The Wedding

"You look very handsome my lord." Rose said as she came in.

"Not quit as lovely as you my lady?" I looked her over. She looked lovely in one of the dresses I had had the twins make for her. With the way her hair was put up you would she was a proper lady. Maybe one day I might make her one if she would have me. If I didn't get myself killed first.

"I still can't believe I am going to the queens wedding?" Rose grinned. "Me the daughter of an Inn keeper."

"And a high priestess." I added.

"I don't think that counts here even if the Queen is an elf." She shook her head. They had wrote many letters back and forth. Granted she had to use a translation spell since she only knew human and her mother elvish.

"Does to me." I gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"How do women walk in these shoes." Aurora came in wearing a pair of short heel shoes. She was walking fine but felt a little unsteady apparently. She looked just as lovely in her dress.

"Small steps." Rose teased. We went down to see if Felicia and Ivy needed anything before we left.
Felicia didn't want to go to some stuffy party and someone needed to watch over Ivy. Ivy was still getting used to talking more like one of us but she had a ways to go. At least she didn't refer to one of us as it. We would introduce her to the city after she laid the seed. None of us wanted to risk it and have wait another fifty years for another one to bloom.

The wedding was lovely even though we were way in the back. It was a mix of an elvish and human ceremony. Seren and Cassandra served as bride maids for the queen who looked stunning.

The feast afterwards was were the real fun was. Rows of tables lined either side of the great hall were a grand feast decorated the tables as servers poured drinks. People danced in the middle between them as musicians played.

Nobles approached one by one offering gifts to the King and Queen. Their were quit a few guest from other kingdoms among all the human nobles. I recognized the elvish queen and her daughter Harmony, Willow's sister though I was more stunned to see Willow in a dress having to do a double take to be sure it was her. She didn't look half bad but I loved ass kicking Willow the way she was. Though Harmony looked stunning in hers. I saw a few gnomish nobles who I had no clue who the hell they were. I even saw the arch magus who looked no worst for wear since her encounter an the elder woods.

"Who is that?" Aurora asked and I followed her line of sight. A elvish woman looked back at us as she poured a drink. She gave us a wink and a nod with her head in certain direction.

"I don't know." I shook my head.

"She seems to know you." Rose smiled. "Or wants to maybe get to know you in private." She teased.

"Maybe she is a fan." Aurora replied. "You are a hero of the crown."

"Doubt it." I shook my head.

"Go see what she wants at least." Rose gave me a push.

"Fine. I will be right back." I said and went off to find her. It took me a little while as I soon ended up in the kitchen. I went back and the woman grabbed my arm pulling me into the pantry and closed thje door.

"Took your time?" She said and turned around.

"Raven." I said a little stunned since she looked like a light elf. "What are you doing here? Besides serving drinks."

"Our mutual friend has been in hiding since me and her had a tussle but I got to thinking. The King and Queen under the same roof for the first time. I know what I would do if I wanted to start a war." She said coldly.

"So you are saying she might try something here? With all these guards around?" I asked.

"I am here aren't I?"

"Fair point. We should warn someone." I nodded. She could look like a light elf or even a human if she hid her ears.

"Yes. Lets alert the guards. Give the assassin the chance to escape if their even is one. If not either way you would look like a damn fool without some proof." Raven smirked. If their wasn't one it would ruin the king and queens day.

"What should I do?"

"I have been looking for her but she isn't with the staff if she is here. Keep an eye on the king and queen. She can't get to close or the queen and her sister would be able to see through the disguise but it means I can't get close neither." Raven said. I nodded and headed back to the party.

"What was that about? You have a quickie that fast." Rose teased.

"A friend." That was a stretch. "She thinks there might be a dark elf assassin here in disguise."

"How could you tell?" Rose asked.

"They would be wearing a necklace like Ivy's though it could be different. It would have to be exposed to conceal the skin." Aurora said. We were at the point where I had given up competing with her magical knowledge. The only thing holding her back was the ring. Even Rose had caught up with me in some areas and surpassed me in others.

"We aren't sure if there is a threat but she wants me to keep an eye on the king and queen."

"Well then shall we." Rose stood up.

"What?"

"Dance? You need to get close." She smiled

"Rose." I shook my head.

"Four eyes are better then two." She grabbed my arm. There was no talking her out of it. We got up and danced. Least it was a fun dance were we swapped off partners so I got to see several of the women. None were the face I wanted. Aurora had told me enough about the magic to know what I was looking for if I was looking for it. Enough to know when I saw her. The music stopped and then the musicians started playing a slow song. Rose came back over and I shook my head no we started dancing while making or way closer to the queen."

"Least you know how to show a girl a good time." Rose smiled. "Royal wedding, possible danger."

"I rather not put you in danger."

"I knew from the moment I saw you you were trouble. Didn't stop me then." She smiled. She laid her head on my shoulder as we swayed back and forth until the song ended.

"I was wondering where you two been hiding?" Seren said coming up to us.

"Hello Princess Seren." Rose smiled.

"Lady Rose. I love the dress. Elven made right." Seren smiled.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Were have you been hiding and can you take me with you." Seren joked.

"We have been in the back." Rose pointed.

"You should have said something. We could have got you closer seats." She smiled.

"Not really our crowd Princess but thanks for the offer." I grinned.

"I know what you mean. I always feel out of place at these things." Seren smiled.

"Would you care to dance with him Princess. I am a little parched." Rose said.

"If you don't mind?" Seren gestured.

"Not at all." Rose shook her head.

"So I guess you have a new step father now."

"He's not to bad. Mom likes him and me and Cassandra are literal sisters now so its a good day."

"How are you liking the academy?"

"Much better then the elvish school. I don't get the one on one treatment anymore but I don't have someone telling me how I am going to screw up before I try. I just wish their were more half elves." She frowned.

"Feeling a bit of an outsider."

"A little." She shrugged. "I heard you have been busy. Setting up a new community. Helping build up a fort."

"Wasn't aware someone was keeping tabs on me."

"I am a princess, I have people to do that for me."

"What in the..." I heard someone say loudly. The crowd parted slightly and I saw Rose standing next to a woman whom she had spilled a drank on. I saw the woman's face and knew. I pushed my way through the crowd towards them. She saw me coming and held out her hand and closed her eyes. The black knight appeared out of thin air between us and trained a crossbow on the king and queen. He fired as the bolt flew through the air.

"Impetus porro venti." I said and threw out my hand knocking the bolt off course as it hit the side of the throne missing the king. To my surprise he pulled a lever and fired again but the king and Queen vanished before the bolt would have hit her. People were running and screaming as they ran for their lives. He turned the crossbow towards me but then aimed it past me. I looked back to see Seren.

I put myself in the way and took a bolt to the back of my shoulder and out the front of my chest near my arm and staggered as the princess caught me. I grabbed her and moved quickly into a side hall. I glanced back as I saw the dark elf woman take a knife to the back of the neck from Raven. The prince turned and fired at her. I got Seren down a hall and stopped for a second catching my breath. I was having trouble breathing.

"Oh shit, its in you." She said looking at the arrow.

"Don't touch it." I said stopping her. "It's probably poisoned." I saw my skin and turned to wood around the wound as it slowly leaked red sap. My magic was trying to keep me alive.

"Princess." Araseli said as she came our way with sword in hand. She had four other men behind her as well as Cassandra. I could hear fighting in the great hall as swords clashed.

Go With Them Or Cover their Escape