Her blue eyes flicker apprehension as she turns to gaze up at Aten. The emotion starts to form a knot in her stomach and Lilliana wonders if she has done it again - if one of her ideas has gone too far.
But, surprisingly, it hasn't.
The doubt that had started to build in the corners of her mind settle and the chestnut mare relaxes under the calm tone that the Champion uses. His words bring relief and that telltale smile dawns against Lilli's dark mouth. Aten trusts her and that acknowledgement floods her veins with warmth. The chestnut mare raises her head a little higher than it had been and the way her mouth curves borders on fondness, those expressive eyes warming as she considers his words.
"It can be hard sometimes," she shares with him, "when your parents cast shadows. It can be good to step out of them." Lilli doesn't mean any offense by this but she has seen it, has known it. Memories of her own nephews play in her mind and even her own come as she remembers what it was to be the daughter of the Regent, of the Guardian. She had known - as Tarian, Liam and Kildare had known - what it was to be considered against the reputation and actions of parents who had cast those long shadows. Her gaze sharpens and she comes back to the present, returning her full attention back to Aten.
And then her expression beams back up at the champagne stallion, "He is a wonderful colt. You and Lethia have done well by him." There is no doubt in her mind that Kalil will go on to remarkable things like his father before him; that he will be another stalwart steward or caretaker for Taiga (or any land he chooses). His next words catch her by surprise and Lilliana finds herself blinking once before inclining her head curiously up at the stallion.
Her expression turns almost shy before she finds her smile again, "I'd like that." She would - the idea that the champagne Champion would want to accompany her has never occurred to her - and the thought takes a pleasant shape in her mind. "Anytime. You need only ask." Lilli gives her head a playful shake before a soft laugh dances forward, "Or don't. The best plans are sometimes unexpected ones." If she somehow found herself in Aten's company for her next diplomatic mission, well, Lilliana will flow with whatever the Winds send her way.
Eventually, there is a lull that comes and the copper mare looks away from the Champion again. While she has enjoyed this conversation, she does have a question. Well, questions really. Her expression grows serious for a moment as she studies the impressive redwoods and finds her blue-eyed gaze going up rather than out. There is an electric flash of blue as she finds a patch of sky and that prompts her to ask, "I know you had mentioned the fire..." she trails, gentling her words because the imagery of flames embracing this forest causes a fierce ache in her chest. She can't imagine what it does to Aten and she has no desire to make him revisit unkind memories.
An ear flicks towards the stallion before the chestnut mare peels her eyes from the trees and turns back to the Champion. "But what else of Taiga's history? Has it always resided in the Kingdom of Nerine?" She wanted to work towards the future of the northern forest but in order to successfully do that, she needed to fill in the gaps of its past.
@[Aten]
"It can be hard sometimes," she shares with him, "when your parents cast shadows. It can be good to step out of them." Lilli doesn't mean any offense by this but she has seen it, has known it. Memories of her own nephews play in her mind and even her own come as she remembers what it was to be the daughter of the Regent, of the Guardian. She had known - as Tarian, Liam and Kildare had known - what it was to be considered against the reputation and actions of parents who had cast those long shadows. Her gaze sharpens and she comes back to the present, returning her full attention back to Aten.
And then her expression beams back up at the champagne stallion, "He is a wonderful colt. You and Lethia have done well by him." There is no doubt in her mind that Kalil will go on to remarkable things like his father before him; that he will be another stalwart steward or caretaker for Taiga (or any land he chooses). His next words catch her by surprise and Lilliana finds herself blinking once before inclining her head curiously up at the stallion.
Her expression turns almost shy before she finds her smile again, "I'd like that." She would - the idea that the champagne Champion would want to accompany her has never occurred to her - and the thought takes a pleasant shape in her mind. "Anytime. You need only ask." Lilli gives her head a playful shake before a soft laugh dances forward, "Or don't. The best plans are sometimes unexpected ones." If she somehow found herself in Aten's company for her next diplomatic mission, well, Lilliana will flow with whatever the Winds send her way.
Eventually, there is a lull that comes and the copper mare looks away from the Champion again. While she has enjoyed this conversation, she does have a question. Well, questions really. Her expression grows serious for a moment as she studies the impressive redwoods and finds her blue-eyed gaze going up rather than out. There is an electric flash of blue as she finds a patch of sky and that prompts her to ask, "I know you had mentioned the fire..." she trails, gentling her words because the imagery of flames embracing this forest causes a fierce ache in her chest. She can't imagine what it does to Aten and she has no desire to make him revisit unkind memories.
An ear flicks towards the stallion before the chestnut mare peels her eyes from the trees and turns back to the Champion. "But what else of Taiga's history? Has it always resided in the Kingdom of Nerine?" She wanted to work towards the future of the northern forest but in order to successfully do that, she needed to fill in the gaps of its past.
@[Aten]
but it's all in the past, love
it's all gone with the wind