company was arriving. his wine was too important. another long, slow sip. he took in every taste, every fragrance, and sighed. he finally looked up. there she was. he smiled that smile that had him scrunching his eyes almost shut. in a place of so many strangers and new faces, the familiar ones that once felt dull now feel refreshing. he took another sip while being spoken too. he laughed. he spoke in a groggy, tired, and breathy old way. he sounded like he was recovering from a cold. he sounded the way all men, if lucky, ended up sounding. "no, they just didn't come far enough." he adjusted so he was facing her more, then set his glass down. he stood slowly. his knees cracked and his back would not be straight. he looked for a chair, the best one, and tugged it from where it was. he brushed off any debris or dust, and gestured for her to sit. "come. i know it is a long walk from where they've put you." he had walked from her room to this door-less one enough to know what it can do to one's legs. perhaps her youth made it easier. while walking to the glass, to bring to his queen, he spoke. his back hunched. "did you ever hear what they are bickering about down there? whatever it is, it seems important. until the next thing, of course."













