Unpleasant Dinner

[Aneira of Avaria]

Just before she came close to the door of the dinning chamber, Aneira put on a smile. She knew her father would be less than pleased had he seen her frown. She hoped he wouldn't see through her pretend happiness...he would be determined to discover the cause for her distress. She couldn't allow him to discover that she Avaria's defeat. If he were ever to discover it then surely the entire kingdom would be in jeopardy. She did care for him, he was her father after all, however she had only recently begun to discover his true nature. Now in her eyes he was no longer the caring and doting father he once was - now he was more of a selfish man who would do anything to preserve his power. Telling him what she saw happen on the battlefields of Carrighan would make him use her for his own gain; and in this case attack Carneth with a harder blow.

Briefly pausing to cleanse her mind of all the thoughts, she pushed open the door to the dining chamber. Alfred O'Cruen lowered the goblet he held and looked to his daughter. "What kept you from us?" He asked as she took a seat across from her brother. Owain looked up briefly to her as the king began to speak once more. "Aneira, are you well?" He asked, adding that she should go visit the physician.

"I'm fine father, I assure you." She replied as she shifted in her seat. He had saw past her smile and noticed something was wrong. At least he had merely thought she was suffering some affliction. After inquiring further about her health, he gave it a rest when Owain intervene. Silence overcame the three as they began to pick quietly away at their food. As she lifted her goblet to her lips, she looked to the door as it opened. Her Uncle Dywel entered and sat down next to her. He seemed in a rush as he apologized for his lateness. The king dismissed his late wife's brother and turned his attention to other things.

[Aneira of Avaria]

"What is it?" Dywel Adallomine whispered to Aneira as he leaned over. "What did you see?" It was nearly impossible to get anything past her uncle; the entire Adallomine family had an exceptional skill, his being empathy. Just from a quick glance he knew she saw a troubling vision and would instantly inquire about it. And of course his calming demeanor would automatically force her to tell him everything...a trait that she didn't care too much for. When she didn't respond immediately, he looked up to her and once again inquired about what she saw.

She let out a small sigh and leaned close to him as she responded, her eyes briefly fluttering to her father and brother. "We will shortly receive a messenger to tell us about our loss at Carrighan." Ignoring the look Owain gave her, she returned her attention back to her goblet. Owain was almost always suspicious of her of which sometimes it was right for him to be suspicious. Over the years she had grown to believe that it was out of sibling-rivalry. After all hadn't she bested him in all things more than once?

[Owain of Avaria]

How had this happened? It couldn't be they lost. Owain felt his gaze narrow on his sister. What if she was wrong? Could she ever be wrong? Losing a battle meant a lot to the kingdom's morale. The people would see this as a weakness while the other Kingdom acted like they were now calling the shots. As if. Slowly he lowered his gaze from the dark haired woman to peer into his goblet of dark ale. It was frustrating that they lost. Perhaps if he asked his father to go with the knights next time this wouldn't happen. Why did she hold only bad news for their dinner? Taking a drink of the ale he relaxed slightly. As long as the armies didn't advance on them they would be alright for now. War always frightened the man more than he'd admit. Most often than not he hated to see the people of his kingdom suffer which is why he used his blade only to protect the people and keep them safe from harm.

"Do you bring us any other news sister dear?" It wasn't hard to hide the sarcasm in his words. He was tired of this war and the fighting. When his father shot him a look that clearly told him to curb his tongue the prince went back to his ale. He'd need to round up some men to see if the villages in that area where still sound. Shifting in his chair the man looked to his sister before his uncle and father. He knew how to make things awkward fast it seemed. "Did this defeat tell you anything? How did we lose or something like that?" Owain asked finally. How had their men been bested. "Was it a slaughter? Does your vision show you these things or just snippets?" Owain looked frustrated. The thought of people possibly being hurt didn't sit well with him. War was constantly a blood bath. The blue eyes wandered from the dark haired woman to the other people at the table. Food didn't seem appealing after knowing that they lost men.

It was hard for the prince not to get up right there and stride out of the room to find someone to talk to. Instead he took to sipping his wine while waiting for someone else to speak. It was clear Owain was upset with this turn of events. Upset that they didn't win the battle. There was probably sorcerer's there that's why. The thought made him shoot a look to Aneria. Sometimes he wondered if her power would help on the battle field. If she'd be able to fight better than anyone else because of these visions. Maybe one day they would find out about this. Just another thing for her to try and beat him with. Always stealing the spot line when she could. The golden haired man blinked idly not knowing why he was so frustrated with her. It wasn't her fault she decided to tell them the bad news instead of letting them enjoy dinner. It'd be like yelling at a toddler because they spilled milk.

[Aneira of Avaria]

Aneira felt the heat begin to rise inside of her. She did not like her brother most of the time, her dislike being fueled at these moments. She often chose to make a sarcastic remark once Owain fueled her anger. Yet this one held more of a hint of strong dislike of her brother more than sarcasm. "Brother if you want other news, perhaps we can tell father how you choose to disregard riding out with him to go on a hunt last month?" Giving off a smirk, she looked to her father who was busy rubbing his temples.

"Enough!" King Alfred said as he looked to them both. "For once lets have a silent meal. No fighting between you two..." The King paused to take a sip from his goblet. As she had expected, his speech turned into his reputation. "If our enemies learn that we don't have peace within our own Castle, then they will think we are ripe for attack since our lands will be divided." As he lifted his goblet once again, Dywel asked about what they were to do about the loss. "We will start planning on a harder attack in the morning. As for now, lets try and get along."

Get along, Aneira thought as she continued to eat her meal. She didn't believe she could get along with Owain at all...he was too irritating to even try to be nice to. Why should she try and boast a smile and say kind words to him? He was lucky he was her brother; if he wasn't a member of her family, she would have transformed him into a toad or other slimy creature for a week. In her mind, he deserved it and more. Perhaps she could still do it...just for a day. Being a toad might suit him. She was much too protective over her family; she couldn't bare to risk harming any of them in any way. All she could bring herself to do is outsmart and best him in front of the knights and his other friends.

[Owain of Avaria]

Owain glared at Aneria when she mentioned he went hunting instead of riding with their father. She swore that she wouldn't tell him! Opening his mouth to shoot off a remark at her his father intervened. No more fighting between them? It wasn't like they did it that often at the table. Though instead he merely looked down to his food with a calm look before looking to Aneria once more. Honestly he didn't hate her, never did. Just... He didn't like the way she tried to be a man rather than a lady. It was unnatural... All the other men would look at her like she was a wild beauty which only ended up irking the man more since he knew there was little love behind the droves of lust. Maybe if she spent more time trying to get to know him instead of humiliating things wouldn't be so strained between them. The look Owain gave their father was one of confusion. "Are you imply, father, that there are spies among us? That would be one of the few ways an enemy would know of us arguing at the dinner table." The words were careful, the blue eyes locked on his father. For awhile now he held the suspicion that something was happening around the castle. Servants gossiping was nothing new to the young prince.

A harder attack in the morning? That at least sounded promising. It meant that they would get their revenge for being shamed on the battlefield. Shifting in his seat Owain didn't know what to say. After all his father said to get along with her. How in heavens name did his father expect something like that to happen? It was like wishing a pebble would turn into gold, things like that just didn't happen. Not that he hated her. Of course not, he could never find it in himself to hate Aneria even if she treated him poorly more often than not. "How're your hunts going, Aneria?" He spoke finally, trying to reach a topic he might have in common with the younger woman. At least they both hunted so it would be something to take his mind off of the fact that he was a bit annoyed with the loss. Annoyed that they rarely found things out normally. Not that he didn't like his sister's gift, it was just something she didn't need the enemies to know about. That would be more than enough cause for them to try and kidnap her from them.

[Aneira of Avaria]

Letting off a short sigh, Aneira decided to calm herself enough so that her response would be familial. "They are going fine." She paused, treading carefully over her words so that she wouldn't brag about her victories. "I'm going again soon. I hear there is an unsettled boar in the west I could use as sport." When she noticed the look given to her by her father, she added, "Don't worry father. I won't be going alone. Uncle Caddock and Cousin Robert will be going with me." Silence soon followed Aneira's response, the longest it had ever lasted between them. She decided to break it, to show her father that she was capable of giving kind words to her brother. "Owain, what do you think of the newest knights?"

Her attention was drawn to the far wall which held a shield belonging to one of the ancient kings. She eyed it intently, never breaking contact with it even as she knew her attention should belong to her brother and father. There was something about it, at that moment. It was clearly in its place and from the eye nothing was wrong. And yet it somehow unsettled her, bringing her to confusion. She eventually got passed it and broke it free from her thoughts. Returning her attention back to her family, she did her best to follow the conversation.