Seek out Lady Trina to confess your feelings

It is not an easy decision to make. If nothing else, Lady Trina is perhaps the best among your Kingsguard. Captain Navarre is a stronger leader, but he has twenty years of experience on her; and even he acknowledges that given time to gain that experience, Trina should be the one to assume the captaincy upon his retirement. Sir Magnus is the only one able to consistently defeat her in the practice yard, but he has the advantage in that he is over seven feet tall, and so strong that he can wield his massive Claymore sword one-handed! Insofar as a cool head, a watchful eye, and absolute loyalty, Trina has no equal.

Is it worth it, potentially losing someone so valuable for a passing infatuation? Certainly not! But... if what you feel is something more, something which cannot be ignored, then what choice do you have? And if Trina feels the same way, could she be reasonably expected to serve as guard to she who becomes your Queen? You have little doubt that Trina's sense of duty would compel her to serve with honor, even if it meant safeguarding a woman who had captured your heart when she herself had longed to do so... but you owe it to Trina to allow her to make that choice.

Those are cold and practical matters, however. The simple truth is that you feel a yearning for Lady Trina which you strongly suspect is not going to simply go away. As King, you have been compelled to make any number of compromises when your heart's desires come into conflict with what is best for Elyssia, but there comes a point when you must recognize you are not just a King; you are also your own man.

"Captain Navarre," you call out as you enter the Great Hall and see him there in conference with Mshindi and Sir Magnus. "Praytell, do you know the whereabouts of Lady Trina?"

"She is not on duty today until the start of the parade, Sire," Navarre says. "I would imagine she rode to the high meadow, as is her habit on such mornings. Should I send a messenger to bring her back down?"

"Not necessary, Captain; it can wait." As much as you would rather it NOT wait, you also don't want to make it seem as though anything is amiss!

"Sire, if I may," Mshindi says, "I went to visit the pools last night, after I had been relieved of duty, and there was a minstrel performing there who bid me to deliver you a message. I would not have bothered you with it, but she said something strange... she said that I should tell you that the message was for 'Robin Hood.'"

So, it seems that Beatrice of the Greenwood recognized you after all! "I encountered the same young woman myself, yesterday morning," you say. "She played for me a song of Robin Hood, and I did say at the time that I would like for her to perform at the castle; no doubt, she saw you and took the opportunity to remind me of that."

"Had it been my place to do so, Sire, I would have invited her myself; her music is indeed beautiful! Her message was only that she hoped you and Marian fared well..." Mshindi pauses for a moment, clearly curious about the hidden meaning, but you keep your expression neutral. "And, she said that if you wished to send her a message in return, she could be reached at the bathhouse."

As much as you would like to go and see Lady Trina immediately, it occurs to you that it might be best if you first responded to Beatrice; it would not do to have rumors started regarding you and Trina. There have always been such whispers, as it seems that most people could not conceive of why a woman would join the Kingsguard unless she harbored a secret lust for the King... but now, those rumors would contain a nugget of truth! Of course, since you could not possibly convey this through a messenger, it would be necessary to visit Beatrice yourself.