<strong>"Survive long enough, and you may at that."</strong>he murmured, raising his glass and sipping at his drink.<strong>"For now though, I think too many still see you as pawn, and not queen."</strong>He cocked his head to the side as he looked at her, raising a hand.<strong>"Bear in mind Princess, I offer you no insult in my words. But you are young, and inexperienced. You deal with allies, and enemies, who have centuries .. if not millenia .. of experience. You play in a game where you do not know all the rules, and while your title ..  and what favour of the Goddess you possess .. will give you some shield, it will not stop every dagger from the darkness."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Those who think themselves your allies, they will have agendas of their own. They will seek to use you to advance those, all the while telling you how their advice best serves your purpose."</strong>He gave a small laugh.<strong>"Perhaps your enemies will be a little more honest in their actions. Of course, telling friend from enemy is only the beginning."</strong><br/><br/>He set his own glass down, and met her gaze steadily.<strong>"And now, you ask yourself, how do I seek to use you as well? A perfectly valid question. I would have less respect for you if you were not thinking it. I seek exactly the same as you ... to do what is best for my court. If an alliance with you provides the most benefit, then that is what there shall be."</strong><br/><br/>He gave a small smile.<strong>"Of course, if you choose to bind yourself to me, you run the risk of alienating those who would style themselves your allies. Because their eyes are closed to who and what we are, with a thousand years of history to blind them. Your pretty eyes are open, yet you do not know all it is that you see."</strong>