That evening, King Aedan was restless. He had stayed in today, meeting with his general and the rest of his privy council, and the advice--biased, no doubt, because of his advisors' myriad marriagable children--had hinged, once again, upon marriage. How had it come to pass that neither he nor his brother nor his sisters were married? There was no heir should both he and his brother somehow die, and there were political alliances to be made, though he knew he couldn't count upon alliance with the Scalians. Still...

There was another coastal barony he could try: the Lilienthal Barony. They were loyal to King Hadrian VI, or so he heard, so he would have to be careful not to upset Blauvelt. But then he might not like Blauvelt anyway. And besides, Lilienthal couldn't be very loyal--the Scalian Kingdom was falling apart, its baronies reverting to their isolated state. There was very little anyone could do to stop that, and if Lilienthal knew what was good for him he'd consent to an alliance.

Or he could just offer up his eldest sister to the Baron's eldest son, and let her sway his opinion toward Thiasa. He'd be the baron one day, after all...

He had already sent a picture of her with a messenger, and written a long letter. Now he would 'consult' his sister and ask her if she was willing--not, of course, that it would matter if she wasn't. If Lilienthal accepted, she would go to Scalia.

He paced up and down his chambers, his hands clasped behind his back, until he was interrupted by a knock--doubtless his sister.

"Come in!"

Cliona was rather anxious, the whole of the keep was concerned about the most pressing matter, marriage. She felt she knew of what the King had summoned her for, but she'd kept he mouth shut as of yet. So she busied herself up and made herself look presentable and shown up at Aedan's call. Her footsteps resounded rather heavily in the hall as she attempted an elegant yet fast paced walk so as not to hold her brother long. The walk had been slower than she thought.

Her position as it was was malleable. She lived in her brother's keep, away from her own home and was very much in his debt. In the end she'd find herself doing as he told her for more reasons than one. Her only heavy responsibility was managing the fiefdom he husband left, a quiet and restful life as it was. Arriving and being let inside she came upon a restless and pacing brother. No doubt the marriage arrangements were getting to be bothersome.

"You called, Brother?"

She moved inside, and slowly closed the door behind her. "I hope I didn't take too long." She apologized. She hadn't been out for a number of days and had accustomed herself to staying within her quarters if she was not eating or in the court.

"Yes, sister." He gestured toward a chair so she could sit, but stayed standing himself, still pacing the room. She'd be used to it; he was customary pacer. "I have a proposition for you," he said, speaking casually, brother to sister, not as though he were discussing politics at all. To the contrary, he was merely talking to her about their future prospects.

"I had a meeting with my advisors today," he said, lifting a hand to his brow to show how pained the experience had made him. "And you know how they are about the question of marriage. As much as I'd like to sweep down on the barbarians now, it'll have to wait until our alliances--and the kingdom--are more stable. The question of an heir will wait. The Baron Blauvelt is sending his daughter here, and I'll have to meet her, though from her picture--" A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He continued to pace, but now came in front of his sister so he could look at her directly. "And the Baron Lilienthal has a son I was considering for you. After all, you already know how to run a fiefdom. You could help with the barony. And I've heard he's not unhandsome... but--" He waved the consideration aside. "Enough of these matters. How are you? Not missing your fiefdom, I hope?"

Even his question after her loneliness, of course, was aimed at steering her to accept the marriage.

Sitting herself in the chair and placing her hands gently on her lap she listened carefully to his words. She knew him well enough to know that what he was proposing was not a mere proposition, and it would be in her best interest to listen carefully. When he came to describe the advisors she frowned and her brow furrowed in an equally disgusted and understanding expression, "I don't trust those men, too many of them have their own agendas." she interjected and went back to listening as he continued.

Her expression remain well on into the conversation as she watched him pacing around the room. She felt a little worried for her brother, continually busy and under stress. As he came to look her directly she made an attempt o look more content. She attempted to answer his questions whilst mulling over the prospects he'd set out in front of her. Of course she'd have loved to take but a little off his plate, her fingers itching with lack of activity. "I'm content, happy," She lied, "I do miss home though, although there isn't much to do there for the moment. My steward takes adequate care of it under my occasional instruction."

She was more than ready to accept the Baron's son, under but a minute condition, should it even worth considering as a condition. She didn't worry so well of the man, her previous husband was not one she had loved either, but came to a form of friendship with. " As for the Baron's son, I can see no reason not to accept should he have me, especially if it should save you from a marriage you wish to avoid. I wouldn't mind some form o companionship other than what handmaids I have. All I ask is that I should keep the fiefdom, though I may be willing o part with it farther in the future."

Aedan smiled, bemused.

"Of course I could hold the proceeds of fiefdom for you, and allow your eldest son to take it on," he said, leaning forward to chuck his sister under the chin like a cat. "But if the baron's eldest son will agree to have you, then of course you'll go to live in Scalia. I hope you won't miss me too terribly much?" He was joking; while they got along well enough, he was sure his sister held no special fondness for her cold and controlling older brother.

He moved away from her and took a seat at last in his own chair, taller than hers, and deeply cushioned.

"You are very pretty," he said consideringly, looking her over. "I can't see why he wouldn't want to marry you..." The question hung in the air. If she got defensive, he'd have her ready to do whatever he bid. "But in any case--I then take it I have your permission to send the request to Baron Lilienthal?"

She might have realized by now that he already had, but there was nothing she could do about it now... He ran a hand through his cropped curly hair and leaned back, contemplating his sister's expression.

Returning his bemused smile with a sweet one of her own she made a proposition of her own. "Why must I leave when we can offer him a home and fiefdom of his own while his father continues living. I'll be content in giving him the illusion that he's keeping it up himself, whilst I continue making decisions. The Fiefdom will still be given to my son should I have one, and once his father time ends he shall feel he has both a barony and fiefdom." Of course she was ready to drop this notion should her brother be against it, but it'd allow her to stay in Thiasa instead of returning to old Scalia.

She blushed lightly at his remark, "You may send a request to the Baron." And of course tonight, as she had no other things to do, she herself would formulate a request. The comment about the man not wanting to marry her left her unsettled, should something be planned, the plan falling though would leave her unsatisfied. Perhaps in seeing the wishes of both the Lady and the King Baron Lillienthal would feel more willing to send his son into the marriage.

She sat calmly in her chair, watching her brother comb his hair through. "What more do you know of this son, or the Baron?"

Aedan relaxed, smiling. "Absolutely, I'll include it in my request," he lied, for the request was already gone and done. Of course, they could always negotiate later... but he doubted the baron would want to lose his eldest son. Still, perhaps it was possible.

"Oh, well, I have a miniature of him." He extracted the little painting, in a golden locket, and handed it to her, leaning over in his chair. He'd looked briefly at the picture, and the man seemed fine. Not that he cared much, short of some deformity. But he seemed like a perfectly ordinary sort of man, not too different from her old husband, in fact. What she might make of that he didn't know. "As for how he is personally, I've never met the man, obviously, as the Scalians aren't so willing to take the son of a traitor onto their soil. After all, it wouldn't do for King Hadrian the Mighty to find out!" He rolled his eyes, knowing she knew full well what he thought of the weak King Hadrian VI, unable to keep a country united.

"But with you married to him we'll take a bite out of Scalian lands. And one day we'll have all of Thiasa in our grasp and all of Scalia... if you can charm the baron-to-be to our side." He met her eyes.

She nodded feeling the topic of the request closed. She took the miniature in her hands and studied it curiously. He was an ordinary looking man, she could live with that. He'd be presentable, and hopefully well mannered. She spent quiet some time looking at it, but came to the conclusion that it would be similar enough to her previous marriage for her to cope well with the circumstances. She understood perfectly the things her brother spoke of, and had a close opinion to his. A man who sits on the throne should be able to keep his country united. I f he couldn't then his place wasn't on the throne. But even with her brother's opinion of the similar quality she didn't dare voice hers out loud, and kept it quietly to herself. Instead giving a nod.

Looking him in the eyes she replied to the last thing he'd said. "I'll do all I can, Brother." And of course she would. Should she have to she could be very persuasive. If the case was to aid Thiasa, she'd find some way. "I'll have the Baron-to-be, don't you worry."

He looked at her intently for a long time before he settled back into his chair. "Good." He word had a ring of finality about it. He'd have this Scalian baron-to-be fully in his sister's control, and when the aging baron died, why--then he'd simply own the barony himself, through his sister, who could quickly negotiate their annexing it as a protectorate. After all, there was no denying the hardened Thiasan military might. Their army had cut its teeth on the barbarians and was, so he hoped, hungry for more. The border garrisons and the barracks near the castle said as much, and he had seen his men training in the practice yards too many times to doubt them.

"Enough of politics now, sister. How's the harvest in your fiefdom? Has that steward of yours--I forget his name--has he been sending regular reports or do I need to chastise him?" If the harvest was sound, they might even consider exporting some of their foodstuffs. That would--but he was onto politics again. And of course he'd forgotten the man's name. Wasn't it enough keeping all his courtiers and lieutenant-generals and sergeants straight? He knew that as a king he ought to be more personable--but he just wasn't.

"And how have you been? I know it can be dull here at court if there's no one to plot with." Was that just a tinge of bitterness? Her at least he trusted--not like his brother. Something about Fergus, for whatever reason, had been setting him on edge recently.

Cliona shifted in her seat. Her hand found it's way to rest comfortably in her hair. With this news she was much more anxious for the future to come than she'd been before. Finally something to get her hands in. All, of course in the benefit of the king, which would come around to benefit her, that she never let herself forget. She'd be enormously enthusiastic should she find a way to remain in Thiasa. But Aedan had changed the subject, something about her harvest and steward boy. The last report she'd gotten from him had been as bland as ever.

"My steward, I can hardly remember his name at times too, it's such a bland, forgettable name." She consoled him, "He's been doing an adequate job, far be it for me to worry much about him, he does what I tell him to and runs it by the book. Unimaginative boy, like his name. The harvest has been fair, and of course, what we do not need we hope to sell somehow." She fiddled with the locket in her fingers, "Do you need this back, or should I keep in?" she asked cautiously.

'I've been fine, tired, and sleeping much, court life is far too soft." She looked up at him. "Plotting Brother, why would you think that?" Of course she had suspicions of who he meant, she may not have been out often recently but some of her younger brother's behaviors did manage to show themselves, no matter how gently.

Aedan smiled when she asked to keep the locket. That was perfect. If she were pleased with the picture she'd be pleased with the man, whom he was certain would live up to it, from what he'd heard of the Lilienthals. The Baron was an impressive, canny man. And his eldest son, they said, followed in his footsteps. The younger son was a no-good rake, that he'd heard too; but that wasn't important for his purposes.

"Of course you may keep it. I'm glad you like him."

As for the steward's blandness--now he recalled the name, it was Edward--Edward Alban or Alden or one of those--he'd been quite purposeful with that choice. After his sister's husband had died, he didn't want her falling for the man she worked with most closely. So he'd chosen a young boy, nonetheless intelligent, good head for business--but singularly plan and unattractive. Never let it be said that Aedan overlooked the small details. And God knew it was hard enough for him to keep his own desires in check long enough to avoid being trapped into a marriage.

"Plotting Brother, why would you think that?"

"No reason at all," Aedan said, with a faint sigh. "There's no danger to any of us right now, anyway. We're to consolidate our hold on the throne, drive out the barbarians, and then we'll be in a position to take on Thiasa, bit by bit. No one will be able to question us. But you must play your part in this to," he cautioned her. "I want you to be at your most charming when Lord Alexander" (that was the name of the Baron's son) "arrives, or when you go to him."

Cliona clasped the locket in her hands, finding no other place to put it for the moment, her neck already bearing a simple silver necklace. She was sure he'd be a well bred young man. Her eyes moved around the room, darting from one thing to the other, even though her mind took in none of it. Returning her gazed back at the king as he thought she took some time to think a bit herself.

She did miss home, it was so much more lively than the courts here, which although lively were a different sort of lively. She felt more comfortable riding at home, and altogether going outside. Her at the Keep she had reverted back to her old indoor self. When she lived on the fiefdom she'd been able to take walks about the property, and watch the serfs at work, supervising them, something she missed. She was able to be more active and less stifled there. And now Edward did her old duties, and since she would be living alone otherwise she was staying at the keep. Again Aedan had begun to talk.

"I'll be my usual charming self, Brother," she said with a sincere smile, "However it ends up, Alexander will be a comfortable man."

There was a smile dancing about his lips as she responded. Now here was a biddable woman. Biddable, but never to be underestimated. Oh yes, he quite liked his sister--the sibling closest to him in age. He'd grown up with her, and though Fergus was his only male sibling, he felt closer to Cliona than to almost anyone else. Not that this was saying much; in the realm of relationships, the king had a great many allies but a very few friends.

"Good!" he said in a tone of finality. He stood up, offering his hand to her. "Now it's growing late, sister, and you'll need your rest if you're to survive the terrible rigors of court life. Besides, there's the hunt in two day's time to consider. You will come, won't you? You may ride astride if you wish, of course--with my permission no one will question it." And of course--there was no issue over her virginity. She was a widow. It was perfectly respectable.

"Until tomorrow, then, sister dear." He bent to kiss her hand.