The sun was shining but the air still carried the scent of the recent rain as the caravan made its way along the road. The caravan was unlike anyone the land had seen in more than a hundred years. For most of the shorter lived people of the realm it was unlike anything in living memory. It was the kind of caravan that only traveled the realm when a new king or a new queen took the throne at Bleak Peak. Hundreds of people, guards, courtiers and the people needed to keep them fed, supplied and entertained as well as countless draft animals carrying all kinds of supplies. It easily dwarfed the armies I had lead.
Now, after almost three years including several short and one slightly longer break, my grand tour of the realm was finally drawing to a close. The tour was both tradition and necessity. It allowed all of the people to catch at least a glimpse of their new ruler. For this reason alone it was a tradition I wholeheartedly embraced. I didn't want to be a far away queen ruling her land from a palace alone. Still, I was glad that it finally would be over. I had done pretty much all the traveling I ever wanted to do for now. Right now I longed for home.
That longing became all the stronger the closer we drew to our last stop on the grand tour. I sucked in another deep breath of the fresh air, savoring it and the memories of a quieter, easier time it brought back to me. A time when I would just sneak out of my mother's house with my sister and a few friends for a little adventure in the woods. It was enough to bring a wistful smile to my face. I ran a hand through the fur of the giant ibex I was riding. The creature was truly deserving of the name. I hadn't even known that they could grow this big. I still used an enchanted saddle to make sure I wouldn't put too much stress on the magnificent creature's back.
“Time to put on a good show again.” I wasn't sure just how much the creature understood but it certainly understood enough as it changed its pace a little while its muscles tensed noticeable. I turned to the man in enchanted obsidian armor walking at my side. “Captain, form up and raise the banners. We are about to reach our destination.”
He passed on the order and the relaxed formation of the royal guards tightened up as the heavily armed and armored men and women synchronized their steps. At the same time the men and women of the various domains accompanying us raised their banners as they fell in with the rest. It was a sight to behold, a sight that raised my spirits. Colorful banners fluttering in the breeze just like all the colorful ribbons in everyone's hair. Even my ride's horns and reins had been adorned in the same way.
A few moments later we finally we left the forest and my heart fluttered a little as I finally beheld the hills around Caer'zoth again. The fields and pastures as well as the forests all brought back fond memories of my childhood. Not even the fact that the place had changed quite a bit could dim my joy. Caer'zoth's walls were higher now and they sported towers with siege engines. Many houses were bigger now. There were more farms dotting the hills all around as well. The place certainly had recovered well from the hardships it had suffered, partly due to the human and dwarven refugees we had taken in.
One thing that hadn't changed though was mother's great house at the very center of what was no longer just a village. It still stood there in the shade of the old trees as if nothing had happened. Well, one thing had changed. It wasn't mother's house anymore. It wasn't mine either. It was Kaele's now.
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The place had prepared for our arrival as well. Banners or simple colorful streamers adorned just about every home I could see and not just those along the road where most of the people had gathered to catch a glimpse of the whole spectacle. A cheer went up as we entered the home stretch. It was a cheer that carried all the way up the surrounding hills and it was answered from there with a equal fervor by those who had to mind the houses or the herds on the pastures.
Finally we reached the new city gate, a marvel of troll engineering as well as artistic beauty. There standing and waiting in the shade provided by the defensive structure was Kaele, now wearing the Illuminium circlet she had initially commissioned for me herself, and she wasn't waiting alone either. Waiting together with our old friends as well as Uzzana were a number of children.
The guards that led the procession parted and assumed positions to the side of the road to let me pass and I dismounted from my ibex mount to walk the last few steps myself. The crowd fell silent as Kaele bent her knee. “My queen.” Her voice was hoarse and she was obviously fighting not to let emotions overwhelm her.
“Lady Kaele of the domain Zoth.” That was as far as formalities went on my part. I quickly pulled her back onto her feet as I reached her. In the same movement I pulled her into a tight hug. “I'm home Keza. I'm finally home.” Finally I let her go again to look at the faces of everyone around us. Some of these faces were new ones but I still knew quite a few by heart.
Finally my gaze settled on the three little children, one boy older by a few months and two tall girls who still easily dwarved him despite the fact that he was older. Now it was my turn to bend my knee as I crouched to hug them. My heart ached a little as I beheld the two girls I couldn't raise myself. “I hope you are not giving your mother too much trouble.”
I had a hard time keeping my laughter in check even as I spoke those words. All three of them had been dressed up for the occasion. They were wearing colorful ribbons as well but some dirt smudges on the hems of their fine clothes suggested that getting them here had not exactly been an easy task. My next words were a whisper meant only for the three although some of the others surely picked up on them as well. “Come on, lets eat and celebrate so you can get back to having some real fun.”
As I rose again another cheer went up from the crowd and we proceeded into the town I had grown up in. It might be a long time before I could come back here thus I decided to enjoy every single moment as much as I could. Among other things that meant that I picked up the two little girls to let them ride on my shoulders. Not only because they were two reborn goddesses but because it might be the only chance I had to do just that while the two were still small enough. As their brother looked a little put out by being left out I decided to offer him a ride as well, prompting him to climb onto my back as well. I could manage after all.