The Journey, Chapter 5
Chapter 6.
The Queen recovered mightily fine, and much to distaste of the King insisted on personally thanking the elf, Vivi, for his healing assistance. Such as when she invited the elf for an evening walk. Vivi of course obliged, believing it would rude not too.
The queen heaped her thanks and praises on Vivi, who just nodded respectfully as they walked through the royal gardens.
“I must also apologise, I hadn’t known that he’d held you prisoner, not is that, no such place for you to be held. I don’t understand why he has such hatred for everyone.”
“Human nature is never to be easily explained. Much is the same for Elves, and Dwarves, and other beings, it is that as such some are more adept at controlling their emotions than others.” Vivi said softly, his voice lilting with a subtle musical tone.
The Queen paused, looking at Vivi intently and then smiled. “I appreciate the boldness of your statement Ser Vivi, it is not often I’m stood before someone who says things as they are.”
Vivi nodded with a short bow, as their evening walk came to a close. Lady Julia waiting by the exit to the gardens. “I am but to take you back to your chambers Ser Vivi.” Vivi nodded and followed, back at his chambers he asked Julia to come inside.
“Lady Julia, do you have any idea, any inkling of what Thomaz is planning with me?”
Julia shook her head, “I’ve tried to listen in, but he’s being more secretive than ever, especially since the prophecy came around. He was going to have all newborn males killed, but the Queen interjected, she managed to persuade the king to have them all raised in poorhouses to be taught basic education, and have them join his army when they were of age. There was an uproar of course, but a very small sense of relief that the boys would live.”
“Prophecies are fickle, and not so easily interpreted, this hag whoever she is, is but like a worm with a silver tongue.” Vivi shook his head, in deep thought. “I need to know more of this prophecy, and the only way to find that out, is to speak to someone of my kind.”
“I’m not sure that would be wise Vivi, you are being watched, and spied on like a hawk.”
Vivi smiled and gently cupped Julia’s face in his hands, “No one more than I, I have the eyes of an eagle, and the hearing of a cat.” He said with a wink. “But you are nonetheless right, I need to be careful… you must leave before rumours start spreading.”
Rubian, had tried, tried his hardest to get a reading of the elf, but had failed. Somehow, the elf had put wards of protection up, making it near impossible to earwig, or spy.
“Grrr, if I but knew the ancient language I’d cripple that idiot” He growled, throwing a book across the room in frustration.
Days had gone past, and the King hadn’t called for him, he’d only received orders from a messenger, or worse a pigeon. The elf had somehow gained favour with the king, and was now seated on his right hand side. How the elf had gained favour with the king was unknown, but the king's stance on current situations had changed, he’d lowered the taxes, just a little. But had also refused to have the babies killed, by the request of his queen. At the thought of the queen, Rubian spat on the floor. Then it clicked with him, like the new flicker of a flame on a candle…
“Babies! Fucking disgusting, vile, stinking, smelly, vomiting, loud crying babies!”
The hag, walking into the room, at the most opportune moment, croaked with a matter of fact voice, “You were a baby once…”
Rubian looked at her with eyes wide, body frozen for a brief moment, then his body shuddered in disgust as a loud “Eurgh!!” came from his mouth.
He walked back and forth, back and forth, thinking, his arms folded across his chest, finger tips tapping on his arm in deep thought.
“The king and queen… their babies…” He said slowly, and collectively. “The babies are why the king has changed… it’s the bitch queen's faults!” Rubian spat venomously
Rubian suddenly strode across the room and grabbed the old weathered hag by the shoulders, “Give me, the animal control orb!”
Months went by somewhat quietly. The people were excited at the news of the queen's pregnancy, followed by a hope that the birth of the babies would make the king a changed man. Vivi stood by his side, and had in some way opened up a dialogue between elves and humans once again, although it still felt as if egg shells were being walked on.
On a day in spring, the warmest day the queen went into labour, people crowded around the palace gates, waiting with bated breath for news of the baby's deliveries. Vivi attended, carefully and respectively, instructing the maids on that of which to do. The king by his queen's side, surprisingly sober. He comforted and reassured, and then reassured more that everything was okay, and the moment had come, the first of the twins, a girl, a good healthy weight. The queen screamed, and pushed for this second baby, the twin was stubborn. Vivi turned and gently placed his hand over the queen’s belly, emitting a faint orange glow, he muttered. “Come child, it’s time.” He instructed the head-house maid to put a little pressure on the queen's stomach on either side, and massage it. The queen screamed and pushed for what felt like a lifetime longer, her screams echoing through the palace, until what sounded like a faint pop, the baby was free, a boy with a head full of dark black hair. The king nodded towards a soldier at the doors, who in turn nodded towards a butler who ran through the palace, whipped open the balcony doors and shouted “A boy and a girl! Both healthy and thriving!” The populace roared and cheered in celebration.
From a dark corner on the corridor, there loomed Rubian, watching and listening intently.
Chapter 6.
The Queen recovered mightily fine, and much to distaste of the King insisted on personally thanking the elf, Vivi, for his healing assistance. Such as when she invited the elf for an evening walk. Vivi of course obliged, believing it would rude not too.
The queen heaped her thanks and praises on Vivi, who just nodded respectfully as they walked through the royal gardens.
“I must also apologise, I hadn’t known that he’d held you prisoner, not is that, no such place for you to be held. I don’t understand why he has such hatred for everyone.”
“Human nature is never to be easily explained. Much is the same for Elves, and Dwarves, and other beings, it is that as such some are more adept at controlling their emotions than others.” Vivi said softly, his voice lilting with a subtle musical tone.
The Queen paused, looking at Vivi intently and then smiled. “I appreciate the boldness of your statement Ser Vivi, it is not often I’m stood before someone who says things as they are.”
Vivi nodded with a short bow, as their evening walk came to a close. Lady Julia waiting by the exit to the gardens. “I am but to take you back to your chambers Ser Vivi.” Vivi nodded and followed, back at his chambers he asked Julia to come inside.
“Lady Julia, do you have any idea, any inkling of what Thomaz is planning with me?”
Julia shook her head, “I’ve tried to listen in, but he’s being more secretive than ever, especially since the prophecy came around. He was going to have all newborn males killed, but the Queen interjected, she managed to persuade the king to have them all raised in poorhouses to be taught basic education, and have them join his army when they were of age. There was an uproar of course, but a very small sense of relief that the boys would live.”
“Prophecies are fickle, and not so easily interpreted, this hag whoever she is, is but like a worm with a silver tongue.” Vivi shook his head, in deep thought. “I need to know more of this prophecy, and the only way to find that out, is to speak to someone of my kind.”
“I’m not sure that would be wise Vivi, you are being watched, and spied on like a hawk.”
Vivi smiled and gently cupped Julia’s face in his hands, “No one more than I, I have the eyes of an eagle, and the hearing of a cat.” He said with a wink. “But you are nonetheless right, I need to be careful… you must leave before rumours start spreading.”
Rubian, had tried, tried his hardest to get a reading of the elf, but had failed. Somehow, the elf had put wards of protection up, making it near impossible to earwig, or spy.
“Grrr, if I but knew the ancient language I’d cripple that idiot” He growled, throwing a book across the room in frustration.
Days had gone past, and the King hadn’t called for him, he’d only received orders from a messenger, or worse a pigeon. The elf had somehow gained favour with the king, and was now seated on his right hand side. How the elf had gained favour with the king was unknown, but the king's stance on current situations had changed, he’d lowered the taxes, just a little. But had also refused to have the babies killed, by the request of his queen. At the thought of the queen, Rubian spat on the floor. Then it clicked with him, like the new flicker of a flame on a candle…
“Babies! Fucking disgusting, vile, stinking, smelly, vomiting, loud crying babies!”
The hag, walking into the room, at the most opportune moment, croaked with a matter of fact voice, “You were a baby once…”
Rubian looked at her with eyes wide, body frozen for a brief moment, then his body shuddered in disgust as a loud “Eurgh!!” came from his mouth.
He walked back and forth, back and forth, thinking, his arms folded across his chest, finger tips tapping on his arm in deep thought.
“The king and queen… their babies…” He said slowly, and collectively. “The babies are why the king has changed… it’s the bitch queen's faults!” Rubian spat venomously
Rubian suddenly strode across the room and grabbed the old weathered hag by the shoulders, “Give me, the animal control orb!”
Months went by somewhat quietly. The people were excited at the news of the queen's pregnancy, followed by a hope that the birth of the babies would make the king a changed man. Vivi stood by his side, and had in some way opened up a dialogue between elves and humans once again, although it still felt as if egg shells were being walked on.
On a day in spring, the warmest day the queen went into labour, people crowded around the palace gates, waiting with bated breath for news of the baby's deliveries. Vivi attended, carefully and respectively, instructing the maids on that of which to do. The king by his queen's side, surprisingly sober. He comforted and reassured, and then reassured more that everything was okay, and the moment had come, the first of the twins, a girl, a good healthy weight. The queen screamed, and pushed for this second baby, the twin was stubborn. Vivi turned and gently placed his hand over the queen’s belly, emitting a faint orange glow, he muttered. “Come child, it’s time.” He instructed the head-house maid to put a little pressure on the queen's stomach on either side, and massage it. The queen screamed and pushed for what felt like a lifetime longer, her screams echoing through the palace, until what sounded like a faint pop, the baby was free, a boy with a head full of dark black hair. The king nodded towards a soldier at the doors, who in turn nodded towards a butler who ran through the palace, whipped open the balcony doors and shouted “A boy and a girl! Both healthy and thriving!” The populace roared and cheered in celebration.
From a dark corner on the corridor, there loomed Rubian, watching and listening intently.
