Elara froze.
Her arms hovered awkwardly in the air.
Caspian's jaw dropped, staring at the child sitting in his sister's lap as if Seraphina were an unexploded bomb.
Seraphina made herself incredibly comfortable, leaning her back against Elara's chest, opening her book, and swinging her legs.
"The orchids smell nice," she observed casually.
The tension in Elara's body slowly melted. The beautiful, estranged sister looked down at the tiny, dark-haired girl in her lap.
The overwhelming wave of suppressed, desperate familial love broke through the dam.
Elara tentatively, gently wrapped her arms around Seraphina's waist. When Seraphina didn't pull away, Elara let out a soft, shuddering sigh of pure relief.
She rested her chin lightly on the top of Seraphina's head.
"They do smell nice, sweetling," Elara whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
For the next twenty minutes, Seraphina received the undivided 'Royal Treatment'.
