In the Library, 6/3 evening, OPEN

[Adeline Lennox]

Adeline had only been to the city of Alska a few times, and whenever she visited a castle, one of the places she most liked to visit was the library. It was a good one, as most of the castles of Province Lords had extensive libraries. Of course, it was filled mostly with histories, as fiction was relegated to the private collections of most nobles, not out in the public libraries.

Their travel had gone well so far - everyone on Lennox's ship was in quarters when the storm hit, and all talk the next morning was about what happened on Severne's ship. Odelia and Garrick were excited to be traveling around the country, and she was glad they didn't have to leave young children behind like many other nobles.

She thumbed through one of the histories of Severne, fascinating in how far it went back compared to Lennox's relatively new status as Province Lord. She heard the door to the library creak open, and looked behind her to see who approached.

[Sommara Ashpool]

Sommara had sought out some solace, and what better place to find that than the library? Oh, the thoughts burdened her, indeed and she needed to clear her mind, or at least escape from it with an excellent novel. Besides, she had the time since Auron didn't really seem all that interested to pay attention to her and Marilynn was too busy in her own thoughts at her upcoming wedding.

Slowly, ever so quietly, Sommara padded down the hall to the library and pushed the massive door opened. It hadn't been closed all the way, just a crack of light had been the only marker in the hallway, aside from the heavy door. Since she hadn't heard any voices, Sommara assumed the room was vacant and quietly shuffled in before closing the door behind her, as if she could manage to leave her thoughts beyond the threshold.

"Finally," the girl breathed before turning around, only to find that the library already had an occupant, and one that Sommara wasn't quite familiar with in the least.

"Oh..." Sommara blushed as her voice trailed off. "I beg your pardons, my Lady, as I had no intentions of disturbing anyone," Sommara quickly said, curtseying properly to her elder. Of course, the lady wasn't exactly old, but she was more advanced in age than Sommara and it was due respect, and the least Sommara could say to make up for the intrusion.

[Adeline Lennox]

Adeline looked at Sommara and smiled. It took her a second to recognize, but then she realized it was one of the Ashpool girls, the one that was to marry the prince. "No matter, Lady Sommara, you disturb no one. Feel free to look around, it's an extensive library.

House Ashpool had made some of the more interesting moves of the King's event, and because of this they were players in nearly every stop on the tour. Adeline wasn't sure yet how Lord Jarvis would fare as they continued at court, but he certainly had managed to get quite a bit accomplished. "I'm Lady Adeline, of House Lennox."

[Sommara Ashpool]

"It's quite the pleasure, Lady Adeline," Sommara said softly, a cherubic smile gracing her lips at the lady's invitation. She didn't really know of Adeline at all, or House Lennox, only that they were bannerhouse to the king. And that only meant they'd be her bannerhouse as well after she wedded Auron.

Best to tread lightly here, lest she inadvertently made any enemies. Sommara hadn't exactly started on the best foot with Auron, considering their botched dance at the ball, and their interesting conversation about their betrothal in the gardens, to say the least. But now, Sommara held the ball in her hands and she could make the positive move towards mending any foul-ups she might have created on the way.

Sommara thumbed through the volumes, heavy upon the shelves. History books...they were mostly history books. Either that, or academic learning. Nothing fantastical and fictional to lose herself in. Instead, Sommara turned from the shelves to her right and crossed the room, still smiling over at Adeline.

"Lady Adeline, do you often come to the library for solace? Or learning?" Sommara asked, knowing whichever response she received, she'd probably done a good job of interrupting. Maybe the lady was here to escape people? And that meant she didn't want to talk? Sommara knew she wouldn't stay long if that were the case, regardless of Lady Lennox's open invitation.

[Adeline Lennox]

"For both, really. And curiosity, I like to see what the other castles look like. Generally the libraries don't have much to read for enjoyment, but some of the histories can be interesting. Especially for the upper houses, they are very thorough. But I doubt that's too exciting for a girl your age."

She hoped that Lady Sommara wasn't looking to avoid people, but considering she continued to ask questions, Adeline figured it was alright to answer, at least.

[Sommara Ashpool]

"History is fascinating," Sommara agreed, making it to the shelf on the other side of the room. "But I'm really in the mood for something else at the moment," the blonde added, noting the volumes on the shelves on this side of the room were also historical tomes. "Although, I can't say what."

Regardless, Sommara pulled a book off the shelf anyway and moved to the couch in the center of the room. The old, leather binding opened with a small creek as she pushed the cover open. The worn leather slid smoothly beneath her fingertips. After thumbing through the first ten pages of contents and credits and whatnot, Sommara finally started reading on chapter one. Through half the page, she stopped, realizing none of what she'd actually read remained in her memory. This was definitely a waste of time.

"Lady Lennox," Sommara asked, looking up from the book. "If I may do so, may I ask a question on a somewhat personal level?" Sommara wondered, flipping through the pages of the tome absentmidedly.

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora could not believe that she had no one talk to and nothing to do. There was always someone around, but yet... there was no one besides the servants. Who didn’t interest her. Auron was nowhere to be found, she had not yet assembled her ladies in waiting, and Alrik was off doing who knows what. Everyone was scattered because of the traveling as opposed to Solbra where they had all flocked to her.

So, instead of sitting around in her room, Aurora decided to walk around the castle. Of course she had heard the news about Naz, but Aurora had never really been fond of the girl so he wasn’t terribly upset over it. It was a shame to die at sea, and it did make her mindful of walking out on decks alone. That was about it, though.

Eventually, she found her way to the library, hoping to find an interesting book. The library was not as big as the one she was accustomed to, but it would due. Pressing open the door, Aurora walked in, immediately noticing Sommara and Adeline. She gave them both a smile, though she really wished to glare at Sommara.

“Oh, good day ladies, please forgive me. Do you mind if I join you?” Aurora asked, putting on her most polite tone.

[OOC: If you wanted this private... forgive me!]

[Sommara Ashpool]

Sommara immediately put her book down, rose and curtseyed without a second thought. This was her princess, and to make matters, Sommara was Aurora's lady-in-waiting, but hadn't bothered to check on the princess after their arrival. Then again, Aurora had plenty of other ladies, including Sommara's youngest sister, Horatia, who probably had nothing better to do anyway.

"Your Grace looks lovely, as usual," Sommara started as she rose. "And we would be honored if Your Grace chooses to join us," Sommara added, smiling politely and averting her eyes downward, as good subordinates do.

Yet, she made no motion to return to her seat until Aurora had found an empty cushion to place her fanny on first.

[OOC: No requests for forgiveness necessary--it was marked "open" and you are more than welcomed to join!]

[Adeline Lennox]

Adeline smiled. "Of course, Princess. You are welcome to join us, House Severne has graciously opened up the library to all."

Despite the standing of House Lennox in regards to the royal family, she had never spoken to Aurora. The younger Sterlyn siblings seemed to not be as close to the King and Lady Castell, not that Adeline and Celeste had much interaction before this very trip. But she knew that Sommara was to marry Aurora's brother, so perhaps the girls had spoken. "Have you two spoken of your wedding day yet? I'm sure you have much to plan for a double wedding."

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora did not care to hear that she looked lovely as usual, but smiled at the compliment and motioned for Sommara to sit as she herself took a seat as well. “Thank you, Lady Sommara,” she returned politely. Aurora had not expected to see Sommara, and was not sure she was entirely pleased with it, but it was better than any number of other people she could have found in the library.

“Thank you as well, Lady Adeline. Yes, and what a lovely library it is. I hope you are well?” Aurora sat neatly with proper posture, and her hands folded in her laps. To her it was second nature, she hardly knew how to slouch if she had the chance. All the teachings of a proper princess had been ingrained in her behavior for many years now, except for her thoughts.

At the mention of the wedding, Aurora tightened her hand around the other, but otherwise gave no response. In truth, she hadn’t even considered that Sommara would have any decisions in the process. Aurora had intended to make all of the important ones, for she was the princess. Though Sommara was marrying her brother, there was no way she would let the girl upstage her. Not that an Ashpool could ever upstage a Sterlyn.

“Well, no, actually we haven’t. Of course I’m very excited about it. I’m sure Sommara and I will have much opportunity to discuss it with her being my lady in waiting,” Aurora reached over, giving Sommara a friendly pat on the hand as well as a smile. She was already planning a list of topics she could bring up to avoid any mention of their wedding.

[Sommara Ashpool]

Sommara sat, smiling, without so much as any facial reaction to Aurora's remarks about the wedding. In truth, she hadn't actually even given planning of the event any thought whatsoever. She'd been too engrossed in worrying about Auron, his acceptance of her, her acceptance of him, and being a newly-wed in general, that any pre-disposition to make arrangements had been overlooked entirely.

"There will be ample opportunities for the discussion, I'm sure," Sommara chimed in, the smile never leaving her lips. "Lady Lennox, did you plan your entire wedding, or did your mother-in-law do it instead?" Sommara wondered, thinking how in her own case, it would be her sister-in-law that would organize and direct everything.

[Adeline Lennox]

Adeline thought back to her own wedding. It was a very long time ago now, she was forced to admit, and she didn't remember everything. At the beginning, it seemed like Camellia was going to be planning most of it, but once she and Devin got closer and Adeline's spirits had lifted from the events transpiring in House Winter, Adeline had wanted more of a stake in it.

"It was both, to be sure. I gave my opinions, but I was too young to know exactly how to make things happen in a castle. I imagine I'd be quite competent at wedding planning now, should my son and his future wife need the assistance. My wedding was a beautiful affair, though. The first wedding in the castle since the lands had been given to House Lennox."

[Aurora Letalis]

Aurora nodded her head in agreement with Sommara, even if she didn’t really agree. She had to put on a good impression in front of Adeline, of course. Aurora’s interest in Sommara’s question was obvious, angling her body towards Adelina to wait for the older woman to answer. Any information she could learn about other’s weddings was very much welcome, if only to make sure that she topped it. Besides, she just loved speaking about weddings.

“Oh that must have been very romantic,” Aurora replied. She did find it romantic, the idea of having the first wedding since the castle had been given to House Lennox. It was a way to truly break in the castle and make it their own. “Do you like the castle?” She asked, curious now as she had never really thought about how House Lennox had taken to the castle. They seemed to be a quiet type.

[Sommara Ashpool]

Sommara merely sat, smiled and looked pretty through the conversation. The subject had been changed from wedding to castle in the blink of an eye and since she'd already found out whatever she had asked, Sommara awaited the response to Aurora's question.

"Did you redecorate at all?" Sommara added, wondering if she had done so in taking over the Lady of the House status. With Sommara's impending wedding to Auron, the Lady of the House would never fall to her, unless something awful happened to both Alrik and his son. That, of course, never really crossed her mind.

[Adeline Lennox]

Adeline didn't even have to think about Aurora's question. "Oh, yes, it's beautiful, and Orqua's beautiful. It's very different from where I grew up, in Blasa, but I like the climate, prefer it even." It wasn't the only thing she preferred about her home versus her old family home.

She barely remembered what the decorations looked like back when Baird was alive, but she seemed to remember some redecorating on her part. "Well, the color scheme - the House colors of course - that remained the same, but I did some redecorating. When my children were born, I redid the rooms I gave to them, of course, and styles have changed since I took over as Lady. I try to keep the decorating as fashionable as I can."

[Sommara Ashpool]

Sommara only sat and smiled and looked pretty, which was what she did best. Redecorating Castle Argent would never fall to her, but she wondered if Aurora would take advantage of being Lady Letalis and make-over the Letalis estate. Ah, time had marched on and she actually needed to go see about her sisters. Sommara hadn't actually found any solace in the library, but even better, she'd found herself a level-headed lady to share in conversation with.

Of course, Sommara hadn't been able to ask her questions or receive any answers before Aurora came in, and Sommara wasn't going to press the issue. Maybe if she found Adeline alone again, Sommara would ask her.

"Well, dear ladies," Sommara said, rising. "If you will both please excuse me. I must be off now," Sommara added, flashing a debonair smile before she curtseyed and made her way out the door.