Amelia Merlin

Part 104: Sir Schwann and Stone Garden

"How do you ride these damn things?" Jeremy grumbled. The party travelled on horseback through the Great Forest and it was really starting to frustrate him. Amelia had no issue with her horse, he was very sweet to her and listened to everything she had to say. Oliver was also managing fairly well but Al was by far the most skilled. He laughed as Jeremy nearly fell off and decided to go help him out.

"Don't be so tense. Relax a little bit." He chuckled as Jeremy glared at him.

The trees were bigger than anything Amelia had ever seen. Wider than a carriage and taller than mountains. There were giant nests that Amelia could see, Al told her the fairy people lived in them but she didn't believe him. They saw a herd of unicorns and Oliver swore he saw a Hippogriff flying above the trees but she didn't believe him either.

After a day of riding they reached the camp. Al said they had about a thousand in their army. Amelia thought that was quite a bit but apparently she was wrong. The group sat in a large tent with furs all over the floor. The north was much colder than she had thought it would be.  But luckily they had giant fur coats for her to wear, made of a soft white fur that she prayed wasn't bunnies but suspected that it was. Snow was falling around the tent and the ground was stiff and dense.

"My queen," Al said as he escorted a tall man inside the tent. "This is Sir Schwann, captain of your personal guard."

"Pleased to serve you, your grace. I pledge my sword and life to yours. I will protect you against any enemy. I will fight, kill and die for you."

Amelia was struck with how important she was to these people. Sir Schwann had just pledged a loyalty she wasn't going to take for granted.

"Thank you. Sir Schwann. I promise I will never ask anything that would bring you dishonour and I promise to show you the same loyalty you show me."

"Thank you, your grace." And he bowed out of the tent to stand guard outside.

"Seems dedicated. "Jeremy shrugged.

"Don't tease him." Amelia chastised. Then turned to Al, "When do we meet the Monatheon's?" She asked.

"Soon. Tomorrow, we've arranged for you to be there around midday."

"Where's 'there'?" She asked. "I didn't see any great city on our way in."

"It's about an hour north of here. The city is called Stone Garden. And the Monatheon's live at the heart of it in a place called Castle Rock."

Oliver burst out laughing. "Not very creative with their names are they?"

"They're northerners." Al rolled his eyes. "They don't care about creativity. They just call it what it is."

"Fair enough." Oliver nodded and smiled at Amelia. She agreed with him. The names seemed a bit stupid to her.

"Just so you know, Amelia, the northerners have a special name for you."

"Do they?"

"Emrys." (Em-ris)

"Emrys." She repeated. The word sounded foreign and odd on her tongue.

"It's the name they give to their protector."

"Who do they call Emrys right now?"

"No one. They haven't named Emrys in centuries."

"You can't be sure they'll name me, Al."

"Yes I can, your grace."

She sighed. "Should we get some sleep before we have to leave tomorrow?"

"Yes my queen." Al nodded and left with Jeremy. Oliver stayed behind.

"You know, I really hate the cold." He said.

"I don't mind it."

"You're tougher than me."

"I'm tougher than everyone." She teased.

"Sure."

Amelia and Oliver stared at each other for a moment.

"I'd better get going." He said.

"Please don't." She suddenly did not want to be alone.

"Okay."

"I can get them to bring a bed in for you."

"Nah it's alright. I'll take the chair."

"Okay."

"Goodnight Amelia."

"Goodnight Oliver."

Silence for a while.

"Are you awake?"

"Yes your grace."

"You don't need to call me that."

"I think it suits you."

"Thanks."

"You worried about tomorrow?"

"Dead frightened. What if it doesn't work out?"

"Then we can figure something else out. Don't worry about it."

"Thanks."

"Sure."

"I think I'd die if you weren't here."

"Please. I know you would."

"Shut up."

"Goodnight Amelia."

"Goodnight Oliver."

The next day they rode through Stone Garden. It really lived up to it's name. Everything was made of stone. But not a dingy grey colour, it was deep blue and black. There was something very intense about Stone Garden. It looked the way any fairy tale city looked, except more wild. Every tavern they passed was full of shouts and laughter, all the people were weathered and strong looking. Their clothes were boring and nothing interesting happened with their hair either. All the men had beards and the women all had braids.

Amelia and her party of friends along with Sir Schwann and his, (Al had insisted) made their way up the cobbled streets to Castle Rock. The people on the streets looked at her strangely, up there on her horse, Amelia could see their suspicious glances.

"They don't like me." She said to no one in particular.

"They don't even know who you are." Al said. "Just wait until they realize."

Amelia smiled and rolled her eyes at Al's confidence. It was a long way to Castle Rock but when they finally arrived it was worth the wait. The castle was a giant, looming beast overlooking the city below. It's towers were thick, black and tall with banners flying from the top. Looking at Castle Rock, Amelia knew why the Monatheon's controlled the north, and why they were some of the best warriors.

"Al, what's their sigil?" Jeremy asked.

"A bear. They get giant ones up here. It's a bit ridiculous how big actually. Taller than any Hippogriff and wide as a carriage."

"Impressive." Amelia said.

"Don't be too intimidated, your grace," Al consoled. "The Monatheon's may be strong and fierce and all that, but they're also idiots. A bunch of dumb brutes really."

"I don't understand how dumb brutes could rule the entire north." She said dryly.

"Nobody understands, trust me." He shrugged.

They arrived at the gates of Castle Rock and dismounted their horses. Al strode forward to meet the guards.

"We have a meeting with Roderick Monatheon." He said loudly.

"Who would see our lord?" The guard replied in a monotone voice.

"Her grace, Amelia First of her Name of House Merlin,  Majka of the Okami People and Rightful Queen of the Nine Cities. Ruler of Kalishterya and Daughter of Wolves."

The guard nodded and the gates swung open. Amelia walked in, with her friends and guards following. It was time to meet the man who would decide her future. For the first time since Amelia had arrived in Kalishterya, it felt real.