Theri and Christina headed into the dining hall to be greeted by the (rather annoyed) bodyguard, Theri's parents and a collection of nobles of the Roseview to gather around the main table. A roasted beef sat in the middle, sufficient to feed the table. While fish or woodland creatures were common to the area, Theri was used to the red meats and white meats commonly found outside the valley.
"So, dearest daughter." Theri's father began. He shot a suspicious glare at Christina. "How has your day been? Have you been acclimating your… friend, to how we run things here?"
"Yes! It's been great. Christina is so fun." Theri excitedly flapped her hands in the air. She chewed a few broccoli stems between each sentence. "She was talking about Sandfall, and it seems super cool. I'd totally love to go one day, but you know, it can be a little difficult for me to get used to places!" Theri's father gave a slow nod. He adjusted the crown on his head- not the heaviest most extravagant one he owned, but Theri did notice he wore one of his more ornate pieces.
"I see. Has Christina said anything about her brother?" Theri's father shuffled in his seat. Christina made an uncontent noise before sipping on the red wine provided with the meal. The rest of the table silenced a little, in almost anticipation for the details of the conversation. "Not really. I wasn't really interes- I mean, I wanted to learn about Christina!" Theri stopped herself from saying she wasn't really interested in Christina's brother.
"Are you sure? He's a rather lovely guy from what I have heard. Do you know if he's in line for the throne? In Foxstep he would be." Theri's father made a point of looking directly in Theri's eyes. She pulled out of her chair a little, fiddling with her veil. "No. I'm in line. As you may know, Sandfall is usually ruled by women." Christina chimed in.
Theri's father muttered a few words that his daughter couldn't pick up. Theri poked a slice of beef before changing her mind and dropping the fork, leaving it to clatter on the table. Her father raised an eyebrow.
"Thought so."
Christina turned to stare at Theri's hand for what seemed like a far too long of a moment. "Well, dear, I believe you two will get along swimmingly. Remember, Theri, you are to teach Christina the court etiquette she requires to rule Sandfall." Theri's mother smiled sweetly, placing a hand on Theri's shoulder. Theri gave a smile, lifting her mothers hand off. "Of course, mother."
Theri turned to face Christina. She had dark chocolate coloured eyes with hints of golden yellow filling the spaces. Light seemed to reflect off the orbs easily, shimmering by the chandelier's illumination.
"Now. Onto the business, may I begin?" A noble coughed awkwardly from the other side of the room. Theri's father glared at Theri.
"Out. You too, Christina. This is a matter for the men."
He neglected to mention the ladies of the table who were still in fact sitting there. Theri shrugged, lifting herself up from the seat she sat in. Christina followed. Before Theri walked out completely, she could just barely hear her mother.
"You can't shelter her forever."
Theri headed to her room, with Christina following awkwardly behind. Once they reached the main foyer, Theri sat down on one of the staircases.
"Does that happen a lot?" Christina looked to Theri, who was fiddling with her hands. "Yea. I'm cool with it. I'm never allowed to sit in on those important discussions."
Christina made a strangled noise akin to a cat playing violin. The bodyguard turned to face her before realising she was not in fact choking. "What? That's not right! Do you even see what happens in your - like- place? That's mad!" Christina plopped next to Theri, leaning on the staircase. Theri paused before tapping Christina's leg. "What's wrong?" Christina blinked.
"Sit up straight- place your hands on your lap as though you had an iron pressed on top. If you were wearing a corset, you would be low on oxygen- in time of escape, this means you will have more energy to run." Theri lectured. Christina followed the instructions, fixing her outfit as she did. "Huh. I actually can breathe a little better. Thanks." she muttered. A moment of silence passed. The sunset came and the light filtering through the glass windows in the palace doors slowly faded away in replacement for a dim twilight illuminating the hall. The door of the dining hall burst open.
A smell of cheer and excitement filled the space. Theri watched as her father walked out, goblet raised in one hand and a loose smile across his face. His eyes fell on her and his smile receded. "Ah, Theri. I see you even taught her how to sit. Now remember, it is the third day of the week. You are to be doing that job- perhaps you can even teach Christina the basics."
Theri nodded. She watched as the usual affair of carrying two comfortable chairs to the main hall and positioning them, adding a blanket and a table. A pile of letters was thrown on top of the table, and a writing bench. Christina watched in horror as another pile of letters was placed next to it as well.
"Ah. An… abundant amount of letters, Father." Theri coughed,standing up from the staircase and sitting down in the allocated chair. Christina took her own chair. The sea of diners from the dinner before poured out the door or up stairways, leaving the duo alone to the tall intimidating pile of unopened envelopes.
"What is this?!" Christina gaped. Theri giggled softly at Christina's reaction. "I have to write a response to them- Father says it looks good for me as a princess to engage with the public." Theri picked one off the top, noting the address. "See, this one reads… Dear Catherine, I love you so much. You always respond to my letters! Do you think I should get married under a yew tree or an oak tree? I think if I get married near the passage of the underworld, the yew tree, it will be unique, but my husband wants to get married to his mothers oak tree… Hmm, I think I know my response". Theri grabbed a piece of parchment, leaning it against the slanted wooden block for writing she used. She grabbed the long goose feather quill and dipped it into the ink. "See, I think they should plant an acorn of the mother's oak tree and a yew tree, and marry over that dirt."
As she wrote as such, Christina stared on. "This is mad! How do you do this all the time? Every week?" Theri gave a quick nod as she placed the parchment in Christina's direction. "Could you write the address on the envelope and seal it with wax?" Theri requested.
"Of course!"
Hours and hours wore on. The candle flame next to them dimmed as the nighttime crawled through the halls. Silent fell except for the occasional shovel of paper and the scratching of the quill upon the wood. Papers lay strewn across the table and the occasional servant's shadow passed through the lit section of the hall. Christina passed the second last letter on the pile to Theri. "It must be almost two locust flaps to moon-high." she commented. Theri shrugged, opening it and writing upon a fresh piece of parchment. "We're nearly done, am I right? We can finish this soon, and it's done. It won't be too long."
Christina let out a long groan. "I know my father said that we can have long nights, but this is ridiculous!" Theri chuckled again, passing a piece of parchment to Christina. She was passed another parchment by Christina while Christina herself folded and sealed the envelope the freshly written letter was in. Theri gave a long sigh of relief herself.
"This has taken a while, I will admit."