(Milana)

The flooring was made of James's dark wood, covered in pastel blue velvet, like the walls, and trimmed with gold tassel.
The Queen stood up as we came in, a baby in her arms, and smiled, it was a feline smile and it unsettled me. Her dress today was silk like mine, white though, with blue fur around the edges.

"Do sit down." She nodded to a spot on the floor. There was no furniture in the room, only a side table with some books and toys on it. All five of her children (minus Edward) were there, George scowled whilst spooning something mushy and green into his baby brother's mouth as he sat against him. That baby was Finley junior, the twin of Lewis, who the Queen held to her breast. There wasn't a nurse maid in sight.

Princess Adela was sat next to Prince Jonathan, who was four and babbling away at his sister.

"Sit down." The Queen towered over us as Lycho and I sat across the carpet a little way from the children. The Queen dropped gracefully too the floor, Prince Lewis slept on peacefully.

"Milana go and ring that bell." She said to me and I struggled to my feet, stumbling over to the long golden tassel. A maid popped up at the door and we looked to the Queen.

"Well? Tell the maid what you want to eat." Sara spoke like it was obvious. "Not used to such luxury? I'll go first. Adela would like her dried apple rings, and bring some for Jonathan too. George and I will have bacon as normal. Now you go, Lychorida."

"Um... Bacon too please." She stammered, Sara nodded, her left eyebrow only a fraction above her right. "Milana." She then rolled her eyes.

"Dried apple rings too please." I thought that would be right, what she expected, but her eyes suggested otherwise.

"And how are you finding the capital?" She asked us, her pale blue eyes boring into my mind.

"Cold." Lycho chuckled and I elbowed her to remind her of her manners. It was me who hurt more doing that though, my elbows caught one of her knives, not sharp but very hard.

"Well yes I suppose that is to be expected. I see my son rectified that for you though?" Lycho nodded and matched the Sara's steely gaze. "I should like it returned as soon as possible." The Queen spoke sternly and I spoke next in case Ly tried to anger her more.

"I will make sure it is returned to you before the day is quite out, my Queen." She looked up at me.

"Oh no, Milana that is quite alright. You have more pressing matters to attend to." There was a hint of a smirk in her gaze.
Suddenly Sara plastered on a fake face of one who just had a brilliant idea. A maid brought the food in quickly and retired. "Why don't we summon your servant boy to bring the cloak back? I've never met a real deaf person and your fascination with him I'm sure to indulge in. You there, fetch him at once." She seemed to call for no one in particular, but a maid popped out of what I thought was a clear wall and nodded.

"My Queen, he won't understand the maid, let me accompany her to fetch him." Ly chirped and I glared at her for leaving me. Sara nodded slowly and turned to me as Ly left. She didn't say anything, just observed.

Her daughter joined her in this.
"How old are you?" Adela asked.

"Eighteen." I replied and she nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"Your sister scares me." Adela continued, absentmindedly playing with a wooden horse for Jonathan.

I laughed and shuffled a little closer to her.
"She scares me too, sometimes, but she's got the best intentions. She -"

"Milana." The Queen cut me off. She didn't follow by saying anything else, just warned me to stop talking so much.

The maid handed the plates of food out and the children talked as they ate but silence still pressed down on me. I supposed I wouldn't have to do this too often being merely her sister in law by tonight.

Speaking of which mother turned up at the door before Lychorida got back, I had to leave the room. I had to leave the first stage of my childhood.