I walked cautiously through the rings to Théoden's office as I didn’t want to trip nor draw too much attention to myself as it was a bit unusual for me to walk through the kingdom carrying a mound of food. It was still dark outside so most were still asleep but the further I traversed in the kingdom the more and more awake people were becoming. It was shy of four in the morning after all.

It took me thirty minutes to walk from the castle to his office when it would normally take twenty as I was taking my time. The air was breezy this morning which caused my dress and hair to blow slightly in the wind, leaving the faintest trail of goosebumps up my arms as they were exposed. The moon had started to make its descendance in the sky as the sun was slowly starting to rise on the opposite side. As the sky was slowly starting to show the colorations of yellows, orange, and reds as the sun was making its slow ascendance.

I could almost taste those fritters. Théoden's voice spoke softly through the bond as I was five minutes away from his office.

I could just stall…I said as I began to slow my pace.

Maria. Don’t you dare. I am starving. I heard Théoden's stomach grumble loudly through the bond, which caused me to laugh.

I’m joking dear.

I continued my trek towards his office as my arms were growing tired of holding the food. I knew I could have easily put the food in my bag of holding but I didn’t want to take a chance on the food spilling as cleaning the bag of holding wouldn’t have been fun.

Once I arrived at his office, I didn’t even have to knock. He was waiting by the door for me with it propped open. “There’s my princess and my breakfast.” Théoden's face had held a grin. He held out his hand as he took the plates from me.

I sighed in relief as I walked in his office, he closed the office door behind me with his foot and walked to his large desk and sat in his chair and began devouring the fritters first.

“I am honestly surprised you like the fritters.” I joked as he finished up the cinnamon butter and the last bite of the fritter.

“I will eat anything if it has bacon in it.” Théoden began to unwrap the plates of bacon and eggs but before he ate those he took out a waterskin and gulped down a decent amount of water.

“Fair enough.” I shrugged, “I suppose that is the same with me and sweets. Anything with sugar, I am sure I will eat.”

The oden chuckled, “Isn’t that the truth.” He quickly began to chow down on the bacon and eggs. Quickly devouring each piece of bacon.

“So the fiend earlier…” I began to ask him as he began to place each finger in his mouth licking the bacon grease off of the.

“Strange that one was. Seemed she was responsible for the poisoning of the Council.”

“Do you believe it?”

He shrugged, “If it was legit, Marcel just handed her to me. Which was also strange as she gave me the name of another potential fiend.”

“Do you want me to talk to him about it today?” I asked him as I was more than willing to see if I could get any information out of Marcel.

Theoden narrowed his eyes, “I don’t trust him so I would advise against it. However, if you can approach the situation in a delicate manner then maybe…but don’t push it. I don't want him to get agitated over a bit of question and answer.”

I understood Théoden's point. If he truly set up the fiend to be killed by Théoden, then there was reason for that. However, I couldn’t just waltz in and ask why he handed a fiend over to Théoden.

I nodded in response, “I need to get going back to the castle and I believe you are due for a round soon?”

“Mhm. Quinn should be here shortly.” Théoden said as he took another big drink of water from his waterskin. At this point he had finished every bit of food Roland had made for him. Including all of the fritters.

“Want me to take the plates back?”

“I’ll get them back to him.” Théoden began to place the clean plates in his bag of holding. “Quinn and I will walk you back to the castle once she gets here.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“I can walk back to the castle myself. Considering I had walked here by myself.”

“Far enough.” Théoden stood up from his desk and began to equip all of his gear. His sword, his bow, and any armor he wasn’t currently wearing.

Just as he placed the final piece of his equipment on a gentle but firm knock echoed through his office. “Captain?” Quinn’s gentle but firm voice echoed through the door.

“Come in!” Théoden shouted as he walked over to me and gave me a gentle squeeze and a kiss on the forehead. “Are you sure you don’t want us to walk with you?”

I smiled up at him, “I got this.”

“Ready for…” Quinn began to say but quickly paused as she watched him remove his arm from around me. “Sorry for interrupting.”

“It’s alright Quinn, we were just finishing up. Ready for our round?” Théoden asked her as he moved past me and fell in step beside her.

“Of course! Good morning Maria!” Quinn said with a smile as she waved at me.

“Morning Quinn. Keep an eye on him today alright?” I asked as I joined them as all three of us left his office with him locking the door behind us.

“You got it!” Quinn said. “I’ll beat ya to the outskirts of the city.” Quinn said as she elbowed Théoden and took off towards the South side of the kingdom.

Theoden looked around cautiously and gave me a gentle squeeze before taking off after Quinn, leaving me to walk alone back to the castle.

I ended up back at the castle twenty minutes later. Once the sun ascended I decided to check on the vendors for the wedding and everything was thankfully in place. Which meant there was no more planning to do. Well, maybe a few more bridesmaids but I had no idea who to ask. I had Quinn and Crimson. Perhaps Brienne would be one and I would ask Queen Eleanor but I did not want to risk another ruler being that close to Marcel. Then again, I could leave that decision up to her.

After weighing the pros and cons I decided to take the risk. I needed more people to stand with me so I decided to communicate with Queen Eleanor once more.

I walked my way to the communications center and found Queen Eleanor’s communication stone. First thing as always, I needed to send a message first.

Queen Eleanor, do you have time to chat with me this afternoon? I waited for a response before I went to her swirling orb.

Yes, give me five minutes and I will see you in the orb.

I followed her direction and waited five minutes before walking towards the orb. The orb beamed with magical essences as her figure appeared before me.

“Hello, Maria. It’s lovely to see you again.”

Queen Eleanor took her seat in front of the orb. She wore an elegant pink dress that flowed when she walked. The train was rather long and her dress was a tad revealing as it appeared strapless and her breasts poked out of the chest line.

“No need to stare at the girls.” She joked, “I have an event tonight and was trying something new.”

Queen Eleanor did wear more of the darker side of colors. The vibrancy and elegance of the pink dress fit her ever so perfectly. Cascading her in pure beauty.

“You look lovely.”

“Why, thank you.” Eleanor said with a soft smile. “Is everything alright?” Eleanor asked as I watched her examine me. As she did her face faltered ever so slightly as if indiciating something was wrong.

“Yes…everything is fine. I just had a question to ask you.” I was hesitant to ask her but I knew it was the right call.

“Well, out with it. I don’t have all day.” She snapped at me.

“You know I am set to marry at the beginning of fall. I am looking for bridesmaids and would be honored if you would stand up with me.”

I waited what felt like hours for her to respond. As I watched through the orb of communication I saw a wave of emotions cross her face. Happiness. Amusement. Worried.

“Maria, I would love to but considering the circumstances I am hesitant due to how cruel we know Marcel can be. I can not take that risk as I need to be able to rule over Emerald Cove.” Her face faltered with many emotions. As her voice shook upon delivery.

I sighed in defeat. I understood where she was coming from. I hated to ask her as I knew it would put her kingdom at risk. However, she’s like a sister to me and I would have treasured my sister to be there with me.

“I understand.”

“I am truly sorry Maria. I will still be there on your day and lend your hand in the fight that is set to come. But I can not risk being within thirty feet of that bastard.”

I tried not to let my face falter but I understood her reasoning clearly.

“I truly get it. I just got to figure out who else to ask.”

“Who do you got so far?”

“Quinn and Marcel requested I ask Crimson.”

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed in disgust. “The red dragon….of course.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice by that one.” I quickly told her.

She nodded, “Don’t you have other female friends?”

“Hmm…” I thought about it briefly. “I have a few. I think. They are guards though.”

“Then I'd ask them. I’ll be in the audience, I just think it's best I stay in the audience.”

We finished up our conversation with a bit of catching up to do. I told her how my training was going and how our kingdom was fairing and allowed her to do the same.

“Well, Maria. I got to run. I’ll chat with you later.” Eleanor finally said as the orb soon faded.

“I’ll chat with you later…” I whispered to the darkened orb.