Chapter 25 - Emilia

"Is it wrong that I'm a little bit afraid of meeting all the ladies today?" I ask Lilas over breakfast, thinking of the ten ladies that'll be arriving at the palace in a just over an hour together with Maryam. It's the first time I'll be hosting anyone here at the palace plus I've got to choose who'll join my ladies-in-waiting.

"Not at all." He reassures me, "I try to avoid being stuck alone in a room with a group of ladies so I'd feel exactly the same way my love." I can't help but giggle at the idea of him doing everything he can to avoid the ladies at court.

"Are you meeting with the Council today?"

"Yes, I'll be heading there shortly. It shouldn't be a long meeting though we're just going over where the army should be and organising where they can re-supply and meet up with the rest of the troops."

"Hopefully by the time you're back the ladies will have left. If not will you rescue me?" I beg to Lilas's amusement as he nods.

"Yes my love I'll rescue you. We could go out for a ride and find a nice spot to have lunch, no one will be able to find us there so we won't be disturbed." I nod happily at the idea looking forward to getting out of the city for a few hours already.

Finishing breakfast Lilas leaves for the meeting giving me a brief kiss before he's out the door. With the help of Nuela and Talindra I start preparing for the arrival of the ladies' arrival, mainly preparing tea, biscuits and cakes ahead of their arrival. Once Nuela has the refreshments well in hand with the maids Talindra and I go upstairs so I can get changed into something more appropriate for this meeting.

"They've started arriving, your Majesty. The first carriage has just pulled up." A maid informs me as we start making our way back downstairs. Nodding in acknowledgment I walk straight into the drawing room where everything is set up and waiting for the ladies to arrive. Taking a seat I smooth out my skirts as Tehlmar shows the first arrival in, to my relief it's Maryam who I quickly stand and greet even though I've only just sat down.

"Maryam. Thank you again for doing this." I greet as we take our seats. For today Nuela has had more seats moved into the drawing room to accommodate all of the guests and at her suggestion my seat is at the centre of them all and I sit in the middle of it with Maryam on a seat to my right. It should set a clear precedent as to who is in charge and that Maryam is my right hand and most valued confidant. Another worry I've been having is how much these ladies will listen to me, I may have been declared Queen but that was only a few days ago and I haven't spent much time around the court yet. Not to mention that I'm much longer than many of them and my background is much humbler than these noble ladies.

"Lady Brianna Davidson and Lady Zenobia." A footman announces opening the door to show them into the drawing room. The two ladies couldn't look more different but as Lady Brianna is human while Lady Zenobia is a dragon it's to be expected. Lady Brianna is perhaps ten years older than me and of average height with pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes on the other hand Lady Zenobia is tall with tanned skin, black hair and emerald eyes plus a few scatterings of gold scales standing out from her skin.

"Your Majesty." They both greet dropping into curtsies in front of me. Despite my nerves I give them a small smile in return.

"Welcome both of you. Please have a seat." I indicate the available seats which they quickly occupy, "Do you both know Lady Hess?"

"Yes your Majesty. I've met Lady Hess many times." Lady Zenobia replies while Lady Brianna just nods.

"Please help yourselves to some tea, we also have some biscuits and cakes available if you'd like. We're still waiting on the rest of the ladies to arrive."

Quiet chatter fills the room as we wait for the arrival of the rest of the group. Next to arrive is Lady Tiana, a human girl only a few years older than me with brown hair and eyes followed shortly by Lady Nimel, a tall pale blonde elf with light blue eyes. They offer the same greeting as Ladies Brianna and Zenobia did before taking their seats and joining in with the conversation.

The vampire ladies Erika and Victoria Fallegerous that I've invited arrive closely behind them, the two of them are sisters who had been turned within a few years of each other. The resemblance between makes it difficult to tell them apart as they both have dark brown hair and the typical red eyes of vampires. Telling them apart is made more difficult as they move through their greeting in perfect unison as though they were one person replicated.

Last to arrive are Ladies Holcene an elf, Azrris a dragon, Pyzitt an orc and Elssitryd a dwarf. Used to the routine now I move through the greetings quickly and they fill the remaining seats in the room and the meeting can finally properly start.

"Welcome Ladies. Thank you all for coming, it is truly appreciated." I begin gaining all of their attention, it's slightly unnerving having them all watching me so closely waiting for my every word. "I have invited you all here today as I need to finish selecting my ladies-in-waiting. Lady Hess has already generously agreed to be my chief lady-in-waiting and with her help we've narrowed down our options to the ladies in this room to fill the remaining positions."

"Today will determine if you will be chosen to be one of the Queens ladies-in-waiting. Not all seven positions have to be filled today, there are another ten ladies that we will meet with if needs be. We are here to be of help to the Queen in her duties and to be her closest companions, our behaviour will reflect on her." Maryam states looking at each of the ladies warningly.

"Forgive me your Majesty." Lady Brianna says standing up and getting the attention of the entire room, "I'm afraid that I can't accept a position as one of your ladies-in-waiting at the moment. I've recently discovered that I'm pregnant so with the coming war my husband is sending me south to our country estate with the rest of our children. With your permission I would like to return home and finish my preparations."

"Congratulations on your pregnancy Lady Brianna. I wish you a safe journey and look forward to seeing you again when you return to Hadlau." I rise and bid her farewell as she leaves. It doesn't surprise me that she's leaving the city, when Maryam and I reviewed the list she'd made I'd been shocked by the number of ladies fleeing the city due to the war. Another departure is no longer a surprise. "Anyone else?" I ask turning my focus to the remaining ladies who shake their heads.

"The war is to the north I don't understand the need to flee Hadlau when it's so far away from here. And the enemy hasn't even started attacking yet. There's no reason for anyone here to worry or be afraid when the danger is so far away." Lady Azrris scoffs clearly not impressed by Lady Brianna's sudden departure.

"I think Lady Azrris that you should remember that not everyone is as difficult to kill as dragons. Not to mention those, like myself, who have family at the border in very real danger of losing their homes if not their lives." Lady Elssitryd returns glaring harshly at Lady Azrris who at least has the sense to look away in shame.

That one little comment from Lady Azrris has me removing her from consideration for a spot as one of my ladies-in-waiting. I don't want someone who can't understand people's suffering as part of my court, there would be too much risk of her offending someone which would reflect badly on me. Too many eyes will be watching me and my ladies to make such a poor choice. Glancing to my right I catch Maryam's eye noticing that she's also watching Lady Azrris critically likely coming to the same conclusion I have.

"Yes I have to agree with Lady Elssitryd." Lady Tiana adds, "My own father is one of the generals riding out so regardless of the distance people are justified in their worry. Even two of the Kings are leading the army and by your statement Lady Azrris the Queen and King Lilas have nothing to worry about. You should watch your words more carefully." All the other ladies nod in agreement and I can't help but wonder how many of them have family members in the army.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I wasn't thinking." Lady Azrris asks turning to me desperately her face pale as she realises that she's managed to offend everyone here. Meeting her eyes though I'm not sure how sorry she truly is, there's any angry gleam in her eyes that suggest she's only sorry because of how the comment has been received and not that she said it at all.

"I'm sure you didn't intend to offend anyone Lady Azrris but as Ladies Elssitryd and Tiana suggested you should watch your words more carefully. For now though I feel that it is best that you leave, there is no place for you among my ladies-in-waiting." Her face goes blank as even more anger enters her eyes.

"Yes your Majesty." She curtsies briefly before turning and almost storming out of the drawing room. As soon as she leaves the room many of the ladies breath a sigh of relief.

"Thank you your Majesty." Lady Pyzitt says, "Lady Azrris has always been difficult to be around for many of us here at court. It would have been uncomfortable, I believe is the best word, serving as one of your ladies-in-waiting with her." There are many hums of agreement at her words that has me relieved that she's been dismissed as an option so early on. It would have been a disaster if she'd been chosen and then made issues.

"Well now why don't we move onto easier topics." Maryam offers reaching for a slice of cake.

"Yes, why don't you all tell me more about yourselves. Lady Hess of course knows you all but I'd prefer to get to know you all personally rather than learning about through her." I continue leading to each of the ladies taking their turn to tell me more about themselves.

Lady Zenobia currently lives in the merchant area of the city with her elf soulmate. They'd met several hundred years ago and spend their time here at court where they also run a successful merchant business. Much like Kor she uses as few words as possible but when she starts speaking of her soulmate she seems to glow happily.

Next to speak are Ladies Erika and Victoria Fallegerous who share at the same time as the two of them are incredibly close. I still can't tell them apart but learn that Lady Erika has found her soulmate, another vampire, while Lady Victoria hasn't found hers yet and isn't true interested in finding them although she does wear her Stone in a ring. Her lack of interest come from Lady Erika's own experience with her soulmate who from what they say has abandoned Lady Erika here in Hadlau in favour of another vampire who he lives with in the west.

I'd known that not all Soulmate pairings work out but it's the first time that I've ever met someone whose had such a bad experience with their soulmate. Around the room the rest of the ladies fall silent as no one can think of what to say in response to Lady Erika's admission of her troubles with her soulmate. It's everyone's worst nightmare having such a strained and troubled relationship with the person who's been chosen by the Gods for you.

"My condolences Lady Erika. If there is anything I can do please let me know." I offer eventually not sure what else to say. She nods in acceptance and her sister takes hold of her hand offering silent support.

"Soulmates can be a blessing or a curse." Lady Nimel speaks up, "I'm incredibly young by elf standards not even 200 years old yet and my soulmate is another elf, much older than myself at just over 900 years old. He seems to take great joy in making me feel like a child with no sense or intelligence."

"I agree. The stories I've heard make me slightly nervous about who my soulmate will be but I'm still hopeful that I'll meet them soon. Father is hoping that I'll meet them here in Hadlau, I only arrived a few weeks ago so haven't had a chance to look yet." Lady Tiana contributes brining a bit of joy back to the conversation.

"I'm sure that you'll find them soon. And if needs be we can plan some events to help you along." I reply making her giggle and the rest of the ladies voice their agreement to help her.

Lady Holcene turns out to be one of the oldest elves in Hadlau at just over 1300 years old and she'd been living in Hadlau since not long after it'd been built 700 years ago. She'd found her soulmate in an orc not long after settling down in Hadlau and he's one of the warriors whose gone north with Kor and Bel. The couple have on child now fully grown and currently away in one of the orc cities but expected to return in a few months.

It turns out that Lady Pyzitt is distantly related to Lady Holcene's soulmate on her mother's side of the family so the two consider each other family, refer to each other as aunt and niece. She'd come to Hadlau only a few years ago at her father's request to try and find her soulmate, something that she'd only recently accomplished after meeting a dwarf warrior. Like her distant uncle her new soulmate has gone north with the army.

"As strange as it is to say I'm rather glad that I'm not the only one separated from my soulmates after so recently meeting them." I admit selfishly glad that I'm not the only going through the separation.

"I understand your Majesty. The past few days since his departure have been difficult, I can't even imagine missing two soulmates even with King Lilas still being here. Not to mention only being a few days into being Queen I don't know how your coping your Majesty." Lady Pyzitt replies to the agreement of the rest of the room.

"Thank you for your understanding, all of you. It has been difficult adjusting but Lilas has been a great help and so has Lady Hess." Looking around the room I'm faced with the kind faces of the nine ladies left in the room and I can't figure out how I'd rule out one of them as a lady-in-waiting. It had been recommended that I have a total of eight ladies-in-waiting and Maryam already has one of the spaces so only seven are left but even after two of the ladies leaving today I have eight left to fill seven spots.

Catching Maryam's eye I must have managed to convey the slight panic I feel at the situation I'm now in. She just slightly raises an eyebrow and gives a slight barely noticeable nod in response which I didn't understand at first before the thought struck me. I'd been going off what was recommended but there is nothing saying that I can only have eight ladies-in-waiting, it's at my discretion who serves as a lady-in-waiting so I can appoint all eight of the remaining ladies for a total of nine.

We spend the next few hours chatting and getting to know each other, it flows easily enough that I lose track of time. I'm surprised when Lilas suddenly enters the room standing in shock near the entrance at the sight of us all still seated and talking.

"Forgive me ladies, I'd like my mate back." He says lightly coming over to me and kissing my cheek lightly before sitting down and helping himself to one of the few remaining cakes.

"Of course your Majesty. We'd quite lost track of time so before we leave we just need her Majesties decision on her new ladies-in-waiting." Maryam says standing together with the other ladies and curtsying towards the two of us.

"Oh, yes. I don't think that there is a way I could select one of you to refuse a position to so if you're all willing I'd be grateful if you'd all agree to be my ladies-in-waiting." My declaration is met with smiles from all the ladies.

"Thank you your Majesty." They all say curtsying a final time before exiting the room with the promise to meet again tomorrow morning for my first time at court. We'll meet here at the palace first before going to court together as a united front.

"So now I've got all to myself. Are you ready for a ride and a picnic?" Lilas asks now that the room is empty.

"Let me get changed first. I can't ride in this dress." Nodding he agrees to wait for me in the drawing room while I get myself ready to go riding. I've managed to fit enough lessons in the last month so that I'm able to ride on my own now although I still try and keep at a slower pace, worrying about losing control at a full gallop.

Talindra works her magic and I'm soon heading back down to Lilas in a more casual blue dress with my hair braided back. I'd only made the mistake of riding with my hair down once and won't be making it again, it had taken Talindra almost an hour to remove all of the tangles from my hair when I got back.

"It's beautiful out here." I say as Lilas and I dismount after riding out from the city only stopping once it's out of sight. Setting up a blanket under a tree we sit down to lunch leaving our horses to graze around us, I'd worried that they might run off but they're too well trained for that and even if they did wander off they answer to a whistle.

"Almost as though we were back at the castle. There are many beautiful places around there that are perfect for picnics or camping out for the night." Lilas tells me as we pick at the food we'd brought with us, "So how did your meeting with the ladies go? I know that you chose more than you originally planned as ladies-in-waiting."

"I actually enjoyed myself, much more than I thought I would. Already I think I can count all of my new ladies-in-waiting as friends, that's why I couldn't decide on one to exclude. Two ladies did make it easier though, Lady Brianna Davidson declined as she's leaving the city soon at her husband's request while I asked Lady Azrris to leave. She made some comments to do with the war that I, and the rest of the ladies, didn't feel were appropriate for a lady-in-waiting."

"A good choice. I've met Lady Azrris a few times and she's always been very outspoken even when it'd be better if she says nothing. Because of that many people avoid her." I nod in understanding having heard from the other ladies similar stories about Lady Azrris.

"How was your meeting with the Council?"

"Luckily it was fairly brief. We haven't received any reports from them yet so we've just been estimating where they might be. At this point if we believe they've crossed the first river in their path, with the weather the way it's been they should be making good time. We're hoping to be receiving the first report some time soon and I'm sure that we'll get a letter from Kor and Bel with it." I can't help grinning at the thought of hearing from them.

"Maybe we should start writing a response to them. I know it won't be a true response until we've read their letter but we could make a start telling them about what we've been doing." Tilting my head up slightly I look at him hopefully. My reading has come a long way but my writing is still not very good and is difficult to read so any writing to Kor and Bel will have to be done by Lilas.

"Hmm. Sounds good, we can make a start on the letter when we get back." He smiles down at me giving me a brief kiss. We turn our focus onto eating, finishing off the food that we'd brought with us.

Mounting up we start making our way back to the city. Knowing that my riding isn't quite safe at a gallop at the moment we stay at a slower pace, mainly trotting with short bursts of canter when the ground is flat. Lilas keeps a close eye on me when we're in a canter just in case I lose my balance and start falling off, I'd not long started riding my horse rather than a pony which is much closer to the ground.

Tired after our ride out Lilas and I wash up before setting ourselves up in the library to sit down and start writing to Kor and Bel. We fill them in on the last few days not that much has happened at the moment but we'll add more later once we've read their letter. The letter may end up being a few pages long by the time we send it but hopefully they'll enjoy it and we'll get one in return.

Not having much more to write about we go to Lilas's lab starting another batch of healing potion. I easily fall into what's become my job when we're working together, chopping up the ingredients ready for Lilas to use. Getting a few batches of the potion cooking we retreat to the rune table where I'm happy to just sit and watch him work. I hope that we can spend more time together like this and that all of our days are this peaceful.