Journey of the Half-Elf - Book 1

Chapter IV - The Banquet

The last messenger had left.

"Oh, that felt like forever," Guinevere exclaimed out loud as she dropped her forehead down on her upright forearm, not realising she'd smudged her eyebrows, making them now look patchy once again.

After speaking with Gaiagan, Aeledwyn returned to her daughter, but before speaking she immediately noticed what she had done.

"Oh you silly girl, what did you do? It took ages to fill those in.
You know what, nevermind. Dinner's ready so no one will care, everyone will be drunk anyway. Come on, let's go eat." She extended her hand to pull Guinevere up off the chair.
"I bet you're starving, Gwinna. So am I," her mother told her as they walked out of the living room and into the dining hall.

"You still haven't given me my book back, you know. I was getting to the best part." The young Princess made Aeledwyn aware of.

"I know, Korilla's Justice is in my room. You can have it when this is over." She replied. "For now, we eat and drink. But before that, tell me about your presents. What's going to decorate our walls from this day forward?"

"Uh... well, I can't exactly remember how many there were, but some of the gifts were a bit strange, especially since I don't really have a use for them, they're just good for decorating the Manor. I think the first one was a... black gauntlet?"

Aeledwyn instantly knew what she was referring to. "Ahh, you're thinking of General Milaerith's gauntlet, right?"

"Yeah... wait, how did you know?" Guinevere grew curious.

"How did I know? Gwinna, the Final Fight of General Milaerith is known by countless Elves across the Great Isle, in fact many humans know it too.
Remember I told you about those rumours, of monster-hunters that wandered the land, killing beasts for coin?" The Queen asked her daughter.

"Yes, I remember. Why?"

"That gauntlet, became so black and scarred because it was relentlessly cut and set alight by one of those monster-hunters. General Milaerith towered above most of his fellow Elf warriors, which makes his death all the more saddening. His immense strength and size should've kept him alive, but alas, they did not.
His death serves as a tale for all other Elves to follow, including you, my dear.
Never let yourself be blinded by pride. The larger your ego grows, the more it obscures your vision. Understand?"

"Yes, Mother, I do."

They both reached the doors of the dining hall, which had already opened and been entered by the rest of the family.

"That's my girl..." Aeledwyn caressed her rosy cheek with a pearly white smile.
"Ahh, to think you once barely fit in my arms. And now, you stand at a solid 6ft. 16 years have flown by, haven't they?"

"6ft is still shorter than you, Mother." Guinevere responded.

"That's because... you get your height from your father..." Aeledwyn tried to slowly say with a straight face, before bursting into laughter, causing her daughter to start too.

"This smile, right here." Her mother now focused on Guinevere's dark red lips. "Keep this up, as often as you can. This world will throw everything it can at you to bring it down. Live, despite everything that comes your way."

"Thank you, Mother. Where did you learn all this advice from? You know so much about so many things. I want to be like you when I'm older." The 16-year old wondered and confessed.

"I'm 64, Guinevere. I may not be as old as some of our other family members, but it's old enough for me to learn most of the important things in life. But, then again, age doesn't necessarily equal wisdom and experience. A person can learn many things in a few years or months of living life.