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Fiel stopped eating as well, watching Lukas in concern. "I'm sorry…..are you…all right?"
It really didn't feel like his place to ask. But he couldn't help it. Lukas had been so nice to him so far, it was impossible to just ignore the other prince's unhappiness now.
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Lukas forced a smile, "yeah, I'm fine" He said, trying to hide the fact that he was not alright. He stood up, "my father should be in his study so to speak, if you want to talk to him about the peace thing, I can take you there".
"I think I'd better talk to him," Fiel agreed regretfully. He rose along with Lukas. "Will you be available afterwards, to talk some more? If you don't mind of course. I've really enjoyed this…."
"I will wait for you in the library," He said smiling for a second before his expression became grim again. "Follow me" Lukas turned and walked out the door, and to his fathers study.
(sorry I'm being slow)
Fiel followed, trying to return to his original mask of calm, eloquent maturity. He had to impress the king and show him that Tarilonans were worthy of respect. Part of him worried that the man would be rude or unwelcoming, but he pushed the anxiety down. He only had to make his family proud and deliver his message, and then he could worry about everything else later.
(it's fine)
Lukas stopped infront of a closed door, he stepped to the side and motioned at the door, "My father is in there." He said plainly, standing so that when the door opened he could not be seen from inside the room.
Fiel nodded, took a deep breath, and smoothed out his expression. For some reason, he wanted to appear confident and collected in front of Lukas. Maybe as a way to reassure him, he didn't know. Without further ado, he knocked politely on the door.
"Enter" The King said from inside the room. Lukas flinched slightly at his father's voice, but tried not to show it.
Fiel opened the door and quietly stepped inside. "Greetings," he said. "I apologize for the interruption, Your Majesty. My name is Prince Fiel Raforte, of Tarilon. I am here representing my mother the queen on matters of peaceful business."
The King looked over Fiel silently for a moment, "Welcome to my Kingdom." He said with a soft smile, "what would a peace with your home do positive for us?". Lukas quietly walked to the library to wait.
Fiel returned the smile politely. "We do not have a great deal of resources to share, nor do we wish to affiliate with any kingdoms who would ask us to go to war with them, as we strongly believe in pacifism. However, we are a magical race, with abilities we are willing to use in aid of others. For example, we are proud to produce many talented healers and scholars of medicine. We also understand the ways of the sea and sky very deeply, and are willing to share our knowledge if you have any use for it. And finally, there is a mountain range in our kingdom that contains a great deal of quality iron and copper. We have little use for such metals and would be happy to trade them to you—in exchange for more diverse food, books on your sciences and industry, and music. These are the things we value greatly." Fiel thought quickly to make sure he'd remembered everything. "As a sign of good will, I have brought with me some gifts from the royal family of Tarilon, which I shall now present if you wish it."
The King nodded, "very interesting, I do believe that having another kingdom to trade with would be good for us, and no one bothers with war against my kingdom, we are far to vast to fight with." The King stood from the desk he had been sitting at and walked to Fiel, so that he was a few feet infront of him. "I do think that a peace with your kingdom would be beneficial with us both"
Fiel was filled with relief despite himself. "I am glad. In that case, please take this." From his jacket pocket he took a small, ornately carved box and held it in both hands. After a moment, it grew to fill his arms and he gently set it on the desk. "In this box, you will find: a packet of seeds from our finest fruit trees, a necklace which is charged with healing energy and will protect the wearer from illness, a dagger from our master craftsmen which cuts through darkness, and a song composed specifically for your royal family. We hope these gifts will be the first of many."
The King nodded and opened the box. "Very interesting" He closed the box and looked at Fiel, "Thank you for the gifts, I am sure you will find the things we have to offer as well to be…interesting as well"
"I am sure," Fiel replied courteously. "It has been a joy to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty. Is there anything else His Majesty wished to discuss?"
"Nothing at the moment, if I think of anything else I will send for you" The King nodded.
"Very well. I will take my leave. Good day, Your Majesty." Fiel bowed and retreated from the room. He was pleased with the way the discussion had gone, but now he was ready to find Prince Lukas again. He set off down the hall, headed for the library where Lukas had said he would wait.
Lukas was sitting in the library with his head on the desk, asleep. He had a book in front of him, his journal, and had been writing in it, the journal was open and visible to anyone who walked by.
Fiel came in quietly, not seeing anyone in the room except Lukas, who seemed to be asleep. He approached, unsure whether to disturb the young man, and completely without thinking he glanced down at the words on the pages of the open journal.
The journal page was a spill on Fiel, and his kingdom. It was disorganized at best, but generally had a description of Fiel, one saying that he was attractive and such. It had a sketch of Fiel and his wings.
Fiel's eyes widened and he immediately felt both embarrassed, and ashamed for reading Lukas's private journal. He didn't really know what to think about the way Lukas had described him as attractive, but he couldn't just ask about it…..then he'd have to admit he'd been snooping. So he stood at Lukas's side in distress, totally lost on what to do.
Finally, he decided to pretend he'd only just walked in and stepped back a few paces. He coughed gently, trying to get Lukas's attention.
Lukas mumbled something before putting his chin on his hands and slowly opening his eyes, "I was dreaming, it was very nice and-" He realized who he was talking to and stopped, blushing slightly. He picked up his journal and put it back on the shelve between random books. "um..anyway, how did it go?" He faced Fiel.
Fiel sat down across from him, determinedly not mentioning the book or the blush. "It went very well. Your father says I'm welcome here and he wants to accept the alliance my kingdom offered him. My mother will be very happy to hear it." He let out a breath—he hadn't realized how nervous he was until the meeting was over. "Now, it seems I'm free to remain here for a while until I have the strength to fly back home. Perhaps a few days, if that is not too much of a bother."
"well it does not bother me" Lukas smiled slightly, "I kinda hope you don't have to leave soon. I mean, you are a very interesting person..not uh..nevermind" He said quickly. "um, what do you want to do?"
Fiel gave Lukas an oddly piercing look, but not an unkind one. The truth was, he'd taken a liking to Lukas from the first moment he'd seen him. Something about his decidedly not-regal way of acting and speaking made Fiel feel calm and at-ease, and it intrigued him. He'd been to one or two kingdoms already, and none of the royals his age had been nearly as friendly.
So, he smiled back at the young man. "I was wondering if you had any gardens or woods here by the castle?" he asked. "I think I could really use some fresh air and a little walk. Would you show me around a bit?"
Lukas nodded, silent for a moment, "Yeah, we have a garden right near the woods actually," He said standing up. He stretched with a yawn, walking towards the door. And leading Fiel out to the garden.
(are you alive? or just busy?)
(I'm here now! I had to be at work this morning, shoulda warned ya)
Fiel walked after him, taking a deep breath of the fresh, warm air. "The weather is so calm here. Is it always like this? What kinds of seasons do you have?"
"Uh average ones, no extreme weather, it's…nice" Lukas smiled as he walked into the garden, it had rows of flowers and bushes and trees, and a small section that had stones with words in a strange language in a circle. Lukas walked over to a rose bush and ran his fingers gently over the flowers, "it is very calming out here. I think my father has forgotten it exists" he sighed.
"Well, I feel rather sorry for him then," Fiel remarked, inhaling the smell of roses. "He's missing out. This garden is like the ones we have back home, but with different plants. It's wonderful. Do you think I'd be allowed to take some seeds back with me, when I leave? My older brother would be thrilled to try growing them."