Ingram chuckled at her retort, leaning even closer to her than before, his lips almost brushing her ear as he spoke.<br/>"But I am afraid I must M'Lady, the King has charged me with your safety and to act as your escort and we can't dissapoint him....can we?"<br/><br/>Directly opposite the stairs the large double doors had been swung open to allow both the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze to blow through, warming the stone beneath their feet, yet cooling their bodies at the same time.<br/>The court yard held more guards, lined along the procession route, they bowed as Sonja as she passed, their armour clanking behind her as they stood back to attention.<br/><br/>As they neared the high stone walls and the gate way that led from the castle, Ingram paused them.<br/>Lightly squeezing Sonja's arm, his eyes fixed on the work of the six men, pulling away the heavy wooden bar and pushing the gates ajar.<br/><br/>"Not too far now M'Lady, prepare yourself to meet your people."<br/><br/>Even as he spoke, with the first movements of the doors, the noise rose from the crowds lining the route beyond. Shouts claps and whistles, sounds of children, laughter and merriment, all to greet their new Queen to be.....