"Please wait here." General Calister said as he led the siblings to a drawing room. "I'm going to inform the majesties of your arrival."
Once they were left alone, Kate began to explore the elaborately decorated room. "I can't believe it, we're royalty! Isn't this great, Elion?" She ran her hand over everything in sight taking in the feel of the silk drapes and ornate stone fixtures in the room.
"Perhaps." Elion replied with a stoic expression on his face. Unlike his sister, he was keeping his emotions in check and guarded about the whole situation. "It's also possible that they've made a mistake and the majesties might tell us we're not actually whom they thought we were." Any peasant dreamed of being rich one day but this all sounded too good to be true.
"You really think so?" His words had made her sad and draw near him once more. "What will happen to us then?"
"We'll probably be sent right back to where we came from but without the military entourage." He smirked a little and wrapped an arm around her as always. "Whatever happens, your big brother will always protect you. We're in the capital city now and there's no point in going back to that broken down cottage. I'm sure we could make a better life for ourselves here either way."
"That won't be necessary." The king and queen had entered the room but lingered near the doorway. His hair was a burnt copper color while his eyes were as blue as Elion's. "I would know my children anywhere." The King said with confidence. "Welcome home." He held his arms out towards them as if expecting them to want his embrace as much as he did theirs.
Kate tried to step forward but Elion kept a firm hold upon her shoulders to keep her from going anywhere. A moment passed in silence before he spoke. "We appreciate the chance to come here and meet you, Your Majesties, however, I believe you've made a mistake. How can you be so sure that we're your lost children from a single glance? It's been ten years since it happened. That would have made me five and Kate three yet you would know us anywhere?" He couldn't help being skeptical.
"He's right." The queen said and flipped a few locks of her long raven colored hair back over her shoulder. "I think your undying hope of finding them has affected your judgment. Look at them, there's no way they can be ours." Her deep coal eyes looked upon the pair with obvious disgust.
While the situation had become tense in some instances, the king couldn't help but chuckle in good humor. "I am certain because of the report that was given to General Calister when the local healer tended to Aeldes. Royalty born of Aro are marked with the royal crest behind their left ear. It is an enchantment that only appears when magic is used upon his person, thus when he was healed by the local physician, his identity was revealed."
Elion's eyes widened and he subconsciously lifted a hand to touch behind his left ear. Was it actually possible?
Kate's smile returned and she looked up to her brother as if to say 'told you so' before pulling away and going to embrace the king. "We're home, daddy!" There was no hesitation on her part to start warming up to her royal parents.
"You could have at least informed me of this news, Aeldeth." The queen said as she folded her arms in a huff.
Another chuckle slipped past Aeldeth's lips as he returned Kate's hug and looked towards his wife. "You may not show it right now, my love, but you're just as happy as I am to have them home." He pulled back from Kate and gave her a gentle nudge over to his wife. "Rakesta, please, they've been through a lot already."
Rakesta sighed and embraced Kate as she came forward. Slowly a smile formed to replace the frown on her face before separating again from her daughter. "Come, my dear, there is no time to waste. Let's get you all cleaned up and looking like a princess should before we have dinner."
Kate was all smiles as she left with the queen but Elion still hadn't moved. The parents he had known were the ones who raised them with such love and care before they passed away. He couldn't argue with the facts but he wasn't ready to forget his life as easily as Kate.
"How about a handshake for now?" Aeldeth asked as he stepped towards Elion and held out his hand. "Don't feel rushed to accept all of this quickly. I know it must come as a shock to learn the truth like this. We'll start by getting to know each other, deal?"
Elion hesitated but soon accepted the king's hand. The least he could do was give it a try. Who knows what would happen to him or Kate if he refused the king's wishes.
Aeldeth shook his son's hand firmly and smiled some more. "Now, we better get you fixed up so we can join the ladies for dinner."
~ * ~
The next few weeks were quite overwhelming for Elion. While the king had promised to ease him into this life, it didn't stop the queen and his assigned servants from pushing him to be his best. After all, he was being groomed to be the Crowned Prince of Aro. First, there was getting used to his real name, Aeldes, then there were etiquette classes, military training, politics and much more he had to learn because of his lack of prior education. During this time, he barely saw Kate except for family meals.
One evening at dinner, he thought to ask the king about something that had been bothering him for a while. "Your Majesty, whatever came of those knights who attacked me that day?"
"Aeldes, we've been over this. You may address Aeldeth as "father" when we're in a non-formal situation."Rakesta said with an obvious sigh. How many times did she have to tell him?
"It's alright, Rakesta, let him be." Aeldeth turned his focus from his wife to his son. "There was an investigation over the situation and as they had no idea whom you really were, there was no reason to punish them too harshly. They have apologized formally for the misunderstanding."
Misunderstanding? He had to wonder what exactly was said during this so-called investigation. "So..." Aeldes began, unable to hide his disappointment. ".. in this country, knights are allowed to openly abuse the weak for no other reason than their own amusement?"
"Aeldes..." Celeste spoke carefully, not wanting her brother to get upset in front of the Majesties.
"No, Celeste, I want to know because if that's the case, I want no part of this kingdom as it's heir." He said this firmly while staring at the king and queen.
"How rude!" Rakesta stated with a gasp. "Have you learned nothing? This is not how you speak to..."
"That's not how this kingdom is run," Aeldeth said with a serious expression, cutting off Rakesta's words. "However, ruling a country means one has to look at the overall situation and judge objectively for what is best for all parties involved. Punishing men for a mistake will make the people fear our rule and that is not what I am about. I want the people to be loyal because they love us not because they fear is. In time, I'm sure you'll understand. I will discuss this topic no further." He rose from his seat and headed out of the room.
Rakesta stood as well but didn't immediately follow Aeldeth out. "You should feel lucky to return to the world of royalty, Aeldes. Never forget that. Push us too far and you may be sent back to that pathetic little village you were found in." She stood up straighter. "After all, I'm still young and could easily produce another heir." With that, she turned on her heels and promptly left the room.
"Aeldes! How could you upset them like that? I don't want to go back to that village! If you make that happen, I'll... I'll never forgive you!" Celeste hurried out of the room in a huff as well.
With a sigh, Aeldes got to his own feet and left the room to head out to the courtyard gardens. It was the only place he could roam outside mostly free of the palace guards.
His much-needed solitude didn't last long before a guard approached. "Hey Prince, I heard what happened in the dining hall. It's not fair, is it?" The man raised the visor of his helmet so Aeldes could have a look at his face. The man's hair was an ashy white and his eyes were a vibrant lavender. "What if I told you there was a way to get vengeance for what they've done? Are you in?"
"Strange." Aeldes thought to himself. He supposed if there were knights who would pick on peasant children for fun that there would be others who would go against the king's wishes if they disagreed with the situation. "What's the plan?" He asked with a determined look on his face. It wasn't right what those knights had done and he did want them punished for it.
The guard smiled and took to a knee. "My name is Zamza Stryker, at your service, sire. I promise that these men will suffer greatly for what they've done to you."
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