Ophelia was with her children. It was an unusually pleasant scene. Lorelle was surprisingly calm, satisfied with her books and trinkets and not fussing as her mother ran a comb through her hair. The servants usually did it, but Ophelia took the rare opportunity to seek closeness with her daughter—for those moments were rare, given the child’s unusual temperament. Kato babbled amiably as he sat with a stuffed rabbit toy, chewing on its ear.

And then the entire scene changed. Cordelia entered on to the scene, causing Ophelia to yank on her daughter’s hair in surprise, which solicited a shriek from the girl. The child’s hand flew but Ophelia grabbed it before it made contact. There was a moment where Lorelle stared at the queen eye-to-eye before she dropped her hand and returned to her toys. The queen stood, smoothing her skirt…brow furrowing as she registered the woman’s concern.

“Where is my husband?” The queen demanded with obvious anxiety, gathering up Kato.

“The children must go to Nevermere,” Ophelia said, handing Kato off to Cordelia gathered up a few possessions, including a set of boots, a bracelet, and a wand. Her expression was firm. She'd resolved something, that much was clear based on her expression. She took Lorelle's hand and, after kissing her on the head, handed her off to Cordelia as well. 

"Take the children. Take Valeria Delaney with you, and find the King's Hand in Nevermere. I will stay in Arynn Frey with my husband." The tiny witch looked at the older woman firmly. "Go. That's an order from your queen." 

Ophelia was not raised to be brave. To act on emotion. She was raised to be calculating, to be cunning, to know her place. But she'd started to change. Her place was here, here with her husband, in the kingdom she'd adopted as her own. And to leave now - though it was foolish to stay - did not seem an option. Ophelia would not flee while her husband died at the hands of an Eldouir.

"Go," Ophelia said, though this time more gently, "My place is here." The queen began to slip off her shoes, and slip the boots onto her feet. Once they were donned, she'd look Coredlia in the eyes one more time, putting the bracelet on her wrist.

"Go." And then, with a snap, Ophelia would disappear. Lorelle would start to cry while her mother, undetected with the wand in her hand and the protal key in the other, would open the door and go into whatever was on the other side. Provided Coredlia did not stop or stall her.