Alia floated into the small store room, casting a spell of reverence upon the motley group gathered there. Apart of this group, where Silverus, her butler, Elrod, a duke of Gauberhodgy, Netly, his apprentice and a few new faces. She stood at the door for a moment, her radiance shinning upon their humbled postures. Alia was clothed in a fine gown of royal purple, fitted with golden sequins and hemmed in silky gold. And the crown glittered in the candle lighting. Yes she wore the crown. As in her research, Queen Jensari was seldom sighted without it.
She greeted them with a pleasant smile before entering and taking her stand at the head of the roughly cut, board table.
"I assume you all know the reason why I have called you here. Silverus have spoken on behalf of your fidelity and I wish to congratulate you personally. I will also award you publicly so that all can see the rewards of the faithful". She turned to each in turn. "Elrod, son of Eldon".
"It is my joy o queen!"
"Netly", she placed a gloved hand on the great beast's shoulder.
"You honor me my Queen".
"Continue in good works". With this, she exited the stuffy room taking her radiance along with her.
The rest of the week was spent sparingly between her meeting with the dinning council and preparations for the award ceremony. The council had all stood in favor of the ceremony and it was agreed that it should be held in the town square, so that none should exclude themselves from attending.There were minstrels to hire and songs to choose, decorations to hang. And to who did these duties belong? Alia listened to a string of songs that all sounded the same to her. But started a huge disagreement between Elrod and Silverus. She had to settle the dispute by making the final call. She chose one of each. Then there was the decorations, she was shown shades after shades of the same colors and given all the possible reasons why every one was the better, till her eyes were too tired to look or her ears to listen and she retired with a stifled yawn, stating she would think further on it. Then there was the invitations to write to Delorel and a taller stack of deeds and declarations to sign. Conceivably, being royalty had its bite!
She was just dosing, chin resting in her palm, quill still in hand, when there was a short rap on the door.
"What? Who?". She started.
"It is I, Oldin. I simply wanted to make certain that you received these documents".
"Oh!" she stifled another yawn "Just place them here, I'll see to them right away!" She perked up with a smile.
"Busy day! I can't blame you if you are a little tired, perhaps I could be of assistance, there is a letter here from Gauberii, it is in its native tongue of which I am very fluent...".
"Tired? I am fine, I assure you! No no I can do it".
"Ah just like my Queen to refuse help". He turned tail and dismissed himself curtly.