"Are you alright if I drop the formalities Queen Vanity?" Spoke the elven man sitting across from Vanity in her own bedroom. Mordeki standing just behind her.
"You've already visited a lady in her own room, and a queen at that. I think we are well past formal, Elias Winshire." Vanity spoke in jest, having a cheerful grin across her face.
"This may be your room, but this is still my domain. Wouldn't you agree a king should have access to his whole house?" King Winshire replied in a similar fashion. He pulled at his silver and blue beard that matched his straight long hair.
"Everywhere but his queen's private quarters!" They both laughed. Vanity had a drink of her tea as Elias began again.
"It's so nice to speak with a noble and not have to put on a royal face. It's so exhausting."
"I agree. I know we are called 'rulers' but we are more like servants of the people. We break our backs to make sure no one is starving or getting stolen from."
"Is that why you go by Queen Vanity rather than Queen Talvadi?" Elias takes a drink from his cup.
"That is part of it. It's also to say that 'I' rule the land, not my family."
"Second successor problems?" Elias lifted his cup forward.
"Second successor problems..." Vanity said dejected as she clinked her tea cup against Elias's as a toast to the 'second' children.
Vanity had been meeting with the king of Arkheim for the past few days since they got the news of the war. Mostly formalities, such as why a queen was summoned as the legendary hero. She told Elias all about her country as well as the ordeal with Thace. In return Elias spoke of his family. His late brother, the first king, Altian Winshire, as well as his sister, the court witch and blood seer Julia Winshire. He didn't neglect to mention his human wife Kivara or his two half-elf sons Prince Hawthorn and Prince Garam.
"Mordeki, please sit. You're dampening the mood standing there like a sentry."
"As you wish your majesty." Mordeki took his place next to Vanity.
"Didn't he say to drop the formalities?" Vanity said playfully as she scratched under Mordeki's chin. He resisted the urge to tap his foot against the ground. Elias laughed.
"You seem to be very doting to your court mage? I wish I could for Zack, but he acts like such a fool, and I can't have a single conversation with him without him trying to ask for my sister's hand in marriage." Elias complains as he refills his and Vanity's tea cups, as well as pouring a new one for Mordeki.
"Do you have the laws that allow you to marry her off?" Vanity stops scratching and starts rubbing her knuckles into his scales. Mordeki is content.
"I do! But I never would! I'm doing it for Zack's sake. Just between you and me..." Elias leans forward to talk quietly. "Julia has almost sucked her last three boyfriends dry. I had to personally rescue them and pay them off with 'sorry my sister tried to eat you' gold."
"How scandalous!" Vanity giggled as she went back to scratching. "But yes, I do dote on my court mage, but that's because Mordeki here has been my guardian and only friend for my entire life." Her voice grew sad, but she kept the smile.
"Really, no tea parties with the other noble girls? No going out to buy fancy dresses?" Elias questioned as he leaned back into his chair.
"Oh no, I did do the whole fancy dress thing, but my mother hated it as I'd always try to get some for Mordeki. Apparently dresses with frill holes in the back can't be stitched up easy nor returned."
"Is that true Mordeki?" The king looked over to lizard still enjoying himself.
"Any -- thing..." His tail slams along the couch as Vanity's nail hits 'the good spot.' "...for my -- Queen."