<div style="margin-left: 20px"><div style="text-align: center">​</div><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'">The sun had long gone, wine had been flowing for hours, and the castle was brimming with cheerful chatter and laughter. Everyone seemed to be relieving the stress of the day and rejoicing in their wonderful home; the only one who didn't seem to be enjoying themselves was the young queen herself. Eleanor sat upon her throne, a beautiful hand carved wooden throne her father had ordered for her before his demise. It had taken three carpenters in the kingdom to carve out the natural throne that held elements of nature. Various blooming flowers covered the arms of the chair, while vines and thorns sat at the feet. It was the perfect display of the new queen, beautiful, but not to be tested. Every rose had it's thorns, and hers were lethal.<br/>
<br/>
After her father had passed, Eleanor had been unsure if she should even take the throne. Ultimately, she knew she had to lead or there would be chaos, so she gave into the destiny her father had dreamed for her. Eleanor's mother had died during childbirth so all the queen knew of being a woman had come from servants and hand maidens, which had caused her to connect with the help of the kingdom, and it reminded her of her duty to the people she served as the queen. It was a great deal of pressure on her shoulders, not only to be a fierce and powerful queen but to be tender and soft to the people she protected. Too soft would earn her a bad reputation, but compassion needed to be there. Eleanor much preferred to be out in nature where nobody knew her name, where she would relieve herself of the trials she faced, but there was no time to hide. They needed her in that moment.<br/>
<br/>
Several kingdoms along the land had been eyeing her home since the moment her father passed away. With no male heir, some even assumed they could just simply take it for their own. In that moment, Eleanor had turned to a man who had helped guide her father when need be. He'd agreed to help her, and for that she was truly thankful. There were things she had yet to learn, and she was running out of time. Over all, he was someone she had trusted for many years, and he seemed to be there when she needed him the most; in her eyes, he was one of the only people she could trust with such sensitive matters.<br/>
<br/>
That day Eleanor had spent her time re-writing various contracts for the nearby kingdoms, a truce of sorts. It meant a great deal to her that they would see her as queen and would treat her as such. If one of the kingdoms were to act, she was certain others would too. It could be the very end of her home as she knew it, if she didn't find a way to resolve the conflict that was beginning to form. How backward they were to assume a queen was any less powerful than a king. <br/>
<br/>
After a significant amount of wine to herself, the queen rose from her throne in a rather wobbly state. Slowly, she began to walk down the large steps, admiring the golden hue emitted from the burning torches along the wall. It had never quite felt like home after she'd taken the crown, it felt like her cage but thankfully it still remained beautiful. On her way out, Eleanor took a large jug of wine before retiring to her chambers. There was a small living room of sorts, filled with a fireplace and a large rug, along with luxury chairs to face the fire. A connecting room was for bathing. When she'd become queen she asked for a large square structure to be made from metals they scrounged. It was surrounded by natural stone that concealed the unflattering side. Her hand maidens would warm water on the fire and fill her bath nightly, and it was heaven. She had enough room to lay out, even to sink if she desired. It was her most enjoyable room by far.<br/>
<br/>
In front of the fire, on a small table, there lay the contracts in their last draft. All she needed now was approval from her most trusted ally. "Jane!" The female yelled, causing a slight stir before a rather petite woman, much like herself, opened the large double doors to the living space. "Yes, my queen?" Eleanor turned to the woman as she was slipping out of her gown. "Would you fetch him for me please, these documents need more eyes." The handmaiden gave a nod before disappearing off in a hurry. Anything that Eleanor requested was done with extreme swiftness, and no doubt she expressed the dire need of the situation. <br/>
<br/>
Eleanor had hung up her dress in her bedroom and had changed into a silk nightgown that didn't seem to reveal much at first glance, but if one stared, they would notice the tight flesh of her rather ample breasts peaking into the fabric. The gown had a small slit along the left side, revealing a glimpse of her pale, shapely legs. <br/>
<br/>
As she waited, the female tended to the jug she had taken. Several long sips in and she was already feeling the hit of it in comparison to how she'd been before. Another log was thrown on the fire, causing it to crackle and roar as she eased back into the sofa, enjoying the feeling of soft fabric beneath her. When he arrived, he'd notice how relaxed she seemed to be, easing back against the sofa with her head slightly tiled back, enjoying the heat of the fire.<br/>
</span><br/>​</div>