Amelia Merlin

Part 107: Moira Monatheon and The Hunt

"I can't believe you're making me go on this thing." Oliver huffed.

"She's making all of us." Jeremy grumbled along with him.

"Explain to me the point of you people being here if you're not here to support me?" Amelia placed her hands on her hips.

"Free vacation?"

She threw a pillow at Oliver's head. After they finished packing, Amelia put her white cloak on and they exited the tent. Their horses were waiting for them and they rode to the land outside of Stone Garden where the Monatheon's were waiting.

"Your grace!" Roderick yelled and Amelia waved. "Fine morning isn't it?"

"It's lovely." She agreed and they set out towards the forest. A harsh wind blew across the open field. The rolling hills span as far as the eye could see. There was a vastness about the North that Amelia adored. The tree line was about a mile away so they hunting party rode casually towards it.

Moira trotted up beside her. "Might I accompany you on this trip, your grace?"

"I would love that." She smiled and Moira returned the favor. "Oliver, would you go talk to Don?"

He glared at her playfully and did as she asked.

"He's quite handsome." Moira pointed out.

"Yes, he is."

"My brother thinks you're going to marry him." She said abruptly.

"What!" Amelia opened her mouth.

"Sorry. But it's true. He and father think you'll want to secure the north by marrying him. But they're idiots."

"They're not so bad-"

"Believe me, they are. But it's okay, they're also harmless."

Amelia laughed. "That seems like a fair assumption."

"If you want to secure the north, marriage isn't a bad idea."

"I'm not marrying your brother."

Moira laughed. "I didn't mean for you to. I meant, marry him off to someone else. Rose Dellisandro for instance. Her family has a city along the east coast and her father is ridiculously rich. Marry the two of them and you'll secure the entire eastern coast."

"And you think the Dellisandro's will go for this?"

"I know they will. They haven't had a good match in years and Braxton is the best they could hope for." She said confidently.

"I don't even know how I would go about arranging that."

Moira smiled. "Let me handle it. I can manipulate father easily enough into doing it."

"Thank you, Moira." Amelia felt a kindness in her that her other family members seemed to lack.

"Anything for your grace."

"Please call me Amelia."

They entered the woods finally and the men galloped up ahead where the dogs had caught a scent. Amelia stayed behind with Moira and laughed as Jeremy fell off his horse and Al had to help him up.

"Your brother seems nice." Moira said.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course, your grace."

"Your brothers don't seem very nice."

"You're not wrong." She laughed. "Thing is, Blaxton's not bad. He's an idiot but he's not cruel."

"What about Don?"

"Don?" Moira sighed. "I would be very wary of Don."

"Why's that?" Amelia looked up at the trees and saw the little nests high above. She could have sworn a fairy flew out of one but she didn't know for sure. The woods were full of small hills and valleys and there were trees fallen over all across the forest floor.

"Don is one of the smartest, angriest people I know. From my experience it's not a good combination."

"He's only a boy." Amelia said but she didn't really believe that held any ground.

"Never underestimate someone. That's how most people lose." Her chin jutted out confidently and she spoke with a forceful eloquence. She wasn't pretty exactly, her face was too harsh to be pleasing but there was an elegant firmness behind her features that Amelia quite liked. Moira Monatheon was not a woman to be crossed.

"Do you think I have a chance at winning?" Snow started to fall around them, adding to the white powder already on the ground.

"I do."

"Really?"

"You've got strength in you. That's obvious. Not just magical strength but a more subtle kind as well. You're intelligent and kind. I don't see anything stopping you."

They men came trampling back, shouting about the great beast they had taken down. "Thank you, Moira. I'm glad for the support."

"Amy!" Oliver yelled, he was laughing and his hair dangled in his face. She couldn't help but smile when she saw him.

"Oliver!" She called back. "How was it?"

"It all happened a bit fast really. I have no idea what went on. I just hung out at the back with Don."

"You seem very excited right now." She beamed.

"Only because I told Blaxton I'd race him back and I won."

The young lord turned around and clapped Oliver on the back. "This ones a good fucking rider! He should ride into battle at my side and show the fuckers how it's done!"

Oliver laughed and Blaxton gave a barking sort of chuckle. Moira rolled her eyes and said, "The boy doesn't even know how to swing a sword."

"Oliver knows magic." Amelia pointed out.

Moira shook her head, "it's written in the ancient laws that no magician can use magic to harm others in a battle. This way individual people can't sack cities or entire armies, which I'm sure you can. Oliver needs a sword if he's going to fight in a war."

Blaxton immediately volunteered to teach him and Oliver looked slightly panicked, his blue eyes lit with uncertainty. Amelia shrugged, "It wouldn't be a bad thing, to learn how to defend yourself, right?"

"I suppose-"

"Excellent! We can start tomorrow!" Blaxton bellowed.

Oliver and Amelia rode back to Castle Rock together while the hunting party finished their fun.

"I don't want to train with Blaxton."

"I know. But I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I'm not going into war, am I?"

"We're at war right now. I formally declare my claim on the throne tomorrow. Roderick is going to send the owls out to all the great cities with my message."

"I can't ride in to battle. You know that."

"I'm not asking you to. This is just a precaution. And you don't have to do the lessons if you don't want to."

"You want me to though, right?"

"Yes."

Oliver sighed and held his palm out where snowflakes fell. His dark hair was covered in them as were his eyelashes. He stopped and looked at Amelia, "If you really think it's a good idea, of course I'll do it."

She beamed at him and took his hand in hers. "Thank you"

"Promise me it won't be totally shit?"

"Trust me, darling, you're going to have so much fun."