Chapter Six:
The Family Dinner
Dmitri
An abrupt running sound echoed through the room, and somewhere in the mix, the same person tripped before rushing towards my side. I felt them hop on the bed, but before I had a chance to react, a pillow hit me upside the head. Stefan’s infectious laugh followed this, “Good morning sleeping beauty! Wakey, wakey eggs and backey!”
I blinked wildly before stuffing my face into my own pillows with a long groan. “Do you intend to wake me up like that every day?” I mumbled into the satin pillowcase.
Stefan snorted another laugh, “I’ll try and keep the assaults to a minimum.”
“What time is it?” I asked as I dragged myself upright and smoothed my hair back.
“Time for dinner, so let’s get going!”
“Six already?” I turned my alarm clock to confirm it was five until six, then ran a sleeve-covered hand over my face to loosen myself up a bit more. Stefan let out an abrupt hiss when I stood to collect myself, that made me raise an eyebrow at the sound. “Um, everything ok?”
“How tall are you!?” He demanded, pointing at me with a deep glare.
I shrugged with a small smile, “6’4, I believe?”
“I'm a midget next to you!” He screamed angrily.
A single puff of laughter expelled from my lips and made him light up at my response, “Excuse my genetics!” I chuckled into my hand, unable to help myself.
Michael emerged from the bathroom as Stefan flipped me off, shaking his wet curls out. “That is one awesome shower,” he cackled.
“More like Michael’s new girlfriend,” Stefan snorted as he elbowed me.
“Aren’t you so funny; let’s go, nerds.” Michael locked our door before the three of us raced down to the dining hall, which had begun filling with life. Atticus, the man who took out attendance this morning, held the door open for us with his pleasant smile, and directed us to the head of the table. Gwenevere and Martha waved from their seats; the boys and I found our own respective spots alongside them and hurried to sit with people we knew. Each chair was marked by our number; mine was right beside the king, which made me smirk as I slid into the comfortable dining chair. A few soldiers who had already arrived glared at me from down the table, especially with how close I was to the king, but I tried to ignore them. The other Calvary noticed this, too, and scooched closer to me with little nods to keep my spirits up, which I appreciated highly.
“Good evening, all! How was your first day?” Cerelia cried as she sat down across from us, smacking her dress out of the way so it wouldn’t bunch up against her leg. She had a few tendrils of auburn curls hanging down her face from running, which she shoved behind her ears rapidly to maintain her usually flawless image.
“Well, thank you, your majesty,” Martha politely chimed.
“Good evening, everyone…” Andrew entered the room and sat down beside me, practically unfazed by the new faces at his table, and sighed to himself before plucking a bottle of wine from the table out of presumably habit and necessity.
Cerelia’s smile faltered slightly, and she leaned over to pat his arm tenderly, “How was your meeting, darling?” She asked in a low, sweet tone.
Andrew kissed her fingertips with a reassuring nod, “Intense, but well.” He turned his attention to us with an incredibly forced smile, “Did you all have a good day? Got some unpacking done, I hope?”
“Yes, your highness.” We replied like robots, which made him chuckle.
“No need to be so uptight; I can assure you, off the battlefield, we all are very casual…?”
“You stole my biscuit!” Erupted from the end of the table just as Andrew was saying this.
“I’ll steal your life, you swine!”
Zachary and another soldier bickered back and forth before breaking into a play fight, which made the royal couple laugh. “Example A,” Cerelia scoffed with an eye roll.
“Little animals!” Martha joked as Zachary slammed a fork into his opponent’s hand, which made him shriek and punch him in the face.
“Gentlemen, we are at the dinner table!” Andrew called, though he was enjoying the show with a coy smile that proved this was a common event. I had never seen a court act so, well, improper, but the light air and careless laughs were admittedly very uplifting.
“To the battlefield!” Zachary declared before dragging his crying victim out of the dining hall, which caused another uproar of laughter. I joined in myself, my smile clinging on as the dinner carts made their rounds to serve us.
Dinner began, and almost everyone got into a conversation except for the king and I. I was too busy pushing peas around a pool of gravy; I did nod when one of The Cavalry said something to me but wasn’t involved in enough primary conversation to say anything particular. Andrew was silent, spooning at his dish with the same blank expression from earlier. He every so often would peek at me unsurely, as if he wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure where to begin. Abruptly, he summoned his courage, “How is your brother, Dmitri?” He asked bluntly.
That caused literally everyone to stop conversing and turn to me.
“Um, excuse me, sire?” I blurted, looking to him in shock. I figured he hadn’t meant Alexei, but the comment threw me off so much that I wasn’t entirely sure at first.
“Your brother? Riley? How is he?” He repeated with much clearer intentions.
“Oh, uh…?” I murmured nervously, rubbing my arm as his eyes darkened with worry.
Andrew tilted his head, “Are you two on bad terms…?”
“I, no. I just, haven’t seen him for a few months…” I lied unsurely.
He sighed deeply in response, “I suppose he’s going to poke around soon?”
“Something like that.” I whispered gravely, which made Cerelia kick Andrew under the table in warning. He yelped but pressed his lips together with an embarrassed blush.
A moment of silence filled the room before the sound of metal unsheathing erupted. I picked up that it came from the back right of the dining hall and was glad I did so. A combat knife abruptly flew through the air towards me, which made Gwenevere gasp and try to call my name. I simply, while still looking at Andrew, shot my hand up and caught the handle, and this made everyone squeak in shock. I turned to Zachary with an eye roll while he laughed hysterically at the look on my face. “Really, at the table?” I scoffed.
“God damnit, you are too good! I have to make sure you're on your toes, Snake!” He joked as I skillfully tossed it back to him. The other soldiers around him eased up a little after seeing Zachary play around like this with me and made me realize he had done this to aid in easing the tension in the room. I nodded to him secretly for that, and he returned the gesture with a wink.
“He’s a bloody ninja!” Stefan whispered excitedly.
“I heard that,” I snapped, though I smiled as the table laughed unanimously.
╬
Dinner finished, and as we politely laid our plates on the cart, Andrew called my name seriously as he stood. “Dmitri? Can I speak with you, alone, for a moment?”
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I swallowed the lump in my throat, “Of course, your majesty…” I replied numbly.
The Cavalries watched as Andrew led the way out of the dining room, both of us quiet as the doors shut with a deafening click behind us. I followed him at a snail’s pace through the empty foyer, with just the sound of our boots echoing through the extraordinary space. Andrew’s office was down the eastern corridor, at the end of the hall. Two glass doors opened to a waiting space, and beyond another oak set, his quaint little space awaited us. The walls were the same rich green as his kingdom’s color, but the couches and chairs leather. The lingering scent of cigarettes perfumed the space, alongside a fireplace scented candle he lit when he first walked in.
He moved to the grand window and opened it wide, then slid a hand into his shirt pocket and procured a cigarette, which he lit skillfully before blowing a ring out into the night sky. I watched the smoke swirl until it became one with the night winds, which carried it off towards the ocean just below the castle. “What’s the real story, about your brother?” He asked bluntly.
I slid my hands into my pockets and gripped the fabric lining, “Not sure. He hasn’t been in contact with me in over six months, but if something was wrong, he’d find a way to tell me. I'm just, waiting to see what happens.” I awkwardly attempted.
“I see. We’ll keep an eye out for him.” He turned to me, his eyes soft with compassion, “You’ve been quite quiet this evening, with this ashamed expression, as if you were guilty about something. Can I ask what’s bothering you?” He offered with his notoriously warm smile.
I looked out over the cliffside, my face blank in the reflection of the window as I did, “I'm just, worried about how this is going to work, my being here... I am ecstatic for the opportunity, but…” my words trailed off momentarily.
Andrew laid a gentle hand on my arm, “You can talk freely, my boy. I will not judge you.”
I swallowed loud enough for him to hear, and crossed my arms nervously over my chest, “I suppose I’m just trying to gauge how everyone perceives me. I, well… I haven’t been Dmitri in a long time, and… I forgot how hard that can be, sometimes.” My voice lowered to barely a whisper, “All I am is Joshua’s Pet… and the target on my back makes me worry about what danger I’m bringing with me, accepting the position.”
Andrew blinked once before cracking a playful chuckle, “I think you’re helping, actually. I have Joshua’s top soldier in my army; you’re quite a good weapon.”
“Hey!” I bawled.
He laughed again and ruffled my hair fast, “Dmitri, we didn’t hire you because we felt pressured into doing so. If I wanted to have you with us for pleasure only, I would have once again offered you the chance to stay here freely. Then again, you wouldn’t have come if I had. I know how badly you’ve wanted to be a Cavalry, so I'm giving you the opportunity,” he paused to read the look on my face intensely. When he saw his words weren’t necessarily sticking, he moved to grip both my shoulders so we could speak eye to eye. “I can assure you I know exactly what pot I’ve dipped my fingers into. You are a stronger fighter, Dmitri, and I need you and your comrades to help end this war. But my question to you is; do you feel comfortable enough being here?”
I thought for a moment, then nodded passively. “Yes, sir, I do. I have to get used to some things, but I'm excited to work with you.”
“I want to make something very clear to you, alright?” He peered into my eyes solemnly, “Cavalry or not, you are my nephew, and I am here for you. I do not care what your background is, you are my family. You are in the sense of blood, as well as in comradery. I take my relationships with all of my staff very seriously, no matter how close I am to them. I am very excited to see how you excel as a soldier, as well as a human being. We will face the obstacles that come from our decisions later, and together, alright?”
“Yes, sir,” I numbly replied.
He touched my cheek warmly before placing his arms around me, “Everyone deserves a second chance, and I am more than willing to give you yours…” he firmly declared.
At first, I didn’t really know how to respond. I kind of just stood there and wobbled, though his massive hug was admittedly very comforting. I felt awful for not returning the gesture, so I robotically lifted my arms and wound them around Andrew’s back. I believe he understood my apprehension, but he took this as a chance to do something odd; he hugged me tighter. The feeling of such a genuine embrace made my heart squeeze. It had been years since someone had hugged me like this, and at that moment I made a decision. If this were to be the last hug I’d ever received, I was going to allow myself to enjoy it.
“Thank you…” I whispered faintly, for more reasons than Andrew would ever understand, and ones I didn’t have to voice for it to be palpable.
╬
The following morning, we were woken by Stefan’s alarm at five, which made the three of us groan in agony before slowly wrenching ourselves from our fluffy chambers. “God, that bed is way too comfy,” Michael groaned in defeat. “So, who wants to shower first?”
“You guys go ahead,” I said, sighing as I plopped back into my pillows.
“Don’t you fall back asleep while we’re in there!” Stefan teased, nudging me before the two disappeared into the bathrooms.
I let out a groan and sandwiched myself back into my covers, sitting in my cocoon in the middle of the bed so I wouldn’t be tempted to lie back down. Gwenevere and Martha knocked on the door a few moments after, peeking in nervously before they snorted, “Morning, fluffy hair!” Gwenevere teased, which made me shoot my eyes to the mirror with a shriek.
“Oh lord!” I bawled while the girls laughed hysterically as I flattened my frazzled waves. They kept springing back up to my displeasure, and that made them laugh harder.
“You look like a baby chicken!” Martha exclaimed adorably.
“And what do I owe thee the pleasure?” I snapped, pulling the blanket over my head so that only my face was visible, and they had nothing to laugh at anymore.
“We were up early, so we thought we would pop in,” Gwenevere giggled to me.
“What’s so funny?” I barked with a playful glare.
“You are so damn weird,” she snorted, causing she and Martha to howl like a pack of hyenas. I stuck my tongue out and headed into the bathroom after Stefan, my head dropped in defeat. After a shower and my brief morning routine I exited in my uniform, fixing my boots as the four talked obnoxiously to one another. Once I confirmed I, too, was ready, we all took the steps as fast as we could and entered the dining room, which was already alive at this point.
“Good morning, everyone; I hope you’re ready to begin today after a great night’s sleep?” Zachary said as he popped some sugar in his coffee on the way to his seat.
“Yes, sir!” We replied in unison.
“Thought so! The North is known for comfortable beds, which makes a happy soldier in my humble opinion.”
Andrew came into the dining room, smiling today instead of his serious composure from the prior night. Cerelia joined us, perky as usual, and danced about the room greeting each of her soldiers warmly. She planted a kiss to Andrew’s cheek, which made him blush, before blowing one to us as well. “Good morning, my darlings! Make sure you eat up; Zachary has quite the busy schedule lined up for you all today!”
“Way to scare em’ Cerelia,” Andrew joked.
As we began eating, I abruptly felt something brush against my leg, which made me glance down curiously. Gwenevere tilted her head at me, giggling with Stefan at whatever look was on my face. I made out the impression of a long-striped tail as it dissipated under the table, which made me peer further under the table cloth. When I identified the culprit, a loud squeal of excitement escaped me and made everyone turn in shock. “Dear God, what was that?” Stefan spat.
“Cat!” I bawled as I popped back up.
“Oh, you have to be kidding!” Michael screeched, laughing hysterically as a fat orange cat hopped up onto the table beside me with a loud meow.
I scratched his chin carefully with a huge smile, “Aren’t you the cutest kitty in the world!? Are you the cutest? Yes you are…!” I cooed to the purring fluff ball, who was smothering me in its bushy fur.
“Oh my lord, he’s so cute!” Gwenevere cried, about the cat and myself based on the way she was squishing her cheeks while bugging her eyes at me.
“Hey, I think he likes me!” I sang as the orange blob brushed my cheek lovingly.
“Quite so; I like the quiet ones,” the cat said, winking to me slyly. I jumped backwards horrifically, which caused my knees to slam into the table with a loud bang. The bang made Andrew’s court lose their minds, and scream laughter so loudly that half of them were coughing by the time they had started to settle.
“How rude, Ramah!” Andrew bawled as the cat joined in.
“Weren’t expecting that, eh, son?” The cat asked, swishing its tail against my cheek.
“It talks!?” The five of us roared in horror.
“Kids, meet our castle sorcerer, Ramah Slane,” Cerelia chirped.
The cat winked again before moving to rub on my arm, while I uncomfortably inched back. He snarled at my reluctance but was pleased when I started scratching his ears again. “Um, is there a reason your disguised as a cat?” I asked as he purred loudly.
“Cats are good luck; that, and I get to sleep more during my breaks.”
“He’s a little monsieur pussy cat...!” I cooed, though my comment made Ramah gag wildly and shake his head, his ears flat against the back of his neck.
“Do not, EVER, call me that again!” He yelled, swatting my arm playfully.
I gleefully plucked him into my arms and put my hands under his arms, so I could swing him back and forth and sing a little song as I did. Michael and Stefan were still snorting as they watched me do this, though Ramah seemed to be enjoying himself as much as I was. “Do you really like cats?” Stefan giggled out.
“Yeah, so what?” I snapped as I stuffed my face into Ramah’s back. The boys burst out laughing at me; I hid my blush in Ramah’s fur while he growled at them protectively.
“And what’s the problem with him liking cats?” Cerelia pouted.
“I sure know who to turn to when I need a strong man!” Michael cried.
“Keep laughing…Wait until training...” Andrew whistled with a dark chuckle that made the boys clam up instantly, though I only rolled my eyes at his hollow threat.