Queen Alexis's expression darkened. She wheeled herself closer to Kiara, seemingly not intimidated by the arrow the girl held so tightly in her grip. "I was not always like this," she remarked coldly. "I once could walk. I could run. I could defend myself. If I hadn't fought for my life, I'd be dead. Instead, I am this."

She wheeled in a circle around the princess, scrutinizing her carefully. "At least you're not a meek mouse of a girl," she remarked. "Your betrothed will need your... spirit. That still doesn't excuse your appearance. It is utterly disrespectful to come tramping in here like--"

"Disrespectful?!" Ostus exploded. "This woman has risked her life to not only bring peace to our country, but to your country as well! You should be thanking the stars that she is even here, you ungrateful bi--"

"ENOUGH!" the king bellowed, though he did not rise from his throne. "Shut your trap, elf. You're lucky I haven't cut you down."

"Kiara will soon be a part of your family!" Ostus retorted, forgetting to refer to the princess by her proper title. After all that they had been through, he was not going to stand by and be treated like garbage. He was not going to leave Kiara knowing she would be treated so disrespectfully. "You should be welcoming her with open arms! You should--"

"This is an affair of politics!" Hugo roared as Alexis wheeled back to her husband's side, "not family! You are grossly out of touch with the way the world works, of the sacrifices that are made every day to ensure you eat, sleep with a roof over your head, and live to swing that pathetic sword of yours around for another day! Do not test my patience or you will not live to know when you have exhausted it!"

Ostus glared, seethed, but said no more. He had fought against armies led by this man long enough to know that he meant every word. 

"Princess Kiara, you will be shown to your new living quarters. You will clean up and prepare to meet our son, your betrothed, prince Lamont. As for [i]you[/i], elf, I had considered granting you the choice to stay as a familiar face to help our future daughter grow accustomed to life in Berinike and to serve as a bodyguard for her; our men our stretched thin from this wretched war. Now, I'm not so sure, especially given your loathsome attitude and the impression the princess seems to be implying with her 'spirit' that she doesn't need you."