Cliona had come in early this morning. There had been nothihng more she could have wanted than to lay her head upon a goose down pllow and sleep the rest of her day away, but returning to her brother's court gave her no such luxury. She had been married young and therefore removed from any familial privilege, but with her husband's recent passing over, she was simply out on her own two feet. The sorrow and grief that stole over her entire being was inconceivable. Her life had forever been changed, and new pictures would have to be painted within her mind. For now, the only ones she could envision were of herself alone.

she had been shown to a guest chamber and made ready for the affairs of reintroduction to the King, her elder brother. An intricate gown was chosen for it's vibrant hues, and slippers to match. Her color was black as black could be, as she would be mourning for quite some time to come. She could not glance at herself in the mirror, knowing the appearance that had befallen her since the loss, though she pulled and twisted her own hair onto a tight knot.

Cliona had refused for days now to let her mind wander and think of a new life, her brother's reaction to her homecoming, or her departed husband. She stole quietly through the secret chambers of the palace walls, weaving through staircases and back hallways until she reached the doors to the vast audience chamber. She stopped and looked to her feet, taking a deep breath and putting a sweet, docile smile onto her lips. Knocking gently, she lifted her hand to push in the door.

In entering the room, Cliona approached with her eyes downcast, solemn and seeking his compassion. she bent a formal curtsy before the throne and remained there, taught to do so until being told to 'ride'. King Aedan, dear brother. I have returned to your kingdom hoping to be spared a life of solitude. Please, tell me what I may do to reconcile myself as your sister, as my beloved husband has passed on.

As if Aedan didn't have enough matters to address, now his sister was coming back to the Keep. She had always been his favorite as a child, and of course he had missed her... but it was no good news he had to tell her. She was to be a pawn in his consolidation of power, just as her sister and brother were. He had to arrange a marriage for her first of all, and had, in fact, already done so. Lord Lilienthal had arrived, and Cliona would marry near the time when he himself did.

"Sister," he said, nodding to her and ushering her in. He couldn't quite conceal his dismay at her appearance; she looked wasted, and years older than she was. Still, he saw in her face some o that familiar beauty which is drawn out by the eyes of loving family. "How do you fare? I hope you won't look so mournful when you meet your husband-to-be, who I hope will assuage your loneliness." He stepped forward and gently enfolded her in a hug, not daring to look at her face.

"I hope," he said, his voice muffled, "that you like him... I'm getting married myself, so it isn't..." Aedan shook his head, and stepped back. "We have to think of the good of the country, you know that, Clio."

Turning away abruptly, one hand fell on the full decanter of wine sitting on his table. "Do you want something to drink? To eat?"

Clio had come in to meet once more with her brother, and had smiled genuinely up a him. She felt as she had when they had been children, that he would protect her, and take the pain away. Her heart felt like a block of ice, and she felt it nearly shatter at his quick introduction into the fact that he already had another husband for her. Cliona's mind closed off, and she had to look away from Aedan, hiding the few tears that slid from her eyes beneath the black headdress wives wore in remorse of their deceased husbands.

Always a Princess at heart, she lifted her eyes and put a smile on for him, nodding lightly and dropping her eyes back downcast once more. I understand my lot in this life, Aedan, and I have always accepted that. I have never resented the arrangements made for me, and I do not this time either. I just...Aedan it's so soon. I trust you, and I hope, I really hope you have picked a good man for my husband. Not solely for power, but a good man as well.

She did not know if she was scared of another man, or just still in utter mourning for the man she had just lost. It was difficult now to decipher between her emotions, and Clio tried her very best to hide them from her brother, and even moreso from those around her.

"He seems so," Aedan said, not totally without caution. "But I don't know him well. I have little enough time to meet people, now that we're preparing for war, and my own marriage... but it'll be all right, sister." Impulsively, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Don't worry. Besides--have you seen the Lady Hanna? My neck's through the noose more than yours is, anyway. As for politics, isn't it all politics? But more than that--"

He turned away, clasping his hands behind his back, and took a few pacing steps across the room, then back. He paused, turning to the side table, to pour himself a glass of wine from the decanter on the table.

"More than that's it's security for you. If something should go wrong here, you'd have somewhere to go in Scalia, someone to protect you."