She turned respectfully to the Queen as she complimented her work, courtesying and grinning in response.  "My thanks, your Majesty."  she said slowly, flushing.  "An' may good tidings fill yoor day."<br/>Of all the things that kept her loyalty sound here, and there were quite a few of them, Maggie loved the Queen most of all.  Even when standing on ceremony under a cloud of dark tidings, Her Lady had a knack for slipping through the barriers of station.  Maggie couldn't imagine a better trait to determine a worthy ruler, than one who made her feel like family without acting as anything but a queen.  Her Lady knew these things, but not because she had ever said them to her.<br/>She smiled respectfully to the Captain as well, when the Queen addressed her, bowing her eyes in deference.  For better or worse, she had never liked the man, and was grateful that he seemed hasty to get back to his offices.  She didn't think he was a bad sort, and freely admitted that she felt safer with him as Captain of the Guard.  But the same sharp mannerisms which made his well suited to the role set her ill at ease when around him.  Even though she knew the reasons for the horses terror, she found a bitter comfort in imagining they agreed with her.  She watched him leave, hearing the voice of the King somewhere nearby.<br/>Turning her attention back to Endorel, she hugged him tightly.  She felt a slight tremble as his eyes watered, which caused her to hold him all the tighter.  There was a moment where she became strongly aware of the kinship they shared, as though they were brother and sister, mourning the loss of a father.  As he thanked her for her words, she found herself weeping as well.<br/>As he pulled out his coins and explained his needs, she found herself chuckling, wiping the tears from her eyes.  "Aye, seems we both go' our mother's ways in th' kitchen.  A' least yoor's could cook at all," she laughs, jeering herself.  "Oi'd be 'appy to run t' market for ye.  In fact, Oi thin' I can do tha' now.  Best t' pick up a few thin's we're short on, eenyhow." She takes the coins and puts them into a small purse in her sash.  "Oi' can be back in less than an 'ooar.  If ye thin' of eenythin' else y' need, send someone t' let me knoo."<br/>She gave him a serious look, her expression sad and warm.  "An easy request, love.  Dinnah be afraid t' ask for as many as ye need."  She gives him another hug, and moves to place a second string of flowers on the stable door.  She was fond of explaining how the faeries she was hanging them for had a particular fondness for horses, so this was one of her favorite places for such libations.  Having done this, she grabs the empty bucket and dashes off back through the servant's entrance.<br/>It took only a few moments for her to confer with some fellow servants about what needs to be bought from the market.  She made a quick tally of her tasks, determining how long she had to spend.  Then, grabbing a shawl and a pack, she gave a cheerful wave and dashed back out the door, waving to Endorel as she passed, setting off toward town at a jog.<br/>Market was a fun place for her, just nostalgic enough of her previous life style, and full of friends.  But her thoughts were elsewhere:  On Endorel, who today is more like a brother to her than ever, and his dearly missed father.  But she was also busy with another ponderance.<br/>It wasn't an idle thing, to say the faeries were fond of horses.  She wondered what they would have to say about all of this...