A/N: Early Update! My Saturday took a turn for the crazy, so enjoy a Friday night update! (At least it's Friday night where I am...)

Marlene tried to think of any other bits of information about the dealings of the state while she sat and chatted with Lily. Emmeline and the other Ladies in waiting were on the far side of the Queen's sitting room.

"I don't rightly know what's going on," the Queen continued, "but I do know that the separation of Semprapuria was the start of something greater."

"They separated years ago," Marlene countered. "If that was the start of something more then we're faced with a plan that's been a long time in the making."

"Semprapuria on its own would implode. Did you know that Walburga's own heir refused to bend knee to her? The word is that he was killed for it. I…" the Queen hesitated, "I don't know. But I know that Walburga Black is only as dangerous as the man whispering in her ear. He's only some Barron of something or other, but he's a snake. He may be trying to widen the scope of his influence."

"He's tired of Walburga, perhaps? I've not heard of such a Barron."

"There's gossip of dissent among the other duchies, perhaps this plan is as old and well laid as it seems." Lily drifted off and Marlene chose to keep her thoughts on the matter quiet. If this plan was that old, then there would be plots to destroy any chance of a legitimate heir, and that centered on the Queen - and herself a timid voice sounded in her mind.

Marlene pushed those thoughts away with thoughts of how well her own little plan was going. Everything was exactly how she'd hoped. It hadn't taken long to teach Emmeline how to play the other Ladies, the politicking of Court was Marlene's late mother's specialty. When they spent more time at Court, Aunt Mia used to say there was nothing Marlene's mother couldn't discover and nothing she couldn't accomplish with just one word.

"You look like you've smelled a rose," Lily interrupted Marlene's musings. "What are you thinking about?"

"The beauty of one's own well-laid plan is always sweet smelling." Marlene sighed happily.

Lily quirked an eyebrow at her, "I was expecting for you to admit to having found favor in a certain person actually."

"Oh," Marlene couldn't keep the smile off her face. She'd done so well the Queen even heard the rumors. Her mother's soul would be soaring. "Why would you suspect such things, your Majesty?"

"Marlene!" Lily rolled her eyes. "The rumors of you and Sir Sirius are flying through the corridors like well-trained hawks. Are they true? I've known the knight for a while now and he's quite devoted to the storybook ideal of chastity. I was surprised when I heard, but look at you. You could probably turn the head of Sir Galahad himself."

Marlene let out a silvery laugh, "I have not, though I have done my best to make sure the whole Court thinks I have."

Lily stared at her, "There is nothing between yourself and Sir Sirius?"

"Nothing in the least. He wasn't interested in playing the ploy with me, so I simply made sure that everyone assumed that he was. Emmeline is an excelling pupil in the realm of Court gossip." Marlene's smile faltered at the look of panic on Queen Lily's face.

"Your Majesty?" Marlene took her hand, but she had her answer before Lily could utter a sound.

"Lily!" The door slammed open, and then James' eyes turned on Marlene, "Nevermind, love."

He walked up to Marlene and stared down at her. Marlene returned his glare with practiced grace.

"Where the hell do you come off, Marly?" he shouted.

"I am sure I have no idea what your Majesty is insinuating," her voice was level but there was a note of steel in it that made the other Ladies in the room step back.

If one was unsure that His Majesty and Her Grace were cousins, this moment would have assuaged any doubts. Their mannerisms were nearly identical, backs straight as boards, faces composed as to show no signs of weakness, and the two stared each other down, daring the other to show their cowardice and back away.

"Why are you spreading lies about courting my man at arms?" James gestured towards the Ladies in waiting.

Marlene's eyes narrowed, "I expressed my displeasure with the courtiers here in His Majesty's Court and their utter impertinence in treating my hand as a prize to be won. His Majesty made it clear he would do nothing for my honor, and I was forced by his negligence to dissuade the buffoons to the best of my ability, as challenging scoundrels who lurk behind dark corridors is uncultured for a Lady. I also assumed His Majesty would be displeased if I pointed out how many of the apes were so grotesque that for some their hair curls in on itself, trying in vain to return within the empty head that hosts it."

James fisted his hand in his hair, "Marly…"

"Your Majesty," her voice dripped with venom and her eyes were cold.

James seemed to finally see her. Marlene's complexion was stark against the black of her dress, her golden hair had lost some it's luster, and her blue eyes were faded from all that she had lost. Finally, James looked past the titles they both held to the girl he'd grown up with. As James' face softened, Marlene started to see her cousin again. She didn't see a King, she saw the boy who would play fairies in the gardens with her. She saw a boy who'd been forced to be a man. A boy who hadn't been allowed to mourn. A boy with a kingdom on his shoulders. At last, they saw each other.

James sighed and threw himself into a chair, "Marly, I," he shook his head.

Marlene bit back the tears that threatened and sat back in her chair.

"James, we," her voice broke and she stopped; she would not cry, not when people were all around her.

"Might I suggest an alternative to screaming at each other like a flock of geese?" Queen Lily's voice sounded like a quiet bell into the silence that had fallen between the cousins.

"Anything, love," James looked at her like her voice had been a cooling salve on burnt skin.

"Her Grace has proved quite the master of politicking in Court gossip." Lily smiled warmly at Marlene. "Perhaps her skills would be put to better use in the learning of more important Court matters?"

"What do you mean, your Majesty?" Marlene was immensely confused.

"I mean," Lily chuckled as understanding dawned in her husband's eyes, "that I've never met another woman as sharp as the Lady McGonagall until I met you."