A Friend's Return

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I came up to the door and knocked firmly waiting for a reply.

"Highness," A maid gasped a little and curtised. The woman that opened the door recognized me, or at least knew I was coming which made me feel a little lighter.
"Come in please." She opened wide the door and gestured for me to enter.

I walked past her and inside.

"Please have a seat, I'll inform the Vicomtesse." She bobbed another curtsy and hurried off. I wandered to the sitting room and brushed out the small wrinkles from the ride over. My green gown falling freely as I shook the material.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I was sitting out under an umbrella-covered table reading a book when one of my servants hurried up, looking flustered and excited all at once. "My lady!" she breathed as I lowered my book. "My lady, the Princess Phreya de la Courcel is here to see you!"

My smile near split my face as I rose, laying the book carelessly upon the table. "Thank you - I'll come to her at once. Bring a chilled red wine and some appetizers, please, in the case she'd like them."

Not waiting for her answer, I turned and walked towards my recieving room. The first glance of Phreya brought a soft breath from me - she was so beautiful, so lovely. "Phreya," I said, smiling as I reached my hands out for hers. "You look absolutely gorgeous."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled see Noelle, my grin spliting my face as she came nearer. My hands reached out and took hers pulling her into me before one hand went to her cheek and cupped it. I leaned over and kissed her, a kiss of longing, of love.

"As do you." I whispered softly against her lips.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I moaned softly against her lips and stepped closer, pressing my body firmly against hers as I returned her kiss affectionately, passionately. "I'm glad you're here," I murmured softly before kissing her again, my hand sliding down her slim waist to her hip, pulling her a little closer into me.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled pulling back a little.
"Oh are you." I chuckled reaching down and taking her hands in mine. "Come, tell me how you have been. You look hale, I take it that the plague didn't harm you."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I heard voices in the foyer, and wondered if Noelle was entertaining again. I left the library and walked to the foyer, to find Noelle and another black-haired woman with sapphire eyes and a swan's neck holding hands and standing...very close together. I remembered Lord Denis, and wondered vaguely how he would feel about this before clearing my throat softly. "Good afternoon Noelle, good afternoon, my lady."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"Incredibly so," I said, flashing her a grin as I followed her cue and stepped back some myself. "No, I did catch the plague, but thankfully it was early on. I'm nearly over it now; I just become a little winded at times." I smiled and squeezed her hand, on the verge of saying more, but before I could I heard Abbys voice.

Turning, I smiled at my little sister and gestured her to come. "Hello Abby," I said warmly, put in a good mood by Phreyas arrival. "Phreya," I said as I turned to her, "This is my younger sister, Abigail. Abby, this is Princess Phreya de la Courcel."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I dropped into a curtsy. "An honor, your highness." I had guessed who she was, but Noelle's introduction reaffirmed my guess.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

"Abby," I said softly. "Do you mind if I call you Abby? Your sister spoke of you of course." I gave her a soft smile as I turned to the girl.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I don't know why, but I felt much warmer to Phreya than I did to Denis. "No, I don't mind, highness," I said, rising from my curtsy.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I nodded.
"Well, its good to finally meet you Abby." I said softly. "Please excuse the interuption, I'm afraid I was outside the City and when I heard news of the sickness I returned. I wanted to make sure that Noelle was alright." I glanced to Noelle then and gave her a haughty smile.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"You're very kind, your highness," I said. "Noelle and I have both been ill, but we have fortunately recovered."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I listened to the two of them talk with a small, masked smile on my mouth, and when Phreya looked at me with that look on her face I chuckled lowly in my throat. "Phreya was one of the first people I met in the City," I explained to Abby, some measure of amusement still on my face. "We were in a tavern and somehow ended up at a table together."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

Noelle looked like the cat who ate the canary, her smile was so big. "Is there more to the story?" I asked. "Or it was just a chance happening?"

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"It was a chance happening for the most part," I said. "We met another girl there, the redhead, do you remember Phreya?"

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled looking to Noelle and the total chance meeting.
"Julie," I said softly. "Oh Noelle I forgot." I bit my lower lip. "I recieved news when I was in Montreve. Apparently the sickness spread to Siovale, Julie Deveriox and her father succumb to the illness." I pursed my lips.
"I don't mean to bring up sad tidings but I thought you would care to know." My smile was a bit sad as I thought about when my servants returned the news.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I dropped my smile at the mention of the death of their friend. "I'm sorry," I said.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

The smile slid off my mouth as Phreya mentioned Julies death, and I looked at her without expression for a moment as I digested the sudden surprising information. "Oh, gods," I said at length, trying to remember the last time I'd seen her.

I shook it off; I couldn't, not now. Not in the company of my sister and my lover. "Oh, look," I said as the maid came back with refreshments. I let go of Phreyas arm and took the tray myself, ignoring the look of blatant shock that passed over the face of the maid. "Bring another glass for Abigail," I instructed her, then turned to the two women. "Shall we?" I said, smiling.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

"Oh my dear," I said softly. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up now." I knitted my brow softly then glanced to Abby.

"But yes, we should sit." I came to Noelle and gestured for her to put the tray down on the table for us.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"Oh, no, I"m fine," I said as I set the tray down, then set about pouring us tea. "It was .. unexpected is all." I sank onto one of the pristine white couches that sat in our recieving room, pouring both glasses of wine, and then a third as the maid returned with it. "How was the country since I left there, Phreya?"

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I sighed inwardly, I would make sure that she was really alright but I would wait till we were in private.
"I'm afraid the news isn't any better else where in the province." I said softly as I sat next to her. I didn't want to tell her I had heard news about other members of the peerage passing away.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I frowned at Noelle's behavior, she seemed very stricken. I wondered how close she had been to this friend. "It's terrible," I said, sitting in a chair diagonally from Noelle. "Every day more people become ill, though I hear the sickness is slowing down," I added, trying to be positive.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I nodded. "I've heard much the same," I said in response to both of them as I handed the glasses of wine to both Abby and Phreya. "Thank Elua it's slowing down," I said. "Denis caught it as well, you know," I said, glancing to Phreya. "He came over the day Abby fell sick."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled softly. I could tell, the way she said his name, that she cared for him. It made me happy to know she'd found some one.
"How is Denis?" I asked touching her hand lovingly.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"He's..." I paused, my hand turning over so I could lace my fingers together with her own slim ones. "He's both good and not, I think. His elder sister, Tempeste, died with the plague, and he's returning with her body to Azzalle to bury her and assume the title of Comte. His letters seem rather fine, though. I think he'll be all right in the end," I said, trying to remain positive.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

"Oh my love, I'm so sorry." I said running my thumb over her hand. "Please let him know that I send my condolences." My tone was calm and soft.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I listened quietly, feeling very sorry for all the deaths that had struck Noelle's friends. Noelle and I knew what it was to lose a loved one, but in truth, I hardly could remember what it was like, I'd been only two years old.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"I will, thank you," I said as I leaned over, pressing my lips to the corner of Phreyas mouth. I had more to tell her, more I was aching to, but it wouldn't suit to do it anywhere but in private. Holding my tongue on other subjects, I turned to Abby and gave her a soft smile. "We all are lucky though, to have survived. I'm glad you weren't in the City at the time, Phreya, and I'm glad you came through it well, Abby."

There were no games here, no little twists to my words to let them be taken anyway else but how I meant them. For all that had happened, for all the people who had died; fortune had smiled upon us.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled softly wanting to run my hand through Noelle's hair but I refrained and smiled to Abby.
"I'm glad you both came out unscathed." I said softly.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Thank you, your highness," I said. I was trying to find something else to say to this princess, but I was so nervous. What if I said the wrong thing? "I am glad things are well again; it would have been a shame for the Midsummer Fair to be cancelled."