[Filter: Hayden]

She is not a horsethief. She is Lady Elthea of House Lireth, who is not dead after all, and she is gone and no matter how hard I try, I cannot find her.

[Filter: Dame Lila]

D-do not panic. We will find her, of course. Any moment now, in fact.

[Filter: Elthea]

Where are you?

[Filter: Elthea]

Well, Lady Elthea, you should be glad to know that I have done my very best and pulled every string I have access to, and I believe I may be able to get you out for a day, after all.

[Filter: Dame Lila]

In regards to our previous discussion, I thought, perhaps, Thursday?

[Filter: Private]

You have best be grateful for this, you little bug.

[Filter: Private]

Must she be so difficult? There is only so much I can do.

But she is right. If I were a man, this would be a non-issue. Surely I am as strong as that. If I mean to show everyone that I can rule Keirnan as well as any Lord could, then would it not be in my benefit to show them that I am no different from he?

I refuse to be weak.

[Filter: Dame Lila]

Dame Lila, would it be at all possible for Lady Elthea to be allowed out into the market for one day? I have been speaking to her, and I believe that her captivity frustrates her, as it could, of course. Some fresh, ocean air would do her very well. I would be honoured to have your assistance in making this possible, but it would need to be with a very small guard to avoid making a scene and revealing her identidy. There are enough questions being asked as it is.

[Filter: Private]

You see, Uncle? It is just as Hayden says. I can handle this. In fact, that you think I cannot is an insult. Have we not always been close? Have you not always respected me? And yet, you think that I cannot take care of a little fishing hamlet on the edge of nowhere?

I am not like other women. I am strong, and I am perfectly capable of being both mother and ruler.

I am both gratful and fortunate to have Hayden on my side, at the very least. Whether or not he trusts me, he does want me to succeed, and that is a comforting thought. How long have I gone without the faith of others?

Well, I shall prove them all wrong.

I did not volunteer to wed a dying child so that I could sit here and put braids in my Emily's hair.

[Filter: Lady Elthea]

Have you been happy with your journal, thus far? I have not seen you write, but that is a good thing for the both of us.

It would please me to know that you are satisfied.

[Filter: Private]

I wonder what she is writing about ...

I suppose asking would only serve to embitter her to me, but I do hope that by now she has seen the use and generousity of my gift. Surely she has begun to consider me more friend than foe. And then ...

Well, from there, is it simply a matter of finding the perfect place to put her to work. And I'm sure I can find it.

[Filter: Public]

Ah, I have a very exciting announcement. It would seem that my cousin Hayden has managed the impossible and taught my cook to make a decent meal. Perhaps still not quite as good as anything the man himself can cook, but certainly good enough to be edible, which is a marked improvement, let me say.

But in darker news, it pains me to say, but I feel the date cannot go unmarked. It has been three years since my beloved husband has died. I miss him every day ...

May the Dragons judge him fairly.

[Filter: Private]

You are a fool of the highest order, Dame Lila, but I am grateful for it. I could not be sure, not until you so generously spilled it into my lap. And now? Now, there can be no doubt whatsoever.

She is the Lady Elthea. How incredible. How impossible. Raised up from the dead. How interesting, that I could never have known her name before her death, and now it comes to me so easily.

So many question unanswered -- and she is so mad and so difficult, I doubt that she will answer them unless she feels that she owes me something.

But what if she did owe me something? Surely she possesses some information that is valuable and sensitive in nature. Surely I can gain something from her that could be useful. Something about her family, her home ... something.

But how to make her a friend? I wonder.

How surprising all of this is. Even as I wondered, I see now that I never truly considered it a possibility, not until it was confirmed for me.

Ah, but I will need to think quickly. Surely Lord Hasten cannot leave her here so much longer. He has a list of things to do, but this is on it. He is not a fool.

[Filter: Private]

This girl ...

It is not possible. I know in my mind that it is not possible. And yet, I cannot help but continue to entertain the possibility. What a thing that would be ...

[Filter: Lila]

I hope you have settled in well.

But, if you would pardon me saying, this seems like a terrible lot of fuss for a horse thief, even if the property in question is a Lireth thoroughbred.

[Filter: Private]

There, that should at least continue to ask questions. That is the most important part. Not to take anything for granted.

Of course, there is still that other matter to attend to. Ugh, how unpleasant. But I suppose if I am to court them, I should try to test them as well I can before they come banging at my door, desperate to steal my regency and endear themselves to me.

[Filter: Public]

I have heard that the Rowan family preformed a role in the rescue of the Princess that was hardly negiligable. With all the honours being given Lord Hasten, I would not want to forget the family Rowan.

[the writing is uncontrolled]

[Filter: Private]

I do not need a man. I do not.

What are men good for?! Brendan could not even do his duty in bed. And Matthias, oh, he could manage that, if only barely, but in every other respect? I hope his eyes are all Emily has inherited, my poor girl. My father never thought a clever word in all his life! My brothers? Cads. And Grandfather, oh, he is the very worst.

Why does everyone think I need a man to take care of me? Surely, there are some good men, men like Lorcan, but they are few and far between! Emily is better off without a father. She has been given a blessing that will be --!

-- this is not even about Emily.

I do not need a man.

I do not want a man!



Rowan, hah. That would be just what I need.

[Filter: Private]

Impossible, and yet, there it is, laid out so cleanly before me. How could I have not seen it sooner?

This is precious information. I do not know what to do with it, but certainly there is something. Information is valuable.

I can make use of this. I will make use of this.

[Filter: Dame Lila]

I know what you have with you. Who you have.