Blood Rising

Stalemate

Nora sat awkwardly at the dining table and readjusting from her fumble, She looked down at her plate and focused mainly on the intricate pattern of flowers released around and small paint print on the wooden plate. Her father Cornelius cleared his throat again "I see you didn't bother to dress daughter were you in a rush now that it's nearly dinner time?"

Nora turned red realizing that she hadn't fully dressed for the day although she hadn't planned on coming into the dining room. She was planning on sneaking down to the kitchen and sneaking back up to her room. There she could eat in peace and not have to bother anybody or come into confrontation with her father. She grabbed her auburn hair and pulled it to the side trying to cover a little bit of the front of her night dress, and partially shield herself from her father's glare.  She felt guilty and knew a nightgown was inappropriate for a princess to wear to the dining table in the middle of the day when she slept most of the morning way.

"I'm sorry father I did not mean to, I did not expect the Cook to tell me that you wanted to see me, I would've gone back upstairs change and come down to speak with you but" Nora said, as she eyed her bacon. All the while snicker intently waiting for dibs.

     "Do not blame the cook for your insolence child her" father said in a stern voice "she's not to blame for you sleeping the day away. you should have changed before coming to cook for your meal anyway! Why were you not here this morning? were you up late again indulging those damn to brownies!?!?" He nearly screeched at her. Nora felt her face heat up now not because she was embarrassed but because she was frustrated. For quite some time her father has had a prejudice against any other beings he governed that were not of fairy blood. He especially was some what of a height snob mainly claiming that the horizontal impaired where lazier than the tall elf blooded fairies such as himself. Nora felt her father was just being a hypocritical bigot and she herself was shorter than their average height fea, leading her to feel personally offended.

"No father," she bit through "I tossed and turned worrying about the coming ceremony...." Nora trailed off avoiding mentioning that she still had no skills or gifts to present at the festival ceremonies.
Cornelius shifted and stiffened blowing a huff of air in objection. He seemed to just realize what absurd thing she had confided in him. He could not stomach feelings in the way she needed him to as a father, but she understood it was his grooming and position as king.

The king was a kind but stern man. He ruled with might and intuition often leaving mercy and gentleness to his wife, the queen. As reward for his diligence there had been many years of peace recently in his kingdom. Yet the king had never forgotten the blood, war, and hardships his people had faced in his lifetime. The battles he fought and the wars he raged were so that he could be at peace providing his loved ones with a brighter future than his youth. The king once a prominent force with a well defined chiseled physique now donned deep scars of aging highlighted by his silver hair. His now broader features and deep brown eyes were simply accentuated by stripes of black and silver throughout his mustache and beard. The years definitely show but one could say it was not in an unflattering way.

As she notices her father look at her mother for rescue Nora realized she had actually avoided her fathers scolding. He had conceded to Serenity and begging her mercy, of which she gave with a gentle sly smirk. "Nora my child come let us retire to your room where you can dress and we can talk more about the ceremony." Serenity gestured softly with her hand and Nora obeyed, grabbing her plate with one hand and pushing the chair in with the other.