After lingering in bed, touching each other, enjoying each other's company, laughing and teasing each other.
They finally dragged themselves out of bed, rather unwillingly so. Iris donned a beautifully embroidered striking blue dress, with slits on either side of her legs. Showing her beautiful curves, along with the Sai daggers he'd gifted her strapped to them. It was a message more than anything else, for those who dared to approach her with ill intentions. For those dim-witted enough not to take into consideration that she could do to them what she dead tone to Haren, or maybe worse.
Hand in hand, they walked along the dimly lit hallway leading up to the spacious dining room. He'd gathered that everyone was seated at the table, by the sound of the cutlery clattering against the plates.
The king's laughter echoed in the chambers along with those who had joined him at the table.
When they entered the room, Dakran's eyes shifted towards their joined hands and set his lips in a thin line. He no longer cared. If he wanted to take his lands for having disobeyed him, then so be it. If he wanted to banish him from Ironstone, from Whitsun and the Four Regions for the rest of his days, he couldn't care less.
" How very kind of you to grace us with your presence," Dakran finally broke the silence as he pointed to the chair opposite him. The King and Queen were placed at the head of the table, as per custom.
" You'll have to forgive me, my Lord. It has been a trying day," He bowed and smirked knowing that only a few would be able to see it.
" I'm afraid I was not well," Iris lied but didn't bow. A queen should never bow.
Dakran waved a dismissive hand as they each walked to their assigned seats. Iris was seated next to Maya and Dakran, followed by Edya and Rom. And he was placed on the other side, along with Eisza, Caell, Maras, Haren. And the rest resided in Ironstone. That still had no home as of yet. Rebuilding would take time, but Dakran wouldn't even let anyone leave his home before having a proper roof over their heads.
" I hear," The king began, " That you have spent some time in the south," He raised his glass and took a sip, watching intently.
" How is the royal family? I haven't heard from any of them in six moons." Dakran must've told him something.
" The current Queen is well, Your Majesty," His eyes went to Iris, who propped her chin on her clasped hands and watched the exchange between him and Karrise.
" Current," He hummed, his brows quirked quite high in accordance with the news. Dakran hadn't told him everything after all.
" And who's is the current Queen," His eyes went to Iris again. All they had was the element of surprise. There was no need to flaunt her status at that very moment. Hard to tell what Karrise was really planning. And they couldn't outright ask him.
" The Mythrian Queen," Iris was the one to reply as she leaned back in the chair and pushed herself up, gracefully.
" And who you might be? You don't bear resemblance to my kin," Karrise tipped his chin at her, as his gaze took in curvy form.
" An envoy for the Queen herself," Good girl. She replied with all the grace that she could muster holding Karrise's gaze. Unwavering, they stared at each other for a good while. Each taking stock of the other, weighing themselves with their eyes.
" I see. And has the Queen made any plans to visit the North to re-establish relations with the seat of Arrington?" Karrise broke the silence in a milder tone than his previous one.
" Yes, she has," Iris sat back down, as she picked up a glass of water and took a sip.
" Your Majesty. You will address me as your Majesty, " Karrise corrected, with a firm tone all the while the Queen raised her nose, and humphed like the snobbish little bitch that she was.
" You are not my king," Iris calmly replied and dropped her hands off the table when the calvary that was lined up against the wall took a step forward. She must've been quite menacing since he needed all seventy-five of them to hold her off in battle.
" You are on my lands, so you will use proper honorifics within the confines of Arrington border," He emphatically said, losing his grasp on his temper as his expression hardened and shot Iris a sharp look. Sharp enough to slice her in half. Only if he could.
" It might be so," Iris hummed, a little too unbothered, " I do not bow or recognise another sovereign other than my own," The corner of her lips tugged in a half smile, and the guards took another step forward when the king slammed his fist against the table. They shouldn't have turned up. This would end badly.
" Insolence. You dare defy me," Karrise roared as he pushed himself up to stand and so did Iris. Smoke came out of the ears at the sheer rage and hatred they held for each other.
" I do not bow to a coward who had locked himself behind the walls of his city while his people died, and thronged through mud and blood. While his people lay on blankets in cold winds of the winter, desperately clinging to their lives. I might be insolent, but I'm not a coward. I fought for my people. What have you done," She pushed the chair back taking no notice of the fact that blades had been unshielded and were pointing at her as she closed the distance between her and Karrise. Or better said she prowled, ready to pounce at his throat. The Sai daggers shined in the dim light with each step she took towards Karrise.
" You have no right to question me," Karrise sputtered, " You are nobody," He stammered.
She wasn't entirely wrong, but perhaps pointing out in front of his subjects wasn't the best timing in recorded history.
A nonverbal standoff ensued, while everyone just watched and waited with bated breath who would snap first and draw their weapon. He doubted Karrise would, as much as lift a finger- after all, he'd brought with him the entire cavalry to fight his battles.