The bell of the Keep rang out in a celebratory tone, rousing Saorise from her deep thoughts and calculations. She glanced out at the bells that had disturbed her, wondering why they were ringing. A knock sounded at the study door and Helen promptly entered, a grin upon her lips.

“The Lord and young masters return, my lady”.

Saorise sighed, of course. She’d been so stuck in her future planning these past three days that she’d almost forgotten the army that was sure to follow behind her.

Saorise looked at the notes and books and maps scattered across the desk and floor around her.

“Help me gather these, Helen,” said Saorise.

Helen stepped forward to do just that, quickly gathering and sorting before they called another servant in, “Take these to the lady’s quarters”.

The servant bowed and promptly left, the study cleaner than it had been.

“Come, we’ll go and greet them,” said Saorise. She then left her Father’s study with her head held high, it could finally be her father’s study again now.

Down through the halls and out into the Audience Hall where the Head Staff were scrambling to organise the servants who were to be presented to the Lord upon his return in greeting.

They acknowledged Saorise with a bow as she passed, and she nodded back before she exited the main doors and descended into the main courtyard.

The descending the lengthy stone staircase allowed Saorise plenty of time to survey the approaching armies. They flowed into the courtyard in a uniform march, coming to stop in neat rows and platoons.

Some of the noble families in residence and other inhabitants of the Keep were coming to the base of the staircase where Saorise would wait, leaving a clear spot for her in the centre as the current leader of the Keep.

Saorise came to a stop there in the centre, her shoulders back and head facing forward as she waited for her father and brothers to enter the Main Courtyard in turn.

She did not have to wait long.

Nathan Caramort rode into the Keep’s Main Courtyard with the immense confidence and authority that all the Caramorts seemed to carry. He could not keep the grin from his face, looking around the Keep and seeing that not a stone was out of place. His daughter had done well, not that such a thing was ever in question.

To the surprise of many however, it was not the heir, Isaac, that rode on Nathan’s flank, but a man dressed in black and blue attire. Prince Isiah Carmichael Westfold of Wendolan.

Saorise felt eyes upon her for a moment, waiting for her to react. When she did not, those who had not been in the know about the foreign guest whispered to each other. Young, they picked up. Barely older than the youngest Caramort, Lyle, who rode behind the Prince and beside his elder brother.

Saorise allowed a smile to grace her lips as her father came to rein in his horse just a few metres before her. A servant rushed forward to hold the horse as Nathan dismounted, making his way straight to his daughter. He paused before her, and Saorise bowed her head, holding out the family seal that was to be in the hands of the highest authority in the Keep.

“Welcome Home, Father. The Keep is yours,” said Saorise.

“And what a marvellous job you have done in keeping it in shape, daughter,” said Nathan as he took the ring, then brought his only daughter into his arms and kissed her lightly on the head, “It is good to be home no matter the circumstances”.

Nathan pulled back just as Isaac, Isiah and Lyle came to stand before Saorise.

Saorise nodded to her brothers, then turned to the Prince.

“Welcome to Caramort Keep, your highness, I trust the journey here was not too taxing,” said Saorise.

“Your father and brothers were quite accommodating, thank you,” said Isiah, he glanced around at the courtyard then, and the towering Keep behind, “It is much larger than I expected”.

“The largest in the East, your highness, though of course that will not be the case for much longer,” stated Saorise, “Come, I am sure you are weary from your journey, I’ll have Lady Helen show you and your men to their rooms”.

“Thank you, I would appreciate it,” said Isiah, “It has been some time since I have slept in a proper bed”.

“As it has been for us,” Nathan agreed, “But enough of battlefield complaints, we have put such things behind us after all”.

“Indeed,” Isiah agreed. Clearly far more diplomatic, or at the very least more well-spoken than Saorise had given him credit for.

Nathan stepped up to the first platform so that he was seen by those in the courtyard, then shouted out to the assembled troops in the courtyards.

“And so it is that we return, a war ended. We return this time as a larger people, but we are one people all the same. Let it be known far and wide that we may be from this moment on represented in the Wendolan Court and among the Wendolan Armies and nobility by Saorise Anne Caramort, Arch Duchess of the Eastern Region. We are a unified people, and so we shall remain unified and in peace!”

“The Autumn Winds bring Peace and Unity!” Saorise called out.

The thunderous reply reverberated from the army and out of the courtyard like a promise.

“THE AUTUMN WINDS BRING PEACE AND UNITY!”

And so, it should remain.

Nathan and Saorise led the way up the steps and into the main Keep before Helen indicated for the Prince and his guard to follow her.

“Considering the journey, we shall hold a banquet tomorrow night, your highness, as welcome,” stated Saorise.

“I would be honoured, Arch Duchess, thank you for your hospitality,” said Isiah, then he turned and followed Helen.

Saorise watched until he was gone, then spoke in a soft tone to her father, “The preparations are almost complete, I left the details in the second draw of your desk”.

Nathan sighed, “One war ends, another begins”.

“This is not war,” Saorise rose an eyebrow, “It’s just politics”.

“Which is why I am glad that you will be the one playing it daughter, and not I nor your battle-ready brothers,” Nathan smiled, “Now, a bath and a drink I think”.

Saorise smiled, “The baths should already be prepared, I’ll send for the drinks”.

“That’s my girl,” said Nathan with a grin before he turned and walked away.

Isaac drew his sister in for a hug then followed to his own room. Lyle hesitated a moment before he too hugged his sister, “Sorry about before, I was out of line”.

“Mistakes are easy to make, but hard to learn from,” said Saorise, “If you are trying to learn, it is already half of the battle. Now go, rest”.

“You haven’t yet, have?”

“Haven’t what?” asked Saorise.

“Rested,” Lyle rolled his eyes.

“I did,” said Saorise, “But thank you for your concern”.

Lyle sighed, “Good Luck Sister, you shall need it”.