All Hail The First of Dates!

(Today's missive shall be delivered remotely thru carrier pigeon as our fair queen has taken to her bed from swooning. Fear not, Faithful Subjects of Aes Sidhe! She is quite well but has decided to spend the weekend in quiet contemplation and rest)

"It happened, dear subjects: The First of Dates.

Prince The Other White Meat convinced our person to travel to his private estate for a consultation of personal concern. The Royal We traveled under cover of darkness so as not to be recognized by the general populace and arrived at the Prince's estate as the clock struck X. We can tell you without shame or fear that our nerves were on edge and our stomach on fire from anxiety. We stood outside the watchtower debating whether to alert the town crier of our arrival or merely turn the carriage around and head back to the safety of our own castle walls.  After a small eternity of roughly five minutes, we allowed the bells to ring in our honor. The honor guard opened the gates and allowed us safe passage.

As we climbed the stairs of the 4th floor keep and reached the level of "2", we heard the trampling of feet from up above heading down. Within moments, we were face to face with the prince. He was carrying refuse to toss into the moat, and as we passed each other with shy smiles and sidelong glances, we couldn't help but notice how handsome the prince was in person. The intermediaries had said so, and weeks ago sent commissioned portraits to our personal chambers for us to study and admire. But a living and breathing Adonis is far superior than a copy, even one created by an Italian Master. The prince's action was a clever one, and it wasn't until the next day that we realized the purpose.  Imagine, my subjects, opening one's door and being witness to the Terrible And Glorious Visage of one's sovereign in the flesh? It would be a revelatory experience, but one leaves it to chance whether for good or ill.  In layman's terms, answering the front door to a pseudo-stranger is strange indeed. What if the person before you was not as he or she availed themselves to be? Could you hide your disappointment and shock? Alternately, what if the person were even better than the tales attributed to them in the Chronicles? Could you dampen your excitement?  No, what the prince did was cleverness incarnate: meeting quickly on the stairs while in motion allowed him to take in our person in a series of rapid glances and make first impression judgment before turning around and coming back up the stairs. He could formulate his opinion without my presence. Brilliant! This is a trick we shall remember for the future for any First of Dates which may begin in our territories.

The details of the First of Dates shall remain a secret, dear subjects. Your queen is not in a position to share her private diaries with you. What will be stated here for the record is that both the prince and your queen remained both chaste and gentle with one another. No sordid tales of passionate embrace shall pass our lips this evening. Nay, we remember our position and we hold true to the notion that with this prince (and more importantly... with OURself), slow and steady shall win the race. The Royal We is no bed-notch! She is a person of breeding and honor, and shall hold herself above any other solo queens and princesses who visit this prince by not doing what would be so simple in this particular situation with this particular comely enchanter: losing herself in those beautiful eyes and allowing him access to her personage.

It is the dawning of a New Age, one of hope and joy and fun. We hope to continue on this path for a long time to come. Your queen is happy right now, dearest subjects of Aes Sidhe. Your queen is happy, indeed..."

"Walk with me. The future's at hand. Here with us, Here where you stand. 

We both know the power of pain; We get back up and start it again.
With new hope, no place for tears, Leave behind those frozen years. 

Come with me and we'll go dreaming." ~BT