Chapter Text
After Dromer mutters a few more orders to the guards and closes the carriage door, Anna takes a moment to consider the weight of the situation she’s in. She glances nervously around the carriage and she realizes that Dromer must have gone through a great deal of trouble to ensure that she would find the carriage to her liking. The seats below her are comfortable enough for the long journey, and she is happy to find that the small windows have curtains to shield her from the public’s view. When she leans her head back against her seat, she is shocked to find an elaborate painting of the night sky on the ceiling of the carriage. In each corner of the painting are illustrations of some of the larger Wintertide cities. Annaline instantly recognizes the drawing of Messner’s cityscape, a small smile gracing her features as she stares at the familiar wooden buildings.
Messner and really all of Wintertide had always been a wonder to her as a young child from the deserts of Korhala. When she had first arrived in Wintertide, it had taken her a while to accept the winter wonderland truly existed. She had been so weak and embarrassed after her battle with the witch doctors, and the Messner citizens took her in without a second thought. She had regained her strength and confidence after a few weeks of patrolling the hills and assisting the locals, and she felt like she had found a new home. If there was anywhere in Wintertide that could calm her nerves, it would be Messner.
Annaline knew that Dromer was reluctant to let her stay in a town so far from Torran Dominion, but she hadn’t given him much of a choice. She knows she’s playing a dangerous game by making such requests of a man like him. She had heard tales of the former King of Wintertide, Xion the Great, from the time she was young. It was well known throughout Auratia that he was an honorable man and a beloved leader. His eldest son, however, had a very different reputation.
Dromer Xion was a quiet and studious young man. His interests spanned from alchemy and history to military strategy and combat training. Dromer never seemed to have any interest in forming interpersonal relationships, and he developed a fearsome temper at a very young age. If you were foolish enough to make an enemy out of Dromer Xion, you were sure to fall victim to his sadistic ways. The royal family did their best to keep the young prince’s issues out of the public eye, but rumors still spread throughout the castle.
As Dromer came of age, his father tasked him with the supervision of Torran Dominion prison. King Xion came to realize his mistake as several agencies soon informed him that Torran’s war prisoners were being tortured. Furious at his son’s cruelty, the king informed Dromer that he intended to leave the throne to Dromer’s younger brothers. Dromer was furious.
According to rumors, Dromer then framed his father for treason and had him sent to Torran Dominion prison. King Xion never had time to inform the council of his intention to keep Dromer from the throne, so his wishes went unheeded. And shortly after the King’s arrest, Dromer’s younger brothers went missing.
Annaline had met the second eldest Xion prince when she rescued him from his kidnappers in the Southern mountains. The youngest son has yet to be found. It is believed that Xion’s nephew and his daughter, Eve, escaped into a nearby country, but neither the Nethergloom nor Skyhammer were ever able to confirm their whereabouts. Annaline can’t imagine what the locals must think of their infamous ruler. Then again, the Torran citizens are so loyal to the Xion family that she doubts anyone would ever voice a complaint against him. The Osirians only discovered his crimes after several of Dromer’s prisoners escaped and managed to get back to Korhala.
Why Sabosha would agree for her to marry a criminal like Dromer Xion is still a mystery to her. Perhaps he expects her to kill him while he sleeps, she muses. But without an heir to the throne, the last thing the Osirans need is to have Torran Dominion thrown into chaos.
Annaline sticks her head out of the window of the carriage to scan the road behind them. She had been wondering if Dromer had decided to follow them after all, and her recent train of thought had made her slightly paranoid. Dromer had a way of looking at her that made her think he could read her thoughts. To her relief, she finds only a scowling guard riding on a Sailhorn dragon.
Annaline returns to her seat with a sigh. She is not sure what to make of the young king, and she knows that her decision to stay in Messner is not going to make figuring that out any easier.
<><><><>
When the carriage arrives in Messner, Annaline is thrilled to find General Xavier and several of her friends from the local guard waiting for her.
Smiling for the first time since she’s arrived, she happily steps out of the carriage and onto the snowy ground below.
“Annaline Porter. It’s good to see you again.” General Xavier says with a smile.
Annaline does her best to give him a reassuring look in return, but the lingering concern in his eyes does not go unnoticed.
Annaline hears a gasp followed by rapid footsteps in her direction, and she turns to find the town hall’s head maid, Muriel, running towards them.
“What the hell are they thinking making a lovely thing like you marry a monster like him?!?” She says angrily as she pulls Annaline towards her for a tight hug.
Annaline returns her embrace and closes her eyes as she rests her head against the old woman’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” She says with as much confidence as she can muster.
Muriel pulls away from the hug with tears in her eyes. She nods at Annaline before she motions for the young servants to carry Annaline’s things into the town hall.
“We couldn’t believe it when we heard about the arrangement. And we were even more surprised to hear that you’d be coming to stay here.” Muriel says as she walks beside her.
Annaline chuckles. “It was quite the surprise for me as well.”
Muriel sighs and tightens her hold on Anna’s arm. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. We hoped you’d come back to visit someday.”
“It’s a shame that it’s under these circumstances.” Xavier remarks.
Annaline smiles ruefully at him.
As they reach the entrance to the hall, General Xavier whispers some orders to the guards and they salute him before rushing towards the stables.
Turning back to Annaline, he says “We’ve informed the dragon keeper of your arrival. He’s more than happy to take on a few more clients.”
Annaline smiles and touches his arm. “Thank you. I really appreciate it. And I’m sorry this is all such short notice.”
The general shakes her head at her. “Nonsense. It’s an honor to have the future Queen of Wintertide here in Messner.”
Annaline’s face pales at his casual use of her new title. Muriel senses her discomfort and starts to guide her up the steps.
“Anna, darling, I think you’ll be very happy with what we’ve put together for you. I’m sure you remember the little library next to the war room? Well, I know how much you liked the view from the windows, so I convinced them to set up a little bedroom for you there.”
“Muriel, that’s wonderful. Thank you so much!” She exclaims as she throws her arms around the woman’s shoulders.
“It was my pleasure, dear. Now, why don’t you go up and rest for a while? I left some new clothes for you in the dresser. I trust you still remember the way up?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Annaline says with a warm smile.
“Very good. I’ll let you get settled in, and we’ll see you downstairs for dinner in a few hours.” Muriel says as she begins to walk back towards the kitchens.
Annaline walks up the familiar steps to the war room. She is stopped along the way by many familiar faces, all excited to see the young warrior again.
When she gets to the royal guard’s desk, Julian jumps out of his seat to hug and lift her into the air.
“Annaline! You’re here!” He yells.
“It’s good to see you too, Jules!”
As he releases her and places her back on the ground, he looks at her with a pitying expression.
“So is it true?” He asks.
Annaline nods.
Julian shakes his head disapprovingly. “That’s...insane. I’m so sorry, Anna.”
Annaline smiles and shrugs her shoulders. “Thank you. It’s going to be an adjustment for us all.”
Julian chuckles. “You sound so diplomatic already. You may make a good Queen after all.” He jokes.
Annaline rolls her eyes as she hits him on the shoulder.
“What can you tell me about him?” She asks curiously.
Julian’s brows furrow. “About who? The king? I don’t know much about him, Anna. No one does.”
Annaline nods thoughtfully. “Do you really think he had his brothers kidnapped?”
“It’s hard to say.” He responds with a shrug. “None of the bandits we captured ever mentioned Dromer by name. Then again, there aren’t too many people in Torran Dominion with the money and power to pull something like that off.”
“And the former king? Is he really stuck in the dungeon?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Annaline sighs and rubs her forehead.“I just don’t get it. Why would Dromer choose to marry me? I’ve never even met him before.”
“Really? Not even when you were here the first time?” Julian asks, his head perking up in surprise.
“No. The Torran Dominion soldiers weren’t happy about me being in the area, but they never dragged me to the castle or the prison.”
“Huh.”
Annaline frowns at Julian’s odd response but decides not to call him on it.
“Well, I should get my things unpacked.” She declares. “Muriel will have a fit if I don’t.”
“You’ve got that right.” He says in agreement as he moves some papers around on his desk.
Annaline turns to the door of the bedroom, but she pauses as her fingers grasp the handle.
“Hey, Julian?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I’m in any danger?”
“From the king, you mean?”
Annaline nods.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” He admits with his eyes full of worry.
Annaline nods again before she turns away and enters the bedroom.
The room is every bit as beautiful as she remembers. She had often found herself falling asleep on the old couches that sat in front of the small fireplace when she had first stayed in Messner. Muriel had eventually placed a small cot in the room so that Annaline no longer had to sleep in the barracks.
Annaline smiles as she lies down in the beautiful wooden bed. She feels safer sleeping in the busy town hall than she has in most places in her life. She falls asleep to the sound of the fire crackling in the fireplace and the comforting smell of old books.
When she awakens, she rushes to the dresser to pick out an outfit for dinner. Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of the expensive dresses before her. Muriel had said that she had brought them up for her, but Annaline is sure that they were purchased by someone else in Torran Dominion--perhaps even made for her there.
Hesitantly, she pulls out a beautiful tan dress with a short white cape and throws it over her head.
She notices several pieces of jewelry laid out in boxes on a nearby shelf, and she wonders for a moment if Dromer had them sent as well.
Annaline picks up a silver necklace and holds it out in front of her neck. She cannot bring herself to put it on, so she places it back in the box.
“Miss Porter?” A voice calls from the doorway.
Annaline whips around to face the young servant. “Yes?”
“It’s time for dinner, ma’am.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll be right down.”
“Very good, ma’am.”
Annaline hurries down the stairs and through the halls to the dining room.
When she arrives, she is surprised to find the room relatively empty. The general and a few high-ranking local officials sit at the table, lost in their conversation.
As she steps into the room, the men stand and nod their heads in an almost-bow.
Annaline chuckles uncomfortably. “What are you doing?” She asks.
“His highness instructed us to treat you as the Queen of Wintertide. And we have to greet the Queen properly, don’t we?” Xavier says with a smirk.
Annaline blushes. “Ah, I see. But please sit down. You’re making me nervous. I feel like I’m supervising recruits all over again.” She jests.
The men smile and take their seats.
Muriel and her crew appear in the doorway, and the general greets them warmly.
“Ah, it’s about time! We’re starving!”
“Oh, hold your horses. We’re serving the guest of honor first.” Muriel scolds as she approaches Annaline with a large plate of food.
As Muriel comes closer, a familiar smell hits Annaline’s nostrils.
Muriel sets the plate down in front of her, and Annaline’s jaw drops.
“Is this...from Korhala?” She asks, in awe of the elaborate dish in front of her.
The mayor stares down at his plate in confusion. “What the hell is this?”
Annaline chuckles and grabs her fork. “It’s a Korhalan delicacy. The Korhalan noble families are lucky if they have it once a year! Muriel, how did you do this?”
Muriel smiles devilishly. “I have my ways. Thought you could use a taste of home.”
“I love it. This is amazing. How did you find all the ingredients? The spice merchants can be very difficult.”
“You’d be surprised how amenable merchants can be when they hear their products will be on a Queen’s dining table,” Muriel says proudly.
Annaline’s blush deepens as she mutters, “I’m hardly a queen. I have only been engaged for a few hours now.”
“More like six months,” Xavier says with his mouth full of food.
Muriel scowls and threatens to hit him with her serving spoon.
“Ah! You know I’m just messing with you, Anna.” He says quickly.
Annaline motions for Muriel to lower her spoon. “Yes, I know. I don’t mind it. This whole situation is a joke.”
“Well, I’m not happy about you having to be around that psycho, but I can’t think of anyone who would make a better queen,” Muriel says affectionately.
Annaline takes her hand in hers. “Thank you, Muriel. For everything.”
Xavier rolls his eyes. “Can we just keep eating now, please?”
Anna and Muriel chuckle and dig into their food.
<><><>
Annaline spends the next few days reacquainting herself with the town and the surrounding areas.
The young boy she saved years ago has grown into a strong and tiresomely energetic boy who is convinced that he will marry Annaline in the future. His parents do everything they can to explain to him that she’s marrying the king, but Jonah insists that he will duel Dromer for her hand. After Annaline introduces the boy to a few of her dragons, he decides he’s more interested in becoming an Osira than dueling the king. Anna isn’t sure if that comforts or frightens his parents more.
Annaline’s evenings are filled with food and laughter at the town hall. It is so easy for her to relax around Xavier and Muriel as though nothing has changed since the last time she’s seen them.
The simplicity of her daily routine in Messner gives her a sense of calm that she didn’t know she was looking for. Unfortunately, the life of an Osiran never stays calm for very long.
A few days pass before Annaline is startled out of bed by the sound of someone moving things around in the next room.
Cursing whoever woke her up this early, Annaline dons her clothing and opens the door to the war room.
She finds several servants frantically dusting and sweeping the area. They do not acknowledge her, even as she passes them as she heads to the stairs.
She nearly crashes into several more busy servants as she climbs down the steps.
When she finally manages to find the general, she grabs him by the arm.
“What the hell is going on?” She asks.
Xavier stops and stares at Annaline with a frown. “Didn’t anyone tell you? The king is coming to visit you.”
Annaline’s face pales. “What? He’s coming here? To Messner? When?” She demands.
“He’s arriving tomorrow. You really didn’t know?”
“How would I have known? You’re supposed to be my eyes and ears in here!” She yells.
Xavier flinches at her tone. “Ah, I’m sorry. I suppose the preparations had us all a little distracted. But it is strange, don’t you think?”
“What is?”
“That he didn’t send you a message about his impending arrival.”
“Yeah, I suppose it is,” Annaline says with a frown.
<><><><>
Annaline spends the next day being fitted into her dresses and lectured on proper manners.
When the king finally arrives, Annaline is sitting anxiously on her bed, completely unable to relax.
After the guards formally announce his arrival, she solemnly walks down the steps towards the foyer. Dromer watches her every move with rapt attention.
As she reaches the bottom of the stairs, she does her best to smile at him, but the intense look in his eyes makes her nervous.
“Your majesty.” She says, curtsying politely.
“Annaline.” He says affectionately.
“I trust you had a safe journey.”
“Yes, it was quite...tolerable.” He says as he looks around the room.
Annaline glances to the hallway and finds Muriel walking towards them. She throws her a goofy look before she turns her attention to Dromer.
“Welcome, your majesty. We’re honored to have you here. We’ve prepared several dishes if you’re hungry from your journey.” Muriel says with a bow in his direction.
“No, thank you,” Dromer says curtly.
Annaline looks up at him with a frown and he quickly adds, “But perhaps later.”
He then places his hand on her shoulder, much to her displeasure.
“Annaline and I are going on a walk.” He announces.
Anna stares at him with a look of disbelief. “What? We are?”
“Yes...if that’s alright with you.” He says softly.
Annaline mentally kicks herself for talking back to him in front of his soldiers. “Yes, that’s fine.” She replies with what she hopes is a reassuring smile.
Dromer smiles in return and moves to exit the building, nodding slightly at Xavier as he passes.
The couple walks quietly beside each other until they reach the gate leading out of town.
Dromer motions for the guards to open the gates and they rush ahead to do so.
They walk out into the snow and Annaline buttons her fur coat a little tighter.
“How are you settling in?” He asks suddenly.
“Very well, your majesty. Everyone has been very kind to me.”
“I would hope so.” He says with a hint of a threat.
Annaline lets out a small sigh before she decides to change the subject.
“How are things in the dominion?” She asks.
Dromer stops walking and Annaline nearly crashes into him.
“The dominion is doing well, as always.” He says without hesitation.
Annaline nods. “Ah, yes, of course.”
“And you?” He asks, his voice betraying more emotion than he’d like.
“And I what?” She snaps.
“Are you...doing well?”
Annaline stares at him before a moment before she sighs and says, “Yes, your majesty, I am.”
“Very good,” Dromer responds with a slight nod.
Annaline frowns as she continues to study him. She had intended to have a frank discussion of their situation, but the dark circles under his eyes convince her otherwise.
Annaline takes a deep breath in before she starts.
“Forgive me if I’m being too forward, your highness, but you look exhausted. Perhaps we should head back to the hall so you can rest before dinner?” She offers.
“I suppose that would be best. I have had a long journey.” Dromer says as he rubs his forehead.
Annaline feels a wave of guilt rush over her as she realizes the inconvenience she’s caused him.
<><><>
Dromer resurfaces in time for dinner, and the dining room has a very different feel to it than usual. There is no laughter, no sounds of joyous eating. The room is so quiet that every servant seems terrified to make any kind of sound.
“Is the food not to your liking?” Dromer asks, having watched Annaline pick at her food for a while.
Annaline smiles nervously. “Oh, no, the food is wonderful.”
Dromer frowns as he studies her. “Then why do you look so unhappy?”
“Well, it’s just that you’re quite far away, and I’m used to more...conversation at dinner.” She admits.
Dromer is silent for a moment and the servants exchange concerned looks.
Annaline is prepared to apologize for offending him, but he surprises them all by picking up his plate and moving to the seat next to her.
“Better?” He asks.
“Uh, yes, your majesty. Thank you.”
Dromer smiles as he sees Annaline begin to eat again in earnest.
As the dinner comes to an end, Annaline feels a pit growing in her stomach.
She knows they aren’t married yet, but she hopes and prays to Morgath that Dromer does not expect her to share a bed with him.
The servants clear the table and Dromer moves to get out of his chair.
Annaline slowly rises from her seat and waits for him to give her some indication of what he expects from her.
Dromer surveys the room with a look of curiosity before he turns to find Annaline fidgeting beside him.
He stares at her with a slight frown as he sees the nervous look in her eyes.
He motions for them to walk into the hallway and she follows closely behind him.
Once they are out of earshot of the staff and soldiers, he says, “I’m happy to see you again. It is a relief to know you’re comfortable here.”
Annaline stares at him in surprise. “Thank you for allowing me to reside here, your majesty.” She says, hoping that he can see the gratitude in her eyes.
Dromer smiles. “Of course. Now, I should get some rest. Good night, Annaline.”
“Good night, your majesty,” Annaline responds automatically as she turns to leave the hall.
“Dromer.” He corrects.
Annaline turns around and throws him a look of confusion.
Dromer’s cheeks redden slightly as he explains, “You don’t need to address me as ‘your majesty’.”
“Oh, alright. Good night, Dromer.”
“Good night, my Queen.”
<><><><><>
The next few visits pass along the same way as the first. Annaline wakes in the morning with a stomach full of nerves. She dons a nice dress and some jewelry before she greets Dromer in the foyer. They go on a walk around the grounds and return for lunch. Then he has some meetings with the locals and returns to the hall in time for dinner. They bid each other good night, and he sleeps for a few hours before having to leave for the dominion again.
Annaline starts to consider his visits as just another part of her Messner routine. Some part of her thinks that as long as he goes back to Torran at the end of the day, she can stay in Messner forever.
But when Dromer shows up in the early hours of the day with a large group of his personal guard, she knows her life is about to change forever.
When Muriel comes into her room, Annaline cannot bring herself to make conversation. Muriel knows that there are no words that could make Annaline feel any better. And she doesn’t really have to say anything--Anna can see it all written in her eyes.
Muriel places the last untouched outfit out on the bed. It is a beautiful white dress with a blue and white fur-trimmed coat. She helps Annaline get dressed and she combs her long hair into her signature bun.
Muriel takes one of the jewelry boxes down from the shelf and holds it out to her.
Annaline shakes her head and pushes the box away from her.
“Anna, it’s time,” Muriel says as she offers the jewelry to her again.
With a sigh, Annaline unlocks the box and pulls out the elaborate necklace. She holds it up against her neck while Muriel carefully clips the chain in place.
Muriel turns to leave the room, but Annaline remains frozen on the bed, staring at nothing.
She places her hand on Anna’s shoulder, and the young woman finally snaps out of her daze. Annaline throws her an unconvincing smile before she gets up and heads out the door.
Many people stop to wish her well and thank her for all she’s done for the city as they pass her, but Annaline can barely manage to smile in return. Her head is pounding and she feels like she’s stuck in some strange dream.
She catches sight of Dromer at the end of the hall and her blood runs cold. His eyes widen as he takes in the sickly paleness of her skin and the deadened look in her eyes.
He rushes over to her, and she can’t help but think it’s like the end is coming right towards her.
“Annaline, are you feeling alright?” He asks in concern, his hand tracing over her cheek.
Annaline flinches at his touch, and Dromer quickly pulls his hand back.
“I...I’m sorry.” He says quietly, and Annaline wonders if he’s sorry for more than touching her cheek. “The carriages will be ready in a few minutes. I’ll have one of the servants make you some tea for the road.”
Annaline nods but does not meet his eyes.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes.” He says as he passes her to exit the hallway.
As he rounds the corner, he glances back at Annaline standing frozen in the center of the hallway. He wishes more than anything that there had been another way.
<><><>
Dromer waits anxiously inside the carriage for Annaline to arrive.
He knew she would be unhappy about leaving Messner, but it was time to begin the wedding preparations, and she needed to at least step foot into the place that would be her home for decades to come.
Dromer is about to go looking for her himself when the carriage door flies open.
He looks up to find Annaline’s large brown eyes gazing back at him. He nervously clears his throat as he sits back against the cushions.
A guard helps Annaline into the carriage, and she sits a few feet away from Dromer, but not entirely against the door, he notes with some satisfaction.
Annaline folds her hands in her lap and Dromer is struck by just how small the young woman is. For someone who has taken down giants and fought dragons, she takes up an incredibly small amount of space. Dromer is not as concerned about keeping a physical distance between them, and he finds himself inadvertently inching closer to her as the journey goes on.
Some part of him hopes that if he gets close enough to her, she’ll have to look at him--to talk to him. Even if she yells or screams or cries, he just wants to know what she’s thinking.
By nightfall, Annaline still hasn’t acknowledged his presence one way or another.
Dromer knows that Osiran warriors can stay awake for days if necessary, so when she falls asleep against the window, he knows she must trust him a little.
One of the things that first struck him about her was that you could learn so much about her just by looking into her eyes. She could see right through you, but her eyes also revealed just how much was going on in her own mind. She was intense, there was no doubt about that--both in battle and in life. But now, sleeping peacefully beside him, she finally looks relaxed.
Her head soon falls onto Dromer’s shoulder and he wonders for a moment if he should push her back towards the window. She wouldn’t be happy with him if she woke up like this, but he can’t imagine that she’d respond well to being moved either.
Before he can make up his mind, he finds his own eyes slowly closing, and he drifts off to sleep with his head on hers.
<><><>
Annaline is the first to wake a few hours later. When she opens her eyes and feels a strange weight against her side on her head, she tenses. She glances to the side and her eyes widen to saucers as she realizes the strange weight is Dromer’s sleeping body.
Luckily, the carriage stops a few seconds later, and the jolt stirs Dromer from his slumber.
“Ah!” He exclaims as he sits up and pulls back the curtain.
“Have we arrived?” Annaline asks.
“Yes, we have.” He says, secretly thrilled that she’s finally spoken to him.
He quickly exits the carriage and moves around to open Annaline’s door for her.
She takes his hand and she almost loses her balance as she takes in the sight of the tall buildings of Torran Dominion.
“Welcome to the dominion, my Queen,” Dromer says proudly.
Annaline is too distracted by the strange scenery to respond, but Dromer hardly minds. He is more than happy to take advantage of the opportunity to hold her hand and guide her through the city while she stares wide-eyed at it all.
He offers her some information about the dominion’s history, but most of it falls on deaf ears.
It’s not until they reach the gates to the Torran Dominion castle that Annaline snaps out of her reverie.
Dromer moves to help her up the steps to the entrance, but she pulls back on his arm.
“Annaline?” He asks.
“I just...I need a minute.” She says as she releases his hand and walks in the opposite direction.
Dromer sighs and waves one of the guards after her. “Follow her. Make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble. And keep her away from the prison, understood?”
“Yes, sir!” The guard says with a quick salute before he heads in Annaline’s direction.
Annaline keeps walking down the different streets in hopes that she’ll find somewhere peaceful to sit so she can catch her breath.
After the third or fourth dead end, she curses and kneels in the snow.
“Ma’am?” The guard says from behind her.
Annaline closes her eyes and chuckles bitterly. “He had you follow me?”
“He wanted to make sure you were safe, ma’am.”
“You mean he wanted to make sure I wasn’t running.”
“The King knows there aren’t any exits on this side of the dominion. And if I had to guess, so do you. Now, there’s a nice garden with a fountain a few streets back. I could take you to it, or we could return to the palace.”
Annaline studies the young guard with a suspicious expression for a moment before she relaxes and returns to her feet.
“I would appreciate that. Thank you.”
The guard nods and motions for her to follow him.
<><><><>
When Annaline returns to Dromer outside of the palace, she is surprised to find him standing almost nervously in the middle of the courtyard.
“I’m sorry. I was just a little overwhelmed.” She says as she reaches him.
“Of course. I understand. Now, come here. I want to show you something.” He says as he walks towards the building across from the castle gates.
Annaline follows behind him with a curious look on her face.
As they enter the house, Annaline is surprised to see the variety of rugs, plants, and art. Most homes in Wintertide are quite simple in their decor, and the style almost reminds her of the colorful homes in Lilia City and Wift.
Dromer continues up the stairs to a huge bedroom with a small library, a study, and a separate area for the bed.
“Do you like it?” He asks.
Annaline nods. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen a room like this. Whose is it?”
“Yours.” He says simply.
“What?”
“It’s your room. I didn’t think you were quite ready to stay in the castle, so I had this house furnished for you. I know it’s not Messner, but I hope that you will come to like it here.”
Annaline feels her eyes filling with tears, so she turns away to look at the study.
“I...if you don’t like it, I’m sure we can find something else. It’s no problem, I--” Dromer rambles with a look of disappointment growing on his face.
Annaline waves her hands to stop him. “No, it’s perfect. Thank you.” She says with a warm smile.
Dromer’s eyes light up at her response.
“Well, I’ll let you get settled in. I have some business to attend to in Lynor, so I won’t be back for a few days.” He says as he fidgets with the books on her desk.
He hesitates before continuing, and Annaline raises an eyebrow at him.
“I arranged for some of the local officials to accompany you for dinner--if that’s alright with you.” He says, searching her eyes fearfully.
Annaline chuckles. “Yes, that’s fine. But are you sure you should be traveling again so soon? We only just arrived here.”
“I can assure you I’ll be fine. But your concern is greatly appreciated.” He says with a smirk.
“Then I will see you when you return.” She says, feeling her cheeks redden once again.
“I look forward to it.” He whispers as he tilts her chin up with his hand.