"cσмє, тнє qυєєη ιѕ ση тнє тняσηє"

[Light]

(Ja)

Early in the morning of the next day, the air around the outer city walls shimmered and slowly turned a light green. Seconds later, around the castle grounds, a golden one followed; seeming thicker than the other. As Snow had promised: barriers had been put up, courtesy of him and his magicians. His men had organized themselves and were about doing as they would, and should.

The General himself was in the castle gardens, making use of a pavilion that he had cleared of chairs and tables, to draw a large magic circle that was currently the cause of the gold dome that surrounded the castle. Empty ink bottles and frayed brushes littered the yard around the pavilion, and he looked around at the mess he had made during the night while working with tired eyes.

[~echo~]

Queen Evianna had gone to bed the day before although she hasn't slept. How could she have when her fther was dead on the battlefield somewhere? She dragged herself out of bed and dressed herself in a simple, sky blue dress. She walked to the window and looked outside. She saw the dome over the castle and saw a steady stream of civilians coming into the capital city. She sighed and fought back tears at the daunting task ahead of them. Finally, she went looking for the general.

[Light]

Snow had left the gardens, and was sharply snapping out orders, "Put the non-combatant civilians on the South side of the castle, away from where Aule is going to start attacking from. Tear down the buildings closest to the walls on the North and prepare traps in case they break through, and start to close the water-gates from that side. They'll start by poisoning that," men dart away from his side one after the other, racing to follow out his orders. His mouth snaps shut though as he spots the Queen, and sweeps a bow to her, "Good morning, your majesty,"

[~echo~]

Evianna dipped her head. "General Laesburn. Is there any way I can help with the preparations? I have a speech prepared so I may assure the citizens here that we are doing all we can." She gazed at him, biting her red lip.

[Light]

"A speech..." he slowly dragged out on his tongue, his mind piecing together what she had asked with what could be done. "... yes, that would be helpful. They've been slowly getting stressed, with having to leave their homes, and destroying them... I can have someone call the people together, and get a small platform set up..." he rubs his chin, tilting his head side to side, "Your Highness, may I suggest that you wear the most formal dress you have? Ahm... how do I say--" his ears twitch, the slightly pointed ends peaking out from under his hair, "if they see that you are happy, feel safe, and are a 'sparkling idol', they will calm down more so. Give them something to else focus on,"

[~echo~]

The queen sighed softly. "Yes. That is what I was thinking as well. It's just... I'm not sure I can carry all the weight of all those people."

[Light]

"All those people... Huh..." Snow motions to himself with the hand he had on his chin, "Don't worry, your Highness. I am your support, remember? So, no matter how heavy they may get--I will never let you fall, all you have to do is say your speech, smile, wave, and act. Act if you can't be happy,"

[~echo~]

Evianna nodded. "Yes. Of course," she said softly. "I will go get ready." She started to go away, then turned to look at him. "And, Laesburn? Thank you."

Timeskip~

Evianna looked at the crowd gathering at the front of podium, her throat constricting. She cleared her throat and looked down at her dress. It was a large skirt, with much crinoline under the top layer. It, too, was sky blue as that was her best color. It was trimmed in silver thread and she wore her usual silver necklace. She looked around for Laesburn but then calmed herself and looked at her written speech. It was time to hone her talent as an actress.

[Light]

A flash of white moved through the crowd, the general doing a small safety check of the people before he finally stopped. He settled and stood stiffly at the side of the podium, his brown eyes scanning the many faces.

[~echo~]

Evianna allowed his presence to calm her before standing and making her way to the podium. A silver circlet with a blue gem rested upon her brow- she was the picture of regality, even at such a tender age. She took a deep breath and sent a dazzling smile to the crowd. A hush fell upon the crowd and she paused a moment before beginning.

"Good people of Weisenwald," she began, her voice having been magically enhanced to carry better. "We are at the brink of war. Aule marches upon our borders, and it may seem to you that all is lost. But never fear! I, Queen Evianna, daughter of former king Alaric, will protect you, my people in these troubling times. This kingdom may be small, but we are mighty. We will fight to the very end, until every twisted creature crawling from the depths of Aule is defeated and chased from this land. We will be victorious because of you. You are the shining purpose behind our valiant war. You are the horses pulling the carriage of our cause. You, my good people, are our reason to have hope. With every child born, we renew ourselves, with every young couple becoming one, we have more reason to hope. So thank you, people of Weisenwald, for you are our strength- nay, my strength. I will never give up until I see this country purged of the demons of Aule- until we win this war. Thank you."

The speech took little over ten minutes to complete, but the crowd erupted into cheers. Evianna was a convincing public speaker, smiling at the appropriate times during her speech and putting on a determined face at others.

[Light]

Snow began to nod his head in approval as Evianna neared the end of her speech. He clapped softly, to not seem out of place in the moment as it ended, and remained standing on-guard. Let the noblemen or her knights handle everything that his appearance would mess up.

[~echo~]

Many people came to speak to the queen afterwards and she assured each of them with her confident and friendly smile. When the crowd was gone, Eviana looked lost. She gazed at general Snow. She shot him a small smile.

[Light]

He loosened his shoulders as son as the last of the crowd had left, and turned to face her. "A very nice speech, your Highness; as expected. I suggest returning to the castle to go over reports that arrived during your absence."

[~echo~]

Evianna hated the way he 'suggested' things to her but she nodded anyways. "Yes. You are right. And thank you for the compliment. If anything my father taught me, it was writing."

[Light]

"..." his ears twitch, and halfway through her speaking he had seemed to come back to attention, "Your father was very good at that. I am glad to see he had passed it onto his daughter. It will come in handy in the days to come."

[~echo~]

Evianna nodded and chuckled a bit. "Yes, I suppose it will," she agreed. "I will be going now," she continued.

[Light]

"Please be careful in your return, your highness. The wind tells that rain is being brought with the coming clouds, from the border." he bows his head as a goodbye, "May Fortuna be with you,"

[~echo~]

"Oh, wait," she said. "Would you be so kind as to dine with me this evening? The long table in the dining room gets rather lonely," she continued. "I would be honored if you would join me." She watched him hopefully.

[Light]

Snow paused a moment before he nodded his head, "Of course, your Majesty, it is I who should be honored the privilege of sharing the same table as your Majesty,"

[~echo~]

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "I am glad."