Nah, let's skip to the Coronation

A small meeting it was indeed. Inside the Throneroom of Castle Falbrein, a long room with pillars of stone and ornamented with the pictures of former monarchs staring at whoever passed through the walkway in the middle. Some looked approvingly at them, others sternly, annoyed, tired. It was the only room in the castle from which nothing had been taken to pay for the country’s economic reshaping. Still there was a piece missing.

Sarine glanced at the place where the picture of her parents had been before Tolfin had it taken down after his usurpation. Her eyes rested on the blank grey stone wall for only a moment before her next step brought one of the pillars between herself and the wall. The next step showed the painting of Tolfin. He looked proud, magnificent even. Sarine looked up ahead.

I small staircase led up to the throne, in front of which her uncle stood. Next to him was Lord Tatzeh, a loyalist who had talked to Sarine the night of her birthday, holding a pillow with the crown of Falbrein on top. It wasn’t all that much to be honest. A ring of silver with a bit of jewellery and decorative spikes. It was worth a fortune but didn’t hold a candle to the crowns of legends.

Yet, still It looked like it would weigh heavy on her head.

There were a few others of course. Influential and powerful nobles who would have taken affront and possibly action if they weren’t invited to this event. Many of them looked disappointed, the royalist that had hoped to rise in civil war and restore the former glory of Falbrein most likely. Without Sarine as a figurehead however, that goal was unobtainable.

‘I hope you still stay with me’ her mind formed these words as she noticed the last three figures in a far off corner. Stef, Lacos and Reiline. Not being nobles they couldn’t be here officially but being her trusted advisors (Two of them at least) they also couldn’t be kept out.

Sarine took the first step up the staircase. Six more and she stood at the top. “Princess Sarine.” Tolfin said, his voice filled with celebratory charm. “As the court has heard you have decided to take the crown. Let us, your most royal of subjects, hear the oath of majesty from you.”

Sarine closed her eyes, a deep breath. Her voice was determined, her heart beat fast. “I swear to become a great Queen, to be the first servant of people and state, to abide to the laws of gods and men. This day I take the weight of the crown and in the name of me and my ancestors I swear to not break under its weight and to not use it to further my own ambitions, alas they be aligned with the interest of my people.”

Her eyes still closed she felt the crown descending on her head. To her surprise it fit perfectly, felt much lighter than she imagined. She opened her eyes and turned to the nobles. “Do you hear my oath, nobles? Are you willing to serve under me?”

“” We hear your oath and are willing to serve, Queen Sarine.”” It echoed throughout the throne room. Tolfin took a step to the side and allowed Sarine to walk by him and to the throne. A single stone, grey and black, it never saw a single hammer, was not formed in any way. Legend held it that the Throne had been here before the people, that the castle and the city had been built around it as their forefathers settled here. Others said that it was sent at the dawn of the Crowslaw dynasty. Both stories said that this miracle was Alxer’s blessing. Whatever may be the truth the Throne, much more than the crown, symbolised the authority of Sarine’s family.

Once she had sat down she waved Tolfin towards her. Her Uncle bent the knee. They both knew what would come next. “Tolfin Crowslaw. You have been an excellent ruler of Falbrein in the last decade, longer than that even. Just as your skills are clear, my lack of experience is clear. I was sheltered in my mansion, only leaving to see my parents every now and then. I feel it is in the interest of the realm that you govern in my stead until the people decide that I have earned their loyalty as well.”

With some hesitation, she took down her crown again. “Extend your hand, Tolfin. For you shall hold the crown until that day comes.”

‘She is doing a really good job with this.’ Lacos proudly thought as his princess, well Queen now, handed over the crown to Tolfin, who took it and stood back up. “I will, Queen Sarine.” He said with a small lipped smile. He extended his other hand to Sarine and helped her of the throne. “By Alxer I swear that I will guard the realm, for you in your stead.”

As he Tolfin spoke these words a faint sound reached Lacos ears. So silent, nobody else heard it. ‘Click, Clack’. It was a common sound, but not one expected to hear here. ‘Click, Clack’ the sound of a pebble jumping over the stone floor. ‘Click.’ Lacos looked down as he felt something hitting his foot.

A small stone, not bigger than his thumb nail hit his foot. Had he worn shoes he wouldn’t have felt it, had he stood anywhere else he wouldn’t have notices it, had he had human ears he wouldn’t have heard it, would he be looking, like everyone else, at the two Crowslaw, he wouldn’t be bowing down to pick it up.

A black pebble with a grey vein. Smooth, splintered of from a bigger stone. Lacos let the pebble vanish into his closed fist as the ceremony came to an end, his hand was shaking. Minutes later Sarine come towards them and they walked outside. “That was exhausting.” She muttered as they left the building through some corridors.

“Sarine.” Lacos said, his voice grave and stopped. Stef, Reiline and the Queen looked disbelievingly at Lacos. The Drakonoid was usually of a more positive tone. Lacos opened his hand. All three of them became bleak. “A shard of the throne.” Stef muttered, taking half a step back to balance himself. Reiline didn’t even get a word out.

Sarine, still white as a sheet, was the most composed of them. “Where did you get that?” She asked. “It landed in front of my foot.” Sarine raised her hands to her mouth and asked. “When?” “Does that even matter?” Reiline intervened, “Alxer is showing us his disapproval. ten times before did the Throne lose a shard, each time the monarch that sat upon the throne was killed exactly three years later.”

“It matters very much!” Sarine said. “If it splintered off when I sat down, Alxer thinks me unworthy and I will leave for the Holyland today to atone. If it splintered off before it is Tolfin who will die and my cause is just.” Lacos shook his head. “It is neither, the shard fell before me the moment you rose from the throne, when it was left vacant.”

Silence. They stared at the pebble. A measly pebble. Yet it was a sign of fate. “What does that mean?” Sarine asked in honest confusion. “I don’t know.” Said Stef, “Neither do I, I fear.” Lacos followed. “Ehm.” All eyes changed to Reiline. “Doesn’t that mean that Alxer hates the vacancy you have left on the throne?”

Lacos blinked. Then he smiled. Sarine laughed, colour finally returning to her face. Stef also grinned and put a hand on the maids shoulder. “It seems you are useful after all.” Reiline, confounded, tilted her head. “What? WHAT? Explain to me my accidental genius!” She demanded.

“You are exactly right.” Lacos said. “That is the most logical answer. Alxer hates the vacancy of the throne and he found it right to inform us of this.” Reiline still looked confused. “Alxer is telling me that this is a trial, if I can show him that I am worthy of the throne Tolfin will be dealt with otherwise it is me who will be disposed.”

Sarine took the pebble from Lacos. “If god thinks it fit to challenge me, I will answer with joy.” She said, her voice both certain and shaky. “Come then, we have a journey to plan.”