Lalia bowed low in reaction, recognizing the Crown Jewel of the Matriarch was speaking of them. A laugh like the gentlest wind fell from Myra's lips. Kyera couldn't help but smile as she waved her hand gently at the Princesses.
"This is Princess Feya of the Summer laughing Rains palace, Princess Lalia of the Spring Tranquil clouds, Princess Melania of the Fall Joyful Leaves palace, and My dear midwife Cora." Kyera introduced each with a certain amount of formality required among royalty. Myra nodded at each until she heard Cora's title. There was a slightly confused note to her expression and Kyera waited for her to speak. It was clear her cousin had heard it.
"Wait… Midwife? Oh my goodness has Clovis already given you a child?" Myra asked gripping Kyera's hands. The girls giggled and smiled as Myra bounced a little in girlish excitement. There was something stunning in her pure emotions. "Come come, we must go to Grandest Mother, all of you come inside it's too cold out here."
With that, the group was ushered into the main hallway with barely a moment to take in the magnificents of the palace. Kyera was more than happy to follow her cousin and in the hallway toward the back stood the Matriarch.
Since Kyera had last seen her, her body had recovered and she looked much younger and filled with energy. She noticed the group moving toward her and glided to a graceful stop. The surprise in her eyes was carefully schooled to a welcoming smile. "Ladies, welcome to the SnowDrop Palace… I had thought we were meeting in your palace… Kyera is everything alright?"
"Lady Matriarch, please forgive our intrusion. I am…" Feya began and the Matriarch raised an eyebrow. "Feya of the Laughing Rains Palace and wife of the first prince of the Forest Gate." She began trying to gain favor with the lady by behaving properly and dropping her title.
"Welcome, Princess Feya, Princess Melania, Princess Lalia and my Dear Kyera. I don't believe we should waste time on introductions at the moment. You all look as though you've had a rough night. I see two of you are in night dresses and none of you are dressed for the cold." Matriarch Crystalsa asked, obviously concerned. Even her palace was cooler than their winters. Kyera offered a apologetic smile.
"We were attacked and fled here for fear we could not survive. Forgive us for using the forbidden portal, but it was life or death." Feya tried to explain and Crystalsa stared at her, rather alarmed.
"Chased? Did you close the portal? Was there issues in the village? Casualties?" Crystalsa started to bark orders to check on the village when Kyera stepped forward and swept a dancer's bow.
"Grandest Mother, please calm yourself. There was no one following us. The Storm twins held them back and the soul orb that opened the gate was removed as the last person made their way through the portal." Kyera reassured her, not taking the time to breath during the speech. The Matriarch seemed to calm a bit at Kyera's gentle coaxing.
"That is good then. Are the twins alright?" Crystalsa asked honestly concerned. She loved the imagery of the pair and how they danced in the storms.
"Yes both should be fine. They simply held the Dark Ones back long enough for us to escape." Kyera replied her voice hardening as she mentioned the dark ones. The Matriarch's own expression darkened and turned ugly, or at least as ugly as a elegant queen could allow considering she was in company of visiting royals.
"Those barbaric fools will need to be put down one day, Kyera." The Matriarch growled her own displeasure was clear. The Princesses stared at the dark faces of the two women of the Frost Lands, and the expression on Kyera's face and knew they had stumbled into something they didn't understand.
"Dark ones?" Lalia asked her voice seemed to be more questioning her own mind than asking the question of the other royals. She knew she had heard this before and her eyes widened considerably. "You mean they still exist? That group is still out for the destruction of the Forest Gate Kingdom?"
"Destruction of our Kingdom, but why? What have we done to them?" Feya cried in outrage, there was a sense of indignation that was self righteous and met with disdain. The Matriarch carefully controlled her temper and smiled at the thoughtless child.