Lily:
Lily wondered if politics were this much fun in Privet as well, or if Petunia and Vernon managed to suck all the enjoyment out of that too.
She had been hesitant to give any comment at first as she sat with James and three members of his Privy Council, choosing to start by observing James' closest advisors.
Remus came off as reserved at first, but as the day progressed Lily found he was the one who got them off track more than anyone else, usually making it look like James' fault in the process - it was hilarious! Peter was always quick to offer James support, which immediately endeared him to Lily. And Elias had the wisdom of a man who'd been in this position for decades longer than any of them had been alive.
The only member missing was Sirius, who James explained was 'spending every waking moment training since Rems has given him the go-ahead to do more than walk the halls.'
Lily's hesitation to offer any input quickly faded when James took the time to ask her directly what she thought of this situation or that problem and the rest of the Council took her comments seriously. Within the first hour, Lily felt at ease and by lunch, she felt like she belonged there with them all.
"I think we can call it quits today my friends." James stretched and looked out the window at the late afternoon sun. "I'll see you all at dinner."
Lily felt the pull of disappointment at his words but managed to maintain the demure face of a well-trained princess. She stood and turned to Marlene, who had sat behind her, when James touched her elbow.
"Your Highness, I understand you're a proficient archer."
Lily felt her heart flutter. There was something about the way he said her royal title - like it was their little secret - that made her feel short of breath.
"I have trained most of my life, Your Majesty."
James stepped closer. "I have always been intrigued by the sport. Would you be so generous as to offer me a lesson this afternoon? The sun is warming the autumn air. It would be a pleasant way to pass the couple of hours before dinner."
Lily grinned, "I'd be honored to show you what I know."
"Capital!" James turned to Elias. "Let's see these Ladies to their rooms and after we've all changed we can head to the training grounds. Perhaps Sirius will stop working so hard long enough to give us a hello."
Lily watched Elias hide his smile behind stroking his gray short-cropped beard.
"As you wish, your Majesty."
Marlene gave her an amused look as they walked back to their rooms.
"You should tell your betrothed you want a gilded bow for your lessons," she whispered as her steps fell into place with Lily's.
Lily shook her head and smiled at Marlene's teasing.
"Oh, better yet," Marlene continued when Lily didn't respond, "tell him that his goal today should be to split your arrow with his."
Lily bit her cheek to keep from laughing and shoved Marlene toward the wall.
James looked over at her with a perplexed smile. Lily let the matter drop before she dissolved into a fit of giggles.
And after changing into her traveling clothes, Lily joined James to walk to the training grounds, her bow, and quiver in hand.
"I see you have a bow that fits your arm length," Lily nodded to his new bow as they took their stances.
James blushed, "Yes, well, I, I thought it might help my form if, if the bow fit..."
"I think it's fine, James, a good wood too." Lily admired the craftsmanship of James' new bow. It wasn't gilded, but it wasn't far from it either.
They stepped out into the crisp autumn air and Lily filled her lungs with the feeling of freedom as they moved to the targets.
"I still have the copy I made of yours," James' smile was soft as he hung his quiver. "It's hanging in my bedroom."
Lily smirked, "Your bedroom?"
"Yes," James poked her side, "because if I put it anywhere else, Sirius might steal it as a prank."
Lily laughed. "I suppose a copy of my bow is less worrisome than a stolen lock of hair."
James' eyes went huge. "Please tell me that's a hypothetical scenario and not an example from your life."
Lily tried to force a smile. "We were children, really, and I didn't return his favor. I thought we were friends because there were so few magic users at my sister's Court. I was wrong."
"If Marlene didn't castrate him, I'll send your sister an ultimatum for his head on a platter." His voice was strained and the mischief had gone out of his eyes.
"James, breathe, it was four years ago and yes Marlene handled it and then my sister dismissed all magic users from Court. I haven't seen him since."
"If you ever see him again, point him out to me and I'll teach him about stealing a Lady's hair."
James huffed before stepping back and letting an arrow fly towards the targets, missing them entirely.
At least here they didn't need to dig through trees to retrieve the arrows.
Lily frowned as James' whole demeanor dimmed. She didn't want him to worry, Severus was long gone, but James couldn't seem to see that. So Lily pulled a page she'd learned from James' book.
"When I was about eleven," she began and smiled when James paused mid arrow grab to look at her. "My father and mother wanted to see what the McKinnon's were teaching me. Lord McKinnon had been tasked with my magical education and so on a day I normally went to their home, my parents came along."
James was watching her, his smile not quite back but the mischief was returning to his eyes.
"Marlene has a younger sister, by about seven years, named Catherine. And at that time she was just starting to display her magic. Well, Lord McKinnon starts having me show off for my parents and no one notices sweet little Catherine come in the room."
A hint of a smile ghosted James' lips and Lily felt her smile spread across her face at the sight of it.
"Out of nowhere, my dad's hair is purple, bright purple like his state robes."
James' smile finally found its way back to his handsome face and Lily felt the tension ease out of her.
"And I completely panic that I did it somehow!" Lily laughed. "My dad's suddenly got purple hair and I don't know how to fix it. And Lord McKinnon is doing his best not to laugh, and then Lady McKinnon walks in to fetch Catherine and says 'I like the change, your Majesty. You look more approachable now.' Before taking Catherine away with her!"
Lily felt proud as James' laughter boomed from him. She'd done quite well.
"What did your dad say?"
"He looked right at Lord McKinnon and said, 'Angus, don't toy with me, what's your wife talking about?' And then my mom looked at my dad and screamed." Lily clutched her stomach as she laughed at the memory.
"How did you figure out it was accidental magic?" James smiled and balanced his bow against his quiver.
"Well it wasn't me, and it wasn't Lord McKinnon…" Lily laughed again.
James stepped closer, his mischievous twinkle completely back. "Why do I sense there's more to this story?"
Lily bit her lip to keep from dissolving into a fit of giggles.
"Well, Marlene coming in screaming because Catherine had turned her hair pink was a good indication of what had happened to my father."
James' laughter pulled Lily into her giggles as she remembered Marlene's pink hair and red face as she yelled for her father to "do something!" She glanced back at Marlene only to see that her sister was a ways off, talking with Sirius.
Lily smiled. She was rather enjoying her pseudo-privacy with James as Elias pretended not to be there. This was turning out exactly as she pictured it, and in that moment, Lily let herself simply enjoy it.