Thank you so much to all the favorites, the comments, and the private messages! I greatly appreciate your kind words! Particularly some of the most recent private messages - you have motivated me to finish this story. Here is a new chapter for you, and there will be two more chapters after this one. The next one is all written, and the last chapter mostly written, so this story will be completed shortly. For a hint, the next chapter is titled "Thumbprint of the Gods." Thank you for your patience! Enjoy!
Their kiss was cut short by the young pageboy, Willem, clearing his throat. Isi shyly lowered her eyes, as her cheeks reddened. Amused at Isi's reaction, Geric could not muster any embarrassment for himself. Although he wished the kiss had continued, he turned expectantly to the page.
"Are they ready?" he asked.
Willem nodded and beckoned them to follow.
Geric grasped Isi's hand and smiled at her confusion. They followed Willem who led them back through the now empty and quiet corridors and passageways, the pageboy once again skipping to keep up with their pace. In front of the doors to the dining hall, they stopped. Willem gestured for them to enter. Geric could not keep from beaming. Isi looked up at him questioningly.
"What is it?" she asked.
"You'll see," he said, smiling.
The doors opened, and Geric led her into the hall. It was full to bursting with the hundred band captains, the king's guard, and the captains of the royal army, but the hall was hushed and still. The captains and king's guard stood silently amid the dining tables with their fists on their chests, their heads inclined, in row upon row. An aisle between the captains led to a head table at which the king was seated.
"Welcome, daughter," said the king, catching Geric's eye and smiling.
"Captains!" Geric announced. "Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, first daughter of Kildenree, she who ended our war before the javelin was thrown."
As one, the captains straightened and struck their javelins against the floor.
"Oh, my," Isi said, her eyes widening.
"We're supposed to walk among them," Geric said to her.
He extended his arm, and they walked through the rows of captains.
Halfway to the head table stood the new Forest hundred-band, with Isi's compatriots grasping their javelins and freshly painted shields. They bore proud and stoic expressions, betrayed only by wide smiles and wet eyes. Behind them, the girls held larger shields.
"We're debating between calling ourselves the Forest-band or the yellow-band," said Enna from the back. "What do you think?"
Geric and Isi both spoke at once.
"The yellow-band, definitely," said Geric. For Isi's long yellow hair.
"Oh, the Forest-band, for pity's sake," said Isi.
They glanced at one another and laughed. Enna joined in.
Geric and Isi continued walking through the lines of captains, reaching the head table as a sumptuous dinner – intended for the cancelled wedding feast – began to be served. Flagons of ale and wine were poured, and all ate and talked and laughed, so content as to never leave.
The captains welcomed the new Forest-band, and many of its members were asked to sit at the head table. One taught Razo how best to throw a javelin straight and far, one taught Enna the song of a tale she had not yet heard.
Talone was even able to join them for a short time, sitting in a place of honor at Isi's right.
"To Talone," Geric spoke, standing and raising his goblet. "For his steadfastness, his courage and honor. We are in your debt, and we hope to live by your example."
All raised their glasses. "Talone," spoke one and all, and drank.
Talone's eyes glistened.
"If only I had been able to protect you from the start, princess," he said. He shook his head. "Then no such treachery would have come to pass."
"No, no," Isi said, shaking her head emphatically. She laid a hand on his arm. "You did all you could, and it is because of you that I am here now."
"Truly, sir," said Geric.
"It is because of your own efforts, princess," Talone said. "You have grown so much since the little girl I found by the swan pond."
"The swan pond?" several voices chimed. Geric perked up his ears.
"Our goose girl with swans?" Razo asked. "I think I heard a tale like that once, but backwards!"
"She was just a little girl," Talone said. "She had tried to run away, but had only gone as far as the swan pond at the palace in Kildenree. I found her curled up with the swans on the pond shore. The night was clear and cold, and the princess was ill with fever when I picked her up and returned her to the palace. It was a long time before she was well again."
"It was our first meeting," Isi said. She squeezed his forearm. "He saved me then as well."
"Could you speak to the swans, too?" Razo asked.
Forest workers and Bayern ministers alike looked up with questioning faces. Enna glared at Razo, but Geric could not help but look expectantly at Isi.
A red flush crept up Isi's neck.
"I – I am able to imitate some bird speech," she stammered. "By listening to them, I can learn what – what they mean and say it back."
Geric glanced about the table, but there was mostly curiosity and wonder.
"A true goose girl, then," murmured the king. "You have many talents." He smiled kindly at Isi.
Geric's heart rose. Father also wants to know about the windstorm in the audience hall yesterday, thought Geric, watching the king's face. He would rather wait to ask, though.
At Geric's and other's prodding, Isi attempted to teach them all the greetings of several types of birds. They honked and clucked and trumpeted and laughed until they thought they could never stop laughing.
Even the king laughed.
Hours passed so that another feast was brought from the kitchens, and Geric urged the servers to stay and eat as well. The sun's rays faded through the vaulted windows, the candles were lit, and no one left.
So much awaits, thought Geric, watching Isi laugh and talk. Their eyes met, and she blushed. He squeezed her hand. The captains will tell their soldiers to return to their homes and livelihoods, he thought, gazing out at the captains in the crowded hall. A proclamation must be made that all men may earn a javelin and shield. A new alliance must be created with the capital's soldiers and peacekeepers, and compensation provided to the latter. He turned back to Isi and could not resist stroking the end of a yellow lock. She blushed again, and he smiled. All this, and a new marriage, a new life. All this... cannot come soon enough.