Dinner

The light waned and darkness crept over the forested landscape of Vostris and you found yourself staring out of your chamber window. The island of your birth had stability and security, but as you regarded the capitol that surrounded your family Keep and the villages that dotted the horizon, you couldn't help but imagine the prosperity that the elvish deal would bring. Wealth and an influx of trade from the mainland would change the lives of your subjects for generations, you would be remembered as a king wholly unlike your forebears.

You had decided to forego any kind of pomposity in favour of a subdued evening within your chambers. Maps of the Itherian coast and any books you could find relating to the history of elves were brought for you to study. One of the things your father had drilled into your mind was understanding your enemy, or as much as they could be understood at any rate. The elves weren't your foe here exactly, but you weren't yet sure if they were your friends either.

The doors creaked open and you turned around to see Agatha bringing in another tray of food over. Plates full of roast lamb, assorted vegetables, a bowl of soup and loaf of bread.

Looking at the food and the woman carrying it an idea struck you.

"Agatha,"

The girl placed the tray down on and looked up. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Have dinner with me."

"Oh, Your Majesty I don't....think that would be proper." She looked embarrassed. She avoided your eyes and fiddled with the hem of her uniform.

You went to her and took her hands. They were warm from carrying the hot tray of food around. "I've had one hell of a day and I need to have a conversation with someone who isn't a noble or a knight or a diplomat or anything like that. Just someone decent to talk to. Besides," you gestured to the food. "I'm probably not going to be able to eat all of that by myself..."

There was another moment of hesitation, but between your smile and the delightful scent coming off the miniature feast, she quickly gave in. You both sat down at the table and you went to work dividing up the meal.

"I don't think I've ever had something so tasty," Agatha said after taking a mouthful of soup.

"It might sound strange, but this is a bit new to me too," you replied, slicing a piece of lamb. "I ate like this when I was a boy, but after I was sent away to train they didn't really allow much in the way of luxury."

Agatha's brows lifted in confusion. "But you were the prince..."

"My family's ways are strange, perhaps even cruel. When I was a lad they took me away from the castle and out to a small island far off the coast." Your eyes focused somewhere in the distance, lost in memory. "It wasn't large. You could walk up and down it in half an hour. But every night...creatures would crawl from the shallows up onto the beach, horrid things with gripping tentacles and hungry beaks looking to eat silly little boys like me," you came back to yourself and shot the girl a reassuring smile, "a few weeks of fending for myself there and I was happy to eat anything," you took a bite of the lamb, savouring the taste before swallowing. "Certainly I couldn't have imagined anything as good as this."

"Life can be strange," she replied quietly, "I'm sitting at the table with a king, yet I...wasn't even born here. My parents had me on a ship coming from an island far to the south. We lived in a shack near the beach while my father fished and crabbed."

"Do they live here, on Vostris?"

Agatha's shoulders sank. "They died when I was very small. I can only remember bits and pieces. The sound of my father's voice, my mother's soft hands...."she trailed off and the conversation died for a few moments as she lost herself in memory. "There was a storm and they were washed to sea, I was left at home and that was that."

"Then who raised you?" You probed. "You certainly don't sound like a lady who was raised in the wilderness."

"I lived on my own for a little while, but then some men came by looking to recruit my father for work and they found me. They were pirates." her grin grew bright, pride filling her voice. "Evidently the captain knew my father back in the day, so when he saw me like that he took me with him on his voyages. I worked as part of the crew and he taught me to read and write," there was a self conscious blush, "we used to discuss books and history while the rest of the crew were drunk or enjoying their spoils of battle. I ended up seeing a lot of the world and eventually that brought me to the Crimson Isles. Lord Einon came across us one day as we came into port and offered me a place working at this castle. I've been here ever since."

You wanted to ask what the hell Einon was doing, recruiting teenage girls at the docks to make into the staff, but you couldn't fault him in this instance. She was a very clever girl and resilient for having survived such an unorthodox life. You could imagine her doing very well at the castle, even with the political turmoil that came with your father's **** and the counsel of regents that held power before your return.

Agatha took your contemplation for disapproval. "I'm sorry, your Majesty," she said urgently, "I shouldn't have gone on like that, it's a really inappropriate story for dinner."

"No, you're fine," you reassured, touching her hand, "I'm no stranger to the rough life of the sea. I'm just a bit amazed is all. Yours is a life that is more impressive than most."

She smiled uncertainly. The dark eyes searched your face for reassurance. "You think so?"

"I do," you replied, a gentle smile dancing across your lips, "Also, when it's just the two of us you can call me Alex."

"Oh, but..." Manners fought with fondness. Her smile was a touch shy, but she nodded. "Alright...Alex."

The two of you continued on like that for another hour, sharing your meal and sharing stories. For the first time in weeks you felt some semblance of normalcy, like the whole of the world wasn't balancing precariously on your shoulders. This girl was something. While you found her to be more than attractive, you also liked hearing what she had to say, she interested you which was a rarity.

It was well and truly dark out by the time you both finished your meal and the conversation began to wind down. Agatha rose and began to gather things up while you continued to watch her, the way her uniform did nothing to hide the firm breasts beneath. You felt the attraction and you were certain she did too. It was a lovely evening but could it become something more?