<em>Yodiki-Gotdu-Garrama.</em>The foreign name echoed within the oval walls of her head. A silly fear blossomed within her, how would she<em>ever</em>remember his full name? Let alone pronounce it without shaming him in the process. From what Galarion had shared with her these last couple of days leading up to the feast, she had made herself wise to remember that being named was considered a great honor among the easterners. Her interest hadn’t exactly revolved around the nomads despite their significant and vital role in the war, and in the eyes of truth she had actually looked down on them, like so many other westerners in the beginning. Rumors had run hot about their uneducated and uncivilized says, their lack of obvious intelligence and how that they were bred solely for war. The world-wide conflict that had stopped the world clock from turning had left both her and the family utterly isolated for their protection. She had been so young back then, so gullible that she had found belief in the false words that came and went with the messengers from the outside. Prejudices that had lingered up until now.<br/><br/>Everything she had heard over those isolated years was perished in the matter of moments when Whisper stood before her. In one strange, yet comforting way it was very much like gazing into a mirror. The same troublesome nerves she had been battling seemed to be a divided fight. He was nervous and it was evident in the details; how he bowed one time too much. The way he seemed to lock up and freeze on the spot, together with the way his tongue gave her name an exotic touch.<br/><br/>Despite hearing her own heart battling to escape her chest, Falena dared herself to believe that she kept herself reined in better than her spouse; that her nervousness didn’t shine through her too much. She nodded politely to his greeting and offered him a genuine smile.<br/><br/>The table seatings made it painfully aware that any chance for a decent conversation was immediately ruled out. Kaived must have counted on her skittish nerves and on purpose added another body between them and as she sat down on her intended place, she felt both relived and a bit stupid at the same time. He was so close, yet far away at the same time.<br/><br/>Now more than ever she could have needed her mother’s calming words. Sadly, Sathyn sat at the other end of the long, red clad table and happily entertained the guests at her end. It left her alone with father, Wheat-tongue and a few other diplomats and old war heroes that she had met a few times before. The closest ladies that sat a few seats further away and on the opposite row was her two sisters that had decided to attend. Gynara and Vannel were the ones that were most keen to see her married off. If they could have their way, Falena was certain that they would turn this announcement feast into the actual wedding itself. This long and tiring waiting game had powdered down the last fibre of their sisterly bond and there was no love lost between them. Falena rightfully avoided them at any cost and luckily, the castle was big and it could be days before they spotted each other. Another stroke of luck was that their father was always in a hurry to get something done and often removed family dinners from his long list of priorities, leaving them to dine whenever and with whoever they pleased.<br/><br/>“Now where is Lady Ida?” inquired Erit carefully, a man famous around the city for his spices. In the war his produce had become vital when treating different injuries and diseases, as he claimed that a special mixture of a spice would turn death away.<br/><br/>“She could sadly not join us tonight, master Erit.” Falena replied since the question hadn’t been tossed out in the air completely without an ear to hear it. She had been sitting silent for some time and it was for the better that someone yanked her into a conversation.<br/><br/>Their discussion continued and stayed casual, and although the spice master was quite the colorful character with his many interesting anecdotes, the red headed girl couldn’t help but to eavesdrop at the conversation between Whisper and general further down the table. She only heard snippets since she had master Erit to verbally entertain, but she actually fancied the way he seemed to be… uninterested in the scrap metal strapped to his dress robes. He did not seem like a bandaged warrior that went around and bragged about his heroics for good measure; he had a kind of modesty not often found among western men.<br/><br/>The charm she found in her mysterious spouse did not last long though, and a flood of embarrassment rinsed over her at his little feeding frenzy. So much for civilized, the words echoed within her skull and she turned from watching down the long table as she heard the loud snickering from her sisters. Such a thing had of course not escaped anyone’s attention, and the little portion of calmness she had scraped together had slipped from her grasp. The very last thing she desired was that he fulfilled the prejudices that circled around the Hadju.<br/><br/>Lucky for Falena and for Whisper as well, Lord Kaived finally rose from his seat and the whole hall fell quiet within a few short moments.<br/><br/>“Welcome to my home my honoured guests. I am pleased that so many of you could come and guest my table.” He spoke with authority, he had the kind of voice you automatically would listen to. Not because he sounded strict or unpleasant, but because he sounded warm and inviting. “Tonight we will not only dine together for pleasure and good company, but for another reason as well…” He trailed off and his smile grew. “… however there is an old saying that one should never receive news, good or bad, on an empty stomach and therefore, I declare the feast started. Welcome once more honoured guests.”<br/><br/>The whole table applauded and thanked the Lord all while the servants were quick to begin to serve the starters. And all while the guests certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, Falena couldn’t help but to pray to the Gods that nothing far too embarrassing would happen again. He seemed like such a proper young man and he looked very regal in that uniform, but eating decorations? She didn't really know what to make of it.<br/>