In Which the Castle Goings-On Go On

"Will this be all for the invitation, your highness?" the royal scribe asked, as he lifted his quill on the last stroke. He handed the parchment for the Princess to reread.

The Lord Chamberlain is commanded by the Queen to invite _ to the Marriage of Sir Landen Winthrop of Kippernia with Her Royal Highness Gledae at Kippernian Castle-

The invitation went on to state the date and time, as well as dress code; the Princess hardly glanced at it before handing it back. It was less than a week's time, she had even more matters to attend to; such as the final touches on her dress, the finalization of suppliers of produce for the banquet, and arrangements to hire more hands to tend the gardens.

"Send it out at once," she said, in her usual stern voice. The scribe and chamberlain both nodded and left at once.

Tsk, what a life I lead, she thought to herself, brushing back a strand of her perfectly made hair and shifting in her seat where she was seated across the scribe. Summoning her ladies-in-waiting, she ordered them to call in her next appointment, the tailor, for her final dress-fitting. There is probably no other girl in the kingdom as busy or productive as I.

Half a kingdom away, in a classroom in the Dellour Academy for Healers, Lynn Eldridge sneezed.

-.-.-

"It just isn't the same," Kipp the sarcastic jester said, lazily poking at his owl of porridge. "She's been away for forever."

"It's only been a month, Kipp," Colton, the usually wordless blacksmith said, eating. "Stop whining."

"I'm not whining, I'm stating a fact," he replied. "Things are supposed to be exciting, with a wedding on the way. But- it's just not the same without Lynn."

"I can't believe how quiet it's been. Both squires gone," he continued, as Ambrosia, the chef, came to the table to check on them. "One lady lost to a far-off land, and our Landen, lost to a lady."

"Not just any lady," Ambrosia said, leaning on the table. "He's to marry the princess! I haven't had so many helpers in the kitchen since- since- why I can't even remember."

"Looks like the King and Queen are really putting their all into this," Colton said.

"More like the princess is squeezing everything out of them," Kipp said, scoffing. "She's practically taken over the whole affair. I bet she's even overruling Landen. Can you imagine it?"

"That's just ridiculous, Kipp," Colton said.

"You wanna bet?"

"Maybe she's just a lady of action," Colton said quietly.

"She's a lady of a lot of talking," Kipp argued. "Now Lynn was a lady of real action."

"Kipp, what's bothering you? You sound awfully bitter," Ambrosia noted.

"Don't you get it? I meant Lynn was a thousand times better than any princess, in any kingdom, in any dynasty," he said, his arms gesturing.

"Hold your tongue, jester," a loud voice suddenly called.

"Landen, we haven't seen you in ages!" Ambrosia squeaked. "Been busy, I suppose."

"Yeah, no time for your old friends," Kipp said in a mocking voice. "Me, Colton, Ambrosia, Lynn-"

"That's enough! I have no time for your usual antics," he said, pounding the table with his fist. "There's- a lot to think about."

"What? Can't make up your mind on what color to wear?" Kipp said, rolling his eyes. "You should just let the princess do all the choosing."

"That's just it! She's taken over the whole thing; I can't even get a word in sideways," he said, suddenly sitting down on the bench, hands in the air in exasperation. "It's like my opinion isn't even needed, and I'm the groom!"

"Having second thoughts?"

"Hardly that-," he retorted quickly. "I just- thought I'd have more time than this; more time to think it over, and, well, you know, choose."

"Well, if you ask my opinion, I think traditional white would set off your complexion better and-," Kipp said, trying to be helpful.

"That's not the kind of choice I meant," Landen said, burying his face in his hands.

They were silent for a moment.

"I need to take a walk," he said, standing up with a loud grunt.

"Ah, and he escapes again."

"It's nothing like that," he shouted, as he exited the castle grounds.

-.-.-

Landen's feet led him to a clearing in the forest almost automatically. It was his place to think, and escape from the troubles of castle life. He'd found himself visiting this place more frequently nowadays. Considering that he was about to married in a week's time, it probably didn't bode well.

"So this is where you've been escaping to," Kipp said, pushing through the branches that hid the place from the path.

"Great, now I'll need a new spot," Landen said, sitting down on a tree stump, a mild indentation showing how oft-used it had been.

"No, don't worry, the princess won't hear about this. Though I think I might crash here myself once in a while," Kipp said, standing next to him.

Landen merely snorted, resting his chin on an arm. "I just can't believe how fast time has passed."

"Yeah, I miss Lynn, too," Kipp suddenly said.

"That's not what I said," Landen started, nearly standing up.

"But that's what you thought," Kipp said, poking his forehead. "Don't forget, I can read you like a book. Same as ever. And same as ever, you're still thinking of Lynn."

"Ugh," Landen scoffed, pushing Kipp's hand away. "Okay, fine, I miss her. I wish she were here, to talk to. I can't believe she left."

"Can't believe she left? Can't believe she left?" Kipp said, his voice rising. "Do you know why she left? Do you even know when she left?"

"I-," Landen started, but was pushed back by Kipp.

"She left after a certain fellow squire informed her of his betrothal to the princess, and casually announced their eventual wedding within the month!"

"What? But everyone already knew about it way before that, someone should have told her by then-,"

"Everyone thought it tactful to not to mention it to Lynn," Kipp said, increasingly agitated. "and leave it to the groom to tell her himself."

"Why on earth did it fall to me to personally inform Lynn of something as public as a royal wedding?"

"Because, Landen-," Kipp said, practically shouting. "Lynn-,"

"'Because, Landen, Lynn what?'" Landen retorted.

"Forget it. Just forget it," Kipp said, turning away. "I guess someone as important as yourself now shouldn't be concerned with past acquaintances. I hope you haven't forgotten who really matters to you. Goodbye, Landen."

And with that, he left the clearing.

-.-.-

(Hullo, the sequel to my Days and Ways Fanfic here. I guess I haven't really exposed the characters much here, review if you need more exposition, otherwise you'd have to read the original fic to learn about them. And that's 30 chapters long. So your choice. Read and review please )