Eleanor's steps through the halls were sure and firm. She was learning how to walk and command authority – to walk how a queen walks. She practically held her breath the entire way there, she was so anxious. Without thinking, she pulled Thomas to a stop right outside the entrance to the throne room. “Oh God,” she whispered. “I’m not ready for this… I think I’m going to be sick…”
Thomas had to hide a smile as they walked. She was so elegant and seemed confident, it would very likely make a good impression on the royal guests. But, when she stopped, he looked at her with concern. “Hey, hey. Just breathe, Eleanor. Just breathe. Deep, slowly.” he instructed calmly, keeping his voice in a low whisper. “It's going to be ok. You can do this. This isn't the first time you've had someone visit.”
She nodded, breathing as he told her to. Deep and slowly. Deep and slowly. Deep and slowly, she thought to herself. “Right,” she murmured. “I’ve done this before, I can do it again…” She straightened herself and nodded. “Alright… I’m ready.”
He shot her a brief smile before they both straightened up and continued on into the throne room. Until they reached the point where she would have to go on alone. He bowed to the king and took up his post, looking every bit the guard he was trained to be.
Eleanor relied on Thomas until she couldn’t anymore. She fluidly untucked her hand from his arm and strode to her throne. Every eye in the room was on her. Even the King was staring, enthralled by her beauty, grace, and newfound poise. She lowered herself into her seat beside Marcellus’ throne, sweeping her skirt around so it settled just right around her legs.
Thomas was doing his best not to smirk with pride at how easily Eleanor commanded the attention of the room with just her beauty. He half expected her to be the one to welcome the dignitaries even though the king was right there.
The queen sat in her chair with her back straight and her legs crossed at the ankles. “When will the dignitaries be arriving?” she asked, glancing over at Marcellus.
The man was caught dead staring at her breasts and stammered through a response. “They, uh—” he stopped to clear his throat “—excuse me. They will be here any minute.”
She nodded, not looking at him any longer than she had to. Her eyes found Thomas briefly before flickering to the door, awaiting the delegation.
Thomas had to bite his tongue to control himself. He admired the way Eleanor behaved so much like a true Queen. It was hard not to laugh at the way the king fumbled for an answer, a rare first for him to witness. But the hardest thing was not reacting when her eyes caught his. He so badly wanted to smile at her but here and now was clearly not an appropriate setting for such familiarities.
The doors opened, and Eleanor gripped the sides of her chair. It served two purposes – to appear more confident and to keep her hands from shaking.
The first delegate was the Prime Minister of Tervenia and his wife. The pair left their royal flanks at the bottom of the dais as they ascended to greet the king and queen personally. Tervenia was one of Versia’s closest allies. The Minister greeted Marcellus before his eyes pulled quickly to Eleanor.
“Your Majesty,” he said, looking her over while approaching her. “You look… as radiant as the night.” He reached for her hand, though she didn’t offer it, and pressed a kiss to it.
Eleanor offered him a polite smile in return. “Thank you, Minister.” She drew her hand back and gave his wife a nicer version of the same smile.
When their backs were turned, Eleanor managed to shoot Thomas a very quick look with wide eyes.
Thomas noticed the bracing gesture and felt helpless because he couldn't move from his post until this was all over and Eleanor was ready to leave. When the Prime Minister kissed her hand, he felt his hand clench at his side. He knew it was customary and very likely that the prime Minister was just being polite so he couldn’t explain why he felt so tense.
As she looked over to him, he met her gaze and took a slow, deep breath, and relaxed his fist. Hopefully, she would understand the message.
Eleanor let a small smile pull on her lips before focusing on the next pair – the queen and king consort from Merrianth. Queen Irene greeted Marcellus, then approached Eleanor.
“Your Majesty,” Eleanor said, curtseying before the other woman as a sigh of respect.
Irene’s sharp grey eyes examined her, then the corner of her lip twitched up. “Queen Eleanor,” she greeted. “A pleasure to see you.”
Eleanor gave a respectful nod to Irene’s king consort, Julian, before releasing a long breath. Queen Irene was one of the most powerful and respected rulers on the continent. And Eleanor had made a good impression.
Thomas tried not to smile at the second interaction. Queen Irene was a very powerful ally to the kingdom though a little intimating. But perhaps there were some things that Eleanor could learn from her… And the simple fact that Eleanor got a smile out of her was a good thing, as far as he could tell.
The third and last noble family to enter the hall were the Grives from the kingdom of Blackstone. Eleanor stiffened. They were already menacing, but their black and silver attire made them even more so.
“King Marcellus,” the head of the family, Sirus Grives, said as he approached the throne. His sister and second-in-command, Lissia, followed him. “It’s an honor to see you and your queen again.” He cast a side-eye look at Eleanor, and she composed herself to keep from shuddering.
“The pleasure is mine,” Marcellus replied easily. He motioned with his arm to Eleanor beside him. “Queen Eleanor. My wife.”
“My queen.” Sirus lowered his head slightly out of respect, but there was something more in the gesture that Eleanor didn’t like. The Grives were known to be shrewd, cunning, and most of all, deceptive. Sirus had exactly that air about him.
Eleanor did her best to keep from trembling as she dipped into a light curtsey. “Versia welcomes you and your family,” she replied, quieter than she’d been before.
Sirus smirked at her before coming to stand directly in front of her. He was slightly taller, so she had to look up a few inches.
“We hope to enjoy our stay,” he purred silkily. “I’m humbled to be in the presence of your beauty. It lights the room and dims the stars. I pray that we will have some time for more pleasantries.”
Eleanor forced a believing smile to her lips. “And so we may.”
Finally he left, leaving the queen’s heart racing.
This time, Thomas knew why his hand was clenched around the hilt of his sword. Of all the allies to show up, the Grives were the ones who he didn't trust. It wasn't any of his business but there was always something about them that got under his skin. They were the ones he really needed to protect Eleanor from. Especially Sirus and how familiar he was acting with her.
After a few more moments of pleasantries, Marcellus stood up, Eleanor rising behind him. The other royals in the hall took the lead from Versia’s king and queen, and everyone was dismissed to their rooms.
Eleanor stepped down from the dais and walked over to Thomas. “Would you mind escorting me back to my rooms?” she asked, aware that others could potentially be listening and that it was best not to act too friendly.
Thomas slowly was able to relax, very slightly, as the visitors left the throne room. It didn't actually show but that uncomfortable feeling in his gut had diminished even further when Eleanor approached him. “My Queen.” he bowed at her question and held his arm out for her before leading her back to her room.
Eleanor felt refreshed with his presence beside her again. She quickly urged them along and shut the door the moment they were back in her rooms. “Oh, stars,” she sighed, sitting down on her bed and relaxing for the first time in hours. “How did I do?”
Thomas didn't mind the faster pace and let out a deep breath once they were alone. “You were wonderful, Eleanor.” he finally smiled. “I don't think you could have done better if you had been born royalty.”
The queen’s tense expression instantly softened again. “Truly?” she asked, blushing at his praise. “I’m rather impressed with myself, honestly. I’m not sure how I managed it aside from thinking of you.” She blushed even deeper at her own words. “And how I was able to impress Queen Irene, I have no idea.”
Thomas nodded, smiling sincerely at her before his whole face flushed red at the confession. “You were thinking about me?” he questioned as his heart skipped a beat or two. “I… I’m not sure how you impressed her either but she seemed to like you.”
“Yes,” Eleanor admitted. “It appears that you make me feel calm.” She noticed his blush too and hesitated a moment. Should I have told him? "I hope so," she murmured. "She's so powerful, and a friendship with her could help me."
“I… I'm glad to hear that.” he said with a shy smile, still blushing. Though Thomas found it ironic that while she was so calmed by him, yet the thought of her made his head spin and his heart race. “I have to agree with you on that.” he nodded. “She is a very influential woman.”
Eleanor grinned, showing a rare moment of complete joy. Her guard was down, and she looked radiant. She looked like herself. “Imagine if I could befriend her. That would show everyone how wrong they were about me.”
Thomas nearly melted as she smiled like that. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his whole life. “I can imagine.” he nodded. “It would certainly make an impact on everyone here. Most likely, the whole kingdom.”
“Yes!” Eleanor nodded eagerly. A plan was already forming in her mind. The quiet, insecure, mild-mannered girl she’d been when Thomas was first assigned to her was long gone. This was a fierce, determined, and energetic young woman who was before him now. “I’m just not quite sure of what she likes or how to go about the right procedure of asking her to spend time together…” She pursed her lips, thinking and trying to recall the protocol that had been shoved down her throat her first week.