Gold and Sapphires

11

"Did you have to snap at him?" Ethíniel berated the wizard as soon as they were far enough from the new camp, "He did not do anything to you. He is not Thorin." Her tone harsh and angry, with reason, "I apologise." Gandalf sighed, knowing the the Queen was right, her tired eyes latching on her figure as they rode side by side.

"Do you really know a farmer?" he then questioned, the reply was etched on her face before she spoke, a soft smile etched on her lips and her eyes softening, "Aye."Gandalf knew that it wasn't anyone that Ethíniel had courted, the young Queen hadn't courted so it was a clear answer, and none but elves and her kind lived long enough and since her kin was locked in her kingdom, Gandalf could only assume they were elvish.

"A loyal man with whom I'd trust my life." Ethíniel smiled, "Haven't seen him in many years." Gandalf could only nod, the Queen's tone never having been this calm since they left the Shire and since she was still actively Queen, "How do you know he still lives there?" the wizard inquired, testing the waters, but only received a small laugh in return as she led them towards the farm.

And soon enough they arrived, they are met with a quaint yet ethereal sight, a beautiful garden that had the most exotic looking flowers, cattle mowing around their pen and a small house as well as two little children chasing chickens around. The youngest one seemed to notice them first, stopping before running into the house while the eldest continued to chase the chicken.

A man came out of the house, holding an axe, his body quite buff for his smallish stature and a glare was on his face "I advice you to get out of my farm before we get bloody." the man warned, hands gripping the axe tightly, making the wizard actually fear for his life and whisper to Ethíniel "I think we should do what the man says." but of course, truly in the Dragon Queen's manner she let out a small chuckle at his fear and halted her horse.

The farmer stomped closer and closer to the intruders on his land, watching as one of them had the audacity to climb off, he raised his axe higher and swung it down as soon as he reached them, unfortunately at the same time that the blonde woman turned around to face them.

Gandalf held his breath as he watched the whole thing go down.

The eldest child that had been chasing chicken stopped in his step.

The youngest child clung to his mother's skirts at the door.

The farmer's wife held her newborn in her arms while attempting to shield the eldest child's face.

The farmer's face paled as he saw the intruder's face.

And Ethíniel merely smiled at the farmer as his axe hit the ground.

"Rayden!" Ethíniel beamed as she looked at the farmer before her, as if he hadn't tried to kill her with his axe, "Your Majesty..." The farmer, Rayden, sighed as he fell to kneeling position, his voice barely within hearing range, "Ethíniel." Gandalf muttered breathlessly after the scare.

"What have I told you about bowing?" Ethíniel laughed, the whole area seemingly lightening up when she did, the laugh was so unmistakable that Rayden's own wife stepped out of the house, leaving her eldest child at the door as she sped walked to the blonde, the blonde's name falling from her lips as if she was waking someone up from their slumber.

Reaching her quickly enough and throwing one arm around the blonde's neck, pulling her to her, and mumbling her name once more, making sure that she was real, the Queen merely laughed and hugged the woman with careful tightness, "Olaria." she greeted.

"My Queen, I'm sorry..." Rayden tried but was dismissed by Ethíniel's waving hand, leaving him to watch his queen and his wife break apart, "The fault is mine, I appeared unannounced." Ethíniel claimed, "And it has been many years since we last saw each other."