The summer evening air flows through the open windows of Theowyn's chambers. He is sitting by the fireplace reading a book when the knock onthe door is produces, and Elyse's entrance is announced. A pleased smile comes to his features, though perhaps it is a little strained as thoughts tug at his mind. He stands to full height. "My Princess..." he greets as she enters.

Elyse smiles gently, her own thoughts expressing a bit of preoccupation across her features as well, but her well-trained voice is still warm and eloquent as she returns the greeting with a courtly curtsey, "My Prince," on the arm of the officer she has been on the arm of much since Sohai's death. Two other guardsmen shadow her steps behind. "I do hope I am not intruding?" spoken as she rises from her curtsey, not knowing if Theowyn is entertaining another guest or not as well.

"Not at all, Princess," Theowyn confirms, as he heads toward Elyse to take escort of her. "Though your escort, on the other hand," his tone is near jestful, though in truth he takes barely any notice of them as he moves to sweep her arm to his side so that he can escort her the remainder of the way within.

Her smile brightens, growing warmer, as Theowyn takes Elyse by the arm and leads her further. Her guardsmen remain within, for her protection, and for her virtue's protection--though that's not stated. They do, however, respect privacy of conversation if not privacy of visage, and remain within at a discreet distance away, still within line of sight of Elyse, though out of earshot. "How is Her Majesty?" Elyse asks first in a soft voice after ascertaining that Theowyn's lack of introduction indicates that there is no one else in his company here.

"Better then my brother," Theowyn admits as he escorts Elyse further within the room, not even turning back to the gaurds. He does find a nice compromise, leading Elyse far enough away to lead into the bed-chambers section that would still leave them visible through the scarce separation between the two sections of the room. Theowyn finally haults their progress at the window that is left open, the summer breeze brushing against their skin. He turns to her then, leading her into an embrace. "I've missed you, my love."

Elyse returns the embraces strongly, "And I you, my Heart," smiling and closing her sightless eyes as she rests her head against the Prince. Her guards don't appear to be watching the couple so much as the environment of the couple, but they wouldn't be trained protectors if they didn't at least glance occasionally in the direction of their ward. "Is there anything I can do to help with the matter? Anything for your brother perhaps?" Her brow furrows with worry as she continues to hold herself against the Prince.

Theowyn's fingers continue to brush at Elyse's cheek, as he pulls her within a slow embrace of their lips. The kiss just lingers there, though he shakes his head. "They will be fine. My brother will be released today. I thought it a bit much for him to place himself in that position, but it was certainly honorable." Theowyn's words are the barest of a whisper, as though the guards within the room may still hear. "I do grow concern as to this person that masked herself as my sister... to have fooled those men. This screams of treason, not just of gaming. I grow concerned as to what the next act might hold."

Elyse returns the light, tender kiss and nods, a frown tugging at her slightly pouty lips, and strightening from where her head was slightly bent to rest against the Prince. Her vacant gaze rests on some point past his shoulder, and she murmurs back in an equally low-volumed and soft tone, "Indeed. Is there any revelation as to how the disguise could have been so thorough? To disguise oneself as a commoner, someone without station or reputation is," she pauses, "I'm told, a rather easy task, but to disguise oneself as someone specific, someone so much in the public eye . . . " she shakes her head disbelievingly, "I warrant that this puzzle has me in a quandry, my Love."

"I thought at first it was simply the Queen's Guard that had not witnessed Aislynn in the past beyond from a distance," Theowyn begins, though his voice indicating it would not be that easy. "Then Ambassador Rezna comes out and specifically states that he was there. Rezna certainly is not a man that would make a foolish mistake, and not one to be fulled with a simple disguise." As he shrugs his shoulder, his fingers move through her hair. "It is puzzling."

Closing her eyes once more at the tender affection offered by his fingers through her hair, Elyse reaches up with her one hand to gasp Theowyn's, and gives it a comforting squeeze. The troubling information Elyse had intended to share tonight seems to pale selfishly in comparison, and she decides not to trouble Theowyn further. The pause in which she decides this is rather lengthy, and then she straightens, lowering her hand and blinking her deep blue eyes opened to give that same blank stare past his shoulder, "Perhaps I can help . . . " though she doesn't suggest how, "I have a few resources at my disposal," her voice turns a bit uncertain, and she starts to turn away from the Prince, towards the opened window and the cool summer breeze there, to gently tossle her honey-blonde waves of hair on a dancing wind past her shoulders. She swallows thoughtfully, and lifts her chin as if in defiance to the wind itself.

Theowyn too turns toward the window, though only briefly, as her blonde hair dancing with the wind captures his attention. A fond smile comes to his features, as he strokes through those dancing lockets of hair, becoming distracted in his thoughts before faced with the reality of her offer. "If you could be of aid, Princess, I would appreciate it. Though certainly I would not wish for you to place yourself or your nation in harms way at the expense of this. I am sure the Queen's Guard will come to a resolve on this. An impersonator of the Queen could not escape far."

"Indeed, my Prince," Elyse remains facing the wind, her expression equally thoughtful, "I hope soon, though. This incident has certainly begun to work to undermine Her Majesty's authority and the respect that her subjects should have for her." Antoher thoughtful frown appears at her lips, "Are there any enemies of Her Majesty, or indeed of Andor as a nation, which would seek Her Majesty's ruin internally? I may be making a hasty assumption, but I cannot believe someone would go to such lengths as a mere cruel jest. The motive is likely to be an effort to shake the very foundation of your country, but to what end, my Love?" One hand moves to the side, in an effort to seek the Prince's own hand.

"The last that attempted to over-throw the Queen were walking in the shadows," Theowyn begins, remembering it all too well even though he was young. The distance begins to grow in his voice, though he tries not to show his concern. That attempt fails. "I fear the dark may wish to rule Andor once more, Princess. That is my fear, that is what I am beginning to believe. If that is the case, then the enemy could be anywhere. The last time it was within our ranks in the Queen's Guard, tainted by the lies and promises brought on by those that wished my mothers place. They nearly had it, and she certainly lost her life at their hands." Theowyn's voice is shaken, the Warder actually shivering. "I hope my fears are unfounded." That a quiet whisper, against the building case of the truth.

Elyse moves to press her lithe figure more against the Prince's as she senses the struggle within him, and strives to offer comfort if she can, witnesses or no witnesses, "I hope so as well, my Love," she whispers, "I love you, Theowyn. I will be here for you, for your House, for Andor, until my last breath, or until, Light forbid, I may one day fall from your favour and be unwelcomed to support you."

Theowyn's fingers curl beneath her chin, leading up into the slight brushing of their lips. The kiss is soft, near sweet, as he accepts her words. "My love, I grow eager to have you as my wife." And that's the honest truth, near despair on his voice in this need to marry her. "It scares me to no end, of what the dark will do to claim their goal." Where before it was just Murandy, Theowyn was not concerned. Now, with the the dark becoming the likely enemy, he looks to Elyse with that deep rooted concern.

Elyse returns the sweet and tender kiss, then smiles gently, and effort to appear reassuring and brave, though there is something in her manner which indicates her own uncertainty, and concern, "My Darling, my heart yearns to be claimed by you as your wife," her tone is sincere, though the hint of concern remains, "The Dark will not succeed in separating us, if that has you worried, my Heart. The Dark One himself could not keep me long from your arms. I warrant it so." But the reassuring smile fades slightly and her head tilts a bit more into the wind, "And if I have anything to do or say about a potential usurper of the Dark, they will not overthrow your sister. Not while breath still remains in my body." The last words spoken so seriously, it could be taken as a vow of fealty.

There is a continued touching of his heart, the tapping of her love for him. It sends a tear to his eye, one she will not see, nor hear, though it slowly drips down the side of his cheek. "My love, my heart." Theowyn remains without words, staring there, looking to her vacant eyes. "You are the fortune that has shown itself to my life. The future I may look forward to. One I may yearn for. You give yourself to me. And you do so as well to my nation." Theowyn continues to shake his head, that deep emotion of love flowing in his voice. "Light, I love you, my Princess."

Elyse turns back, her head tilting slightly once more in the direction of his voice. She smiles again, warm and pleasant, almost innocent and naive, in truth. She hasn't experience the full terror of the Dark as Theowyn has, after all. Though the recent experience of her kidnapping and her torture did certainly open her eyes, figuritively. "And I love you, Theowyn. Now and forever," her tone serious but warm and affectionate, "And I hope . . . " she frowns thoughtfully, shaking her head and lapsing into silence. Apparently changing her mind from what she was about to say.

"Love?" Theowyn asks quietly, his fingers tracing across her cheek and to her shoulder. There's a slight awakening of thought, and as he leans forward to brush his lips against her cheek, he asks the thought that's on his mind. "You likely came here for a reason, Princess? If I can presume it was another then to see me, though I'd be proud in my furtune to have you here if either was the case."

There is a soft sigh from Elyse, though a smile accompanies it as she returns the light kiss, "I must confess, my Love, that there was indeed another reason for my imposition." She straightens slightly, and tries to appear as convincing as her tone as she continues, "But it was a meager excuse to be with you, now, in what I sense is a time of need." Her slender hand moves toward his chest, and then further reaches to trace along Theowny's throat tenderly.

"Then let me hear this meager excuse," Theowyn states, his spirits lifted by the exchange of their words. "So that I may serve to some purpose beyond wishing to love you, which on its own is enough, and yet restricted by those that are hear to protect your virtue." In all the words the jestful voice is well placed, his eyes playing off her own vacant ones.

Elyse lets her hand and fingers fall back to her side and turns her head again away from the man she loves, the man who's heart and mind she yearns to ease, not alarm further with trivialities, trivialities in comparison to the apparent imposter of Theowyn's sister. "Truly, Darling, in light of recent events tis nothing of import," she states evenly, her absent gaze cast in a direction away from his voice, and more towards the opened window, where the wind continues to dance with her golden tresses.

"You will not share?" Theowyn asks, his fingers moving through your hair as he draws you within his embrace. The arm around your waist pulls you tighter against his body, his lips settling down on your own as he guides your lips to his own. Though the kiss begins softly, it grows by his very need for passion alone. He might ask again, as to what the reason was, but for now his tongue is delightfully beginning the scout for her own.

Her lips return the kiss tentatively at first, then the kiss increases in passion to match Theowyn's need. Her own desire is evident as her lips part slightly to welcome the Prince's tongue to perform the long-missed dance with her own. Her hands move to rest against his chest, then inch higher to rest at the back of his neck as she is pulled further into his arms, and closer to his body. Her chest heaves a bit with passion and energy for the intimacy exchanged, and her vacant gaze disappears behind closed lids. She does not answer him as she is much more enjoying the intimacy. Whether its noticed by the Prince or not, her guardsmen in the room exchange disapproving looks between one another, though they remain silent--not even offering a clearing of the room to remind the couple they are not alone.

She=Elyse

Theowyn has been ignoring staff much of his life, so its not difficult for him to further the intimacy of their kiss, not even as his arms sweep her up off her toes as he leans back to extend the kiss. Soon enough Elyse can feel the ground again, though the passionate dance of his tongue does not let up until there is a strength of his will to do so. "Another year," he whispers lightly, shaking his head, and then shrugging. "Well, less then. Andoran culture is not so strict closer to the wedding day, so long as the pride is not visibly pregnant. But I likely mentioned that before, right?" There's a playful hint to his voice.

Once settled back to the floor and with her cheeks already flushed from the passion of the kiss, it only deepens at Theowyn's comment and the implied meaning behind it. A coy smile surfaces to her lips and Elyse reopens her eyes to let that vacant gaze resume, settling somewhere through and beyond him. "Yes, dearheart," her tone modest and bashful, "you have." Her blush deepens.

That grin is never fading, Theowyn actually moving to kiss her knose briefly. "You've placed a smile on my features, job accomplished Princess. You still will keep from me the excuse of your coming, but I will not think further on that." There is that need to have her, even with the jestful tone, it would be difficult to hide that want. "Best we parted for the evening, before your guards grow sick of our banter." Though as he is about to turn her about, he does pause. "One moment." And he leaves her standing there, going out of sight from the guards as he retrieves the key. It is then that he places it into the palm of her hand.

Elyse continues to hold that shy smile, though it softens as Theowyn leaves her side, an a curious arching eyebrow the only other change in her demeanour. When Theowyn returns and places that key, that key that until recently had been on the person of one of her most trusted men, within her palm, Elyse's expression grows sober. She says nothing, thoughts going to Sohai, his memory and his sacrifice.

Theowyn's fingers brush across Elyse's cheek. "It is returned to you once more, my love." Theowyn does close his eyes, taking a deep breath as he remembers too, having seen the man die within his arms, and yet not sharing all the details of his death to Elyse.

Elyse manages a weak smile, her hand reaching for Theowyn's chest and awkwardly she attempts to place a light kiss on Theowyn's cheek, likely missing or in some way botching the attempt. That does not keep her from offering in a soft whisper, "As I am returned to you, once more, my Darling," trying to take a full step back away from the Prince and intoning a bit louder, enough to be overheard by her guardsmen, but not shouting level, "Yes, I should probably retire to my apartments, my Prince. I think my day in the morrow will be quite full." Her guardsmen straighten as they prepare to escort her back. The officer stepping forward but once, towards where the couple stands--thought certainly still too far away to overhear any soft words.