Entering The Forbidden

Breakfast before Travels

I follow the flow of the Elven court towards what I'm assuming is the dining hall. As I walk I receive a good amount of stares and dirty looks from the court members. I consider pulling my hood back over my head yet I don't feel like upseting the King again. The guards by every door in the hall seem to tense as I pass like I could kill them by looking at them. The dining hall has high domed ceilings. Windows from my knee to ceiling cover one of the walls that overlooks the gardens. There is one table with 8 chairs on a raised platform that over looks the four other long tables. The members of the court are silent, the only sound is heels clicking on the marble floor as they all move to stand behind chairs. They all turn towards the front table waiting for where I'm assuming the king to enter. There are plenty of acceptable escape roots if things go south. The only worry for this meal is me getting poisoned. One of the guards off to the side escorts me to the king's table to the chair on the left side of the center chair. The door swings open and the King accompanied by the Queen, the Princess and other important figures that fill the seats around me. Once the King takes his seat the rest of the room follows suit.

The princess who is no longer waring her gown sits on the right of my chair and the King on the left. Silver platers full of food are set down infront of everyone at the table. Fresh bread, fryed Quail eggs, and some gray mush completes the meal. Everyone digs right in but I'm a little hesitant about it, they might have poisioned my meal.
"Its considered rude if you don't eat." the Princess leaned over and whispered.
"I have my concerns. I'm going to eat." I whispered back. I pick up my fork and begin to eat my breakfast. I finish the bread and eggs and attempt to eat the gray mush.
"What is this?" I ask the princess as I stir the substance on my plate.
"Not really sure. Normally its awful. But everyone else likes it",she replied.
I attempt to eat half the mush by the time the king speaks.
"You will receive full pay at the end of the task." the King bellowed next to me.
"Transporting the human will take extra funds so I will need half the pay upfront." I say once more putting my fork down.
" A quarter pay. I cant fully trust a criminal", he said.
"Since its agreed, I will leave to begin the task after our meal is over." I replied dumping the gray mush onto the Princess's plate.
"You are to leave tonight. I wish for no one to see my presious prisoner", the King said.
"The High King sends out more patrols at night expecting me to travel then. So to avoid capture we should travel during the day." I replied annoyed.
"Very well. Prepare the prisioner for travel." the king bellowed to the closest guard.

The rest of the court had finished breakfast and waited patiently for the King to dismiss them. The king simply waved his hand and the room began to empty.
"Heed my words you scum, that human is to be in the eastern elven provience in two weeks time. That human better be in one piece or your head will be turned over to the high king sooner than you can snap your fingers." the king harshly whispered in my ear.He then handed me a small pouch of coins.
The king stormed out followed by the rest of his table. The princess was one of the last to leave eyeing me suspiciously like she had a plan, but she abruptly turned and walked out. The guard that showed me to my seat bids me to follow as he leads me to the front doors of the palace. As I walk outside I pull the hood to my cloak over my face once again. My horse is exactly where I left him tied to a post next to the main castle doors. Another guard walks to stand beside me, he is leading a small pack pony sat atop it was the human I was transporting. The guard nodded as he handed me the reins to the pony. I mounted my horse and secured the reins to my saddle. I slowly lead my horse to a walk and left the palace walls once out in the open I pushed the two horses to pick up speed. I glanced back at the human he was slumped down and looked to be unconscious and badly beaten. The forest began to thicken quickly.

After about three hours of travel I decided to rest the horses beside a river. I dismounted effortlessly and tied both horses so they could easily get to the water. I cut the ties that held the human to the sadle of the pony and he went tumbling off the saddle to the ground. He stired for a moment and then began to push himself off the ground. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding and said,"Well...you're alive somewhat."
He finally got himself to a sitting position when I asked,"You got a name or do I have to call you human all the time?"
"M-my names W-Will" he stuttered.
"Well no need to stutter." I chuckled as I gave him a glass of water.
"What's your name? Where are we?" he asked after he downed the water.
"Name's Raziel and I'd say that we're about thirty miles from the Elven King's castle." I said pulling an apple out of my saddle bag. He nodded and began to look around once more. Now that he was up and moving I could tell he was badly beaten probably by the guards.

I silently curse, and decide to pull out my wand and soflty utter a healing spell. I see him smile and start to perk up as the spell takes affect.
"Well come on Will. If we stay here all day the High King is sure to catch us." I say mounting my horse.
"Where are we going?" he asked mounting the small pony.
"East." I said pointing in the direction. We began to ride hopefully we don't run into any Fae as we cross through their borders.