Black Crystal Part 1 - The Origin

Chapter Thirty Four ~ A Violent Hand

Lenora, after much hesitance, finally agreed to sit in the throne room with her parents and her brother as they awaited the arrival of the Chancellor and his son that evening. Her heart was racing. She was not at all willing to meet some stuck-up, philandering, misogynistic pig who was demanding her hand in marriage.

"We'll try to talk them out of the idea," Maevis whispered, leaning down to talk to Lenora quietly. "There's no way we're letting this happen."

"Thank you, mom," Lenora whispered back gratefully. Immediately, the throne room went quiet. Lenora stared at the door with anticipation, almost as if what would come walking through the door would put an end to her life. Footsteps outside the door started getting closer and closer, until they stopped right outside. Lenora gulped and held her breath unintentionally, and then the doors burst open. The Chancellor and his son Nicholas walked in with heads held high. Lenora glared at Nicholas, but Nicholas looked back at her with a seductive expression.

"Chancellor Guinness," Nohr said, trying to give off a more cheery disposition to keep up appearances. He stood from his throne and held his hand out. "It's been quite a long time, hasn't it?"

"Oh yes," the Chancellor chuckled, shaking Nohr's hand. "It's a pleasure." The Chancellor looked over at Maevis with a surprised expression. "Maevis! My God, you just get more beautiful with age!"

"Um..." Maevis seemed just as nervous as Lenora. "Thanks... I guess?" She hesitantly held out her hand and the Chancellor took it with great enthusiasm and he kissed the back of it. When the Chancellor looked away, she quickly wiped her hand with her skirt.

"Oh, if it isn't Prince Xander!" the Chancellor exclaimed. "I haven't seen you since you were an infant! Put 'er there, boy!" Xander glared daggers at the Chancellor, but he still took his hand and shook it. Once they finished, the Chancellor looked at the missing space where Xander's left hand used to be. "Well, what happened to your hand, boy?"

"Lost it in a fight," Xander said with a stern tone. "Oh, but the poor fool who did this to me... I killed him. Instantly." With the emphasis on instantly, Xander sat up taller and leaned slightly forward, almost as if he were advancing on the Chancellor. The Chancellor glared back at Xander, but quickly turned his focus to Lenora.

"And here you are," he said, almost in a whispered tone as he smiled widely. "The stunningly beautiful Princess Lenora, at last." He held his hand out for her to shake it, but Lenora sat back and refused to shake his hand. She almost had a frightened expression. "Come on, now." But Lenora still refused.

"A woman should respect a man's wishes," Nicholas chimed in, walking towards them. He bowed and held his hand out. "Milady." Lenora scowled at him and shook her head. After a few moments, Nicholas looked up at Lenora with frustration. "What the hell is wrong with women these days!?" he exclaimed, slapping Lenora across the face. Immediately, Nohr, Maevis, and Xander stood from their thrones and approached Nicholas. "When a man asks for your hand, you take it, you stupid broad!" Lenora grit her teeth and clenched her fist, reeling back and throwing a punch right at Nicholas's left cheek. Nicholas fell back and felt his face. Blood was pouring from his nose. "Oh, you bitch!" Nicholas clenched his right fist and went to punch Lenora, but Xander had unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Nicholas with pure rage in his eyes, stopping him.

"I swear I'll kill you," Xander said calmly. Nohr and Maevis looked around at everyone. Time itself seemed to have frozen entirely. Lenora and Xander glared at Nicholas with nothing but pure rage, and even magic flames surrounded Maevis's hands. Nicholas glared at Xander angrily and backed away from Lenora before Nohr spoke.

"Let's all just... calm down, okay?" he asked. "Xander, bud, could you put the sword away? We are not here to fight nor kill each other." Xander still kept an angered glare at Nicholas, but he returned his sword to its sheath. "And second, Chancellor Guinness, maybe we shouldn't have the children involved with this meeting."

"I second that," the Chancellor scoffed angrily, glaring at Lenora. "Kids these days, I swear to God..."

"If I may," Maevis interrupted, "that includes your child." She pointed an accusing finger at Nicholas, but Nicholas simply laughed.

"Well, if I may, your majesty," Nicholas began, "I am twenty five years old—I am not a child, thank you very much."

"You certainly act like one," Maevis muttered under her breath, but Nicholas hastily advanced on her.

"Don't speak out of line, you damn woman!" he exclaimed, but Maevis simply placed a hand on Nicholas's chest, allowed her hand to be enveloped in flames, and she shoved him back with great force. Nicholas grasped his own chest, patting out a small fire that started on his shirt. Nicholas scowled at the Chancellor. "Father! Do you see how these people treat me? Do something!" The Chancellor glared at Nohr and adjusted his jacket as he sighed.

"Nicholas will attend the meeting," he said to Nohr. "I insisted upon it before our arrival. Two representatives of Oregon, two representatives of Washington." The Chancellor grinned. "It's only fair."

Nohr and Maevis exchanged glances before looking over at Lenora and Xander. The silence was tense between everyone before Nohr finally spoke. "Fine," he said. "Nicholas may join us."