As he watched, Crown-Prince Alaraec Renseleaus couldn't help but being slightly bored. He knew it would be boring, but did the Petitioners Court really need to discuss paltry matters such as glowglobes? Shouldn't the affairs of a certain county be brought to their lord or lady? The blonde ran a hand around the silver embroidery on his right cuff, trying to decide whether he should comment. He decided against it, not wanting to hear another lecture from his mother later. He knew his mother only did it because of how life was when she grew up, away from Athanarel, but she should know by now that he didn't need her lectures about not interrupting petitioners. She thought, rightly and Alaraec knew it, that each and every petitioner should be able to say what they wish. But really, did they need to listen to mindless petitioners such as this one?
As he sat on the cushion beside his mother, Meliara, queen of Remalna, wife of Vidanric Renseleaus, mother of Alaraec, Elestra, and Oria, heroine of Remalna, and mother-in-law to the nephew of the tyrant who she helped bring down. As he thought all of this about his mother, the gray-eyed man turned to look at his sister and her new husband. The two had only married several days ago, against Meliara's wishes. But since when had Elestra ever been ordinary? Unlike Alaraec and their sister Oria, she wasn't pale in features, following after their father, who Alaraec looked exactly like. She barely even followed after their mother. Her hair was different; her face was different, life! Even her emotions were different than everyone else in the family. And she thought of people in other lights than everyone else in the family. For goodness sakes, she had married the man who had nearly killed their mother! But as he looked at Lord Flauvic Merindar and his wife Elestra, Alaraec couldn't help but smile, to himself of course. His mother told him quite often he needed to put down his court mask occasionally. But the two truly did look happy. And he was glad for them; but now Vidanric and Meliara were on Alaraec's back. And as much as he loved his father and mother, he did not need to hear how he needed to wed sooner or later. He was happy with being a free spirit, and if when the time comes, he may as well have an arranged marriage, even if he didn't want one. He knew that he would never fall in love so what would be the point of trying to. No… An arranged marriage was fine with Alaraec.
The blonde prince let out a small sigh of relief as the petitioner left. His father was about to announce the end of Petitioners Court for the day when suddenly, the doors burst open and in walked a man who looked about the Prince's age. But there was one difference that caught Alaraec's eye immediately. The man looked as if he had been running for days; by the looks of the way he collapsed in exhaustion at the foot of the long table separating him and the King and Queen, Alaraec wasn't sure the man hadn't been walking for days.
A blonde maid looked over her shoulder as she spotted the man pass out in front of the King and Queen; she silently nudged the brunette beside her with her elbow and nodded her head in the direction of the man. "Who do you think he is?" she said in a low whisper. "Did the Lady Elestra mention any news to anyone while you were in the room?" The brunette said nothing for a moment, and then quickly denied that she had heard any new of anyone, near-death or otherwise, from the Princess. Any information she did know about the man, the green-eyed maid would say nothing of to anyone until it was the right time. She continued to place the food out for the courtiers and the petitioners, as she had been asked to do. It wasn't her usual job, no, she was Princess Elestra, recent bride to Lord Flauvic Merindar, maid. But ever since a string of illness had fallen upon Athanarel's servants, anyone who was open was forced to work during Petitioners Court. And most didn't mind, only because they were interested in politics.
And this servant was more interested in than most, for one reason that only she would know. A reason that she had planned on keeping secret her whole life. But the collapsed man changed everything she had ever planned since five winters ago when she had first arrived at Athanarel and became Elestra's maid. The brunette took one last look at the dark man, who was currently being aided by two stewards, and then shook her head softly. A brown curl fell out of the bun that she wore it in and Ria reached up with her work worn hand and pushed it out of her green eyes. She saw the Prince motion for a refill for his wine and she quickly picked up the silver pitcher to serve him, she knew she needed to get closer to the table to hear why someone from her past had shown up at the Petitioners Court.
She was halfway to Alaraec when the black haired man finally spoke after taking a deep breath. He spoke with an accent, an accent that Ria often seemed to have for a split second but one that she brushed away moments later. "The Steward of the Kilal principality is marching on Remalna-City. I am from the town of Appren in Kilal and was chosen to deliver the news personally to Your Majesties. We have been trapped in Kilal for nearly five years," he looked up at Meliara and Vidanric and realized they had no idea what principality he was talking about. "We are forgotten, then. " He didn't question it. He merely stated it with sadness in his voice. "Just as she assured me we would." And then he passed out.
It was only then that Ria dropped the silver pitcher in her hand, spilling the contents all over the marble floor.
A/N: I know it's short. But I have a good idea for a plot (if I ever get around to writing it all up), so some short chapters are needed. Come to think of it, I bet most of them will be this short. The more reviews I get, the more compelled I am to write, so if you want me to finish this sooner, review!