All the Barons, Baronesses and key merchants could expect to be called to Whitehampton to dine with the royal family at least three times a year. The royal banquets that resulted were often the biggest events on the Anglia social calendar. The process of eating and drinking was actually less important than the business of keeping an eye on the more ambitious elements of the aristocracy, making sure they weren't getting any ideas above their station. This cautious approach to the nobility wasn't entirely unfounded, unlike past rulers Frederick didn't have the aggressive powers to the north east in Gaven, or to the south in Crilad, inspiring the nobility to unite behind him. In fact, tonight's feast officially was a celebration of victory against the last great threat that the country had faced.
20 years ago to the day Frederick's father, the old King had led his army to the fields outside the seaside town of Waterpoint where a battle had been fought against a combined force of the Havennesse Rogues and the Linston Pirates. Their fleet had consisted of over two hundred ships and they had landed an army of over 15,000 troops, but after a bloody struggle the enemy had finally been driven back into the sea by the victorious Anglia army.
And now the Great Hall was loud with celebration as those ex-soldiers ate and drank with their families at the lower tables as they told each other how brilliant they had been on the fields of Waterpoint. The gallery that occupied the southern wall of the hall was packed with the nation's best musicians who played an unending medley of drinking songs and marching tunes.
As Annabeth watched from her place at the High Table she attempted to enjoy the air of celebration swirling up from the lower hall. But her view of the details was limited thanks to the haze of smoke that floated from the central hearth obscuring her vision. Even the huge banners of the army regiments that were hung from each of the roof beams could only be seen faintly through the smoke as it rose to escape out of the small vents in the ceiling. The sounds of talking, chanting and laughter all blended into a distant buzz, and not for the first time Annabeth wished she could be down in the hall with them, actually able to enjoy the sense of celebration, rather than being forced to act as only a spectator looking down it.
She eventually turned her attention back to the high table as her father chatted good-naturedly with one of his barons. She was always sat with the King at State Banquets. It was good for the lords and ladies of Anglia to get to see their future monarch, and because she knew how important it was to make a good impression on them, she tried to rise to the occasion.
She made every effort to crush her increasing insecurities about her ability to fulfill the role beneath an exterior that was both charming yet frightfully intelligent. She tried to exude the pride and arrogance that a monarch should. Her ideas were good. She knew that even if she was never allowed to implement them. She just had to show everyone else how able she was. To be honest she wasn't all that sure that she succeeded.
Baroness Hestia, an ageing yet kind women who had been in charge of City of Grassport down in the southern plains of the country for longer than Frederick himself had ruled, smiled and leant down towards her. "I hear the Princess had an encounter with some bandits this morning." She smiled kindly, giving Annabeth a chance to join in the conversation.
"Yes, only yesterday evening, my guard and I managed to fight them off, but when they realised who I was they ran off."
The Baroness turned to the King. "I think we need more domestic patrols Frederick, these outcasts are getting too bold."
The King nodded but then shrugged, "Yes I suppose but they are still not that serious a problem, I will not weaken our defences on the Gaven border so we can focus on internal matters, they are by no means the most serious threat we face."
He absentmindedly adjusted his glasses as he considered the situation. "I'll send out the city garrisons on patrols of the local countrysides, that should ensure there is enough presence to discourage crime."
"But father," Annabeth interrupted "Surely splitting the same garrison between such a wide area would mean that it is not effective in either role. Gaven hasn't displayed any threatening behaviour since it became independent from Galling over 30 years ago, if the troops could come from anywhere surely there is the best place."
"Annabeth if we reduce the watch on that border it is almost as if we invite them to invade, we give them the perfect opportunity if we stop watching."
"Not if we ask them to become allies though." Annabeth said thoughtfully, "Gaven is our closest neighbour we don't have any longstanding problems with, and if we didn't have to watch that border we would have more than enough troops to actually be able to fight the criminals."
"It's a good idea Annabeth but I'm sure they would not be willing to listen." Frederick turned back towards the Barons and Annabeth sighed. Her father had just brushed off her ideas yet again. She had been effectively dismissed.
"If you would excuse me?" She said standing up. At her father's distracted nod she lept off the royal dais and began to weave her way through the lower hall. She skirted around the area that had been cleared for dancing, the last thing she wanted was to be dragged for a dance by a merchant three time her age and headed towards the hollering that indicated some sort of soldier competition. At the sight of the throwing axes she smiled. The blast of cheering as an axe cut straight through the apple that had been rested on the target made her wince, but she waded through the press of huge sweating men and women and demanded a go.
She may have had issues with her confidence amongst the ruling elite, however when she was down amongst the fighting people her natural passion and fight allowed her to easily interact with the warriors of the country. Here she didn't have to worry about etiquette or mind her language, in fact the soldiers themselves often spent the first few minutes apologizing for their own 'lack' of manners but once everyone got into the swing of things she was treated like anyone else, although her status was still carefully acknowledged.
As she stepped forward a great shout went up, "The Princess is going to throw!"
One of the soldiers stepped forward respectively putting one of the smaller axes in her hand. The axe was in no sense of the word her weapon, but she would in no sense be seen as weak by throwing that.
"Come on! Give me a proper one!" She demanded, and nodded as a full size battle-axe was passed forward to her.
By this time the apple had been replaced on the target and with a huge effort she lifted the axe, took aim and threw it with such force that she almost fell forward. When she dared to actually look at the target she saw the apple, split almost exactly in half at the bottom of the thick throwing board. She laughed in relief and allowed herself to be hoisted onto the soldier's shoulders.
From high above everyone else's heads she could see far more clearly through the smoke, allowing her a perfect view of the huge doors on the far wall as they burst open causing a blast of cold air to billow through the hall. It fell silent and Annabeth took a deep breath. The smoke had been almost completely been blown away meaning she had an almost completely clear view of the soldiers marching through the doorway, two figures hunched over between them.
The troopers were wearing the uniform of the royal guard and Annabeth could see Luke's blonde hair from her high position. Their business was obviously important so some of the ex-soldiers dragged the tables out of the way, opening up a wide aisle leading directly to the royal dais which the guard quickly began to march up.
"Put me back down." Annabeth ordered the soldiers still carrying her. The moment her feet touched the floor she cut through the crowd, reaching the royal table at almost the same time the guard did. It was then she saw exactly who they had been dragging between them. It was two of the bandits, including the one who had attacked her. Their wrists were tied with thick rope and it was surrounded by a ring of spears, ready to strike incase they decided to make a suicidal attack on the the King.
Luke stepped forward and saluted the King. "My Lord, we bring the bandits that attacked the Princess to you for sentence."
After a brief few seconds of silence as Frederick maneuvered himself to stand his reply was cut and brief. "You should've just taken them straight to the jail, it's a waste of time and effort bringing them here." He straightened his glasses on his head before looking back down to Luke. "It's not like the sentence he is going to get is a shock."
Annabeth sighed and strode up to her father. "I claim the right to sentence!" she shouted her voice echoing around the hall. The bandit who had attacked her looked up, and upon seeing her, his face paled, as if she had removed his last hope.
The silence that followed was eventually broken by Frederick himself. "You! Why?"
"Because I drew blood first, I was attacked. Their lives by ancient law are mine."
Frederick briefly considered that before nodding. "Fine then, how exactly do you want them killed."
She smiled. "I don't want them killed, I want them briefly imprisoned and then given jobs in the castle." She smiled again, ignoring the roar of protest that broke out in the hall.
"What!" Frederick bellowed. Annabeth's eyes widened, it had been years since she had heard her father get his passionate about anything. "They attacked a member of the royal family, attempted to rob you and would have killed you if they hadn't gotten scared about who you were. The world would be a better place without them, just stick them in the dungeon and we can hang them up at some time when we aren't celebrating.
Annabeth rolled her eyes at the cheer that followed the King's words and waited for it to abate before she continued.
"My Lord King Frederick," Annabeth to her great joy saw her father wince as she switched to the official language of court. "I ask of you this one favour as both your daughter and your heir. By ancient law the decision of sentence falls solely with me. If we do not kill them today word of this dead may spread, and those who are against us may hear word of it and may actually join with us against the issues we discussed earlier." Annabeth stepped closer to her father, lowering her voice. "Father, this is an opportunity to appeal to the poor classes that may chose to turn criminal, it proves we care about them. It may make the difference."
Frederick stared at her for a long moment, and she began to deflated. She knew how this worked, he would discard her opinion yet agai-
"Fine. We will try things your way Annabeth. I hope these criminals appreciate how lucky they are that it was you they encountered in the forest." He nodded towards the guards who escorted the two out of the hall. Annabeth caught the grateful look that the bandit that had attacked her shot her just before the doors shut.
Uneasy conversation broke out around the hall as the minstrels started up once again. Annabeth turned and began to walk back towards the high table, ignoring the looks that the aristocracy were sending her. However she had barely made it halfway across the room when someone grabbed hold of her elbow. She whirled around, ready to put whatever Baron who had decided to publicly disagree with her firmly in their place. Her words stalled in her throat however when she met Luke's blue eyes. Softening she smiled up at him, "Luke, I'm glad your back."
He smiled weakly back at her, "I believe Your Highness that you owe me a dance."
Annabeth rolled her eyes but followed him towards the dancefloor. He took her hand and twirled her onto the dance floor. They danced in silence for a few moments, letting the music lead them before Luke squeezed her hand. She gave him a questioning look as he opened his mouth before quickly closing it, clearly reconsidering what he was going to say. He stuttered before starting again. "Annabeth… that was very bold of you."
"It was bold," she agreed "but it was a decision I felt I needed to make. You know more than anyone about the growing discontent from ellements down in the lower city. This should send a message to them at least."
"But surely you could have run it through with your father first, rather than announce it in front of everyone in the hall."
Annabeth sighed, exasperated. "Luke you know my father, if I had asked him privately he would have just brushed it off. The only way I had any chance of him agreeing with me is if I raised it publicly. At least then he was be forced to actually make a decision."
Luke nodded and twirled her to the music. "It was good to see you act like a monarch Annabeth, it was like looking into the future." He smiled down at her and not for the first time she thought that this wouldn't be the worst option for her future. She was unlikely to ever meet someone who she was able to fall in love with, being with the person who was the closest thing to a best friend she had would surely be the next best option.
"I hope it proves the right decision, Annabeth. I hope you're proved right."
Annabeth winced. She desperately hope she was proved right too.