Gwendolyn’s eyes were fixated on the table before her, the map of the kingdom laid out with little black stones to represent each death caused by the plague. When the forkful of food was presented in front of her, she didn’t even think twice of absently opening her mouth and taking whatever was offered. Old habits died hard; when she was young and ill, Cameron was always the one who was able to get her to eat by means of distraction. An audible sigh of relief settled across the board the moment they witnessed Gwendolyn eat something. It was the moment something burst in her mouth and startled her, a tomato, that she turned and looked at Cameron, embarrassed when she realized what had transpired.<br/><br/>“‘Mm,” she hummed to Kyrion as she scrambled for a cloth napkin to dab at her lips. “Yes, well. I would venture to say that Sir Fitzroy’s absence has been one felt keenly by all.” Tentatively, she smiled, and in return, the entire board beamed at her— delighted to see such an expression on their queen’s face once more.<br/><br/>“The more familiar faces we have home, the better.”