Furrowing his brows, Dagda combs through his beard out of a nervous habit. Something isn't right and he's sure that it isn't his imagination.
There should have been more goblins in attendance but he had only seen Griselda and several goblins that he recognized as royal guards and the royal stewards. He was sure that several elders had expressed their desire to attend a Light Field wedding yesterday. It was why Plum took it upon herself to educate the goblins on how to act during the ceremony.
That was another thing.
Plum should have been here. She swore that she would be and fae like her can't break their promises without consequences. He couldn't even sense her nearby like he always could whenever she attended the events secretly. This time she wasn't anywhere near and he had a feeling that she isn't even in the kingdom at all.
He tried his best to make sure that his daughters didn't notice his worry throughout the ceremony, especially Dawn. His little girl was so distressed over thinking that she had made Plum feel not welcomed over her admittedly childish behavior concerning postponing the wedding these past three months. He had to reassure her multiple times before the ceremonies started that Plum hadn't taken it to heart.
He knows she didn't because Plum couldn't stop giggling over how cute the younger daughter was acting at being denied what she wanted, reminiscing that it was just like the time Nurse Aida washed Dawn's favorite doll and refused to let her have it back until it dried. No, Plum would not miss out on today.
Something is very wrong.
"Dad!" Marianne calls, breaking him out of his musing.
"Huh? Marianne, what's wrong?" Dagda questions.
"I should be asking you that," she comments worriedly. "I called you four times."
"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I was just thinking, that's all," he murmurs.
"About what?" Marianne asks.
"About...where's Griselda going?" Dagda evades, noticing the goblin mother leaving on her dragonfly.
"That's not answering my question. What are you thinking about that caused you to not hear me?" she questions.
"It's just that...it's nothing," he sighs. "I didn't sleep well last night, so my mind is wandering a bit. Now, why did Griselda leave? I thought you were staying for the first part of the Lammas party."
"If you're sure...," Marianne starts, getting a nod. "Well, there seems to be some trouble back home and Griselda went back to deal with it."
"What kind of trouble?" Dagda asks uneasily.
"An envoy from the Placid Swamp arrived shortly after I left to come here," Bog explains, walking closer. "Mother doesn't think it's serious enough to interrupt our duties here, though, so we'll return home when we planned to."
"I know we want you to be here but you don't have to stay if this is interfering with your royal duties," Dagda murmurs.
"We know but Griselda is right, we have two royal duties to fulfill and we shouldn't keep pushing aside our duties to the Light Field over the Dark Forest," Marianne comments.
Griselda told them that?!
Now, he knows something is wrong. Not only is Marianne and Bog handling their royal duties splendidly but the gobliness knew that the third day of Lammas is just one big party. They wouldn't even have had to come to the Light Field today if it wasn't for the wedding.
A quick look towards the Dark Forest royal guards adds to his suspicions. It's obvious to him that the queen mother is worried about something or there wouldn't be the need to add four more guards to the four that accompanied Marianne and Bog here.
"Marianne, Sunny is changing into his new royal clothes, would you please go make sure that Dawn isn't helping? We'll be late to start the party if they don't behave," Dagda hints.
"Meaning, you don't have a real excuse to be a spoilsport, so you want me to do it instead," Marianne teases.
"That's my girl!" Dagda laughs. "And you might as well pick up your weapons now, so you don't have to detour back here on your way home."
"I'll get the weapons, you deal with the new mates," Bog comments, handing Puck back to Marianne.
Dagda keeps the smile on his face as he watches the pair walk back into the palace but silently sends an order for his captains to come to him. Tigler is the first to respond to the telepathic link, dutifully taking the hint for secrecy and sends his family to the festival grounds without him before joining his king's side as he walks toward the Dark Forest royal guards.
"My king?" Tigler questions as the other captains join them.
"I think our friends have something to tell us," Dagda murmurs.
"We were thinking that Queen Marianne would be the first to confront us," Kyanite remarks.
"So Griselda is trying to keep Marianne and Bog out of the Dark Forest," Dagda mutters.
"Just until she finds out what those Placid Swamp scum are up to. We're to keep the king, the queen, and the prince safe at all costs," Romulus states.
"Either Stuff or Thang will return once they've scouted out the situation. Our orders are to keep the royal family here until their return and then to try to...convince Her Majesty to stay here while we accompany the king back," Cynder explains hurriedly with a cringe.
"Little whirlwind won't tolerate that," Tigler laughs, the others joining the mirth.
"You're right," Dagda chuckles. "Just how much trouble is the Placid Swamp? The only thing I've heard Bog say about them is that they won't be open to a trading alliance."
The grunts and growls between the goblins is disconcerting, making the gathered Light Field captains shift uneasily. It must be bad if they're using goblin speech to discuss what to say.
"The goblins of that kingdom are dangerous," Fang finally answers. "They're responsible for a lot of deaths, including the former King of the Dark Forest, the Loch King and his elder son, Prince Fen."
"We were at war with them seven years ago and when we won, the Bog King forced them to sign a treaty," Apatite continues before baring her sharp teeth in a snarl. "It wouldn't be the first time they've broken their word."
"Is there a chance of a renewed war between your kingdoms?" Captain Miles asks, getting a nod. "Sire, I would like to suggest that we also prepare for the possibility of battle. If anything, we know Princess Marianne might not be cooperative because of the danger the Dark Forest is in."
"Agreed but I don't want to raise a panic. We don't even know if there is a danger yet, so each of you take your most trusted fighters and quietly transport any needed weapons to the festival grounds," Dagda orders. "That way we are prepared for whatever news is brought back."
"And the princess?" Captain Henna questions.
"The Dark Forest has the backing of the Light Field, so Marianne should abide by Griselda's plan of keeping her here," Dagda murmurs. "And if not, then I order that whichever of you are closer to her at the time to restrain her!"