There are many people needing to be spoken to, to be embraced, to be thanked. There are those loyal who had stood by Rani's side that she cannot thank enough, for honouring their oaths, and moreso, for supporting she who was dearest to her. She cannot look to them yet, but wraps her arms around her Lakshmi, her lioness, her queen. Inhales the scent of her, feels the warmth of her skin, and she wishes more than anything that she could just collapse against her and hold her and forget against the rest of the world for a time.
It cannot be so. Not yet. Propriety hangs over them, as always it does. "I love you." Her fierce one. Her wonder, all these things she wishes to call her and cannot yet.
Her mother is at their side, leans up to kiss Magni's hair, squeezes Lakshmi's shoulder. The world beyond Lakshmi demands her already. With a gentle squeeze she releases Lakshmi, but keeps one hand at her lower back as her free arm embraces her mother, and she bows respectfully to Baghirathi, kisses her hand in thanks.
She needs to speak to the others present, and she feels so tired— but she must. Lakshmi has done so much this past month. She must do this. "My friends, I— thank all of you for standing at Talonhold's side. All of you who serve, who have been friends to those dearest to me and who have shown the truth of your hearts, I thank from the very bottom of my own." A breath. Talking, talking, talking. She is not so good at the talking. "There is much to discuss, and there are some of Talonhold still recovering who I will send assistance to presently. I think— I think tonight all of us returning will need to rest, but tomorrow evening we will all dine together, and arrangements will be made for a service to honour those who have not returned home."
A Jarlsmeet was not meant to have this cost. She feels so tired, and so fragile, and she is trying to force it back and away as much as possible, as she lets herself look back to her Rani, and and despite herself, despite her need to do better, her gaze asks if she did that right. In truth, she's so exhausted she barely knows.
no subject
It cannot be so. Not yet. Propriety hangs over them, as always it does. "I love you." Her fierce one. Her wonder, all these things she wishes to call her and cannot yet.
Her mother is at their side, leans up to kiss Magni's hair, squeezes Lakshmi's shoulder. The world beyond Lakshmi demands her already. With a gentle squeeze she releases Lakshmi, but keeps one hand at her lower back as her free arm embraces her mother, and she bows respectfully to Baghirathi, kisses her hand in thanks.
She needs to speak to the others present, and she feels so tired— but she must. Lakshmi has done so much this past month. She must do this. "My friends, I— thank all of you for standing at Talonhold's side. All of you who serve, who have been friends to those dearest to me and who have shown the truth of your hearts, I thank from the very bottom of my own." A breath. Talking, talking, talking. She is not so good at the talking. "There is much to discuss, and there are some of Talonhold still recovering who I will send assistance to presently. I think— I think tonight all of us returning will need to rest, but tomorrow evening we will all dine together, and arrangements will be made for a service to honour those who have not returned home."
A Jarlsmeet was not meant to have this cost. She feels so tired, and so fragile, and she is trying to force it back and away as much as possible, as she lets herself look back to her Rani, and and despite herself, despite her need to do better, her gaze asks if she did that right. In truth, she's so exhausted she barely knows.