Pleasing the Court

[Devon]

Marion was in his usual spot playing songs for the audience that was there to see the King. Since Sunray was busy with the newly born heir, Twilight was residing over the court for the day. The bard had found it odd that quite a few servants were urging him to play anything he could that was soothing and since he knew a good number of songs that fit the description, he played one after the other.

[Kender Bard]

Marion's songs did help to ease some of the obvious tension that grew in the room. It was one thing to allow the Dark Prince to be adviser to the King. It was one thing to even let him advise the Queen.

It was something else entirely to see him sitting alone up there, speaking for all of Anarlina and its Wisdom. Alone.

But so far nothing ugly had broken out. Emerald stood close by her brother, ready to stop trouble in its tracks. The other palace guards were wary as well.

A courtier wandered over to Marion, an older woman who wore quite a bit of rogue and was heavily scented in perfume. "Hello, young bard. You would be Sir Marion, Princess Emerald's young... man, correct?"

[Devon]

Marion paused in playing for the moment to address the older woman who had spoken to him. He was a tad annoyed at being called Emerald's young man, but he did his best not to sound rude in her presence. "No madame, I'm Sir Marion, Royal bard. How are you doing today, do you have any requests at all?"

[Kender Bard]

The woman peered down her nose slightly at Marion, not missing his quip no matter how sweetly he said it. She was a courtier for crying out loud.

Flicking open a fan that she faintly waved but mostly out of habit than anything, she ignored his question and instead asked, "It's been about a year since you and the Commander have been courting hasn't it?"

[Devon]

Marion smiled and nodded his head in affirmation. "Yes I suppose it has been a year since I first met the Princess." Marion's face remained calm and his smile never falter, but the lady in front of him was rubbing him the wrong way.

[Kender Bard]

The woman sighed over dramatically. "Well," she murmured, rolling the vowel a bit and lingering over the Ls. "One wonders if the Commander is going to settle down, respectably, as her sister and the King did, or if she is turning out to be a bad seed like yon Princeling..."

[Devon]

Marion's smile faded considerably at the woman's off-handed comment. It was one thing insult Twilight, who despite not having much of a relationship with the bard outside of the bare minimum required was still a good man. But to bring up Emerald in such a way angered him. "I think you should show a little more respect to the royal family before you start implying anything negative about the Princess."

[Kender Bard]

The courtier widened her eyes slightly, feigning innocence as pure as new fallen snow. "Why Sir Marion! I wouldn't dare to call Princess Emerald anything but a member of the most upstanding family in Anarlina. This is why I say these things, good sir. Less patriotic members of the court are beginning to say things. Terrible things. Naturally, I try to dissuade them of the notion that the Commander has shown time and time again that her behavior is a bit reckless at best, but they'll hear nothing of it. So I come here, sir, to the heart of the matter."

[Devon]

Marion quickly scanned the room to see if he could find any excuse to get away from this woman. "Well thank you for your concern," he said, trying to wrap up the conversation. "Emerald and I are fine right, but I'll take your suggestions to heart, now if you don't mind I think there are a few courtiers here who are anxious to hear me play."

[Kender Bard]

Unlikely, she thought, uncharitably. "Well, just so you know," she murmured and wandered off to join the crowd.

Emerald, who missed nothing in her own scanning of the crowds, shot Marion a very veiled, almost unnoticeable look of puzzlement. What had that been all about?

[Devon]

Marion sighed, glad that the woman was leaving him alone for now. Glancing at Emerald he gave her exasperated look and nodded to indicate they'd talk about it when the court was over.

[Kender Bard]

Audience wrapped up relatively soon. Twilight made no attempt to conceal the fact he didn't want to be there much either. Once the last of the petitions had been pleaded to him, he declared an end to the day's meeting and left with haste, guards following in his wake.

Emerald bid him farewell and then waited for the bulk of the courtiers and peasants to depart before approaching Marion. "Well that wasn't the least bit awkward for anyone," she replied wryly.

[Devon]

Marion smirked and agreed with Emerald. "Yes between the murmurs of discontent for seeing Twilight in Sunray's seat, there was even time for someone to chat with me about the two of us."

[Kender Bard]

Emerald snorted at that and tossed her hair back over her shoulder. "Oh yeah? What did they have to say? Was my armor not shiny enough or something?"

[Devon]

Marion shook his head, her armor was always spotless anyway. "A woman told me that we've been courting for far too long," Marion replied. "People want to know when you plan on settling down."