And the little girl grew up

The bells rang out early in the morning, two days after their first anniversary, to celebrate the birth of the newest prince. At almost 10 pounds, no one could say he wasn't a healthy, hale, robust boy, though the women present at the birth were much more sympathetic than impressed at the child's size.

Tarrwyn's recovery is a surprise to everyone, save her sister and Morgana, and she refuses to stay in bed longer than a couple of days. Not that Tarrwyn's ever been one to sit still for long.

At the moment, she's sitting with her firstborn, staring out the window into the courtyard. Holding Custen against her, facing the outside, she's trying to explain all the parts of the kingdom that he may inherit.

Amhar receives the final one of his love notes with one last love letter.  Well, it will not be the last one he ever receives, but it is the last one he will receive as an unmarried man.  It arrives in a scroll tied with a red ribbon.  Wid (who is being forced to try on his formal page uniform) delivers it.

My Dearest Amhar,

I do not like this tradition of not seeing the groom the day before the wedding.  I would prefer to spend the entire day with you, my wonderful Amhar. 

With all of the guests, I'm sure they will try to keep me distracted, but I will be thinking about how tomorrow, I will finally be your wife!  I will be the happiest woman in all of Albion.  I cannot stop grinning. 

I hope you like your last note.  I love you more than any of these 100 notes could say.

Love Forever,

Tarrwyn

There are even more guests today and Mari is run run almost ragged with her new mistress trying to get people settled.  As it is her wedding, Tarrwyn's wanting to be the main hostess, and not providing extra work for her Aunt. 

Thus, today's note comes at the very end of the day.  It's the very last thing Wid does before going home to his mother and to bed.  The boy is so tired, that Tarrwyn's seriously considering offering him a place in the servant's quarters, even though he usually wants to go home to his mother at the end of the day.

The influx of people from the outlying areas continues today but the most important guests to Tarrwyn (not that she will say as such to all the dignitaries) are Heulwen, her husband, and children.  Her oldest friend from the magical community is coming to stay to help out with final things.  It's not as though the help looks like it will be needed.  Carys, despite still limping around, has found a renewed vigor in everything, since the night she did not (as Tarrwyn said all along) change.

Still, it will be nice to have friend who've known her her whole life come and help.  For instance, the eldest, a little girl, comes to deliver the note to Amhar today.

Hopefully Amhar doesn't expect conversation, as the little girl is far, far too shy to speak.

As it is one week until the wedding, Amhar's going to get another well-meaning but terrible love letter.

My dearest Amhar,

It is only one week until our wedding, but I am afraid the next seven days will seem longer than the last 93! I am starting to think that I was foolish to set the date so far away. I know tradition is longer, but tradition is ridiculous. I also think the knights' code is a bit ridiculous right now too.

As much as I will enjoy the wedding celebrations, I would prefer to be simply settled in marriage. You do not want to run away with me this week and find some druid to marry us, do you?

I would prefer to spend every minute before the wedding with you, but know that's impossible.

With love and impatience for the week to be over,

Tarrwyn

Competitors from the tournament may be heading out of the city, but in a lot fewer numbers than usual.  Many will stay in or near the city for the royal wedding.  As there will be celebrations in the palace, as well as upper and lower towns, to allow as many people to be involved as want to be involved.

Once the tournament is over, the hall that she took over at the beginning of all this has now exploded throughout the palace.  Only the basic decorations: wall hangings, the final bits of winter put away, have started to come out, but it's clear, after the tournament, the city is starting to gear up for the first royal wedding for the next generation of Pendragons.

So, in the midst of all this, Tarrwyn sends her note through the best possible method of delivery: Wid.  She knows it'll go straight to Amhar, with all sorts of praise.  Wid really has developed a hero worshiping relationship with the crown prince.

 Being the second day of the tournament, Tarrwyn's been busy playing hostess to the now arriving dignitaries. Many will be here for the wedding.

As today is the second of four rounds, there is another token for her champion, this one given publicly at the side of the ring.

Today's love note comes with another sweet.  It's the same type of sweet had at lunch the previous day, where Tarrwyn just might (though she will not admit it) have caught her intended's eye and then ate the sweet rather suggestively.

Today is her last dress fitting.  There's a bit of embroidery left to be done,  but to make sure everything fits perfectly, there's one last try on this morning.  As the seamstress trims and and threads fall to the floor, Tarrwyn asks for the scraps.  As she is to one day be queen, no one questions it.

Tarrwyn's own skills with a needle are quite competent.  They aren't up to the professional level, but it is one of the few female pursuits she's taken to very well.  It will suit her in future years when she's confined when heavily pregnant.  She will need something to do during those times.

That is in the future.  Today, it's a little patchwork of different red materials.  Today's note, without an explanation, is delivered in it.

Tarrwyn's annoyed because her sister's taking some personal time.  It's not that she begrudges Carys this, but more that she knows her sister can get a bit maudlin.  If anything, Tarrwyn's tried her damnedest to keep Carys from becoming so.

But since the kidnapping, there's been a subtle change in Carys.  She no longer affectionately roles her eyes when the time for delivery of the love notes occurs.

So what is strangers, is a tiny pocket witch doing the one thing she said she would for her younger sister.  She's off to deliver a note to Amhar.  Carys also has a very tiny gift for him of her own.  It may take her a while to get there, as Carys still has a pronounced limp from her injury.  Due to the magical nature of it, the wound is taking far longer to heal.