Elara descended down the few steps separating her from the garden.
Cassian who had been fixated on the toy in Maximillian's hand turned his head over towards her.
"Mmmama...mama!"
Maximillian put him down on then grabbed his hands to help him walk.
Elara raced to him, picking him up and smothering him in kisses.
"Did you miss me my love? For I missed you."
Maximillian stood behind smiling while picking up Roem who had been wondering by her feet.
"Come Triton,"she yelled out to her eldest child who was still running about the garden with the cats.
"Maximillian....I can not thank you enough."
She put her hand up, "He was an absolute angel!"
Elara shook her head, "All the things in the house....I can not express my gratitude enough."
Maximillian smiled while grabbing her sonTritons hand.
"It was my pleasure Elara truly. I have ordered more dresses for you. Sir Gabel couldn't tell me what you liked so I picked a few different styles. I hope you liked the ones I had put in the house."
Elara glanced down at her red dress, "They are all so beautiful, I love them."
"Then I am glad! My husband has a special seamstress come each month to make me new dresses. It's a tad overwhelming for me, though I appreciate it. So now I will be sure to have some made for you, as often as you would like. S-Shall we head to the dining hall? It will soon be time to eat."
Elara nodded in response and followed Maximillian back inside the castle.
By the time they had reached the hall, it was packed full of the knights.
Absolute silence fell over the room as the women walked in with their children.
Elara felt heat rise to her face.
Suddenly she spotted Gabel rise from one of the tables towards the back.
When she was close to reaching him, she saw him shove the large orange haired knight, Hebaron in the side, "Move over you big bastard!"
Hebaron smirked and moved his large frame down.
Gabel then held his arms out, "Here let me hold him."
Elara passed Cassian over, the. Sat in the chair Gabel had pulled out for her.
He pushed her in slightly, then took his seat again, placing Cassian on his lap.
The knights all around the room kept their gaze fixed on her.
Embarrassed, Elara glanced around the room searching for an escape.
Her eyes landed on Maximillian, who was approaching the head of the table where her husband Riftan Calypse sat.
Riftan stood from his chair and took Roem from his wife's arms. After pulling out her chair for her he ran his hand lovingly over his eldest son's head.
When Maximillian and Triton sat down he turned to face all the knights with Roem still in his arms.
"First, I will say thank you to my beautiful wife for preparing this feast for us tonight."
Some of the knights raised their cups to her in thanks.
"Here here!"
Riftan nodded, "Tomorrow the knights selected for the raid will be leaving at dawn. The rest of you will report to the training grounds immediately following their departure."
