted him to it. After a moment, she began speaking again. This time, the topic was female knights. Jerold was never quite sure what to think on that topic. He allowed it, because not to was suicide. Discontinuing the practice after so long would have caused disruption. Female knights could be good, but Jerold believed they had to be the right ones. Some females were just not cut out for the position. Especially since most were not raised by parents who believed that their daughters would head to the convent, not the palace. Some girls might decide to train to be a knight just to spite their parents. Luckily, they had a wonderful Training Master (who also happened to be a female) who knew how to sort them out. Many of the young ladies who entered knighthood turned out quite marvelously and with this tournament, he was able to see just that.

"I certainly hope so," Jerold said, finally replying to his wife's comment about the outlook of the knights. "They seem to have done quite well for themselves. It's turning quite a few heads, mine included."

(OOC: Sorry the reply is so late. We left for vacation before I had a chance to reply and my computer access has been less than what I thought it would be.)

Anna knew her husband loved it when she thought of a good comeback. She could hardly imagine a couple who didn't. Humour was important in marriages; it kept them from falling apart, even in the toughest of times. Unfortunately, she wasn't as good as thinking of them as Jerold was, which usually meant he won their verbal duels. Part of her was glad when her children cornered their father; it was amusing for them all to see him finally give up and declare his child (usually Lee) the winner.

A light chuckle erupted from Anna's mouth when Jerold replied. "That is why, my dear, I'm Queen and you're King," she pointed out. Being a little more serious, she reminded him, "Besides, we have to be organised now that the prince is here." Jerold knew who the 'prince' was. Boaz. They'd talked about it many times before, especially how they could try and manage absolutely everything without dying from stress. In the end they'd decided to do what they could and delegate to those who would do what they could, and hopefully, maybe, they'd make a good enough impression.

Anna was well prepared for her husband to pick up on her attempt to tease him, and even more so for his amusing reply. The Queen had always thought the two had been fortunate to have similar taste in humour; exchanges like the current one were not uncommon, especially now that Anna was beginning to realise trying to being constantly serious wasn't going to get anyone anywhere.

"Not too loud, Diona might hear you," she chuckled. “And yes, old. Or maybe, ageing.” Ageing was a better word. More graceful, polite, appealing. Definitely, thought Anna. To age gracefully; that was her aim.

Ah, the war. Yes, Anna thought, our bodies certainly have had a rough ride. She thought back to the many nights her husband had spent in the War Chamber organising armies and fleets. Too worried not to help, Anna had spent those same evenings arranging the less urgent but just as important things, such as food supplies, clothing for refugees and broken families, housing for those who had fled from the coast. At the time, Anna was sure that she was able to handle it, but as soon as the cease-fire papers had been signed, it had almost been as if her body had finally decided that it was payback time. For weeks on end after the war, Anna battled colds and sore hands, and she had a sneaking suspicion Jerold had suffered as well.

"Or perhaps the world is more busy and tiring than what it used to be," Anna thought aloud. It seemed that, these days, nobles were more touchy, diplomats harder to please, and even commoners difficult to appease, and life had been like that even before the whispers of war spread. She didn't know what it was. Maybe she'd been more unaware when she was younger, when her and her husband had many more advisors. Still, she couldn't remember many nights in their first few years of reigning when they'd pulled an all-nighter (excluding feeding children).

A small but satisfied smile lifted Anna's face. Her husband had agreed to a ride, and even suggested their children take part, just as Anna had hoped he would. "I'll talk to them later today, then." Gazing into the eyes of her husband, she whispered, "Thank you, Jerold. I appreciate you taking some time off." It had been such a long time since they'd done anything as a family as eventful as riding. Relief and joy were simply too soft too describe Anna's feelings.

The topic returned to female knights. She knew her husband's opinion of the matter, that he only allowed it because to not was to incite trouble. She was also aware that he thought that it had to be the right female who could claim a shield, which Anna did agree with. She knew she couldn't have trained as a knight, and even if she had tried in order to anger her parents, she had no doubt of the result--miserable failure.

Some would have pricked their ears when Jerold mentioned that he was watching closely. It was, after all, a quick and easy way to start a rumour. Anna, however, had never been worried about her husband chasing after other ladies (or even girls). His affection for her was obvious, to Anna if not anyone else.

"Yes, Cailin has done a good job," she muttered, a little distracted by the heralds scurrying about near the front of the tent. The next round would be beginning soon, she knew.

((OOC: No problem. I'm going away for 10 days, so take all the time you need. = )

EDIT: And really sorry for the marathon of a post... I didn't realise I'd ranted on so much o.O ))

Ah, just when they were beginning to have fun, the dreaded subject came up. The prince of Carthak. This upcoming marriage had given both Anna and Jerold headaches. Jerold had his own particular opinions on the subject. When his eldest daughter refused to marry, he wasn't exactly pleased. It took quite a while for everyone to come up with a suitable compromise. Jerold still wasn't happy about it, but relented to the marriage. Líadan was going to have to learn a few things and Jerold wouldn't be as lenient as his wife.

Things were as they were, however, and the royal couple knew what they had to do. It wasn't going to be fun, but that didn't matter. Little of their political life was 'fun' anyway. The two were used to that. Turning to his wife, Jerold gave her a smile that told her exactly what he thought of the prince and his visit and said, "My dear, we shall be the most organized we have ever been." He didn't know how truthful that statement was, but they would put on the appearance of organized.

Jerold smiled at Anna's laughter. Few others looked at them during this exchange. The several who did, turned away just as quickly. This was a common enough sight to those in the palace. The royal couple often had each other smiling but nobody seemed to know what it was about. Other than the king and queen themselves. Others were probably curious, but they never asked. Whether it was out of respect or something else, Jerold was never sure. He would have happily told the joke to whomever should ask. They probably wouldn't understand, but that wasn't the point.

"I shall do my best to protect our darling daughter's ears. But, they all will have to find out sooner or later," he replied with a grin of his own. "I do like the term aging better. It doesn't make me feel so ancient." Not that he concentrated on feeling that way, anyway. Taking it one step at a time was much better in Jerold's book.

Anna had understood his reference to the war and responded with a statement of her own. Jerold was inclined to agree with it. Nothing seemed to be as simple as it had when he was first crowned. Not that it was simple then, but it certainly wasn't like it was now. He didn't envy the future. No doubt it would be better than before, but the journey there was the hardest part. "Yes, let's console ourselves with the fact that it is the world, not us, which is moving at a faster pace." He paused, considering his statement. "That still makes us sound old."

Jerold wasn't aware how much of an effect his saying yes to riding would be on his wife. If he had been, he certainly would have suggested it much earlier. He gave her hand a squeeze, because words wouldn't come after what she said. The joust was beginning to start, much to Jerold's relief. It gave him an excuse to look away from Anna and watch something. He felt much the same as she, but wouldn't admit it.

As the heralds began to announce their knights, Anna mentioned something about Cailin and Jerold half nodded in response. It was easy to be distracted by the movement below. Especially when one was as tired as they each were. For several minutes, they sat in silence, watching the joust go on. When it was over, Jerold would have go over and congratulate each of the contestants with a smile. They each had done a fine job and deserved it, but he wasn't feeling particularly inclined to head in their direction. "Would you like to accompany me?" Jerold asked Anna, slightly hoping she would say yes. Of course, if she didn't that was completely understandable. She had been here longer than he had and was more tired. Jerold didn't want her to have to do anything that she didn't want.

Ah yes, that look. I know just what that means, Anna thought to herself. Her husband didn't need to speak for Anna to know how much he loved Boaz, and for once she approved less of him than her own sarcasm. As for being organised, the Queen was unsure if Jerold was just trying to make her feel better or was actually being serious. Whether or not it was the truth was another matter, but she still felt a tad of warmth that her husband was being positive. She frowned a little, certainty fading. Determined to get to the bottom of her ill feelings, she inquired, "Are you trying to make me feel better?" Slowly dawning on her that perhaps she was being silly, and that her tiredness was making her more sensitive than usual, she added, "Because you've almost succeeded."

Like her husband, Anna never really understood why they were left in peace during such exchanges like the current one, most especially when they were joking and giggling. Most of the time, Anna was bombarded with people wanting to talk to her, but it seemed that the nobles were wise enough to respect the relationship between Anna and Jerold. Either that, or they were afraid of losing respect from the couple, which they most certainly would if they kept interrupting like children used to.

"Protect?" Anna almost gasped in pretend shock. "Haven't you seen the books she reads? More tragic than some of the tragedies Shakespeare wrote," she informed, exaggerating the reference to add a touch of humour to what was, and always would be, a very serious matter. History and politics was full of deception, war, and cruelty. It was too late to stop Diona from reading that now, but Anna had made a note to keep a better eye on what Kaira started to read. She had no intention on letting her youngest roam free-- that was the role Lee and Diona fought over, the former a touch more successfully. Maybe it's time to reign them all in, Anna thought to herself.

The Queen nodded in agreement to the first part of her husband's statement-- it was the world that was moving faster. But the last, she could not agree with. "Maybe not. Perhaps it just shows that we're more patient than others, more willing to live a slower but joyfully full life, without worry about emotional stamina and fatigue." Lips twitching once again, she added with a snort, "Perhaps not the simple bit."

Feeling her hand squeezed, Anna's heart once again flooded with warmth. She was so darn lucky, she thought to herself. If she ever decided to brag about something, the first on her list would be her husband. He was the best, hands down. Her pleasant dream was interrupted by the clash of wood and metal, waking her back to the joust. She didn't need to say anything, but even if she had, one would doubt that Jerold would have noticed. The two were seated, focused entirely on the charging horses and skilled knights. It was a wonderful match, in the end only won by a single point. It would be hard on the loser, but Anna knew that on a better day, he could have won. It was like that, sometimes. Even the best could falter and make mistakes on an off day.

Finally it was over, and Jerold asked his wife to accompany him. Anna stood slowly, judging how sore her feet were; they were much better, now that they'd rested for over a quarter hour. Nodding in acceptance, she held out her arm, prepared to be led wherever her husband wanted.


((OOC: I have no idea what Tortall's version of Shakespeare is, because they would most certainly have something of the likes, so I've decided Shakespeare lives in different universes and times XD))

Anna must not have quite understood what Jerold asked, for she asked her own question in return. He pondered it for less than a second, deciding that he was trying to make her feel better. He was also hoping that what he said would be true. It most likely wouldn't, but one could hope. When she added that he almost accomplished half of that task, Jerold smiled. He always liked to make his wife happy. When she was happy, he was happy. Sometimes, their mood managed to rub off on their children. That was the best. When everybody seemed to be in a good frame of mind. Rare, but nevertheless, nice. Turning back to his wife, Jerold answered, "A little bit. And almost? You don't even feel the smallest bit better?" Hesitating a split second, he added, "And I did hope to be organized. For five years though? Perhaps not. Five months seems more foreseeable."

A small smile covered Jerold's face at his wife's reaction to Diona's reading material. He was aware of what she had been reading, but had been far too busy to put an end to it. And secretly, he liked the fact that his daughter -both of his daughters- had a mind of her own. Diona kept hers to herself, while Lee shared with everyone. In today's society, it wasn't exactly smiled upon and that was the only reason Jerold disapproved. He might like it, but whether he liked it or not wasn't the case. For the crown to put on a respectable face, they must be the example of proper and primness. That was drilled into his head, and Jerold couldn't help but feel that his daughters must learn the same thing. "Diona is different than Líadan. She might read those books, but is hardly likely to advertise it." For a second, he doubted himself. She might just do that. "Do you think so?" Jerold asked for conformation. He didn't think she would, but Anna was more likely to know.

"Perhaps not the simple bit," Jerold agreed, in a chuckle. The world was indeed moving faster. He wasn't sure about the patient bit. Then again, Jerold always had to be patient. There were times when he didn't want to, but was sure nobody had ever seen that side of him. Even his wife and children. His parents had seen it when he was a boy and couldn't help it. Long since then, Jerold willed himself to be patient. "True, we may not worry about fatigue, but I know that I sure feel it."

Jerold was glad Anna decided to come with him, even though she looked like she could spend much more time sitting. Silently promising not too keep her on her feet for too much longer, he led her toward the pair that just competed. They came upon the victor first. Jerold smiled and commented on a job well done. The young knight gave a nervous bow in return. Jerold smiled at the man's nervousness. He often found it amusing when people were awed by him. As they moved away, toward the next knight, Jerold asked, "Do people often act that way around you? Even after all these years?" That's what got Jerold the most. He had been king for quite some time, yet people still seemed to treat him like he wasn't like them. He was sure he had missed some point, somewhere, but didn't know how to find it.

The next knight was a bit more talkative, which was surprising, seeing as he lost. Jerold didn't mind it, but one look at his wife told him, they must return to their seats. He wasn't sure if there was another joust to be had and he didn't quite care. Anna couldn't very well walk back to the palace yet. Jerold contemplated carrying her, but knew he was not quite up to the task. They slowly took their time returning to their seats and Jerold indicated that Anna should sit. He remained standing for a moment before taking his seat beside. "You know, I thought about carrying you," he said, a smile on his face. "When I realized I couldn't, I thought that you should rest as soon as we get back." It wasn't an order or a request. Merely a suggestion. One that he might have to follow up on.

As the Queen listened to her husband's reply, she grimaced slightly. Perhaps she was hoping for too much, to be planning for events in the years to come, or perhaps she was just being overzealous. Her husband was right; five months was far more forseeable, not to mention workable. If she was spending that much time worrying about the future, she wasn't busy enough, she thought to herself. What a shame. She'd just have to have more time off. Feeling a little happier, and more so when the first part of her husband's reply sunk it, she replied, "I give up. If there's anyone who can make me see sense, it's you." Grinning at her husband, she continued, "I suppose I do feel better. Although if you make me laugh any more, it won't just be my feet that hurt."

Frowning in thought like her husband, she pondered over what the two had said. Would Diona say anything? That, she wasn't sure. As she had spent more time with her second daughter than her husband, Anna wasn't at all surprised that Jerold was hesitant over what to expect. Anna simply was not sure. It wasn't that she didn't trust Diona to not blurt out everything she knew; rather, she wasn't at all sure if the young woman would engage in a conversation that would reveal the extent of her education and reading. Deciding that was the most accurate response for now, the Queen confessed, "Not directly, no. Her head is screwed on well enough, but I'm not sure how she would react if placed in a conversation that would spark her interest. Whether she would know how much to say, I don't know." Thoughts wandering back to her previous decision, to tighten the reign on her children, she proposed, "Perhaps the simplest way to find out would be to ask her." That could work, but it might not. Diona could only give her opinion on what she would do-- which would be good practice, Anna supposed. As for Lee, well, Lee was Lee. It would take a lot to convince her that she shouldn't speak her mind, or display her intelligence for the world to see.

Nodding in agreement, the Queen replied, "Maybe it's time we slowed down a bit, then. I've been thinking about that for a while. Your mother was always telling me to delegate, Gods bless her. She never said why, but I've worked that out for myself, I believe. Besides, Zare is old enough to take more responsibilities, don't you think? He will be King, one day. And the girls can help with things. I didn't put up with the torture of teaching them sums for nothing," Anna continued, lips twitching. Finally allowing a break, she quietly asked, "Or am I being too optimistic again? Surely they are not too young," she frowned, as hesitant and unsure as her husband was only moments ago.

Finding the two knights who had just completed their joust being presented to her, Anna quietened. After a moment of bows and polite exchange, the woman congratulated the winner. She had found it to be one of the better jousts of the tournament, and so commented on his skill. It seemed to take knights many years to become able enough to joust at tournaments without making fools of themselves, but these two young men were obviously talented. Having given one final word of encouragement and a warm smile, she allowed herself to be escorted to the next knight by her husband. His question startled her, but instead of trying to think of an elaborate or meaningful reply in a matter of seconds, she simply grinned. Jerold would know she would answer later.

Her feet began to throb, and finally Anna realised it was time to sit again. Fortunately for her, the talkative knight was happy to let the royal couple go after only a few minutes. Jerold indicated for Anna to sit when they reached the tent, and she did so. Smiling in gratitude, she thanked him. Her smile quickly turned into an out-right guffaw, and, once she'd calmed down enough to speak with clarity, explained, "I didn't know you could carry me, dear. You must be working hard while I'm not looking." It hadn't totally occured that the King could just be jesting-- either way, it was rather amusing for anyone close enough to hear.

Returning to her husband's previous question, Anna admitted, "Sometimes people are nervous around me, even now, yes. Mostly the young ladies newly returned from the Convent, however. It's amazing how a few years can change a person-- I got a shock last week when Sarah's daughter, Carolyn, almost fell over with nerves. Remember how she used to climb all over me when Diona was younger? She was never nervous then. I wonder what the ladies in the Convent did to her, to change her so." Sarah had been Anna's second lady-in-waiting when she and Jerold had ascended to the throne, and was now living in the palace to help oversee the tailors. They'd always been wonderful friends, and to the present day, would enjoy a good game of cards, or a sit-down with some sewing. Jerold knew Sarah, of course, and once the young Diona and Carolyn had met and found each other to be good playmates, the whole royal family developed relationships with Sarah's small family. Realising she had more to say than what she had just mentioned, she added, "And the young men, of course. Even the pages and squires. Once they hit Zare's age, though, I find them settled enough to enjoy a good debate without their nerves getting in the way. I doubt they'd be any different with you-- if anything, the women less nervous, the men more so. You are, after all, their role model."

The truth to Jerold's statement was seen upon his wife's face. She clearly agreed with him, much to Jerold's dismay. If Anna was agreeing with him, that meant what he said was indeed true and that in turn meant that their work was cut out for them. Luckily there were some people to delegate to, and that would have to be enough for the moment. Jerold was already tired thinking of what the next few months might bring. "I am glad that I can make you see the sense in things. Usually, that's your job. At least I can be useful," Jerold said in reply to his wife's comment. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad you're feeling better, even at the expense of your stomach. But because I do not want you to suffer anymore, I shall stop the jokes immediately." All this was said with a clear smile. It might have been a bit wittier, if it was earlier in the day. He had already done so much, and the fact that he even remembered to keep the charm and humor up, was a bonus.

The answer Anna gave him in regards to Diona wasn't at all what Jerold was looking for. He was quite hoping for a 'yes, m'dear, Diona wouldn't say a thing.' Of course, that's not what he would receive. Just his luck. At least Diona wasn't likely to blurt his first thoughts out. Jerold figured she would be more likely to speak her thoughts in a way that some nobles wouldn't catch on to what she was saying. Turning to Anna, Jerold gave what was an attempt at a stern look. "You know, that wasn't exactly the answer I was looking for. I was hoping you could reassure me that everything was perfectly fine." He smiled a second later to let her know he was only jesting. Anna was likely to know it, but he liked to cover his bases. "Perhaps I ought to have a talk with her," Jerold mused aloud. That way, he could spend time with her and learn what the dear girl would say.

All this talk of the future was a going to give Jerold a headache. He didn't particularly want to think of it at the moment. There were some many different possibilities. Good or bad. Jerold wanted to believe that everything would work out for the better, but he knew from experience; it was hardly likely. And Zare. . . Jerold thought on his son often. To imagine him king was to imagine himself dead. It wasn't something Jerold liked to to think about. "Yes," he replied slowly, feeling that something needed to be said. Jerold was not one to let comments go without a reply. Only when necessary, and that was mostly in political situations. "I've slowly began to give Zarian more duties. I think he's getting used to them. And the girls are more than capable of helping with anything you might ask. As for young, Karia perhaps. . ."

Jerold didn’t see what was so hilarious about his plans to carry Anna. Well, perhaps he did. It was certainly meant to amuse, with a little bit of hopefulness as well. Jerold remembered when he could lift his wife. Those days he could do many things he couldn’t do now. Sometimes, Jerold longed to move the clock back to when he was younger. Just past his training days, but before he had to worry about being king. Of course, that period was short, but sweet nonetheless. In those times, he could see. That’s what Jerold missed most about being young. He had much to be thankful for, especially the fact that he could even see at all. There was a time when he thought he would have been blind forever. Once again, Jerold found himself needing to catch up to the present.

“I work very hard while you’re not looking,” Jerold replied eventually. A few people looked over, with smiles on their faces. They had heard the exchange of words and no doubt found them entertaining. Jerold liked to think that as he got older, he became wittier. He had to try to bridge the gap in ages between him and whoever he might be conversing with. The best way to do that was often with humor. It made him seem a little younger, more relatable. Not that he needed to do that with Anna, but Jerold was so used to it, that he didn’t give the jokes a second thought anymore.
In response to his earlier question, Anna told him what he thought he might hear. She was, of course, someone everyone looked up to. As his wife told him about Carolyn, Jerold smiled. He did indeed recall the former lady-in-waiting and her daughter. Their families had gathered together on occasion, which Jerold greatly enjoyed. “I’m not too sure,” he responded to her ponderings on the Convent. “As neither I nor you have attended, I can’t say for certain what they do there. Even my sister didn’t share. I think it’s a secret.” His voice lowered a little as he uttered the last sentence. As to the young men looking up to him, Jerold had to agree. He saw it, and did his best to give them a good image. “Maybe women are just calmer by nature.”

Anna laughed openly at her husband's reply. "Usually? You exaggerate. You're the one who can solve the hardest riddles without too much thought," she grinned in replied. Her husband's mind worked far more logically than hers-- he could indeed solve riddles with ease. Or, perhaps, not with ease, but his mind allowed him to work through the riddles in such a way that they simply fell into place. Anna solved riddles in a much different way-- laterally. She thought of all the possibilities and what they implied, then tried to fit them together. It worked, sometimes, but far less often than she'd like to. She smiled at her husband, than gave him a small kiss on the cheek as a thankyou. Gently grabbing his arm, she clung to him, then said in a mock-whine, "But then the day will be boring. Keep joking- it'll give me an excuse to whack you later, too. Something else to look forward to."

The Queen could tell Jerold was thinking on what she said. A moment later, he replied, trying to appear stern, then smiled. Anna knew he was joking, but she was glad he took into consideration that she might have misunderstood. "Nothing will ever been fine with our children, dear. I'd thought you'd have realised that by now," Anna replied, wincing slightly at the truth of her words. Unlike other children, hers had grown up surrounded by politics and power. Of course they'd be very, very different. Thinking back, she was glad her husband intended on talking to Diona-- it meant he would. They two spent less time together than Anna did with Zare, although, they did spend more time together than Anna's parents had her. That was a good thing.

Nodding in approval to what her husband had said, she felt a tad of hope that she wasn't just being optimistic. Yes, perhaps Kaira was a bit young, she thought to herself. Maybe I can set her about entertaining other children her age, though. It would be useful for her to make friends that she could keep and draw support from. Allies were important, too. By drawing children closer together, it was only natural that the parents would soon follow. Anna hadn't spent much time with mothers of children Kaira's age, and perhaps this would be a good excuse. Kaira's next birthday would be the perfect occasion. Pleased with her decision, she announced to her husband, "But she's not too young to make friends. I think we can start her networking. She spends more time with adults than children, like Lee, and look how she turned out," she grinned, making fun of Lee's assertive nature. Kaira was different to Lee, though, very different. It would be interesting to see what sort of woman Kaira would grow into.

Wincing slightly, she thought, Hush, don't tell me such things. I like to know what my family is doing, remember? That didn't sound rude, but the royal couple had been having a rather light-hearted conversation.; it would ruin it to suddenly drench them in emotional dullness. Instead, she simply smiled warmly, showing her approval and letting him know that she had heard him. Suddenly thinking of a comment, she quickly replied, "You've been watching me, haven't you? Working when I'm not looking so you can surprise me." She grinned, allowing her husband to confirm that she was, once again, teasing. Gods, I miss this fun, she thought to herself. Looking around her, she notices several heads watching. Most were smiling, others trying not to laugh. She raised her eyebrows slightly and winked at one group, which startled another laugh out of them. Slowly they returned to their conversations. Watchers never bothered Anna, especially when they got something out of it-- like a good joke. Gossip would be the result, but at least it would be a tale of humour and joy, not anger and arguments.

Lips twitching, Anna replied, "Possibly. Although if more than one person knows of a secret, it really isn't very secret." She agreed with what her husband had said-- they didn't really know. She'd been fortunate to have not attended the Tortallan Convent, she'd always thought, but she'd received vigorous training from her mother. Where she'd been taught all she needed to know, others weren't and, hence, the Convent was usually a good idea. Except for people like Lee, she thought to herself.

Calmer? "Of course. We're not the ones who have to find ourselves wives the moment we're old enough to continue our line," she muttered, although not insultingly. She'd always thought men and women had set roles which they were expected to follow, and those that didn't were locked away never to be seen again. This meant blind eyes were turned on certain behaviour, as it was acceptable. To Anna, that was a shame. She strongly believed people should follow their own path and life, taking into consideration the effects it would have on others, of course.

Jerold raised his brows slightly at his wife’s response. It was true, but they seemed to be thinking about two different ideas. He could usually solve most riddles set in front of him, but that was not quite the same as their lives. “Yes, but are riddles the same as sensibility?” he was about to say, when stopped by a kiss on the cheek. Anna’s grin was large, and he decided to keep the question to himself. There would be other times when they could speak of the future and their abilities to make sense of it. For now, the only future Jerold wanted to think about was making it back to his bed later tonight. That would be chore enough for now. Jerold was distracted from his thoughts of a nice warm bed as Anna desperately told him to keep joking. A smile played on his lips as she told him some walloping might be in order if he was to keep going. “At threat of that, why would I continue? It may be something to look forward to, but I fear that you will be the only party who enjoys it,” Jerold said, feeding off her mocking tone.

Unfortunately, Anna was quite right when it came to their children. Nothing would be fine with them. It came with the territory. The two of them had had grown up in this environment as well. It was inevitable that their children had would turn out the way they had. Surrounded by politics and under the eye of the Court and a whole nation, Jerold had known it was bound to happen. He had known the moment Zarian was born. Perhaps, it was worse now then when he was a boy. There was so much more going on now. Then again, he hadn’t been raised in a time when his parents weren’t the monarchs. Turing back to his wife, Jerold patted her hand gently. “We were raised in the same environment and look how we turned out. They’ll be fine.”

At the mention of networking, Jerold shook his head slightly, a smile on his face. That wasn’t something he was about to get himself into. “I leave those arrangements to you, my dear.” You may be free to negotiate with the noble mothers, he thought, not wanting to voice this particular opinion. I already have to deal with their husbands and that is more than enough for me, thank you. Jerold was sure that Anna would pick up on his unsaid words. As much as he didn’t seem to approve, the man certainly did. It was only appropriate that Kaira have some friends her own age, not to mention it could help create alliances between their family and the nobles.

For a moment, Jerold wondered if he had said something wrong, when Anna came back with a reply of her own. He thought part of it was to ensure the listeners of her watch. Her watch indeed, Jerold thought as he observed his wife send a group into laughter then back to their own conversation. The other part, was another joke. The two of them had certainly been at it this afternoon. All of the jokes felt good after months of worry and quietness. Returning his wife’s smile, Jerold replied, “Of course. Surprises can be lovely, can they not?” For the most part, that was.

“Fortunately, most of us have mothers who make the decision of our marriage for us,” Jerold said, catching the muttered comment. “We just fret about how our ugly our future wife will be.” His smile implied a joke, but in the cases of many men, it was true. “I didn’t, of course. I knew just how lovely my wife to be was—and still is.”

Had Anna known what her husband was tempted to say, she would have simply replied that no, it wasn't, but court life was as puzzling as riddles and if you had the patience to deal with one, you would have the patience to deal with the other. Training the mind to think abstractly was extremely important in politics, and riddles were simply another way of stretching the mind.

“At threat of that, why would I continue? It may be something to look forward to, but I fear that you will be the only party who enjoys it,” the King replied, playing along with Anna. Not quite sure how to respond, she poked him gently, and winked, "I take it back. I give you permission to continue, without any slaps or pokes tonight. Satisfied?"

We were raised in the same environment and look how we turned out. They’ll be fine,” comforted Jerold, and although it was truth enough, Anna was not entirely satisfied. "Yes, but, our parents were different," she argued, wrinkling her nose slightly at the thought. Her father had been good enough, but had not shown anywhere near the love and compassion that Jerold had to his children. Realising what she'd just thought, she changed her mind. "Okay, you have a point. Without feeling too immodest, I do believe we're better parents than mine were. Although whether that is due to our natures or simply because we hadn't just invaded another country, I don't know," she winced slightly. She believed her father was a good ruler and commander, but at times he was cruel and extremely insensitive. Everyone has their faults, Anna reminded herself, then allowed her husband to take her mind off the subject of her father with his reply to her plans for Kaira.

What Jerold didn't say, however, Anna picked up. She hadn't expected at all for her husband to be enthusiastic about helping to network, if he did anything at all. He had enough on his hands with the lords--Anna could handle this. She nodded in acceptance, smiling slightly so her husband knew she didn't mind at all. It would be fun, inviting all of the little ones and their mothers to parties and get-togethers. She'd not really held anything for Kaira except parties for her birthday, and perhaps now that she was old enough to truly enjoy them, it would be well worth the effort. Besides, the growing girl needed activities other than study and 'lady stuff' to keep her occupied.

“Of course. Surprises can be lovely, can they not?” said Jerold. Anna smiled in agreement; maybe she could do something for him, one day. What, she didn't know. Clean up his study? Although she grinned at the thought, she decided against saying it. He would appreciate it, she knew, but that wasn't the sort of surprise they two were thinking of. Another challenge, Anna thought to herself. Although not for today, she smiled to herself.

The compliment Jerold payed to his wife was not called for, but was received quite well. "Thank you, my dear," the queen blushed slightly, a little surprised at the sudden comment. Her lips twitched at the thought of what her husband had said--men did indeed worry. Not all, but some. "They should worry more about whether they're dragons, really. Like my mother," she chuckled. In her opinion, looks didn’t matter as much as the heart, and she knew her husband shared a similar view. However, with Anna's mother, it didn't matter either way. She hadn't been the most beautiful woman, and, although she wasn't mean or cruel, she was very strict, devious and... a little bit like Lee. The two were both very independent of social roles, which, Anna realised, was rather amusing.

In response to his question about continuing his jokes, Anna relented. Jerold smiled at her peaceful reply, sensing the influence from politics. The two of them had so often stopped themselves from saying things they truly would have liked to, also taking the initiative to keep things peaceful. Jerold often wondered what it would be like for the two of them if they weren’t royalty. Or even nobility for that matter. What if they were commoners with no thoughts for politics? Would they say what they liked then? Even as he thought about it, Jerold couldn’t picture it. To think like that was to think of his whole life redefined. That was too much to think about. He never brought these thoughts up to Anna, keeping them only to himself. Nobody wanted to hear their monarch speak about what things would be like if he wasn’t king. Besides, that showed how very egocentric he could be.

“Yes, my dear, of course I’m satisfied,” Jerold replied, taking her hand. “But, I will relent, nonetheless.” He didn’t say why, but guessed she would pick up on it. They could use a night free of distractions. Free of everything they had been worried about. Joking was just another way to point out the distractions. As much as he sometimes enjoyed it, Jerold enjoyed peace more.

When Anna mentioned her father, Jerold’s mood went slightly sour. He did not show any of this to his wife, not wanting to cause a rift. They were at different levels when it came to his father-in-law. Jerold highly disapproved of the man, but when he was younger, was instructed that it would be advisable never to let that show. Jerold had taken the advice, and was certainly glad that he had. Tortall did have to do some dealings with Rittevon, and Jerold had the diplomatic advantage: he was married to the usurper’s daughter. Jerold was painstakingly careful that Anna never know—or guess—his feelings. She might have guessed, but he was sure that he had never given her any concrete proof. They simply did not talk about her father often enough anymore for it to be of great matter. Jerold chose not to respond to the topic of her father and was glad when Anna quickly moved the subject on.

His wife had certainly picked up on his thoughts of Kaira’s networking. She gave him a perceptive nod, to which Jerold took to be a confirmation of his own thoughts. He didn’t need to worry at all when it came to his youngest daughter. Anna was sure to have it well in hand. Jerold, of course, would check in on the progression once in a while, but would leave most of it to his wife. She was better suited to handle all of that anyhow. Jerold would just have to know which particular noble families Kaira was making acquaintances with. That way, when spoken to by a noble parent, he would know if they knew Kaira. Sighing inwardly, Jerold wondered why it was all so complicated.

Jerold was glad to see his compliment went over well. It always pleased him to please her. Thinking of something, Jerold voiced it aloud, “Perhaps they shouldn’t worry if their wives are dragons, but if their wife’s mother is of the same particular type.” That would bring a smile to her face, he hoped. Really, he was glad that his own marriage had passed. All that worrying he had spent for naught. It was much too stressful. Now, his own children were a different story. It worried him far less to marry them off, but he could relate to their own particular feelings on the matter. Speaking of which, he really must have that discussion with Diona. The poor girl was soon to marry a man she barely knew. Sighing aloud this time, Jerold muttered the word “marriage” aloud without realizing it. What a complicated word.

Had Anna had the ability of mind reading, she would have laughed so hard she'd have to have visited a healer for fear of having hurt something important. What life would have been like if they were commoners wasn't just an interesting question--it was the sort that one could spend years dwelling on. Hence, Anna would have found it rather amusing, simply because they both had such busy lives, even thinking of the possibility of spending years on something was inconceivable. It was one of those things that even married couples like Anna and Jerold didn't need to share, the little fantasies and puzzling questions that popped up inside one's mind to keep them entertained when they were bored. In Anna's case, she sometimes had to pinch herself to keep her mind on the meeting, and not on her latest mental challenge--her children. Or Lee, really.

The Queen simply smiled at her husband. She understood perfectly what he meant.

Jerold's thoughts were another example of how couples didn't necessarily talk about absolutely everything. There was a time when Anna suspected her husband didn't really like her father, and that concerned her for some time. Of course, decades had passed since then, and any feelings of worry had dispersed. Eventually, she'd come to the unconscious conclusion that it didn't really matter. Jerold's opinion of her father wasn't an opinion of her--she didn't choose her father, nor could she change him--so why should she feel offended? Of course, had the King made a point to 'rub it in', she'd have been rather unhappy, but Jerold was different. Both seemed determined to keep their relationship calm, peaceful and happy. It simply wasn't in the nature of either of them to hurt the other.

Chuckling at the comment, as was Jerold's intent, Anna tried to calm herself before smirking in reply, then muttered, "Very true." Jerold's mother had been a lovely lady, one whom Anna respected and loved as her own. It had been tragic that the old Queen had died before her time, and even Anna, who had only known her a few years, had grieved alongside her husband. The typical mother-in-law, especially those in stories and songs of travelling musicians, were dragons, commanding and controlling. It was always an 'escape' for the daughter to marry someone who could stand up for their new wife--which usually didn't happen. From experience, Anna knew that father-in-laws could be just as bad, if not worse, because as males, they knew very well how to get under the skin of their daughter's husband. Why they were never mentioned in stories was beyond Anna's understanding. Perhaps they weren't as fun to make fun of, she thought to herself.

It may have been noisy, but standing right beside the King, Anna was able to pick up his muttered "Marriage". Her first reaction was to wonder why he'd sighed, but that was fairly obvious. Pausing a moment in thought, she puzzled over what her husband was concerned about. He usually didn't just sigh for fun--there was always a reason. Dwelling on the word, 'marriage', she realised what he may have been thinking of. Diona was to be married away to someone she hardly knew, just like Anna and Jerold. Although, they'd both had enough contacts to know what the other was like. With Boaz, it was very, very hard to tell. Their cultures differed more than Anna's had Jerold's, which was also a problem. Still, Diona had to marry someone. It was a harsh reality, but not many had freedom to choose partners. Even Lee wouldn't. Zare would be able to suggest a wife, but in the end, it would be the Council, Anna and Jerold who would make the final decision.

Since they were on the topic of marriage, Anna thought it was a good time to bring up that thought, one that she had been dwelling on since her conversation with her son a few weeks before. "There's been a few comments here and there that Lee and Zare haven't been uh..." she paused slightly, trying to remember the quote, "'lined up' for a suitable husband and wife. I haven't heard anything negative, just surprised observations." She left it at that, leaving her husband time to contemplate. Her concerns for Lee's independence weren't necessarily her husband's. She was perfectly happy to let Zare choose a good wife as he wished, and she wouldn't dare choose a husband for Lee without consulting her daughter, but that didn't mean Lee wouldn't be married at all. Waiting patiently for her husband to respond, Anna once again wondered what sort of man Lee would be happy to marry.

(OOC: I'm not sure how much more they can talk about. ^^ So, I'm going to start winding it down, if that's cool with you.)

Anna had brought up the subject of courtiers opinion's on the marriages of their two eldest children. Jerold had heard those thoughts himself, coming from many people. He had even been stopped by an older Lady (a mother of a present Lord) and was told that it was highly improper that none of his children were married. Especially Zare, as he was in his twenties. Jerold politely told the woman that he was aware of this matter and she would be informed when the situation. Truthfully, he agreed with her. After all, he married when he was eighteen. Zarian was four years older than that at present. It was about time he chose a wife--with Jerold and Anna's approval, of course.

As for Lee. . .well, she was difficult, to say the least. Jerold already knew the two of them would have a tough time finding a husband for their eldest daughter. She had already refused the Prince of Carthak. Jerold had been disappointed, for as Empress, she would have made a great impact. He didn't think Lee saw that at all. Or, if she did, she didn't care. Jerold had already been nice once. The next time they tried to find a husband for her, she would find herself picking. Jerold be firm, no matter what she (or his wife) said.

He wanted both of his children to be happy with their marriages, but he also knew that they were royalty. They would have to make sacrifices, as he had done. It was hard, but that was the life they had been born into and they would have to live with that. Glancing at his wife, Jerold realized that Anna was waiting for him to respond.

"I've heard them as well," he confirmed. "In fact, some of those comments have been directed at me in person. For some people, it is more than surprise." Jerold paused before continuing. He was surprised that Anna had only heard hushed whispers. He didn't want to dash those illusions, but told her the truth anyway. "The fact that Zare is as old as he is and unmarried is shocking to some. There are plenty of courtiers talking of how he must marry and produce another heir. They aren't as worried about it as they would be if we didn't have Roger, but they certainly are talking." Pausing again to look at his wife, Jerold wondered what she was thinking. He knew her thoughts had always been for their children's happiness and wouldn't think of a marriage without consulting them, but Jerold knew that might not be how it happened.

"We really do need to consider suggesting courtship to both of our children. They must marry soon or else I fear we will hear more than whispers," Jerold finally decided on saying. He hoped that Anna agreed with him or else, it would be left to him to all of the arranging.

((OOC: That's fine!))

Anna frowned a tad when Jerold replied. She'd only heard rumours, comments, whispers, nothing with much direction or urgency. It seemed that, however, courtiers had been talking to Jerold more than Anna about such situations--which seemed odd, considering it was usually viewed that females tended to act more decisively in such matters. Or, perhaps they thought she loved her children too much to do anything. Now, if that was their view, she had a slight problem, to put it lightly. Her frown deepened at the thought, and she resolved to try and act sooner on such matters--or talk to her husband and see if he'd been hearing the same, or worse.

"The fact that Zare is as old as he is and unmarried is shocking to some. There are plenty of courtiers talking of how he must marry and produce another heir. They aren't as worried about it as they would be if we didn't have Roger, but they certainly are talking." her husband continued, choosing honesty over protection.

Letting out a small sigh and relaxing her expression, Anna nodded understanding. Really, they should have both seen this coming--after all, most married before their twentieth birthday, and it was of a common opinion that children should marry a similar age to their parents. Zare was obviously older, and Lee was stretching it. The problem was, several years before there'd been a war. Anna had considered marrying her children off before then, but once the wheel started turning, there was no stopping the call to arms. It distracted everyone, slowly changing court life to that of tense quiet and yet a rather loud sense of urgency and fear. The focus of everyone's lives was escaping from the fights unscathed--physically, emotionally, and financially. Mainly the latter, as several trade routes had been cut off, and others diverted to help the cause.

Still, that wasn't really an excuse. The impact of a royal marriage would have been drowned by the war, of course, but it still would have brought some sense of hope and happiness to the nation. Ahhh, what could have been. Shaking off her thoughts, the Queen scowled at her unproductive dwelling on the past.

"We really do need to consider suggesting courtship to both of our children. They must marry soon or else I fear we will hear more than whispers," Jerold added, keeping nothing from Anna's conscience. To that, Anna could only exaggerate a pout and a grumble--"Life enjoys making things difficult for us, doesn't it." Reminding herself that if Lee was married off, it'd mean much less concerns for Anna anyway, she added, feeling rather courageous, "Still, I do agree with you. Zare I doubt will have too much trouble, on the part of attracting females, that is, but I'm sure Lee will take her time. Perhaps, should we suggest such an idea to her, a date should be set for which she should decide by. It doesn't need to be set in concrete, but she shouldn't know that, of course."

Jerold noticed that Anna had nodded in approval. At least she understood how important it was that their children needed to be married. Honestly, Jerold would like to see them both married off within the next two to three years. He knew it was very important that another heir was produced or else people would start to mutter. His parents had told him enough that his birth was a great cause for celebration. Jerold had been born when his parents were already reigning. Those years without an heir had been quite troublesome. There had been enough talk about the next in line to the throne. Jerold not want to see that repeated again. He wanted his rein to be as stable as possible.

As Anna spoke of the marriages, Jerold was mildly surprised at her willingness. He had imagined it would be hard for to her part with her children, especially if they were to move far away. Zare, of course, would not, but Lee might just do that. It had been expected of her when she was considered to marry Boaz. Now, she was relieved of that duty and might just stay closer to home. The task was finding a noble who wouldn't mind someone as headstrong as her daughter. They could think of that later when they proposed the situation to Lee.

Hearing Anna's comment, Jerold chuckled and patted her hand. "What would life be without difficulties? I rather think we'd be quite bored." He considered her idea and thought it was quite good. A proposal to Lee of that sorts would do the girl good. "Yes, we should certainly do so. However, it will be a very strong suggestion. She needs to realize that this is the final time she has the luxury to choose. Otherwise we might just choose somebody for her." Turning to his wife, he added, "I think that will persuade her, will it not?"

The day was coming to an end and the tournament would be over soon. The couple would have to make their way back to the palace in order to dress for the dinner tonight. With all of the extra guests, their roles as host and hostess had to be played quite frequently. Standing up, Jerold stretched slightly and offered his hand to his wife. "Let's talk of this later. For now, we shall enjoy ourselves among our guests."