Adam led Christian into the grand hall, light shone from large chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. Tables stood in a U-shape with the shorter table at the far end placed higher than the others. The high table was weighed down by platters containing enormous glistening steaks, chicken and when Christian got closer, he saw one with an enormous pike, wrapped into an O-shape, eating its own tail. 

Christian’s mouth watered at the rich meaty smells, his stomach growled. He was rather hungry. Unfortunately, he also noticed that the meal seemed as if it would be devoid of vegetables. He had been a vegetarian for over a year and though he had at one time given in to temptation and had a steak; he had also had a salad with it. 

Adam showed Christian to a seat at the high table and instructed him to stand there until the King made his entry and it was important not to speak until the King had taken his place. People were milling in, some gazing up towards him turning to their neighbors and whispering. Christian controlled his features, avoiding the smirk that wanted to spread across his face. Attention was great, better having some attention than none. And he looked striking in his new clothes. They were also surprisingly comfortable, airy around the right parts and silky smooth against his skin.

A servant standing at the door announced that his Royal Highness was arriving. Everyone organised themselves in an instant, all standing around the lower long tables. He was the only one at the high table, maybe there was something that he had missed. 

The doors burst open and the very large King strode in. He was wearing clothes not unlike those Christian was wearing but in a royal purple color. Christian had expected more, an ermine cloak, a crown possibly. But none of his clothing made him stand out. The red-haired woman by his side did stand out. She wore a midnight blue dress made of a fabric that shimmered which trailed behind them as she strode in, her head held high. Her hair cascaded down her back. Of course she was the queen. Just his luck with women.

Behind the king and queen, a small procession followed. A man that looked rather similar to the king, the same dark brown hair and high widow peaks. The man looked younger, much healthier and shorter. He stared at Christian, eyes narrowing. He leaned towards the lady by his side whispering in her ear. She was taller than him, plump and with blonde hair falling down her shoulders over her tightly fitting light blue satin dress. She looked up towards Christian and smiled sweetly and then rolled her eyes at whatever the man was saying to her. 

An older woman followed, short with dark brown hair worn tightly in a bun. Everything about her shouted authority, as if she might have been the true ruler there. He had heard nothing about the king having a mother but there was definitely some similarity there. But he assumed he would know soon enough. A few more people milled in behind, one wore black with a white collar, possibly a priest.

As the king drew close Christian bowed deeply and mumbled “Your majesty.”

The kings strode past him to the seat at the middle of the table. At Christians left the blonde woman appeared, and to his right the older lady. Christian inclined his head at both of them but didn’t speak. The King sat down without further ceremony, everyone else followed. Servants pulled their chairs out for them and helped the ladies with their long gowns. The king wasn’t served his food but pointed at whatever he wanted and a servant gave him the plate so he could help himself.

Once his plate was overly full, he ate and everyone else at the high table served themselves. Christian helped himself to some of the pike which was staring at him. He also took a small bird from one platter and the lady in blue suggested he try the sauce. It did not seem to be the kind of banquet where one did anything more than eat. Except for a few hasty words about the food everyone began stuffing themselves, once the high table had been served the platters of food were transferred to those sitting below. 

The king got refills of whatever he wanted, and his plate filled up more than once again. 

The lady in blue leaned over brushing against him as she said, “I hear you are a witch.” Her watery gray eyes intent on his, not breaking away after what would have been a normal amount of eye contact. 

“Yes, I have been told so.”

“Shouldn’t you know you are a witch?”

He felt decidedly uncomfortable. He didn’t have any magical abilities if that was what she was hoping for. The older woman saved him.

“I have met a witch before when I was young. They come from a different world and are brought to us with knowledge that we cannot fathom,” she turned directly towards him. “Whatever you claim is best for my son I will be on your side.”

There was hope in her eyes as she looked at him. Her features warmed slightly. “Don’t look so worried. By the way, you can call me Lady Eleonor, I assume your young page has not informed you properly yet. He is on the verge of being too young but unfortunately we had no one else suitable for the task. One could say that we were not expecting you.”

“No, indeed. We have been praying for months that our great lord would send help but no such luck until now,” the lady in blue said. 

Lady Eleonor snorted and lifted an eyebrow, “and this is Lady Cathrine, my younger son's spouse.” 

There was something about how she said it that made him feel as if there was no great love between the two women.

“Can I ask, who are the other people at the table?” Christian asked and then added “I know who his royal highness is but I am uncertain of the others.”

Lady Eleanor answered, “to his royal Majesties left you have Queen Isabella, she is from the French royal family.”

“The French royal family? But they were…” He stopped himself, of course there had never been a French revolution in this world. Did America even exist? Or rather had it even been found?

“They were what?” Lady Catherine asked.

“Never mind. This food is great, but do you have any vegetables?”

“Vegetables?” Lady Catherine looked perplexed, “what do you mean?”

“Salad, carrots, cucumbers…” he tried listing anything he could think of. 

“Oh, yes, we sometimes have a side of carrots,” Lady Catherine said. “Is that something you particularly enjoy?”

“I usually don’t eat meat.”

Here Lady Eleanor barged in, “I have heard that in foreign lands far away this is not uncommon, but here you will have to make do with what you are served. My son is very fond of his meals.”

Christian didn’t respond. This threw a spanner in the works for him, he was rather certain that part of the King’s problem was his diet. In high school he had read that Kings in earlier centuries often died from overeating at a young age. If all he ate was meat and cookies, it wasn’t strange at all that he was feeling ill, and on top of that not exercising. But getting the King to change his diet would be a challenge.