Raven wandered around the food table snacking a little as she went. Everything was delicious, and she smiled happily despite herself. She noticed her mother giggling with an old friend across the way. Clover had been her mother's friend since before Raven entered the picture. Apparently, Clover, Clair, and Kielia had grown up as school mates and friends. Clover was a renowned hair stylist always pushing the boundaries. Today her hair had curls on her curls, and it was an odd shade of pink.
Clair had mentioned to Raven before how Clover was experimenting with the herbs Clair sold her to make something called hair dye. Raven giggled when Clover turned around to see she had turned her hair into a nest full of wooden birds. She really knew how to make an impact. Someone coughed beside her making Raven jump startled.
"I heard she was trying for more of a red color. Looks a little too pink for me." Hank told her as Raven smiled.
"Maybe I will change my hair color too. I think pink would go lovely with this gown." Raven hummed thoughtfully making her father hesitate. She smiled when he sighed realizing she had been joking.
"You and your smart mouth. What did I do to ever deserve such a bane?" Hank groaned as Raven simply giggled offering him a plate of food. Hank smiled at his beaming daughter as he sampled some of what she had offered. He exaggerated his moan as he ate some more of the delicious food.
"Dad! People are staring!" Raven hissed embarrassed. Hank laughed happily as his daughter scowled. He paused to bow to the queen as Meredith paused beside them.
"Your majesty." Hank told her with the bow of his head.
"Is everything alright? I got word that someone was suffering near the food table." Meredith told him calmly, trying to keep the smile from her lips. Hank blushed embarrassed as Raven tried to stifle a giggle.
"Forgive me, my queen. I was simply teasing my daughter. I will try to keep my suffering to a minimum." Hank muttered apologetically with another bow. The queen smiled pausing when she looked at Raven. This is the child. The one we must entrust our future too. She smiled warmly at the shy girl who bowed her head beside her father.
"I have heard about your daughter. She is adopted, yes?" Meredith wondered as Hank chuckled nervously.
"I was actually hoping to speak to princess Ivy about getting her work, here in the castle. I thought an apprenticeship under one of the lower workers, would be a great opportunity for her." Hank told the queen as she smiled brightly.
"What a wonderful idea! Then perhaps you could transfer and work in the castle full time. Remind me what your wife does again? Herbology wasn't it?" Meredith asked as Hank nodded proudly.
"Yes, my queen." Hank told her as Meredith nodded slowly. She paused when she saw Raven's quizzical look. She seemed to be eating to keep herself from talking.
"Your father is a man of honor. He graduated at the top of his class and is still our greatest fighter. I feel secure knowing that you are watching our borders, however, I wish we had more men like you. Which is why I have been hoping you might consider becoming an instructor at the academy. Just something to think about." Meredith told Hank as he bowed his head, honored that his queen would speak so highly of him.
"Do you usually take notice of your soldiers?" Raven asked as Hank gave her a look. Meredith chuckled making Raven blush.
"I try to at least learn their names, but no. Hank is a special case since he was very helpful to both Ivy and I after the death of the king. He pulled in long hours and worked hard to help us adjust. More so than any other. You could see how much he dedicated his life to the king. A loyal man to my husband and this kingdom. It is hard to find someone with a heart for this forest and its people. I have tried to get know him ever since." Meredith told her as Raven nodded in awe.
"King Trayson was the last druid king of our land. His presence and guidance are greatly missed." Hank murmured down at her as Raven nodded. The king had died just shortly after her birth.
She had never met the late king and only knew what she read in books and heard from her father. Though her mother had mentioned that she had met the king once, she didn't often speak of him. Meredith paused as she considered something.
"I have an idea. It won't be long until Ivy takes her rightful place as queen, allowing me to step down. I could use an assistant. Most of mine will follow the new queen and guide her as she leads her people. Would you be interested in assisting an old woman around the castle?" Meredith asked as Raven's eyes grew wide making Hank cough to cover up his chuckle. Raven always figured she would end up in the kitchen doing dish work. Never had she thought the queen would want her.
"I would be honored, your majesty." Raven told her with a bow. Meredith chuckled as she stepped back in invite.
"Then will you walk with me? Think of it as a trial period." Meredith told her with a wink. Raven nodded excitedly. Handing Hank her plate. They started off making Hank smile proudly as his daughter walked with the queen. She paused once to hurry back and hug him.
"Thanks dad. Love you." Raven told him as she hurried after the chuckling Meredith.Hank smiled after them as Raven walked and talked with the queen. His smiled waned however when someone started picking off his plate.
"Your highness. Or should I say Lowness?" Hank teased making the shorter man frown.
"I don't have to like you, you know. Damn bastard." His company growled making Hank grin. Hank turned on the short man, pausing at his attire. Suefarlin Rhovanion, the elf king of Welpion stood at about four feet eleven inches.
His longer blond hair, normally kept loose, was pulled back in a tight bun to reveal his pointed ears. He wore expensive looking silks and still only looked to be about twenty making Hank frown. Suefarlin glanced up at him, his golden eyes smiling brightly.
"I was invited as the king and sadly had to dress the part. I wasn't sure I would see you here and I was just about to leave. Parties aren't really my thing as you know." Suefarlin told him as Hank huffed at him. They were old longtime friends, back from before Hank's time in the royal guard.
He used to visit Welpion to train under the small elf during the fall and winter months, when his mother began to get to be too much. He hadn't visited much since her death and even less after he got married.
"It has been far too long my friend. I should have visited you sooner." Hank told him as the elf king nodded as if he already knew that. He opened his mouth to say something pausing when he noticed a young maiden looking like she was interested in speaking to his friend. Hank followed his gaze frowning.
"It's a little warm in here, why don't we talk outside on the balcony where it's less crowded?" Suefarlin suggested as Hank nodded his thanks. There were many reasons he liked that little elf. Catching on and taking a hint was only one of the many traits Hank appreciated.
He wandered out onto the balcony, smiling when the elf king was no longer by his side, slinking back into the crowd to give Hank some space. He paused to lean against the railing looking out over the forest below. Some men would get queasy staring down over the roots and cliff side.
Hank frowned deciding the cliff was falling away, exposing more of the roots from the mother tree since the last time he had gazed upon her roots. It wasn't often though since most of his visits where simply to give reports. Not sightseeing, so he could be wrong.
Someone paused beside him, shifting cautiously as she glanced around. It seemed obvious that she wanted to ask him something but was worried about getting caught. Hank frowned as he considered it. Everyone knew her mother and her views about Raven.
If Rosila got caught aiding her mother's enemy, chances were Kielia would throw a fit. She was a woman who could hold a grudge for decades. Perhaps that's why Rosila had been verbally harassing his daughter, her half-sister, but not actually hurting her. But if not Rosila then who did assault his child?
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