Things had been very busy in Ding Dong Dell Castle after The Horned One had been defeated. Peace had been returned to the world, but there were still many reparations to be done, both in the sense of making amends for past actions and in the physical act of restoration.

Those in the castle who had had the souls ripped from their bodies during the Horned One's initial onslaught were slowly getting back on their feet. Ratja and her fellow maids had been working round the clock caring for them and bringing them food and water in addition to carrying out their usual duties. There were many a night that had seen her return to her room to fall into bed thoroughly exhausted from the day's activities and she was looking forward to a return to normality.

Interactions with King Mausinger were confined to fleeting encounters in the entrance hall or exchanges of greetings in the corridors and she missed the days when they had time to talk. Perhaps once things had settled down there would be a return to those days as well.

That evening she returned to the Servant's Station as she always did before turning in. "Finished for the day have you, dearie?" Asked Mrs Tibbs, the Housekeeper.

"Yes, Mrs Tibbs. I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open."

"Poor thing, you look it. You get a nice long rest now, you hear? You've certainly earned it. And tomorrow I've arranged for you to have the day off."

Ratja blinked. "Really? Are you sure about that? With everything that's going on-"

"Now, now, dearie. Didn't you hear what I said? You've earned a nice long rest. I can't have everyone working themselves off their feet. So I've been giving you girls a day off where I can manage. And tomorrow is yours."

"Oh thank you, Mrs Tibbs."

Mrs Tibbs smiled. "You're welcome, dearie. Now off with you. Go on. Get some rest."

"I will. Good night then, Mrs Tibbs."

"Good night, Ratja."

She was passing through the entrance hall when by chance she spotted King Mausinger doing the same. He was walking back to his room, or more accurately trudging back and she almost didn't call out to him. But she had been longing for his company and she didn't know when she would see him next. "Your Majesty," she called out and hurried over.

He stopped and turned and Ratja's heart sank a little because he looked as exhausted as he probably felt. Maybe even more than she did. But upon seeing her, he managed a tired smile. "Good evening, Ratja. It is always a pleasure to see you."

"And you, Your Majesty."

"Are you turning in for the night?"

"Yes, I am. It's been a long day."

"A long day indeed."

The smile slid off her face a little at the exhaustion in those words, and she couldn't help herself when she said, "You look tired, Your Majesty."

A wry look. "Yes. Probably about as tired as I feel. My advisors are, well, advising me to take a day off. They all believe that I have been working myself too hard over the past few weeks."

"Well… I have the day off tomorrow. So I was thinking, if I don't sleep the day away that it would be nice to have a picnic somewhere. Maybe somewhere in the Summerlands, now that the monsters have all returned to normal. I haven't been outside Dell all that much so I… I've been wanting to see more of what it's like."

"I see…" He stroked his goatee before cautiously continuing, "Then… I could… accompany you? If you would like?"

Ratja smiled earnestly. "I would love that, Your Majesty."

He smiled back. "In that case, I look forward to tomorrow. I will inform my advisors of our intended outing in the morning. What time where you planning to head out?"

"I was thinking around lunch time."

"Very good. It is a date then. Meet me here in the entrance hall tomorrow at lunch time."

Ratja's mind came screeching to halt at the words "It is a date then" and she almost didn't hear what he said next, or him bidding her a good night. "Oh! Yes. Um. Good-good night… Your Majesty." The words buzzed around her head as she made her way back to her room. A date? A date? She had a date with King Mausinger!

The following morning, Ratja's eyes fluttered open and she yawned. Cally, a grimalkin maid that she shared her room with had already gone which meant that she must've slept straight through the alarm. Checking the wind up clock revealed that it was a few hours till midday. Late by her standards but not as late as she had feared. She had long missed breakfast at this point, but Mr Coulson, the Cook was not an unkind man, and would happily provide her something to fortify herself until lunch. He was also the man from which she would procure food for her picnic.

Ratja stretched, got up, went to the communal bathroom to clean up and then returned to her room. Since it was her day off that also meant that was permitted to put on her civilian clothes. Mindful of the fact that Mausinger had called the picnic a date, she pulled out all the clothes she owned from the wardrobe she shared with Cally and laid them out on her bed. During her service as maid, she had been able to purchase a few nicer outfits to replace ones she had had for several years. Her favourite colours were yellows and oranges but she also had a dress in a spring green with a floral patterned trim in multiple colours. The more she looked at it, the more she thought it was perfect for the occasion.

After putting it on, she headed down to the kitchen. She could smell the food being cooked from down the hall and her stomach angrily reminded her that she was starving. One of the kitchen maids looked up when she entered, and smiled. "Hello, Ratja. Day off for you I see. Nice dress by the way, looks lovely."

Ratja beamed. "Thank you, Katie. Is Mr Coulson around by any chance?"

"Where else would he be?"

Ratja found Mr Coulson, a dark-skinned humanfolk man with dark hair in his usual place in the kitchen; The cooking area. He was running around checking on and tending to various pastries currently being prepared ahead of lunch. "Good morning, Mr Coulson."

Mr Coulson paused in his duties and turned to face her. "Ah, Ratja. Good morning. Leftovers are in the usual place."

"Thank you, Mr Coulson. I was also hoping to collect some food for a picnic but I'll need enough for two."

"Oh? Who's your guest?"

"It's um… it's King Mausinger."

Mr Coulson replied with an. "Oooooh. I seeee." That had her burying her burning face in her hands. He chuckled. "I jest, but it's good to hear. It'll do His Majesty some good to get out of the castle and unwind for the day. Especially with today's weather; It's a good day for a picnic."

"That's a relief."

"Though I would bring a shawl." Then he raised his eyebrows. "And speaking of the King…"

Ratja blinked and then turned. Striding towards them was Mausinger. He looked tired still, but not the exhausted of last night. He smiled. "Good morning, Ratja. Mr Coulson."

"Good morning, Your Majesty," they chorused.

"It would appear that my advisors have decided to allow me to sleep in this morning, as I assure you that I do not usually get up this late."

"If it's any consolation, Your Majesty, I've just got up myself."

"A small consolation perhaps, I am afraid the fog of sleep is still upon me. You on the other hand appear to be well rested."

"I do feel well rested but then, you have been under a lot of stress of late."

"I suppose that is true."

"Why don't the two of you go find somewhere to sit," Mr Coulson suggested. "I'll send someone over with food and tea."

"Thank you, Mr Coulson, that is very kind."

They were just about finishing their meal when Mr Coulson set two picnic baskets down on the table beside them. "Here you are, Ratja. Food for two as requested. And I hope the both of you enjoy your picnic."

"Thank you, Mr Coulson, we plan to," Mausinger replied.

"Good day, Your Majesty. Ratja."

"Good day," they chorused.

When the Cook had left, Mausinger set down his teacup. He was looking more alert after eating and the application of a cup of tea. "Since we are both here, Ratja, I was thinking that perhaps it would be best to set off sooner rather than later."

"We should. It will give us more time to find a good picnic spot."

After a kitchen maid had collected their used dishes and cutlery, they grabbed their picnic baskets and left the kitchen.

When they had reached the entrance hall, Ratja turned to him. "Before we head out, Mr Coulson recommended I bring my shawl."

"Of course. I will wait for you here." As she went to fetch her shawl, Mausinger spoke to the guards guarding the doorway to Dell Castle asking them to inform his advisors that he would be leaving Dell for the day and would be returning sometime in the late afternoon or early evening. She returned dressed in her shawl and bonnet, and had also packed a pair of gloves into her basket just in case. He smiled. "Are we ready to depart?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He held out an arm and she smiled as she took it. "Then let us be off."

As they walked through the city arm in arm, Ratja took in the sight. She couldn't believe how much had changed since Ding Dong Dell had joined the union. Mousekind, humanfolk and grimalkin stood in the streets, talking and laughing and the children played together, no longer segregated. The atmosphere was much improved, even better than it had been before the coup. But the road to peace was far from travelled. Even if the grimalkin greeted Mausinger politely, she couldn't help but notice the way some of them would stiffen briefly the moment they sighted him. And judging from the dip in his smile he had noticed it too. But she couldn't really blame them for their reaction even though once upon a time, that used to be her whenever a grimalkin soldier walked by.

The soldiers guarding the gates to Dell bowed as they passed. "Safe travels, Your Majesty."

Once they'd passed through the gates, Mausinger stopped and turned to her. "Well, Ratja. Where would you like to go now? Left, right or straight on?"

Ratja frowned in deep thought. "I don't suppose you might know of any good places to go to?"

"Hmm. Let me think." He stroked his goatee in thought. "Evan made mention of a place called Hideaway Hollow. It was where he hid after… after…" He trailed off and she squeezed his hand. He smiled wryly before continuing. "I have yet to visit the place myself, but Evan tells me it provides a good view of Ding Dong Dell."

"How far is it?"

"It is a way south of here, so the walk there will take some time. Alternatively we could follow the river north."

"Let's follow the river north!" she blurted out and he blinked in surprise. Then she smiled gently. "I don't think you're ready for Hideaway Hollow just yet, Your Majesty."

Mausinger dropped his gaze and mumbled. "Y-yes… perhaps… perhaps not."

She took his arm and they began following the river north. "It's so lovely out here."

"Yes, especially now that the world is no longer ending. Although I cannot say I have had the time to enjoy it."

"Are things going well?"

"Well they are… going…"

"I suppose we all still have a long road ahead of us, don't we?"

"We do indeed. But it is a road worth walking and walk it I shall, even if it should take me till the end of my days."

Ratja gripped his hand as she said. "But you won't have to walk that road alone, Your Majesty. Because I will be walking it with you."

Masuinger stopped and turned to face at that. "You have… you have stood by me faithfully for so long that I could not imagine a life without you in it, Ratja. I am… I am glad that you are still with me."

She smiled at him, fondly. "Always, Your Majesty."

He smiled back and they continued on.

"I cannot believe we missed dinner!" Mausinger exclaimed as they jogged back to the castle, hand in hand, their now empty baskets slung over their shoulders. Ratja ran beside him giggling like a small child. "It is not funny, Ratja, I am starving!"

"So am I, Your Majesty. But you were the one getting distracted by every little thing."

"I was not!" He objected indignantly.

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was no-! You were just distracted as I was, Ratja!"

"Can you blame me? I've hardly been outside Ding Dong Dell at all."

"Well nor have I!"

They reported to the kitchen and Mr Coulson folded his arms at them. "And what time do you call this?"

"Our apologies, Mr Coulson but we were both… delayed," Mausinger replied before squinting at him in realisation. "Not that I have explain myself to you."

He smiled. "I jest, Your Majesty. It sounds like you both had a good time, which is all that we could've asked for."

"You are… you are too kind."

"We also saved you dinner so, please take a seat and I will have it served up."

"Thank you, Mr Coulson," they chorused.

After they had finished their late dinner, Mausinger stood and pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. "As much as I am loathe to part from your company so soon, I must find my advisors so I can learn of the day's events while we were away."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Did you enjoy yourself today, Ratja, because I certainly did?"

"I did, Your Majesty."

"Good. I am glad. And I will probably not see you again tonight, in which case." He took her hand and kissed it. "Good night, Ratja."

"Good night… Your Majesty." He smiled and then he was gone. And Ratja cupped her face and squeed.