The Feast and the Ball

[QueenTeleperien]

At last the household of the queen returned to Eldicor. At once preparations for a celebration feast and ball were started. Under the guidance of indomitable Constance the castle was being turned upside down. Constance had been Teleperien’s personal maid and erstwhile housekeeper since Teleperien took the throne. A matronly woman, strands of grey flecked her brown hair and aside from an occasional ache from her rheumatism she showed no sign of slowing down.

“Take care no’ tae drop th’ banner!” She shouted across the Great Hall to a pair of young servants. They had climbed a ladder to hang a large banner that bore the emblem of Eldicor. Great folds of white threatened to overwhelm them and topple backwards onto the stone floor. Awkwardly, the servants tried to raise the thick ash pole that the banner would hang inside large iron hooks that was imbedded in the wall.

“Nae!” She shouted as she marched across the flag stone floor. “Ye’ll kill yerselves.”

A set of chuckles came from the door. Constance spotted two guards watching this with great amusement. At once the guards tried to look busy. She pointed at them. “Ye’ dunna have anything tae do? Y’ can help.”

Smiles fading, they reluctantly followed her. They almost ran into her when Constance suddenly halted, waved her arms and barked out an order to the fleet of maids who were polishing the tables and chairs.

Under her gentle tutelage they managed to hang the banner. It unfurled to show the gold tree with the Star of Elbereth atop the tree. They stopped to admire their handiwork. Even Constance was pleased with how it looked.

“It is beautiful is it not?” Came a soft voice behind them. “My heart always beats with love when I look upon it.”

All five turned at once. The guards bowed hand upon breast and retreated back to their posts. The two young servants could only stand mouth open, eyes wide. Tele stood there gazing at the banner then focused her attention on the two young servants and smiled.

“You are Pieter?” Tele asked the one a little taller than the other. He had been with the castle staff for a few years and Tele had seen him grow from an awkward adolescent to an awkward young man. She liked him. Pieter bowed. Tele then focused on the second servant.

“And you are…?” Tele paused, she’d seen him before but didn’t learn his name. He looked about the same age of Pieter when he first started his service. Pieter straightened. “Thi’ is m’ brother Stephen or ‘Fen’ for short.” ‘Fen’ blushed up to the roots of his bright red hair. Constance came to the rescue and sent them off to fetch another banner.

“Lady, y’ canne come an’ distract m’ help.” Constance scolded. Two maids paused from their labor and looked up with surprise at the way Constance spoke to the queen. Constance caught their eyes and they immediately bent to their work, a little more vigorously than before then turned back to Tele. “Dunna ye hav’ a gown t’ fit?”

“I do. But the seamstress has not arrived yet.”

“If y’ are idle.. Lady.. mayhaps ye’ kin help.” Constance held out a tin of polish and a rag.

Tele laughed. “Very well, I understand. I will announce my arrival with fanfare next I come to inspect your handiwork.”

Constance shooed the queen out of the hall. As Tele walked away she heard.. “Stop yer gaping an’ git back t’ work.”

Tele couldn’t help but laugh.

[Erwyn]

Xenograg groaned, putting his head in his hands. Erwyn, Amanda and Mystic were too distracted and excited by the return of the household to concentrate. The normally quiet halls were filled with people and activity. Of course the word of a feast and ball had reached the girls. It was impossible to get them to focus on their lessons.

“Outside. All three of you to work off this energy.” Xenograg says with resignation.

This was exactly what Erwyn wanted. The first heavy snow of the season had left a blanket of white and it was just begging for snow angels and snowball fights. Bundled against the cold they burst into the courtyard. Their shouts and giggles echoed against the courtyard walls. Soon snow was flying in every direction. No one was safe. When Teleperien looked out to discover the source of the commotion, snowballs were hurled in her direction.

“Erwyn!” Tele shouts between snowballs “Is this the way a princess behaves?”

Erwyn’s face drops in disappointment. Amanda and Mystic drop their snowballs and looked chastised as well. Tele steps out and with a stern face says; “You must use better aim!”

With the speed that comes with practice with sword and bow Tele scooped up a snowball and hurls it at Erwyn, breaking with a soft ‘plat’ on her cloak. At once the snow starts flying again.

Philippe now hearing the snowball fight steps outside to investigate. At once snowballs fly at him.. hitting him face, arm and back. He stops and wipes the snow from his eyes and nose.

“Ah.. Philippe.” Tele says with an impish smile. “You have walked into our target practice.”

[Xenograg]

Xenograg is wise enough to watch from inside the palace where he is both warmer and quite protected behind glass. He reminds himself once again that his three students are young and full of life. They are studious enough on most days; this one can easily be forgiven.

Amanda looks up at the window and blows a kiss to her father. Seeing this, Mystic waves to him before running back into the fray. Xenograg smiles and waves back to them.