Chapter 20.4 – A High-Speed Trip to Avalon

The guard gives Nina and me somewhat dirty looks, then turns quickly and walks towards the throne room doors. We all quickly follow, and the other guards open the doors to what I assume is the throne room.

As we pass through, we enter a large rectangular room lined with white stone pillars on either side of a long red carpet. Very cliché for a throne room. At the end of the room is a raised platform with a white stone throne atop it.

Sitting on the throne is a beautiful silver-haired woman who seems early 30s. She's wearing a flowing grey dress, and a calculating smile. No doubt, this is the Queen.

I learned from Ilina yesterday when chatting on our flight that high elves don't ever look past late thirties while they're healthy. At the very end of their lifespan, they'll rapidly age and die in the span of a few years – it sounds like a horror movie to me. Regardless, that means this woman could be up to ten millennia old for all I know.

As we approach, I send a quick thought message to Nina.

[Nina, I think since you're like a ruler of the forest, you shouldn't need to bow deeply like the rest of us. A respectful nod towards the Queen should do for you.] (Mizuki)

[Fufufu…very well. I don't think they know who I am yet, so be prepared to explain away the tension.] (Nina)

Yeah, that's a good idea. At this point, the guard escorting us stops, and we along with him. Then, he walks forward more, in front of the Queen, and turns to address us.

"You stand in the presence of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elira Ophelle, you may show your respect!" (guard)

I glance at Klaus, who goes into a kneel, so I follow suit. Ilina and the rest of the elves, along with Zara thankfully, give deep, curtsy-looking acknowledgement. Nina just bows her head slightly towards the Queen for a moment. Seeing this, Ilina quickly speaks as she'd doing her curtsy.

"My Queen, I'm glad you're in good health. I have returned from my travels, with guests I wished you to meet. This…" (Ilina)

Before Ilina can finish her sentence, the guard that escorted us cuts in.

"Human woman, how dare you show such disrespect to our Queen! Guards, grab her and the other human and throw them in cells for their disrespect!" (guard)

Shit. The guards start to move towards us, but I quickly stand up and speak out.

"Your Highness, allow me to introduce the woman I serve, Lady Nedonera, the Elder Dragon of earth!" (Mizuki)

I make sure to give a quick bow and check the guards. They've frozen in place for now, and they are looking back at the other guard who gave the order. They're all in shock. Good, I have a few seconds.

"I apologize for any perceived slight, but it was our understanding that rulers between countries do not typically greet one another with such subservient displays. As a ruler of the Delmura Forest, I'm sure my Lady could not be expected to do so either." (Mizuki)

Ilina frantically tries to support me.

"My Queen, what he says is true! As I was about to explain, Lady Nedonera took human form for our convenience to be here today. She is one of the guests that I've brought from my travels!" (Ilina)

The Queen stares at us neutrally for a moment.

"Klaus, is all this true?" (Queen Elira)

"Yes, My Queen, every word!" (Klaus)

"Very well. Everyone except for my personal guard, the King, and these visitors may leave immediately." (Queen Elira)

There is some hesitation, but all the guards quickly file out of the throne room the way that we came in – impressive obedience. I see two guards behind the throne remaining, and one 30s-looking elven man watching with a kind smile in my direction. He's standing to the right of the Queen's throne, in a manner that seems like an advisor to me. I guess that's the King.

After all the guards are gone, the Queen speaks with exhaustion in her voice.

"Great Dragon, I appreciate you not making a mess of all the guards over that outburst, and I'm thankful that your subordinate was quick to address the situation. Ilina, it's obvious that you were trying to avoid that by explaining yourself, but that hothead cut you off. Please continue your explanation, and you can drop your formalities with me now that they're gone. Everyone else can rise." (Queen Elira)

The Queen looks incredibly annoyed, and she seems very direct. I kind of like her, actually, but she seems very different from Ilina. We all get up from our positions of respect.

"Of course, Mother, thank you. As I said, this is Lady Nedonera. The rest of these elves were kidnapped into the humans' slave trade while in the demi-human country. The human that serves under Lady Nedonera, called Mizuki, rescued them all and brought them to me. I invited Lady Nedonera here as my guest to discuss the possibility of her aid with the demon and Veyron crisis." (Ilina)

"Hmm…I see. Can I assume, then, that you forced Klaus to sneak you out of the country and go looking for the Elder Dragon, and that all this transpired in human territory? In other words, you have not been roaming our own country as I was led to believe?" (Queen Elira)

I glance at Ilina, who's sweating bullets.

"Y-Y-Yes, Mother, I am deeply sorry for that. I thought only of helping our people against the impending crisis." (Ilina)

The Queen sighs deeply.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure. I also know you're smart enough to see how incredibly stupid and rebellious that was. However, I'm smart enough to know that what you've managed to do is nothing short of miraculous for our country. So, I'll let you off with a long lecture to be performed later, my sweet daughter." (Queen Elira)

Ilina breathes a huge sigh of relief.