of the castle for the first time, my weariness was replaced by nervousness — I was about to stand before the King of Delmar! What would His Majesty say as I knelt before him? Would he praise my accomplishments on the battlefield? Would he laugh because I was merely a farmer?
Or would he act as though I wasn’t even there?
As Garridan and Derrick led me through the courtroom of the king, I was once again awestruck by the magnificence of the castle, and His Majesty’s throne room. The stone was white as the outside of the castle, and red banners hung from the ceiling. Obsidian pillars stood along the aisle, which was laid with red carpet. Marble statues immortalizing past kings adorned the hall throughout. I had never seen such splendor.
This is amazing .
King Baladir IV stood in front of his throne, wrapped in his blue robe, in conversation with the soldier who was sent ahead by Garridan to inform the king of our victory (‘our’ — it sounded odd to me at the time, and it still does now). Baladir was a young king, not much older than myself, and had not yet found a queen. He had brown hair and deep blue eyes, like Garridan’s. As we approached the steps to his throne, he held his hand up, telling us to wait.
The delay did nothing but make me more anxious; I stood in between Sir Garridan and Derrick, my body jittery with tension and excitement. I put my hand on the hilt of my sword, but it didn’t have the same calming effect that it had earlier. Instead, the lack of reassuring comfort only added to my already existing anxiety. And so I waited, apprehensively, as the king finished speaking to our messenger.
Finally, Baladir dismissed the runner, and sat on his throne, calling for a servant to bring him some wine. As the servant disappeared into a doorway to the right of the throne, Baladir’s gaze turned to Garridan. ‘Sir Garridan, my friend, come stand before me.’
Garridan smiled, and did as he was told. As he began to kneel before his king, Baladir stood quickly and placed his hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
‘You’ll not be bowing before me on this day, General,’ Baladir said. ‘Just accept my gratitude on a day of triumph against all odds.’
Sir Garridan inclined his head.
Baladir’s attention suddenly shifted in my direction. ‘And this is the young man I’ve been hearing about for so long?’
My heart jumped in my chest. Garridan told the king about me too?
Baladir was still watching me. ‘Stand before me, lad, let me have a closer look at you.’
Without hesitation, I began to climb the steps toward His Majesty, trying my best not to trip and fall on my face like a fool. As I stood before the king, I was amazed by his size; I always thought I was fairly tall, but he was a good six inches taller — though he was rather rotund due to the fact that he could have food anytime he wanted.
I tried to imagine what that was like.
I began to kneel, but Baladir stopped me, as he did Garridan. When I felt his hand on my shoulder, my eyes went wide — I almost thought I had done something wrong. But as I looked into the king’s eyes, I saw that there was no anger or disappointment, only joy, and maybe a little admiration.
‘You needn’t bow this day either, lad,’ he said, his voice low. ‘Today, you are a hero.’
For a second, I didn’t think that I had heard him right. As his words sunk in, I felt a warm rush of pride surge through my body that rendered me speechless — I couldn’t believe it! I stood back up, trying to meet his gaze as evenly as possible.
I wanted to say so many things, perhaps say that I was just helping to defend my country, or that I was happy to do what I could — but instead, all I could stammer was, ‘Th-thank you, Your Majesty.’
Baladir chuckled, and then responded, ‘No, thank you, my lad. Your bravery and skill on the battlefield have gone beyond the call of duty. You saved many innocent lives today. And for that, the entire country of Delmar
Or would he act as though I wasn’t even there?
As Garridan and Derrick led me through the courtroom of the king, I was once again awestruck by the magnificence of the castle, and His Majesty’s throne room. The stone was white as the outside of the castle, and red banners hung from the ceiling. Obsidian pillars stood along the aisle, which was laid with red carpet. Marble statues immortalizing past kings adorned the hall throughout. I had never seen such splendor.
This is amazing .
King Baladir IV stood in front of his throne, wrapped in his blue robe, in conversation with the soldier who was sent ahead by Garridan to inform the king of our victory (‘our’ — it sounded odd to me at the time, and it still does now). Baladir was a young king, not much older than myself, and had not yet found a queen. He had brown hair and deep blue eyes, like Garridan’s. As we approached the steps to his throne, he held his hand up, telling us to wait.
The delay did nothing but make me more anxious; I stood in between Sir Garridan and Derrick, my body jittery with tension and excitement. I put my hand on the hilt of my sword, but it didn’t have the same calming effect that it had earlier. Instead, the lack of reassuring comfort only added to my already existing anxiety. And so I waited, apprehensively, as the king finished speaking to our messenger.
Finally, Baladir dismissed the runner, and sat on his throne, calling for a servant to bring him some wine. As the servant disappeared into a doorway to the right of the throne, Baladir’s gaze turned to Garridan. ‘Sir Garridan, my friend, come stand before me.’
Garridan smiled, and did as he was told. As he began to kneel before his king, Baladir stood quickly and placed his hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
‘You’ll not be bowing before me on this day, General,’ Baladir said. ‘Just accept my gratitude on a day of triumph against all odds.’
Sir Garridan inclined his head.
Baladir’s attention suddenly shifted in my direction. ‘And this is the young man I’ve been hearing about for so long?’
My heart jumped in my chest. Garridan told the king about me too?
Baladir was still watching me. ‘Stand before me, lad, let me have a closer look at you.’
Without hesitation, I began to climb the steps toward His Majesty, trying my best not to trip and fall on my face like a fool. As I stood before the king, I was amazed by his size; I always thought I was fairly tall, but he was a good six inches taller — though he was rather rotund due to the fact that he could have food anytime he wanted.
I tried to imagine what that was like.
I began to kneel, but Baladir stopped me, as he did Garridan. When I felt his hand on my shoulder, my eyes went wide — I almost thought I had done something wrong. But as I looked into the king’s eyes, I saw that there was no anger or disappointment, only joy, and maybe a little admiration.
‘You needn’t bow this day either, lad,’ he said, his voice low. ‘Today, you are a hero.’
For a second, I didn’t think that I had heard him right. As his words sunk in, I felt a warm rush of pride surge through my body that rendered me speechless — I couldn’t believe it! I stood back up, trying to meet his gaze as evenly as possible.
I wanted to say so many things, perhaps say that I was just helping to defend my country, or that I was happy to do what I could — but instead, all I could stammer was, ‘Th-thank you, Your Majesty.’
Baladir chuckled, and then responded, ‘No, thank you, my lad. Your bravery and skill on the battlefield have gone beyond the call of duty. You saved many innocent lives today. And for that, the entire country of Delmar
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