Her Serene Highness Dr. Emilia Prescotti, Her Serene Highness, Deputy Regent Elena Prescotti, Dr. Lauren Lewis, Dr. Savina Yordanka, Popawi Grays and the Response Team, were greeted to thunderous applause by the thousands of Fae and the odd human gathered within the Grand Atrium of the Presidium after they stepped out of the transvortex. It had been three weeks since the solution to the soil contamination was discovered. Officially, the news was antiseptic: that a solution was found and it would be administered throughout the Realm as a safety precaution. No mention of a grand conspiracy as its true impetus. Their Majesties were present along with the rest of the Ruling children, Regent Saladin, extended family, Bo, Dyson and Presidium staff.
After the Response Team had stepped through the transvortex, Savina's eyes went wide. Not only by the sheer size of the place but of the thousands upon thousands of well-wishers who greeted them.
"Breathe." Lauren whispered to Savina.
"I can barely. This place is…is…astounding!" Savina replied in a low voice.
"Well done!" The Queen greeted to extended courtesies and another round of thunderous applause. After the second round of applause Bo walked up to Lauren and greeted her with a kiss.
"Hello!" Bo said softly.
"Hello!" Lauren replied then asked, "The children still with Trick and Eva in Ravenglass?"
"For another few days. They're enjoying themselves, but they miss you, though." Bo replied.
"I miss them." Lauren replied then leaned slightly over. "Hello Dyson!"
"Dr. Lewis! Tamsin and everyone back home send their love!" Dyson replied.
"We received word that you did not want a large Reception right away." The Queen Consort said.
"Everyone is quite spent, Your Majesty." Elena replied.
"Completely understand. However, we did arrange a small reception within our private apartments to welcome you home." The Queen Consort said.
"And what Helen means by a small reception is 1,500 guests." The Queen clarified.
"We couldn't do otherwise. We shall plan something more formal later." The Queen Consort added.
"Thank you, Your Majesties." Elena replied.
"You must be Dr. Savina Yordanka?" The Queen asked as she looked straight at Savina. Lauren thought Savina might faint when The Queen addressed her. Instead, Savina curtsied low again. Their Majesties smiled.
"Once is fine, Dr. Yordanka." The Queen said.
"You are The Queen." Savina said in awe.
"Yes I am." The Queen replied.
"The Queen of all Fae. Everywhere. Anywhere. On any Plane." Savina said still in awe. The Queen smiled.
"This is my wife Helen, The Queen Consort." The Queen introduced.
"Welcome to the Presidium, Dr. Yordanka!" The Queen Consort greeted.
"Thank you, Your Majesties! This place is…oh my!" Savina stuttered in awe. Their Majesties smiled.
"You're Fae as I understand it?" The Queen prompted.
"Yes, Your Majesty. A Necromancer." Savina replied.
"Both my daughter Rimma and my sister Nehanda over here are both Sorceresses. You would a lot in common." The Queen said as she pointed behind her. Savina bowed her head in their direction in acknowledgement.
"Well, we should move along to the small reception, that is, after you all visit the Sanctuary and make your customary offerings." The Queen then looked specifically at Lauren. "That includes you as well, Dr. Lewis."
"Me, Your Majesty?" Lauren looked surprised.
"You are the Companion to The Princess Royal. It's expected of you." The Queen Consort reminded. "Dr. Yordanka, you are more than welcome to join them as they make their offerings."
"Is this church?" Savina asked Lauren with a side whisper.
"Of a variation." Lauren answered.
"Your Majesties, thank you for the lovely invitation, but I don't really do…Sanctuaries." Savina answered.
"Our son, Jock, here is an Adherent of the Sanctuary. He would be more than willing to serve as an observational guide as they make their offerings." The Queen said.
Lauren could see Savina was quickly struck at the handsomeness of Jock Prescotti.
"I would be honored to escort you along." His Serene Highness Jock said as he stepped forward and extended his arm. Savina threw a smile back at Lauren.
"Guess I'm going to church." Savina whispered back at Lauren as she took his arm and he guided her away. Another one bites the dust to the Prescotti charm thought Lauren.
"We shall see you all shortly, then. Again, Welcome home and well done!" The Queen concluded to thunderous applause.
Their Majesties turned and departed the Great Atrium followed by family, friends and staff. Lauren turned to Bo and Dyson. Elena decided to hang back.
"Not that I expected her to be here, but I didn't see Evony?" Lauren asked.
"She's in Lacommande with her family right now." Bo replied.
"I see. Coming with us to the Sanctuary, Dyson?" Lauren asked.
"Nope. Meetings galore to attend." Dyson replied.
"Uh huh." Lauren skeptically replied.
"Welcome back, Doctor." Dyson replied as gave both Bo and Lauren a quick arm squeeze and then left.
"Ready?" Elena prompted to Bo and Lauren.
"May I join you?" A soft, feminine voice said behind them. Bo, Lauren and Elena turned around to see a beautiful, five foot, ten inch, lean woman with dark brown hair, and blue eyes had stood behind them.
"Claire." Elena greeted. Claire curtsied to Bo and Elena and then offered a slight nod to Lauren.
"Your Royal Highness. Your Serene Highness. And you are the famed Dr. Lauren Lewis." Claire said.
"I am at a disadvantage." Lauren said unsure of the situation.
"This is Claire Heatherington." Elena introduced. "She's the daughter of Jonty and Lavina Heatherington, old friends of my parents. And my former…"
"We were nearly engaged." Claire finished. Bo and Lauren couldn't help the surprise looks they gave Elena.
"Well! Nice to meet you!" Bo stumbled.
"I can see the knowledge of me is quite the surprise." Claire replied as she looked at Elena.
"Well, we haven't been at the Presidium that long." Bo replied.
"And things have been so busy since we've been here." Lauren added.
"And yet, nearly six weeks in Ashal and never once did my name come up?" Claire fished.
"Really, really busy, you know, with a soil contamination wreaking havoc on the Homelands and all." Lauren replied with a glint of humor.
"It doesn't surprise me she hasn't mentioned me. Between the Sanctuary and 'Unto Victory, Unto Glory, Unto Death' I really couldn't compete."
"Claire!" Elena cautioned.
"It's all quite true." Claire replied.
"Claire! Not here." Elena cautioned again.
"You're right. I'm here to see if I could join you as you make your customary offerings, at least?" Claire asked. "After all, I am an Acolyte."
"May I join you as well?" came another voice behind them and they all turned.
"Vargo Sartorious! How lovely to see you again!" Claire greeted.
"Claire Heatherington. Lovely as always." Vargo replied as they exchanged kisses on the cheeks, and Vargo bowed before Bo and Elena. "Your Royal Highness. Your Serene Highness. Dr. Lewis."
"You're the Captain of the Jackal Riders, am I right?" Bo queried.
"Correct, Your Royal Highness." Vargo replied.
"Great game against the Iron Hordes." Bo complimented.
"Glad you liked it. Thinking about playing, Your Royal Highness?" Vargo asked.
"Thinking about it." Bo replied.
"Really?" Lauren asked in surprise.
"Gotta figure out something for me and Antony to have in common." Bo replied.
"Yeah, but can't you find something less violent? Like cooking?" Lauren said then realized she was in the presence of two Juggerbol Captains. "Sorry! Still getting use to the…ferocity of the game."
"That's an accurate way to describe it." Claire replied.
"Do you mind if I join you on your visit to the Sanctuary?" Vargo asked. "I can then escort you to the Reception afterwards."
"Really?" Elena said surprised. Vargo looked at her slightly perplexed.
"The Queen Consort extended an invitation to the Reception." Vargo informed.
"As she did with me." Claire added.
"Really?" Elena said again surprised then whispered to Bo and Lauren. "I am going to so kill my Mother." Bo and Lauren both chuckled.
"Elena!" Antony's voice boomed 100 feet away.
"What?" Elena yelled back.
"You have half the Presidium waiting!" Antony yelled.
"Shall we move along? Nothing worse than His Serene Highness shouting about!" Claire said. Elena went ahead while Claire and Vargo followed behind her.
Bo and Lauren were about to follow when a voice called out behind them.
"Your Royal Highness! Dr. Lewis!"
Bo and Lauren turned to find someone running up to them. Bas Kadine and Bas Cibor stepped into the stranger's path which quickly stopped him as he looked warily at them both.
"Your Royal Highness! Dr. Lewis!" The stranger said as he quickly bowed.
"Yes?" Bo prompted.
"You don't remember me, do you? No, of course, you wouldn't. How could you?" The stranger admonished himself.
"I'm sorry. Did we meet before?" Bo asked.
"In a manner of speaking, yes, Your Royal Highness. At the Dal Riata." The stranger replied.
"At the Dal?" Lauren asked.
"Yes. You and Her Royal Highness were introduced to me once by His Excellency, Rana McCorrigan." The stranger replied.
"Not recently was it?" Lauren asked.
"No. It was some time ago. When Her Royal Highness was going through her Dawning." Lauren's eyes narrowed and the suddenly opened.
"You're the Orge that had failed their Dawning and turned UnderFae!" Lauren pieced together.
"Bingo! But as you can see, no longer an UnderFae." The stranger replied.
"What happened. I mean, how? Sorry! I don't mean to sound insensitive, but you look great!" Lauren asked.
"No worries Doctor. The Monadori Sanctuary saved my life. Through their programs. Atticus enrolled me the minute I arrived here at the Presidium." The stranger replied.
"What's your name, by the way?" Lauren asked.
"Mank."
"Mank what?" Lauren asked.
"Just Mank. We Ogres are not complicated when it comes to names."
"What are you doing now?" Bo asked.
"Returning to the Human plane shortly. I'm helping Atticus with his emigration efforts with the UnderFae. You may have heard the Brazenwood community went missing? No one knows where they're at still so I've been tasked to work with Julia Jenkins Investigations to help find them." Mank replied.
"You would be great for that." Bo said.
"Yeah, provided the Sheriff doesn't shoot me on sight first." Mank replied.
"Had a run-in with him too?" Bo asked.
"His reputation is well-known that's all." Mank replied.
"That it is. Well, we better get going before Antony starts shouting for us too." Bo said.
"Oh, yes. I shouldn't keep you. Thank you for stopping to speak with me. Your Royal Highness. Dr. Lewis. Hope to seen you again sometime." Mank said as he bowed.
"Same to you." Bo and Lauren replied together and then watched Mank as he left.
"Brazenwood." Bo said concerned.
"I'm sure they'll find everyone." Lauren assured as she gripped Bo's hand. Bo smiled as they turned and joined the others headed for the Monadori Sanctuary.
Several hours later, after attending Sanctuary and after the small Reception Bo and Lauren entered their private chambers and Lauren took Bo and pushed her up against the nearest wall and kissed her passionately..
"God, I've been wanting you since the moment we returned!" Lauren said when they broke their kiss.
"Boy! You really did miss me!" Bo said.
"You have no idea." Lauren replied as she took Bo in for a deep kiss as they fell to the floor.
The morning sunshine found Bo and Lauren cuddled naked under a light blanket on one of the outside patio couches. Bo kissed Lauren on top of her head after she felt Lauren stir.
"Good morning sunshine." Bo greeted.
"Good morning." Lauren replied.
"It feels so good to hold you again."
"Ditto!" Lauren replied then thought of something and sat up.
"We should call the children and check in on them."
"I was waiting for you." Bo replied. Lauren looked at Bo intently.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"We can do that later." Lauren replied then rolled up on top of Bo and took her in for a deep kiss, but they were soon interrupted by the Seneschal.
"Your Royal Highness? Milady?"
"Yes?" Bo prompted.
"There's a call on the comms for you from Her Serene Highness Elena." The Seneschal reported. Bo and Lauren exchanged curious looks.
"Give us a minute." Then Bo looked around. "We need robes." The Seneschal extended two arms up with robes in their hands.
"When will I learn?" Bo commented. "Call on!"
"Apologies, but we've had some news from the City of Lacommande." Elena said.
"What is it?" Lauren asked.
"It's Rein Marquis. He's dead." Elena replied.
