Red

Twenty-Five.

"I'm sorry Court." I spoke as soon as we stepped in and I set the journal down.

"Don't apologize. You don't have anything to apologize for." Court said running a hand through his hair.

"I didn't think I was going to upset him." I murmured and Court looked at me.

"If you have questions please come to me next time. I'll answer anything you want or at least wait for me to come over. I don't want something like that happening again." Court told me and I nodded as he turned to me and hugged me.

I was a bit surprised when his arms wrapped around me and he pulled me into him. But I let him and stood there silently before hugging him back. Court let out a relaxed breath as he nuzzled his head on mine.

"Can I see the journal?" Court asked and I nodded as he let me go and I handed it to him. "Where did you find this?" Court asked as he went flipping through it.

"When I was looking through Lyell's books, I found it. It was the most interesting to me." I told him and Court nodded as he set the journal down before walking over to me. I looked up at him as I held the ends of my blue cloak.

"We can go back out if you desire." Court told me as he stopped in front of me.

I nodded and he offered me his hand which I accepted before following him back out where the rest of his pack and Thorin's were still celebrating the feast. Court held my hand as we walked out back into the center of the action.

Lotus was standing next to Thorin's sister getting her some food. "Where is Thorin?" Ivory asked Lotus who turned to her.

"He left to get Lycidas." Lotus told her as Court led us over to one of the seating areas and we sat down. He snapped his fingers and a younger wolf brought over some of the roasted lamb and then Court asked for more wine.

Court handed me a glass of wine which I accepted from him. The wine was a deep red color as I twirled it around in the glass before taking a sip from it.

I hadn't had any alcoholic beverages before. My parents rarely bought them and if they did, I never got any. I was used to it though. But I felt bits of happiness twirling in me as I sat next to Court sipping the wine.

The wine has a nice flavor to it. I enjoyed the taste. I set the cup down to eat some more of the roasted lamb before Court's arm wrapped around me and I looked over at him in surprise. Court smiled at me as he turned back as Xerxes came over.

He had taken out the pies I had made and now people were heading over to eat them. I kept my hands in my lap holding the wine as a large white wolf with black on its back in a saddle pattern trotted past.

Court's fingers pushed into the cloak as I looked up at him. He smiled at me before waving over some of the pie.

Seeing him in this environment was both amazing and a bit terrifying. With Lyell and Xerxes, he seemed much more laidback but still held an air of confidence and dominance. As of now all he had to do was wave a hand or snap his fingers and someone would bring him something.

Although from what I could tell the ones bringing him things had to be lower ranked. They held their heads lower and didn't stop to talk with Court. 

After a slice of pie, I saw Thorin come back followed by Lycidas who was in wolf form. Thorin was also in his wolf form. The two were stark contractions against each other.

Thorin is solid black save for a few strands of white around his muzzle. Lycidas is bright auburn colored like his red hair. Lycidas looked around the place and his golden eyes settled on me before one of his ears went back. Thorin bumped him lightly before he came over and shifted before putting back on his clothes.