The Voice of the Nightingale

Part XI

It had been a day since the eventful meeting and Ash still didn't know what was going on, what it was. Hopefully, she would find out today, as the next meeting was about to take place.
The Queen and Nicholas walked through the halls of the castle and soon made it to the council room. Ash smiled as she reached the door, and he smiled back. Nicholas waved and she walked into the room. Everyone was already sat down. The King strummed his fingers over the arm of his chair, agitated. Ash walked towards her chair and sat down. The meeting began, but all that came was silence.
"So, any news about Avon Fair?" Theodor asked.
"Wait a second," interjected the Queen. "I want to know what it is. Clearly everyone else knows what it is."
"Just shut up!"
"We've got an idea of where she is."
"What?" The King asked, shocked.
"Some knights found her in Fort Nor, yesterday, but she got away with the help of someone we couldn't name."
"How is that meant to help?"
"But, there was a sighting of her in Tendelvel last night."
"Tendelvel?"
"Yes, your majesty. Would you like to send some knights?"
"Yes. Send a troop. Make sure the ones who found her are there as well, so the know who they're looking for."
"Will do."
The council member walked out of the room to send the soldiers. There was silence.
"My King," said another council member. "Shouldn't you send someone with the troop?"
Theodor thought for a moment. Ash sat in her seat, waiting to leave the meeting. She hadn't had the best night of sleep and, frankly, she wanted to get back to her room. She was sure that she would never find out what it was.
"My Queen."
Ash turned around, surprised Theodor was addressing her.
"Yes."
"You'll lead the troop."
"What?"
"You will lead the troop, did you not hear me?"
"Why?"
"Because I asked you too."
The Queen huffed and nodded. She muttered, "Okay,"
"You better leave now." Theodor said. "You are excused from the meeting."
Ash got up and walked to the door. She opened it and left. Nicholas was confused as she passed him, but, after an explanation, he followed her to her room.
"I'll go saddle up Ivory and we'll be off."
"Thank you."
Ash smiled at her guard and he smiled back. She walked into her room and went to her vanity. The meeting had started at the normal time, but Ash had slept in and hadn't had time to get ready. She hurriedly put on her crown and jewellery. The earring from Lucia looked perfect.
She got up and left the room, walking through the palace halls until she got to the stables. Ivory was saddled as well as two chestnut horses for her guards. Ash thanked Nicholas and she jumped onto her horse. The air was chilly, a sign that after the end of the month, it would autumn. Ash spurred her horse on. When she left the walls of the city, she sped up to a gallop.

The Queen and her guards made it to Tendelvel in record time. It had taken them thirty minutes less than before. They had galloped nearly all the way there, excluding the times they had paused for the horses to rest. It was around quarter past ten. Ash approached the gates of the town and saw two Bidcambrough knights standing outside. She approached them.
"What are you doing?"
"Why would you want to know?" One of them asked in reply, not looking up at her.
Nicholas trotted to Ash's side and said, "Because, she's your Queen."
The Knight looked up and saw Ash. He looked over her wine purple dress, which she was famous for wearing, and up to her crown.
"Oh god! My Queen." He said, bowing down his head in apology. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was you."
"Can you please answer her question." Nicholas demanded.
"Yes! We are waiting outside while the others search for Avon Fair."
"Thank you."
Ash was about to trot into the town walls, when she saw something in the corner of her eye. In amongst the trees, she swore she saw a hint of blue. She trotted towards it, and the blue spot became the sky blue hide of a creature.
"Knights, investigate." Ash said, pointing towards the woods.
The knights walked towards where she pointed and had a look around. They seemed to see what Ash had seen and went into the trees. After a while, the knights appeared, one holding a rope and the other holding a small, orange dragon. It squirmed around and pulled its head out of the knight's arms. The knight holding the rope revealed a large, light blue riding dragon, which tried to defy its captor. These must be Avon's dragons, The Queen thought.
"Take these creatures and lock them up. She can't escape if we take her transport." Ash instructed, and the knights did as she said.
Before going near the town, Ash decided to request some help. With the knights gone to cage the dragons, she began to hum a song. A bird, a nightingale, flew up to her and hovered in the air. She whispered instructions to the creature and it flew away.

Ash trotted into the town and people stared at her in awe. The church loomed over her as she walked in. All around them, were small houses, filled with families eating breakfast. Some shops lined the side of the road. Ash turned around to admire a gardening shop. The flowers were at full bloom. It was a mix of pinks and reds.
"Are you interested?" Nicholas asked.
"Yeah," said Ash, smiling.
She hopped off her horse and informed her other guard that she was looking around the shop. With Nicholas at her side, she walked in. The shop was filled with beautiful plants, clearly treated with the utmost care. They all reminded Ash of the work she used to do in the garden with her mother.
"They're beautiful, aren't they." She said.
"Yes, they are." Nicholas replied.
The man at the counter began speaking, "I'm glad you like them!"
He was holding a plant pot when he looked up, and immediately dropped it. His face showing his surprise.
"Is anything wrong?" Ash asked.
"You... you're the Queen, the person with the King a few days ago."
The man seemed to recognise her from when she had ridden through the town with her husband.
"You're plants really are beautiful. It's clear you care for them a -"
"My Queen!" Her guard rushed in. "Avon Fair was just running to the church."
Ash waved goodbye and hurriedly walked to her horse. She jumped on and trotted towards the church. Several of the knights that had been searching for Avon ran towards her, realising what was going on. The nightingale Ash had sent as a spy was hovering at the crack in the door, waiting to go through. The knights pushed the door open and the bird flew in with incredible speed. It skimmed past the person in the middle of the room, making her fall over. Ash spurred her horse, and she trotted in.