So, I'm a lady now? Mom would be proud...
I was running for the boat, a bag of coal in one hand, a bag of apples in the other and a mouthful of bread when sir Lars called me.
- Alaila, do you have a moment? I need to speak to you.
One does not simple say to sir Lars "oh I'm sorry, sir, but my mouth is full so you'll have to wait a bit". No, I nodded, bowed as low as I possibly could and looked at him, keeping my mouth carefully shut.
He started to tell me how it had come to the attention of the Altera's court my role in Uthrandir and how sir Bellon had spoken highly of me and my cooking and something else I can't quite remember because I was getting quite worried about the bread that was still in my mouth.
Should I chew on it?
Should I swallow it whole?
Should I just keep my mouth shut and nod if he asked something?
-...and that is why I would like to invite you to the court.
I noticed that last piece of conversation and as it slammed against my mind I choked on the bread, coughing loudly, gasping for air.
Sir Lars grinned, patting me on the back.
-Now, now.. no need to get all choked up about it. We are confident you are worthy of being a king's hand if you choose to accept the title.
Something in the end of that sentence made me think he was just to nice to add a " and if you are not we'll just chop of your head and be done with it".
He looked at me, expecting me to react to the news.
How do you react to something like that?
I was deeply honored. I was happy. I was as scared as if I was just been told to go barefooted to the nether. I was expecting him to just laugh, point at me and say something like "ah.. fooled you! I'm just joking, lass!".
He did no such thing. he just tilted his head and continued looking at me. Waiting. Oh may.. waiting! I was making sir Lars... *the* sir Lars wait for an answer. Great start!
I immediately started rambling about how thankful I was, that I would be glad to be able to help, that I really felt blessed for having them bestowing me with such honor.
I was still halfway through my rambling when he turned around and said: "Follow me to the throne room".
I'm sure the ceremony was lovely, too bad I don't remember most of it. That's how nervous I was.
There was flowers raining from the ceiling and people congratulating me. I remember hugging a lot of people. Maybe some against their will.
It all ended in the dinning hall at Uthrandir with a ball.
Food and dance, that's the way all big events should end.
At the end of it sir Shadow approached me and asked very politely if I knew anyhing about the ways of the court.
I am a cook... no... i did not know of the ways of the court. I expected him to laugh at me but he offered to teach me.
That is a man of patience, I tell you. He kindly explained me everything I needed to know and how I should act.
I owe him my gratitude and my sanity for I fear i would go insane worrying about taking a wrong step in my new place.
Not long after I received a letter from sir Itzza, explaining me in writing what sir Shadow had showed me, making sure I had something to look at if I forgot. Such kindness... taking the time from his busy life to make sure I would not feel lost.
The next day sir Bellon asked me to join him at the tower.
I put together his lunch and hurried upstairs, anxious to talk with him for a while.
- I have something for you, lass - he told me handing me a small shinny object. - It was made by sir Lars himself and I want you to have it.
He told me that the object contained a very useful magic. If turned one way it would make me appear next to the person I was thinking of. If turned another way it would bring that person to me.
He told me that now that I was a king's hand I might need such thing seeing that I do not possess any magic of my own.
What I really think he meant was something along the lines of " by Harateth lass, you cannot keep getting lost and arriving three days late if you are called to fulfill your duties as a King's Hand!".
-That trinket has some power to it, so keep it safe and use it wisely. - he added, with a stern face before breaking into a smile and announcing " now, food!".
I'm still getting used to my new "shoes" and so far I haven't really feel that life is all that different from before. I'm still the same Alaila... but I must admit that in moments like this I miss my family. I miss being able to run home and tell my mother about it or hearing the wise words my father had to say.
I even miss the way my brothers would have taunted me, asking me things like " if you are the king's hand do you have to scratch his back when he gets itchy?".
Will I ever see them again?