Raven showed him around the monastery. He was able to see the great elegant hallways, the monstrous size of the bedrooms, the immense books in the library and much more. Garfield was amazed at how everything was clean and ornate. There were sculptures and other priceless arts. He was very tempted to touch them, but he knew Raven would probably slap his hand and treat him like a child. The whole monastery reminded him of a medieval castle he had once visited on a mission in Romania.
"So what do you think?" Raven asked as they were walking in a long hallway.
"It's nice. I would have never expected this much." He said. Suddenly his stomach began to growl.
"You must be hungry." She said, "Just at this end of the hallway is the dining room and kitchen. You can get something to snack on."
"Sounds good to me." The changeling said and they soon reached the end of the hallway. They were faced with a door in front of them and Raven opened it revealing the dining room. Yet again, Garfield was amazed at the room. The table was huge and there was a fireplace some ways away. They both walked in and Raven sat down in a chair. Garfield sat across from her.
Instantaneously, the doors opened and a man walked toward them. Once he reached Raven he asked,
"What would you like Dido? I advise you do not eat too much since dinner is less than three hours." The man asked.
"I would not like anything for now." She said, "But my guest here would like a little snack please."
"As you wish." Then the man left from where he came from. Then Raven turned her attention toward Garfield.
"Now we are going to talk." She said bluntly, "how did you get here?"
"Umm. Well I found a way to open a portal to your dimension." He said.
"I know you Garfield. You had help to open a dimension without me." She said.
"Honestly, I was accidently in your room and I found a piece of paper in your old room with a name on it. I found the guy written on the piece of paper. I contacted him, and he made the portal for me." He explained.
"Makes sense. May I ask who helped you?" She asked.
"I don't know his last name but his first name is Chalet." He said. Instantly, a smile rose on her face.
"Ah good old Chalet." She said. "I'm surprised he helped you. He doesn't usually help anyone. He must be in a good mood. If you don't mind, if anyone here asks how you got here, do not mention Chalet."
"Why not?" he asked.
"He is an exile from Azarath. Apparently, he was using forbidden magic in Azarath." She explained. "In my opinion, I believe he was framed." Garfield nodded.
"Another question." She said. Garfield nodded once again.
"How is everyone?" she asked. Garfield was about to speak until the man came out from the kitchen and gave him a plate of crackers and cheese. He thanked the man and the man left. He started to eat the crackers, but he knew Raven was eager to know how her friends were.
"Things have somewhat changed. Nightwing and Kori have been dating on and off for a few years. Nightwing has a new villain to obsess over." He said and Raven frowned. "The crime rate is low. Cyborg is mostly gone. He is working either on his car, or at Titans East. There's this new Titan named Caylo and I'm always saving his ass. So, it kinda sucks."
"I see." She said. There was a brief moment of silence until he broke it.
While eating his snack, he noticed that she was wearing the necklace he had given her three years ago.
"I see that you still have the necklace that I gave you." He said.
She placed her fingers on her neckline and on the necklace. "Yes, I wear it every day. It reminds me of you and the Titans. Somehow, I know that you are still here with me every day."
"I missed you so much Rae." He said trying to finish his cracker.
"I missed you as well." She said. Suddenly, the door that led to the hallway opened and Claudius came out. He stopped in his tracks and had a questionable look on his face when he saw Garfield.
"Raven, I did not know that you had a guest. Especially a guest from your former dimension. May I ask how he got here?" He asked.
"I have my ways." Garfield replied. Claudius was about to open his mouth but Raven spoke.
"You heard him. He has his ways." She said. "Anyway, is there something you need?"
"Yes, the monks have requested that you attend an urgent meeting in the monks' quarters." He explained.
"Now?" She asked.
"Indeed." Claudius replied. Raven sighed and stood up.
"I'm on my way." She faced the changeling, "If you don't mind, I must go immediately."
"That's fine." He said eating his last piece of cheese.
"Great, now I would like you to just stay calm while I am at my meeting. You may do whatever you please, but Claudius will be with you until I meet with you once again." She said.
"I will?" Claudius asked.
"Yes you are. Thanks for volunteering. Just keep him company while I'm gone." She said. "I assume he will stay the night, so I ask that you show him the guest room near the right wing."
"Yes ma'am." He said. "I suggest you leave now. Father Leon will not be pleased."
"I'm leaving. Thanks Claudius." Then she walked toward the door and waved goodbye to the two men.
"Sorry that I am late." Raven said as she sat down in the chair next to two of the monks.
"It is not wise to be late my dear Raven." Father Leon said.
"At least I am here." She said. "Now why have you called on this urgent meeting?"
"I am glad you have asked." Leon said. He stood up from his chair. Leon was an older man but he still had some youth in him. The other monks were the same way.
"I am glad that you have all come. This meeting has concerned about the stranger that has entered Azarath." Leon said and Raven immediately took part.
"The guards state that he is a man with a strange appearance." Father Muso said.
"Let me guess, he's tall, green, has a snagal tooth, and pointed ears?" She asked.
"You are correct Dido. You must have seen this mysterious man." Muso asked.
"Yes. His name is Garfield Logan and he is an old friend from my previous dimension. He has found a way to transport himself here for a visit." She explained. The monks nodded.
"How did he get there?" Father Rock asked.
"He was able to figure it on his own surprisingly." She said and they believed her.
"So are we to be concerned for him? He could be endangering the people and even us." Father Vladimir said.
"He wouldn't hurt a fly. I assure you." She said but that did not convince Vladimir. However, it convinced the other five monks.
"Then I propose we welcome him as a guest in the monastery." Leon stated. "We should have a feast to welcome him." The monks agreed but Vladimir.
"Why should we welcome him? Does he not resemble a beast as the guards have described?" Vladimir objected. "Why does he get welcome arms? When my sister visited from Garthmuth, we didn't welcome her."
"That's because she's more of a beast than Garfield is." Raven chucked.
"Don't say such things Dido Raven." Leon said, "You are queen of Azarath and that is no way to speak ill of someone's sibling. Even if they look like a beast." Raven smiled. Raven respected Father Leon the most out of all the six monks. He and Mother Azar were the ones to aid in taking care of Raven. He was very kind to her. The least favorite monk was unsurprisingly, Vladimir. Vlad was intolerant of Raven. When she was returned to Azarath and was claimed Queen, Vlad was the one to oppose it. He did not like Raven because she was a half-breed and he believed in royal blood. Raven would be nice, but they both agreed to disagree.
"I apologize." She said.
"Now, let us go welcome our guest." Leon claimed.
"This is the guest room that you will sleep for the night." Claudius said as he opened the door. Garfield had seen this room as Raven and him on a tour and was happy he got a giant room with many luxuries.
"Thanks Claudius, nice digs." Garfield said and he plopped on the bed. Garfield looked at Claudius and he had a confused look on his face.
"Come again?"he asked
"I'm sorry." Garfield apologized. "I meant the room is nice." Claudius made a brief 'oh' sound and he sat on the chair across the room.
"Hey Claudius." Garfield said. Claudius responded to his name. "In your perspective how is Raven as queen?"
"I could not imagine a better queen for Azarath since mother Azar than Raven." He explained. "She has greatly influence Azarath and its people. Unlike the monks, her whole mission is to help the Azarathians. Many Azarathians approve of her. However, there are some anti-demon members out there. But Raven pays them no mind."
"That sounds just like her." Garfield said.
"Most true. She is very selfless as she cares for the concerns of others more than her own, She is also kind to the staff here. She has especially shown me and my wife great kindness." Claudius said.
"How so?" Garfield asked.
"Several years ago, my wife and I had our first child together. When he was born, he had serious complications and had to special operations and attention. We could not afford for our son's medical bills. The medical clinic here had refused us because of our financial situation. One day, Raven heard about our son and quickly contacted us. She was the head of the medical units in Azarath. She could not help us pay for the bills, but she claimed that she could help our son by healing him." He explained. "We thought it through but our son was on the brink of death and we had to act immediately. I brought my son over and Raven had a healing session that took an hour and a half. She was drained emotionally and physically after the healing. Our son stayed in the healing room for another 24 hours. When we returned to find our son, we were astonished. He looked healthier. Before, other doctors gave our son less than a year to live. And now,"
He pulled out a picture from his pocket and showed it to Garfield. The picture was of a little boy smiling and laughing while he was perched on Claudius' back.
"That is what he looks like now. He will soon be starting school. We only have to visit Raven with another healing session every other year. But we like to bring him to Raven so she could see him often."
"What is your son's name?" Garfield asked.
"Darren." Claudius said, "Raven has even given us an apartment that is the basement. The staff do not live here, but she gave us an apartment for our family. All we have to do is serve under her. It is a great pleasure working with her. The monks treat us as servants, but Dido Raven treats us equal as her own. My wife, Odzola, is the closest servant she has. I respect Dido Raven very much and I would protect her."
"Wow. She really did that. But I'm not surprised, she has always been that way." Garfield said.
"Indeed." Claudius said. Soon, the door opened revealing Raven.
"Hey, the monks have scheduled a feast for Garfield as our guest. Claudius, may you give him a proper Azarathian formal attire if you will?"
"Yes ma'am. Would they be located in that closet over there?" He asked.
"Yes." She said. "Dinner is in one hour and I expect that you, Garfield, to be on your best behavior at dinner."
"Yesserie!" Garfield said enthusiastically.
"I will see you in one hour then." She said, "By the way, Claudius, you are expected to come as well. I have invited Odzola and Darren to attend as well. So I expect some nice attire as well and not your servant attire like last time."
"Yes Dido. I will" Claudius said and Raven exited the room.
