Birthright: The Contested Seat

Wayin

The gardens of Lord Galia's castle were said to rival even those of Galverin. As Wayin wandered through them, he was struck by the array of scents that filled the air. It was a rich tapestry of floral aromas, each distinct yet harmoniously blended. Despite the overwhelming presence of flowers, there remained a persistent hint of saltiness, carried on the breeze from the nearby sea. This combination created a complex but delightful fragrance that seemed to capture the essence of the Riverlands.

Wayin felt that this scent perfectly encapsulated the uniqueness of the region. It wasn't just the smell of flowers or the sea; it was the smell of the Riverlands itself. The people, their lifestyle, everything about them could be understood just by breathing in the air here in Lord Galia's gardens.

The queen had invited Wayin and Lady Alice for a stroll through the expansive gardens, a place of undeniable beauty that Wayin wished he could enjoy more peacefully. The queen's company, however, always brought a heavy dose of anxiety and stress, a weight that he found almost unbearable alone. Since Alice had joined them on their journey to Galenport, these daunting feelings had lessened. Her presence provided a much-needed buffer against the queen's intense focus, something Wayin hadn't realized just how much he needed until it was there.

Sharing the burden of the queen's attention with Alice was an unexpected relief. The queen was a formidable presence, often overwhelming in her intensity and demands, almost too much for Wayin to handle by himself. But Lady Alice matched the queen in formidability, her strength and composure offering a counterbalance that made their interactions more manageable.

As they strolled through the lush gardens, the queen and Alice walked arm in arm, a picture of unity, while Wayin kept pace beside them. The serene environment of blooming flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves were contrasted sharply by the queen's vexed tone. "The audacity of my father to treat me as though I am still a child," she seethed, her voice a mix of anger and disbelief. "He dared to lecture me in front of another lord. A lord who pays homage to me, I might add."

Alice responded with a calm, soothing voice, trying to offer a perspective that might diffuse the queen's irritation. "He does spend an awful lot of time in the mountains," she noted gently. "Perhaps he's just frustrated that he had to come down from there?"

"Frustrated about what? I am ruling just fine without his help," the queen retorted sharply. Her frustration was clear as she continued, "He had many opportunities to intervene. I sent invitation after invitation, and he denied them all. He didn't even come to Javos' funeral."

The queen's tone, flippant and edged with bitterness as she mentioned the late king, betrayed where her true distress lay. It seemed her grief stemmed more from her father's neglect than from the loss of her husband. Wayin understood the complexities of her feelings well; he knew that she had never truly cared for Javos Arintear. Their marriage had been one of necessity, not affection, a sentiment that, according to Lord Varyth, was mutually unenthusiastic.

As they continued their walk, Wayin reflected on the sad reality of her situation. Both the queen and Javos had been caught in the web of nobility, where personal desires often succumbed to the weighty demands of duty and appearance. It was a common tale among the aristocracy, where strategic alliances forged through marriage often overshadowed the personal happiness of the individuals involved.

"Why has he decided to come down now, I wonder?" Alice inquired. Wayin, aware of the reasons, sensed that Alice likely harbored her own theories. The question seemed designed to coax the queen into revealing her awareness of the political currents at play—a subtle maneuver to gauge her insight into the broader implications of her father's actions.

The queen's response was sharp and laced with venom. "I know precisely why. He's come to auction me off like some common whore, just as he did the first time," she spat bitterly, her expression tight with anger. "He is going to initiate my courting season once more, forcing me to suffer the company of countless lords and lordlings who can barely count to three, much less court a woman."