Phase One
Lynn felt the smoothness of the stone hidden underneath her armor against her skin. She glanced over at her father who stood tall and strong watching Queen Annabelle. Lynn looked at the queen to see her eyes on her father.
Was there something that she missed? They have known one another when her mother was alive… she knew this when she dueled in this kingdom but… the looks…
Lynn shook her head slightly when King Valor spoke up with a grin.
"Finally! Come! Let us have a quick meal before we head to your new home darling," he looked at his daughter who grinned back happily.
"Yes father," she nodded and ran over to Garret to grab his arm, "Let me show you around my prince."
"Please do," Garret nodded and smiled brightly at her causing the girl to blush prettily.
Lynn watched them head off and she knew that Garret was acting, but it didn't make the way her heart shudder any better. They have already agreed that she would not follow during this trip due to the event that occurred prior.
They did not want to give more ammunition to the king.
"Ah, children," the king sighed with a smile, "Come knights! Let us settle inside."
The first thing Lynn noticed was the way the queen walked a couple feet behind the king and the king did not seem to address the queen since they arrived. The next thing she observed was the lack of maids and staffs. She noted two females and a male that looked haggard and thin; their cheeks were sunken, and they were walking cautiously as if the floor was going to break open underneath them.
The air in the castle felt stiff and stale as if the windows had not been open for days, maybe years. There were dust littering the lamps and decorations as they continued down the hall to the main room. Lynn looked at her father who continued looking straight ahead following closely to the queen.
"Here we are," The king announced walking in with a strut that made him seem younger, "Did Alastir send anything with you?"
They settled to sitting down where her father sat before the queen, she sat beside her father, and the king sat in his designated seat.
Her father looked at her and nodded, signing to hand over the stone. Lynn reached into underneath her armor and procured the stone gem. Smoothing it with her gloved fingers, she handed it to her father who gifted it to the king.
"King Valor," her father spoke in the tone of a leader commanding his warriors, "My king would like to gift this gem to you. It is small and just a start to the riches you will receive when both kingdoms join in the ceremony."
King Valor tilted the stone here and there before nodding with a smile, "To the greatness of our kingdom."
He raised his wine and drank it with out toasting everyone at the table. Lynn was fine with that. What if the meal and drinks were poisoned? They would not truly know.
The sound of laughter could be heard as it neared, and Lynn saw Garret was saying jokes that made the princess giggle and cling to him harder. A part of her was sad, but she couldn't deny that her prince does have a charm to him.
"Father!" Princess Arora exclaimed grinning, "Let us not wait! I wish to leave this instance."
"But we have not eaten dear," King Valor sighed with a smile.
"Let us eat when we arrive. Please father!" the princess begged and Lynn found herself gritting her teeth from the high pitched tone of her whine.
"Alright," the king stood up, "Everything is already in the carriage?"
King Valor questioned one of the servant who had been moving their luggage to the carriage. The woman nodded and the king waved her away.
"Then let us go then," the king placed a hand on his daughter's head and patted her.
"My king," a voice from a woman dressed in clothes fit for a queen called out.
Lynn watched the king quickly walk to her with bright eyes and a lopsided smile. She glanced at Queen Annabelle who stood silently not watching her husband interact with the woman. Lynn looked at her father to see him step around the table to stand beside the queen. Her brown eyes looked to the princess and Garret to see the princess ignoring the scene with an eye roll.
This must be her. From what Lynn could see, this woman had been a part of the royals for some time according to the reactions.
"The beautiful Hilda will join us," the king announced grinning from ear to ear.
Lynn watched the king offer his arm to Hilda and walked off with her. Eyes narrowed at the outward disrespect, Lynn grabbed the stone that was left on the table and put it back under her armor. She followed everyone and took one last glance at the servants whose shoulders sagged with heaviness.
This woman who dared wear the clothing of the queen, displayed outward attraction for the king with no regards to how the queen felt, and who has more power than Queen Annabelle wish to take her place. How dare she!
Lynn looked at the quiet queen and saw the small whispers her father was sharing; it caused the queen to produce a small smile and Lynn felt her own smile on her lips behind the mask.
'She deserves to be happy,' Lynn thought and looked at her father, 'He deserves to be happy too.'
'Wouldn't you agree, mother?'