"Such is the hope. I do not fancy the torture if they catch us." Or the humiliation she would suffer far beyond that. But the grimace is brief before she settles in. The slip of something eager and bloody back into her hands. Seized at once with that purpose that turns everything muted, fdar off to the loud ringing note, home, home, home. How many days, weeks, months? The desert, the rivers, hidden away deep into the stone of the earth itself.

Would he find it as beautiful as she did?

But she falls quiet, after that, her mind sinking into the role she must be here. The teasing and laughter of falling into his arms the night before gone behind it. Queen in her kingdom, once more.

When she's needed she directs the pilot to help them land where the easiest route could be compromised for. Every word clipped, rolling on her heels with the tense impatience. It is only as they come close that she speaks to him once more, the liberation at being back that wells up as she ventures the words to him before they land. "Welcome to Jhansi."

The rest follows and it's her guards that keep her dignified, from tearing out of the ship back onto the land of her home like a mad thing. Immediate is the heat, a blaring bright sun. Blue skies over brown, sandy earth that her lifts a hands reflexively to block from her vision, looking out at the place they disembark.