Aria walked quickly, his mind a muddled mess as he hurried through the streets. He didn't know what he was going to do when he got there, but he couldn't stop himself from going either.

After twenty minutes he arrived at a large house reserved for special visitors. The front door was being guarded by half a dozen guards, some of them Aria recognised. He took a deep breath and approached them.

The first guard saw him from a distance and alerted the others, they drew their swords and positioned themselves ready to fight if necassary.
"I mean no harm," Aria said, quietly, stopping a few meters from them.
The first guard gave him a wary look, but then his expression became one of confusion as he recognised who was stood before him.
"...Your Grace?"
"Hello Elijah," Aria smiled. The guard sheathed his weapon and the others followed his lead.
"I am glad to see you well, Your Grace," Elijah said.
"As I am you, Elijah, and please, 'Your Grace' is no longer necassary, it's just Aria now."
The guard looked uncomfortable, he glanced at the door behind him, then back at Aria. "I am not sure I can let you pass."
"I understand," Aria nodded. "But could you possibly send His Majesty a message to tell him I'm here. I doubt he wishes to see me, but if it's all the same..."
"I'll go, Your Grace," one of the other guards volunteered. "You'll always be Bride to His Highness in my eyes - the same thing happened to my sister, you see, but the blame is not hers, and nor is it yours."
"That is not your place to say, Marius," Elijah said, quietly, "But go, give His Majesty the message and report back here with his answer."
"Thank you," Aria said, smiling. He watched as Marius disappeared into the house, then he stood aside and waited.