Karigan entered the house feeling good. Everything about today had been good. Even saying goodbye to Richard; she knew their relationship could have ended very badly but their talk had been….good. As she climbed the steps she met Tori at the top. "Do you want some help getting ready?" Karigan nodded, smiling at her aunt. "Good. I will be in when you are ready to dress."
Karigan climbed into the bath for a quick soak. All this bathing was a bit extravagant but she always washed before big events, using the heat to prepare her mind and back for the additional strain. She got out and towelled herself and just before she reached the painful part of drying her back, a hand gently pulled the towel from her and softly patted the scar tissue. Karigan stiffened but then relaxed, shrugging. Tori knew now; it made no sense not to accept her help when offered. She murmured her thanks and they both entered her bedroom where her evening dress hung near her bureau. Her aunt stood on the small chair near the hearth and lowered the dress over Karigan's head so she barely had to raise her arms. It was the easiest dressing she had undergone in years.
Tori fussed over her hair and applied a small amount of colour to her face before standing Karigan in front of the mirror. "You are glorious," she breathed near Karigan's ear. Karigan was amazed to see her own transformation. Tori had taken advantage of the curls that had formed after her steamy bath, and oiled them so that they cascaded down her back. Karigan had refused to cut her hair in defiance of Nyssa and it had grown back thickly almost to her waist. Her hair was held by a silver pin, cut into the shape of her clan's emblem and adorned with sapphires and amethysts, the clan colours. Her long hair acted as a screen for her scarred neck and allowed Karigan to wear a dress that was inspired by her Eletian friends. They had presented her with gifts of formal Eletian clothing, amongst other things, as a thank you gift when she destroyed Mornhaven.
The silver silk caressed her neck like a second skin and draped in one seamless piece all the way down to her wrists and feet. The silk cocooned her figure, narrowing at her waist before lush, pleated swathes of silk gathered to fall lightly at her feet. Her bodice was stiff to provide structure for her torso, which allowed her back to lay bare to the waist. This is where the magic happened. A different bolt of navy silk curved like a leaf was pinned from one shoulder to the other and held into place with hidden buttons near her ribs, falling down her back until it tapered to a point near her knees. This striking design cleverly ensured her skin was completely covered but no fabric or corset touched her back. The silk had been embroidered with blue and purple thread in flowing designs at the hems and woven through with silver in a constantly shifting pattern, which lent a beautiful sheen to the dress each time she moved.
Karigan's eyes filled with tears to know that her seamstress friends had so thoughtfully woven symbols of her past into their work. She saw flowing leaves to represent her Elt friends, and flying horses, their wings shining in the light. She blinked a few times and cleared her throat. "Thank you, aunt Tori," she replied, turning to hug her aunt soundly. Her aunt cradled her gently before letting go and turning to pick up Karigan's purse. "I hear your father pacing below. Better hop to it!" They chuckled and descended the stairs where her family awaited. After the general fussing had died down, Stevic took his daughters arm. She smiled back at him happily and they made their way to the carriage. They chatted and gossiped on the warm summer evening and Karigan could not remember a more pleasant day.
The air was heavy with the perfume of early summer roses and the heat of the pavement. Karigan stepped down from the carriage and drew in deep breaths of the delicious scent before Stevic escorted her inside to the hall where the guests milled. The hall was crowded and lively given most people were from the local area and were excited to greet old friends and acquaintances. The trade terms had been well and truly hammered out and this signing was ritualistic more than anything else but still there was a slight tension in the air. The female contingent in the hall was noticeably smaller than their male counterparts. Corsa women tended to be more involved in their clans' business than other regions, so the party was larger than perhaps elsewhere would have seen.
The women formed small groups around the hall and Karigan was much admired by them. It was nice; she had known these ladies her whole life and all of them were engaged in good natured conversation. Laughing at the jokes of one of her older neighbours, Karigan was startled to realise how good a time she was having. She reflected for a moment on balls in her past and the unease she had always felt. She had not yet seen Richard, which she was relieved about, although she took a few seconds to gaze around the hall and look for him. She wasn't quite ready to see him yet. Perhaps he was completing preparations for the signing. Hopefully it would start soon; she was getting hungry.
A moment after her musing a gong sounded and the clan chiefs and sub-chiefs were called forward. Karigan joined her father and waited for their name to be called. They did not wait long, given how important the G'ladheon clan was in Corsa. As Karigan entered the signing chamber, her gaze moved to the group that had formed near the table containing the treaty. She saw Richard turn towards her and when she was in full view, his eyes widened in admiration. She smiled and winked at him before following Stevic to the other side of the table to watch the formal proceedings. The last clan entered and silence quickly fell. Richards' father cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentleman, it is with honour that we welcome our brethren from the Islands to mark this historic occasion for trade amongst our peoples. We deeply respect the relationship that has, and will be forever more, forged between our people. It is thus my pleasure and privilege," he continued with a huge smile, sweeping his hands towards the side entrance, 'to herald the presence of our sovereign, who has joined us for this momentous occasion to honour the Island delegation."
A murmur swept through the crowd just as Karigan's heart stopped beating.
She had half a second to compose herself before King Zachary strode into the room. Unfortunately for her, her mind was in too much shock for it to be of any use. As one the crowd bowed before their King and Karigan found her chest heaving as she fought to gain control over her emotions. She was one of the last to rise and discreetly moved herself behind her father's large bulk, where she could watch the king and calm her breathing. She was sure her chest would be blotchy. Breathing slowly, she stared as the king confidently and calmly greeted the island delegation. He hadn't seen her yet. She couldn't believe it. Groaning inwardly, she cursed Richard for not telling her who the mystery guest was, and herself for failing to ask more questions! What had she been thinking?! The king, her king, the man she had spent so long trying to forget, was standing only a few feet from her.
All of the feelings he had once excited in her, attraction, confusion, awkwardness, admiration and yes, love, flooded through her body as if she had seen him just yesterday. The power of her desire to be near him almost overwhelmed her. She breathed deeply and slowly to calm her mind as her eyes roved over his familiar figure. He was striking in jet black and midnight blue, his presence commanding. He wore a simple fillet of silver atop his amber hair. Even without it the sheer charisma he exuded would have seen every man in that room gravitating towards his leadership. He had no idea how beautiful he was.
Finally Zachary spoke a last few words to the islanders and chiefs before turning towards the table. He watched on as several more speeches were made and then the parties signed the treaty. General applause broke out, another speech, and the party began moving towards the banquet. It became quite clear to Karigan that her grand plan of hiding behind her father had backfired, since she was now closest to the exit. Zachary moved to the door and turned towards her, smiling. His shocked eyes flew into his eyebrows when he realized who it was and she suspected it was only the training of a lifetime of court etiquette that kept his mouth from dropping open. She curtseyed deeply.
"Your majesty," she murmured quietly. King Zachary nodded his head in her direction before turning to Stevic. "Chief G'ladheon, I am very pleased to see you and your daughter. I trust you are well?" Stevic replied but Karigan could tell that her unfazeable king was looking a little…well, fazed. He recovered quickly however. "May I escort your daughter to the banquet, since we are both blocking the way to everyone's well-deserved refreshments?" Stevic chuckled. "Be my guest, sire", he replied with a smile.
Zachary turned and gazed at Karigan with burning eyes, before offering his arm to her. Her gentle touch sent a thrill to his core and he felt the fire spread through his body, as it always did when she was close. Gods, he had missed her. Her beauty always took his breath away but it was her other qualities, her generosity, her intelligence, her passion that made him hers. They were at a loss for a few moments before she asked an inane question about his trip, which he managed to answer with more grace that his first appearance had given rise to. A couple of questions later and all of a sudden, he was being announced and directed into the banquet hall. He could have killed someone for interrupting them. He walked Karigan to her place, which was further away from him than he would have liked.
He went through the mechanics of conversation, still reeling from the encounter. He had known she would be there of course; had expected it. Had prepared for it. What he hadn't prepared for was the intensity of his feelings upon seeing her again. The old familiar ache lodged itself once more in his chest, or perhaps just reawakened from dormancy. He had been devastated when she had left him so unexpectedly the night after ridding them of Mornhaven and had hidden it poorly, even though he had other commitments.
He had felt sorry for Estora throughout their marriage; Karigan's ghost always lay between them like an ethereal wall, neither able to push through. His heart had never been hers, and the sad thing of the matter was she never punished him for it. Until the day she had died, she had been a good woman and wife and his guilt had hung over him for many months. Eventually he had come to reconcile with himself that he was a one woman man and had resigned himself to bachelor life, looking after his kingdom and precious children. But then the trade agreements had crossed his desk and in an instant, he was whisked back to that time when thoughts of Karigan all but consumed him. Taking the natural break in conversation as an opportunity to glance down the table, he found attraction warring with jealousy in his breast as she talked animatedly to the young clan heir seated next to her.