Bittersweet. That would be the emotion that best described what Saorise felt as she sat by her new King’s side at the feasting table, surrounded by all of her people, both old and new, as they ate, drank and spoke with each other for the first time without barriers. Considering some of the facial expressions that Saorise had seen, she was not the only one feeling this way.

“My new Concubines requested that they take on lady’s maids that were of Eastern Origin,” Peter said in a tone only loud enough for her to hear. Despite the fact that they sat together, Peter had spent most of the meal greeting and speaking with the nobles from the East that had come in turn to both swear loyalty and some even to present gifts. Not to be outdone, the Wendolan nobles had scrambled to do the same. Considering they’d been on a battlefield for several years though, gifts were somewhat hard to come by. Saorise had done her best to restrain her amusement. She fully understood the need to please their King, but the grovelling…it did not sit well with her. Especially the knowledge that she may have to do it herself someday soon.

“I’m sure you thought it was not an unreasonable request, my liege,” Saorise replied.

Peter smiled, as if amused by her new address to him, “It was not. Though I compromised, half of their ladies maids may be of Eastern Origin. As Concubines, that will be two each. I trust your judgement in the Eastern families when helping me to approve them”.

Saorise took a breath in. It seemed more a job for his non-existent Queen, but it was not exactly her place to say so, “I have an idea of who they will ask, but I assure you, my liege, Ladies Selene and Eloise are both intelligent and respectable, they will be wise in their choices”.

Peter glanced at Saorise, then away again, “You seem sad, Arch Duchess, is the new arrangement not pleasing to you?”

Saorise took another breath in as she straightened in her seat, “I am quite exhausted, my liege, that is all. It has been quite the intense month, as you know”.

“Yes, of course, it will only grow more so in the coming months as changes are implemented,” stated Peter, “Particularly the recruitment of Eastern members into the Wendolan army. There will need to be arrangements made for those females who join. The Court will no doubt protest, as will my generals”.

“I would suggest creating a female only contingent to alleviate their stressors, but perhaps that would put more strain on them considering the women would all be of Eastern origin,” replied Saorise.

“Indeed,” Peter replied, “Your help in this will be most welcome”.

“Of course, my Liege, though if I may be so bold as to request a month of time before my first appearance in your Court?” asked Saorise.

“A month?” frowned Peter.

Saorise nodded, “It will be far easier to make several arrangements for not only my own personal move, but also the recruitment you have mentioned, from here in the East. I will arrive in the Capital with the required additions to your Army, a month after yourself”.

Peter turned to Saorise, “You will miss the marriage to my Eastern Concubines”.

Saorise turned to meet Peter’s gaze, “So will their families”.

Looking into his amber gaze at the head feast table surrounded by revellers upon the foundations of his to-be-built Eastern seat, the scene struck Saorise as blindingly familiar.

She had dreamed of this scene before. She had dreamed of sitting beside him like this. Him on his throne and her by his side. Only then he had looked at her with a much more tender gaze, and offered his hand to her along with it. Now, looking into those amber eyes, Saorise felt the dream shatter, as if it was a future that would never come true. She felt a great weight of apprehensiveness. Should she have become his concubine? Should she had married him instead of becoming the Representative that she was now?

The questions filled her mind, and the scene of the boy, now a young man in the cave trying to take the sword encased in stone came to the forefront. Would he ever take it? What was the difference in their fate if he didn’t?

Had all of her work over the past few weeks been one big mistake?

A breeze passed through the clearing, caressing the skin of her cheek, and Saorise felt pulled to turn with it, away from her new King. Her eyes fell upon a middle-aged woman standing on the edge of the crowd wearing a dress that looked like a sunset. She was so strikingly beautiful that Saorise felt her breath hitch. How had nobody noticed her? How had-

The woman smiled, then, as if she was the breeze, she turned and seemed to break away into autumn leaves, swirling over the crowd and into the dark night.

“Lady Saorise?”

Peter’s concerned tone caught her attention, and she turned back to him slowly. She met his amber gaze again, and although her questions remained unanswered, for some reason they were not as panic-inducing as they had been seconds before.

“Apologies, My Liege,” Saorise stated, “But Ladies Eloise and Selene will have to stand on their own feet in this next step in their lives. I have no doubt they will be heavily weighed by your Court and Harem and People, but if they cannot take the weight alone, there will be little I can do for them. They understand this, and have accepted your proposal knowingly. Do not doubt them. To doubt a woman because of her sex is quite a fatal mistake, and this will not apply only to eastern women”.

Peter sighed, turning away.

“If you’ll grant your permission, My Liege, I should like to turn in early, as you said, the next few months will be quite taxing, and sleep has already been scarce for me under the circumstances,” stated Saorise.

Peter nodded, “Very well, I expect those Ladies to arrive across the river tomorrow afternoon with your approval”.

“It will be done”.