the feeling passes;

Their relationship was different and Sebastian never thought he would be married to a woman who he was in love with. He always pictured someone picking his wife out for him. “She is truly a wonderful woman.” Sebastian said with a smile as he looked at her. “I love you, Makeda.” He told her sincerely. 

“With a wonderful husband,” gods above, she had become such a sap. Everything had happened in a whirlwind, her marriage, her pregnancy... she’d gone from zero family to having one entirely of her own in no time, and truly, couldn’t believe her luck. Of all the times she could have been married off, fate had allowed her enough time unwed to find Sebastian-- and amazingly, things had worked out for the best. Softened smile pulling at her lips, Makeda leant forward on tip toes to press a kiss to his cheek, and murmur an answering, “I love you too” loud enough for him to hear.

“No.” She said with a smile. “They are wonderful intelligent funny strong men. Garritt is looking to be betrothed soon.” She said with a small sigh. “But he is so fussy and has to have everything perfect. Including the future queen.” She admitted with a small smirk. “Alicks. He is intelligent and once Garritt is a father then I will see that Alicks will get wed.” She stopped and listened to the younger woman. “Forgive me for being so bold, but where is your mother? At a time like this a young mother needs someone with experience to help her understands the needs of the young.” 

“Garrit-- I believe I have met one of your sons,” being able to place the woman in front of her, group her with a royal family she was somewhat familiar with, did a world of good, and Makeda gave a weak smile, “I’m sure he will settle into any arrangement soon enough. Betrothals are hard at the start, but only ever grow easier. Perhaps Alicks will not be the same level of fussiness as his brother, after seeing how the situations only ever improve.” She could say very little-- Makeda’s betrothal having been organized between herself and Sebastian, her father good enough to have given his blessing. She could speak only of her experience through friends, and all of those women seemed to have settled into their married life-- she assumed, maybe foolishly, maybe not, that it was the same for the men. Hands moving to rest on the bars of her daughter’s hard wood crib, her knuckles turned white and her gaze focused on the sleeping babe. While it was a tough subject, though, she made every effort to appear unfazed in her fellow Queen’s presence, “It’s quite alright, m’lady. My mother died in my birth. She left my father to care for me and my siblings... although, it’s just me now.” The last part was said sadly, the implication clear; aside from four of her father’s illegitimate children, Makeda was alone in the world, all but her dead. “Of course, this considered-- my mother can’t be of much help.”

“Perhaps if you are so concerned about the weather you should move from the window, The rain will pour even if the curtains are closed.” She walked to the crib and looked down and a smile lightened her strong features. “Sleeping babies are the picture of innocence. I remember when my boys were in the cribs. Motherhood in the royal court can be tiresome.”

“True enough,” she murmured, doing as the older woman suggested and moving away without complaint. Automatically moving closer to her daughter’s crib, the way she hovered around Alicia and the sleeping Kasia could only be described as protectively. There was a tension emanating from the young mother, no doubt about that, and she seemed prepared to move at a moment’s notice to scoop up the young child. “They are, m’lady. Innocent and ignorant. She knows nothing of what occurred here,” it helped, some, that Alicia spoke of her own children. It wasn’t enough to completely relax her, but it was enough to ease some of the feeling of tension, “Ay, it can be. I can only imagine that raising multiple boys was exhausting. Are they still a handful?”

She sighed as she looked down, rain dripping down her face. “Why not? It’s wonderful out here. With everything going on we need some calm. Please, don’t make me go back in there”

“You’ll get sick, m’lady,” she reiterated, beginning to feel undeniably anxious. “Please,” she began, mimicking the way the other girl said her words, “Don’t make me find someone who will bring you in.”

Sebastian smirked when he saw Makeda come up to him. “With a woman who is as beautiful as you, she may be slightly offended.” He said as he held his hand out for you. “Only since I have to do my duty as a gentleman of course” Sebastian said jokingly. 

“We will have to do all in our power to ensure she doesn’t see us, then,” mischief only growing, Makeda was enjoying the act of hers more than she likely should have been, taking his hand gently and beginning to pull him towards the floor, “Such a kind gentleman you’re proving to be. Obviously, your wife is an incredibly lucky woman.”

She looked outside to see it raining and looked around to see if anyone noticed her. Happy no one saw her, she walked outside and looked up at the sky, letting the rain fall on her face.

“Miss!-” Makeda called, careful not to stray too far into the garden behind the other-- still oh so wary of the outside world, since the events of the dance, “Who knows what you might catch from the rain. You had best come in, lest we find out!”

“Word from overseas is that my mother is coming to choose me a wife.” Garrit sighed. “There is going to be a party and she is going to take control. I apologise in advance for my swearing and angry demeanour until this is over.”

“There are no need for apologies, good sir. I’m sure that this would be a difficult time for any man in your situation,” lips slightly pursed, Makeda continued more gently, “A mother knows what is best for their child. Surely she will do her utmost to ensure that you and your future wife are happy in the arrangement.”

“I grieve the lives we lost, but we are fortunate the casualties were not as numerous as they could have been,” Soraya said, pursing her lips slightly. “I’m afraid any notion of safety we felt before is now effectively gone.”

“I don’t believe the situation to be fortunate in the slightest, m’lady,” being respectful was not so easy in the current situation, while she was tense and generally weary from the recent events, “Any loss is a terrible thing. Their lives will likely weigh heavy on all of our minds, for a very long time.”

Sebastian put his hands on her waist and pulled her close to him as he kissed her. 

"I may need help with my dress, my lord,” she mumbled against his lips with a soft smile, pressing herself close to him.