The inside of the church at Hagia Sophia had been desecrated by the machinations of the Crusaders who'd had little respect for the building, or the culture and people that had built it. To them, the people of Constantinople were essentially heathens, they were at their throats almost as badly as the Protestants and Catholics of Europe were.
But when a distinctive smell wafted through the early morning air, Eri and Hadiya had gone to investigate. It had been downwind from where they were sleeping and their screaming had woken people up. The inside of the church had indeed seen better days thanks to the pigheadedness and foul behavior of the Crusaders, who had taken to doing awful, foul things within the once-beautiful church.
But now they'd clearly gotten what somebody had felt was their just desserts. It was hard not to find a spot inside that was not baked in blood. Their horrifically torn-apart bodies laid about in chunks, it was nigh impossible to recognize who was who among the men who'd been inside. It appeared as though, not content to simply tear them apart, whomever had finished them off had decided they hadn't suffered enough, and had beaten their faces into a pulpy mass. The crosses were splattered with brain matter, the carpeting was soaked through with blood, one man had been forcibly impaled through the body with a gigantic cross and left to drizzle blood onto the altar below.
Interestingly…a large statue of the Virgin Mary with Jesus was the only thing seemingly untouched, sitting behind the altar, both looking even sadder than before. Perhaps because, right beneath them, laid four women.
"…are those the…those are the prostitutes the men called in!" Eri realized as people whispered and murmured amongst themselves, Solomon the silk shopkeeper looking as pale as his hair as he gripped the top of a pew, gazing at the women lying in a pile not far away. "Oh dear, oh…oh dear, oh dear. Oh sweet Lord, no…"
Hadiya felt absolute disgust. She didn't even believe in the same God Eri did, and even she felt this sort of thing was beyond sacrilegious. She quietly put a hand on Eri's shoulder, pulling her in for as tender a hug as she could muster to comfort Eri as people examined the dead all around, Solomon slowly walking over to the dead women lying in a pile. He knelt down, slightly turning them over so he could see their faces.
…they had none.
"…I think it best we leave this place immediately." He intoned quietly as he glanced up at Eri and Hadiya, and then at the onlookers. "ALL of us. We should leave this place to its proper caretakers who will take the dead and-"
"Those disgusting fucking Catholics should have known not to turn our beautiful Sophia into a den of cess!" Someone furiously roared out as people mutinously murmured and muttered, glancing around at each other. "If they hadn't done that, they wouldn't be dead here in our church!"
"Yeah, whomever did this did us a favor!"
"Their friends will take it out on US." Somebody else argued. "If they don't find the actual killer or killers, they'll just take it out on us until we confess who did it, even if we don't know!"
"We both know who did this." Eri murmured as she and Hadiya made their way out of the church and heading for the docks. The sun was becoming clouded by an increasing quilt of faint silvery grey as Eri finally said what had been filling her head since they'd first stepped into the blood-soaked Hagia Sophia. "I mean, she was the last person to enter that church, I think."
"Nobody else but us knows she went in there." Hadiya reasoned. "Maybe she didn't do it."
"Do you really think that, or do you just want to think that because she killed those Catholic bastards you hate?" Erimentha softly asked as Hadiya flinched a bit, glancing away. "Look, if she did do it, she isn't going to confess it to us. We should just get out of the city. Get away. Go someplace safer, before the hammer of the Catholic Church comes down upon us. They will start punishing everyone else for what's happened here, just to get an answer."
"Alright, alright. Let's take the first boat we can find." Hadiya reasoned, sounding irritated, shaking her head back and forth. "Y'know, I really hate it when you're right."
"Well, I can't be wrong all the time." Eri chuckled a bit as Hadiya found herself smiling despite all that had just happened, the two looking about the docks. "Let us ask around, there must be somebody willing to take us."
"You two are in luck."
They both fairly jumped, Eri cringing a bit as Solomon appeared behind them, a large rucksack and several bags in his hands. "I'm not staying either, and I've paid good money to be on a merchant ship that's delivering goods off to Europe, especially Ireland. There's quite a lot of coin to be made on what's going to become the front lines of a great war. Whispers have reached my ears of a growing malcontent between monsters and humans in the green lands, and I think it wise to get there swiftly." He told the two as Eri bit her lip. Mr. Solomon was perfectly nice, she still didn't know WHY she got such unease speaking to him.
"Would you let us join you, good sir?" Hadiya asked. "We're perfectly willing to work for a spot on that ship."
"If you say you're my employees who help run my business, you can earn a spot on the ship, yes. But I don't think Captain Rogers will mind too much even if you are just stowing away." Solomon confessed. "He's a very fine man. Very easygoing. I think you'll like him quite a lot."
It would take a lot to impress Hadiya, though, Eri thought to herself. She had not had good experiences with sailors. Just as she hadn't had good experiences with spiders. But as it turned out, her concern over it seemed to be misplaced. Mr. Abel Roger's ship was a "Nava", a merchant ship quite commonly used at the time, stocky, belly-like with two large decks, and two large masts, equipped with Latin sails and with a soft blue paint job upon the flag he flew. His hair, like Solomon's, was also white, with a large fringe flopping down over the left side of his face.
His crew were hard at work, moving boxes and bags about on the ship, setting everything up as Hadiya and Eri shook his hand. He was barefooted, wearing soft-colored, rather baggy pants, and a bandanna of blue tied over his head, the same color as his brilliant blue eyes and the blue shirt he wore. His hands were what surprised Eri and Hadiya the most, they were so soft, as soft to the touch and in appearance as his feet.
"You two are more than welcome to stay on my ship." Abel Rogers insisted comfortingly. "We leave in just a hour. You don't mind sharing a bedroom with Solomon? Not much space to sleep left with all the cargo we've got."
"We'll manage. This may be an odd question but…why are your hands so soft?" Hadiya found herself asking as Eri gave Hadiya a look.
"Hadi, really, don't ask that kinda silly thing!" She insisted as she shook her head, but the captain smiled.
"I'd spend hours swimming in the sea or just standing on the beach as the waves rolled in." He confessed. "I found it…soothing. And it made my skin very smooth indeed, like a stone constantly washed over through time." He remarked, turning to gesture for his crew to move a big crate off to the lower deck. "Abel wasn't originally my real name either. It was my christened name after Catholic priests came to our village. But I like it more than my original name, it's less rough." He confessed. "And I look more like an "Abel" anyway." He added, pointing at his face.
"I'm surprised you're not mad at the Catholics for that. A lot of people I met really don't like them at all." Eri confessed as the men struggled to move the gigantic crate. They actually dropped it on the deck, moaning as they had to pick it up again.
"I swear you dropped it on purpose!"
"Did not, it shifted weight on your end, not mine!"
"I thought it moved. Are we moving an animal?"
"Course it didn't friggin' move!"
"The priests were nothing but nice to us. Besides, what we had before wasn't…good." Abel added with a cringe on his face as the last of the preparations finished, and finally the ship began to go out to sea, the wind blowing strongly into the sails as the cry of seagulls filled the air. "Our town worshiped a much more cruel God."
"Really?" Hadiya inquired, sounding rather surprised. "What was their name?"
"You couldn't pronounce it. Only the priests could." Abel said, and his voice, so genial and personable became a bit harder, and more hollow. He suddenly looked a thousand years old as he rested against the bow, glancing out over the waters, and the wind ruffled the fringe out of the way of his left eye, revealing…it was red. He was heterochromatic, with a blue and red eye. "But he did speak to us. And at first I thought it was comforting, for he provided so much for our village, giving to us from the sea. Then I got older, and wiser, and I realized there was something much less comforting than a God who chooses to remain silent."
"What's that?"
"…one that never is." Abel quietly finished, digging his hands slightly into the bow as a dark chill came over Eri and Hadiya, as they realized Abel was staring down, down into the darkest depths of the ocean.
…
…
…
…Elisud was astounded that he was meeting Cu Chulainn. The young man shook the red-haired warrior's hand, the assembled platoons of warriors from all across Europe gathered there in Ireland as Cu Chulainn nodded firmly at each man's hand he shook, but he seemed to smile at Elisud in a way Elisud hadn't truly seen in others.
"Your name?"
"Elisud, sir."
"…let is call you "Eli"!" He remarked with a firm nod. "I think I can expect a lot from you. Now come, come! You have all no doubt had long journeys here. Rest up, then we will meet tomorrow at the dawn for our next offense. King Maecoal has stationed an inordinate amount of Pyropes and other long-distance fighters not far from our location, so set up encampments close to ours. Eli, come with me." The fabled warrior insisted as he put an arm around the young bearded man, and they headed into the depths of the woods as music began to waft out from within.
"Aren't you worried they'll burn down the forest to get at you, sir?" Elisud inquired nervously. "I mean, I'm sure a brilliant military mind like you's already figured out a solution, but still…"
"Not to worry. For one, we made it clear to Maecoal we have Sir Grillersby himself. He wouldn't dare attack the forest to endanger somebody so powerful, and with the cold iron chains on him, he's got no real power. He'd be burnt up in the flames they'd throw at us, so they wouldn't dare try anything." Cu Chulainn reasoned. "And we've got multiple scouting parties with keen arrow eyes watching, hidden at the front of the forest keeping our eyes peeled if they try to send in rescue parties, or somebody to assassinate us."
They finally reached Cu Chulainn's camp, as dozens upon hundreds of men were sitting at tables, passing around food, drink, big barrels of wine and beer set up. Folks cheered and laughed as the twinkling stars bathed their light over them from above, and various men had set up musical instruments, lovely stringed things they strummed away at, others playing with drums, demonstrating how to strike them to their children. Cu Chulainn looked up, seeing his wife approaching as she pointed in the direction of the camp where she and the other women and children stayed, along with the prisoners.
"That damn fire elemental keeps tossing dirty looks at me. Do something about it."
"Do you want me to put more iron chains on him, then?" Cu Chulainn asked.
"Can't you cut out his eyes?"
"I'm not going to cut out his eyes. Don't be silly." Cu Chulainn intoned, shaking his head.
"You cut out that minotaur's eyes a month back!" She reasoned, poking him in the chest. He tried to ignore it.
"Well, he had been cutting off people's legs as they tried to crawl away from him on the battlefield. I thought it was fair." Cu Chulainn reasoned.
"And then you cooked and ate him."
"Well, you told me to do that, you wanted to know if he tasted like beef-" Cu Chulainn reasoned, now sounding rather annoyed and irritated as Eli saw the fierce warrior's wife shove him. HARD. He and Elisud were knocked a few steps back as her voice rose.
"No, you did that on your own, don't lie to me. I'm tired of you blaming me for everything. Now either kill that damn fire elemental or move him somewhere where he won't keep bothering us!" She snapped.
"Alright, I'll have him tied up next to my tent, then." Cu Chulainn reasoned, inwardly gritting his teeth, Elisud feeling him tightening his grip on his shoulder as his wife walked off. "…you know, I think I need to hear some good music." He muttered, bringing Elisud to a table, sitting down by a man with a flute, as he passed Elisud a mug of mead and a plate loaded up with some fine roast and cooked vegetables. "Men, play me my favorite song. The one that lifts my spirits after such, ah…fiery words with my beloved." He remarked as he took his son onto his knee, ruffling his child's very soft red hair. "You'll like this one, Connla!"
"Oh, of course, of course. The usual it is, then." The musicians all nodded amongst themselves, a bit of a sad smile passing over their faces before they began to play, as Cu Chulainn took in a deep breath, and then began to sing before Elisud's eyes!
Well I came into a scolding wife a few short years ago,
And ever since I lead a life of misery and woe!
My wife she is a tyrant, around the room and in!
I should sell her to the devil for a glass or two of gin!
The men all laughed and chuckled, as Cu Chulainn chuckled, ruffling his child Connla's hair some more, his son chuckling a bit, clearly getting into the song as well.
Sure I'll get up and go to work, as mild as any man!
And she'll get up and dress herself and go and have her jam!
I never chance to say a word, it's well I know my due!
She'll follow me with the fire and shovel up and down the room!
And then the music swelled, violins being strummed, flutes wafting loudly through the air, people clapping their hands, stomping their feet to the music as Cu Chulainn picked his child up, twirling around and around with his son.
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
One of the musicians now spoke up, as the men smacked their mead glasses and jugs on the tables in perfect rhythm with the songs, heads bouncing back and forth, and merriment softly drifting through the air as Elisud found a smile creeping over his face.
"When I get up at breakfast time she'll tap me on the head!"
"When I come home at dinner time I'll find her drunk in bed!" Another sang out.
"When I come home at supper time with patience I must stop, cause she drinks what's in the teapot and I must drink the SLOP!"
And then the chorus once again, now even Elisud joining in as little Connla clapped his hands cheerily, his father grinning broadly, the two twirling around a fire as the various monster prisoners were brought over, put by a table of their own for a small bit of food. Grillby glanced at Cu Chulainn, frowning a bit as he turned to Elisud, and he seemed to stiffen. He could tell, he could TELL Eli was a mage. He bit his fiery lip, glancing away even as the music continued, nobody really paying attention to the monstrous prisoners.
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
Cu Chulainn sat back down at the table, patting his son on the shoulder as his kid went off to go play with some of the other children and he, in turn, sipped a big mug of wine, grinning toothily, a bit of the wine dribbling out the side of his mouth as he sang.
Well once I asked me scoldin wife if I could go to bed!
She scarce gave me an hour on the pillow to lay me head,
When like a roarin lion she came bustin down to the door,
She caught me by the middle an threw me naked on the floor!
Clapping, stomping, all of the encapment seemed enraptured with joyous song as Elisud felt a sense of ease and comfort rise in him. Cu Chulainn motioned for Elisud to come over to him, and Elisud blinked a bit in surprise.
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And now as the band played a merry bridge, Cu Chulainn took Eli's hand, laughing as he and Eli danced about the fire, his own burning red hair flopping about as Eli laughed joyously. He was having so much FUN. He'd been scared, truth be told, to meet with the supposed "Demon" himself but Mr. Chulainn was really a nice guy when you actually got to know him.
"C'mon! You give it a try, lad!" Cu Chulainn insisted as they encircled the fire in their dance. "Give us a stanza! Sing your heart out!"
"I'll try, sir. God willing." Eli remarked as he focused, wracking his brain. He spoke/sang as best he could, a bit hesitantly at first.
"Now me and my companions go out to a public place, and she'll search around the neighborhood until she finds my face!" Eli managed to get out, his voice a bit nervous and shaky, but a sense of confidence began to creep in as the second half started. "She'll hoist me up and ridicule before my company saying "You know I'M your master and forever more I'll be"!"
The men all laughed, clapping their hands, Cu Chulainn and Elisud then joining together in the last roaring stanzas of the song, their words drifting up into the glittering starry skies above.
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain!
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again!
The happy joyous laughter of the assembled men and women and kids filled the air as Cu Chulainn passed Eli another drink. "You'll fit in fine here." He told Eli, giving him a nod, heading over to Grillby, taking him by his chains, pulling him along to his tent. He had the fire elemental tied to a tree just across from him as Cu Chulainn raised an eyebrow. "Tell me. Where do you fire elementals come from? Do you get made when one fire lays over another?" He chuckled. "Was there some "real sparks" in your parent's marriage?"
"We are born from the nothingness. Pulled from raw magical power that lingers in the world." Grillby coldly told him. "I existed as but faint flickers of sparks, barely sentient, before I gained this body 10 years ago."
"…so you're as old as my son, then." Cu Chulainn intoned. "…that's a rather sad existence."
"Oh, how kind of you to notice this, demon." Grillby snorted sarcastically. "I don't want any sort of pity from somebody who seems to delight in the pain of my kind."
"I delight in the fight. It isn't much more simple than that." Cu Chulainn said, heading into his tent, sitting down in what passed for his bed as he calmly took in deep, long breaths, and closed his eyes. He breathed in and out, in and out of his nose, as the sounds of everything about him faded. The faint cry of the last bird songs drifted away, the laughing of his friends and comrades dissolving. Grillby's faint, crackling body, all went silent as he was lost in an abyssal blackness of silence and somber stillness.
He slowly opened his eyes, and there he was, looking across fields he'd visited all too often, fields of dark, scarred earth. The stench of the dead lingered in the air as he approached the figure who was waiting for him, ALWAYS waiting for him. The figure turned, nodding as he pointed a large, clawed digit over to the east.
"You have to reinforce the front line with proper shieldmen, or they will easily crash through when the battle comes. It will also begin to rain, the fighting gets muddy and foul. And Prince Asgore will be there again."
"Anyone I know die?" Cu Chulainn asked, as he always did.
"No. But the young mage who has just joined you will see much suffering and pain and anguish. Do him the kindness of insisting he not go to the front lines, no matter what happens. Because he WILL eventually insist on going to the front, his fear for his friends will drive him. He's too kind for his own good." The figure added as the skies grey quilt of clouds began to faintly dissolve, and the figure came into more stark relief.
His eyes, unholy and gleaming green. A spiked tail, taloned feet, sharp, clawed hands. A head, horned and feral and like that of a devil, with sharp fangs, and scaly skin like that of blood. Cu Chulainn stared at his future self, the blessing he had, a blessing of Patience. To be able to see so far ahead through stilling your soul, and being calm and collected on a level few could match was a truly amazing gift. By making himself as the surface of a pond undisturbed, he could know what would come, and prepare appropriately. Sometimes he saw years ahead. Sometimes even decades. Sometimes only mere weeks.
But his future self had never failed him. This gave him comfort.
It didn't comfort him…that his future self looked the way he did.
…but ah well. What could you do?
…
…
…
… "You're SURE they called for me, sir?"
Seiichi was nervous. VERY nervous. The ponytailed young Japanese Buddhist student fearfully glanced around the Shogun Yoriie's beautiful and lovely estate. About a dozen or so other people had been brought into the main yard of the shogun's estate, cherry blossoms blowing soft petals through the air, the wind ruffling through everyone's hair as Seiichi turned to his master. Genku patted him on the shoulder and nodded.
"I was as surprised as you, but yes. The dragons wished to meet not only the shogun and I, but several others. I've no idea what they have in common with us." He confessed, glancing around. "I see a blacksmith from town, an apothecary, a woman who tried to proposition me at that very same apocrypha, they are all quite different. It's confusing to me."
But it wasn't to Seiichi. He knew, he KNEW why they were called there. He could faintly feel it rising off of them, the spark of magic. It was unmistakable. And they, in turn, could feel it coming off of him, looking in his direction before all of them heard it. The unmistakable voice of a dragon, not one, but many, entering the estate.
They all bowed. How could they not? Eyes with pupils that had rings of light around them, scales that glistened like bright jewels, with sharp claws and talons. Rather sinewy bodies, horns like deer or elk, many with ornate designs that twisted and curved about, some having thick whiskers that hung down the sides of their mouths, others more humanoid in appearance but with faintly serpentine faces and the horns remaining, poking out their foreheads, tails trailing behind them. They wore ornate and golden gi with silver writing, and carried themselves with a haughty air as the Shogun bowed before them, as did Master Genku and Seiichi.
"Rise. For now." The first intoned, smoking a big pipe, and faintly blowing wings into the air.
They were big. Taller and larger than any human and even then, Seiichi could feel they were limiting their size just to walk among these "insects", for a distinct air of superiority wafted through their words, acting as an undercurrent.
"You only have this many magic users in your valley?"
"We would call it disappointing but we expect little from humans."
"Yes. Still, some of you may be of use in the coming war."
"War?"
"Do not interrupt." The first dragon said quickly, giving Master Genku a dark look as he quivered and gulped. "We were not finished."
"A war is coming, between humans and monsters. Fought in the green lands to the west, that those of the paler skin call "Ireland". We wish to see it play out."
"NOW…you may speak. Now you may ask us questions." Another one said, a more serpentine one but with an ornate, halo-like horn as he looked the shogun over, the other humans murmuring and whispering quietly amongst themselves.
"Who's side will you be on?"
"Our OWN." The dragons all said at once.
"Whether you get included depends on what you offer to us. If your offer is better than King Maecoal, we'll side with you." The first dragon intoned.
"How do we know you will not just turn on us when we're all tired and worn out from the war and weakened?" The shogun inquired with a frown, stroking over his considerably large, faintly walrus-like mustache.
"You don't." The halo-horned one said with a faint smile. "Isn't that interesting?" He remarked, as the other dragons murmured amongst themselves.
"Heh. Silly little apes."
"Look at them plot and plan."
"Like we're not ten steps ahead of them."
"You know, it's rude to talk behind somebody's back." Seiichi spoke aloud.
The dragons all immediately gazed at him, and they looked astounded. The first one spoke, slowly lowering his pipe.
"…you can speak our language?" He asked.
"I, um…I can talk to animals, sir. All animals."
"…you didn't have to tell us your true power. You could have lied. You're…honest." The dragon seemed astounded. Confused, and yet also…faintly admiring. The dragons murmured and whispered more quietly amongst each other, as Seiichi glanced at his master, then at the dragon who had complimented him, who finally turned to address him, placing a clawed hand on his shoulder. His touch was so…WARM. It was amazing how warm his hand was, and he had an unusual scent, like the smell of the wind on a spring day. "We would like you to act as our eyes and ears. Do you agree to this, human? In exchange, we will provide for your safe trip to the green lands, I will even have one of my own brood join you to the front lines, my eldest himself, who will serve to protect you. Do you agree to this?"
Seiichi bowed his head. "I only want to see any sort of conflict between monsters and humans ended peacefully, sir. If there's even the slightest chance I could use my powers to bring that about, I'll take it, no matter how slim it is."
"You adhere to the Buddha's teachings well." Master Genku complimented as the dragons all nodded at once.
"We will leave tomorrow. My son will be by your temple to escort you. Pack your things." Intoned the dragon that rested his hand upon Seiichi's shoulder. "I think I can expect a great many things from you, human. You may actually end up surprising me. You've a low bar to clear, but…still." He added with a small smile.
Meanwhile, many, many miles away, poor "Prince Tobias" was not having a good time of it. He was currently pacing back and forth in his bedroom, now a lord of the land, in charge of huge swathes of fine countryside and an enormous town that depended on him and his sage wisdom. He bit his lip, finally putting the crown atop his head down on a nearby desk, and going to the window nearby. Toriel. He needed help from Toriel, she always knew what to do.
He opened up the window, looking out at the expanse before him, as the soft sunlight began to filter down over the town. People were beginning to assemble in front of what was now his castle, they wanted to make requests, and there was only so much room in the main hall. Much of the castle was still being rebuilt, it was lucky this room hadn't been burnt down by that fire.
That fire. Tobias cringed as he thought about it. People wanted answers. There weren't really any witnesses to the fire, but there was somebody being blamed. Pyrope and his family were the obvious suspects. After all, they had a habit of bumping into things and setting them on fire, and now…
Before, monsters and humans had gotten on pretty well, all things considered. There had been a faint nervousness underlying how everyone interacted with each other, somewhat rising up every now and then in tiny little aggression.
"Oh, you're very skilled for a monster."
"I had no idea you people could do that."
"Could I feel your fur?"
"You ain't half bad for a human."
"As far as humans go, you're okay."
Nothing really too serious beyond somewhat insulting words, but now…now humans and monsters were eyeing each other with more distrust.
Tobias was determined not to add to that. He had a plan, and he was sure Toriel could help as he reached for his desk and began to write furiously with ink and quill. "Toriel, I want you to meet with the court mage in secret. Mr. Bloke will be in the apple orchard with his sons tonight, they will be practicing their blue magic, one of the few things Mr. Bloke can still use since he was once human until his untimely and fiery demise. Tell him I told you to meet him there, and I want to investigate the great fire. I intend to gather evidence here in the castle with him, and she can take his sons, and discreetly ask around town if anyone knows anything. I want to get to the bottom of all this. I'll also be asking the public for any help, from any source. I don't want our home tearing itself apart, monster versus human. Please write me back as quickly as possible. I could really use your help."
He finished his letter, and then attached the note to the leg of his messenger pigeon, Orestes, in the golden cage it laid in. He helped the pigeon out, and patted its head. He had trained it to find Toriel, and now it would deliver his letter as swift as it could. But first thing's first, before he could hear what she had to say, he had to hear what his people had to say.
They had a LOT to say.
"Our taxes are too high, sir, we monsters have always had to pay a little too much, especially when compared to less…shall we say, furry citizens?"
"I'm telling you, my neighbor has underpaid me for field work!"
"Can you please do something about the bandits on the west riverbank entrance to the forest that connects to the town?"
"We'd like a permit, sir, to build an addition to the tavern."
"Do you think you could do something about the cobblestone paths on Main Street, they need repair work?"
"My lord, we are concerned King Maecoal could see this town as a good resource for his war efforts, our hills, after all, are fabled for their gold mines."
Tobias had been scribbling down every single request and pleading and demand as his guards stood on either end of the enormous hall. There were new tapestries now, showing off the symbol of the land, of the green hills with a faint glowing golden light emanating from the back. "Gold from Green", the motto of his family, for huge troths of gold laid within the hills that his ancestors had claimed for their own. He bit his lip as he glanced at his many guards and the assembled court, the nobles and aristocrats and highfalutin members of the clergy and the like looked at each other.
It was a shame Father White couldn't be there. Tobias would have felt some comfort with him there. Still, he wanted to do right by his people. He cleared his throat, rising up.
"We will double scouts on our borders if you are concerned." He told his worried captain of the guard. "You may leave now. All of you. I've much work to do in my private study."
He nodded firmly, and exited the throne at the end of the hall, returning to his room, where a letter awaited. Ah, Toriel. She'd said yes! She was going to help him. Thank goodness for some good news. He smiled happily, holding the letter in his hand. Oh, he didn't know what he'd do without her. And she had such elegant handwriting, the way she wrote her l's was-
He blinked. Wait, was he…could he be-
He quivered nervously. Oh dear. He felt such embarrassment. She was older than he was and a different species and he was pretty sure she was interested in someone else, and besides…he was the king and she wasn't even nobility. Him having this sort of feeling for her…was this right? He'd always insisted that monsters weren't any different from humans. He'd never thought they should be treated differently. But…
He wasn't just some normal person anymore. He was the prince and his father was the King. And his father and mother definitely would NOT approve of this. It had been an effort just to get his father James to let the common folk come in to make requests. If he went to his father and said he had feelings for Toriel…
"Oh, what am I going to do?" Tobias murmured, flopping onto his bed, covering his face, cringing. He hoped Toriel was having an easier time of things than he was right now.