thepicketfencecliche | regency au } { of trips abroad and eating new foods

Talia: [she's perched on her seat in the carriage peering out the windows as she watched the countryside roll by. This is her first time in court without her sisters, and she's both very excited!! and very nervous. Her sisters haven't really made it seem like a lot of fun, but she's eight. She is easily swayed by pretty dresses, good food and ceremony]

Derek: [for him, it was just a yearly routine to bring the taxes to the Duke of Norway. Spring was here, and the flowers and trees were in bloom as they bounced along the road. He smiled at Talia's exhuberance.] So what is the first thing you want to do when we get to Oslo?

Talia: [she takes a deep breath, before giving a small shrug] What is there to do in Oslo?

Derek: Well, there are a lot of shops that get things from a lot of different countries. A lot of people who talk a lot of different languages. That's where I learned to speak French. And Spanish too.

Talia: Do they have different foods?

Derek: Yes they do. Some of them dress differently too.

Talia: Can we try the foods? [if this were modern day, Talia would be one of those instagram foodies. even at eight]

Derek: Sure. We have a lot of things to do while we are at court, but we can try anything you think smells good.

Talia: [beams and looks out the window again] What kind of things do you have to do?

Derek: Well, I have to talk to the Duke about the land and our people. See what he will give us this year for our tax money. You remember the Duke, right? He comes to the tourney we hold.

Talia: [her head bobs because yes, she remembers him] He knighted Uncle Jordan.

Derek: That would be him. He also used to sneak you and Miranda sweet breads under the table when you were supposed to be going to bed.

Talia: [and then she grins] He was trying to get us to go to bed.

Derek: Yes, by giving you more sugar. [chuckles] I'm sure he will want to show you around.

Talia: I like him. He's nice.

Derek: Just remember that he is a Duke, so he is Lord over me. Just like how the knights are obedient to me, we must be to him.

Talia: [she nods. Obedience is never a problem with this one. She just sees the respectful airs of court as people being nice to each other, so as far as she is concerned, that's easy. she hasn't discovered the nuance in it yet]

Derek: You remember the rules Mama taught you about behaving when court is in session?

Talia: [she nods] I have to be very quiet, and only speak when someone asks me a question. I'm not big enough to ask my own questions yet.

Derek: Yes. And you curtsey when you greet people. You can't run up to them and hug them like you do at banquets.

Talia: [she nods, before wrinkling her nose] I'm not really good at those. I fall over sometimes.

Derek: Well, we will have to practice then. By the end of the month you will be an expert at it.

Talia: [smiles] Good!