rpg_palace | Reactions of Dnara's Queen and Crown Princess to love problems in Calera (Reply)

Anna looked at her com for the twentieth time before picking it up and dialing. "Hello Mother."

"Anna? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it is. Sorry it's been so long since I called." Anna walked out onto her balcony. "How's everyone?"

"I know we sound alike, but honestly Anna, you'd think by now you could tell the difference. Mother's not here. This is Gwyn."

Anna froze. "Gwyn! Hi. How are the girls?" Shit shit shit "Mother busy?"

"Mother is at a conference in Moneh. And the girls are fine, thriving." Gwyn pushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear. "Was there something you wanted? A message? You sound a little . . ." A delicate shrug. "Is everything alright?"

"Um, yeah. Well, no. Not exactly." Shit shit shit

"What does 'not exactly' entail, dear?" Gwyn was being patient, a trick she'd learned since having twins.

"Um...well...” Anna started biting her fingernail. "Orli and Harry broke up. And Christian kinda had to mind boss me about it." She groaned inwardly. It would have to be Gwyn that picked up. Shit.

There was a long silence, then, "Why am I not surprised." Gwyn's sigh could be clearly heard. "Oh, not about Orlando, seems to me that man was far too . . . Well." She waved the thought away. "But I can clearly imagine your reaction dear. Hissing and spitting like a wet kitten, I suppose. I don't know what else Christian was supposed to do."

Anna growled. "He knows how to stop my fire without the mind bossing. And he kept doing it after I called it back. And Harry was far too WHAT exactly?" Anna's hand curled into a fist.

"Anna." Gwyn's voice firmed up. "I am entitled to my opinion, even as you are yours. I refuse to debate it with you. I'm happy to hear it's over, that's all. Orlando might begin behaving with more decorum now."

"It's not fucking over if I have anything to say about it." Anna mumbled under her breath.

"Well, be that as it may, and pray God your influence is not as strong as you seem to think it is, was there anything else?" Gwyn had run out of patience with her undisciplined little sister and her voice showed it.

"Yeah, there is. I'm thinking of bringing a friend to visit Mother soon. Did we ever get that guest room fixed up or did the perms make you forget about that?"

Gwyn sucked in a long, slow breath through gritted teeth. "A guest room is available." she said slowly. "Might I enquire as to the nature of this 'friendship'?"

"Well, that's going to depend on what his answer is to my question. So I'd rather not say til I know for sure." Sorry about this, Jared. But trust me, wouldn't have been much better any way.

"His?" Gwyn had a sneaking suspicion that the 'conversation' she'd had with Mother when she'd returned from Calera and this 'him' were somehow, horribly related.

"Yes, Gwynnie. Him. His name's Jared. Jared Leto. And you've reminded me I have to thank his uncle over in the East Wing to helping to introduce us."

"Jared. Him. East!" Gwyn shrieked before she could stop herself, a hand to her heart as she fought for steadiness, her voice returning to ice. "The boyfriend, I take it?" the word uttered like a curse.

"Not yet. I told you, need to ask him the question first. But if he thinks he's getting off with a no after I fucking bought a damned dress, he's mistaken."

"A dress. A . . . he . . . " Gwyn subsided into silence, torn between frustration that her wishes had been overridden and the strange idea of Anna willingly donning proper clothes. "Well then," she managed eventually. "if your friend does accompany you, a room will be ready. I'll tell Mother you called." She wanted this conversation over, unable to decide just exactly how she felt about these new developments.

"Yes, please do. Kisses to you and the twins. Ta-ta." Anna hung up, groaning as she laid her head on the railing. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck"

Gwyn slowly lowered the unit and placed it back on the table. A boyfriend. Might not be such a bad thing if it improved Anna's behavior . . . Still, she couldn't help wishing for the 'good old days' and the legality of chastity belts.

Anna tried to figure out what she would say to Harry or Orlando when she ran into them. If nothing else she had to write back to Harry, tell him they were still good. But she just wasn't sure how good they were now. And Gwyn... She moaned as she heard the phone ring. "Hello?"

"Anna? It's Mother. I hear you tried to call me. Is everything all right?"

Anna bit her lip. "Not really. Harry and Orlando. They're not together anymore."

"Yes dear, I know. Your father told me last night. They'll sort it out in their own good time, love. Don't you worry. Harry's a good man and Orlando is very sensible. It'll all come right."

"Christian said that too. But Mother, you had to have seen how they were together. Why would Harry leave Orli? It doesn't make sense. And after Craig-"

"It's inexplicable, I know. But we're not privy to their problems, Anna, nor should we be. I have faith in both my boys and their partners, they'll come to whatever conclusion they need to and it'll be the right one. Now, tell me about you? What have you been up to since we last spoke?"

"Um...how much did Gwyn tell you? About when she called before?" Anna sat on her bed, reaching for her bear and hugging it tight.

Catherine laughed. "Not a lot, dear. She was otherwise occupied, chewing the furniture. Why? What did you tell her?"

"I told her about Harry and Orlando. She couldn't have been happier they weren't together. And she got me mad so...I kinda blurted out about a friend of mine. A guy friend. How I was thinking of asking him out..."Anna's voice faded out.

"Oh Anna that's lovely! About the boy, I mean, not the . . . Oh, you know what I meant. Who is he?"

"His name is Jared. Jared Leto. He's going to be a mechanic. Journeyman right now. His uncle works here at Palace. Over in East."

"And you're dating? Or thinking about it? Lovely."

"Yeah. I mean, I'm thinking about it. He...he gave me a teddy bear. Mother? He kinda knows about my Talent. I didn't mean to show him. He said he knows about keeping it a secret. I haven't told Father yet though."

"Umm . . . yes." Marton knew, but Catherine couldn't say that. "I'm sure it won't be a problem dear. He'll be just as delighted as I am that you've found someone you like."

"I do. I mean, I really do." Anna blushed. "I bought a dress. For when I ask him. So he better say yes."

"Of course he will." Catherine laughed softly. "He gives you gifts, he keeps your secrets, there's little doubt in my mind that he'll accept."

"I hope so, Mother. I really do. Has Gwyn calmed down yet? Or did I ruin her little 'whole future laid out for Anna' plans?"

"Gwyn's so-called plans lay in ruins about her feet, my darling. Where they belong. I regret now not being firmer with her. My only excuse was distraction. Forget Gwyn, she can run her own life and leave everyone else's alone."

A corner of Anna's mouth went up into a smile. "Is it bad that I wished I was there to see it when you tell her that?"

"Too late." Catherine giggled. "That's what the furniture-chewing is over."

Anna laughed out loud. "Mother!" It took her a moment to be able to speak again. "I'm sorry I didn't call you before, to tell you about Jared. But I didn't want to say anything too soon and than have it end up as nothing... And could have done without Father's trick about the Barbarian King." She scowled into the phone.

"I heard. Your father found it terribly amusing. But then he would, he chose his own wife." Catherine went quiet for a moment. "Sorry darling, I have another call. Listen. You let me know how it goes with Jared, promise? I want all the good gossip." she smiled into the headset.

"Okay. Have fun at the conference. I'll talk to you later. Love you." Anna blew a kiss into the phone.

"Love you, too." Catherine told her and then clicked off.

Anna hung up, than fell back onto the bed. "Okay, better now. And now I have to do it. For sure." She sighed as she looked at her bear. "Soon."