October, 447 HE

[peerless_thayet]

The keep is dark when Thayet leads her horse into the courtyard. The party ended hours ago. Most of the Earl of Hafdon's guests will be abed. Servants will be waiting, of course, but she'll avoid them whenever possible. Tomorrow is soon enough to listen to their tuts of disapproval. She managed to undress herself before she was Queen; she'll manage just as well tonight.

Rubbing the back of her neck with one mud coated hand, she spies a man in the shadows of the stable's main archway. She hands the reins over with barely disguised relief and says, "Thank you. She'll need a good rubdown, and her feet looked after."

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[peerless_thayet]

"Are we still speaking of the Earl?" she asks lightly, smiling.

However, the smile soon fades into a remorseful look. She brushes his fingers aside, assessing the damage for herself.

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon places his hand beneath Thayet's chin and gently raises her eyes to meet his.

"It's fine, dearest. You did what you had to." He tilts his head. "I'm sure the bandits would have been much more pleased if you had given thought to your dress."

[peerless_thayet]

His kindness sets her hand to shaking as she looses the lace on his shirt. Only now does she allow the strain to show.

"We saved the girls from the village," she tells him, "but lost two Riders in the process."

Thayet would change nothing about this task she set for herself, commanding the Queen's Riders; that said, she feels the responsibility acutely.

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon pulls the shirt off over his head and tosses it in the corner, more concerned with getting Thayet out of her dress and away from the thoughts the mud holds.

"The losses are terrible, but they knew the possibility. They died a warrior's death." He is unlacing her dress as he speaks.

[peerless_thayet]

Thayet looks over her shoulder, watching him, and otherwise keeps very still. It's really the only way she can help.

The laces are stiff and resistant. "You might as well cut them," she points out. "Even the most gifted seamstress in the realm would have a hard time salvaging any of this dress."

Swallowing, she faces forward again.

"The outlaws led us into a swamp. We were outmaneuvered. Sara took it upon herself to lead three of them away from the rest of us. That may be the only reason I'm standing here. It was very brave."

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon removes his belt knife and carefully cuts the laces to the dress and eases it off her shoulders. He grabs a blanket off an armchair, turns Thayet and carefully wraps the blanket around her and leads her to the bed, seating her there.

He sits in front of her and takes her hands, listening.

[peerless_thayet]

After casting a mournful glance at the dress, she huddles in the blanket and stares at their hands, absently turning them over until she can trace designs on the back of one of his.

"Rolfin grew up along the coast. The knowledge he brought to the Fifth Rider Group was indispensable. He killed several of the outlaws single-handedly before he fell. He'll be sorely missed.

"Jon." A quick, indrawn breath. "Unless I'm mistaken, at least three of them were Carthaki."

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon's hands tighten on hers unconsciously.

"Are you sure?"

The words are low and hard.

[peerless_thayet]

A distant look in her eyes, Thayet remembers the shadows and the speed; the sounds and the flashes of color.

She nods.

"It was hard to see. Two outlaws went after each other by mistake, another was on the way in. A man shouted the word for 'friend' and the other two turned away. I can't think of any other reasoning to explain it. Nor can I make much more sense of their target."

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

"Unless they knew you were nearby and would join the Riders. The girls were a trap."

Jon's expression is turning furious.

[peerless_thayet]

"We can't know for certain," she reminds him quietly. Thayet's own expression softens as she takes in his, and she strokes soothing hands over his shoulders and down his back. "It might not have been."

She kisses him gently, adding close to his ear, "But if it was, we now know to be better on our guard. Perhaps Sir Reginald will be kind enough to provide us with a guest list. And I'm sure someone at the palace has been keeping track of the ambassador's whereabouts."

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon sighs and nods, relaxing as Thayet's gentle hands move over his skin. He gathers her to him, holding her close.

"I'm just glad you are alright."

[peerless_thayet]

Thayet smiles against his shoulder. He's warm and comforting, and she's suddenly fiercely glad he's here.

"Saving those girls was well worth the price of the dress," she informs him in an even tone, "but I don't suppose you are concerned enough about my welfare to protect me from my lady's maids when they see it in the morning?"

The smile widens.

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon grins into her hair, then pulls back just enough to be able to see her face.

He leans down and stops a breath from her lips. "Not a chance."

[peerless_thayet]

A delicate sigh escapes. She stares into his eyes for a moment, then lowers her lashes and studies his lips, making no move to close the distance.

"I rather thought that might be your answer." She shakes her head sadly. "Knowing that, I might join the Fifth Rider Group in the forest after we clean up, thereby avoiding the whole issue."

Another almost kiss, and she stands, drops the blanket at her feet and moves in the direction of the bath.

"Unless you can persuade me to stay."

If she were a betting woman, Thayet would place good money on his chances.

[princejonathan.livejournal.com]

Jon almost tumbles to the floor in his haste to get off the bed and over to Thayet. He manages to grab her hand and swing her back around to him, pressing her body to his.

"I might be able to think of something," he murmurs as he finally captures her lips with his.

They don't manage to make it to the bath that night.