"Your highness. Which banner do you prefer? These represent our unity as a kingdom, and these represent the strength of our king." Christa translated.
Yavanna looked at the two different banners, one held the face of a deer with ivy growing around it, and words written on it in Noth. The other was a red flag with the king's crown stitched onto it. She tilted her head when she saw that they'd included the silver pinecones in the art.
Considering the two options, just as she had done for the previous hundreds, she said, "The first."
The servant nodded and rushed off to find his superior. Christa walked to the door, "There's still many more, your highness."
Yavanna nodded and stood. She stumbled slightly and Vivian caught her. "Thank you." She muttered as the lady in waiting slowly released her. "I think I need some fresh air." She walked to the door, the four women following behind her, "Oh, alone. Christa, could you please handle the decorations for a few minutes?"
"Yes, your highness." She curtsied and Yavanna left out the door.
The sun was setting and twilight would soon descend upon the trees. A few soldiers and servants were still walking about, lanterns in their hands. One of them offered her one and she gratefully accepted it. The servants' camp was off to the left of the chalet, while the coronation hall was to the right.
She followed her feet and found herself wandering around the large hall; her fingers danced along the backs of tree stumps that were now tables draped with lace and table cloths, over vases filled with flowers, ferns and decorative branches, and along the walls made of moss and tree branches. The glow bugs still illuminated the space slightly, casting an eerie glow across the grassy floor; while the lantern cast its warm light, bringing a honey coloured feel to the hall.
After feeling as though her mind had had enough time to declutter, Yavanna stepped from the hall and back into the woods. Twilight was fully upon them and her steps were unsure.
Her head snapped up from her feet when she heard a twig snap. She spun in a slow circle, the darkness smudging around her. Her lantern dropped from her hands and she jumped, her only light going out. She surveyed the ominous trees, her lips parting open nervously. She heard another snap and she spun around, her heart pounding painfully, engulfing her in her pulse.
She gasped in fear and felt a scream rise in her throat when she caught sight of something moving behind a tree. It stepped out and her scream died away.
"Are you the one?"
~~~~~~~~~~
Amory walked into the chalet for the first time during his being in the area. His wife's ladies in waiting were both huddled around the seating area and the table was set with a dinner that only half of his soul craved. He would need to quench his thirst sometime before the coronation ceremony.
After handing his cloak off to a servant, he sat down at the table to eat. Upon finishing his meal he stood and searched the area, using his senses, to find where his wife was. He looked at the ladies in waiting and listened as they whispered about his wife. She'd left just under an hour ago and was yet to reappear.
He sighed but did not waste time and simply called for Sir Greyson. The dutiful man arrived within moments and bowed, "Your majesty."
"Where is the queen to be?" He asked calmly, watching the man's reaction. He saw his eyes dart in momentary panic before composing himself.
"I'm afraid I don't know, your majesty. I will send out a search party at once." He replied and Amory nodded. Before he climbed the steps, he caught the knight's words as he began to assemble the search party.
His clothes were removed and he wondered what that woman had gotten herself into. First, she was kidnapped, next she roused a mob in his city, and then she was poisoned and drove the entire capital into a frenzy. He was just about to bathe when he heard a voice,
"What is this…? Who are you? This is another dream, just another dream…"
It became more frantic as it spoke. He rolled his shoulders beneath the fur robe and pulled his pants back on along with his boots before vanishing and appearing in the forest. The mist lay heavily around him and the trees were obscured. The moon was not as full as the last time he was out in the woods and the air felt… different.
Hearing a whispering voice to his right he turned quickly—his cloak sweeping away some of the mist—to see nothing but the trees.
Narrowing his eyes and sharpening his senses he ventured into the mist. He felt out of his element in this mist, even though he'd wandered the forests of Nothad many times. There was something off about it and he didn't like it.
"Who's there?"
He took a step back when he heard a female voice right ahead of him. The same one that had called him there. He had a feeling it was his wife, but he couldn't sense her, only hear her voice.
He peered forward, his eyes not used to straining, but the mist was interfering with his senses. He stepped forward and felt something surge through him before disappearing. A dull blue spark of light flashed in his vision before it returned to normal.
Another hushed whisper encompassed him and his brows furrowed as he tried to discern what they were saying.
"I don't know what you mean by that." He heard her voice say desperately. He looked forward and the mud parted slightly to reveal a doorway, of sorts. With careful steps he walked towards it and tilted his chin up in confusion at what he saw.
His wife stood in the middle of a stone circle. Across from where he stood, between two tall stones, was an identical set, with an identical person looking through it. 'What sorcery is this? No, not sorcery.' "Magic." He grumbled. He could smell it in the air and feel it on his skin.
Who was his wife speaking to? He scanned the entire circle of grass and could see no one. She raised her hands in exasperation at the air, "Stop saying that! I don't know what you mean."
He took a step forward to see if there really was someone there, his reflection on the other side of the circle moved as well. 'A mirror of sorts?' He guessed.
Her eyes snapped to him with a gasp. He could see her confused expression beneath the veil before she looked back to her left. "What is this place?" She asked.
He looked to her left and saw nothing but more reflections of him. Between each stone stood an exact replica of him; exact same expression and stance and appearance.
He looked away from one of his copy's eyes and back to his wife when she shook her head, "I-I… that doesn't make any sense." She took a breath before yelling once again, "Stop repeating that! Please." Her voice turned pleading.
So, his wife, and future queen, was a lunatic.