Hey there! I still exist. My laptop died and I couldn't find the charger, but that's all been resolved now. Clearly.

Caitlyn sniffled slightly, trying not to make any sound.

Halt and Ferris had been outside, practicing their sword work with their father. That was all fine and dandy, she had thought. It meant she could spend time with their mother.

What she wasn't expecting was the sudden outburst that had emanated from her.

Caitlyn wasn't even sure what she had done wrong. This was the first time she had been alone with her mother in years- heck, she couldn't even remember the last time it had happened. She was joining her mother for a dignitary meeting.

A meeting of the Board, she had called it. Caitlyn was thinking of the wrong kind of board.

She had been expected to sit up straight, remain silent, keep your eyes fixed, your nose must be held high in the air. Show some dignity, Caitlyn, you're royalty and you shall remind them of that fact every time an eye is cast at you. You are above them.

The board members had all gathered together and waited in the throne room for matters to begin. Caitlyn had been following her mother's orders until the final case came in.

Caitlyn had lost all sense of haughtiness the second her eyes landed on the rough figure in front of her. He was old, but in excellent condition, she thought. He had silver hair and a strange green and gray cloak around his shoulders. His eyes were tired, though. He had clearly been travelling for a long time.

He had bowed deeply to them – they were royalty, after all – and he had spoken in a strong, tired voice.

"Your majesty, I only ask that I be allowed to remain in Clonmel for a short time," he said.

Caitlyn had cast a sideways glance at her mother, wondering how exactly she would help the foreigner. He certainly wasn't Hibernian, that much, she could tell. She couldn't quite place the accent.

"Where are you from, stranger?" her mother asked, in a poised, dignified way. The man rose out of his bow and looked back up at her. Caitlyn was intrigued by the man, she had to admit. He was making direct eye contact with the queen, not afraid, but not rude, either.

"I come from the kingdom of Araluen," he said. Caitlyn's head swiveled around the room at the whispers and murmurs that suddenly broke out from the dignitaries. She couldn't make out what anyone was saying. All sound was cut off when her mother raised a hand for silence.

"Why do you come to us?" she asked crisply. Caitlyn frowned slightly at her mother's tone. "To bring us your problems? To overrun us, perhaps?"

The stranger said nothing. He simply stood there, seemingly calm and collected.

"Or, perhaps, you come to steal," the queen continued. "We will not aid you in any manner, Araluen. Leave and be on your way."

The man bowed again.

"Your majesty, if I may- "

"YOU MAY NOT!" the queen suddenly exclaimed. Caitlyn jumped at the sudden shout. "You will leave us NOW."

The stranger inclined his head, retaining his calm posture.

"I wish not to bother you," he said simply. Caitlyn admired the strange calm the man possessed. "I only wish that I be allowed to remain in Clonmel for a couple of days."

Caitlyn turned to her mother, a slightly pleading look in her eyes.

"Mother, if it's only for a couple of days- "

Her mother turned to her sharply, a dangerous fire in her eyes.

"Hold your tongue, girl," she snapped. Caitlyn reared back in shock, a hurt look in her eyes.

"But, mother- "

"I SAID BE SILENT," her mother shouted. Caitlyn bit her lip and fought back her tears. She inclined her head slightly.

"Yes, mother," she said. "I apologize. Excuse me."

She stood up quickly and exited the room, fighting back her tears for as long as she could. As she was leaving, she heard her mother's voice claiming that royal delegations were no place for an eight-year-old. She just managed to make it to her room and close her door before sliding to the floor and crying.

She had no idea how long she was there, but at some point, she had gotten up and moved to her window seat. She didn't even remember doing that.

And that's where she was when there was a soft knock at her door.

She sniffled again and buried her head in her arms, not in the mood to deal with any of the servants. There was another knock at the door that she ignored.

"Cait?"

The voice caught her attention. She didn't lift her head, but she was paying attention to the door now.

"Cait, you in there?"

"Maybe she's asleep," said another voice. They were pretty much the same voice, Caitlyn decided, but one sounded much softer and more full of doubt than the first one, which was strong and self-assured.

"No she's not," Halt said. "I can hear her sniffling from here."

Caitlyn smiled at that. She got up and made her way to the door, opening it slightly.

"I didn't think I was being that loud," she said apologetically, letting out another sniffle. She stepped to the side, allowing her two older brothers to enter the room. She noticed that Halt closed the door behind him softly. He and Ferris took her hands in each of their own and led her over to her bed.

Halt sat on her left side, Ferris on her right. Both brothers wrapped their arms around her, and she accepted the embrace warmly.

"What happened?" Halt asked softly, knowing very well that something was bothering her and skipping over that question. She shook her head, amazed that he knew her so well. Well enough to know that would have claimed that she was fine.

She explained the proceedings with their mother to them, tears springing back to her eyes and flowing freely down her cheek, not looking up to meet their gazes. She knew that Ferris was quite close to their parents. She was a bit worried that he would take their mother's side. She was pleasantly surprised with Ferris's response.

"That's bullsh- "

"Ferris!" Halt hissed. Caitlyn noticed the amused glint in his eye. It made her smile. She felt Ferris shrug.

"Come on, don't tell me you weren't thinking the same thing," he said. Halt nodded.

"Of course I was," he said. Caitlyn bit her lip slightly. "But this is our mother… we can't exactly say that kind of thing."

"Since when do you care about what we can and can't say?" Ferris demanded. Caitlyn wiped at her eyes and smiled at Halt, who seemed to be pondering the question. For a while, both younger siblings thought Ferris had won the argument against Halt, but alas, it was not to be.

"Since when do you not?" he asked. Ferris frowned slightly at him. Caitlyn giggled a little bit, and both boys turned their attention to her. She sniffled one more time, giving Halt a mischievous grin.

"Didn't Ferris ask you first?" she asked. Ferris clapped his hands together and pointed an accusatory finger at Halt.

"Ah-hah! She's got a point!" he exclaimed triumphantly. Halt grinned at him.

"It would have been a better point if you'd been the one to propose it," he said. Ferris groaned and put his head in his hands. Caitlyn grabbed one of her pillows and hit Halt playfully with it.

"Hey, stop picking on your brother," she said. Halt grabbed another of her pillows and hit her with it.

"Of course, your majesty," he said. "I won't pick on my brother."

Ferris took a pillow, too, and hit Halt as well.

"Don't pick on our sister," he teased. Caitlyn hit him with the pillow now.

"Hey! I thought we were allies?"

"I can take care of myself," Caitlyn shot back. "Besides, all's fair in love and war."

From there, it devolved into a three-way pillow fight, Caitlyn's terrible experience with her mother, and the strange, cloaked figure, having been forgotten.