The room was alive, humming with interaction and conversation around her. Lord Bennington had dressed her in the finest silks, pale and dark blues adorning her porcelain skin. This was to be her introduction to his allies and subjects. He was nearby, recounting the tale of how he had saved her from that dreary, abandoned castle in the mountains. Her family had supposedly lived there once, before the winter snows became too troubling to travel through and then had built a new home in the south.<br/><br/>Lord Simon Bennington did not have a castle, but his home and estate were still quite large. He had professed over and over how he was an ally of her family, of her father, when he had come to ‘rescue’ her, but Eira had never felt as if she needed to be rescued. Not until Simon had told her that her father was dead and that the realm she was to inherit was in chaos. Still, she had not wanted to leave the castle in the mountainside and had protested and screamed for her protector as Simon and his guards escorted her out. She did not know if her companion simply did not hear her, or if he was away somewhere.<br/><br/>It had been a month since that day, and though Simon offered her honeyed smiles and sweet words, she still could not get the castle and her companion out of her mind. Simon had tried to take on the role of her savior when she was not sure she had needed saving at all. She had taken the time in his company to get a feel for all that had happened while she was away from her lands.<br/><br/>“You look somewhat grim, my darling. All of the people gathered are glad to see the heir to Norlund in good health.” Bennington commented, bringing Eira immediately out of her thoughts.<br/><br/>“I apologize, I am still adjusting to all this,” She lifted her eyes but the edges of her mouth did not turn upward. Eira knew he was expecting a smile, but it was difficult to conjure such an expression when she felt so lost in this world of courts and nobles.<br/><br/>A guard approached Bennington and she looked away, thankful for the break in the conversation. She could still hear the man though, despite his whispered words.<br/><br/>“A friend of the Ellswell family?” Bennington remarked to the news the guard gave. His brow furrowed but then he shrugged. “Let him in, escorted by guards. If the lady knows him, then perhaps the company of a friend might lift her mood.”<br/><br/>The last sentence was said loudly, which meant he wanted her to hear it. He wanted her to know that he had allowed the presence of someone who claimed to know her, as if such a small kindness was a magnanimous effort on his part. Her eyes stayed low as the guards approached with the man who claimed to know her. They only lifted once he knelt before her. Someone might have introduced him, but if they did, she did not hear the words or the name. Her gaze was too transfixed on the face of the man before her.<br/><br/>She would have known the eyes of her dragon anywhere.<br/><br/>“You? How---How are you here?” Eira remarked in a hushed tone, but her surprise was enough that the guards around them seemed to jostle and touch their hands to the hilts of their swords.<br/><br/>She waved them off. “He means me no harm,” She said, louder, and looked around at the lot of them before her eyes settled back on him. “Correct? You mean me no harm.” She prompted, hoping he would assert the same.<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="4955" data-username="@Artificer" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/4955/">@Artificer</a>