Nuada watched Pen return with Crevan, both a bit ruffled. He let a smile tug at his lips, as they moved into the dance. He had already danced with Rhiannon, sparking a bit of gossip that he had not cared about being Cuckolded as he already had a mistress. The conflicting gossip would give a smokescreen so Pen could disappear and carry out her mission.
"...You allow a trader in your court." The Aen Elle delegate said.
"To you perhaps," Nuada said, trying to sound bord. "...he has done nothing to warrant that in my court..."
"He has bedded your queen, cuckolded you, claimed your land."
"The Court of thorns is not mine but belongs to House DeRosin. By the old law, my queen can take lovers as she wishes. I have done the same," He reached over to bring Rhi's hand to his lips. "...I'm sure she shall tire of him soon. Thus I tolerate it."
He wasn't going to tell the Aen Elle that the queen had never taken a lover before, and Crevan was something more than a lover or would be. A second dance, this one a bit more lively.
"...when he puts a blade in your back."
"His head will meet the floor followed by his body," Nuada said. "He has taken his blood oath to my court, to my queen and to me."
Nuada rose and took Rhiannon's hand. "Let us dance..."
Rhiannon let the king whirl her out on the dance floor.
The dancing wound down, Rhiannon was off to the side with Pen. The news of various delegates distracted her from the gossip. She knew several would use the rumors to push their agendas, demand sanctions. She was also watching Crevan to talk to members of the house of the swallow.
"...You certainly know how to shake things up." Rhiannon said in a low tone. "...Bets are out about long he'll have his balls and a bounty on his head."
"...I have heard for diamonds." She said.
"...Emeralds." Rhiannon said. "We've taken out at least three who have attempted..."
"Three...a new record."
"One was about to sneak up on your little walk..."
Pen frowned. "...they would have gotten my stiletto..."
"We were neater." She said. "You should make an exit, his majesty and I will follow shortly...Aiden has cleared the rooms."
Pen nodded and went to retrieve Crevan from his kinsmen.
Pen had divested herself of the finery by the time Rhi and Nuada came to the room. She hadn't taken off her dress yet but was sitting leaning up against Crevan. Rhiannon left via the solar door, intending to loop back and meet with Aiden.
"Night blue..." Crevan said when Rhi had left.
Nuada grump-ed, "Lucky guess..."
"Shall I expect to be guessing various shades..."
Nuada frowned. "...don't press your luck."
Pen stood and went to divest herself of her dress, and get into night-clothes. She came back in a night-gown of delicate blue.
"...I've not seen that before." Nuada said. "and you don't normally wear them..."
She smiled "Something special..."
Crevan stripped-down, folding his clothes neatly. Nuada went to do the same, sleep sounded like a good idea.
When he returned, Crevan was already snuggled against Pen's back beneath the covers. She was on top, reading what looked like her favorite book. She smiled at him and went back to her book. He got in, the bed big enough they all could stretch out. Pen finished reading and snuggled down to sleep.
Pen slipped from bed before dawn, she had a few things to prepare. She began inspecting her gear. The mission the diary asked would be spanning worlds, she had to be sure her gear would work in all of them, thus being slightly archaic with her weapon. She made sure her clothing could not be identified. Crevan found her preparing.
"...soon?"
"...a few hours." She said. "I know you know what will happen."
He put his arms around her. "...I had to protect her. I do not regret that."
"Nor should you, she let us set the clock back on the frost..." She said softly. "This will be hard, not to fall for you, to tell you."
"I will know in some ways when I see Deir and Nod, I will see Lara," He said. "...be kind to her, and tell her of the gift I will give her."
"You expect me to be jealous." She turned in his arms. "...I'm not, I know what a divided heart looks like. Do you want me to arrange so you can see Ciri..."
He pulled back slightly, he desperately wanted to say yes. That would only make what was before him all the more difficult.
"Ask me again after you find the thread for me..." He said. "I still must deal with what Lara chose, the lie she told." He sighed. "and how I feel about that lie. This has been a distraction, one I needed."
She thought a moment, there was someplace special she wanted to show him.
"There is one place I want you to come with me...a place we Singers have held in trust." She said. "Get dressed, we can go and be back before I must prepare to leave..."
He left for his own quarters and returned to find Pen ready to travel as well.
"...It is not far..."
He followed her out of the room to the stables.
She brought him to a cave he knew, he'd painted the images on the walls. He pressed the hidden latch, surprising Pen. His smile was worth the trip.
"...I painted the images..." He said. "Garelt suggested I add something...I obliged."
She blinked, well considering how arrogant he'd been at that time. It also explained a few things.
"That explains the dicks..."
He laughed as they stepped in, stopping in front of Lara's statue..
"...You don't come here often."
"No, I come about twice a year. We laid Lochain to rest here, and one of my children is laid here."
"You have four..." He said.
"Five, between Tam and Dain," she said. "I made a sacrifice, it wasn't until later I found the child wasn't viable, a heart defect. I come to clean both graves."
He followed her to Lochain's grave and the small stone beside it. He watched her tend the smaller grave.
"Boy or a girl?"
"I did not ask, as all I felt is the loss." She said. "considering, most likely a boy..."
"...Ciri and I only had one boy." He said. "I didn't know who was more stubborn..."
She smiled "From the way you say it I can guess."
"...Cirdan is his grandson." Crevan sighed. "He likes the Court of thorns, I'd say he likes Rhiannon better."
"He will be disappointed, Aiden is her life partner." She finished cleaning. "...Grant me luck, Lochain..."
"You ask luck of the dead?"
"Only of Lochain," She said. "...He died defending me and my children."
She rose up, dusting off her trousers. She stopped in front of Lara's statue.
"...Watch over us all." She said, touching the base. "We need to go now..."
Crevan nodded, he would have to come back to talk to Lara when he came to full terms with what she had done to protect their child.