Adelaide's heart fluttered as they entered the village in the heart of the kingdom. Vendors bustled around and yelled at potential customers to buy their wares. Children scampered in the streets and played games, running around tables and people. Everything was so distracting and Addy could not focus. There was so much to take in, the sights, the smells. Everything was new.

"Are you quite alright, Addy?" Philip had turned around in his saddle and looked at her with concern.

"What?" She shook her head out of the clouds and nodded. "Yes, I am, sorry. It's all so new to me."

He laughed and smiled. "Yes, I suppose it is. Did you ever step foot out of your village?"

Her horse stepped on a pebble and kilted to the side. "No, hardly ever. The only memory I have of leaving the village was with my mother, and we just went to the neighboring village, Quieta. But that was just once and I was very little." Addy adjusted Roisin in her arms and smiled fondly at the sleeping child.

"Well, welcome to the city of Aragoth. I believe you will like it here. Once we get settled in the castle, I will have the pauper come in and measure you for a new wardrobe. And then the cobbler for some new shoes and slippers. I certainly cannot have you walking through the palace barefooted." Philip winked and chuckled. "Mother will love you, I am sure."

"I truly hope she does. I am quite nervous, Philip. What if she hates me?"

"Oh, nonsense. My mother will love you, Adelaide."  He stopped at the large iron gate that barricaded the castle from the city. "Ho there, Ivan!" He yelled up at the tower.

"My prince! Welcome home!" The man up in the tower disappeared for a moment and the gate lifted. "It is good to have you back, sire."

"It's good to be back, Ivan." Philip waved and beckoned Addy to his side. "Now, when we get inside, I want you to treat it as if it were your home, because it is now. You will be the queen of this land and this castle."

"Oh, that is quite a lot." Addy bit her thumb nail anxiously and held Roisin closer to her chest.

Two guards ascended from the front steps and took hold of the horses, one helping Addy down from her steed. "Careful now, ma'am. Watch your step." He helped her up the steps and made sure she was fine.

"Please make sure my bags are placed inside, if you would." She smiled kindly at the guard.

"I will have them placed in your room, madam." He walked off to the stables.

"Darling, let's go inside, shall we?" Philip didn't wait for the guard to open the door for him and he waved off the man when he protested. "Come now, my arms are not broken. It is just a door, Henry."

Adelaide followed him inside and gasped when she saw the large chandelier. The iron hoops connected by chains and complimented the stands of crystal stones that hung on the underside. The candles were not lit because the sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, flooding the halls with natural light. She could only imagine the beauty of it when it was lit at night.

"This way, Adelaide." Philip led her through a large hall and then stepped into another room. It must have been the ballroom because there was a stage platform with chairs and music stands, where, she assumed, the orchestra played. They walked into an adjoining room and she stopped suddenly when she saw the queen on her throne.  

"Mother!" Philip hastened to the older woman, who held onto her beauty through the years. He hugged her tightly to him and kissed her cheeks. "I have someone, well, two people, rather, that I want you to meet." He walked her to Adelaide and smiled grandly. "Mother, this is Adelaide and little Roisin. Addy is my fiance."

"Oh, my dear, it is so good to meet you." The queen held Addy's hand in her own and kissed her on the cheek. "I am looking forward to getting to know you better than just an introduction." She turned her attention to Roisin, who chose that moment to squeak softly. "Well, isn't she just a little cherub? Is she yours, dear?"

"Yes, by adoption. I found her in a village that had been raided by ogres. Her mother requested that I take care of her." Addy stared at Roisin and her heart filled with warmth and love.

"Philip, I trust you know what you are doing?" The queen raised an eyebrow at her son.

"Of course. I love Roisin as if she were my daughter by blood. And she will be my daughter soon, once Adelaide and I are wed." Philip wrapped his arm around Addy and nodded his head with affirmation.

"Good." The queen clasped her hands together. "Well then, why don't we adjourn to the banquet hall and see what the cook can throw together? I think we have some things to discuss."