Follow along the stream up into the highlands (A)

Continuing the march on the next day, passing many pleasant sights. I suddenly notice a large stone statue of what appears to be an adult woman with a huge chest and somewhat swollen belly taking a bath and washing herself in the thicket. I immediately recognize her as being the goddess Sylfia. Upon looking closer, there's also a small and almost hidden pathway up further into the hills. Deciding to check out what a stone statue like this is doing in a place like this I order the troops to follow closely.

The small cart-road ahead takes many turns and I can feel an almost poetic atmosphere surrounding the place. At the end of the path, a large stone circular building stood, with magnificent oak trees on either side, and we are greeted by a group of women who are covered almost from head to toe in what looks a blue silken priestesses' robes. "Greetings traveller. The goddess must be kind to guide you to us." "As you can see, we're pretty busy preparing for the fertility festival to request the goddess' blessings upon the villages close by, but they have yet to send us one of their younger unmarried women to take part in a rather crucial role. I reckon judging by your armor that you wouldn't want to help us out would you?"

Having lead the troops to a halt, Roderick and a couple of important nobles inch closer and start arguing among eachother. "The queen should show her devotion to the people and take her part in this." Says the stern voice of an older noble, who always strikes you a bit as a pretty brutish and harsh man. Roderick replies. "But we don't have time to wait. Every day in delay would give duke Gregor more time to bolster his defenses and supplies." A third noble chimes in to give his opinion. "Not only would her participation increase the peasant's support but it would also increase the troops' morale from knowing that their Queen is as pious and dedicated to the realm as the Goddess herself."

'Shit' I think to myself as my thoughts run through my mind. 'Can they not stop squabbling for once as if im not even here?' But I guess I should at least consider it.

"Silence!" My words vibrate through the air, and I give everyone a look that demands attention.