King Gregor arrives

With the first of the royal weddings looming, guests began to arrive: nobles from throughout the land and other lands all seeking a glance at the Crown Prince and the woman who one day would likely be Nharati's queen. Even the townspeople and outlying villagers roused for the occasion, some traveling in from the further reaches. The bustle would last for the next month with the weddings so close, but it was the first that drew the most attention and concern.

One party dwarfed all the others however, for King Gregor reached the land in fine style, banners waving and flags flying. His wife and a handful of his children accompanied him, along with advisors and clerks and knights and guards and servants, the King determined to give proper homage to his eldest daughter's marriage. It was an arrangement he had been most keen to make, the daughter offered coming much later than originally hoped, so that Garnett had been betrothed informally to Uhtred since before she knew what such a match meant.

They were, of course, hosted within the castle proper, for it would not do to insult King Gregor on the eve of his daughter's wedding and such a grand alliance. The previously disinterested King found his daughter catching his eye more than she had in the past, for the girl had seemed to bloom since her departure. It was no difficult thing to see that she had fallen for her prince, each touch and smile directed toward him with that unmistakeable warmth, perhaps too warm.

Still, he was pleased to see that she had not completely hidden herself away since her arrival, half-expecting to arrive and find that the girl had not emerged from her quarters or the library, her nose constantly in a book. Rather, it seemed that the other young royalty of her standing had some fondness for his girl, and that the Crown Prince had drawn her out. Confidence that had been faltering when he sent her to fulfill this contract grew with his arrival, and he found himself amused at the excitement that seemed to grip her. Perhaps all would be well with this alliance.