2.5: You Are Cordially Beknighted
Eppagelía took Euryleia's invitation to heart and soon Euryleia's was overwhelmed by the sensation of music. An exciting theme, capriccio, which as it reached its crescendo, simply collapsed into a mournful dirge. It continued on for a while until it transitioned into a dumka, as it did a new theme was introduced, suddenly it was a quadrille. An interlude introduced a further theme which slowly built upon itself, layering, and repeating, changing. A fugue. The complexity increased, layer built upon layer, built upon layer, played upon so many instruments, carried by so many different voices. An anthem sung by a choir of countless number rose again with only one voice. The voice was burdened with power and purpose and an abiding love for the song. It returned again to that theme that had once risen from the dirge--repeating the refrain, forcefully, yet with a velvet quality that soothed. It repeated again as if inviting another voice to join it.
Iliza had spent the luncheon simply absorbing the experience, much like one takes in a masterwork of art. At Sir Brun's prompting she turned her loving gaze to her prince--who then promptly revealed the existence of their pregnancy, not just to the entire table, but to the entire bay at large. Iliza loved Gwydion dearly, with all her heart, but perhaps he shouldn't be trusted with state secrets... She tried her best to control her surprised expression and pinched Gwydion hard under the table.
The twins exchanged another look, "It's got to be the beard right?" "Has to be."
"Oh. Oh! Iliza!," Irina said a few seconds later as the words caught up to her as she was still processing the implications of what the twins had told them. She hugged her sister tightly.
MerLN acknowledged Princess Meara's orders, but said nothing as the revelation of Iliza's pregnancy unfolded before him.