The Saddle Arabians had arranged for two sleek escorts. They sailed alongside Celestia's boat, carving a neat path up along the coastline. They didn't go as fast as they could, as they were due to arrive at a specific time.
Silver relaxed, enjoying a brief time where very little was needed of him. A soft nudging at his side made him open his eyes. Bottom smiled at him, several heavy darts in her mouth. He smiled back at her, rising to his hooves, silently agreeing to play with her.
Bottom set the darts aside and quickly brought in the board, setting it up with a giddy anticipation. "This is my first real gift, sir. Every time I see it, it reminds me of you." She picked up a dart and held it out to him. Silver tried to get it from her mouth, but couldn't get his lips on it with it so securely held in her teeth. She kissed him, pushing the dart forward in the process.
Silver squeaked out a laugh and recoiled, though the dart was secured. He snorted before looking to the board and trying to flick the dart. The dart embedded itself in the right wall, though far to the right of the board. Bottom shook her head a little. "You still need more practice, sir." She quickly picked up another dart and flung it, striking in the inner circle. "I heard a pony once say that you can be good at anything, if you practice long enough."
Silver smiled. "There's a truth to that." He fetched a fresh dart. "After all, I used to not even go in the right direction."
Bottom defeated Silver easily, and Silver congratulated her, but she wasn't satisfied. "I won, so I get a prize."
Silver lifted an ear. "Prize?"
Bottom nodded and moved closer to Silver, nuzzling at his side. "You haven't been washing your wings properly." Her muzzle went up under one of them, sniffing. "While your scent is fine to me, it will offend others. Come on, sir." She bit at the base of the wing, and Silver shuddered, helpless but to follow her with the sensitive bundle of nerves in her mouth.
Bottom led Silver to the tub and pulled his clothing free. She reached for his crystal and he frowned. "That stays." Bottom nodded and got the water going, then got right to soaping and scrubbing Silver from head to tail, using a soft brush on some parts and a stiff one on others. Silver noticed that his wings were mostly untouched by soap or attention and spread them as a silent reminder to Bottom.
"I see them, sir." Bottom softly bit at one and pulled it wider as she began to work the limb carefully, cleaning and scrubbing. "You're lucky you don't have feathers, sir. They're much harder to take care of, and slower to recover." She slipped around Silver and got to his other wing.
Letting go of his nagging doubts, Bottom's presence felt good. Her hooves felt good, as did her mouth, and her attention in general. Bottom cared about him, and wanted nothing but to continue being close, to be loved and loving in return. Silver could empathize with that. His thoughts were interrupted when she dumped water over the wings, rinsing them off and petting over them. "There you are, sir. Let's get you out and dry."
Bottom slipped from the tub, wet herself. Silver followed her, flapping his wings to dry them as he went. Without asking, he grabbed a towel and started at Bottom. She squeaked and went still as he dried her, turning bright red in her cheeks. "You don't have to, sir. This is my job."
"We are friends, remember?" Silver nuzzled her before returning to toweling her. "Helping dry you off hardly seems unreasonable."
Bottom relaxed a little, then got to drying Silver in kind. He felt her nuzzling a very intimate place, nose against the bangle that had influenced him so severely. "We're getting rid of this soon, sir?"
"With any luck." Silver shook himself out, mostly dry. "I'll still be me, just less... Uh, lustful? More magicy. I look forward to that. I haven't been able to work on magic in peace for a while."
Shei poked her snout in and approached quickly, bowing her head. "Allow me to get you dressed." Bottom backed away obediently, allowing Shei to replace her in seeing to Silver's appearance and comfort. Silver was soon decent to modest eyes, and, though he avoided it, he always did feel better after a good scrubbing.
The door opened a third time, Fiddah marching in with confidence. She looked Silver over from top to bottom. "Shoes, m'lord. You really should have proper shoes." She nodded at Bottom, then Shei. "Other than that, very well done. You're dismissed." The two scurried off, but not before Bottom claimed her dart game.
When they were gone, Fiddah smiled at Silver. "I trust everything is in order, m'lord?"
Silver nodded. "Very much so. Why did you send them away?"
Fiddah glanced towards the door, then back at Silver. "It isn't appropriate to spend every moment with them, despite any personal feelings. It will make the time you do share more special, and there will be less adjusting to be had when you have wives who will come first in the hierarchy of your day."
Silver tilted his head. "I like it when they're around."
Fiddah dipped her head. "I am aware of your feelings towards them, m'lord. That is part of the reason it is required. Your distress was partially one of time management. Your wives will always have first priority, as they should. They must learn that, as must you, m'lord. They are not your wives, they are friends and servants, but servants first." She moved to the tub and stepped on the pedal that caused it to start draining. "Perhaps, with time, I will also become trusted by you, m'lord, but it is not my job to be liked that way. I will make your life manageable, and keep your servants in line. Now, what business is there to tend to before we arrive in Turkey?"
Silver felt conflicting things. Fiddah was an attractive mare in her own right, and her poise and control was attractive in a different way than the innocent cheerfulness of Bottom or the hopeful passion of Shei. She wasn't a source of drama. That was it. Silver let out a little breath. "Keep an eye on them. I know you're acting in my best interest, but that doesn't mean they won't have feelings about it, and I want those feelings respected. Neither of them has done anything wrong."
Fiddah held up a hoof. "If they get between you and your duties, then they have done wrong. I understand this is a time of transition. I will be gentle with them, but we must also be clear. You are a prince, a married prince. You have duties, and your heart is spoken for."
Silver nodded at her. "Shei is still grieving the loss of her sister, as am I. That isn't likely to be entirely resolved until we return to Equestria and see to her proper rest."
Fiddah's stoic expression faltered a little. "Ah, yes. I will be careful, m'lord. I swear, she will not be abused, but I must be allowed to do my job."
"Of course. I just want you to know the situation." Silver flared his wings, spreading them wide and looking them over. They were lustrous and ready, thanks to Bottom. "Thank you, Fiddah."
Fiddah glanced away, then back at Silver. "Pardon, m'lord, but wha--" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "Nevermind. It's a rude question."
Silver raised a brow. "You want to know what happened? She died eating poison, in a counterattack against a spell I had no business casting." He turned away from her. "It was my mistake, that she paid fully for."
Fiddah moved in and bit Silver suddenly on the shoulder. He hissed and jumped away from her. "What the hell was that for?"
Fiddah shook her head. "You were losing yourself, m'lord. I am sorry for your loss, but, for better or worse, it is done. You have a responsibility to many others that requires your clear head. I'm sorry for bringing it up, m'lord."
Silver took a slow breath before nodding. "You're right. No amount of crying will bring her back." He clenched his jaws, then pointed. "You're dismissed."
Fiddah smiled at him. "That's better, m'lord. One musn't weep in front of their servants." She turned and trotted away, leaving him to his feelings.
Elsewhere, Bottom sat across from Shei, smiling at her. Shei didn't look as confident. "Are you really happy, as a mare? You didn't have to do that. The master took quite fondly to you already."
Bottom tilted her head. "But he is even fonder now. Before I was a cripple he would have gotten rid of the moment he thought I was well enough to stand on my own, now I am a treasured servant, and a friend." She lowered her ears a little. "Does it bother you?"
Shei shook her head with lingering uncertainty. "I've never heard of a stallion becoming a mare, aside of becoming a gelding, which isn't the same thing. Such incredible magic would be something only the wise masters could accomplish, like Oman."
Bottom frowned. "I don't like him much. He treats Sir very impolitely."
Shei nodded slowly, then her face brightened. "Oh! Since we have him, maybe he could teach me magic. Master promised I could learn if I wanted to, and Oman is a master of it." She hopped to her hooves, eyes alight with drive. "I'm going to ask him right now, and if he's busy teaching me, he won't be bothering master. Everyone wins."
Bottom smiled at Shei. "Good idea. Can I help?"
Shei frowned a little. "Oh, hmm, do you know how to convince him?"
Bottom slid to her hooves. "I'll try. We'll try, together. I'm sure we can do it. What else does he have to do anyway? He's probably bored." Bottom glanced away, then back at Shei. "Do you think knowing magic would make him happier?"
Shei perked an ear. "Master? He does seem to like magic, when it's friendly." She froze before bursting into a musical laugh. "Yes, you can learn with me, before you ask."
Bottom smiled brightly, and they trotted off together to find Oman.
Elsewhere, Celestia sunned in her solarium, allowing the warmth of the sun to chase away her demons and keep her mind clear to contemplate the challenge ahead of her in the form of skittish birds. She contemplated how their actions could affect other Equestrians far beyond whether or not Silver could free himself of his curse. Care would be required. She let out a slow breath before inhaling the sweet scents of the flowers that grew in the solarium, relaxing her.
They would find a way. They always did.