Theo

THE BEGINNING JOURNEY

Waking up slowly my body exhausted from the emotional roller coaster I've been on, I stretched slowly with the sun shining in softly just barely rising. I had just rubbed my eyes looking at the rugged man in front of me in the mirror sighing looking at all the dirt on me. My hair was a mess and dirty growing too long for me. Dirt was smudged on my face gosh how I must have looked in front of his majesty.

A knock sounded on my door and I walked over to it opening it slowly. Cathy stood there grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Come on deary, we have to get you ready for the day. You need a bath and I chose some clothes for you to wear I made myself. You're going to love them," she exclaimed excited.

I let her in and saw what she meant. In came two other servants carrying a blue black shirt the sleeves cut off on the biceps of the arm also came a pair of pants with the same coloring. That's when I also noticed a white stripe twirling slowly from the back of the shirt around the front and down the same way as the pants. It created a swirl pattern of black, blue, and white my families colors.

Cathy took my hand and led me out with the two servants following to the washing rooms. Only the family was allowed to wash here since Velma took over. I hated the rule so I never washed here, but in the cold creek were everyone else washed. It seems my father insisted I wash here today.

We walked inside and the steam was rising to the top of the place off the water in the giant pool almost. I undressed and slowly climbed in the warm water. Women and men of nobility usually washed in here and talked.

Cathy handed me cloth and soap and I began to wash my body slowly as they all looked away and then she washed my hair getting the grime and dirt out of it. When she finished, I climbed out slowly wrapping myself in a towel looking into the mirror in there seeing my hair gloss from the shampoo and conditioners Cathy used. She came over and trimmed it as well the way I liked it with the sides shorter than the top.

Once she finished, I pulled on my shirt and it hugged my chest and shoulders. The pant hugged me in the right places as well, but I moved with ease in them as if they weren't even there. Next I felt something cold land against my collarbone and I looked down seeing my mother's black, blue, white gem lay against my skin the colors swirling slowly. I wiped my eye seeing it and the last piece of clothing they put on me was a dark blue cloak with fur on the hood. It was starting to cool down quickly as the summer ended and fall came closer.

Cathy smiled appraising me as she led me out. We headed to the dining hall were everyone else was. My father stood up when he saw me and everyone followed quickly. You could hear gasps as everyone looked at me. Blushing bright red, I saw the king and his son even stand up. Everyone's eyes seem to shine and admire me even Velma who sat on my father's right seem to admire how I looked.

Cathy let me go while my father motioned for me to sit by him on his left and I walked over sitting slowly in the chair. Sitting down for me was awkward because everyone only sat after I did even the king and his son waited. That isn't a normal occurrence. I shook my head confused by it all, but breakfast went on being served.

I looked around realizing I saw some of the tables just a little lower than ours filled with the servants and slaves eating. Velma watched disgusted by it, but otherwise no one else cared.

Finally the king spoke at the head of the table on my left. I had sat right by his majesty between him and my father while his son sat right across from me. He looked at me and smiled saying, "I believe we haven't been properly introduced. I am Richard the fourth Dragonheart though I suppose you knew that. However, my son's name is James Dragonheart. What is your name?"

"My names Theo Lockheed your majesty," I bowed my head to him slightly as he acknowledged it.

He didn't speak to me again, but to my father. They spoke of many things the war, the hunts, the elves and dragons, of the army and how my father was the only man his majesty trusted with his men with the exception of James.