Proof of Conception

[rassafraggin]

On a normal day before Her Royal Majesty's return, the hall of the Deep Throne would be standing hollow and uninhabited except for sentries and the occasional scurrying steward's aide. Now it is a place of daily pageantry, almost casual, with Palace officials and the privileged retinue of the royal household congregating to enjoy the performances of minstrels and other entertainers. For every day brings new supplicants from the outer territories, seeking to present themselves to the Monarch of the Sea after her long term of absence. And she is there upon the coral throne to receive them, more often than not, making due point of proving her existence.

Miriam has not been here every day, but she has been here often to be a part of all the pageantry. Also, to be handy for anything the Queen might wish of her. At the moment, she is speaking casually with some of the younger noblewomen, one of them her attendant. The subject seems to be a pleasant one for them. The occasional peek of an eye by one (but not by Miriam) towards one of the young noblemen before a slight blush might hint at the subject matter.

Ruby ventures into the Throne room to make good on a promise. Her pregnancy is quite far along now, and the watery realm's strange environment is now felt as more of a boon. She escorts a Pathian woman with her and almost literally tries to tug her along. She doesn't blink much, staring straight ahead for the most part. Each room of the palace or pathway to get here seen as an accomplishment once attained. She murmers to Wynter at her side, "I should 'ave done this earlier. Instead 'o blur 'o passed by places. I wish I 'ad a trump. Fah. Tha cannonball feels a bit better. A bit."

Wynter is dragged along in a sort of protest until they reach after a few steps into the royal throne room. Wouldn't be good to make a scene after all. At least a major scene. The Pathian stepping up her pace to walk beside Ruby rather then be dragged, shooting the taller woman a look out of the cornor of her eye and muttering under her breath. "What are we doing here again?" She smiles to those they pass, small nods of the head as she braces of impact with royalty.

A trio of water lutes send a rambling but pleasantly wordless ballad into the waters, humming the images of a lively promenade through spring sea bed gardens. The regal figure observes her court with serenely distant approbation, not singling out any one player, or playah, as the case may be in this gathering. But when Ruby enters, unimpeded by guards, Moire's gaze alights and rests on her. It moves on, skimming past Wynter, while the queen leans slightly to direct a nearby aide to her current interest. The handmaiden swishes forth, but only beckons Ruby and companion forth if they don't commit to the action themselves.

Ruby lingers nearby. She leans towards Wynter and enunciates in a stealthy whisper that's too loud to be such, in execution. "She's not wearin tha Warden no more, so gotta say proper 'ello. Moight 'ave tah talk me way out 'o a matter I ain't fully fulfilled. We see." At the gesture from Moire's handmaiden, Ruby summons a faux smile and urges Wynter onwards towards the dias. Closer, she takes stock of the Queen and feels a weird twinge at the lack of swole that she has been more familiar with. And then she feels another twinge and suppresses it. "Yer Majesty. Would 'ave made contact 'ere sooner, par-ticularly your Court for proper attendance, but was waylaid by small surface scuffle."

Wynter continues on towards the dias and offers a curtsey as is both polite and correct. She nudges Ruby, perhaps trying to indicate that Ruby might want to do the same. To the queen she offers a real smile, trying to ignore Ruby's words about worrying things. "Your Majesty." she states simply.

Moire is a picture of lofty stillness on the throne, if one doesn't count the long mane of pearly mint, fanning and flowing in the eddies, only really held down around her pinned crown. An advisor ducks beneath the tresses to whisper information, what little can be gathered from Wynter's rare visits to the palace in Ruby's company.

If Ruby is thrown off by her true appearance, it doesn't bother her, of course. She herself finds her glance drawn down to the most obvious change in Ruby. "Fair Tides unto you," she responds with deep resonance through the room, prompting all eyes to turn towards the dais. "The absence of the Lord Marshal's Lady of the Forge had been noted. We understand she has undertaken a venture of great ambition, above the waves."

Ruby uses one hand to massage around her bulging equator and the presence of muscles there being a complication for once. The Queen's words are felt and has her responding with a slow wince. "Aye, but 'aven't forgotten other obligations, Truth." She raises a finger towards the surface as if to pronounce something very lofty, and then aborts, lower the arm. "There were dolphins tha 'ave been reminded me. 'Aven't forgotten or abandoned nuthin, just 'ad tah see tha venture was safely anchored. Everythin is completely fine an dandy. Small worries." Ruby uses the previous raised appendage to gesture to Wynter before she continues. "I'd like tah present Wynter Rose Chantris..." She winces harder over poignant sidekick attacks from within, having to pause. "...If I can assure your majesty, I not forget nuthin or break deals..."

Wynter curtsies again, "A pleasure, your Majesty." ,she says before eyeing Ruby out of the cornor of her eye. Lips pursing in a touch of worry. Both at the understatement of small worries and Ruby's wince of what looked like pain to her. She edges closer to the tall amazon glancing upwards again.

This court welcomes Ruby's companion, Lady Wynter Rose of House Chantris," allows Moire, surpremely patient with Ruby's repetitive assurances. Faint indications of her noticing the physical discomfort interlaced with the forgemistress's speech patterns, do not result in any change of expression, however. Around then, music has thinned out some, and a slight sibilance that is the mingled whispers of the attending audience might be detected.

Moire slips to a more informal tone, that doesn't carry as far. It is directed only to the two standing upon the dais. "Prince Martin in his Regency granted a period of peace along our vast borders, yet the tides shall turn. And though you shall make the Marshal's forces ready unto this approaching tide, it is not on this matter for which you were given summons."

Ruby hoists an eyebrow and hinges her jaw to the side after a little grating of teeth to distract from some discomfort. "Oh, well, tha's good." Ruby switches gears and raises her chin, trying for a stance that's not bow-legged. "Apologies. If not for them preparations..." She mentally indulges in strangles a dolphin. "What can I do for your Majesty an Rebma?"

Miriam has been watching, though not intruding. Ruby did, of course, get a smile from her on the way to speak with Moire. Her conversation with the young women continues much more quietly to avoid being rude while the queen is having a conversation.

Moire takes a moment to respond, appearing to indulge in some inward consideration first. "I have understood from reports since before my first awakening that a creature of legend who was also lost, has returned to the Sea. I would have this patron of story and song grace Rebma's waters once more."

Ruby feels her jaw slowly drop at the request. At least she can't draw flies down here, but she does get around to snapping it shut and rapidly blinking. She shifts her weight and feels a spasm. Clearing her throat, she asks, "Are you sure? I mean 'o course, as you wish. Not contradictin." She would openly perspire if possible. "It been nothin but a 'assle, doggin me fleet with tales an dreams. I would absolutely love tah lead it 'ere an away from me ships. I see yer wisdom, obviously...why should crews 'o surface dwellers receive all these stories...Nnnnnggggh....It be selfish an these stories wasted on ussss..."

"Your Majesty is speaking of the devine whale that was freed from it's prison of ice?" A grin forms along the Pathian's lips. "I've not laid eyes on it recently but it's as Ruby says. The whale has a likeing of some sort or another to Ruby. Comminicating with teh being is what proves troublesome. Perhaps leading it hear where those that know aquatic life best would solve other issues as well."

Moire may have a stated interest in the whereabouts of the whale, but you wouldn't know it to look at her. Even when Wynter hints at knowing how it came to be free, much less imprisoned, she merely nods. "You do not realize the extent of your fortune in these encounters. The whale is a bringer of health and abundance. We should wonder at the timeliness of its rescue." Her gaze returns to Ruby, considering the woman's condition again. She ruminates on the small currents, then declares quietly, "You have an instinct for location, Forgemistress. And surely, no trivial intent that finds you here at this moment, in water which ease the strain on one's landbound form."

Ruby reaches over slowly to grip Wynter's arm as gently as possible. She offers a momentary glance to Miriam, to return the smile, so as not to be rude. It's getting more uncomfortable though. "If I been lucky, I think gettin near tha end 'o such 'appy accidents. Right now, I think I'd trade lucky for a little more time, but I've come up shallow. We must take our leave. I promise tah deliver tha mono-whale." Another agonizing feeling of something tossing and turning. She rasps to Wynter, "We 'ave tah ~go~....With yer leave, 'o course." she quickly garbles.

Wynter blinks but is quick to catch on to Ruby's desire to leave if not the why. Yet an inkling of an idea forms following the queen's words. She moves her arm from Ruby's hand and instead puts her hand in the larger woman's grasp and uses that to balance as she offers teh queen a last curtsy. "Please forgive us, your Majesty. By your leave?"

Moire's next nod is pronounced in the way of pleasant dismissal to both.
The lutes start up again, their rambling easy listening quality somewhat at odds with the women's hasty exit.

Ruby fixes her gaze upon the exit all the way back there, and makes as dignified haste as possible with Wynter. "I know where we can go. Someplace nearby an good. Someplace safe. Oh my Bog, I don't dare use trump. It's alright. It's fine. As long as we keep movin."