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“No. This wasn’t what I expected, either.”
His body was tense, and the muscles coiled tight beneath his clothes. “So, what do you think of our arranged marriage now that you’ve had some time to think about it?”
“I’m still getting used to the idea. But I think it will be… interesting.”
He looked down at me. “Interesting?”
I looked up. “Yes. I think we can learn a lot from each other. If we give it a chance.”
“I’m willing to give our partnership a chance. If you are.”
I smiled at him. “I am.”
He nodded his head and then turned to leave. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes.”
The door closed behind him, leaving me alone on the balcony once again. I sighed and leaned against the railing, my mind whirling with everything that had happened today.
It was a lot to take in, but I was slowly accepting it. My new life. I have a new home. My new husband.
I didn’t know what the future held, but I was ready to face it.
One thing was certain. Elvish men were still men, and like all men, you had to keep them on their toes. Princes were no exception.
Chapter 11
Observations
Atense silence followed me as I walked down the hallway. My absence from the Eternal Court made an impact. It was always a good thing to let other people second guess where I was and what I was up to. It made me appear more serious. Mysterious. Groups of courtiers parted ways as I made my way to the Queen mother’s drawing room.
Gilded furniture, paintings of the sea, and tapestries from old wars lined the walls. I stood in front of the large mahogany door and took a deep breath before entering.
Darith gave me a reassuring nod, before knocking on the door. A servant opened the door and let me in. The Queen Mother was waiting for me, seated at a small desk in the room’s corner. She looked up at me and gestured for me to sit.
I sat down in the chair opposite her and waited for her to speak.
“Good morning,” she said after a moment.
I bowed my head. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”
She smiled. “Nonsense, call me grandmother.”
“Yes, grandmother.”
She looked my age, give or take a few years. Calling her grandmother was going to take some time to get used to.
She looked across the room. “What do you think?”
“It’s lovely,” I replied. “Though I’m a bit surprised you’re not closer to the Room of Thrones.”
“I prefer the peace of my chambers,” she said. “It’s where I can think best.”
I folded my hands in my lap. “And what is it you think about?”
“Everything,” she replied with a twinkle in her eye. “Now, shall we get started? Tell me what you see.”
The room was full of beautiful trinkets and things that must be important to her. The walls were thick, I could tell by the sound of my voice echoing off them. There were many large paintings, a few of which depicted the Queen Mother in various courtly settings. The furniture was all very ornate and delicate-looking.
