Royal Gardens: Sun Palace, Cairhien

The gardens are beautiful, made from broad pathways, lined with small oaks and larch-trees. Circles of flowers in beautiful shades of blue and violet rounds the foot of each tree. The pathways are long and straight, and when they meet in a crossing in the middle of the garden, they create a small 'plaza' with a sparkling marble fountain in the middle. Aside from the pathways are green areas in soft, well-trimmed grass, with several small benches in shady corners.

Thick layers of snow cover the ground and the trees, except for the cleared pathways. The trees are leafless and the place seems very quiet. The descending sun makes the trees and the palace cast long shadows over the Palace Gardens, almost making patterns of their own in the squarish design of the gardens.

There are four pathways, all leading from the center and the fountain. One of them leads towards the archway, taking you to the courtyard. The others lead inside the palace through different small gates.

Jerlon arrives along the path coming from the Courtyard

Seated amongst the trees, on one of the many benches in the gardens, is Serenia. She appears to be listening to a conversation going on around her, where there at at least three other nobles; one male and two female.

The Andoran Lord might still receive a few looks as he makes his way through the courtyard and into the gardens. Jerlon has gotten good at knowing where his wife may be, and this time as he comes strolling through in that Andoran stride, he is rather pleased but for the chill of the winter cold. Still, the weather is not too bad, and he soon enough finds his lovely wife. He would almost be pleased, but for all the abuse he takes from her. He does walk her way, however.

"We're still not entirely certain what happened to Lord Demmar..." Serenia states, having not caught sight of Jerlon just yet. "We've still got a few people out looking for him; or what might be left of him, but at this point." She shakes her head quietly, "It doesn't look good." She folds her hands gently upon her lap as she addresses those who sit with or near her.

"Lord Demmar will be found," Jerlon manages to state in confidence, though whether dead or alive is another matter. He moves into the conversation easily enough, clearing his throat briefly. "The Queen has shown she will show justice against those that break the law. If Lord Demmar is still alive, he will be returned alive." The confidence is almost foolish.

Serenia glances up when Jerlon speaks, inserting himself into the conversation. A brow lifts gently, though she remains civil, for now at least. "Good day, Jerlon." She greets her husband, then glances at the others, "I believe you all know my husband, Jerlon." She makes a one way introduction, the man and ladies remaining anonymous to Jerlon thus far. She glances back to her husband once more, studying him in a quiet manner, "Whether or not he will be found remains ot be seen. You know as well as I we've had our best people out searching for him." She makes no mention of his 'advisor'.

"Indeed." Jerlon gives the simple response, turning to each of the shorter Cairhienin noble people. He does take comfort in his height, at least, and then at times perhaps he takes comfort in his wife: She's both beautiful and richly Cairhienin. "Lady Mairia has not announced herself as High Seat. I would assume that is an official sign of confidence from House Demmar. Though," he begins to ponders, "Would she, that would be truly interesting, considering she is married to the High Seat of a Cairhienin House."

"Would she, there likely would be rioting within the House." Serenia adds to her husband's words. She glances discreetly back at her companions, who have grown quiet when Jerlon had entered upon the scene. "Is she not busy with her own family now?" She inquires, having really no call to visit with other members of the Demmar family.

Jerlon nods quietly to Serenia's words, still wonder by what grace he has managed to stay alive this long. "I hear she visits the Demmar Manor often." That it is to have her flings away from her husband, he wouldn't know. "I could only assume that she is keeping close track on House Demmar."

Slowly, Serenia nods at Jerlon's words. "Perhaps." She has nothing to add on Mairia's excursions, not really knowing the other woman well. She glances to her companions a moment or two, then back to Jerlon. The moment becomes slightly awkward for the four of them, until the other three excuse themselves. Serenia nods her head graciously, 'Of course." She smiles gently, then looks back to Jerlon, "What have you been up to this day...?" She starts in on casual conversation, actually remaining rather civil still yet.

"I purchased a new horse," Jerlon expresses rather pleased, moving in beside Serenia. Close enough to place his hands on her shoulder, beginning to massage it briefly before letting go. "It was of excellent stock. And my last has been reaching that age where she is no longer as eager to sprint through the bushes and what-not." And mess up gardens, and such.

Delicately a brow lifts in response to Jerlon's words, Serenia's lips pressing together thougthfully, "I'm sure you'll get full enjoyment out of the beast." Her words are spoken quietly as her eyes turn to scan the gardens. "Was that all that has been to your day thus far?"

"Well, I rode the horse, checked the lineage of its parents," Jerlon defends, attempting to make the purchase of the horse seem more complex. "It traces back some five generations to the ruler in Tear. And I had to ride it, of course. The bond between man and beast is a difficult one to form. Sometimes the beast will not yield to man." Jerlon continues on, defending. "Then the haggling over price. He wished to sell me a prized mare for my Lady, but I didn't believe you would appreciate the gift." His tone would almost suggest 'any gift.'

She had not appreciated his gift any more than the rest he had attempted to give her, so why would she this? Serenia shrugs her shoulders a bit, "I have a horse that is perfectly fine." In that she affirms Jerlon's words, to a point. "And I prefer to choose my own mounts." This she further adds, though says nothing about Jerlon's defending what little he actually did in that day.

"Of course." Jerlon shows a pleased smile next, even at those words. He pulls out a little bag that is clearly something he would find at a herbalist. "I did investigate another matter, actually. A herbalist suggested a few choises in herbs that might increase our chance at child. We have been married for some time, and I am beginning to show my concern." Jerlon's tone is light, as per usual, until she gets at him.

"Perhaps the Creator has willed that it is not yet time for us to have a child." Serenia states, not looking at the bag. Oh, she has no intention of taking any of those herbs, yet its hard to determine that from her mere look in her husband's direction. Of course, she has her own herbs to prevent such an occurance.

The bag of herbs slips back into his pocket. "We will need to try them over the next two months, the herbalist told me," Jerlon goes on. "There are other potential herbs that she said we could try, but as a start, these might do." Jerlon simply assumes his wife will comply, as is clear by his tone. Jerlon peers around to insure that there are none too near as he whispers. "But I was told that each night..." his voice trails in indication of the meaning.

Pleasure is far from the look on Serenia's features as she regards her husband. "If that is your will, husband. But do not expect me to enjoy myself." She will not let herself, and by now surely he's realized that. Forever in rebellion, that's what she is.

One could only hope that Jerlon's selected herbalist would have found Jerlon's request all too amusing. If Jerlon were fortunate, one of those herbs might act more as a method of insuring increased arousal then the efforts of pregnancy. Regardless, Jerlon simply shrugs. "I have grown well accustomed to our 'time' together, my wife. I am beginning to find them most pleasing, I only wish you would share in the pleasure." Jerlon's tone is not too amused, and he likely still is barely getting used to making love to a cold fish.

Serenia gives a simple shrug of her shoulder, "However, I am of mind that we do not need to do it every night. Perhaps nature has deemed one of us unable to produce children altogether." Serenia would likely, really she would - particularly if it were Jerlon. If she can't produce heirs by him.... well.... no need to put herself before him as she does on those chosen nights he makes love to her; for surely she returns none of that.

Jerlon frowns at the suggestion, his hand going as far as to caress her cheek as though she would be bothered by the idea. "If we are unable to have children in five years time, then maybe I will agree. But certainly we will not give up this easily. The herbalist did mention that the first is usually the hardest to bare. And that it might be some years yet." The herbalist was likely snickering after Jerlon left.

Serenia will definitely have to get a hold of this particular herbalist and have her killed. A brow lifts and a smirk comes to her lips, "Or, perhaps, it is myself. My mother was deemed unable to have children, and yet they managed to have me." She shrugs her shoulders a bit.

"But your mother managed," Jerlon reassures. He honestly believes Serenia wants a child. He continues to caress her cheek, and then actually draws Serenia into an embrace. "My wife, we will over-come this. Do not worry."

"I am not worried." Serenia states, though there is no reassurance in her voice. She turns her eyes upon Jerlon and scoots herself away from him a touch or two, "My mother overcame after years and years of trying. In all honesty, I shouldn't even be here. That I am still baffles the midwife who travelled with my mother and evetually birthed me."

Jerlon releases the embrace, eyes attempting to search hers. "You will offer me a child yet, my wife," he continues to encourage with near whispered words. "If there is any fruit in this marriage, it will show with the birth of our first. The heir to your House, the child that will have a part of each of us within it."

Discomfort starts to take form on Serenia's features, as it usually does when he gets obsessed with this topic. "What else have you planned for this day?" She asks, changing the subject

"I planned to spend the remainder of the day with my beautiful wife, of course," Jerlon notes with a confused look. "Why else would I search you out through the streets of our fair land? Unless you had something planned, of course, in which case I would yield to your plans and come along. Though I thought we might make our way through the merchant's district and see what interesting purchases we can make? Then come back to the manor for dinner."

"I'm actually feeling a bit tired." Serenia states as she rises to her feet. Once there, she smoothes over the folds of her dress. "I was thinking of taking a nap, until dinner." And she meants without Jerlon, of course.

"An afternoon nap," Jerlon ponders. "Perhaps I will practise my sword then." Jerlon's arm moves around hers to escort her back. "Unless you wish me to join? I nap might do well."

Serenia takes Jerlon's arm in a dutiful wifely manner, shaking her head a bit, "Nay, I find that I am rather tired."

"Are you suggesting there will be no room for sleep with me there?" Jerlon continues on in his usual speach, showing hints of concern. He stops, and turns to feel her forehead. "You're not coming down with something, are you?" he asks, feeling her cheeks as well.