Nasuada hadn't even bothered to grab shoes in her excitement. She was regretting that decision now that she was running down the freezing stone floors on the lower levels. Uru'baen wasn't exactly the warmest, most comfortable place during the winter months. The rocky overhang created shade and relative cool in the summer, but in the winter it was just a looming piece of slag that made the temperature drop another ten degrees.
Medea flew after her mistress with Merric at her heels. He was shocking quiet for someone of his build, while her feet slapped against the ground like thunderclaps.
"Nasuada! Is it-" she started.
"Hush!" the queen snapped as they rounded a corner to run past the courtiers' suites.
"Is it who?" Merric hissed. For such a quiet man he wasn't very good at whispering. Nasuada shushed him as well, more sternly than before.
"Turn right!" Merric called just as Nasuada turned left. She skidded to a stop and whipped around, her wild hair coming even more loose from its already ruined braid.
"Curse this confounded castle!" she screeched.
Medea rolled her eyes and quickened her pace to keep up.
Only when they came to one of the side entrances did Nasuada slow down. Medea stopped and Merric collided with her, catching her around the waist before she could fall.
Nasuada looked back at them with a pleading look on her face, begging them to leave. Medea nodded slowly and carefully untangled herself from Merric. She walked away with Merric only a few paces behind.
The queen took a deep breath to steel herself and brushed her hair out of her face. The oak door before her had never seemed so daunting in her life.
She grabbed the silver door-handle and, ever so slowly, turned it to open the door.
Her eyes were closed as she stepped out onto the landing, waiting patiently for him to say or do something.
She waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Finally the excitement got the best of her and her eyes flew open.
Only to find that there was no one there.