You meet these two characters in Four Stars over Ardatz: Sovereigns. Uprooted introduces us to Hest, and you see all of his emotions and thoughts through the first three books (Blessed and Exalted). With that said, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes between this couple. I originally wrote this for my editor to gain a feel for where they are in their relationship just before Exalted. So, if you’ve not read books 1 and 2, you may want to wait to read this.
Hest and Siobhan in Uprooted
Hest’s first moonstep in Cahar, he and Siobhan end up underneath the tree in the courtyard and Hest tells her how his parents died, Maleen took him in, and about Torrin. Then how he thought Sydur had purchased him. He sees the princess as that—headstrong, stuck up, beautiful, but a princess. She’s above him in every way. He does get a sense that Lugh is special to her.
Siobhan sees a foreigner who she can feel sorry for and befriend as a princess to a foreign dignitary but not more than that. After all, he did compare her to a horse! He is kind of handsome and tall. Then he was in the group who freed her from that awful, dark place! She shivers whenever she remembers those spans in the dungeon.
The Betrothed Couple in Blessed
When Keenah, in the form of a ring, comes alive and says Hest’s to be king, he’s floored. He’s no one special. He didn’t even think of the implications of bride! He’s trying to get his head wrapped around the whole idea when he spends a few spans with Siobhan during the festival. He discovers she enjoys the Rittider exhibits and her favorite drink during the feast. He still feels awkward around her, but after dancing with her, he sees how he could enjoy being around her more. Then Liam steps in and between the laubrach and his own emotions, he’s drawn to her in a fiercely loyal way. It’s not quite possessive, but more of a feeling of how dare someone hurt her!
Siobhan’s view point
Siobhan spends more time with this intriguing foreigner. His charming side is showing, even when he doesn’t understand politics. That’s actually refreshing. As she shares the Queen’s Feast with him, she begins to fantasize about him being her prince. What if it was true? How would she be reacting? This brings about a softening of her heart but then she’s pulled away from the ball by Liam and she’s frightened. She’s haunted by the memory of the last time she was locked in the dungeon, and it’s compounded with this new terrifying event—especially, when an arc lukesure is revealed and says she and Hest are bound to each other. The shock of her father’s betrayal runs deep. Why didn’t he ask her? Why would he give her away without consent? All of her barriers fly back into place, but being the good princess, she understands she can’t fight it forever. Therefore, she’ll put up with the situation if she must. But… her original interest in this foreigner is still there and won’t be denied. Even when he insults her, demands she be locked away for her ‘safety’. She could fume and fuss, but it’ll do no go. And when it comes down to it, she’s petrified for him. What if he’s hurt? She only knows one other person who was harmed protecting her, and his sightless eyes haunt her to this moonstep. Her Rittider had been the one to keep her company all her growing up synods. There were others around, but he was the main one. He interacted with her and saw her as a person. The others made her feel as if she was a job.
She can’t have someone else die while protecting her. With conflicting emotions, she creates a token for her betrothed to wear into battle. It’s what a princess would do, and the way he responds shows her that she did the right thing. Then she’s left to pace her room waiting to hear if he won or died. Never did she dream that there could be a third option.
At last word comes, and Sydur runs off, leaving her with murmured gossip. Her betrothed is alive, but something is terribly wrong. By the time Hest shows up at her doorstep, she’s not thinking clearly. He’s there, but he seems different. With her emotions all over the place, he confesses feelings for her and calms her fears. The fact that she’s been so afraid in the first place, shows her that maybe this stable boy does mean more to her than she thought.
Between Blessed and Exalted
The two spend time together, but always with a chaperone. They’re together maybe five times every phase for the first couple of lunar cycles. After that, it’s more often, but they focus on the wedding ceremony more than anything else.
Siobhan realizes this is her prince and whether she likes how it’s turned out or not, she decides to make the most of it. So, in those first meetings, she gets to know Hest: his favorite foods, favorite music—although that takes some doing because she doesn’t know Skymnian music. She teaches him Reeokhash, a game of duene, royalty, and servants. That takes up a good portion of their time since it’s a strategy-based game and one game spans multiple meetings.
She’s dreamed of her wedding step for synods on end. No, it did not include a stable hand from Skymna who’s become a marcah, but she’s ready for this. Despite Hest’s idiosyncrasies, she loves him. It surprises her to admit it, but she does. She’s also terrified of him, or rather what he becomes when he’s with the arc lukesure. She’s heard the rumors around the palace. When they don’t think she’s listening. He became a dragon. It happens any time his emotions are high. She can believe that! Hasn’t she seen him angry? The two of them have had a couple of spats where she walked off rather than see him turn into a dragon, but what happens when they’re alone in their apartment? Will he claw her up like he did Liam? The closer their wedding step approaches, the more these fears fester, despite her trying to push them down and focus instead on her betrothed.
Hest’s thoughts
Hest loves how Siobhan’s fiery spirit has tempered and she’s interested in him. And she’s brilliant! She beats him at Reeokhash every single time. That’s a bit infuriating but only because it makes him feel not up to par. He learns to temper his words and thoughts before saying things, but still he often puts his foot in his mouth and she either laughs or gets mad depending on the situation. As the ceremony draws nearer, they focus on the event with dance lessons, mainly for Hest’s benefit, and Siobhan becomes more intent on everything being perfect. This sends Hest into panic. If he doesn’t do it just right, he won’t live up to expectations. There’s pressure from Lugh and Athair as well to learn the final bits of governing.
What man wouldn’t dream of marrying a princess, but Hest’s ideas of what that should look like and what it does are two separate things, making him wonder if he’s doing the right thing. Then again, there’s no way for him to run away from it. Fate or Jeeah has conspired and thrust him into a position where he can’t be himself. If only he had one person to confide in. Could Siobhan be that one? He’s not sure. He longs for it, knowing that part of keeping the scary aspects of the bond at bay are linked with his love for her. Somehow, she can help him, but opening up and telling her that is another thing.
