It was cold and loud in this room. Even in the warmest of summers Stromgarde found some way to be chill. The Stromic throne room was large. It was where the kings of Stromgarde had been dealing out justice and mercy for thousands of years. Today was no exception, yet Danath couldn't help but be annoyed.
All the people in here wouldn't stop talking over each other. As king Danath had to sit and listen to the bickering and the arguments. Only a year ago had Danath returned to take his throne and revive his nation, but these days he found it more annoying than prestigious.
"Hammerfell is a damned abomination! Why have we not gone in there and destroyed those black blooded feigns!" said an overly loud and billowy noble.
"Aye! Milords and Me King! We should march in force! We should destroy all that oppose us in our own lands!" said a common provost from one of the towns by Thandol Span.
"No! Stromgarde needs no more war! We need peace for the time. Let the Horde keep their camp. We already took back the farm lands they stole. They can stay there and the Forsaken can stay on the other side of Thoradin's wall then we shouldn't need to make war." yelled a militia captain.
Danath hated these meetings. Stromgarde had alway held a moot to decide things. Anybody over sixteen years could come to these meetings and argue their point. Whatever was eventually decided by a vote after a day's worth of arguing then had to be upheld by the court. I don't mind hearing my people…. I only mind this arguing. Let the damn Horde rot who cares if they hold a small camp in our lands. Danath rubbed his temples to help relieve his headache. His fingers brushed the bronze crown on his head. The bronze is cold and heavy on my brow. Will I ever be able to take it off?
"MY LORDS! MY GOOD MEN OF THE COMMONS! MY KING! Listen to me!." Laird Redulf Leder stood then. His brown hair was tied behind him and his beard was neatly trimmed. Redulf had led Stromgarde after Galen's passing and keep the country together. Danath sat up as this man walked to the front of the crowd. "Stromgarde has only known strife this past decade. We were broken. We were weak. We almost bent the knee to a foreign king. We almost bent the knee to the Banshee queen! Yet we endured. As we always have. Now with King Danath's return we are strong once more! Let the Horde keep their fucking village. We will be good men and have mercy on them, but I say this, Should they ever break our treaty… we will root them out and burn their damned home!"
It seemed the entire court started clapping and hollering. Redulf was still highly respected and what he said still had a lot of weight. The men and women in the room called out there acceptance of Redulf's plan. It was time now to put it to offical vote.
"As King Danath of Stromgarde I put this moot to it's end. It's time to vote on what to do about Hammerfell and the Forsaken presence in our country. What say you all?" Asked Danath. As expected most of the men and women yelled in support of Redulf. Only three had other ideas. "It's decided then. We will have peace with Hammerfell and the Forsaken for the time being. If there are no more matters for the moot and court to hear I declare this to be at an end."
Nobody made a move to bring up another topic. Danath nodded to his people and councilors and the room started to empty. Once everybody was out Danath took off the crown and held it as he plopped into the throne. He sighed and closed his eyes. Was it this hard for you too uncle? Or did you love this. The bickering and the strife. Why can't we just have peace?!
"My king, You look tired and quite frankly like shit. Maybe you should get some sleep." Danath opened his eyes to see Redulf smirking at his own joke like an idiot.
"Aye, I probably should. I hate this damned throne." Danath smiled tiredly at his comment. Redulf laughed and stuck out a hand that Danath took. Two of Danath's royal guards followed him and Redulf to Danath's private quarters. Once there the guards took to their duties outside the door as Danath and Redulf went in to share some ale.
"I hope you like our own Stromic ale. I don't have anything else." said Danath as he poured the dark ale into two cups.
"If it'll let me forget this particular moot then I would love whatever you have." stated Redulf with a chuckle. Danath handed Redulf a cup and both took a huge swig. They stayed up for another hour sharing war stories and talking about everything.
Danath found himself waking up in his bed with the sun shining into his eyes. As he bathed and got ready for the day a knock came to his door.
"My King, There is a paladin here to talk to you. He says it's urgent." said one of Danath's guards. Danath sighed and got dressed in some plain yet nice clothes. As Danath walked into the throne room he saw the paladin. He didn't look much like a paladin. The man had ratty blond hair a dirty beard and dented plate. As Danath walked closer he saw the man was missing his left hand.
"My good paladin. I'm King Danath Trollbane. What news do you have for me?" asked Danath. The man turned to Danath and kneeled.
"Your grace. I'm Andarin Lightsblade. I have the whereabouts of a woman that is very important." Andarin stood and smiled. "One Princess Calia Menethil."