... to just copy last year's entrance, since young Thidrek already recalls those times fondly... and that one turned out quite well, not because I say so.

I am soo tired tonight to make a really grand entrance... my little princess Amalaswintha had her first birthday last week, and she is a handful already on normal days - her father's daughter. Sigh. But I am here on a diplomatic mission and I swear to myself that this time I will not try to upstage the Queen of Monsalvat. She already gave me a piece of her mind last time.

I square my shoulders. I must remember that I am not here for myself, but to represent the Gothic King Theodoric of Ravenna, my royal pain in... *cough* my royal husband.

I pause before the Queen and patiently wait for her to stop upbraiding her jester.