73 Chapter 7Once a great castle full of light, music and drums had grown somber and quiet except for few sounds of tears amongst the ladies of the house. Lady Burchad, who after her husband’s death became Dowager Lady Burchad of House Horriss was inside her chambers being consoled with the Faith Crones and her daughters.
The man of the house and the next lord of Horriss, Deagol Aethelind was sixteen of age when his father died. He was a man grown and fit to lead a powerful house with all its glory in terms of wealth and men. Although, not so many men remained in their town after they were summoned to fight a war. Deagol himself fought alongside his father in the Battle of Stonedance and he saw him die when he was ripped off his insides by a lion.
Rage and unaware of how to act nearly caused a demise for Deagol too when he attempted to go after the lion. Lord Gandalf was the one who rode the lion who killed Lord Aethelind, and he did make sure to roar on Deagol’s face before he left. Since that day, Gandalf’s face stuck on Deagol’s mind and it was all he can see and crave after his father died.
Deagol’s heart hardened and he went from being that charming boy, to a cold hearted man who didn’t smile nor showed any affection towards Artemis, who he adored very much before. Although decade apart, Deagol was as tall as Artemis and stronger because of his magnificent thews and most of the time spent in training.
The cold shoulder was inevitable, and Aurora knew they will be expecting that since she sensed it all the way there. Hence even when the gates of the castle took time to be opened, Aurora urged Artemis to be patient and wait. “What’s the meaning of this?” Artemis blurted out to his men.
The gates were finally opened and the whole caravan was allowed inside the castle which was half the size of the main palace. Lord Aethelind outdid himself with the designs and architect of the place, and all the spaces and quarters and chambers. It had been almost a year and a half ever since Artemis visited the castle and he found it to be a little bit different.
Later on he learned Lord Aethelind had expanded the place ever since he housed Lucian Mithandir and all the men who he gathered for the war. There was another place deep in the woods where he built another castle to house the knights, the free riders, sell swords men and slaves. The castle was called “Freehall” and it was still standing although not inhabited.
As custom, the Dowager Lady Burchad stood outside the main gate of the castle ready to welcome Artemis to her house once again. Although this time it was Deagol who stood at the front and he stood tall, still with a frown look on his face. Hawk, Lord Aethelind’s second son stood close to his brother and he had the same look. The Aethelinds boys despised their king, it’s like a poison planted inside their hearts by their late father.
However, there can only be one king and for that Deagol knelt before Artemis as so did his brother, his sisters and his Dowager mother. “Your Grace...” said Deagol.
.....
Artemis held Deagol’s shoulders and helped him up “Rise cousin” he said softly. Deagol rose up and so did his mother, then followed by Hawk and their sisters. “Such sad news to the realm, my uncle was a great man”
Deagol’s face still showed his wroth, he stared at Aurora who wore a crown on her head. News did spread of his cousin’s wedding to a lowlife common-born servant, but he didn’t expect Aurora to possess such beauty and it did catch him off guard. Deagol slowly bowed before Aurora “Your Grace” he said.
Aurora carried such a warm and delight smile, this was her first tour of the realm as Queen of Maldonia and she attempted to show everyone that she was a good and kind person. From the lords, nobles and folks alike.
“Our deepest sympathies for the lost of your father my lord. I can’t say I’ve met Lord Aethelind but his strength and wisdom was loud, the crown griefs for him” Aurora said this while looking at the whole family of Lord Aethelind.
Suddenly, Deagol added “He would still be alive if you hadn’t abandoned him” and this was straight to the king. A whole minute of silence passed and looks were exchanged between Artemis and Deagol like roosters about to fight. These looks were unpleasant not only for them, but even for those looking on.
Lady Burchad stopped his son from continuing to embarrass the King, and she shoved him aside and took charge. “You must all be weary from your travels, Your Grace. Do come inside for fresh food and refreshments. The servants can be taken to their quarters and the men...” Lady Burchad organized for the men of the castle to help the King’s men and see it to their horses.
The awkward moment passed, Artemis didn’t seem so bothered by a boy half his age although Deagol was a man already. But he was twenty-five and the boy sixteen, Artemis thought he was being a stupid boy and with that he forgave him. Even his mother Lady Burchad pleaded to the king that her son was just a boy who knew nothing about wars.
“He has every right to be wroth with me Aunty” Artemis said to Lady Burchad. “Where is my uncle?” he changed the subject to more important stuff.
“With the Faith Crones in the Sept, praying for him to have an easier journey in the afterlife”
“I shall see him then; the Queen will accompany me”
Aurora stood beside Artemis the whole time and she was just listening to their conversation and she feared to intervene a family conversation especially since she had nothing to add nor advise.
“Yes, Your Grace. I shall have my servants escort you and the Queen to the Sept” Lady Burchad led the way while Artemis and Aurora followed.
The Sept was a few yards from the main castle, only a five minutes’ walk and Artemis chose to walk instead of getting on his carriage. This was a way of showing up to the people of Horriss that he came to bury their lord no matter their differences.
The war had torn relationships apart, not only Artemis’s and his uncle but even between relatives. Back in King Castellan’s camp, a brawl erupted between Aryan and Gandalf – the Squire twins. After losing five of their lions, and almost one hundred thousand bodies rotting in the heat a few leagues from their camp, Aryan panicked.
All the four lions which Gandalf took control of were the ones who died, while on the other side Aryan hadn’t lost even a single one. She blurted out to her brother and blamed him for his recklessness which nearly took his life.
“You can’t fight, yet you would lead our beasts in the vanguard. How many times must I speak about your recklessness?” Lady Aryan shouted and shoved Gandalf. They were both tired, dirty with blood on their armors and faces although it wasn’t their blood.
Castellan and Lord Aubrel paid no attention to the brawl, after all these twins would rekindle soon enough hence there was no need for him to try and pull them apart. “Five lions! Five lions, do you even understand the loss that you’ve put our house through?” Aryan continued.
Gandalf replied arrogantly pointing his sword towards his sister “My house sister, I’m the lord of Old City”
Aryan shoved him again and this time Gandalf dropped the sword, that just showed how weak he was and some of the men in the camp laughed at him. “Pick it up and fight me” Aryan screamed at her brother. When Gandalf attempted to pick the sword up, Aryan shoved him again and kicked him on the face using her long legs.
Poor Gandalf fell over and the men laughed at him some more, Aryan picked the sword and threw it to him. In an attempt to show his manliness Gandalf rose up quickly with the sword and started to attack Aryan like a ten year old boy full of anger. He had no aim with the sword, he didn’t even know how to swing it and Aryan used that to her advantage when she knocked him down again.
The men cheered for Aryan and booed Gandalf “You fight like a little girl” they screamed. Castellan though he should end the brawl however Lord Aubrel advised him against that, he insisted the two twins needed to fight s they can respect each other.
For another five minutes it was Gandalf rising up and being kicked down every single time he tried to fend for himself. The brawl ended with Aryan’s sharp sword which she’s taken many of Lucian Mitnadir’s men with it against her brother’s neck. That’s when the fight intensified, and Gandalf had no other choice but to yield to his sister. Aryan didn’t seem so amused though, she left the camp that same night on horseback and rode her way to the Silent Sea knowing the battle was already won.
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