The Fallen Queen

Chapter Two: Silver ring

She had been caught staring. The corner of the man's mouth went up ever so slightly in amusement. Felicity's face heated and she hoped no one would notice her blush. She averted her gaze back to the Ambassador as he began to ascend the steps. Felicity stepped down to meet him at the pedestal and all grew silent. They did not speak. There would be time for that later. Felicity smiled in greeting, nonetheless. After all, this was the culmination of many long hours of work between Felicity, Ional and their advisors. Her smile was not returned. The Ambassador had never been the jolly type. Instead, he created a triangle with both hands and held it over his forehead as he inclined his head; the traditional Sorian bow.

A page stepped forward barring a golden tray. He lifted it up to the pair; a small gold adorned ink well, a quill of the finest white feather, and a lit candle sat atop the tray. Felicity reached out and picked up the quill. She dipped it in the well before bending down to scroll her name on the parchment. Straightening, she offered the quill to Ional and took a half step back. Ional repeated the process. As he bent down Felicity happened to glance at the man with the silver ring. All amusement was gone from his face, his lips a stern line. Still, stern or amused, he was quite handsome. Felicity's eye fell to the ring once more.

Was it a lover's? Perhaps he had a wife back in Soria. And, if he had a wife then surely there were little red eyed children running around. Felicity let her gaze travel back to his face and once again met crimson eyes crinkled in mirth. Long black lashes encircled the red with a dark liner following the waterline to enhance the white of the eyes. His dark brows curved up into a soft arch that complimented the almond shape of his eyes. Felicity looked away, caught staring yet again. Thankfully no one seemed to have noticed. Ional straightened up and Felicity reached for the candle. Carefully she dripped red wax just below her name. Before it could dry, she pressed her signet ring into it and held it for a moment. Ional took the candle and did the same. Felicity made sure to mind her manners and did not chance a glance at the tall man beside Ional lest she be caught staring again. There was something so familiar about the man's eyes, now that she thought about it. Where they had met, she could not say. Maybe he had been at one of the many councils held to draft the agreement. Felicity settled on that thought and let it lie.

The signing completed, the two groups merged into one lead by both Felicity and Ional. Together they descended the steps and exited the throne room with great pomp and ceremony. Members of the aristocracy lined the walkway and began to applaud. Cheers went up all around. Greythorn had long enjoyed two hundred years of peace with its neighbors. They all looked forward to two hundred more. Felicity was not sure she could give them that, but she had given them the time they needed to figure it out.

"Well, Ambassador Ional, it seems we have done it." Felicity whispered as they walked at the head of the procession. "Thank you for helping us make this possible."

"You are most welcome, Your Majesty." Ional responded with a small smile painted upon his lips, "This arrangement is highly advantageous for both parties and popular amongst the common folk."

Ional was always so formal. Felicity wondered if she would ever see a real smile on his lips. In his three years in Greythorn he had been the picture of a perfect ambassador. Still, there was something about how his smile never reached his eyes that made it clear she had, yet, to meet the real Ional Cio Lau.

His companion on the other hand was a stark contrast. Felicity liked the way his eyes narrowed with even the smallest of smirks. She gambled a glance at the tall man walking just behind and to the left of Ional.

"Are you going to introduce me to your companion?" Felicity queried. Sophie would have gasped at the Queen's impertinence, but with Sophie out of ear shot, Felicity's curiosity got the better of her. Ional glanced at the black-haired man just behind him.