Gwendolyn
She had long ago sworn to protect the King and his family, particularly his son. She just never expected to be needed so fiercely as she was now. Like the young Prince sleeping a few feet away, the events of that fateful night often played in the guard's mind. Hers was a different perspective, though. She'd been awake, monitoring the halls when the attack had come. She'd been near Areion's room, but not close enough. If it hadn't been for the wolf... Gwen's grip on the hilt of her sword tightened.
She shouldn't think like that.
What's done is done. She had nearly failed her oath to protect the Prince, and she was determined to make up for it now. She would keep the boy safe, and she would help to get him back on the throne.
She had a destination in mind, vague as it was. They had allies in the North, and Gwen hoped to end up there, eventually. They had gone South, though. There are allies there, too, but no one that Gwen trusted to help them out of this mess. No. They had gone South to lead Selene's hunters astray.
They had gone as far South as she had dared, and then she stopped letting them leave a trail, cutting East so they could circle back around and head up North. It wouldn't be an easy journey. It would likely be quite dangerous. This time, though, Gwen was determined that she would protect her charge.
The Guard catches Aerion waking startled, but she pretends not to notice. She's keeping an eye out on their surroundings, anyway. Gwen notes, too, when his breathing has steadied, and he falls back asleep. She almost regrets waking him in the morning, but they have to keep moving.
"Aré," she prompts, accenting the 'e.' They had decided to ditch their royal clothes and armor a somewhere along the way, to better blend in. It feels wrong, in her mouth, to call after the Prince so informally, but should someone overhear and well, Gwen is sure that there are spies everywhere. Gently the prince's protector nudges him awake. "We should get moving," she informs him, voice low. There's no one around to hear them, at least not that she can tell, but you can never be too safe.
Victoria
Victoria stood beside the door to the Royal Chambers. In her mind, she still referred to them as the King's chambers, but they belonged to Selene now, and soon they would belong to her son. She lets out a breath, waiting impatiently. She had never been impatient with the King. Victoria hated having to stay behind, but it had been necessary. After they had managed to get the Prince off on his horse, she had a part to play now. As soon as she heard movement within the chambers, Victoria painted a solemn expression on her face.
She is loyal to the new regime. She is loyal to the new regime. She is loyal to the new regime.
At the very least, she must at least seem loyal to the new regime.
So far, Selene hasn't seemed to suspect that her loyalties lay elsewhere, but Victoria wasn't going to risk that happening anytime soon. Getting the Prince back on the throne would require him having allies in the castle; preferably allies that are alive.
When Selene finally emerged from the depths of her room, Victoria fell into step off to the right and just slightly behind the Queen Regent. "Your Grace," she greets the other woman, waiting for acknowlgement. When it comes, she continues with her daily report. "There is no news on the search," she starts, knowing that is the first thing she's going to be interested in. The next bit she's hesitant to continue with, and there's a slight pause before she continues. "We should consider opening up the court, again, to the people. They have complaints, and they have been lining up every week to be heard..." A few weeks of neglect on that end and the line had grown quite long each week. "They've already started lining up for this morning."
Every week the King would listen to the complaints of his people and settle them if he could. After the exchange of the seat, they had yet to continue this particular task. Victoria suspected that Selene was afraid at how the people would react, but she couldn't be certain to as to her reasons. They couldn't put it off much longer, or there would not be a kingdom for the Prince to return to. "Perhaps today would be a fine day to introduce the people to the rightful King?" The words felt wrong, dirty in her mouth, but she said them sincerely.