The Peace Offering

Chapter 2

I'm tired but too nervous to sleep and can't wait to finish this journey now that we're heading into Gratvia, it's evening already so hopefully we can have a quick dinner before retiring. The carriage is passing over cobblestones now as we're close to the capital but it's not making the carriage ride anymore comfortable. Adding to my discomfort is the new dress that I'm wearing isn't really made for sitting in a carriage, at least not comfortably, so I breathe a sigh of relief when we finally stop and I can hear Macario dismounting and greeting someone outside.

It's quiet outside for a moment, looking out the window I see that Macario is busy speaking to a man around his age wearing grand clothes, until all of a sudden the carriage door opens and a servant is extending a hand to help Lady Catherina and I exit. She leaves first, giving me a bit of extra time to compose myself before I follow after her gently placing my hand in the servants to join her on the ground, smoothing out my skirts after sitting for so long in them.

"Your Majesty, my sister Lady Beatriz Villaverde," Macario walks towards me taking one of my hands to pull me forward to present me to the man he'd been talking to since he'd dismounted, "Sister His Majesty King Fernán," I drop into a curtsy just as Lady Catherina had taught me to.

"Your Majesty. It's an honour to be here," I greet only rising from the curtsy at the King's signal.

"Lady Beatriz, it's good to meet the little sister of my dearest friend," He gives me a brief smile before turning back to my brother throwing his arm around Macario's shoulders with a massive grin, "Come my friend, I've had a feast prepared in celebration of your return to court."

Just like when Macario returned home I'm left trailing behind them, still an afterthought not that it surprises me. At least as I follow after them I can take in all the splendour of the palace and I have Lady Catherina with me. She walks next to me linking our arms to comfort me knowing how nervous I've been about our arrival.

I'm shaking slightly as Lady Catherina and I walk inside where I notice the number of people watching us, taking note of our every move looking for any sign of weakness. Luckily I feel Lady Catherina squeeze my arm slightly, a silent reminder to keep my head up and ignore them, with all of her training they won't find any problems, no weakness to exploit. Even knowing this though it doesn't help my nerves but at least it helps keep the shaking under control.

As the King said there is a feast ready and waiting for us when we walk into the great hall, there is more food being presented here than I'd usually get through in a few months at home. The King and my brother head straight to the head table taking seats next to each other, Lady Catherina leans in close to me.

"You'll be taking the other seat next to the King, it's expected as a guest of honour," She whispers into my ear before leaving me to take her own seat at one of the other tables. Keeping my head high I walk to join them at the head table sitting down in the empty seat next to the King when one of the footmen pulls the chair out for me.

"Now that Lord Macario and Lady Beatriz have arrived this feast can officially begin," The King announces, giving everyone permission to start eating. I take a small portion of the foods closest to me trying to stick to what looks familiar and luckily there is enough that I recognise to fill my plate. Just as Lady Catherina has taught me I keep my bites small as I eat but I make quick progress through the plate despite that as no one speaks to me. The King and my brother are more interested in talking to each other and the man sitting on my other side is focused on the food, piling his plate high and eating messily.

The feast goes on for a while with many of the men drinking more and more the longer it lasts. Even taking small bites it doesn't take me long to finish eating not wanting anymore after seeing how the man next to me is eating which has put me off eating more. As the hours go by people start leaving and once I see Lady Catherina stand ready to leave I do the same, she wouldn't be leaving unless an appropriate amount of time has passed. Being slightly drunk now the King and Macario don't even notice me leave, which I'm grateful for as since they started drinking they've been watching and making horrible comments about the ladies in the hall.