"My Queen!" A lean man fitted in the apparel of a royal guard came, throwing himself down at Queen Jensari's feet. "My Queen", he was apparently in great distress and it was obvious in his voice and how he rocked from side to side.
"Don't be afraid and speak". she commanded with an air of confidence.
"It is Princess Rwen, she left in a falcon carriage without any assistance".
"Stupid girl!" Alia muttered to herself, clenching her fists. The guard hastened to his feet to offer her a hand held telescope.
She took it and with a shade of unwillingness, glided over to the window to check what he had said. Sure enough, there was a large falcon struggling to carry its package. Alia sighed closing her eyes. Rwen was too much!
"My Queen we can not go after her!" Silverus began.
"I'm not planning to".
"Oh oh, then what should we do?" Alia had stopped suddenly and Silverus nearly overstepped. He came to an immediate halt and looked up to her.
Alia slitted her eyes at the drapes of the throne room.
"I must send someone I can trust". Her eyes fell on Elrod, and she made up her mind that very moment.
"Yes Elrod, we trust Elrod!" Silverus blundered.
"Your Grace", Elrod could not hide his astonishment at being addressed so formally by the queen and hastened to bow.
"Your royal highness".
She was quick and succinct in expressing her wish.
"The princess Dira, has taken a... falcon carriage without any assistance and I fear for her safety. If it were under other circumstances I would have gone to retrieve her myself but duty binds me here. I was wondering if you would be able to go and retrieve her... for me?" She smiled uncertainly.
Elrod blinked.
Then falling to one knee, "Straight away my Queen." he declared.
Hmm, Alia thought, she was beginning to love this level of command that came with being Queen!
She watched him leave on an oddly coated horse, then went to busy herself with her queenly duties.
The castle seemed even quieter with the departure of Rwen and Elrod, even though the shy boy kept to himself most of the time, her trust in him had make him, well his presence like a small sunbeam. Now, with Silverus keeping to the ward mostly, she felt and admitted it, really alone.
An error of the real Queen, Jensari. Alia had read over most of her accomplishments and what each of them had in common was Jensari's strong will to do everything on her own. The Dinning council was wisely assembled so as the gathered titles payed more attention to the delectables or even worst drank themselves to fools, so that their opinions were rather flawed or grossly absurd. Hence she would always have the last say. She was close to her people and her belief was that no one other than her had their best interest at heart. It was true that most of her ideas if not all, benefited the kingdom well but idle hands bred evil. And Alia saw herself making the same mistake. The kingdom did not need Queen Jensari, it needed a better version! Plus all the paperwork was yawn work!