*Jane Crakewood*
As Jane looked around the large banquet, her gaze stopped on her brother Grey who was sitting far down end of the large table next to Sir Lyonel. The man would protect Grey with his life if need be. It made her feel assured with so many strangers around that Grey was safe.
Jane rose from her seat and lifted a glass of wine. "We welcome our extinguished guest from Yanthus with open arms, I and my people are so very pleased to have you come here and offer a great number of possibilities with ourselves through an alliance". She smiled "and now let us enjoy the feast" Jane sat back down in her seat, staying upright and remembering her etiquette, she observed the proceedings and smiled and laughed through the night and discussed with her Chief Counsellor Lord Sterwyn Risinger. A man in his earlier thirties taller than Jane, he had short brown and flat short pale face.
Jane stirred from her seat, the night was yet young but Jane was eager to talk to Grey, so she began to walk her way down the tables passing by the cheerful guests. Whilst walking the down ast one of the tables in the middle area, Jane felt a strong hand hold her, she spun around as the man said "May we talk in private, Queen?" She nodded and moved into the a corridor on the off side of the banquet, trailed by the ambassador of Yanthus, Tandu Dyanyas. He was young and stout, a man who was no more than twenty she guessed, with white skin pale as the night stars, she looked at him "What did you wish to ask?", He responded in a rather timid voice "What do you plan to offer us, your brother is weak he could sire no children, that leaves you. We came for an alliance not for your resources we know you have nothing to offer us." She stayed composed "I could entertain a marriage proposal, who is in mind?" He smirked and ran a finger down her neck to the cleavage of her dress, tugging it slightly. "You're hot half bad to look at, whilst being this drunk." Jane ever composed pushed his hand away "If it is a bed warmer you seek, your asking the wrong woman, I can break a few of your bones if you'd like though." He seemed unfazed as his hand came to rest on Jane's fur coated shoulder. "You are in no position to negotiate" he laughed. Jane gnashed her teeth together but rather than being angered she smiled. She knew Yanthor the man she executed was in himself a member of the Yanthus royal family and if she refused Tandu's advances it could very well mean the loss of an important ally and imports of wines, silks, spices, fruits and more, possibly even all out war that her people even though hardy could not endure. So she dare not risk it, no other Kingdom would ally with The Land of Eternal Winter and that was why she accepted her fate. The Land of Eternal Winter saw to that long ago.
Grey the ever noble who had a keen eye of finding his sister hobbled on over to them. Jane felt her blood boil as she saw Grey hobble over, she was being weak and her little brother was trying to be a knight in shining armor. "Grey, it's okay" she said resolute, staring him down, Tandu replied "Young Prince, I'm having a little discussion with your sister at moment". Grey was about to respond but Jane shot him an icy glare, he backed off and went away.
"Shall we head to bed then, so my Lord" Jane smiled. Tandu made his way with her towards the bed chambers. She spotted Grey out of the corner of her eye, he seemed disappointed and angry, Jane felt a flicker of something akin to sorrow cross her heart as she made her way along the hall towards the bed chamber.
After Tandu had taken her, she lay in his arm's, as always Jane was smiling and nodding to whatever nonsense he was spouting and twisting the hairs on his chest. They lay like that for a bit before Tandu fell asleep due to drinking too much and Jane moved from his arms, swung her legs over the side of the bed, got up and put on her tunic and left her dress due to it having been ravaged by the man. The tunic didn't conceal her very well, but it felt better than Tandus' arms. He wasn't particularly bad in bed she thought better than Lord's I've already hooked up with.
She made her way down the hall to the chambers of Grey where Sir Lyonel stood guard. "May I enter" she asked. He nodded and stepped aside allowing her entry and so she did closing the door behind her.
Grey sat at his desk,"Why did you let him have you, he was creepy and disgusting and he was touching some of the maids all night" Grey stared up at her angered. She reached out and touched his hair "Grey sometimes people have to do things they don't want to, because of the circumstances I've created by being who I am". "Why because you're a woman" he asked. "No because I'm the Queen and because we're isolated from every other kingdom..... I killed Yanthor" she said pulling back slightly. "But still you didn't have to sleep with him" he asked puzzled. "Because he wanted it and I was in no place to refuse him, men are just like that, worthless vile bastards" she said neither filled adoration or hatred, "but you're different Grey, your kinder, softer, and more honourable" she smiled. "And weaker" Grey added, "I'm tired of being a pathetic child and being known as the boy who is feared by none and scared of all",
"I want to be strong and fearless like you Jane" he said staring up at her with admiration. "You may-be right, I might fear no one and I am stronger than all but I'm afraid of losing you Grey, because I love you and you're all I have". She stared at him smiling he's always frightened and angry at somebody or something but I need to be here to guide him and protect to make sure he's worthy of a taking my place and becoming a king if he needs be. They hugged tightly "I'm sorry" Grey said tears fell lightly down his cheek and one might have trickled down Jane's face. "But you better make me a knight someday, I want to be able to fight with you." He coughed it was a long and raspy cough, she patted his back soothingly. "You better get some rest." She guided him into bed and tucked the sheets around him before smiling and heading away. Will their be a man to ever open my heart like my little brother does.
The next week she recieved news from a messenger. Ambassador Tandus' ship had sunk sailing back to Yanthus and all passengers were dead. She said bitterly "Thank you" the messenger bowed and left, before she stood up and walked over to the picture's of her family lineage on the wall. She turned around to face Lord Sterwyn her Chief Councillor "and that is how it's done" she clapped her hands. "You never cease to amaze me, my Queen" he bowed. She had gone to the harbour the morning before Tandus left and cut a hole in the rear of Tandus' ship, so that he wouldn't reach Yanthus. "A genius plan, if I say so myself" she said smirking and resting back down on her throne again. Lord Sterwyn nodded and then a man entered running "My Queen, My Queen..... something has happened" he said panting after running up the stairs.