The Sorceress Knight: The Three Feathers

Chapter III The Crown

I get to the throne room I walk in. "Darian!" Cries out Queen Aria. "Yes your majesty?" I reply back. Walking towards her she gets up from her throne and, runs up and hugs me. "No room for protocol today huh?" I ask with a smile. She let's go and steps back "why whatever do you mean good Sir knight?" She asks with a childish tone I smile and shake my head. All that worrying for nothing. In so glad it was just Aria being her usual self. I think to myself.

"Well atleast that crown hasn't gone to your head." I say back to her with a smile. "I barely wear it anyway!" She says as she points to her head, which is bare has she sticks her tongue out at me. She is wearing a semi formal white and aquamarine dress that matches her eyes. With her blonde hair put up in a bun.  "Today is the day Valdeen decides which of the two wizards will take his place. Trovely or Rican" she says as she turns around and walks toward the throne. "Yes it is."I reply It has been five years to the day that Valdeen told everyone, that on this day he would announce which of his new apprentices would replace him. "I'm excited." Aria said as she turns toward me and sits in the throne. "I'm excited too." I say as I walk towards her.

The doors to the throne room open and Valdeen dressed in his usual gray robe, and round non rimmed glasses that perch precariously on his nose and his long white hair and beard, walks in followed by his apprentices. Rican and Trovely who both wear dark gray and black robes. They both have short black hair and beards."Good morning your majesty and Sir Darian." Valdeen says as he enters the room. "Good morning to you aswell." Me and Aria say in unison. We grin at each other.

Valdeen clears his throat and adjusts his glasses. He then has this more serious look on his face."I know today is the day I told you so long ago that I would choose the wizard capable of replacing me. But today won't be that day I'm afraid." He says as he runs his fingers through his hair. "What's a matter Valdeen?" Aria asks as she looks between me and Valdeen.

"Why don't we go into the meeting room and sit and talk about this." He says as he gestures toward the meeting room. The meeting room is a room with a large round table and chairs wrapped around it. Everyone begins to sit down I instinctively pull Aria's seat out for her. "Thanks Darian." Aria says as she sits down. "Your welcome Aria." I say as I scoot her chair in further and then sit.

Everyone takes their seat. "This may come as a shock but, your majesty we have had a vision of terrible events." Rican says as he looks at everyone very seriously. just as he said that the atmosphere of the room became more tense. I think about the dream I had and the girl with multi colored eyes."What have you seen?" Aria asks worriedly. "We saw our Elven neighbors attack us before the end of the year." Rican says sternly.

Me and Aria look at each other in shock and then look back at the three. "We have been at peace with the elves for years! Why would they choose to attack us now?" Aria asks in shock. "We believe that the elven king Salsar is wishing to show his dominance in this peaceful age. since your parents the king and queen passed away in that horrible tragedy, the world has changed your majesty. The elvish kingdom is trying to expand and the easiest target to take since we don't really have an army." Trovely explains "Will making an army do any good? Most of the populus is made up of villagers and farmers. It would take time to train them." I state.

"It is our only chance at defending ourselves, building up an army will be the best defense we have." Rican says as the door to the meeting room opens. In walks Vallace one of the Lord's of the kingdom who has been a trusted ally and advisor to the royal family, he is also my uncle. Wearing his dark red robes and fine jewelry. And in walks in Mikail my cousin and Vallace's son and his personal body guard. Mikail was training to be a knight at one time but since he didn't get knighted, his father took him to receive special training.

Mikail who stands at about the same height and size as me. Wearing his usual black with gold trimming coat over his white shirt and black slacks. He carries a sword on his right side. His hair is disheveled and has his usual prideful grin. His outfit reminds me of a pirates attire.

"I hope we're not late everyone." Vallace says as he and Mikail sit down. " No your fine... Hello..." Aria says to the two in still a bit of unsettled tone. "Hello uncle and Mikail." I say as they sit down. "Hello Aria how beautiful you look this morning." Mikail says as he smiles at Aria. "Hello Darian." My Uncle Vallace says as he leans back in his chair. Mikail doesn't even look in my direction.

Once seated Valdeen explains the situation to the new arrivals. Stunned they sit back just looking at one another. "Are you absolutely sure? If so this could be disastrous for us." Vallace says looking at the wizards awaiting a reply.

"Yes we are, and we are sure they have a spy within are midst." Valdeen replies. "Do you have any idea on whom?" I ask. "That has not been revealed to us at the present time." Rican says. "We hope to gather more information as we can. Until we have all the information, we hope to make the proper preparations with all of your help to protect our homes and families." Trovely comments.

Aria stands and looks around the table at everyone. "Whatever we can do to protect the people is our top priority. I truly hope that there can be a diplomatic solution to this. If we have to build an army to fight I only wish to have volunteers of proper age join." Aria states as every one nods their head in approval.

"To fight such a foe will be a challenge in such short notice." One of the lords says as he looks at everyone grimly. "On the contrary my lords and your majesty, the passes through the mountains will be nearly impossible to trek through in less than a month. That is when the first frost settles in over the mountains. Giving us more over six months to prepare before the passes would be open enough to allow for an army to trek through without much trouble." I say confidently.

"With that being said I want to send an envoy to the Elven and Barbarian kingdoms asking for another peace treaty and to hopefully strengthen our ties. But, if that does not succeed I want all the necessary preparations made and ready to defend our kingdom and our people. So within the month the envoy we send will have gone and came back by then. So when we have concluded their intentions we will make our move accordingly." Aria declares as every one claps in approval.

"We have a peaceful relation with the elven people but, if we are truly worried about an attack from them we could get in touch with the Barbarian King Rican and King Marcus from Four Falls and see if they would be willing to ally." I add in closing. "That is a brilliant idea! I hope with the possibility of our combined forces the elven king would think twice before engaging us." Aria said in a more cheerful tone.

"Is there any other order of business we have to discuss?" Aria asks, everyone begins looking at one another nodding their head no. "I believe your majesty we have no other issues to discuss at this time." Vallace says assuredly. "I will begin writing the letters for the envoys to deliver as soon as possible." Aria states "Then we are dismissed till we get the envoys from our messages abroad. And we can discuss our actions at that point." Aria says as she stands.

"If you wish your majesty Trovely, Rican and, I could stay and help you right a letter to each of the kingdoms." Valdeen says as he gestures to the other wizards. "Yes that would be great thanks you." Aria says as the rest of the council say their Farewells and departs. "I will see you later Aria I'm going to do my rounds and be back later." I say as I hug her. "Remember everything will be ok, we will make it through this no matters what." I say as I step away and smile. "I know we will be thanks to you and the the rest of our people we will be ok." Aria says as she smiles happily at me. I smile back at her. " Well it seems I need to start working on a strategy just in case." I say as confident as I can. "Thank you Darian let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Aria says before she turns toward the wizards. I walk out of the meeting room. War!? Most of the people in our kingdom haven't raised a weapon or even trained how to fight at all. I truly hope I can do whatever I can to insure our safety. But what if the Cloaked figure in my dream is right? Will I fail to protect our kingdom? Aria? I think to myself as I walk to back out into the city...