Raven carried the days shopping trip down to the hut, smiling as she passed the small gardens. The lilacs were just beginning to bloom and smelled lovely as Raven bounced under the flower arch gate. There were finer homes in the trees, but Raven adored the little 2-bedroom hut with the moss-covered roof.
Deer were often caught grazing in the meadow nearby and rabbits made their home in the hill behind the house. Clair had started planting a small garden just for the critters, hoping they would stay out of her herb garden. So far it seemed to work.
"Alright, why don't we do some sparing while your mother prepares dinner? I could use the practice." Hank huffed as his wife chuckled. Raven rolled her eyes, grinning as she went to change out of her simple dress and into her training leathers.
They all knew that Hank just wanted to make sure Raven could defend herself from the bullies that tormented her at school. Not that Raven would ever beat Rosila's sharp tongue with a wooden sword.
"What is wrong with you?" Clair hissed softly once Raven was out of the room. She smacked his arm lightly making him frown unsure. She huffed at his confused look before clarifying.
"The store you asked me to take Raven to. Were you trying to make us sad looking at such beautiful gowns we would never wear in this lifetime?" Clair growled making Hank chuckle before he kissed the top of her head.
"Elaine, the dress maker, is an old friend. I have known her most of my life. I expressed my desire to want to get Raven something special for her birthday this year and she offered to make the gown. Things may be strained with how the past played out, but Raven is still her granddaughter by blood, and she wants to start a relationship now that her personal life is slowing down." Hank explained quickly making Clair frown.
"You mean now that she is retired? Why now? I think it's almost a little late for that, don't you?" Clair huffed folding her arms across her chest. Hank sighed wrapping her up in a hug.
"Everything okay?" Raven asked fastening her braid into place as she left her room.
"It's fine, I am just explaining why I might have to work late tomorrow. Why don't you head outside, and I will meet you there?" Hank wondered as Raven simply nodded and did as he asked. She could take a hint and realize they wanted to have a private conversation. Hank waited until the door closed before letting his love go.
"She had 17 years to reach out before now. I don't think a dress, no matter how lovely, is going to fill the void her absence left." Clair grumbled as she worked at getting the food together to start prep.
"I blame Finn mostly. Elaine lost her son when Raven was born. He wasn't the same and she worried about driving an even deeper wedge between our daughter and her blood family. I helped Rosila get a job as her understudy, but even Rosila doesn't know that Elaine is her grandmother.
‘Elaine decided if she couldn't claim them both, she wouldn't claim them at all. But it doesn't mean she didn't care." Hank explained softly leaning against the mantle while his wife busied herself with the soup. She pouted up at him, sticking out her tongue when he smirked. He laughed knowing he had won her over. She just needed more time to think it through.
"I'm surprised Rosila let you help her." Clair huffed changing the topic.
"Oh, you know she wouldn't. I simply moved pawns into place and let them lead her to the old tree. Now I'm going to give our girl some training before dinner. We have a busy day tomorrow." Hank told her with a chuckle as he headed for the door. Clair let out a loud sigh in defeat making her husband release a genuine laugh before the door closed, leaving her alone to cook.
Raven sat panting a few hours later as Hank forced her to run drills in the open lawn beside the house. There was a larger patch of meadow through the trees, but Hank was more concerned about the smaller drills today. The sun was beginning to set telling him it was time to finish training for the day, but after one last drill.
Hank went on the attack smiling as his daughter dodged and parried his weapon, better than most soldiers on the force. Her long black braid whipped through the air as she spun, using the wooden sword to knock Hanks legs out from under him. Hank cursed surprised as Raven put her blade to his throat.
"You are getting old. Or maybe just forgetful. You taught me that move yourself, remember?" Raven teased as she helped him to his feet, pausing when the smell of warm food wafted out the open window. Clair was humming a druid's lullaby as she worked at finishing her orders for tomorrow's deliveries as the stew continued to simmer in the glowing hearth.
"Aye, I did. I must have a lot on my mind at the moment. The council is concerned about Ivy taking over because she has been away for the last two years on and off visiting the kingdom of Salvino. The Queen currently is siding with them since Ivy has yet to awaken as a full druid, the one requirement the king left for his daughter." Hank confided in her as she helped him into the house.
She had wacked him pretty good with that sorry weapon of hers, and though it hurt now, it would heal by morning. Raven frowned worriedly as he chuckled softly taking a seat and letting his leg rest. "Ask if you want answers." Hank encouraged as Raven sighed.
"I thought the princess was already a druid. So, can't she take the throne from Meredith who isn't a druid at all?" Raven asked, realizing that asking questions led to only more questions. "And if Meredith isn't a druid, what is she?" Raven wondered sitting at the table, listening to her mother chuckle.
"Yes, Ivy is already a druid, however, she has yet to awaken her true power. When a full-blooded druid turns sixteen, they are then able to bond with a plant that will awaken the druid abilities within them. By doing so, they receive the plants strengths and weaknesses.
“Ivy didn't want to be tied to such a fragile thing and refused to be bonded. It has kept her from unlocking her potential. In short, she is almost a druid. Still no better than the non-druid queen." Hank grumbled sounding annoyed. Though more with the whole situation and less with Raven's curiosity.
"As for the queen, Meredith has kept quiet about her heritage, so rumors have spread creating all sorts of tall tales. Though, the common belief is that she is simply human. With just a mix of elven and dwarf to get her fine features and golden hair. She is clearly not even close to being full blooded to anything else. That and it is believed she came from Welpion. Since Welpion is a two to three days ride in the direction they returned from." Clair added to the gossip setting food on the table.
"So, then what will the ball accomplish?" Raven asked curiously as Hank shot his wife a chiding look. Clair smiled sweetly as she shrugged making Hank chuckle under his breath.
"I would assume that Ivy plans to use the ball to find herself a suitor. Hoping to prove to the council that she is ready to rule with a man at her side as king. She is twenty-five now and allowed to do as she pleases after all. I got married in my early twenties. Just don't tell my wife." Hank whispered across the table making Raven chuckle as Clair pouted at him.
"We married young that's true and against the kings wishes. Not sure why he gave a damn. Hope he is happy in the afterlife. Bastard." Clair grunted at her stew making Raven and Hank frown nervously.
King Trayson had been against her and Hank's union since the beginning, often talking down to Clair as if she was nothing more than dirt beneath his feet. To the king, only those with strong druid blood mattered. Hank was just druid enough that with the right mate, might produce druid children.
Clair knew Trayson accused her of aiding the end of their bloodline. She just hated him even more for blaming her for being barren. Like she could fix that. She wanted kids and luckily, she had Raven. Hank held her hand smiling gently.
"The past is history now. No need to dwell on the things that won't change." Hank told her gently as she took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Sorry. I shouldn't speak ill of the dead. He just makes me so mad sometimes. Even after all these years. I almost feel bad for Ivy. He died when she was still a child. I mean there must be a reason she doesn't want to be a full-fledged druid." Clair sighed making Raven and Hank frown.
"That was shortly after he brought home his new wife, right? They were married before Meredith even met Ivy." Raven added as Hank let out an irritated huff.
"Trayson didn't explain anything. He just up and left Ivy when she was only seven. I kept checking in on her because I felt bad for her, and I thought she could use a brother. As the last full druid and a princess, she was carefully protected within the castle and pretty isolated." Hank started frowning. It had happened just after he moved to the hut to be with his wife.
"Once you came along, I visited with her less and less though Trayson returned a year later, he died shortly after that, leaving Ivy with Meredith." Hank explained making his women pout.
"The poor dear. Lost both her parents at such a young age. Though from what I have heard, she is doing quite well with Meredith to guide her. She will make a fine queen one day. I think this ball is a great opportunity for Ivy to make her debut as queen of Trayson." Clair told them happily as the other two agreed.
Raven settled in as they talked more about their day and less about the gossip in the royal palace. It felt nice to relax in the comfort of her home and family where she felt safe and wanted. As the conversation died down, she helped clean up the table before heading to bed, listening as Clair and Hank talked softly about plans for the garden now that spring was coming in. She chuckled softly as her father was roped into more than he probably bargained for, changing, and climbing into bed exhausted.
Comments (0)
See all