Naomi awoke the next morning to a loud pounding at the door.
She sat up with a start, rapidly blinking the groggy sleep from her eyes. With a quick scan of the room, it appeared that Esteban had disappeared, leaving behind an empty wineglass and the smoldering remnants of a fire while she had still been asleep. Which was surprising because she didn't remember even really falling asleep, more of bits and pieces of being caught between the conscious and unconscious.
There was another door rattling pounding.
"Are you decent in there!?" A booming voice yelled out.
After one long stretch, Naomi was able to jump out of bed and make her way across the room to throw open the door. She was greeted by the dower face of the Inn Keepers wife, white hair already coming out of her bun, and sticking out in wiry branches even though it couldn't be that late in the morning.
"Ole Scarlett had this dropped off for you," She said shoving Naomi's pile of clothes from yesterday into her arms. The woman then bobbed her head around similar to a chicken, looking at Naomi's face with a scrutinizing eye. "Hmph, you may have your father's coloring, but you've definitely got that hard look in the eyes and clearly deadly stubbornness of your mother's."
Before yesterday, Naomi would have taken all that proudly as a compliment. But now, with the context of her mother's past, she felt a lingering bitter taste in the back of her throat and slammed the door shut before the woman could say any more.
Naomi threw down her clothes onto the unused side of the bed and shucked off her wedding dress. She half thought about leaving the thing behind, maybe make a nice surprise for one of the bar maids that would have to come clean the room...and the bloodied sheet. However, no matter how much her stomach churned looking at it, it's not what a "happy" bride who "passionately" eloped would do.
So, after unceremoniously bunching it up, she would be shoving it in the bottom of her knapsack anyways, she simultaneously worked on getting dressed and stuffing her face with the hardened bread, cheese, and meats from last nights platter. By the time she had her thick belt securely back on her waist, she was feeling more like herself. Or at least much more human.
Naomi picked up her choker and gently thumbed the woven fabric with that bitter taste coming back. If she had already woken up still feeling uneasy, the comment from the Inn Keeper's wife hadn't helped. So, for now, she decided to stuff it into her pocket until she had more time to process.
She then drained the rest of the disgusting wine that was still in her wineglass, grabbed the discarded white slippers, and tossed a coin on the bed as compensation for the bar maid before promptly leaving this wretched bridal chamber.
As she descended down the slightly angled stairs, there was considerably less noise than what had transpired last night. The main taproom now only had a few morning customers, or probably just people who had never left at all. The ones that were awake were quietly shoveling some very lumpy gruel into their mouths. Despite the somber mood of the whole room, the patrons themselves weren't too solemn as they suddenly perked up at the sight of her and made some passing comments.
"Looks like the infamous little Turner has arisen."
"Surprised you can still stand on your feet, most brides barely leave the bed for the first day!"
"Well...satisfied brides do!"
"Come now man, she couldn't very well give her husband a heart attack their first night together."
A raucous laughter than reverberated through the taproom, and even the bartender didn't even try and stifle his laugh.
And much to her annoyance, Naomi couldn't even think of a come back. She was no prude, but she tended to keep things like that at least on an innuendo level. And she most certainly didn't think about Esteban that way, and he had made it clear that he felt that way about her either. Plus, she had never even seen him flirt with another person.
At least with food and some sleep, she felt strong enough to have her boots firmly planted on the ground, and made a solid thud with every step she took as she exited out without any kind of response to these lewd comments, and into the frigid wind of the outside world.
She took a moment to exhale the stale, sour Inn air and inhale the sharp, salty Harbor air.
"Morning ma'am."
Naomi whirled around to face one of the Avaloran Guards from yesterday, Lieutenant Garcia, standing by the front door to the Inn.
"Chancellor Esteban sent me here to escort you back to the ship."
"Yes, of course he did," Naomi grumbled softly. "Thank you, I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
"Not at all ma'am," He answered back automatically.
Realizing she would only get protocol over honesty, Naomi just nodded her head in acknowledgment before they both headed back in the direction of The Wayfarer.
As they continued along, Naomi observed that if the Inn hadn't given it away already, the harbor most certainly gave away that this was definitely the shady part of the Kingdom. The dilapidated ships all looked like they would sink at the first wave they hit from the faded paint and rotted wood, and some even had their windows all boarded up. Yet, people in varying degrees of dirtied skin and missing teeth conversed in hush tones on these ships, and watched Naomi with such rueful eyes that she felt it necessary to clutch the dress and shoes tighter to her side, hoping to keep them out of sight. She guaranteed that just about any kind of illegal contraband could get smuggled through these sets of docks.
Part of her mind then began to drift to Esteban. It was one thing to have only cockiness and bravado, it was another to have all this and Royal Guards. And even then, two against six was never a fair fight, and would most likely end with them getting mugged or even worse.
She didn't have to be concerned about his safety for long though as she heard his haughty voice before she saw him.
"I'm insulted that you do not take me as a man of my word," Esteban spat at the two Norbergian guards as he stood near the gangway of her mother's ship, but her mother was no where in sight.
"She is on her way. So, if you would take your deplorable-"
One of the Norbergian guards then unsheathed his sword and stuck the sharp end right under Esteban's chin. He immediately crumbled in the face of a very real and very pointy threat.
"On second thought, I can go get her right now."
"There's no need," Naomi boldly called out, as she handed the dress and shoes to Lieutenant Garcia before walking towards the trio with her chin held high. "I'm here and ready. So, take me to your leader."
Said leader was in his office, sitting at a great, sturdy wooden desk that looked hundreds of years old, furiously writing on a piece of paper with a huge peacock plumed quill.
As Naomi and Esteban were pushed more into the room by the guards, she let her hand rest on her hip, already feeling uneasy as she had tried and failed to remember the twists and turns of the hallways they had been escorted down.
Despite the uncertainty of how she felt about being around her mother now, it still would have been at least comforting to have her so they could be able to exit this Palace. Naomi hadn't seen her mother since last night, when they had parted at the Inn. Scarlett had stated that she wanted to go try and find Max. Naomi assumed this was Max, the Harbor Master, which she could understand the urgency to go find him. That desperate want to try and find one person in Norberg who wasn't under the spell of the Phony King.
However, with the original reconnaissance group down a member and the Avalor Guards, who had been forced to stay behind as this was now "an act of Nobergian law and justice," Naomi was beginning to doubt if this whole marriage scam had even worked. And it was pondering this doubt that had caused her to lose her sense of direction sometime after she had noted "the murder duck" painting on the third floor, and when she came back to focus, they were already at a pair of imposing, heavy doors in some unknown part of the castle.
Naomi only could surmise that they were next to the library, thanks to the set of doors inside Oswall's office that were opened into it. Besides that, the only thing that truly stuck out to her were the bird cages. Tens of shiny gold cages lined all sides of the room, and each were filled with a different type of species of birds: snowy ravens, miniature sparrows, black winged hawks, vermillion parrots, vultures, and even a South Rainforest toucan.
One could go deaf from their simultaneous chirps and squawks clashing together. Except, none of the birds didn't make a single sound. They all remained demure and still in their cages. And that what wholly disturbed Naomi the most.
"Chancellor Esteban and Miss Naomi Turner, Advisor Thornbuckle," One of the Guards then announced loudly.
However, the crook didn't look up to them, choosing to instead continue whatever he was so adamantly writing about and forcing them to wait for a very tense minute, before finally finishing up with a great flourish of his hand.
"Esteban," Oswall said with an over-familiarity and what actually sounded like pride. "I'm so glad you are still seeing reason."
Esteban bowed only slightly. "Mr. Thornbuckle."
Naomi watched as Oswall leaned down and out of site with a stack of papers, but she could hear the opening and closing of a drawer followed by a loud click of a lock. The phony advisor then reemerged and arose from his chair. He had a comically large key in hand that he tucked into the wrist of his jacket.
"Please, have a seat."
The politeness was clearly just for formalities sake, as everything about this situation felt unpleasant, especially from the two guards that stood right behind their chairs, and Naomi could feel them practically breathing down her neck.
Oswall gestured to a tray beside his desk. "Let me get you each a cup of iced Sweet Tea, it's quite refreshing and my personal favorite."
Naomi tilted her head and tried paying close attention as she heard him talk, though she wished not to. But, it was hearing him now and having replayed his words from yesterday over and over again in her poor attempts to fall asleep, that she fully realized that she couldn't in fact place his accent. It was too raspy to match Shuriki's Northern Isles one, but too clear in his hard vowels to be from too far South either. It was like he was from every where and no where at the same time. She would have to hear more though to make a full assessment.
"You've got quite the collection of birds," She mentioned impassively.
"Yes, my little ones keep me company," Oswall said as he paused in his pouring to run a finger along one gilded cage that held the black winged Hawk, and Naomi hoped for a moment that the creature would bite his finger off. Especially when she saw an obscenely large, gold ring on said finger, the huge blood red, ruby winked at her. Had he had it the whole time? More and more details about him seemed to be coming forward with no 'charming' Edward standing in front of him.
"Not to mention they keep me connected to my friends all over the EverRealm. I do so love to read and write letters, keeps the mind sharp."
Naomi shuddered at what his definition of 'friends' was.
"Interesting. Didn't you used to refer to them as 'amigos' and loved hot Limón tea when you were in Avalor?" Esteban asked, taking the glass offered to him.
"I had an enjoyable time in Avalor that I wished to be as much part of the culture as I could. Though, if I can be honest now, I preferred the time I got to spend in Nueva Vista than the City Center," Oswall said casually, passing a glass to Naomi but not taking his eyes off Esteban. "But at least I did leave the City Center in your capable hands."
'Under the tyrannical rule of SHURIKI!' Naomi practically screamed in her mind, biting down on her cheek so hard that she was now anticipating when she would taste the copper of her blood.
Esteban though just quietly swirled the tea around in his glass. "Where is his Royal Majesty?"
"I'm afraid his Royal Majesty is still in bed sleeping and cannot be present." Oswall walked over to the cage with the sparrow and pulled out a piece of seed from his pocket, and fed it to the tiny creature.
"He had quite the night entertaining his subjects and spreading good cheer."
Naomi clenched her teeth. Here she was, her life hanging in the balance, while that kid got to sleep off a hangover. She really just wanted to declare that she and Esteban were wed and be on their merry way. However, she had reluctantly agreed to let Esteban lead the conversation this time.
The only keeping her compliant at this moment though, was that the fact that she could still be able throw him over her shoulder if he was the one to mess up this time and they had to make a break for it.
"I see," Esteban said calmly, stroking his beard. "Still, it must be exhausting, considering that not everyone of the distinguished nobility must fully accept this young...man as their new ruler. They must talk, and I've always been a fan of gossip."
Oswall actually chuckled at this. "Well, there is always a grace period between the transitions of power, as you are aware of."
"I suppose so, since by law, Chloe is still the rightful ruler following the line of succession," Esteban said with ease, and even crossed one of his legs over the other to imitate an air of casualness.
"That may be, but she is no where to be found," Oswall replied back coolly as he opened the cage and took out the sparrow. Even with a hand wrapped around it, the sparrow didn't chirp or even try to flap it's wings. "Not to mention, it's already being deliberated that her status may no longer be valid."
An audible 'what?' slipped from Naomi's lips and caused the grin on Oswall's face to grow. He gently petted one green tinted finger along the sparrows head, and Naomi tensed and focused on keeping contact with it's small black eyes, looking for any sign of distress.
"You may not know this Miss Turner, as it was before your time, but the only reason that divorce is legal in Norberg is thanks to the selfish and frankly taxing battle of legalizing it by Queen Abigail."
"And if you know anything, then you would know that Queen Abigail was already pregnant with Princess Chloe when she started that battle for a divorce from her husband, Prince Edgar," Esteban debated back. He had clearly done his research on more than just trade agreements involving disgusting fruits. "That is, if you're implying illegitimacy surrounding the Princess's birth in any way."
"Well, it's also public knowledge that Queen Abigail was already living in separate apartments from Prince Edgar at the time. She didn't even have the decency to invite him or any of his family to Princess Chloe's Name Day ball," Oswall said as he put the innocent sparrow back in it's cage, and Naomi let out a low sigh of relief.
"And while the Queen had gotten her way, it still ripped apart the very sacred sanctity of marriage and family, and the common folk began to abuse it. It's even seen as one of the unpopular choices she made throughout her reign." Owsall leered at Naomi, but she didn't need him to clarify that he was talking about her mother as she sneered at him.
"So, this matter was brought to his majesty's attention, and he's decided to make his first act as Ruler of Norberg to reverse this law on divorce." Oswall approached the two of them, the light reflecting off his monocle so harshly that if gave him the appearance of only having one eye. "Once this is all said and done, it will also officially declare Princess Chloe as a bastard and fully legitimize King Edward's claim to the throne."
"Still, as Queen Abigail had done, something this big and sacred will require the written support of a more holier variety. And that council, safely hidden in the North valley, has already decided to drag their feet on this matter and could take several months to finalize. So, I'm afraid we're all still at the mercy of someone more powerful." Oswall placed a hand on both Esteban and Naomi's shoulders, as if trying to show understanding to this supposed plight they all shared, even though Naomi never thought this with Elena, not even once.
"Still, I really do hate things that waste my time."
He curled his fingers and his nails bit down into both of their shoulders. Naomi, much to Oswall's pleasure, jumped from the contact while Esteban was able to keep his composure, any effect only shown by his hand grasping the arm chair tighter.
Oswall released his contact on them and strolled back over to his desk, taking off his monocle to once again wipe down the already shining and clear glass.
Her throat feeling parched, Naomi lifted up the glass to take a small sip of the tea, knowing the excellent sugary taste of the drink from the last time she had had it with her parents a few years ago and hoping it would calm down her anger.
But, before the glass could touch her lips, Esteban's hand harshly clamped down over the rim of the glass and causing a few drops of it to slosh onto her white shirt.
Annoyed and confused, she turned to give him a harsh glare, but it was instantly disarmed by the insistent shaking of Esteban's head as he motioned to the drink again.
Catching onto his meaning, Naomi hastily set the drink back on the tray like it was on fire and wiped her hand on her breeches. She did her best to swallow some saliva to try and quench her throat that felt even drier now.
"Well, we have much to do, so you are free to leave, Chancellor." Oswall looked back to them and patted his breast pocket. "I could pull out and show the warrant, but that seems unnecessary and highly undignified."
The guard standing behind Naomi then suddenly grabbed both of her elbows and held them back. She was about to start kicking her legs and stamping down her foot when Esteban grabbed her shoulder.
"Actually, she will be leaving with me."
"Oh?"
"Yes. After all, she's my wife."
The word seemed to echo throughout the large room as it became instantly and deadly silent.
Oswall refitted his monocle back on his eye. "Come now Esteban, you were never one for jokes."
Without wasting a second, Esteban presented the Marriage Certificate to Oswall, which clearly showed his elegant and swirly signature right next to Naomi's more sharp signature, that also included the heavily ink blotted hyphen that she had hastily added after the wedding ceremony. It was a good thing that Avaloran tradition allowed her to keep her maiden name alongside her married one.
"Naomi and I have had a secret and forbidden love affair," Esteban said with a dramatic wave of his hand. Although, he could have said it in a tone not so flat. "And seeing that she could be taken away from me forever, made me realize we couldn't wait any longer and got married early last evening."
Oswall didn't say anything as he leaned his backside against the edge of his desk.
He then held the certificate close, very dangerously close, to the lit candle that sat on the desk.
Naomi stiffened.
There was no way he could just burn that paper and undo all the work they had done. Or could he?
The fact that Naomi had no idea was driving her mad as she dug her feet into the ground. Ready to elbow the guard, spring up, and tackle Oswall for the paper at the first sign of an ember.
"Is this really the path you want to go down, Esteban?" Oswall asked in a way that confirmed Naomi's prediction from last night, he wasn't believing the secret lovers story.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Thornbuckle," Esteban said calmly, though he did take a few steps forward so that he stood right in front of the man. "If you're worried, my family will support this marriage, they are all extremely fond of Miss Tur-Naomi."
"Ahhh," Oswall then said , moving the certificate away from the flame. "Still at the mercy of your family's bidding I see. Somethings truly never change."
His head then turned to Naomi and he cocked it slightly. "Are you really that important? From what I've gathered, Queen Elena uses the term "friend" too freely. Even the list of her "favorites" is twice as long than what would be deemed standard, so I thought you were just another name."
Feeling more assured that this plan had actually worked somehow, Naomi replied, "As you said, we're all at the mercy of more powerful people. I'm sure with people like Shuriki and Edward, you're probably just another name to them too."
Rather than appearing offended at such a harsh jab, Oswall let out an amused chuckle and made a motion. The guard released her. "Very true, my dear."
Oswall passed the certificate backed to Esteban, which he took and then immediately replaced with a rolled up scroll in the older man's hand.
"And this?"
"The trade agreement for the prunes."
"Ah, yes, the prunes." Oswall then picked up his overcompensating quill and signed it before handing it back to Esteban.
"You're not even going to read it?" Naomi asked appalled, having enough of his over cocky attitude once again.
Oswall shrugged. "I trust Esteban not to test me. He knows better than that."
"But this is for the good of this Kingdom, one I know you're not a part of," Naomi pressed on, and Esteban shot her the same warning glare from yesterday. But, she had to at least try and leave here with something on this guy, and she still hadn't figured out the accent.
"It is true that I do not belong to Norberg by blood," Oswall said as he smoothly pushed himself from the desk and stalked to her.
"However, I have no problem having no home country for I know that I am highly adaptable." Oswall placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head up with it slowly, making a point to dig the tip of his neatly manicured fingernail painfully into her skin. She could feel the cold metal of his large ring looming close. "And despite your many glorified tales of travel, can you say you are the same, little finch? Truly?"
Naomi didn't want to dignify him with an answer, but that seemed to be the reaction he had been wanting based on the wide grin that stretched and wrinkled his greenish skin.
"Well, a pleasant time seeing you as always, Advisor Thornbuckle," Esteban said as pulled Naomi to him.
"As do I. I look forward to restarting our pen pal relationship from all those years ago, Chancellor Esteban."
Esteban actually flinched for the first time during this whole ordeal, but covered it up with a too charming of a smile and another small bow.
Oswall gave Naomi one more penetrating look. "Any other invigorating words from you, little finch, before our time together is cut so tragically short?"
"There's a smear on your monocle."
The coachmen looked surprise from a top his seat as Naomi and Esteban approached, no doubt having not expected two people to return.
Naomi was then surprised as the guard that had been on their heels this whole time, and the one that had held her arms back, quickened his pace around them so that he could open the carriage door and offer a hand for assistance.
Insulted by this sudden act of chivalry, Naomi ignored this and easily leapt into the carriage.
Esteban, however, took the guard's offer. Naomi saw a sudden smirk form on his lips before taking a seat across from her. There was a tap from the outside and the coach lurched forward.
After a few minutes passed and the smirk still hadn't faded, Naomi finally asked, "What's got you looking so pleased?"
Esteban did a quick glance around before leaning forward and unfurling his hand to reveal a small slip of paper.
"Where did that come from?"
"It seems Oswall doesn't have as firm of a hold on the Norberg subjects as he thinks him and Edward do. At least, with their guards."
Naomi raised her eyebrows at this. It was possible for a secret message to be passed along in a matter of seconds?
It must have been, for when Esteban unfolded the paper, it revealed eight sloppily written words.
Princess Alive
Location Unknown to all in Norberg
"That still doesn't tell us a lot," Naomi said frankly. She wanted to be excited at this piece of evidence they now possessed, but after everything that had transpired in the last 24 hours, even in the last hour, including her failed last minute interrogation attempt, it left her more cynical than before.
"The EverRealm is vast, so we don't even know where to start looking for her."
"This is true," Esteban said with a quick stroke of his beard. "However, this also tells us the advantage that we have."
"Which is?"
"That neither Oswall nor Edward know where she is either."
Naomi had never felt so grateful to be back in the water again. She honestly would have started swimming back to Avalor if they had to wait another second longer.
As she hung from the rigging of The Wayfarer, which had already been ready to set sail when she and Esteban had returned and was currently at top speed, and watched as the Kingdom began to grow smaller and smaller, while also feeling a sense of heaviness being lifted from her chest as it finally disappeared over the horizon.
However, the weight still wasn't fully removed as Naomi took her mother's words from last night to heart. Everything that had happened in this last day wouldn't just suddenly disappear just because she was no longer in the Kingdom. If anything, this only felt like the beginning.
Those worries were temporarily set aside, however, as Naomi had been right about those dark clouds that had followed them to Norberg that had now turned into a raging, rough storm. It forced everyone to scramble, and be on high alert to things like changing sails and tying down loose items at a moments notice as the stabbing and freezing rain pelted them mercilessly. And when they weren't on deck, there wasn't time to focus on anything else besides taking small fitful naps and slurping down many cups of hot broth and whiskey to fight off the chill.
By the time they passed over the Mid-Azul Ridge and the sky cleared, and the Ancient Sea Gods of Old, Millalbo as it was called in this region, let the sea become calm, everyone was exhausted.
The whole ordeal had allowed Naomi to not have to talk to both Scarlett and Esteban unless to receive or give out orders. But, she realized she couldn't keep up this childish behavior when Avalor came into view: with it's same busy Ports, patrolling Jaquins, and picturesque Palace.
It was at the busy port that she and Esteban separated from her mother, leaving Scarlett to handle finishing docking and unloading the ship. She would also be the first to meet up with Daniel as he was still out on his weekly patrol.
Naomi did watch her father's small schooner come in to port from her seat in the hydro-gondola that was taking her and Esteban up to the palace.
She was also nervously now twisting at her fingers, anticipating what would come next. Elena had sent her out with a job to do, and that job would include on briefing her on everything that had happened. Everything.
Naomi got a real sense of déjà vu when they stepped out of the hydro-gondola and Esteban extended a hand to unnecessarily help her. She thought for a moment of jumping past him as she had done last time, but with everything they had experienced together, it would seem too rude to do at this point. So, she consented and he awkwardly grasped her fingers and led her off the coach.
"Chancellor! Naomi!"
The two quickly released each other's hands, even though in retrospect there was nothing suspicious or particularly intimate about what they had been doing, as Armando greeted them.
"Armando, where's Elena at? It's imperative that we speak to her immediately as it is a matter of national security," Esteban said, for once, his dramatics not being unwarranted.
Armando started to look around slightly nervously. "Umm...well...we can't find the Queen!" He finally blurted out. "We've been trying to find her since one of the patrolling Jaquins reported seeing your ship."
While Esteban started looking vexed, Naomi simply asked, "Is Mateo gone too?"
"Why, yes! I was hoping he might know where she might be at."
Naomi sighed with a slight shake of her head in good humor. It seemed that both marriage and a pregnancy hadn't gotten rid of that childish and mischievous side of them.
"Then they're probably in their 'secret spot.'"
Sure enough, they found the couple curled up together in a large arm chair in the music room, one of the most popular rooms in the Palace, whispering and laughing to one another. It had taken a second to spot Mateo as he was practically buried under Elena's voluminous red skirts as she sat on his lap.
Everyone in the approaching group averted their eyes. But, it wasn't deemed necessary, this time, as Elena immediately exclaimed, "You're already back!"
She quickly worked on scrambling to her feet, which required some maneuvering and assistance from her husband thanks to the dress and baby.
Once she had her balance, Elena easily ran over to the two of them and pulled them into a hug.
She then pulled back and launched into a volley of questions in a slightly reprimanding tone, similar to the one she used when she was scolding Isabel. "Why didn't you write that you were returning so quickly!? Do you know how worried I was? Do you know how many times I've been asking Mateo to try and let me use farsight?" She waved a hand, "But anyways, did you find the person from the Northern Isles? How's Chloe and Queen Abigail?
Shockingly, neither Esteban or Naomi started speaking right away. Though, given the fact that there was so much that had happened, where was the best place to start? At the beginning? Queen Abigail's death? Oswall's confirmed identity?
Elena immediately caught onto this unusual silence from two of the most opinionated people in all of Avalor and asked, "What's wrong?"
"We need to talk to you." Esteban's eyes glanced around to the others. "Preferably, in private first."
Elena looked like she wanted to object to this, but Naomi must have had a pleading look on her face, as she instantly agreed to this when she turned back to look at Naomi.
"Alright," Elena said with a nod. "Mateo, can you watch the door. And Armando, can you please send a Jaquin to The Wayfarer. See if we can get a report from Captain Turner as soon as possible."
"Of course, mi amor."
"At once, your grace."
"You better take a seat too," Esteban said once the doors closed behind them, taking Elena's arm and guiding her back to the armchair she had previously been sort of sitting on.
Elena just rolled her eyes and shrugged off his hand. "Esteban, I've not suddenly grown to having 'fainting spells' because of the baby, so stop beating around the bush." She faced Naomi, "What happened in Norberg?"
Despite the question being seemingly directed at her, both her and Esteban immediately started talking, each starting a different points of the story. They each huffed out a sigh before starting at the same time again, this time at even more wildly different points of the story.
By this point, Elena didn't seem to care who was going to start as she kept looking between the two of them, hands now on her hips to show her growing irritation.
Perhaps they should have talked a little more before they had gotten here. At least they could have actually had a solid plan in place on just who was going to say what. Realizing this was partially her fault, Naomi lifted up a hand and nervously push a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What happened to your finger?" Elena abruptly asked, pointing to the hand that was raised up.
Naomi looked at her hand and saw nothing that was new to her. However, she supposed Elena was talking about the green ring around her third finger. Naomi and Esteban had stopped wearing their rings mid-voyage, mainly because the rings had been in fact so counterfeit that it had turned both of their skin green where it had rested.
"Oh, the wedding ring was made of some really cheap material that left some discoloration," Naomi said off-handedly.
"Wedding ring?"
Realizing what she had just said, Naomi felt like she could have bitten her tongue right off. But, there was no turning back now.
"Where my wedding ring had been," Naomi repeated back as nonchalantly as she could. "Esteban and I are married."
Naomi watched as Elena's face transformed from surprise, to confusion, to humorous as she even let out an uncomfortable and forced laugh. However, when neither Esteban nor Naomi still denied this, Elena finally ended with pure, eye widening, jaw dropping shock.
"What!?" She then shrieked loudly and Naomi flinched from the abrasiveness of it.
To make matters worse, Elena's exclamation caused such alarm that the music room's doors burst open, and not only did Mateo come in, but also Francisco and Luisa who had suddenly shown up in the short amount of time.
How did word travel so fast in such a large Palace?
Before the now forming crowd could ask what was wrong, Elena cleared it up, "What do you mean you got married?"
A waved of emotions rippled throughout the group, mostly mirroring the same process Elena had just gone through.
Francisco was the first to respond though with, "What does she mean you got married?"
"It was all strictly for Miss Tur-Naomi's safety," Esteban said matter-of-factly, though, Naomi could see that the tips of his ears were pink. "So, Naomi and I had a proper ceremony, and signed the marriage certificate, certifying her place as an Avaloran citizen."
"You got married and had A WEDDING? An actual wedding?" Luisa then asked.
"That's what he said," Naomi said flatly, crossing her arms tightly.
"You wore a wedding dress?" Mateo input unnecessarily, and Naomi had to hold back the urge to punch him in his skinny arm.
"Enough!" Elena exclaimed, but unlike at that fateful council meeting, it wasn't said in anger, as her dress didn't flash orange, but more in her being overwhelmed as it did briefly flash purple.
Elena rubbed the sides of her temples and took a calming breath. "So, back up, why did Naomi have to get married for her safety?" Elena then raised her chin and fixed them with a queenly stare. "What happened in Norberg?"
Still reeling from the mortification as these people, who she had considered as extended family, gawked at them, Naomi gestured to Esteban for him to take the lead in catching the group up to speed.
And after needlessly smoothing out his jacket, he adopted a more professional stance, one that seemed like it knew how to deliver bad news, and he started the tale from when they had docked in Norberg.
Naomi didn't remain silent for long though, as she was able to jump in and take over parts of the story, especially when it got to Oswall and Edward's threats to her that made her blood boil all over again.
There was the omission of a few minor and not needed details like the alleyway kiss, the wedding night discussion, and Scarlett's confession, as Naomi hadn't wanted to think about, let alone repeat any of it. However, those things were hardly missed as Esteban and Naomi were able to relay practically every word that the Phony King and Slimy Advisor had spoken to them, and those were definitely the most important.
By the end of the grisly tale with Esteban revealing the secret note that he had kept on his person the entire time since, Elena still hadn't taken a chair like he had suggested earlier, but was obviously being supported by Mateo.
Even Francisco and Luisa were supporting each other as well. The reactions were all understandable. While it hadn't been perfect, the EverRealm and more specifically Avalor had been living in a time of peace for the past six years, and definitely in the last three.
Now, with a close ally's kingdom already having begun to spiral because of a greedy invader, just like it had happened here 47 years ago, who knows what could happen next?
And just in case there were any doubts, Esteban pulled out the marriage certificate and passed it to Elena.
She took it carefully and looked over it intently.
"Naomi Turner-Flores," she read.
Naomi swallowed hard.
No one had said her new name out loud until this moment.
And now, hearing it, in Avalor, among the Royal family, Esteban's family, any thoughts of lingering self-doubt were now diminished forever.
Thankfully, before any of the horrific quietness could continue to grow, Elena took over the conversation.
"I shall file this away for safekeeping in the official Royal archives." She folded her hands in front of her, certificate still in hand. "For now though, we can all agree that finding Chloe and making sure she is safe should be our top priority. Once we know that, we can deal with this Edward and Oswall."
"We should not push them to the side so easily, Prima," Esteban then said.
"I'm not," Elena argued back. "But, if you feel that strongly about it, what can you tell us about Oswall?"
That looked like that was the last thing he wanted to do as everyone turned their rapt attention to him, including Naomi. She hadn't asked Esteban this question yet herself, as she had been confident for the time on relying on her own solid opinions about Oswall as a sneak and a sadist.
Esteban took a slight step backwards and cleared his throat. "Well, I unfortunately don't have that much. He was with Shuriki already as her right hand man when she first took over Avalor. But he disappeared out of Avalor's City Center a couple years later, after he had taught and passed along the responsibility to...me."
He then shook his head. "Anyways, I will start drawing up a list of our many allies that I personally know and get in contact with them immediately," Esteban said in grandeur haste and quickly left the room without another word or glance to anyone. Leaving them all in a brief stunned silence at his unusually hurried attitude.
"I will go check on him," Francisco then said. And with a quick and reassuring pat on Luisa, Elena, and surprising her, Naomi's arms, he left the room as well.
"Mateo," Elena said, placing a hand on his chest. "I want you on location spells. We might not be able to get an exact location, but maybe we can still get a general area of where Chloe may be at."
"You got it. I'll start at my workshop and then move onto the secret biblioteca," Mateo said, placing a kiss on Elena's cheek before deciding this time to walk there rather than take his usual golden, cloudy transportation spell.
Luisa then grabbed Naomi's hands.
"You will stay here tonight, Naomi," She said in her best abuela voice.
"Esteban says that I'll need to start living here soon too," Naomi stated, mustering up a small smile for her at least.
"Well, that will be something for later. For now, just worry about getting a good meal tonight with some nice company." Luisa patted Naomi's cheek, and Naomi felt it get pleasantly warm where the older woman's hand had touched.
Luisa then extended even more of her natural ability to do the right thing at the right time as she closed the music room doors behind her as she left, so that Naomi and Elena were completely alone.
Naomi instantly rubbed her eyes. She could work from sunup to sun down on the docks, and yet this conversation had already made her feel exhausted.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to see Elena's soft and sympathetic brown eyes. Eyes that looked like they had a million things they wanted to say. But in the end, she settled for something simple.
"I'm glad you're safe."
And that's all Naomi needed, as she felt the strength leave her body and she collapsed into Elena's arms for a tight hug, content in knowing that at least one thing hadn't changed.