Private Home From the Hill

[Jocelyn Panteer]

ASTERFALL KEEP
THE ALDERA ALPS
​

Asterfall Keep was an impressive fortress, to be sure. Not as grand as the royal palace, which sat some several dozen miles away, but that was only to be understood. It was older, though, which was a prestige of its own kind. It predated House Panteer's claim on the Alderaanian throne by a century. The destruction and reconstruction of the planet interrupted time in its way, but many Alderaanians chose to view that as an unfortunate interruption which had no impact on dynastic claims. Convenient.

The current head of House Panteer had no such qualms. She had spent her life trying -- and failing -- not to think about her position in the line of succession or, heaven forbid, where she would stand if there ever came to be another contest for the throne. For years, that had been something she had been able to safely ignore. Why did she need to know, when the Organas seemed so solid on the throne. Now everyone knew what a polite fiction that was. Stability was only one scandal, one abdication, one murder away from watching that solidity shatter.

Lady Jocelyn was in the winter garden when the chamberlain entered. "Your Ladyship, Lord Theron's ship is approaching."

She brightened immediately at the words, and drew the fur-trimmed shawl she wore tighter around her. "Wonderful. I'll meet him."

A snow was falling when she emerged onto the landing pad as her husband's shuttle slowly touched down. The thrusters blew Jocelyn's ginger hair and her shawl flapping in the wake until it finally settled as the shuttle's engines wound down. Jocelyn stepped forward, watching the shuttle.

Theron Alde​

 

[Theron Alde]

Jocelyn Panteer

It did not matter that they spoke over the Holo and send each other messages while he was on Naboo. Lord Alde, Theron, was practically aching to come back home again. To see his wife and to return to the comfort of the home they had made together. It was always like this, ever since they had become infatuated with one another, so it was luck that usually they didn't need to part from one another too long.

But this was a different matter altogether.

It had demanded secrecy, speed and the need to go alone. Lest anyone paid too much attention. When his shuttle sat down, he was already walking down the ramp before it completely unfolded.

By the time it had, he was already walking quickly and swept Joy into his arms and hugged her close. "I know it's dramatic, but I missed you so." Theron murmured in her ear, resisting the urge to kiss her. There was some propriety they had to adhere too in public. And his wife was made of some stern material.

Some of it had loosened over time, but some things Theron understood and respected.

Only then drawing back a touch, but his fingers lacing into hers as he looked down at her.

"How is my Joy? I hope everything was well while I was gone?"

 

[Jocelyn Panteer]

Jocelyn smiled when the ramp descended and Theron appeared.

She wouldn't admit it, but she had been worried in his absence. Not just for him -- though, of course, she didn't love the idea of him traveling. The flight of the Organas and the death of the Duke had made life dangerous for Alderaanian nobility, particularly those with a claim to the throne, and her husband's claim was nothing to sneer at. Being alone, if one could be alone in a castle that was staffed and guarded by dozens, had made her jumpy and frit.

Joy turned her face up to take a kiss to the cheek after their embrace.

"It does me good to have you home again," Jocelyn told him as they turned back to the castle. "Come inside before you freeze."

They went inside and meandered, as they typically did, to the drawing room. It was private enough that they would not be observed, but not part of their private apartments to suggest that they were secluded in a crisis meeting so soon after Theron's return. She sat him down and went to the sideboard to pour stiff brandies for them before returning to his side.

"You'd better tell me the damage," Jocelyn said with mock-sternness as she handed him the glass and settled onto the sofa next to him. "What am I being volunteered to do?"

Theron Alde​