Ferendolia

Allocutions

   Meredith had been surprised when Ivy shot her round of arrows.

Surprised, but pleasantly so.

   "Congratulations." she told Ivy, shaking her hand. She plastered on what she hoped was a rewarding but formal smile. 

   "...Thanks," the red-haired elf replied. She brushed the corkscrew curls from her face before going to join her friends.

   Meredith watched her, pinching the spark of envy that flickered in her belly.

oOoOoOo

  The Ringlet finished several hours later, and the students were sent home with intructions to eat and sleep in preparation for the coming assessments. Meredith lingered as she packed up her supplies, watching them leave with a guarded expression. She knew, in the back of her mind, why she stalled. That morning, her mother had approached her at breakfast with an invitation to meet her in the throne room after her lessons had finished. 

  The throne room. Meredith wondered. What could she want to tell me that would be so secretive? She pondered the question all the way back to the palace. The clack of her boots on the tile echoed as she trekked back to her room. She opened the door to see Alfie sleeping soundly on her bedspread, beak tucked under his tail. 

   "Alfie!" She prodded the amica awake.

   What? He asked groggily. Why did you wake me? 

   "The audience with mother," Meredith said in a half-whisper. "Remember?" 

    Alfie immediately sharpened. The invitation had ruffled his feathers just as much as it did hers. It's strange, isn't it? 

   "Definitely. Whatever she wants to discuss, she wants to discuss it in private," Meredith agreed. They both knew that the throne room was the most well-hidden place in the palace. Countless enchantments cloaked it from view, and countless more from damage or attack. It was easily the most guarded place in the entire city. 

   After taking a few moments to prepare, Meredith called for Alfie and together, the two made their way down into the depths of the palace. As they walked, they discussed their suspicions and speculations on the nature of their being called. Meredith felt a tugging at her mind. As she explored it, a vision of the man at the party flashed into her mind. Troubled, she allowed herself to descend into silent, thoughtful state while her feet carried them both through the hallways. She remembered the way solely out of habit, and checked herself several times throughout the journey, lest she take a wrong turn and find herself lost. Very few people knew the way through these halls, and Meredith just barley counted herself as one of them. 

   At last, she came to a stop before a grim stone statue. The statue was of the same material as the walls and floor, and displayed a tall elf that was neither male nor female. The elf had long tresses that cascaded down their shoulders. Even without the diamond piercing the elf's left ear, Meredith could tell that they were royalty by the horns that curved from their head. The elf's unseeing gaze was downward, and a book lay in its outstretched hand, as if offering it to whomever stood before them.

   She walked over to the statue, placed her hand on the book it held. After a brief moment, the statue began to melt. Heatless, the stone crumpled until it disappeared completely into the floor, as if it was never there. Where the statue had been, there was now a regal archway. Meredith stepped inside. The statue gathered itself from the tiles and reformed itself behind her, leaving her alone.