AN: All characters are owned by TP! Hope you enjoy!
Dove sighed and glanced around. Winna adjusted her grip on Junim. (The boy was spoiled rotten since everyone felt that he would be left out.) Aly was holding Ochobai and Nawat held Ulasu. Although this was a private council meeting, the almost eight month old triplets were a stage where they were impossible unless close to a parent.
The door to the room opened and Taybur walked in, glancing around. He was the last one in and nodded to Aly, hand signaling something that Dove didn't catch. Once he was seated, she stood and everyone fell silent.
"As you know, Midwinter is coming up; the end of the first year of my reign. Any suggestions about what to do to celebrate?"
Winna shifted the sleeping Junim to a more comfortable position. "Actually, the council of nobles plans to spring something on you."
Nuritin took over, speaking slowly. "They want you to marry."
"It makes sense Dove, think logically before you get angry. If something were to happen to you without an heir, think of the chaos that would ensue. They want security. All my spies have been giving me this information from all over the country, it is not just the nobles."
Dove froze, thinking quickly. With all eyes on her, she took a deep breath and said a quick prayer to Kyprioth. "I am not ready, I am only fourteen."
Winna passed Junim to Ysul and stood up, pulling her stepdaughter into her arms. "We know. But you are the queen. Announce that you have started looking for a king. Other countries will send their princes. The process will take time. We don't want to force you into something you will regret but this is important for your country." With a discrete signal as she was talking, everyone disappeared. Winna pulled Dove closer. "It's okay to cry Dove. I am your mother before anything else."