Insufferably Stubborn (Open to anyone in the castle)

It was early in the morning in Seken castle. In one of the several large bedrooms, there were two lumps under the bed covers. The twins, Enya and Devlin were both fast asleep in the peaceful silenceb that is, until their nurse came along. Genevieve threw the door open and flipped on the light, "Not again!"

Annoyed grumbles erupted from under the covers, and Enya sat up with a drowsy glare, "What is it now Gene?"

As though insulted, Genevieve crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, and Devlin prodded his sister in the side.

"Oh, I mean Genevieve." Enya quickly corrected her mistake.

"How many more times do I have to escort you back to your own bedroom, miss Enya?" She asked tediously.

"I don't see why your making such a fuss. I can sleep wherever I want to." Enya ventured grumpily and rather rudely.

"En..." Devlin mumbled, now sitting up as well.

"Young lady, her majesty and I have told you both time and time again: You are too old for this childish nonsense!!!"

"Actually, I recall only you saying that." Enya replied stubbornly.

"To your bedroom... now!"

Both the twins flinched as the nurse raised her voice;they could only drive her so far, and she was getting pretty close to her breaking point. The two exchanged a glance, Enya being more hesitant than Devlin, but finally, she mumbled, "Fine." And was escorted out.

As Enya and Genevieve walked down the magnificent walls of the castle, Enya began fidgeting with her long pajama sleeves and glancing back every now and then. Genevieve was busy tearing through a lecture that Enya didn't bother to listen to. She wasn't defiant now either. Without her brother, she had lost the will to resist authority figures like Genevieve, but it didn't mean she would show respect either.

"Where's mother Ms. Genevieve?" Enya asked quietly, but interrupting the nurse's rant none the less.

Genevieve looked down scoldingly at Enya for a moment, but then her gaze softened as she saw the look in the child's eyes, "Last time I spoke with her she was in the throne room."

"Right.." Enya glanced past Genevieve as they approached Enya's bedroom. There was a reason it was so far from her brother's room; a reason Enya couldn't stand.

Ryenne came trudging up the stairs, her heavily skirted dress in tow. Mumbling, she lifted the blasted skirts high above her knees so that the red velvet carpet became prominent under her noticably bare feet. With skirts that went as far down as hers, shoes didn't matter in her home. Not when they couldn't be seen or her height didn't matter. In public, that was a different story.

She reached the top of the stairs, letting her skirts down with a sigh. A few strands became loose in her almost always perfect her. She was quick to reach up and fix them back into their place. And then, she saw Enya with Genevieve.

"Hmm, and what would the problem seem to be here?"

Enya stopped dead in her tracks as Genevieve raised her eyebrow and looked to her majesty most knowledgable, "I found Miss Enya in young Devlin's bedroom again. They won't listen no matter how many times I instruct them otherwise!"

Why was it such a big deal? Enya couldn't sleep well, so she slipped into her brother's bedroom. It made perfect sense to her, she didn't know what was wrong with it.she sighed and slowly turned around to face her mother, and the first thing she noticed were the few loose strands of Ryenne's hair.

"Genevieve, you may leave. I'll escourt my daughter, if you don't mind of course."

Ryenne took a few steps forward, giving a small smile to Genevieve. As the older woman closed her eyes, Ryenne was sure to look over at Enya with a kinder, sort of a laughing smile. Serious as she was, she'd put on a show for the older woman. What mother was supposed to seem light? There had to be some power, only Ryenne liked to take a different approach to motherhood. Not the usual protocal that Genevieve would have surely followed.

"Enya, come with me."

"Of course your majesty." The older woman than respectfully excused herself.

Enya caught the smile and felt an instance of relief, but she still wasn't sure what her mother was going to say. She couldn't possibly have wanted to keep Enya and Devlin apart, could she? Enya watched as Genevieve disappeared down the stairs, probably to go order someone else around, Enya predicted.

Opening a familiar door, Ryenne offered for Enya to enter her own bedroom first. Ryenne made sure to both close and lock the door behind her before approaching Enya, a small bit of frustration on her face before she took a seat on the end of Enya's bed.

"Enya, I wish to speak with you, and I want you to really listen and try to understand. Okay?"

Enya hesitated as she fidgeted with the sleeves of her pajamas again, but then slowly nodded, "Yes mother..." before sitting down next to her mother, her gaze fixated on her own toes.

Ryenne took a deep breath. Her fingers lingered in her linen and cotton dress, tracing the lace that mingled with the deep purple fabric.

“I do not wish to separate you and your brother. I’m not cruel hearted, but you have to do me something in return. I only wish for you to sleep in separate quarters. I believe that’s fair, do you not?"

She paused, giving a short moment to Enya for a nod or a shake before she continued.

"You are still in the same hall and even in close doors. The two of you can spend every other hour with each other; I just wish for it to not be at night in the same bed. There are few things that cannot be overlooked, and I’m sorry Enya but that is just one too much for me. I do not complain of anything else. Can you not do this?”

Enya couldn't find the strength to look at her mother. She knew her mother's intentions were completely fair, but but what if Enya had nightmares again? She didn't really want to admit the real reason for all of this, but it was indeed the truth. Her mother had never been as overbaring as Genevieve, but Enya was still too afraid to admit her nightmares. She was 15 years old after all, she shouldn't be acting like a child. In the end, Enya couldn't say anything, but nodded, still staring down at her toes. Her pride trumped over her stubborness this time.

"Fifteen years ago you were about this big. And now, Enya, you are a young woman. You are nearly of marrying age, and your brother is both of that and of the age capable of taking the thrown. The public knows more about this castle than you may think and want. Don’t ever forget that, for the prying eyes and ears are everywhere."

Ryenne leaned over and kisses her forehead, pushing the hair out of the girl's face. She took one side and right from behind her ear created a very loose but elegant braid that covered around her head in a neat circle.

"Well aren't you my gorgeous little lady!"

Enya smiled and rolled her eyes, "Very funny." She laughed a little, and out of habit, tried to change the subject whenever anything relating to her appearance came- or about being a young lady- "Do you have to talk to any boring business people today?" She asked non-too subtly.

Ryenne laughed and shook her head. Boring business people, she could understand why Enya would say such a thing. In a world like today, boring meant something and had a level of importance. She wasn't surprised that it would bore Enya, it even bored herself. But Ryenne knew it was a job to be done and one that had to be done with consideration--not simply because one wanted it to be done and over with. She was okay if Enya didn't understand, but it was Devlin that concerned her the most.

"Not boring business people, but yes I do have quite the few meetings today. Would you like to attend one?"

She knew the answer, but Ryenne wasn't going to hold back just because of that. She'd give an opportunity no matter the predicted outcome. Some things change, some things don't. She just hoped that it was all for the right reasons.

"...Dev isn't going, is he?" She asked hesitantly. Meetings sounded like the worst possible way to spend the day, but if Devlin was going, she'd certainly have to. Whatever one of them did, the other always followed- though usually Enya was the one in lead. He was just sort of here whether he needed to be or not, and it was something Enya was starting to take for granted.

"I don't know, I haven't asked him. But it would be good practice if he were to say yes."

Ryenne smiled knowingly, but she didn't comment. She wondered just how much Enya would be able to stand just to sit with her brother. It was a bit strange, but Ryenne never had any siblings. Neither did her deceased husband.

Now that the thought came to mind, Ryenne wasn't sure how she ended up with twins. There were none in her bloodline, and none that she had noticed in her husband's. Sometimes at night she would wonder if they were meant to be one, seeing how attatched they always were to each other. But Ryenne never doubted that it was fate for two to come into the royal bloodline, something that hasn't happened in years.

Enya probably knew that she wouldn't be queen. Not unless something were to happen to Devlin, but Ryenne was positive that it not only wouldn't, but Enya wouldn't ever venture the thoughts. The two were birds, hatched form the same egg. Whatever happened to the egg, happened to them both.

"Why don't you go find out?"

Enya sighed, "Alright..." But Enya already knew what Devlin would say. As she stood up though, a knock came on the door.

"Your highness, are you still in there?" Genevieve's voice came from the other end.

Enya grumpily stared at the door, then looked to her mother, knowing that, unlike Enya, Ryenne couldn't simply ignore the most annoying person in the castle. 'Old bat must have already lost Dev... now she wants to torture me.' It was only natural that she hated her nurse; the woman tried so desperately to get Enya accustomed to wearing frilly dresses and high heels. Not only that, but Genevieve had a death grip when it came to fixing hair. Enya shuddered at the thought. She did not want to unlock the door.

Ryenne muffled a laugh before standing. She put her hand on her daughter's shoulder and motioned for her to sit back down. She was aware that they didn't like Genevieve, but Ryenne had her reasons for choosing her. Genevieve was wonderful when they were infants, but it was also good for the twins to learn to put up with someone they dislike. You can't like everyone, and this was Ryenne's way of teaching them. Presentation mattered, especially in this castle.

Sliding the door open, Ryenne looked at the short woman's face and smiled. If she had her heels on, she'd be taller. Unfortunately, she was only an inch taller than the woman without.

"Yes, Genevieve?"

Enya sat down quietly, crossing her legs simply to appear what Genevieve described as 'proper'; though her long sleeve pajamas were far from it, as Enya refused to wear night gowns over baggy silk pj's.

"I've just received Miss Enya's new dress from the market, but if you're busy, I can come back later." The woman smiled politely, much more warm-hearted than when she was left alone with Enya.

Enya rolled her eyes and glanced out the window. It usually only took about five minutes to get Genevieve into a hissy-fit; she was surprised she hadn't gone deaf by now, considering how often Genevieve has had to yell and scream at her. Their relationship as child and nurse only worsened as Enya got older.

"No, that's fine. And thank you, Genevieve. I'll take my leave."

Ryenne smiled as she opened the door wider, allowing Genevieve room to squeeze in. She paused at the door for a moment, smiling before she closed it quietly behind her. She was leaving Enya alone to Genevieve, and taking a walk to the other end of the hallway.

(I'm 'a guessing that's my que to transition xD)

It was oddly quiet on the other side of Enya's door, but only for a moment, "I don't want to wear that! No! Go away!"

But on the other end of the hallway, sound didn't travel so well fortunately. Devlin had just stepped out of his room, fully dressed and ready for the day. As he glanced down the hall towards Enya's bedroom, he stopped, straightened up and smiled, "Goodmorning mother."

"Goodmorning, Devlin!"

She smiled happily as she stared at her son. It was starting to feel like a routine for her, seeing her daughter and her son every morning or evening. It had been a little while since she had talked to Enya as she had today, but she only hoped that it wasn't a bad thing.

Ryenne watched her son now as he approached, his stature growing by the day. Since when did he get so tall? She almost laughed at the question, before remembering the evening agenda.

"I will be having a few meetings later today, boring according to your sister. Would you like to join me as some practice?"

"Boring she says?" He smirked, laughing a little; his sister never surprised him. "Of course I would love to join you. As long as you don't mind Enya tagging along, you know how she is." He folded his hands neatly behind his back, much more well-mannered then his twin. He always wanted to please his mother, but he had to admit, Enya made these sorts of things a whole lot more entertaining. Just thinking about her bored expression made him smile; and laugh when she would deny any such thing.

"I think it would be good for her to join us, though I must warn you both to keep comments to a minimal and whispering to nonexistant. The men coming today are sure to spread hurtful rumors like wildfire, and I want to be sure to keep that to a minimum."

She smiled at her son, dusting off a piece of hair from his shoulder. Ryenne knew that when she was gone, she could trust the thrown to him. He was a well mannered boy, and she saw him very fit for the role. Just like his father had been, even though his father wasn't born into the royal blood, and rather married into it, he acted more of a king than she had.

"And your clothes, are they pressed?"

"I'll be sure to warn En." He smiled as she dusted off his shoulder, "And yes, I had Genevieve take care of that just before she headed off to find Enya." He has seen the old woman carrying a package that way, and knew that whatever it had been, Enya would not have liked it. Devlin may not have been as outspoken as his sister, but he always seemed to find humor in even the smallest of things. His twin was the one who amused him most, and Genevieve was probably second. Put those two together and... well, chaos is bound to erupt. Devlin chuckled, and looked over his mother's shoulder as Enya's bedroom door bursted open and out came his sister, wearing a tight blue dress with ribbons. He sighed as Genevieve followed in close pursuit.

"Come back here! You still haven't put your shoes on young lady!" But Genevieve stopped short as she spotted the queen and her son; Enya just continued tromping down the hall until she reached her destination.

"How do you breathe in these things mother?" She whined exhaustively as Genevieve caught up carrying Enya's footwear.

Enya had her hair up in a bow with a braid similar to how Ryenne had put it up. She wore gloves that were bound to be filthy by the end of the day, and a sapphire necklace that her nurse had picked out.