Warmth ~<GreenWind>~

❄️{Nineteen

Lloyd and Dareth found themselves walking down the long hallway of the castle. It was silent. After it being empty of Lloyd and Morro for so long, there wasn't much of a need for any servants or workers or any of that sort to be wandering about.

Lloyd was still confused on how Dareth knew he was back. But he wasn't going to focus on that. He could ask later.

They had a speaker on the third to highest floor. It stood outside, on the patio area, accessible through a single paneled glass door. That's where they were headed.

Once they were there, Lloyd hesitantly raised his hand to open it. He wasn't fully ready. But he was wasting time stalling. He slowly raised his hand again and pushed open the door.

The cold breeze hit his face, whipping his hair from out of his face. The cold bit his nose and stung his lips and ears. Surprisingly, he missed this winter weather.

Dareth has already started on getting the speaker ready. Everyone would hear. It was loud enough and once everyone heard they knew to go to the castle at once for the announcement.

Lloyd didn't have a script. He had no plan. What was he to say? He couldn't be too blunt. But he didn't want to take too long to get to the point. But he was a human just as everyone else was.

He needed to just speak. From the heart. The truth. They didn't need to be told lies or any false versions. Just the kindly put honesty. And creating a whole script and plan was too fake.

"Testing, testing." Dareth spoke into the area that picked up the sound.

It was loud and clear.

"It works." He gave Lloyd the thumbs up.

Lloyd took a deep breath. His anxiety was rising. He was never good with crowds. Especially speaking in front of them. He went to where Dareth was standing and spoke, "Everyone please arrive at the castle for an important announcement."

And then they waited. Sure enough, people started arriving. The whispers grew louder as everyone chatted amongst themselves.

"Lloyd is back."

"Where is Morro?"

"Did something happen?"

"I hope everything is okay."

Those are only some of the things Lloyd picked up on. He didn't want to be the one to let everyone down. But no one else could do it.

He waited until he didn't see anyone else come. Then he cleared his throat and spoke up.

"So, um...I'm guessing everyone is here. Or at least almost."

The crowd responded positively, saying yes.

"Great. Well...As you all know...I had an announcement. I'm not very good at this...But practice makes progress." He laughed awkwardly, then continuing. "I had been gone quite some time on my search to bring back Morro, our king."

The crowd all said "yes" once again. Some distantly asked questions like where he was.

"I'm sad to say that...My mission was not successful."

Lloyd felt the energy of the crowd die down.

"I was not able to...To retrieve his body...But I have been given reason to assume that he is no longer with us." He tried hard not to break down.

People in the crowd did it for him. He heard people gasp and start crying. Some shouted and others stayed completely silent. All in shock. Lloyd and Dareth hung their heads.

Dareth then took that opportunity to say, "Following the death of our beloved, we will be holding the parting ceremony and funeral services sometime within this week. Arrangements will be made. From now on, we name Lloyd as the new rightful heir to the throne and he will be deemed king and his majesty from now on."

Lloyd never heard Dareth speak so wisely. Dareth too seemed shocked all that perfectly came out of his mouth. This was all so much. For everyone. Lloyd couldn't be a leader. He would never to good enough for that.

"Meeting is adjourned." He said, tears falling from his eyes, and his voice breaking. He turned on his heel and left back inside the now rightfully his castle.