#part 2 of the lady thalia/lensa backstory!!

[masculinepeacock]

II. Rose by The Oh Hellos

Tea turned into wine that night, not that Lensa was complaining. Lady Thalia had been the one to suggest, and had even brought her own bottle of cherry wine, so they wouldn’t have to bother the servants. She had been the one to suggest they send them out of the room as well, stating, “Well we aren’t helpless are we? We can do things for ourselves.”

Lensa drained the rest of her glass as Thalia said, “You know my family name used to be Thornwood.”

“Really?” Lensa asked.

Thalia hummed in assuredness. “Your parents were the ones to change it, when we aligned ourselves so closely with them.”

“Oh,” Lensa said. “I had no idea.”

“If it’s alright for me to say, they don’t trust you with much,” Thalia tilted her head back and eyed her curiously. “Which is ridiculous.”

“Well, I’m not supposed to rule so,” she shrugged. “Why tell me things like that?”

“Because you’re smart!” Thalia leaned forward now, over the table. “Much smarter than your brother! You see things as they should be, not as they are.”

No one had ever told Lensa she was smart, or praised her desire to make things better. She was just a spoiled idealist. “Lhoras thinks that my idealism is a flaw.” 

“Well I don’t think so,” Thalia said. “I think it's wonderful.”

“You know I think my brother might’ve been right about you. About why it’s so important to have you as a ward.”

“Really what did he say about me?” Thalia smiled as she took a sip from her glass. 

“That you’re dangerous. You make moves to better improve the lives of those who are a lower status than you, and aren’t afraid to make difficult decisions.”

A look of pride crossed over the other woman’s face, then her brow furrowed. “Do you think that makes me dangerous?”

“No,” Lensa mentally scolded herself for how excited she sounded, leaning forward. “I find you fascinating. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

“Then you are awfully sheltered,” Thalia smiled and said. “But I’m going to show you how to branch out. We’re going to be good friends…Lensa.” Thalia took her hand. “I can feel it.”

“Maybe my brother was right. You are dangerous. Just not in the way he meant.”

Thalia ducked her head and blushed, then looked up, her eyes looked mischievous under her eyelashes, “I sure hope so.”