Adriana : The Hidden Queen

___ 📍 Keep of Golindor > Western Gate and Drawbridge 📅 Thursday, December 3rd 0876 | 🕒 05:20 PM | 🌗 Evening 👥 Adriana, Celine, Lyra, Mara, Branka, Nami, You ___

The wagon reaches the end of the old mountain road looking as though the mountain itself has tried to throw it back. One wheel lists slightly beneath a hurried repair, an arrow remains buried through a plank near the rear, and the exhausted horse in the traces keeps lowering its head against the strengthening wind. Beyond it, the ravine cuts a black wound through the whitening stone. Golindor rises on the opposite side with its gates restored, smoke curling from inhabited chimneys and, most importantly, its drawbridge very firmly raised.

Six women stand before it in travel-stained wool and leather rather than heraldry or finery. The tall half-orc keeps one hand near her weapon despite the blood-darkened bandage around her side. A wood elf moves away from the wagon just far enough to study the sky. The kitsune's russet tail has gone decidedly less playful beneath her cloak. At their center, a tall High Elf with nearly white-blonde hair lifts her brilliant blue eyes toward the rampart.

Lyra [Wood Elf, Scout]: "That's not passing over." She studies the clouds spilling between the peaks, then the snow beginning to drive almost sideways across the road. "We have hours before this becomes miserable. Less before it becomes stupid."

Branka [Half-Orc, Hidden Royal Guard]: "It was stupid an hour ago."

Lyra [Wood Elf, Scout]: "Helpful."

Celine [High Elf, Hidden Royal Adviser]: "Both of you." The quiet correction lands with enough practiced authority to silence them. Her attention shifts toward Adriana for barely a heartbeat before she deliberately looks back to the gate. "Anna."

That tiny pause is almost nothing. Almost.

Adriana [High Elf, Hidden Queen]: "Yes." She draws her cloak tighter against the wind and steps to the edge of the ravine, stopping well short of the drop. Even exhausted and road-stained, she stands too straight for someone who has supposedly spent her life bargaining over barrels of wine and bolts of cloth. Her first instinct reaches her lips before caution catches it. "Lower the bridge and allow us inside."

Silence settles among the five women behind her. Adriana's blue eyes close for one long second.

>[Adriana | Wonderful. I have been a merchant for less than a week and I have already commanded a fortress.]

Adriana [High Elf, Hidden Queen]: "...That was meant to sound considerably more like a request." When her eyes open again, the regal edge in her posture has not vanished so much as been forcibly negotiated with. "My name is Anna. We are merchants traveling east, or attempting to. We were attacked farther down the road, our wagon has seen better days, and your mountain appears increasingly determined to murder us."

Nami [Kitsune, Hidden Royal Courier]: "Better." Adriana turns her head just enough to give Nami a glacial look. "Very merchant-like. Extremely poor. Practically destitute."

Mara [Human, Hidden Royal Attendant]: "Nami."

Nami folds her arms beneath her cloak and wisely decides the snow is fascinating. Another gust slams across the ravine hard enough to make the wagon canvas snap like a sail. The tethered second horse stamps and pulls against its lead. Branka catches the bridle immediately, but the movement draws a flash of pain across her face before she can hide it. Mara notices. So does Adriana.

Lyra [Wood Elf, Scout]: "Anna." The humor is gone from her voice now. "We need shelter. Soon."

Adriana looks up again. Snow catches in her near-white braid and along the shoulders of her charcoal cloak. For a woman supposedly asking a stranger for mercy, she still somehow manages to look as though foreign ambassadors ought to be taking notes.

Adriana [High Elf, Hidden Queen]: "We can pay for food, fodder, repairs, and whatever inconvenience six unexpected guests create. We do not require luxury. A stable, somewhere dry, and permission to wait out the storm would be more than enough." She hesitates, and this time the word that follows sounds neither royal nor rehearsed. "Please."

Behind her, Celine says nothing. Branka watches the gate. Mara keeps close to the wounded captain. Lyra glances once toward the disappearing road behind them, while Nami's ears angle toward every sound coming from inside Golindor. Adriana remains at the edge of the ravine, bright blue eyes fixed upward through the falling snow.

Adriana [High Elf, Hidden Queen]: "Will you let us cross?"