<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 125%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #BF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">House of Cadell<br/>Lady in Waiting</span></span></span><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130430235600/wiki-amistad/es/images/thumb/0/02/Scarlet_by_skipta-d5h1tgb.jpg/180px-Scarlet_by_skipta-d5h1tgb.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #BF0000"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lady Amena Aeide</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Amena nearly collapsed at the news that the Queen had decided to let her continue her position. Tears had sprung to her eyes out of relief, and then out of great sadness at the mention the Queen could not trust her or Yakari. She wasn't surprised by it, but still it hurt to hear. The Queen was surely the most forgiving and kind soul she had ever met and she could not keep her tears from falling. She would do her best to do her duties the best of her ability and more.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #BF00FF">"Lady Amena...I want you to tell me why. Why you didn't tell us..why you thought this was a good idea and why you felt the need to rush into something like this. I don't want to hear what Yakari may have told you or if he thought this was a good idea..that is his own thoughts and opinion. You have a voice and a mind of your own so I want to hear your explanation and yours only.." </span></span>Queen Ines demanded gently, yet firmly. Amena was silent for a moment, pondering her answer. Why had she been so rushed? Why did she think it was a good idea? She had wanted to tell Edward, but Yakari had stopped her--not that she would say that. But why had she gone along with it? She realized it was because Yakari had filled her with something she had never felt before, love. She had always been an object to others, something to beat or yell at, something to try and possess. Other than the royal family and Edward, none had really treated her that well. Amena was simply an object to others--but then Yakari had popped up, breathing life into her when she hadn't much left. She had her position and Edward, but that was it. Her King was dying, the late Queen and her boys were forever resting with God, and she was always viewed as some cold creature.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"I...I know that it will never be a good enough reason, your majesty...but, Yakari simply made me feel human and I desired so desperately to hold onto that feeling that I had not thought clearly at all. I was scared that I would never have another chance to feel as Yakari makes me feel. It is not a good reason at all, but it is the only one I have. He views me as simply Amena and that is all I had ever desired from anyone..."</span>her voice was soft and there were moments where she had to pause in order to think of how to word it. She hoped she made sense, but she knew she likely sounded crazy. But it was the only truth she had. She loved Yakari greatly, and even knowing what she knew now--even knowing what she would face, she would marry Yakari all over again...except perhaps tell Edward of it first. That was something she deeply regretted. Edward would have tried to stop her, she knew, but at least she could have pleaded her case. Now, though, she was lucky that her decisions had not gotten her banished from the castle.<br/><span style="color: #BF0000"><br/>"I am so grateful, your majesty, for the kindness you are displaying. I know I do not deserve it and it means much to me...I...I don't know what I would have done if I could not remain in service to you..." </span>Amena confessed, her head bowed in deep shame, tears dripping from her face. She was so eternally grateful that she knew she owed her life to Ines.