Chapter 4
The moment you were free of the near-endless ceremony that simply must be stood upon, leaned upon, and otherwise lazily draped over every little thing any time you meet someone, you closed the doors behind you, turned and threw your arms wide.
"Briar, it's been ages!" Your friend easily accepts your embrace. Sure, you were the one doing most of the hugging... alright, perhaps all of the hugging--Ahhhh there it is! That small patting on your back. You knew she still cared.
Sticking to that silly false name of hers was sometimes hard to keep up with, but her pretending to be a man meant that such displays of friendly affection weren't seen as at all improper. It outweighs the hassle, you think.
Releasing her you step back, giving her entourage a small nod. They dispersed in fairly short order, be it up to the guest rooms to unpack their mistress' (mistresses you suppose, chuckling inwardly) things, or to to the servants' quarters to prepare for their own stay. "We're almost finished preparing the evening meal, feel free to take time by the fire--you must be cold from your travels!"
It was good timing that you'd met them during your ride, you were looking forward to the warmth yourself. You hope your princess isn't too sour about your little disappearing act when she returns.
- - - - - - - - - -
"It seems I've taken leave of my manners--you must be Kanaya! The descriptions don't do your beauty justice." The prince bows to you with a small flourish, which you return. He beams at your small smile.
You take the prince in: The young man was tall for a human, despite his age, dressed warmly in his tousled hair was dark loosely framing eyes of a striking shade of blue. From his smile you note an overbite that suits the jovial manner you've seen so far.
Were he alternian, he could almost be the picture of a young highblood. That sets you to wondering what his horns would look like.
He continues to chatter with Rose, their conversation drifting into the hall as John guides her to a nearby study and the promised fireplace therein.
At the entryway he exchanges his riding boots for slippers and removes his cloak and overcoat, tossing them into a heap on a nearby desk before making his way to the brace next to the fireplace, retrieving and tossing a log into the fire. Once it was arranged and stoked to his liking, John quickly strode across the room, motioning for the two of you to sit while collecting more chairs to set before the fire.
"Expecting company?" Rose asks, settling in.
"I may have left the hunting party a tad early, so the heiress and the rest will likely be returning shortly, if dinner isn't finished by their arrival."
No sooner did he finish speaking then haggard voice came from the door, "With all respect young master, you're a prat. I should leave you hanging out for Meenah to--" The owner of the voice takes a moment to catch his breath, and then takes notice of you two, freezing.
"Please, do continue." Rose replies. He swallows visibly, still stunned at his misstep. When his eyes meet yours, they go wide. You see they've properly filled since you last met, piercing red set under thick eyebrows. It's harder to pick up the specifics with swimming eyes.
"...Kanaya?" his voice was very small.
- - - - - - - - - -
The room falls silent, John and the human girl looking puzzledly between you and Kanaya while you continue to berate yourself.
"Do... you two know each other?"
There's a simultaneous "No" and "Yes" between you and Kanaya. She stares at you, confused.
You quickly turn on your heel and fucking book it out of there with a weak excuse about helping with the heiress' return.
Why did you call her by name, you moron! Oh right, because she's one of the few friends you had before all this and haven't seen her in sweeps and couldn't stop yourself--as fucking usual.
Fuck!
- - - - - - - - - -
An awkward silence hangs over the room. Kanaya left for her chambers a few moments ago, begging John's leave. You're not certain how that guard knows Kanaya, but seeing Kanaya on the verge of weeping because of him has sparked a fiery distaste of the troll.
John sighs, "I'd hoped our meeting after so long would be happier, but it seems the mood's been ruined."
He makes to stand before you stop him, "No, it's been almost a year since we were last able to speak in person. I would be more than happy to catch up with you."
"Are you sure you don't want to comfort your wife before all that?" A half-smile formed when he brought up Kanaya.
You pause. While you're aching to go after her and make sure she's alright, you know too-well that she'll need some time to collect herself. "She might wish for some time alone first, I think."
John hums in understanding, "I'll have to speak with Karkat as well about... whatever that was." He starts to ask about how things have been since your last meeting, but he's cut off as a bell echoes throughout the castle. "And that would be dinner. Seems we're to be interrupted anyway--let's head to the dining hall."
You take a mental note of the guard's name as you exchange small talk on the way. The prince won't be the only one having words with Karkat about Kanaya.