It was far more difficult for her to contain her own smile, though she kept it carefully controlled, polite but warm. It was slowly getting easier to do so, to feel safe enough to brandish any kind of emotion. Hastra was kind and she appreciated his eagerness.
"Please," she said softly. "I'm used to carrying my belongings. I can do it." Which she might have added also to fluster him further. Who could say?
She turned to glance at Staff as he took up the rear, her gaze then sliding towards Kell, questioning once more. No voice was given to her concern, nor to the uncertain fear she felt that crawled up her back as they walked through the halls. It did remind her almost too much of Aallotar, but there was a warmth here that the halls of the elven lands could not hold a candle to. Where Aallotar had been swathed in blues and silvers, the halls here were bright, made beautiful and lively with flowers and greens that caught the eye. The longer they walked, the more she seemed to settle the barbed edges that had sprung up and the wariness that came with them, until they arrived at the designated hallway.
Down the hall was Kell's room, never too far. Neria hesitated, glancing once at Kell and then at Hastra before consenting to step inside the room. Warmer tones greeted her, inviting. She set the boxes in her arms down upon the dresser in passing as she moved further into the room, where she came to a stop at the center, simply looking around. It was far grander than the castle in Denerim, that much was certain. Barring Aallotar, it was perhaps the most extravagant place she'd been to, and though she had always felt estranged in such environments, this felt...welcoming.
It even had a trace of lilies. To herself, her back to the door, her lips briefly quirked up in a smile.
When she turned back, it had smoothed out. She still carried a wide-eyed expression, openly impressed, and the corners of her mouth were pulled up slightly once more, congenial. "This is breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you. I will have to thank the King and Queen as well for such hospitality."
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"Please," she said softly. "I'm used to carrying my belongings. I can do it." Which she might have added also to fluster him further. Who could say?
She turned to glance at Staff as he took up the rear, her gaze then sliding towards Kell, questioning once more. No voice was given to her concern, nor to the uncertain fear she felt that crawled up her back as they walked through the halls. It did remind her almost too much of Aallotar, but there was a warmth here that the halls of the elven lands could not hold a candle to. Where Aallotar had been swathed in blues and silvers, the halls here were bright, made beautiful and lively with flowers and greens that caught the eye. The longer they walked, the more she seemed to settle the barbed edges that had sprung up and the wariness that came with them, until they arrived at the designated hallway.
Down the hall was Kell's room, never too far. Neria hesitated, glancing once at Kell and then at Hastra before consenting to step inside the room. Warmer tones greeted her, inviting. She set the boxes in her arms down upon the dresser in passing as she moved further into the room, where she came to a stop at the center, simply looking around. It was far grander than the castle in Denerim, that much was certain. Barring Aallotar, it was perhaps the most extravagant place she'd been to, and though she had always felt estranged in such environments, this felt...welcoming.
It even had a trace of lilies. To herself, her back to the door, her lips briefly quirked up in a smile.
When she turned back, it had smoothed out. She still carried a wide-eyed expression, openly impressed, and the corners of her mouth were pulled up slightly once more, congenial. "This is breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you. I will have to thank the King and Queen as well for such hospitality."