Before she went to bed, Tuon had the servants leave a tray of food on the side table, near where Mat slept, so he could find it if he woke. She knew he would be very hungry after that much healing. One last time before she went to sleep, Tuon quietly entered Mat's room to check on his condition. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully, with regular breathing and a more natural color. She gently touched his face and whispered, "Sleep well, my husband, and get better. You are needed here."
It was sometime before dawn, when Mat finally woke. He stared at the ceiling for a while, trying to remember what had happened. From the painted clouds on the ceiling and the rich furniture, he knew must be in the Tarasin Palace. The dice still rattled in his head, although his terrible headache was gone.
He was very hungry and his stomach rumbled. Mat had felt that way once before, after healing from the Shaddar Logoth dagger in Tar Valon. So he must have been healed by an Aes Sedai, or a damane anyhow. He shuddered at the thought of the One Power touching him.
Mat checked his abdomen, and saw that the wound in his side was gone, except for a small scar. He felt the back of his head gingerly and felt just a small scar there, too.
Mat noticed the food on the table near his bed, along with his medallion. He stuffed some of the bread into his mouth and chewed while he tied the medallion around his neck. Next he found his clothes folded on a chair. He dressed as he finished the rest of the meal.
He was surprised when he looked into the next room and saw Tuon sleeping in her large bed, richly hung with gauzy fabric. His wife! Mat took a deep breath. He thought about going to her, but chickened out, opting instead to go down to the kitchen for more food.
'Burn me, I am a coward," he thought, "to be afraid of my own wife. Light, I am at that."
Not many of the palace staff were about yet, as Mat made his way to the kitchen. He had gotten a strange look from the guards when he left the Empress' quarters, but they had not challenged him.
The cook who was preparing breakfast remembered him from when he stayed at the palace before. She scowled and said "Didn't you cause enough trouble the last time you were here? The palace was in an uproar when you left and the poor Queen was found dead."
"I had nothing to do with that, by the Light. But I do need some food, if you please." She grunted and filled him a plate of biscuits and gravy, with a thick ham steak on the side. He soon finished that off, along with a carafe of milk. Mat finished second and third plates of food, to the amazement of the cook.
He then returned to the royal apartments via the back hallways and stairs, as it was still a bit awkward running into people who remembered him as Queen Tylin's Toy.
Tuon was still sleeping soundly when he returned to their rooms. Mat went to his room and sat down on the bed. The events of the last few days began to catch up with him and he soon fell back asleep.
Later that morning, Mat was still resting in the royal apartments, having a glass of wine and thinking about sending for yet another meal.
Selucia entered with a small round man she introduced as Master Fietti, the tailor. He bowed low to Mat. "Master Fietti, This is Matrim Cauthon. He needs new sets of clothes as befitting the Prince of the Ravens. There will be several formal ceremonies soon."
The small man blinked and nodded. "As you wish, Speaker." He then motioned to Mat, " Your Highness, please allow me to take your measurements for the proper fit."
Mat removed his coat and boots, then allowed the tailor take his measurements, writing them neatly in a small leather bound book. "Now then, what are these formal occasions you need the outfits for?"
Selucia said "One is raising him to the High Blood, the other is a wedding ceremony."
Mat nodded and added with a grin, "Maybe a party or two, to celebrate. I don't want to embarrass the Empress, May She Live Forever, and these are the only clothes I have with me." Indicating the serviceable but plain outfit he was wearing. "Would you have anything that would fit me on hand?"
The tailor thought he did have some clothes that would fit Mat, including small clothes. They decided on a slightly military cut to the clothes, with none of the Seanchan short coats or baggy trousers that Mat refused to consider. And no gaudy colors, either. Mat thought of the outfits that Tylin had made for him and shuddered.
Master Fietti packed away his notebook and said, "Thank you your Highness, I have all that I need. We will get to work right away. A royal wedding! How exciting."
Mat was not looking forward to the formal activities, but he supposed it came with the job of Prince of the Ravens. In a way he would be representing Andor and all of the Northlanders. Somehow the Seanchan must learn to live with with the rest of the peoples on the mainland, or they were all doomed. He didn't know what he could do, but he would try to bridge the rift, just a little.