As the doors opened, a long table which held a grand feast upon it came into view. Surrounding it were people whom I assumed to be the nobles of both Amir and Aerindal Amongst those nobles were those from Krantz; few of which I recognized. Walking into the room where the banquet was held a lively aura permeated the air.
Nobles from different kingdoms were chatting amongst each other and bringing up various topics such as culture, rumors, or who was the most influential noble. Beyond the table which held the feast were seats which looked quite grand and exalted. Sitting on the seats was my father, Eldrin, and a person wearing clothes similar to a robe. With a cloth covering his face, he wore a crown which had a figure of a golden scorpion. He was most likely the king of Amir. The three kings seemed to be chatting vibrantly as well. I was confused as to why everybody had arrived earlier than me. I was pretty confident that I arrived at the set time for the banquet, but it seems that I might have been the last to arrive.
Looking towards the direction of the kings, Eldrin noticed me and stood up from his seat. He then clapped his hands two times and emitted a sound of a bell through use magic. The chatter slowly died down and the king proceeded to make an announcement.
"Prince Regil has...arrived! We kings have...decided to send your...invitation with a delayed...time. We wanted the...future king of both Aerindal...and Krantz to be greeted...by a sense of liveliness to which...I hope you can forgive. The instance of...this banquet, is...partly thanks to you. The king of Krantz...has told me how...you vehemently fought for the...truce to be accepted. We thank you...for greatly contributing," Eldrin then proceeded to stand, and with arms raised, he announced in a regal manner, "Now, that the prince is...here, let the true banquet begin!"
As though time started to begin again the nobles who were silent during his speech quickly became jubilant again.
Walking around the room I came across a man wearing garbs to that of the Amir. He wore a cloth which wrapped around his face but left space for his eyes and mouth. On his head, he wore a small silver crown with a figure of a scorpion on it. Behind him, was a smaller person who wore similar clothing but instead of a gold or silver crown, he had a bronze one. Putting a hand on his chest and bowing, the person wearing a silver crown proceeded to introduce himself.
"Greetings, Prince Regil. I am the first prince of Amir. You may call me Adhar."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance Adhar. I have heard about your prowess in battle and for that I must commend you."
"Thank you for your compliments, I'm quite honored to have been complimented by someone as worthy as me. I too have heard great feats to come from you. You have never been bested in battle and prevailed through only sheer swordsmanship. I have also heard some other rumours according to some of the nobles, that you have never showed your true strength."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, yes. The nobles say that you have never used magic other than a simple shield spell. Of course, rumours are rumours it could be that you have no magic or really are just hiding your power. Well, whatever the reason it is a shame that I never got to battle you. However, If you do feel like it, we should have a duel sometime.
"I'll think about it"
"Yes, please do. It would be great for our people to watch what could be the greatest duel ever fought. I mean, it is the least you can do to appeal to your people. Aside the rumours of your glory, I did hear that the royal family might be hated by their own people. Tell me, is that true?"
"I can't say, I have been busy attending to other matters. As you said though, rumours are rumours."
"Oh well, it was nice meeting you. A shame that my kingdom couldn't participate in the war often. How senile my father has gotten. Well it is what it is. Both your kingdom and Aerindal are quite lucky we didn't intervene as much, you could have both lost the war to us." Adhar smirked and left, holding a glass of wine in his hand.
Adhar turned and left, proceeding to talk to other nobles. His brother who I assume to be the second prince of Amir since he wore a bronze scorpion bowed to me and promptly left for his brother.
He was quite the cunning and terrifying person I thought. He was right though, if Amir had intervened in the war both kingdoms could have lost. I thought back to the words of Alvor and agreed with what he said. It was my first time meeting him, but he left quite the impression on me.
I looked around the room but I didn't find the princess of Aerindal. It was the point of the banquet to get acquaintanced with one another but I didn't see her. As I walked around I caught the attention of some nobles and was approached a couple of times. I began to think that maybe the princess was sick and couldn't attend the party, so I decided to speak to the nobles interested in speaking to me. I spoke with the nobles about many things and answered their questions as best as I could. Questions regarding about how I would rule both kingdoms or feats of battle often came up. After a while I got tired answering all these questions and the more I spoke the more nobles would start to take interest. Looking around the room I found a door aside from the door from which came here. Excusing myself from the nobles I headed towards the door.
Opening the door, it was revealed that it led to a balcony which laid a great view of the capital. What caught my attention however, was the person on the terrace. I looked towards her. It was who I was looking for. I wanted to get on good terms with her since my future would be beside her. However, things might not turn out the way I wanted them too.
"Are you going to shut the door?" she said in quite a cold manner.
"I will do so." Promptly closing the door, I entered the balcony.
Moments of silence passed by as I looked at the great view the balcony had to offer. It was serene and much different on the balcony than inside the banquet hall.
I didn't know what to say to her. This wasn't the first time we met. When we did meet, it would probably bring up bad memories for her but also me. Still gazing at the scene before me the silence was finally broken.
"Why did you spare me?" she asked with a hint of bitter resentment in her voice.
With this question she had brought up the very memory I didn't want to bring up. The memory in question was something I could remember vividly.
It happened during the final battle fought between Aerindal and Krantz. Before the battle was fought, an earlier truce proposal was sent to Krantz by Aerindal. My father got enraged by this and formed a bigger army that exceeded that of any sent in the past battles against Aerindal. My father mustered this army in the hopes of ending the war with a victory but, that however didn't happen. Both sides lost a sizeable amount of troops and resources. And, amidst that battle is where I lost my dear friend.
After he had been struck by a boulder, killing him, I lost control of my emotions. I couldn't think clearly at the time and was indignant; unknowing of where to point that resentment at. Out of pure spite I mercilessly killed the enemy and then I spotted her. She was commanding her soldiers and was in control. Pointing my spite towards her I ran towards her direction killed her bodyguards and bested her. As she was sprawled on to the floor I pointed my bloodied sword towards her throat. Despite the rain that poured on that day, I could remember her words clearly. She told me to kill her as if to dare me. I, in the end, could not. The reason being was because as she lied there on the floor, I could hear her sobbing behind her helmet. At that realization I came to my senses, uttering a faint apology as I sheathed my blood tainted sword. She reminded me of a man from Aerindal who had saved my life. That person too was in tears before his life ended. It was the reason I decided to end this war.
"Are you going to answer my question or not?!"
"Sorry, I will. I never meant to kill anybody but, I did. I understand fully well of the lives I damaged that day. But-"
"Do you truly understand the lives you damaged? Amongst those lives you took were those of my bodyguards who were like family to me. Since the day I was born they stood by my side. I watched them die as you cut them down one by one. Folmar, Ellisar, Cyran..."
She continued to name a few more names of her bodyguards. Amongst those names was one I was familiar with. It was then I truly did understand what I did and regret ensued. Looking to the sky I thought of an answer to give her.
"I am truly sorry for killing your guards. I wish I was able to stop the war but I wasn't able to."
"Then why fight?
"I chose to fight because I had to. I as an individual did not want to participate in the war but, although I don't want too I also represent the kingdom. If I were to not fight, who would my kingdom place their trust on? I have to uphold the honor of my kingdom and act as its sword."
"I heard many things about you. When you were starting to appear on the battlefields you were merciless. Then a few years later I heard different things about you. I heard of reports of soldiers who had fought you but were merely knocked out. I don't understand what you were trying to do. After hearing these reports I didn't believe them. Then the reports started to come in more often of spared soldiers that fought you. It was then that I finally chose to believe the reports and hoping for a chance at a truce I sent a proposal. But, I was wrong. Instead, it only seemed to anger Krantz."
"I didn't hear about the proposal till later. I didn't make it in time to convince my father to accept before he rallied his troops. I'm really am sorry that I didn't end the war Krantz started but, believe me, I will unify both kingdoms in the hopes that they prosper."
"I hope you can stay true to your word. I want to believe you but I can not. The moment when you act upon your words will be the time I believe you."
"I won't disappoint."
Again followed another length of silence. Gazing back into the landscape of forests and rivers the silence then again was again broken by her.
"Did you enjoy the food?"
"I haven't tried. I was busy talking to the nobles. Also, the helmet makes it difficult to eat."
"Quite unfortunate."
"By the way, why are you here alone on the balcony?"
"I enjoy the silence and the encompassing view of the forest and I already talked to the other nobles if that's what you mean."
I looked at the moon and it was around the 9th moon cycle. It was time to leave for Krantz again.
"It seems that it is time for me to return home. Thank you for believing in me before and I hope to gain that trust again. Allow me to properly introduce myself. Pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Regil Krantz, the first prince of Krantz" extending my hand she shook it and introduced herself
"Pleased to meet you Regil Krantz, I am Aeryl, the first princess of Aerindal."
After introducing ourselves I left the balcony and was escorted back to outside of Tanathil where my original guards awaited me. They seemed to have enjoyed their stay at Tanathil, judging by the energetic conversations they were having. Alvor noticing me exit the gates approached me.
"So how was it?" Alvor asked.
"It was fine. I met the prince of Amir and he was just as you said, cunning. How was your stay here?"
"The people of Tanathil took care us well. Our soldiers have packed the supplies are you ready to leave for Krantz?"
"Yes."
"On we go then."
As I mounted my horse and made way to Krantz, I thought upon the expectations required of me.
"What a stressful future has been laid upon me" I thought, sighting.
After following the road, no notable occurrences happened, and we made it in one piece.