'We are gathered here today to commemorate Lady Faryl of Teril Woods and to bless her way into the next life. Lady Faryl, beloved by all and the dear sister of our wise King, was a great lady who lived to do others good. She was neither greedy nor jealous but gave freely and graciously.' The priest continued with the tradition words for the cremation. Roache sat with his uncle and aunt. On his other side sat a very quiet Avarim, unsure of her place in this ceremony, and standing to the side was Raku, ready to receive orders from his master and mistress.
Hardly anyone paid any attention to the priest leading the ceremony. It was a ritual, an annoyance. Lords and ladies were here because of their duty, not because of any sympathy for their king or soon-to-be prince. As the cremation drew to an end, all were required to stand up and pass their blessings to Lady Faryl. Then the lords and ladies rushed out of the chapel, leaving only Roache and their King.
'Well,' the King heaved a great sigh, 'Faryl's been blessed into the next life. She'd have been proud of you, Roache.'
'Yes,' Roache said simply.
'We must prepare for your ceremony tomorrow. Faryl would have wanted it this way.'
'Yes,'
Femo got up, bowed to Faryl again, and walked slowly out of the chapel. Roache followed gradually, at an even slower pace.
'Goodbye mother.' He whispered into the empty room. The sound seemed to echo and the strength of those words lightened the sombre room. It was as if she smiled upon him in return.
--
Avarim walked out of the chapel with Raku following at her heels. She wished to leave the King and Roache in peace.
'Come along, Raku,' she whispered, afraid to disturb the peace and silence in the chapel. As she closed the door of her bedchamber, she spoke, 'Raku, remember the world of spirits and gods?'
'How could I forget, my Lady?' he whispered.
'The Other World, that is its real name, is not just another world. The spirits and gods live there, true, but very few humans are allowed to visit there. You, Raku, are the first human in a hundred years. Humans only ever visit the Other World when they've died and turned into spirits but then they're not humans anymore. They are spirits. That's where Lady Faryl went.'
Raku sat there, awed. Her knowledge of these things never stopped surprising him.
'How do you know of these things, my Lady?'
'Ah, that would be telling,' she said softly, 'I cannot do that, not even for you.'
'But, my Lady, surely you can at least tell me what I'm supposed to do?'
'The journey lies ahead for you, Raku. Fate will decide your way. It is not for me to tell you what you do as part of the journey is finding that out.'
Raku bowed his head in reluctant agreement. The door clicked softly and Roache entered the room. He looked from Avarim's face to Raku's and back to Avarim.
'Was I disturbing something?' He questioned.
'No, not at all.' Avarim's tone was cheerful.
'Raku, may you leave us? I wish to speak to Avarim in private.'
'Certainly, my Lord.' Raku bowed and left. As soon as Roache heard the door click, he rushed to Avarim's side as excited as a young boy.
'My Darling, I have spoken to the King and he has allowed us to get married. We may hold the ceremony a month from now, as is appropriate and I must tell you that from tomorrow onwards the palace is our home. As King-in-Waiting I must remain in the palace unless on political errands.'
Avarim looked worried and asked in an anxious voice, 'Does that mean I cannot go to places?'
'Do you really need to? Who do you need to visit?'
'No, not visit. I need to do my own errands.'
Roache looked confused, 'Cannot the servants do it?'
'No, these are my errands. I must do them.'
'Then I shall come with you!'
'No, you cannot. Your duty requires you here and I might be gone for months at a time. You cannot risk your throne for me.'
'But I cannot lose you.'
'Shush,' she whispered as if to a small child, 'I will be back and I will not die. You will hardly notice I'm gone.'
Roache sighed, 'I'm not going to win this, am I?'
She shook her head slowly.
'Very well. I consent to your leaving but you cannot leave before our marriage.'
Avarim nodded. 'I shall not need to.'
Roache grinned and then said, 'Then you shall meet my uncle. Remember, though, that you are not meeting him as a commoner but as a guest and my intended. Hold your head up high. Although he is the King, he is cheerful and has a great sense of humour.'
'I'll try, my Lord.'
'And none of that. No 'my Lord' or 'sir' or later not 'my Prince'. Just Roache.'
'Of course, my L...I mean Roache'
'Good. Then let's go.' He gestured for Avarim to follow and called for Raku. Together they walked to the great hall, a sign for all the lords and ladies. It was a custom that lords and ladies do not walk together unless they are a relative, married or betrothed. Whispers were heard as they entered the great hall and soon a crowd formed but as the door of the hall closed, the whispers subsided and the crowd gradually drifted away.
King Femo stood up as they entered and bowed unnecessarily to Avarim and Roache. The returned the bow and Raku prostrated himself before them.
'My King,' Avarim greeted, 'It is an honour to be here.'
'The honour is all mine,' Femo said graciously, 'as I am meeting my future princess.'
Avarim blushed and ducked her head. Femo studied her curiously.
'Although you do seem a bit young to be considering marriage, do you not think?'
'My Liege, love does not wait for one to be old; it simply strikes at its pleasure. I am afraid its deadly arrow pierced my heart before I was barely nine. But, my King, I cannot say I am not content. Indeed, I am overjoyed at such a match.' She stared at Roache lovingly.
'Indeed, my dear, you are quite a poet. It is a good skill for a lady to have.'
'Thank you, Sire.' Avarim curtsied and Femo realised that they were still standing.
'Sit, sit. I would not tire my nephew and his betrothed.' They sat together on the seats opposite the King and Avarim gestured for Raku to get up. Raku did so, reluctantly, as he felt safer facing the ground than facing these important people. Avarim was annoyed. She turned to Raku and met his eyes. He read the message very clearly, 'You are important too.'
Raku was awed and astounded. Femo and Roache didn't seem to notice what had happened but Raku could not forget it. She had read his mind. Raku stared at Avarim and then at a sharp glance from the King, he looked down again. He had believed Avarim to be a mortal, incapable of magic, and only knew about the Other World from a brief visit or a talk with the White Virgin. How does she know all this information? These thoughts tortured Raku until he was no longer paying attention to the human world until he was jolted awake by a quick poke from Lord Roache.
'My Lord?' he asked dizzily.
'Are you feeling well, Raku?' Lord Roache was concerned.
'Yes, my Lord. Fine, my Lord.' He voice was wavering and he was swaying dangerously.
'Come rest a white, Raku. You will feel better after some food and sleep.' Avarim's voice was gentle and persuading. He nodded.
'If your majesty will excuse me?' she voiced politely.
Femo nodded his consent and Avarim lead Raku away. He leaned heavily on her shoulder. Avarim briefly stopped to order some food to be brought up to Lord Roache's chambers. As the doors of the bedchambers closed, Avarim gently lay Raku on the large bed provided for Lord Roache. Her voice was sweet and soft, as if cooing a young child. As the food was brought, she laid it out beside the bed, keeping it covered as to not let the heat out. Then she gently closed the door to rejoin the King and Roache.
'My dear, we have missed your company,' Femo greeted as she entered the Great Hall.
'Indeed, my King, I am surprised you noticed me missing at all.'
'But surely you must know how important our future queen is?'
'I do not consider myself a future queen yet, sire, as one who is a future queen must earn her position before all else.'
'Wise, I must admit. You have the makings of a fine queen, my dear.'
'Thank you, my liege.'
Femo turned back to Roache. 'You must know, Roache, that my wife is not as keen on seeing you as I am and she will be even less pleased at your choice of wife.'
'Uncle, I have dealt with My Lady Queen since I was young. She always had a dislike for me. I have learnt to live with it. Genor was always her favourite. Speaking of Genor, where is he? He should have been at my mother's cremation, should he have not?'
Femo looked surprised. 'Why yes, indeed. It is a great disrespect that he was not there thus making him unworthy of the throne. A great king is a wise king, respectful of all people. Genor has been spoilt since birth by my wife but you, Roache, were born to rule. You have true Kiisho blood. Your father would have been proud of you.'
Roache bowed his head. He could never control his emotions at the mention of his father. Years of love, friendship and pride filled the years of his childhood. He was a pole, a steady hand when he was down. He was always there. When he died, Roache felt as if he lost part of himself. If not for Femo, he would have joined him. Sometimes he still wished he did.