Winterfall

My kingdom should be my safe haven, however with the recent events of the past year, I did not want to travel in my own kingdom. I was afraid of another attack on my life. I was afraid of what the people in my kingdom thought of me. Did they think I was weak? Did they think I was pathetic? Did they think I still deserved the crown?

There were so many thoughts that swarmed around my mind. However, I knew if I ever wanted to be Queen I had to embrace my kingdom. Even if I feared it.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped over the gate's threshold. The warmth of the spring sun danced across my skin. The breeze was gentle and the aroma was rather sweet.

To describe my kingdom a bit further, the castle sat on top of a small mountain, casting its shadow over the city below. Just beyond the castle gate lay the entrance to the city's first ring—a vibrant, bustling area that formed the outermost circle of the city's elaborate design.

The city's layout consisted of seven rings, each representing a distinct class of society. The ring nearest to the castle was made mainly of the highest nobles, while the innermost ring housed more of the less fortunate. As you traveled through the rings, the rings became more violent in nature, as crime spiked in the inner most rings. As the nobles tended to have more guards as some were personally hired by the families that reside there.

Tuning into my surroundings I focused on the events that were occurring around me. The sound of horse hooves clacking on the stone paths. Birds chirping in the nearby oak trees. Conversations between commoners in a variety of languages from simple common to elvish to deep speech and infernal. My kingdom hosted a wide range of humanoid and non humanoid people.

Taking a deep breath of spring air, I managed to gain insight into a many smells. Smells such as baked goods and flowers. It just gave me an overall sensation of freshness.

As I stood there, observing my kingdom there were many races present. Elves, Humans, Fire Genasi, Dwarfs, Dragonborn and many more. My parents welcomed a unique range of culture to bring life to our fixed kingdom. Each race, each culture was treated equally. Something I hope to continue when I take the throne.

Instead of standing I decided to travel into the first outer ring of the noble district. As much did not attract my attention I continued my travels into the second ring. The sounds and sights here opened my senses more. As I heard a variety of sounds from birds to a variety of languages.

Finding a dark oak bench I took a seat. Unable to find full focus on my surroundings, I found myself being pulled into Théoden's point of view.

The guards that I had gathered today were my elite or lead guards. The guards presided over certain areas of the kingdom as most rings contained two sets of guards. The inner rings contained more.

Besides my elite guards I have a set of guards I called the underlings - these were guards directly under the elite guards as they were newer and had less training. For meeting purposes my underlings watched the city as I talked with my elite guards. The elite guards then filled them in on information they deemed was necessary.

I cleared my throat and began to speak. “Attention please.” My guards turned their focus to me. “Now, what I want to discuss with you today is Marcel.”

There was a low grumble in the room. I knew most of my guards disapproved of him and I didn’t blame them. “Why is he still here?” Serena voice was filled with disgust as most was.

I took a deep breath, “Remember, Marcel is marrying the Princess.” I couldn’t help it, but my blood began to boil at the sheer thought of Marcel and Maria together.

The guards grumbled in disgust as murmurs started to fill the room. “Silence please.” I understood that they hated the idea of her marrying him as much as I, but there was nothing I could do. Her mind was set.

“I can’t believe she hasn’t changed her mind.” One guard grumbled.

“Let alone you letting her go through with this.” Another groaned.

“Like I have a choice.” I blurted out. “She has her mind set that this is the right course of action.”

Reading the room I knew most of my guards were in disbelief. Especially, as it seemed, I was allowing such a thing to happen. However, even my own hands were tied as I could not break a signed contract by the king and queen.

I cleared my throat again to try and pull the attention back to me. Thinking before I said what I did next I took a deep breath, “I am not pleased with this course of action, trust me, if I had it my way Marcel would either be dead or locked away. However, given what the options were, she…” I was hesitant to say what I thought needed to be said, but alas I gave in, “She made the right choice given the situation, we would have been under siege in minutes.”

“If the choice was war, I’d go with war any day.” Quinn piped up.

“Got that right.” Jasper nodded in agreement.

“I know we could have handled war given our vast talents, but given her heart, she didn’t want to risk it if there was another option. And there was. And that will give us more time to prepare for something in the future.”

“What about you two?” Lukus, one of the newer elite guards asked. As he asked the question my guard’s eyes shifted from me to him and then back to me. They knew better than to bring up my own personal affairs with the princess. So, I knew they were curious as to how I would proceed with him asking me.

However, I didn’t have the energy today to deal with it, “mine and the princess’s feelings aside I know that she is doing what she thinks is right.”

“So you are going to just take it? Him being with her?” Lukus persisted further.

I couldn’t help but get a bit annoyed with the direction the conversation took. I was overall okay with my elite guards knowing the truth, however, I did not appreciate them talking about it openly.

“It’s not like I have a choice. To which, I hope you can respect the princess’s decision in the matter.” I paused briefly allowing them to digest the information. “Now onto the second topic of business. The princess will not allow Marcel to become King.”

A mix of relief and curiosity flooded the room as a brief moment of silence fell. That was until Quinn spoke up, “so she is marrying him but Marcel won’t be king of Winterfall?”

“Yes. We are going to make sure that he does not become king.”

This time it was Serena who asked the question, “how?”

“The princess has been doing some magic training. Current state of it, unstable but with practice I know it can become something of great power. I have confidence that with her abilities we will be able to defeat Marcel. From what I have experienced so far, if we can unlock her full potential she will become a force to be reckoned with.

“Now, the princess has a lot more training to do. As I plan to have her trained by their wedding date. I can train her with her magic just fine. Even combat I can do, however, I may ask a few of you to step in and spar with her in the future. As I want her trained in hand-to-hand combat as well as magic.”

WHAT….I heard Maria screech through the bond. Which caught me off guard a bit.

Maria? Her outburst caused me to lose focus briefly as I wanted to ensure she was okay. She remained silent through the bond, though she knew I knew she was watching.

"I don't need volunteers yet, but I will reach out when I do." I was quick to pull back into the bond briefly, I had to make sure she was fine.

Are you okay?

Yes, I was just bored. She confessed to me. I sighed in relief.

Be careful. I said to her as I could tell that she was not at the castle anymore.

"If there are no other concerns, then this meeting is adjourned." I said as I moved from the front of the room and entered the crowd of guards, and moved swiftly into my office.

I need to do a few hours of paperwork, Maria. I told her. Paperwork you should not see.

I heard her sigh, fine… I'll just adventure around the city a bit more.