<span style="font-family:Amaranth">Emily lifted her head hearong the footsteps. Tucking hair behind her ear she smiled softlu at him. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#9999ff">"Dia, has taught me not to harbor ill will against those I do not know, sir." </span>She spoke ever so softly as she continued to pick the herbs her eyes frifted over to Aedus ans the lilies.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#9999ff"> "It'll warm her heart to see those, but come this time tomorrow I guarantee that flowerbed will be in even worse condition.</span> She sighed looking back to the man her own eyes held a sadness that they would only barely come to understand. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#9999ff">"I only hope that Aedus can find it within himself to see things more clearly. Thank you, sir. I was beginning to think I was going to have to convince a disgruntled mage to meet her."</span> Before he leftnshe touched his hand gently, taking the basket back inside. She would take Dia for a ride and then stay behind. It was the only way. If Phillip came back though they would be in trouble. She'd have to pick one of those flowers before <i><b><u>he</u></b></i> destroyed it again.<br/>
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Emily reacted back to the kitchen when she heard the trumpets. Warriors returning home. The kings army had not proven successful but Prince Phillip had been winning every battle. He was coming home glorious and Dia was in her room, probsblu asleep. If she didnt wake her in time to greet Phillip she'd get it later. The King would likely tell prince Phillip not to make a scene in front of his guests. Emily hurries to the room and ooened the door. Sure enough Dia was asleep on the bed, in her riding clothes. Walking up she touched the Princess' cheek. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#9999ff">"Dia, wake up. Phillip is home and you need to get dressed." </span>As Dia opened her eyes she frowned. Sitting up she wandered to the cliset and pulled out a <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F87%2F67%2F49%2F876749079c69e9c27e0a568244c3b437--reign-tv-show-reign-fashion.jpg&amp;hash=526f671dbb6cf0ca9b0daba7b585ee67" href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/87/67/49/876749079c69e9c27e0a568244c3b437--reign-tv-show-reign-fashion.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">dress</a>. Able to show her skin she would. Her long auburn locks would hide the lash marks that decorated her back. <br/>
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Walking outside <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Find5.ccio.co%2FGA%2Fl4%2F6F%2F18a4e1107aa4ebcd7ff9e9d0fda1a90b.jpg&amp;hash=7b709e9882c3826c64f15ad4675169da" href="https://ind5.ccio.co/GA/l4/6F/18a4e1107aa4ebcd7ff9e9d0fda1a90b.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Prince Phillip </a>had passed the gate. Removing his helmet and shaling his curly brown locks. His eyes searched and he couldn't spot her. His wife. His dark eyes holding a coldness. When <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2F68.media.tumblr.com%2F48425d50f449bf23554ed5634aa838c1%2Ftumblr_mo17swGQXS1rtln5uo1_500.jpg&amp;hash=d481948f1b30d16c05999f2df2e46816" href="http://68.media.tumblr.com/48425d50f449bf23554ed5634aa838c1/tumblr_mo17swGQXS1rtln5uo1_500.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">King Steven</a> entered the courtyard, Phillip went to him. The old man leaninf up to Phillips ear and whispering. Phillip only nodded.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d"> "Where is my wife?"</span> His voice was calm, collected but the dangerous rumble in the under tones made sevants cringe for her. Dia however had manage to make it outside.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">"Are you so blind, you cannot even see me?"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffffff"> </span>Her own yone did not hold back her venom, the distaste she had for the man before her. Her walked up putting his hands on her shoulders and kissing her cheek. His lips moving to her ear. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"Where might I find that bow of yours Dia, you know better."</span> He pulled away and smiled as if he had said something sweet, but the dead look that crawled through Dia's eyes took all their brightness away. Phillip took a moment and admired what she was eearing, his finger dragging over her neck briefly. It looked to plain without some purple. He turned back to the King before his eyes met with Aedus. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"Welcome!"</span> He bowed to the mage, unaware of the history. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"I hear supper is soon, let us eat!"</span> His tone was joyous, Phillip was happy to be home, though his enjoyment came from Dia's pain. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"Wife!"</span> He called her like his pet, holding out his hand. Dia's face twisted with disgust for a moment and only a brief moment before she walked to him and took his hand. His grip was tight on her almost making her flinch in pain as she walked along side him. Her eyes to the ground. Her wild spirit obviously habing been trampled on. Emily even hung back, behind the others, in the back of the group. For a moment her eyes met Hammond's and she gave him a disarmingly sad smile. Her eyes drifting to Dia as they walked in to eat supper. <br/>
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Once everyone was sat down,  the servants began to serve them. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"So, the King tells me you are here to help our lands? What is your price mage?"</span> He spoke with a bellowing voice his hand on Dia's thigh, squeezing it roughly cause her brows to furrow slightly, however at this point it was obvious she was avoiding Aedus' gaze. She still couldn't find it in herself to face him, especially in this situation. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"Ah, maybe we should wait until after supper."</span> He spoke as the food was served. Biting into his serving, Dia didnt touch hers.  She was quiet as she looked at all the food on her plate. Her father was watching her closely.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffa64d"> "Dia, do you remember the mage? I mean if I rec-" </span>Dia almost immediately stood there was an anger I  her eyes as she looked to her father. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff9999">"Excuse me, but I have no interest in being apart of this." </span>She pushed back her chair and stormed from the room. Steven's eyes met Phillips for a moment.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d"> "Excuse mu wifes behavior, I shall go see what is wrong."</span> As he stood there was a hint of cruelty in those eyes. <br/>
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Emily had been standing silent and the worry on her face as it became pale. Dhe looked to Hammond again before she dropped her eyes. If she couldn't get Dia out of the house to that place she wohld have to watch Dia suffer like this, day in and day out. She fidgeted and bit the inside of her cheek, she knew Dia wasn't thinking but it wasnt like she could avoid Phillip.<br/>
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Phillip had caught up with her, grabbing her arm he yanked her back. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"So unruly after I've only been away a few months Dia."</span> His fingers wrapped around her throat making her gasp. Pressing her into the stone wall his grip tightened around her throat, tighter and tighter. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"Dumb girl, you should know better by now"</span> he hissed in her ear. His lips dragging across her cheek before leaving a kiss and releasing her to gasp. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"Do you wear this dress to tease me?"</span> He purred cruelly as his finger traced her bare shoulders. Dia shicered at his touch, but not in a good way. Not once uttering a sound. Phillip became bored and grabbed her chin. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"See you in my chambers tonight, my princess.".</span>  He kissed her only to find her unresponsove to such things. He chuckled and wandered back to the dinner. Sitting down at the table he took a bit of his food.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d"> "I guess she has been lonely in my absence."</span> He took another bite of his food. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff4d4d">"I would like to know, what a mage wants in return for his service."</span> King Steven was quiet as he sat back in his throne drinking his wine.</span>