Niabheara shook her head but hurried down the last few steps, gesturing to Goneril to follow. "No no no, I don't know what the matter is. Come along--"

She hurried toward the noise and almost ran face-first into the captain, who was hurrying to find her. He gave a quick curt nod in apology, and one to Goneril. "Unseelie envoy being brought up from the cliffs, my lady."

Goneril's eyes went very wide, and she looked at Niabheara, letting out a little squeak, her cheeks pale as the snow outside. "IthinkIneedtositdown," she said, choked.

It was completely unseemly to get overeager in front of the captain. Niabheara tried to suppress her grin as she glanced over her shoulder at Goneril. "Oh no you don't! Sit on the steps! Put your head between your knees!"

The Countess, full Niall banners flying, turned back to the captain, her eyes cool and half-lidded. "Would this be His Honor the Northern Queensman?"

Ainnileas was more-or-less used to his lady flying back and forth. "No, my lady; we would have shown His Honor straight in. Would you want this one to wait to be seen?"

She looked back at Goneril, then shook her head no. "I think we will see him early. We have awaited a message from the Unseelie Queen. Show the envoy into the little hall and make him welcome; tell him I will be in directly."

Then she turned to Goneril, grinning, and biting her bottom lip. "D'you think--?"

Goneril did as she was told, lying her head on her knees. She looked weakly up at Niabheara. "Think what?" she asked. Now she was looking a bit green. She started, and her eyes grew a bit brighter. "Oh! You mean maybe there's a letter?"

"Or at least there's some word." Instantly her mind went to the worst possible outcome--that they had been disinvited. She shook the idea away, then looked down at herself. "And me looking like a shepherdess!" Her hair seemed to lift and float briefly above her shoulders, before it wound itself into a complicated corona around her head. Her stable-stomping clothes became a glowing deep red gown, baring her shoulders. Her eyes danced over Goneril. "Quick, pink or blue?"

Goneril looked confused. "Pink?" she answered, slowly getting to her feet. "I don't know what it's for."

"Too late." Goneril's gown turned to a soft shell-pink velvet, with a deeper pink underskirt showing through its slashes. Niabheara looked amused. "Although you do resemble Her Majesty to an unnerving degree in that . . ."

Goneril gave Niabheara a wistful look. "My hair isn't white enough," she said. "I'm too tall, and there's the obvious points." But she smiled and nodded Niabheara forward. "Go on," she said, smiling halfheartedly. "You've got me dressed for a special occasion and there's no one here to see."

Niabheara burst out laughing. "I meant our Queen! Come on, let's at least see this fellow--" She put out her hand for Goneril.

"Oh!" Goneril hesitated, and then took it. "I'm not sure if...she's very pretty but I have a hard time getting past the personality." She squeezed her eyes tight shut for a moment as she followed after Niabheara.