Eddie
*After the last words had left his mouth, and the cheers had finally begun to fade, Astalios inhaled, exhaled, and stepped down from the podium and into the wash of the crowd, one foot after another carrying him forward. The declaration that he was king had been made - now he had to do the work to fulfil the role. He gave his mother a quick embrace, a kiss on the cheek - and his sister a warm hug. 

But then, there was much more to do than comfort family. That would occur later tonight. For now, as always when dealing with official business, Astalios pushed down the proclivity to relax and forged his way forward into the life of the king he needed to be - the king he wanted to be - for the day. Dignitaries, well-wishers, his council, the royalty of other nations - all needed to speak with him, or perhaps needed to exchange pleasantries. That was fine. He was ready and willing, wearing his wrought golden crown of thornlike antlers, the black and gold and white cloaking him in ceremony as he made his rounds.*
Timothy
*Sierra wasted no time. 
As soon as she got the impression that Astalios was ready to talk to, princess to king, she headed straight for him. 
With the elegance of a dancer, but the quick steps of a hunter, she approached him, and from afar already made her intentions known. By a look alone. 

Some would think her hands glued to her stomach by now, as she barely moved them at all, and simply let them rest in the same place. Only a wayward strand a hair, was cause enough to shift them about. 

Having finally reached Astalios she stops about 2 feet from him, and curtsies in front of him. Faintly. She wants him to know that while she respects him for king, he wasn't much higher than her. And soon they would be equals.*

"Princess Sierra Seey, of Findara. A pleasure, **King** Astalios Dilitros of Alynthi. 
As you might know, my grandparents have kept me under their close and harsh guidance for a while now. 
Today, a comparably small a cause for celebration compared to your coronation, I was for the first time permitted to leave our castles perimeters since I arrived there 6 years ago. 
Nonetheless I expect you've heard of me. If not, one more reason for me to despise my grandmother's love for secrecy. 

No doubt however, will you have questions of me, and I have questions to ask you. As you might have noticed, my grandparents did not attend today. I would like to discuss the cause for it in more privacy, but I ensure you, that they do not think less of you in any way. They, and I, have good reason.

I would also like to discuss an unrelated private matter. The nature of which is also better kept under lock and key. And I would prefer if my grandparents were not informed either.*

*She speaks in a low tone, compared to the noise of those around them, that keeps slightly rising and falling regardless of her words, something he'd already be used to from her grandfather, whose tone had always been hard to read. It seems to run in the family. 
Despite that, she is making an effort to come across as friendly and approachable, something she barely manages. Her hard exterior and ice cold gaze make her seem distant, regardless of how many warm smiles she flashes*
Eddie
*The first of the circling birds, it seemed, was coming. It was not, however, the swaggering silhouette of Alyus that forced its way to the front, but the demure and rather quiet figure that had been in attendance beside the rest of the royalty at his coronation. The seating chart had named her as Princess Sierra Seey of Findara, and he knew her purported grandparents quite well indeed - his chess matches with her grandfather had been a regular pastime since he had returned from war, and before then, as a child in the court, he had been quite close to the old elf, learning as much as possible about the duties of kingship as he was willing to teach.

Now, their granddaughter appeared to him, gave a small curtsy, as he might have expected. He had never bowed to the kings of other nations either, never bent the knee. It was a good sign that she was not making that particular mistake. He returned the courtesy with a nod of the head in respect to her as he tried to absorb what she was saying. Information, in many forms, was the currency of good leadership, and if this was his first test, he should not fail now.*

"Well met, Princess." *He replied quietly, brows furrowing in concern as he listened to the rest of her speech. Her grandparents had kept her close - that much was true, he had heard her name perhaps twice from the old king over the chessboard. He had been rather surprised to see her attendance at his coronation, and it was apparent that something had changed in the court of Findara - but he knew not what. Questions he had indeed - and a flare of irritation, as if she was insulting a family member, sparked within him for a moment as she professed that she despised her grandmother's love for secrecy. Family, to him, was a deep connection - and through the adage that blood was thicker than water was meant to say that bonds **Forged** Were stronger than that of family, his mother had been adamant that the opposite was true.

Only **Family** Shared blood.*

_ _
*Still, his concern and anger was not only for the way she spoke about her grandmother - but also for the possibility that she was right. Family should treat each other better than that, he mused, one way or the other. More would be revealed in time. And the reason for her grandparents' absence was... Foreboding. With so many enemies in the world to deal with, he could not help but feel he was letting an ally slip into trouble.

If her grandfather needed help, Astalios's loyalty was unquestionable.*

"If you would like to discuss such matters with me, it seems as though they are quite urgent. From the description alone..." *His expression, through the entire moment, had been as it always was - contemplative, serious, focused. He was as impassive as could be, like a steel statue.* "It seems we may have much to talk about. If the urgency demands that we speak, then there is a private chamber outside, near the throne room, that may suit our purposes."
Timothy
*Sierra stopped for a moment, contemplating his words. 
She had Intended to create a sense of urgency, but she had not expected him to deny everyone else an opportunity to speak to him, for her. 
Its almost like he was flattering her. Or perhaps he had an ulterior motive. Annoyed at her own paranoia, she Quickly discards the treacherous thought that the closest ally of hers should harbor an ill will towards her. 
Instead she nods to him, acknowledging his decision, and giving him her best attempt a genuinely warm smile. 
It still came off as a little distant*

"If that is so, then i will happily indulge the opportunity. Though I hope to resolve everything quickly, and not keep you for too long

There are other vying for your attention"

*The princess steps aside, to let Astalios lead the way, And looked around to see if others would dissent her for hogging the king like she did. 
In hindsight she should have let a few others talk to him and approach him after only. But what if they would have dragged him away. 
She sighed on the inside. As always she was doubting her own decision, and had to remind herself that sometimes being selfish was a good thing. 
Besides, she meant it when she said that she did not want to keep the King for long. 

One way or another, no backing up now*
Eddie
"Time is no object if this discussion is of some importance. Others will wait in service of a friend." *Astalios replied evenly, stating the fact as if it had always been so, an unshakable truth that he held dear. Loyalty was always a virtue that he rewarded in his troops - and if he was not a loyal man himself, and did not aid those he was pledged to trust and defend, he could no longer ask it of the men he commanded.

He led her, with quick strides that parted the sea of people like a ship's prow, out of the ballroom for a small moment and to the antechamber that he had sat in earlier, keeping tabs on everyone that came near with the unseen eye of his magic. Two guards were all that followed, and he ordered them with a hand to stay outside the chamber as he and the princess entered. Inside was a simple room - a mosaic of the Alynthi stag covered the floor, a bench and private altar for prayer at the opposite end from the door. Nothing else met the eye.*

"Please." *He gestured to the short bench, choosing to remain standing while she sat. His voice softened by a half-degree as he let out a breath that he did not know he had been holding - her grandfather, it seemed, was in some sort of trouble - and considering the friendship that they shared, it was nothing short of certain that he was going to throw his weight behind aiding the king.*

"Now," He spoke carefully, trying to cut to the heart of the issue as quickly as possible, his voice colored by true concern for the old man. "Is Sarven all right? Is your family in trouble? I can intervene on his behalf if there's been a coup or an unstable political situation for some time. If there has been a coup, I will cut down his attackers personally." 

His voice was truly urgent, the passion of a man worried for a friend - less veiled than public stoicism. "If there's been a disease of some kind, I can summon the Alchemical Association to see if there are medicines to deal with it, even in experimental testing."
Timothy
*Sierra found herself just as surprised to hear him call her friend, as she had been just a second earlier in him indulging her. 
She genuinely thought it would be a challenge and diplomatic and political nightmare to get close enough to the newly coronated king. 

The princess followed with quick steps, keeping her eyes locked on the person in front of her, not wanting to draw any unneeded attention. She imagined the two of them walking off was already suspicious enough. 

Once she had entered, she wasted but a glance at the décor. Impressive, but not to her tastes, as expected. 
Instead she drew a line in the air, closed her eyes and let an incantation fly over her lips.* 

"A ward against detection magic and scrying sensors" *She explained.

As much as she enjoyed an opportunity to sit down, as strange was it to have the other hulk over her, restlessly standing. 
And while listening to the horrible things astalios was imagining and conjuring up from nothing, she herself got a bit restless, shifting from side to side on the bench*

"First, I can defuse most your worries. 
The king is doing alright, healthy and while the noble circles estimate of him is as disapproving as it has always been, no-one is annoyed enough to enact a coup. Yet. 
If I had known you two were *This* Close I would have chosen my words more carefully, but the matter is a different one entirely. He has spoken of you, but mostly in analyzing your chess play patterns while trying to get me involved with the game. 

As you might be aware, we are but a few weeks away from my grandparents 400th anniversary as ruling King and Queen. 
No doubt you will already have received an invitation to the occasion. 
What my grandmother would love to keep secret until the very last second is that the two of them intend to step down. 
And what is currently said to be a 3 day celebration of said anniversary, really is one day of celebration for that, and the other two are intended for my coronation. 
I will soon become the Queen of Findara. 

That is the core reason, why I am here today instead of them. 

If you wish it, I will let my grandfather know of your heartfelt worry, I am sure he would appreciate it deeply and more so than I ever could."

*A deep breath followed, as she began talking of heavier topics*

"I also wanted to express my personal condolences for the loss of your father. And congratulate you on your successful and impressive coronation. Should I not get the chance to talk to her personally, I would like it if you could let your sister know of my condolences as well. 

I will also say, that these past few months in the capital have become more and more restless. 
My grandfather is neglecting his obligations more and more, as he wastes time on trivial things. Ones that he could well spend the rest of his years exploring instead. 
And as you might be able to imagine, my grandmother, while being the one who has brought forth their plans of retirement, is now deeply regretting them. She's become more and more abusive in her usage of power, and more and more insufferable to be around, and is making up for Sarven's absence in the court threefold. 
The only way I can calm her, is insinuating that I will become a pawn for her, and that she can continue her rule through me. Which I have no intention of doing. 
I can however reassure you, that I have every attention of strengthening the bond between our nations, as we have done for many hundreds of years. And as our ancestors have done. 
To that end I want to make a political picture of the situation myself. All the information i have is from 3rd, 4th and potentially 5th hands. 
I would prefer it to be from the source itself.
And I will use the resources at my disposal to aid where I can."

*She was worried that she had insituated distress, and if she had made her intentions clearer he would have denied her the audience. 
In a way, she feels she tricked him, which by all means wasn't her intention.*
Eddie
"...I see." *The calm composure of the court was replaced, perhaps out of habit, on his face as he listened to what she had to say - each and every item on the list was run over in his mind like a bulletin board being checked down for errors. First on the list, of course, her grandfather's health was assured - but the nobility disapproved of him. The opinions of courts, he noted, were as fickle as the wind - the last he had heard, her grandfather's rule was rather prosperous for the entirety of the realm. But people, as he was more and more likely to find, were rather less worthy than he had thought them to be - even in places like their own realms. It was infuriating. Had they no respect for the long reign of a stable monarch? For the work he had done for them over four hundred years of service?*

"I would say, Princess, that a man who plays chess with another often learns just as much about his opponent as he does about the game." *He murmured through gritted teeth, the poetic observation masking his displeasure at the situation at court in Findara.* "But yes, I have received it." 

*As she continued, he lent his ear once more - and found news that shook him to the core. Perhaps he had taken her grandfather as a rock upon which the kingdom of Findara was built, or a universal constant - but sadly, his reign too was ending, and not prematurely like his father's. But the subterfuge of such a coronation was likely to draw the ire of many dignitaries of neutral countries, who would likely feel snubbed and excluded. There was a protocol for this sort of official procedure, and it included invitations and proper preparation for a reason - not to make enemies of guests. 

What in the world had caused such a lapse in judgment from a man he respected and admired? What had meant he had to abdicate in favor of his untested granddaughter? A woman who, from what she was saying, had been kept nearly imprisoned? Perhaps things in Findara were worse than he had thought.*

_ _
*Nearly every piece of news she brought was concerning, and cause for some action - which was a dark sign for things to come. The more she spoke, the more he worried. Blast. Why now? Why, when another war with Dazvaz was looming, when the antics of King Alyus threatened to break peace, when the Lazaroth elves became more and more brazenly evil - why did he choose to withdraw? To throw in the towel, to abandon Astalios when he needed him the most? He had fought in dozens of wars, led his people through struggle to prosperity. 

And now he was gone. 

Withdrawn into his own world, as Sierra had said. Foreboding indeed. The condolences about his father hit more deeply than he might have liked to imagine - for more and more, he felt he was left without friends in the world. His father had been one of the last few bastions of what was truly right within it, and now... He had zealots on all sides, flimsy rulers and concerning developments, while their erstwhile enemies seemed only to be multiplying. Evil was festering in the courts of his allies - perhaps not the evil of violence, but the evil of degeneration and irresponsibility. 

His lips were drawn tight, mouth in a hard line as he adjusted his posture, now coolly absorbing the new developments like a commander receiving tactical information. It had rapidly changed from a personal issue to a new battlefield - that of hearts and minds. And he could not count on anyone but himself to be a marshal. That was increasingly clear here, as the girl, untested in battle, was to become queen. Gods help them in the future - they would soon need all the luck they could get. It was some time before he spoke again, leaving a heavy pause in the midst of their conversation, but when he did, it was with the temperance of a man attempting to leave his own feelings behind and focus on the necessary details for victory.*

_ _
"I believe, Princess, that you and your grandparents are making a severe mistake by concealing the coronation under the guise of that anniversary celebration. It will either appear to be a rushed, hasty decision, or a political snub to neutral countries - neither of which are particularly favorable outcomes for you at the moment." *He advised, keeping his speech short and to the point. He did seem as though he was genuinely trying to help - simply in the manner he knew best, as a commander to a fellow general.*

"You need them to both recognize you properly and make them believe that your grandparents trust you, which is going to be an active contradiction to what has been implied in hiding the coronation date. It speaks of fear and of bad planning. Publicize it, and perhaps move the date back to a point in time at which every king and queen that could possibly want to attend will have the undeniable ability to do so. You may also want to consider a progress through the towns of Findara - Sarven was a familiar face to many in the kingdom. For most, he is all they have ever known, living through their grandparents' lifetimes." *There was something irreplaceable about the constancy of time, he thought, but this was as good as one could do.*

"Furthermore, if the date has been set, your grandmother, though..." *He paused for a moment, a fond recollection of both her grandparents now tainted by this news. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.* "You must not deal with her directly. It has *Never* Been her to whom they will owe allegiance - and you must remind the noblemen of that. They must see you as their lifeline, and not her. I wish I could say I was a more competent politician than I am, but if you need military assistance, I will without fail aid you."

"All I ask of you is your trust. It is the lynch pin in the alliance that holds the world together. Gods know what carnage might result if we cannot rely on each other."
Timothy
*Sierra felt the need to get a bit defensive. He had, possibly on accident, implied she was complicit in these schemes and trickery*

"You assume I have any authority or ability to influence their decision-making. 
If I did, this entire situation wouldn't be as dire as it was. 
What I am doing right now, informing you of their plans, was against the express wishes of my grandmother. Hence my request to not let them know"

*Though, for fairness sake, she would also defend her grandparents*

"What I believe is happening, is that my grandparents are getting conscious of their end. 
For the longest time they were trying to deny it. They've led a long life, filled with power, and for most of it, with no chance at a legacy. 
Now I am suddenly back, discovered in Khisfire, and hastily brought back home. 
It is entirely possible that my presence is causing them to act irrationally. Overreacting in a way. 
That they simply wish to guide me with their wisdom. 
That they are slowly making an enemy of their granddaughter, doesnt occur to them. 
That their decisions are alienating everyone, and causing irrational harm, they are blind to. Simply ecstatic that their line doesnt die with them. 

I can understand them. In a strange, twisted way, I can. And i think the passing of your father, and your coronation has, 'inspired' them to shake things up themselves. 
Change inspires change, in a way. These events might have clued them in, that its the end of their reign. 

Entirely speculation. Bringing it up with them personally, would no doubt inspire an endless debate that could spiral out of control. And I would trust my grandmother in her stressed, annoyed and explosive state to make it somehow deadly to everyone involved as well. Despite her age and temper she is a formidable mage still."

*Sierra took a deep breath, and for a few moments closed her eyes. She had to recall some information herself. Make sure she had retold everything correctly, and make a quick decision on what to do next. Her eyes opened with a refreshed, stern gaze to them. She had some kind of idea.*

"I do however agree, that keeping my coronation secret is a very big mistake. And I am willing to take a risk. It however requires you to become complicit in this scheme. 
I would ask you to write a letter. Thinly masked as a response to the invitation. And ask about my wellbeing. Maybe even bring up my forced seclusion and borderline imprisonment. Another royals inquiries might be all I need to sew doubt in their minds about the entirety of their ways. 
And I might even be able to sway their opinions in my- in our- favor. 
From their point of view, letting me leave the confines of the castle, letting me voice my dissent to anyone, let alone the king of Alynthi, was a major mistake. 

They have however one unforgettable ace up their sleeve. 
Apart from me, and a few very trusted and loyal advisors, and now you, none know that I am intended to be coronated soon. Or at all. 
They might retaliate with the withdrawal of those plans. Merely hold their celebration, and continue their reign. 
It is the consequence should I become __unfitting__ for the role."

*She spit the word out. No doubt she had heard it many times these past few months or even years*

"Worse yet, they might *Properly* Lock me away. Ive enjoyed a modicum of freedom so far. But that might chance in a heartbeat."

*Another pause follows, before she continues, a bit quieter, and letting the royal tone slip a tiny bit*

"I am thankfull that I can confide in you, king astalios. That you are willing to listen. And help, what surmounts to be a stranger"
Eddie
*That, he thought, was the problem with her. She was the queen to be, and yet she was not ruling. As an heir, Astalios himself had been involved in policy, and many times, the reminder that he would remember his friends and never forget his enemies made during this time of transition was enough to induce action. It was likely she could turn the court to her side, considering they would already likely be plying her with gifts or promises.*

"As Princess, you *Do* Have authority. Especially as the heir. Noblemen care about staying afloat, staying in power. And you have your words." *He spoke earnestly, attempting to put the intention of his words clearly.* "If your grandparents are being irrational, as you say, the argument one needs to make is that they are *Not* Setting you up for success. Inform them that they are crippling your early rule - and I am sure your grandmother wants a functioning pawn, at least, on the board. If they are conscious of their end, remind them that creating a good legacy means properly preparing you for rule - and not handing you more enemies through a political snub. Sarven is more than intelligent enough to realize this, and so is she."

*It was all about framing - and that was an excellent tool for a ruler, the ability to frame a problem in a way that the recipient of the argument could understand, not in a way that mattered to you. Arguments based on his own morality had no place in a Lazaroth court. The only way to get through to people was to speak to them in their own language. The orc that he had found within the Greenheart came to mind - his throat opened on the ground, bleeding into the grass - but given a good death, because of Astalios's experience with the orcish mindset. He had yielded information due to the same argument.

His face fell, however, when she suggested he write a letter smearing them in the face of the world. The very concept of doing so, of fabricating the information, itched at him like a disease.*

_ _
*Why lie? Why was he being asked to tarnish that reputation they had garnered, not only to Astalios, but to their people? The evil that men did lived after them - but the good was oft interred with their bones. Was it to be so with her grandparents - that he would write in his own hand and forget their friendship in service of exposing their insanity? 

One thing was clear, however. Sierra was **Not** Ready for rule. Solving the problem of the snub by destroying the reputation of her kingdom as honorable was not a helpful solution - and she seemed to have given up far too quickly for his liking on solving this through other means.

She was, however, much better than the alternative, if she was to be believed. It was a sad day for Findara.*

"That is *Not*, in my opinion, a helpful solution, Princess." *He replied bluntly.* "I would only be sullying the foundation for your rule - and almost certainly encouraging people to call you illegitimate. If they are rumored to be keeping you secret and treating you badly, it will raise questions not only about your well-being, but their mental state - and call into question whether you are in fact their granddaughter at all. Put simply, I will not write the letter. I believe I can help in other ways. But that is out of the question."

"Instead, let me visit the castle, talk with them about their anniversary. Sarven has been known to occasionally take my advice, and I am sure I can work something out if I make a state visit, or simply a jaunt over to see you, in fact. Perhaps we had a decent conversation at the ball, and we might simply want to have tea. You could invite me. Or any other number of excuses. The point is, I am still willing to fight for the best possible outcome to your political situation, and preferably, without the dangers of such subterfuge and smearing."

_ _
*After all was said and done, he pinched the bridge of his nose with a hand, almost alien-feeling with no gauntlet to cover it. A sigh escaped him as he forced himself to relax.* "I... Please know that I am trying to help you in the best way possible. I do not want to accept the unfortunate reality that my friends are now power hungry, miserly people, but I must, in the end."

"The truth is that even if they are unfit for rule, to the outside world, they must continue to appear in their right minds - and you must appear to be a *Proper* Choice, made by people who are still of sound judgment. Right now, that is doubtful."