Things after that were uneventful for a long while. Life took on a steady pace. The children started accepting their new baby brother. Things between Raven and I were good, we were actually too busy for it to be anything but good. The keep was running smoothly. Within that time two weddings were held at the castle. That of Emily and Hamish and that of Echo and Margaret.

While Emily and Hamish would remain living at the castle, for their wedding gift we gave them a goodly amount of land for their future use or to pass on to their children. We also elevated their status in the court. To Echo and Margaret we gifted ponies, jewels, a painting of the couple to be hung at the castle and a guarantee to foster their first born son. All this in addition to the land and knights appointed to Echo as steward. The days of the weddings were full of merriment and happiness.

It was also a time for a new decree to be made throughout the land. Due to the many lose of lives and destruction from the Blood War and the Black Years, until a time, if ever, decreed by the Queen, all women must bear at least ten children! At first their was much grumbling about this but when announced that I, myself would follow the same decree, the grumbling slowed to a few murmurs.

The following weeks were extremely busy! We spent most of our time traveling as was previously planned. We visited all of the major towns, as well as saw all of our stewards to their appointed regions. We stayed to make all the plans and preparations for building of theirs keeps and to proclaim them the stewards of the area to the people. We traveled mostly by horse and coach, but many times we took doorways home and back to whatever inn we were staying at. The people came out in droves to see their Queen and King! It was a good thing for the people to see us finally united.

Before we knew it the days became weeks, then months before we finally made our way home for awhile. However things were not less busy for a long time after that. While we once again began our steady daily routines, new ones were always coming about. It took us months until Nicky devised a tight schedule that afforded us any time to just be, to be ourselves, spend time with our family. He arranged it so every other day we would meet with the council and our advisors. It came about that twice a month we would hear petitions for land, marriage, divorce or what not, as well as complaints etc. Once a month we would hold a formal dinner and dance for the nobility of the land. Every third month we would visit the people of the land. Twice a year we would hold lavish celebrations for all people, nobility and lower class alike.

Our days also had daily routines. Nicky and I appointed the maids to suit the keep better. Every morning after tea, I would meet with the head maids to discuss the household, food, clothing, menus, the children and so forth. After that Raven and I would meet with Ash and Nicky. When that was over I would head to the nursery and Raven would head out to train the men. We would have midday meal together. After that we would go our own way. By supper time we would have had our baths brought up for some relaxing. Would would have dinner with the children, Ash, Nicky, Emily and Hamish, and at times a guest or two. After we ate we would go to the nursery to read to the children. The rest of the evening and night were ours. Most times we spent it with Emily, Hamish, Nicky, and Ash, talking, playing games. Some evening we would go out, and then some evenings Raven and I would spend the time alone.

We were finally finding balance in our lives as Queen and King. It wasn’t long until the months became a year and then a year and a half….