Had Sonja stayed in the larger room, she would have heard the excitement beginning to build in the gardens and courtyards below.<br/>She would have heard the laughter and the sounds of music and seen the bright banners flying high above the tents in the fields just beyond the castle walls, the clattering of hooves and rumble of carriage wheels as guests arrived, the shouting of captains barking their orders as guards and escorts were assigned.<br/>Even smelled the tantilising aroma, of the cooked meats and pastries as they were placed in the kitchen gardens to cool, or laid upon long wooden tables for those who were hungry after their long journeys.<br/><br/>At some time, during her solitude, a fresh tray had been brought to her and left in the room beyond 'hers', the sweet honey smell of warm mead wafting through the room mixing with fruit pastries in an all too mouth watering way.<br/>The person who had left them had obviously been too timid to knock upon Sonja's door, or perhaps had been told not to disturb her, so they sat untouched upon Borghast's desk....