Baudwin looked up at the familiar silhouette of the city of Ossol. The capital nestled at the base of the mountains separating the Kingdom of Breoch from the Dreadlands to the north. Fortunately, the mountains were nearly impossible to traverse, except for a mountain pass in the neighbouring kingdom, Ler. No one wanted what lived in the Dreadlands to venture south again. The last time that had happened, the war had begun, and the former High King and his family had been slaughtered, along with many good men and women.

The royal castle could be seen above the rooftops of the city's buildings, built on the hills above with the mountains as its backdrop. Home. As much as he had hated having to dethrone his parents, and abhorred how they had treated the citizens, he was proud of his kingdom. It may not be as rich as the Kingdoms of Ler or Adreas, or as advanced as the Kingdom of Forturos. But it was his. He loved the deep pine forests and the many tarns hidden among the trees. Before he was the king he had enjoyed spending time in the woods, the smell of moss and pine needles relaxing him like nothing else. It was the smell of home.

He was riding his horse at the head of the procession, flanked by his knights. For most of the trip back from the Delens, he'd ridden in a royal carriage, but as they neared the city he'd decided to ride. There was something special about the sight of Ossol, and it wasn't the same from a carriage. He looked back at the line of soldiers following him, at the simple carriage he'd used to travel south to the Kingdom of Lyndor. The carriage where his future wife was hiding.

One had to appreciate her resolve. On the day of their departure, everyone had expected her to ride with him in the royal carriage. Instead, she'd marched straight to the old carriage he'd used when picking her up, got in, and that was that. They'd had to scramble to harness it to two horses before the whole procession could leave.

If he had thought she might have softened towards him now that they were getting married, that curtailed any such thoughts. He supposed he couldn't blame her. She had specifically said she wasn't ready to forgive him. Hopefully, he could appease her as time went on. He would show her that being married to him wasn't all bad.

As they reached the gates of the city, he smiled at the citizens who waved as they saw him. People like Lord Delen might be unhappy about his rule, but the workers and tradesmen, the backbone of the kingdom, they were happy. And that was all that mattered. They slowly made their way through the streets to finally reach the royal castle. Having been notified of his imminent arrival, his advisers and the prominent servants of the household were all waiting outside. Except for his sister and her husband. He frowned.

Dismounting, he was about to ask his steward about his missing sister, when he noticed them all staring at the royal carriage with unconstrained excitement. A grin spread over his face as he saw Rhiannon alight from the simple carriage a little further away. No one noticed, as they all had their eyes trained on the other one. He limped over to her where she stood rooted to the ground, staring up at the hulking entrance of his castle. While it was a beautiful castle with tall towers and intricate balconies, it was also a big, hulking beast at the bottom of a mountain.

"First time in Ossol?" he asked, leaning on his cane as he took in her appearance. The days travelling had done nothing to dull her beauty.

She side-eyed him, shaking her head slightly. "I've been once or twice as a child, but I never properly paid attention. It's different when it's suddenly about to become your residence."

"I suppose it is." He offered her his right arm and nodded towards the people waiting. "Would you like me to introduce them?"

For a moment, her shoulders tensed, then she nodded and rested her hand on his arm. By now, the welcoming line had caught on and were staring at them as they approached. Walking to the top of the line, Baudwin begun the introductions, starting with his advisers, followed by the steward and some other high ranking servants. Where was his sister and her husband?

"Oh, Lady Rhiannon!" His adviser, Golen, gushed while holding her hand. "The rumours of your beauty do not do you justice!"

It nearly made him laugh. What rumours? Most of Breoch had forgotten the Delens even had a daughter! The older man's brown eyes twinkled as he stared at Rhiannon. She did look like a proper future-queen. Someone had switched her usual simple dresses for a more elaborate one with a cinched waist in a lovely dark green colour that suited her remarkably well.

Rhiannon even acted like a future-queen. Following her down the line a few steps behind, he watched her interactions. For someone who got her prickly side more often than not, it was amazing to see her smiling at the servants and trading kind words with them when they shyly bobbed a curtsy.

"Your Majesty?"

Golen's voice stopped him and he tore his eyes away from his bride where she was chatting with one of the ladies' maids to look at the older man. "Yes?"

"Well done." Golen nodded with a wide smile, looking a little like a fat cat that had just swallowed a tasty sparrow. "She is exquisite."

He raised an eyebrow. "You do realise I didn't create her from clay and bring her to life? I can take no credit for her beauty. I didn't even win her over. This was all a deal you and the other advisers brokered."

"Still. You didn't make her run."

"What kind of ogre do you think I am?" Baudwin muttered. "I'm not completely unable to speak to women."

"I wasn't sure." Golen grinned, and Baudwin honestly wasn't sure whether the older man was pulling his leg or just relieved Rhiannon hadn't left him in a ditch somewhere. "I've not seen you interested in a woman since your return from the war."

It was time to change the subject. "Have you seen my sister?"

"Oh, I'm sorry to say she wasn't feeling well. She's had a couple of fainting spells and the medic is having her on bed rest for now. Sir Aurelian is at her side."

"What's wrong with her?" It wasn't like his sister to faint. It certainly wasn't like her to allow someone to tell her to stay in bed.

"Ah..." Golen's eyes strayed from his. "They're not sure."

"I will go see her." Baudwin limped down the receiving line to catch up with Rhiannon, who was speaking to the last of the servants. When she saw him, she took his arm again, and they walked up the steps to enter the castle. He should have the damn thing levelled. It was a daily pain to go up and down with a cane.

"You did very well meeting everyone," he remarked as she pulled her hand from his when they got inside and out of eyesight.

"I do know how to behave around people," she replied dryly. "Living in a swamp didn't erase sixteen years of noble upbringing and lessons in etiquette."

He was saved from saying that maybe she just forget around him, by his sister's husband coming towards them in the entrance hall. The tall former knight, now the High King's Envoy to Breoch, was sporting a concerned frown that was very unlike him. Aurelian was normally more prone to smiling than frowning. His dark, curly hair stood on end as if he hadn't brushed it for a day or two. Catching sight of them, his face lit up.

"Baudwin! You're back!" He came up and clapped Baudwin on the back so hard he nearly lost his balance. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"I can tell," Baudwin muttered, then nodded towards Rhiannon who had hung back when the other man approached. "Aurelian, this is my future wife, Lady Rhiannon. Rhiannon, this is Sir Aurelian, my sister's husband."

"Right! I forgot you were bringing her." Aurelian's keen blue eyes moved over to Rhiannon. The man was definitely off his game, as he was usually quick to pick up on details. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rhiannon. Please excuse my appearance, my wife is not well."

Rhiannon curtsied as Aurelian bowed before her. "And you, Sir Aurelian. May I ask, what is the matter with your wife?"

The knight frowned. "The medics don't know. She's been having fainting spells the last few days. So they have her on bed rest."

"I'm not a medic, but I know a fair bit about herbal remedies. Perhaps I may be of assistance?"

"She's a witch," Baudwin supplied helpfully.

Aurelian's eyebrows lifted, and a spark of curiosity entered his eyes. "Really?"

Giving Baudwin an annoyed look, Rhiannon shook her head. "No. But I did spend several years helping their locals with their ailments before King Baudwin showed up."

The way she put emphasis on King made him have to cover his chuckle with a pretend cough. She was definitely still unhappy with him. But somehow, the fact that she held onto her anger made him hopeful. Anger was better than indifference.

"I wouldn't have minded if you were a witch." Aurelian winked. "I always wanted to meet one."

"I'll have a look at your wife, if you'd like me to."

"You're happy to do that?" Baudwin asked.

"Yes. She's not concealed her identity to me."

Aurelian looked as if he was dying to ask about it, but offered. "Well, she did conceal it from me when we first met."

Rhiannon raised an eyebrow. "I guess it runs in the family."

"I thought she was a man."

Was he imagining it, or was there a slight tug at the corners of her mouth before she answered. "I see. I would like to hear more about this another time. Now, shall we go see your wife?"

"Please." Aurelian smiled. "It's this way."

~~~~~~