David
Charity Lane
Zahrada

After the Council of Marin and her subsequent flight from Terresol, Charity felt like she had broken unspoken promises, both to Terresol and Astoria's Grand Duchess. Settling into a new norm in the Southern Isles as the Minister of Education served only to reinforce these feelings. For Terresol, she could do naught but wait, and throw her support behind Caderyn. For Anya, Charity only stayed in the Isles for as long as she needed to to get her children settled and for her duties to be supported temporarily without her. Then, she boarded a ship destined for Zahrada. 

During the nearly month-long voyage from Tonate to Zahrada Charity was plagued with thoughts of her children, her perceived failings, and the jeopardy her position in the Isles may have been placed in by leaving so soon after arriving. She forced the thoughts to the back of her mind as she stepped out onto the docks of the capital of Anya's garden kingdom. She'd visited Zahrada before, and though from a different direction; she had some vague idea of how to get to Anya's castle. There she would request an audience with the Grand Duchess, hoping to get by on recognition from her last visit to the city.
Joseph
```
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada, Astoria
```
Mikhail had taken to the edge of her desk, a thigh propped up onto the wood as he perched, looking between the parchment in his hand and the ones spread out on her desk. He flipped between a few, finally deciding that the one in his hand was the one he needed. Anya shifted in her seat, having taken up residency in the plush chair that sat before her desk rather than the one behind it. 

She had no idea where Jax was at the moment, probably handling Eclipse training or tending to other matters, they'd both been so busy, it was hard to catch time together before the sun set. Natalia was asleep, down with her nurse in the room down the hall, and probably would be for another half hour or so. She'd not slept through the night, which Anya had conveniently forgotten about. Mikhail had always been good about that- or maybe time had just blurred the memory of early childhoods. Either way, she was grateful for the moment with her first born, even if he was taking the time to try and educate her on warships he hoped to have commissioned. 

"There are plans for more merchant ships already, summer winds will be starting again soon and trade with-" A knock sounded on the door, pulling both Anya and Mika's attention to it. Mika looked to his mother, a brow raised in question, and Anya gave a shrug of _Idunno_ before moving to stand. Mikhail stopped her, his hand holding up to pause her motion of standing as he headed towards the door. 

"Your majesties - my sincerest apologies for the interruption." Valentine was looking between them both, and gave a small, sympathetic look to Mikhail before looking to the Queen. 

"You have a visitor."

"Who?" 

"Charity Lane, your grace." 

The redhead blinked, rising from her seat fast enough to give herself a bit of a head rush with the motion. 

"As in, former Queen of Terresol, Charity Lane?" She asked. As if there was another. 

Valentine nodded, and Anyanka moved to the door, pushing past the Eclipse guard and heading down into the main halls. 

The sound of her heels carried through the warm woods of the Zahrada manor, servants and soldiers alike yipping and stepping out of the Queens way as she made her way through her home. Hand found the railing of the stairs as she hurried down them, and when she entered the receiving hall a familiar voice. Her smile lit up, and hands gathered her skirts before her as she took to a sprint, joy overtaking her voice as she closed the distance across the long room towards the brunette. 

"_Charity!_"
David
Charity Lane
Zahrada, Astoria

"So... Spring in Astoria, Zahrada certainly lives up to Anya's vision of a garden, don't you think?" The guard didn't respond, he didn't seem interested in small talk, much less any form of talk. The two sat in awkward silence before Charity tried again, "South Feyshore must be rebuilding nicely, right?" Still, the guard remained silent. Thankfully Charity didn't suffer through the awkward silence for much longer, just after her second question she could hear the rushed tapping of heels upon the floor, and before she could turn her attention to it, she heard Anya's voice ring out.

The elation that Charity felt as her worries of broken promises fell away, because as much reason as Charity thought Anya had to not be happy to see her, there was definite joy in her voice. Charity's legs moved on instinct carrying her to meet the redhead, where she wrapped her arms around Anya in a tight embrace.

"Anya! It's been too long" She relaxed her death grip a bit, "I'm so sorry I haven't been by sooner"
Joseph
```
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada, Astoria
```
Was it a regal display, running to embrace a Queen who had abdicated her throne? No, not really. But with Charity stepping down, formalities didn't matter much with her - and Anyanka herself had been a thousand things before 'Royal'. Some hold habits died hard. 

She returned the embrace, her arms wrapping around the woman's frame and pulling her tight against herself. Her eyes closed, the speed in which they had collided into each other making her sway a bit on her feet before finding her footing again. 

"Too long, what could you have _possibly_ been doing that kept you from visiting?" She asked, finally releasing her full grip on the woman to take half a step back. Her hands remained on Char's arms, keeping her close. 

It wasn't until she has pulled back that she noticed the tension in her guards, all looking on at the exchange as if they would need to break it up. Charity wasn't a threat, and Anyanka rolled her eyes before returning her gaze to the woman before her. 

"Are you well, is everything alright? I hope this is a good visit and not one with bad news, right?"
David
Charity Lane
Zahrada, Astoria

Charity lamented the embrace's end, wanting to make up for the missed year, but she knew that could turn uncomfortable in front of the rest of the castle. At least they were still close, "I've been working to set up teaching institutions in the Isles. I couldn't get away any sooner, else some of my work would get undone."

As Anya briefly eyed people behind her, Charity for the first time in this encounter got a full look at Anya. Her leg looked to be much better, which Charity would've been surprised if it hadn't in the year or so since the Council. Charity was never one for the popular fashions, even as Queen, but never before was the difference between them in dress so disparate. She kept herself as well-groomed as she could on her voyage over. But with very little resources to do so on a ship, she still looked like little more than a fancy peasant. At least the guards were still able to recognize her, "No, no bad news, thankfully. I just wanted to see the woman of my affection. Why? I didn't come at a bad time, did I?"
Joseph
```
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada, Astoria```

Her gaze softened when Charity mentioned her work in the isles. It was something she didn't quite understand, how willingly Charity had given up her home and title in Terresol for a home in the Isles. But it wasn't her place to push, maybe she had never wanted it to begin with, and ruling didn't suit her the way Anyanka had thought it did. 

"Right, best to see it through than hope someone can follow through on your plans without your guidance. I understand that. Math is lucky to have you in the Isles implementing education reform." She finally released the woman from her hold, noting the brief survey of her being that Char gave her. The bites had healed, the topic of fear from their last true interaction at the council long ago. Heath's beast had marked her, and while she still felt fury over it, she mostly was just exhausted and ready to move on with things. 

"No, not a bad time at all." She assured, her smile soft as she reached for Charity's hand. "Mikhail is home from the Isles as well, even though he's practically begging to return." Her eyes rolled playfully but she squeezed her hand. "How long do you intend to stay?" 

The queen looked to the guards who had been lingering, pinning her eyes on the first who's name came to mind. "Coldwater, have a room made up for our guest. And alert the kitchens that another guest will be joining us for dinner." It took half a moment for the man to nod and head off for his duties, and Anya turned back to the brunette with a soft smile. 

"I'm glad you've come. Actually, I've someone I would like you to meet."