#baronyofthesilverwolf

Nadeen waits in their bedroom

And sips a bit of a drink while she waits

Soft steps in the hallway - but no, it's not the Baron.

"Can I turn down the sheets for you, my lady? Freshen your nightcap?" Flo offers politely.

"Thank you, Flo, but I'm not even sure I'll be sleeping here tonight"

"Are you headed to the Guest House - is that were m'lord was headed? If so, I'll run ahead to make sure that a room is set up proper?"

"He..left" she says "Of course he did."

A bit of a worried look. "I don't mean to speak for him, m'lady - just he was out by the Stable way, is all."

"Forgive me. It seems I must go to the stables" She hands the drink to her "Help with the general clean up please then take the night off, it won't kill me to tend to my own for one night"

A deep curtsey. "Will you need your riding attire?"

"Perhaps" A sigh

She has no way of knowing.

"Well, here we go." Flo is a brisk and efficient maid, and soon Nadeen is changed and has a comfortable yet stylish outfit, and her riding boots.

As she sees her out the door, she calls, "Good luck, my lady." Not quite sure what the issue is, but luck can never hurt.

A fond smile "Thank you" She moves along to the stables

She finds Aiden there - not dressed as though he is on his way out, though riding boots are a typical part of his own voile, just true to his nature. He stands by one of the stalls, and is stroking Joker, even as the yearling horse - a colt no longer - lips at his sleeve and checks for sugar that isn't there.

"How's Joker?" She inquires

He looks up. "He has grown well. Soon we must refine his training. He may be too jovial for a warhorse, and hasn't the carriage of a racehorse... but he is clever. He may do for a knight's mount."

"He might" A nod, "Aiden, do you no longer care about my needs in this relationship?"

it is an unfair change, but he has bolted once and she must move quickly

"To which relationship do you refer? That of Co rulers, or that of lovers?" He asks, looking to her.

He continues stroking Joker's muzzle - not in a way dismissive to Nadeen, but it seems to be calming, or reassuring - for the man more than the horse.

"I had thought before tonight, they were cojoined, then tonight happened. And you over rode me before all, the very week you had also told me not to plead for Arthur because we neeed to appear unified. Because of that, I had to take actions with the Countess and her paramour to re establish respect that I had lost"

He considers a long moment before answering. "When I asked you to rule by my side, and to share power equally, I did not speak idly or in haste. I meant every word. I still..." A Pause.

"Then, I was scarcely more than a broken man. Silverwolf was lesser for lack of any leadership. It had gone stagnant, there was no growth, no life. You saved me, and helped build me anew. But now that I am returned to myself, my heart mended, my mind intact, I feel..." His hand closes into a fist, not to strike, but to demonstrate holding something close. "I find it difficult. To bow to another's judgement, to step back and follow suit instead of striding forward first. No, it is not fair to you. I should have said something of feeling this way, but instead, I hoped it would not come up. For not admitting such, for not speaking to you - I am sorry, Nadeen. I did not know how to broach such a thing, and instead hoped it would not come to a head."

"Then we are not united ,and the Countess and Dame Artemis knows it. We were tested, the ties between us, and we were found wanting. Others will take advantage of that. Indeed, if you do not like bowing to another's judgement, you may have just made it more likely for the Countess has taken a greater interest in us now and may require we kneel more oft. I.." She stops "I am hurt. Deeply. Worse, I resent you. However much you may have changed your mind, that fire, the hold, those people who look to us for rulership, they are as much mine as yours. You speak much of being a Dragon, and I try to respect your House, but to be challenged by my own Lord Consort, to who I am a lady consort. Did I teach you nothing of House Varich at all? This is not something you can 'grant' and then take away because you find it 'difficult'. It will not be. What must be settled is if I must be firmer in my rule during Winter and Summer or if it will remain merely a guideline. I was scared for our charges, I did not know if they were being sent away as part of some intrigue or if some threat was about to burst into the chamber. Why did you countermand?"

His hand goes to his temples, and then, to his chest. "In sooth, my lady... I am uncertain. I do not claim Art's gift of prophecy, I have never had foresight without seeking. However, at that moment, it felt like - he, they, must go. That I must... that they must do this thing. It felt right. However now, I see I have badly misstepped. I was impulsive, and roared out without thought - with no respect for the pattern you saw."

A pause and her ire dims, just a bit 'An outside influence affected you?" She kens him

There is a bit of a lingering glow about him. It doesn't feel like a specific cantrip... it is softer, gentler, more refined. A touch of the Dreaming, not a push, not a shove, but just a caress. It did not order, but whispered... "Consider.". She suspects that it was still his action, but it was prompted by some flavor of da'an.

A long lingering look upon the man she loves, who has with his action made her feel challenged and betrayed even as the love remains. A deep glance into the forces that seemed to have indeed nudged him, taking him off guard, perhaps it is even fate itself that pressed his hand in a strange ambush of Da'an. Nadeen Dancingsnow looks at this, feeling in her cold heart the turmoil of anger and betrayal with less target than she thought it had

"Well... shit" she finally states

"What would you have of me, my love? That I step down, and cede Silverwolf to you as ruler?" He asks, quietly.

"NO," She says , alarmed not just at the notion but that a small part of her would accept that. "That would make me as unfair to you as you were to me, and it maybe from what I ken that you were pressed by D'an from behind without warning and influenced. I cannot say I wouldn't have been as well. "A breath "CAN you adapt? Pull me aside quietly when you disagree? I know there was little time tonight but... I cannot work without respect, I cannot be respected when I'm seen as just your pretty token consort"

"It is not fair to blame da'an. I am yet a man, and though my heart may have been swayed, I have my own mind, and made my choice at the time."

He looks offended at the notion of her being just a pretty token - as though he would challenge the man who said it of her! And then... a look of painful chagrin when he realizes... it was himself who had done so.

She sees the look and nods "Just so. it is good you are in your strength, that you are the man I knew you could be again, but I will not dim my sun for the sake of dragon pride. I cannot, will not, be less than I am. Never diminish me again in the eyes of others, or love or not, I will fight for my own."

While his eyes gleam in admiration at her pride and strength, he seems torn. “I cannot promise I will agree. But I will do my best to restrain myself and present a united front.”

Thoughtfully, “do you think that a carte blanc power share is perhaps not the way to go? May it make more sense to determine where our strengths lie, and divide power thusly? I know you would never tell me how to manage my steeds or hounds. Nor would I question your management of our vassals and staff.”

He offers, as a possibility.

She looks tempted, greatly tempted, but she worries "Darling, isn't that what you just did? Gwen is gone, Thistle was not sworn but still. And Art still a ward."

"of course, that was under influence..."A consideration

“Fledges are not yet vassals, though I suspect I am being particular. It is but an idea.”

"I would say yes you are cutting hairs a tad. But at least you are striving to seek ideas. " She looks glum "You cannot promise, but you agree. Perhaps your recovered strength of will can fight for that end as hard as it does your pride? We are joined, and insult to me by anyone is insult to you, and vice versa. Even from ourselves so we must treat each other with pride and kindness. Even if honesty is also mixed in"

A frustrated sigh "I have grown soft. With most I could turn as cold as winter's fury and consider them as dead to me." A look at him as if the fact she can't with him is QUITE vexing, "But you are too precious to me."

“I can, and do, promise to try. I do not wish to claim I will succeed, and make myself a liar to you. You oathed to challenge me, and I must learn to accept this as the glorious prompt to better myself and live up to your expectations, and not as a threat to power.

To remember that your strength adds to my own, and does not strive to conquer.”

At that she moves to him, "Oh my dragon, I am a winter sun, given to little heat some will claim, but don't you know it's my desire to lift you with what winds I do heat? We can and shall go farther together than we ever could apart. And... if I wanted all teh power to myself I might have said yes to your earlier offer of letting me have the bale to myself. I am ...very much smitten by you, but for all my lamentations of how precious you are to me, if it appeals to your Ailil soul, remember you are also USEFUL to me, you are a source of strength to ME, and I add yours to mine own as well" A smile "We both are greater than the sum of our parts as a couple."

“You have a strength beyond measure, but it makes yearn to meet. Let us speak further of division of power. Perhaps it will work better for us. We needn't explain or publicize our arrangement for anyone. It is not their due. If the Countess herself has an issue with how we rule, let her bring it to us directly, not couched in riddles and tricks.”

"An Eiluned being direct? Darling she might explode." A consideration "yes, let's talk, and.... let me tell you what she and I discuccessed. I bought us time"

Then she adds "Regarding the heir."

“That is good.” He reaches for her hand, unsure if she will grant it.

She does And.. she tells him everything that passed between her and the Countess and her knight. Relaying every detail and how she tried to turn what might be a moment of weakness into a strength, and parlayed a punishment that the kjnight likely didn't fear itno what she hopes is an advantage. "Obviously much depends on the saining for Arthur, but I did mention the color black figuring in. SHe hopes for Black and Silver for any heir considerations"

“It was wise of you to turn a dubious punishment into what can be seen as merciful graciousness. A Knight- or any, in sooth- who can flicker flash is a bad enemy, and a useful ally.”

“Even if very much in the Countess’s… ‘pocket'.”

"I don't think he's an ally ... not yet, but if you wish to work at him ... perhaps he has a common interest with you. Tell me, does the Countess herself have an heir?"

“Publicly, no. I am certain that Duchy would have ascertained as much, though.”

He frowns deeply. “If she wishes to poach Arthur?”

"If Arthur is a count I'm not sure what we can do nay say her. Though, my father is an option" She sighs "I should visit him more"