Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters and the plot
Author's note: Im so sorry this chapter has taken so long but when you have a combination of writers block, a busy summer and ill grandparents it makes it very hard to sit and write. Hope you all like this chapter and please review.
High Queen Cordelia leaned back in her chair with a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. Since the night of Lady Sarah's Coming-out ball, the high Queen had been slightly overwhelmed with the amount of fae men asking to court her. The ball had been five days ago and Cordelia had finally wheedled out the men from the idiots, leaving four men for Sarah to pick from.
In order to help her Lady-in-waiting, the High Queen had put together files on each male fae so the poor girl wasn't starting from scratch. The list included her sons, Maccus and Jareth along with King Varden of the Elves and Prince Keir of the Oreads-Mountain and Cave Nymphs.
Many believed that Nymphs were purely women spirits but this was not true as the race lived, died and bred just as the Fae did, which meant that they also found it hard to increase their numbers. Each race of Nymphs lived with their affinity for which ever element they belonged to and the Oreads were responsible for mining gems, marble and other precious materials needed in each Kingdom but this is where their real talent lay. For as they mined, the Oreads could also encourage the mountain to 'heal' and 'produce' more of the materials that were taken, making them very valuable.
The current King of the Oreads, King Trahern had lost his Queen in a terrible landslide nearly two-hundred years ago and continued to mourn her passing as any soul-mate would. Cordelia believed that once his son, Prince Keir, found a mate King Trahern would gladly pass on to the next life to be with his beloved, he would be dearly missed for he was an excellent and kind King.
His son on the other hand was rather hotheaded but could be charming and kind when he wanted. His father believed that with the right woman, Keir would settled down and rule the kingdom well but was he the right man for Sarah? Time would tell, Cordelia was sure of this.
Looking over at the four files stacked neatly, Cordelia wondered at how Sarah would choose her husband. Would she marry for love? Or would she marry for another reason? This line of thinking drew the High Queen up short and she knew that she had to tell Sarah that no matter what, marrying for love was the best way to go, even if it meant becoming the wife of a commoner.
In the end, it was her happiness that Cordelia and Mabon had in mind and they would do everything in their power to make it so. Smiling at her inner conclusion, the High Queen gathered the files and set off to find her Lady-in-waiting.
Sarah was down in the practice courtyard with her bow, it was the best way to work through her chaotic thoughts and frustrations as well as practice. Lately, however, it was another way to keep an eye on her brother as he and the SwordMaster 'danced' with wooden swords.
Lining up another arrow, Sarah could help but envision a certain face on the target before letting the weapon lose on the wood with deadly accuracy. Grimacing at her actions, the young fae woman couldn't help but be confused at her feelings towards a certain Goblin King. After just one dance with her, he had disappeared from her 'Coming-out' ball without a word. She could understand that he had a runner but did that mean she meant so little to him that he would leave without saying 'goodnight' or 'goodbye'?
Lining up another arrow, Sarah put all her frustration behind it as she focused on her target and let lose. The force of her frustration caused the arrow to bury itself so deep into the wood that the tip of the arrow peaked out the other side.
"Remind me never to upset you," Sarah turned at the voice to find King Varden watching her with a small smile.
Blushing slightly at her actions, Sarah curtsied to the Elfin King while greeting him with a 'Good Afternoon, your Majesty' and rested her bow and arrows on the nearby table.
"Who is the young one?" King Varden asked, watching Toby move around the training circle. He had improved a lot this last week, getting use to the weight of his wooden sword and learning to move his feet when necessary.
"That is Master Toby," Sarah answered, standing next to the Elfin King. "My little brother."
"Forgive me, but you don't look alike," Varden said cautiously.
"We had different mothers," she explained with a smile. "My mother left me and our father when I was eight and Toby's mother, Karen, wed our father when I was twelve."
"How complicated human relationships are." The King's comment caused Sarah to giggle.
"Yes, they can be."
"Why did your mother leave, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I don't mind and she left for the love of another man," the sadness in her voice was obvious. "When I was thirteen, she was killed in an accident and her partner's spine was badly damaged, he can no longer walk."
"I forget that human life is so fragile. Did you have any contact with him?" The curiosity in the King's voice caused Sarah to realise that Varden's knowledge of the Aboveground was slim.
"I met him at my mother's funeral and that was our first and last meet-"
"King Varden, what a pleasure," both Sarah and the Elfin King turned at the sound of the High Queen's commanding voice. "I must have missed your messenger that announced your arrival." Sarah winced quietly at the tone of the High Queen's voice, clearly she wasn't happy about this.
"Please forgive my sudden visit, your Highness," Varden bowed to his Queen, keeping his head lower than normal due to his lack of manners and the Queen's tone. "I had urgent matters to discuss with the High King."
"If your 'urgent matters' have been resolved, I see no reason for you to be interrupting Lady Sarah's practice," Sarah then realised that Alana was nowhere in sight and this was why High Queen Cordelia was acting so ruffled, she had been speaking to the Elfin King un-chaperoned. "Come Lady Sarah, we also have 'urgent matters' to discus."
Smiling gently at King Varden, Sarah curtsied and followed the Queen into the palace. Not wishing to be the target of the Queen's annoyance, the young fae woman kept quiet all the way to Cordelia's study. Once both women were inside and the door was closed, the regal woman turned to her charge.
"Well, that little display should keep Varden on his toes." Seeing the wide and wicked grin on the Queen's face Sarah couldn't help the bubble of laughter and relief that escaped her mouth.
"I honestly thought I was in trouble for a moment there," she confessed after her laughter had subsided.
"Of course not, as you were not technically alone with him, but I also didn't want him know that," Cordelia guided Sarah over to the two winged chairs by the fire and placed the files on the table. "Now, I have finally finished interviewing your would-be suitors and come up with four that might interest you."
For the next couple of hours Sarah and Cordelia went through each file and discussed each fae male. Sarah remembered all of them from her 'Coming-out' ball and none of them had made her feel uncomfortable in anyway but she also couldn't quite picture herself marring any of them.
"Well," the High Queen sat back in her chair, nursing a cup of lemon tea, "who would you like to get know better?"
Sitting back in her own chair with a cup of jasmine tea, Sarah looked into the fire and thought hard. King Varden was polite, handsome and had seemed interested in her life, but she didn't know how he ruled his kingdom or if he had a sense of humour. King Maccus had a sense of humour and his manners were perfect, however he seemed a little too laid-back and wondered when he was serious. Next was Prince Keir who was sweet and charming but came across as too eager to rush into a relationship. Then there was the Goblin King-enough said! However, he had been attentive during her birthday picnic, thoughtful in his birthday gift and had left her completely confused after their dance at her 'Coming-out' ball.
"Would it be naughty of me to allow them all to court me?" Sarah asked after finally processing the information and faced her Guardian, who had another wicked grin on her face.
"Not only would it be naughty, it would be down right delicious and I'm glad you asked," the High Queen's grin suddenly disappeared. "But I would like to stress something with you Sarah. Don't marry any of these men if you don't love them. We fae live a long time and a life without love will make it unbearable. I'd rather you marry an adviser or a server or any man if you truly loved him and don't worry about providing for Toby as we will always look after you both, okay?" As she had spoken, Cordelia had moved to sit on the edge of her chair and had grasped both of Sarah's hands in her own.
"I understand and I thank you again for everything you've done for us both," and both woman held each other, giving and receiving comfort.
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