#widowedqueen

[xofswordandcrownsx]

@widowedqueen

Heartache was something that Nadim was no stranger to. Many years ago, before he had even been Queen and before he had popped out children for his King, he had been Nadim Petkett and he had been promised to a man that wasn't Avi... but his elder brother. And though he had detested the idea of an arranged marriage, Nadim had grown to love his first betrothed so when he died in a tragic mining accident... It had hurt. Quite a lot.

So the Queen knew exactly how his friend was feeling - or at least, he knew a modicum of what he was feeling. He wasn't sure how he would've felt if he had been with the man for over thirty years and he had wound up meeting a tragic end with no answers and a dark cloud looming over head, but he did know how it felt to lose someone you love.

That was why, with a couple goblets of Nokian wine, the Queen of Nok made his way over towards the dowager Queen and offered the spare to them. "Come, my old friend... Let us walk. I am sure you can use a break from playing diligent host," he said, giving the other a kind smile as his now free hand moved to rest on the other queen's back, rubbing the spot soothingly.

[lighthandcd]

@widowedqueen; for luken to pay logan a nightly visit

as much as luken knew about the secret passageways around the castle, some far too unstable to be safe, some extremely useful to move around the castle unseen; including the ones to the royal's bedchambers — the very same that could have been used by an intruder to murder king morris, the very same that had been thoroughly investigated upon discovery of the heinous act — it would have been unwise to take them now. so luken found himself at the doors to the queen's room, flanked by guards at each side. he acknowledged them before resting his clenched fist against the wood, debating with himself at his current course of action.

it was hardly unusual of him to be here, though usually there tend to be more than one person behind the door. morris, logan and him, the three of them would occasionally imbibe in spirits behind close doors where they could be friends first and foremost, king, queen and hand, second; discussing anything under the night sky, from inconsequential things like the latest city gossip to things that could not be said in council company. he had a bottle of wine in one hand, missives in his pockets — though he was certain one would be forgotten in favour of the other.

two weeks was a long enough wait. the queen surely needed some comfort and distraction at this time, someone to vent to, someone to cry on. it wasn't all selfless on the hawitt lord's part. no, luken knew it was a betrayal of sorts against his recently deceased friend and king but he'd been harbouring thoughts of both the carnal and romantic nature about the dead monarch's wife behind his — both their — back(s) for years now. something that could never be acted upon. occasionally, he felt a stab of jealousy in his heart when he had to depart this very room knowing what was about to transpire between the two royals.

he shook his head then, dispelling all such thoughts from his mind before he knocked once. twice. then twice again. finishing it off with another a second later. his special knock that served to announce his presence without words.