There were many things that Marlene's mother had worked with her to tame, in order to bring her more in line with being a proper princess. But the one that caused Marlene to exercise the greatest amount of self-restraint was her temper. And after the whirlwind of the last thirty-six hours, self-restraint was not something she was very keen on.
She'd understood that Lady McGonagall had need of her husband, several hours before the cock dared crow. But Marlene less so understood that, as Emmeline helped her prepare for breakfast, the good Lady had not seen fit to send him back. The messenger had said it had to do with his family, which meant Semprapuria, but what could possibly keep him for so long and not allow him to send any word to her?
"My Lady, is everything alright?" Emmeline's quiet voice came through Marlene's stormy thoughts.
Marlene sighed and grabbed a dark red dress and handed it to Emmeline. "Mostly, my husband was called away in the night and has yet to return."
Emmeline had been overjoyed for Marlene and Sirius. Marlene had assured her that everything would work out, and Emmeline, the loyal girl she was, took an oath of secrecy until such a time that the marriage could be made known to the public.
"There is a great deal of activity near the King's office," Emmeline commented as she helped Marlene with her hair. "Perchance the good Knight is assisting His Majesty in whatever chaos that has ensued?"
Marlene smiled as Emmeline placed a small jeweled comb in her hair. She would beg this wonderful girl to accompany her when Sirius chose to move them to Semprapuria, she'd never had a Lady she loved more than gentle sweet Emmeline.
"Do you know if Her Majesty is breaking fast in her quarters or in the great hall?" Marlene had an idea to be able to find out what in the world was going on.
"My understanding is she is breaking fast in her quarters," Emmeline readjusted the comb and gave it a critical stare before smiling contentedly.
"Please run and ask if she would consent to break fast with me? I'm sure that if anyone is aware of what is transpiring, but also not currently involved, it will be our good Queen."
"Of course, your Grace," Emmeline curtsied before stepping out.
Marlene didn't need to wait long, and within a quarter of an hour, she was on her way to break fast with Lily.
Lily smiled warmly at her, "I was about to send for you when Lady Emmeline arrived. How are you?"
"I've not grown accustomed to my protector being called away in the night," Marlene pursed her lips as she sat next to Lily. "Do you know what's going on?" There was so much more Marlene wanted to say - scream - but present company aside from Lily and Emmeline prevented such frankness.
Lily leaned in close, "James received a letter in the night. He immediately called for Lady McGonagall and then I assume she assembled the Privy Council. That's all I know. James hasn't returned."
Marlene took a very deep breath as her frustration mounted. While Lily's information was helpful, it didn't answer the question of what was going on.
"Eat something," Lily put a reassuring hand on Marlene's arm, "then we can sort out what is happening."
It was a few moments later that there was a knock on the door and one of Lily's Ladies opened it to the head guard of the Royal family.
He bowed deeply, "Your Majesty, Your Grace, it is the wish of the King that the two of you shall remain here in their Majesties' quarters until such time that the situation is secure. We have doubled the guard and will arrange for your meals to be had here."
"Thank you, Sir," Lily nodded, "We will be happy to obey His Majesty's desires."
The guard bowed again before leaving and Marlene smiled, now she had some information to work with.
"Well, that's certainly telling." Marlene toyed with her fork as she tried to piece the puzzle together. "Locking the Queen and the Heir in the most secure part of the castle leads me to see a few options now."
"Other than the fairy story parallels?" Lily teased.
"As much as I may look the part," Marlene rolled her eyes, "I've never been held captive by a dragon."
"Sure," Lily smirked, "Now put your keen mind to work and tell me what's going on out there."
Marlene thought hard, she hadn't been allowed to be involved at every Privy Council meeting. And there were things she was sure were being glossed over while she was allowed to sit in. Thinking through it all, Marlene was able to see where most of that had been about Sirius being the heir of Semprapuria, but not all of it.
"Lily, has James complained at all about anyone being untrustworthy?" Marlene stared out the window, spinning her fork as she pondered.
Lily looked pensive, "At one point, several months ago, he did come to bed rather frustrated, and all he was able to say was he didn't want to lose his friends after he'd already lost his parents."
Marlene nodded and set her fork down, before resting her elbows on the table and lacing her fingers together. "There's only one reason James would throw a squad at the entrance of your corridor and lock the two of us behind them. There's someone in the castle who is likely to do us harm. Since there does not appear to be an army out the window, I'd wager that Crouch wasn't the only traitor in Court."
"A spy then?" Lily looked thoughtful, "A spy willing to attack either of us, especially after your display, would need to be desperate, I would think."
Marlene nodded as she rested her forehead against her hands. "Emmeline dear," she looked over at her Lady. "Ask the guard if visitors will be permitted."
Emmeline curtsied and stepped out.
"Who do you wish to accompany us?" Lily looked over at her perplexed.
Marlene ignored her a moment as Emmeline returned.
"Your Grace, the guards are only to give way for His Majesty and his Man at Arms. No one else is to be permitted an audience."
Marlene smiled, "Thank you, Emmeline," then she turned to Lily.
"I don't wish for anyone else's company, but the fact that no one save James and Sirius can pass our guards tells me the spy is someone that you or I might have granted an audience to without hesitation."
"Someone close enough that we would have trusted them," Lily furrowed her brow.
Marlene thought back to the words that Lady McGonagall had spoken to her shortly after her attack. The Chief Minister had advised her to use the unique perspective she had as a newcomer to court. "Fresh eyes", Lady McGonagall had called it.
The courtiers who came to mind seemed relatively loyal if mundane. She was no fan of Lord Lockhart but she was sure that no one would choose that as their spy. It wouldn't have been anyone such as him, in any case. Perhaps it was someone even closer to the King. She'd only met the rest of the Council within the last week. Sir Remus was sharp as a whip if a bit distracted by his war machines. Sir Peter was polite, with a sense of humor. They had both seemed nice enough, but there was something about the way that Peter had flinched from her originally that was odd. He hadn't made the mistake twice, but there was something about his initial reaction to her that rang strange.
"What do you know about Sir Peter?" Marlene looked up at Lily.
Lily smiled, "He was one of Lord Dumbledore's squires along with His Majesty, Sir Sirius, and Sir Remus. He's one of James closest friends."
"Does he come from a noble family?" Marlene pressed.
"Just barely, he's the heir to a baronet, but his heart is as good as gold. He loves his King and Country."
Marlene felt her suspicions growing. Lily wouldn't have blinked if Sir Peter had requested an audience. And while Marlene wasn't sure what her reaction would have been, she knew her husband well enough that he would have insisted on her safety along with the Queen's. Blocking both of them in the Royal rooms accomplished both their safety and ensured no one could get to them.
"You don't suspect Sir Peter to be the spy, do you?" Lily seemed to follow Marlene's path.
Marlene turned to look at her Queen, "I suspect exactly that, your Majesty."