Allegiance

Chapter 51

The sitting room in the elven royal palace was beautiful and prominent. The light gray wood flooring contrasted nicely with the white walls, which were decorated with various landscape paintings. Potted plants were situated in the corner, and a sizeable gray-stone fireplace was built against the wall. Three white leather couches were situated inside the room in the shape of a U.

Eleanor was seated on the right couch facing the fireplace, deeply immersed in the book she was reading. Alice and Merial sat together on the middle couch, looking over images of different types of decorations. Tessia and Sylvie sat on the left couch. Sylvie was busy watching the flames inside the fireplace while Tessia stared out the window.

Tessia could see it was starting to be late as it was beginning to become dark outside. She looked toward the grandfather clock standing beside the fireplace, seeing it was half past six. She took a deep sigh, trying to calm her racing mind.

"Oh," Alice said, mesmerized by the picture in her hand. She held out the picture to show Merial, "What about this one? I love how they decorated the tables with the runners and centerpieces."

Merial looked up from the image she was holding, eyeing the one in Alice's hand. She smiled contently and nodded, "Oh yes, that is beautiful. In fact," Merial placed the image she was holding down and started to shift through the pictures she had scattered on the white coffee table before her. She picked one up, showing it to Alice, "These chairs here would go great with the tables."

"Oh, these are perfect," Alice commented. She held her image up beside Merial's as they both eyed them simultaneously. "You're right. They do go together perfectly."

"Good," Merial held out her hand, and Alice gave her the picture of the tables. She placed the two pictures in a pile she had to her right. "Two more things taken care of."

Tessia's eyes flicked to her mother and Alice, seeing them smiling brightly as they continued to shift through the photos. "Are you sure I can't help?" Alice and Merial looked up at Tessia curiously, and Tessia gave them a small smile. "I could use the distraction."

Merial chuckled and smiled warmly, "By elven law, it is the parents of those to be married who plan the wedding, sweetie." Meiral looked down and shifted through more photos, "Besides. I want this to be a good surprise for when you finally see it all put together."

"Don't worry," Alice shot Tessia a wink. "We'll make sure it's beautiful."

Tessia smiled a little, but she couldn't hold it. She looked back at the clock, her smile fading, and she whispered, "If there even is a wedding."

Merial and Alice stopped what they were doing, and their heads shot up toward Tessia with looks of concern. Eleanor's eyes left the page she was reading and she lowered her book, looking at Tessia. Sylvie, who was looking at the dancing fire, flicked her eyes to Tessia, seeing her nervously sitting there.

Merial gave Tessia a small, consoling smile, "You can't think like that, sweetie."

"Merial is right," Alice said reassuringly. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

Tessia's sighed, nervously twiddling her thumbs. She looked at her mother and Alice with a doubtful gaze, "How can you be so sure? They've been in there for hours." Her eyes fell to the ground. "What if the elders don't accept him?"

Merial placed the images down, clasped her hands together, and leaned forward, "While I admit this is taking rather long, it is something to be expected." Tessia looked at her mother with a raised brow. "While your father, grandfather, and I are accepting of Arthur, some elders may not be. He has to prove himself to them." Merial chuckled a little. And some elders are more stubborn than others."