I pulled out of his vision as I needed to head to the Council chambers to meet them. I walked down the marbled stairs, the clank of my wedge boots filled the air all the way down to the basement. Once I was firmly on the ground floor of the castle I walked to the door of the chambers and walked in.
The majority of them were there already. Cedric, Fredrick, Thora, and Wulfric. Sybil, as usual, was late.
“Princess Maria, it is lovely to see you again.” Cedric said as he offered me his hand to shake. As I took it, I was met with a firm and steady hand, one that was most welcomed.
As I took it I gave him a gentle a smile, “You too Cedric. How are you… how is everyone feeling?” I asked as I looked across everyone. As I turned my focus to everyone in the room and not just Cedric.
“Alright, all things considered.” Thora said. “How is Théoden? He took a lot of poison away that night.”
“He is much better. I had him rest yesterday.” Despite him being immune to poison it still offered a very minimal affect on his body. It wasn't noticeable to the naked eye but it did exhaust him a lot quicker. Especially with the amount of spells he had to use to help all of us.
“That’s good.” Thora said, “We all owe him a thanks. He saved us all.” She said with a warm and inviting smile. I could tell that they were all grateful for what he done.
Tell them it’s my job. Théoden spoke through the bond.
“It’s his job.” I told them, “He’d do it again if he had too, though let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.”
“Agreed.” Thora said.
“I second that.” Cedric responded, “That poison even though it is out of our systems, still affected us slightly. I know you have him that takes it from you, but not all of us have that.”
I nodded, “Of course. I am just glad you are all healed up and doing well.” I responded to him.
“Why did you want to meet today?” Cedric questioned.
“I just wanted to check in with all of you. It’s informal and I suppose that is why Sybil isn’t….” Just then Sybil walked in the chamber. “Sybil.” I said with a nod.
“Maria.” Sybil spoke with a bit of harshness in her voice, “What is the purpose of this?” She sounded a bit exhausted as a few of them did.
“As I was just telling Cedric, I wanted to check in with all of you as it has been a couple days since the formal celebration.”
“Ah, the one where we all got poisoned?” Sybil growled.
“Yes.”
“Thankfully, we all survived that.” Sybil crossed her arms as she stood behind her chair. “Does the Captain have any idea who caused that?”
“I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I know there was a fiend that might have been responsible.”
“Interesting…” Sybil said, “Regardless of that, what is the purpose of this again?”
“A check in. Also to inform you that I plan to have a law rewritten by the next meeting.” I told her.
“Let me guess, revivification law?” She questioned me.
I nodded. “That poisoning is one reason why I am prompting that to change.”
“You make a good point on that Maria.” Cedric said. “Do the write up and we will see what happens from there.”
I nodded. “Thank you Cedric.”
“Of course Maria.” Cedric said with a smile.
“Is there anything you all would like to discuss while this meeting is going on?” Cedric asked.
The room fell silent as no one seemed to have any topics for discussion. “Alright, I guess I can call this meeting short. I just wanted to check in and see how you all were doing. Meeting next week?”
“Yes.” They all responded.
“Alright. You all may leave if you want. I’m sorry for bothering all of you.”
“It wasn’t a bother Maria.” Thora said.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Speak for yourself.” Sybil responded.
“Like you have plans?” Thora questioned.
“I do have a life outside of the Council.” Sybil responded, “A very busy life.”
“Well, I apologize for keeping you for five minutes.” I told her, “I just thought it be best to check in and see how everyone was doing.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sybil responded, “Well, if I am not needed I am going back to what I was doing prior.”
I nodded and we all watched her leave and as soon as the door shut, “good she’s gone.” Wulfric muttered. “I swear she has no friendly bone in her body.”
“You got that right.” Thora agreed.
“She’s not that bad.” Fredrick spoke up. “If you all get to know her….”
“You mean sleep with her?” Cedric questioned.
Fredrick rolled his eyes, “I hooked up with her once and I never heard the end of it.”
“Wasn’t it twice?” Wulfric chimed in.
“Whatever…” Fredrick said.
“Besides all of that drama…. I say this meeting can be concluded?” I asked as I interrupted them.
“I believe so.” Cedric said.
“Unless you have anything else?” Wulfric asked me one more time.
“Nope. I will get in touch with you all next week. Till then, take care.”
I left them to their bidding as I had no need to hear their gossip. I walked back up the marbled stairs to my office and began to draft up the new revision of the new law.
By the time the revision was complete it had grown dark. I packed away everything in my office and locked it up for the evening and went downstairs for dinner.
“Stuffed Cornish chicken, with potatoes and corn.” Roland said as he handed me a full plate of food.
“It looks delicious.” I said as I took my seat.
Théoden are you coming for dinner? It’s one of your favorites…
Cornish chicken?
Mhm.
Give me five minutes.
Yeah I knew that would get him here as this was probably his number one dish that Roland makes. “Theo is on his way.” I told Roland who began to plate Théoden's food. Giving him two of the stuffed chickens instead of just one.
“Knew he wouldn’t be able to resist these.” Roland said, “And I know you can not resist, this.” Roland handed me a container that was shut. However, I could smell the deliciousness inside of the container. It was sweet yet bitter. Savory but salty. A treat that really hit the spot.
“You did not!” I shouted as I peaked in the box. Oh he did. He baked small cakes with bacon cream fillings that had baked apples on top. It was truly a delicious treat. The food he cooked tonight was definitely some of our favorites and yet, it made me grow suspicious… “Roland, is something going on?”
“Can I not cook some old favorites without it being suspicious?”
“Do you know Maria at all?” Théoden's voice echoed through the kitchen as he entered. He immediately went to his seat and began to devour the chicken in front of him. He enjoyed this dish enough that he didn’t even bother to take off his armor.
“Fair enough. There’s nothin the matter. I just wanted to treat both of you.”
I narrowed my eyes, I believed him, however, I just hoped that is all what it was. “Thank you Roland. It’s truly delicious.”
“I can tell, this one didn’t even change out of his armor.” Roland smiled as he pointed over at Théoden.
“Hey…. When the chef makes a personal favorite there is no time to change.”
After we ate our dinner, I helped clean up the kitchen as Théoden went to do a couple more rounds before bed. “Are you sure everything is alright Roland?”
“Positive Maria.” Roland reassured me.
“If you say so.” Part of me still worried a bit but I was much calmer now than I was when dinner started. “Need help with anything else?” I asked Roland as another hour had passed as we finished up in the kitchen.
He looked around and responded, “Nope I think I am good here.”
“Alright, I am going up to my room. Thanks again.”
“Of course. See ya in the morning!”
He waved me off as I headed to my bedchambers for the evening.
I still feel like….
Maria, I don’t think anything was off. Theo cut me off before I finished my sentence.
I’m being paranoid aren’t I?
I…. I am not answering that. Théoden was hesitant in his answer.
He didn’t have to. That answer was enough for me to know that perhaps I was being a bit paranoid. I mean the food wasn’t poisoned. It was cooked to perfection as always. And it was delicious.
Alright, I will let this one slide. It just felt off. I responded as I calmed myself. I knew Roland would never do anything to us, at least not on purpose. The surprise meal… I had just really caught me off guard is all.
Understandable, considering it has been awhile since he has cooked those.
How long until we have a dream? I asked him as I was wanting to take a hot bath before I laid down for bed tonight. Tomorrow we resume training once again.
Two hours at least. I want to do some magic training tonight if possible. I glanced down at my ring and a few of the gems were decently charged so I understood where he was coming from on that.
Fine… I let out a sigh, I will wait to bathe.
You could bathe closer to bed… Just a thought.
I felt a grin fall on my face, hmmm… perhaps I will or perhaps I won’t.
Always a tease…. Théoden groaned.
To his surprise I waited for him to get back to his room before bathing, which meant we got to bed a bit later than what we both had originally hoped. Which, neither of us minded at all.