/ingrid_last_dinner/set?id=200922754
I lead our dysfunctional little family and Hans to an older part of the castle. Plans had been made and my generals, Hans, and myself, would be leading the soldiers to the chateau to prepare for battle. Elsai and Kristoff thought that they were going too, but I wasn't about to let that happen.
I took them to the old dining room. It was falling into disrepair, butt it was still useable. The flowers were dead, the table cloth and rug were frayed, the floor was splintering, and the wallpaper was pealing off of the walls.
Kristoff whistled, "Wow... uh...Loe what you've done with the place..."
I glared at him. "This place hasn't been used or cleaned for that matter, in sixteen years. What did you expect?"
Olaf ran (Waddled) and jumped (Climbed) up into one of the old chairs, grabbing a few of the blossoms from the center piece.
"They still have they're perfume!" He giggled and buried his face in them, causing them to break, "Oh...Um.."
He swept the remains under the table cloth and sat down, looking a way from us.
"What are we doing here anyway?" Anna asked rocking Amora.
"It's a surprise." I sighed.
"Ingrid..."
"Elsai, there's a good chance I might not survive this war. Please, just trust me."
He came over and hugged me tightly. I was engulfed by his intoxicating scent. Spear mint and pine. I took his hand and lead him to the end of the table. I sat down in the chair to he right making him look at me funny.
"What?"
"You're the Queen.. You should sit here." Elsai gestured to the head of the table."
"And you're going to be the king of Arram if I come back or not."
He sighed and sat down reluctantly. "Anna, come over here and sit down."
She didn't move. She was staring at a fading painting on the wall of my father's family.
"That girl..."Hans said walking over to the painting.
"Looks like me."Anna muttered.
Turning in my seat, I saw that they were looking at the little princess, "My Aunt Sarah. She was my father's half sister. The one Aaron killed."
"So that's..." Kristoff pointed to a smiling man.
"My father." I looked down. "To his left is Aaron, then my grandparents."
Aaron was frowning in the picture, a contrast to the rest of the family.
"Even back then he was bitter." Anna said and came over to sit on Elsai's left.
Elsai made a highchair of ice and taking Amora from Anna, placed her in it.
"He didn't like that his mother had an affair. That's what Sarah looks so different. He thought they were both disgraces to the family and Arram as a whole."
Kristoff sat between Olaf and Anna and Hans sat next to me. I snapped my fingers with a fake smile, summoning a maid to bring us drinks. She stood silently at the door and I got up, walking over to her. With a heavy heart, I pulled a small crytal vile that I'd gotten from the apothecary out of my bust. Quickly opening it, I emptied it's continence into three of the five the tray from the maid, I handed out the goblets and raised mine.
"May God grant us victory tomorrow."
The others raised their glasses as well and drank. Instead of drinking mine, I set my glass down and looked at them apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
"Wha...oh..." Anna slowly lost consciousness, slumping over to lean on Kristoff who followed her example soon after.
"Ingrid..."Elsai said, looking at me groggily, "What...have you...done...?"
Hans shot up from the table in surprise as Elsai fell asleep. "What did you do?!"
"What I had to."
"You drugged them?!"
"I had no choice. I can't le them get hurt. Now get Anna. Olaf, come with me."
I picked up Amora and several guards who were waiting outside came in. " Get them. And follow."