[Lyra Greenleaf]

Finduilas' Welcoming Party

Emilia walked unusually slowly towards where Finduilas and her various maids, ladies and who knew what else were sitting. She was still trying to take in what Dryea had told her. It could be a brilliant way to raise her profile in the court, she loved her Papa dearly but he was more interested in family than power. Leaving court at such an important time to see his new grandson was just one example, he was always doing things like that. Her mother could perhaps have offset this, but she believed a wife's duty was to her husband- a very outdated mode of thinking to Emilia's view.

"Not still looking for the Houses of Healing are you?"
The deep voice shocked Emilia out of her reverie. She spun on her heel, and was surprised to see the impudent guard sitting smiling at her.
I did not recall his voice was so deep!, she thought as a shiver ran down her spine. That was annoyance, she told herself firmly.

"Struck dumb, my Lady Emilia?" he asked with a wicked grin.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, flustered- then kicked herself.
What a terrible response.
"I have my sources" he replied, with- oh horror of horrors!- a wink!
"I'm Thenidir by the way"

"No true man, or gentleman at least, would act so with a lady" Emilia said with an innocent look on her face.
"No? Well that lady over there seems to disagree" Thenidir told her with a straight face, gesturing with his eyes instead of his hand. Emilia half turned, and saw one of the sisters of Denethor.
Well we know what bad taste that family have, she thought angrily, trying to ignore the stab of what she would not-could not- admit to be jealousy.