Chapter 49: Gifts and Meetings
"I am going to do us all a favor and say it in the open, what about princess Luna and Aedrik" Percy broke the silence as everyone placed themselves around the blue hall. Lady Lunebleau had suggested the princesses could take a moment to freshen up, and they would be welcomed at the blue hall. Aedrik and Siv had accompanied them. Frey knew what Percy was talking about.
"Princess Luna is without a doubt a beauty" Noelle responded, there was no way around it, Aedrik's little sister was impossibly beautiful "and yet, she how can she resemble Aedrik so much" that had been Frey's first thought when she saw the princess.
"They say she is the spitting image of the late Empress" Frey recalled Aedrik talking about his sister "Luna resembles my mother, we all let our father shelter her because she reminded so much of her', her comment killed the mood Percy was trying to set.
"What are your impressions of them, you been traveling with them for almost a week?" Aunt Liliane asked curious everyone was, Luka and Percy had been travelling with the princesses.
"To be honest, we spent little time with them, after Frey and Aedrik's… incident, they were eager to get here as fast as possible, we only talked whenever we stopped to eat" Frey saw his brother looking at her with concern.
"Still, what were they like?" Noelle insisted.
"Very princessy?" Percy intervened and Noelle raised an eyebrow upset "I mean they were very cordial and educated, they never acted like how they did with Frey. When princess Lucylle pounced, we were as surprised as you were. She was the one who talked the most, but she mostly just asked about Frey"
Frey was still surprised about princess Lucy greeting. 'Lucylle is complicated' that is how Aedrik had described her, and yet she was the sibling with whom he was closer. He said she had embraced their fey heritage, and after looking at her feline features she understood what he meant.
"Your take on the matter?" Lady Liliane asked Luka, Percy just rolled his eyes to his aunt.
"Not much to add Aunt. Princess Luna is very polite, she asked about Loire and our domains as we passed by them. Princess Lucylle, as Percy said, she kept asking about Frey, I admit I was wary of the oldest, her reputation preceeds her, but she was easy to talk to, she asked about the campaign on the warring hills, but things were formal, even Pan, he behaves better around them" that got everyone's attention. Pan had quickly been accepted by everyone, as well as Aedrik, they all found it natural for him to be bickering with Danielle from time to time, but they got along well.
"I liked them, they are all very pretty" Danielle added "Princess Vania's dress was incredible, I am sure it is Zelian design, princess Lucylle had a traditional fey dress, and princess Luna its adorable"
"They have very different personalities, but they are all regal, that is the Fey Danan Imperial family, I guess" René added while hugging Luka.
"Did princess Luna cast a spell, or was it her wand?" Ide, lady Liliane youngest daughter asked timidly. At the parade and once everyone had exchanged pleasantries, and before they all got on the open carriages, the delicate princess Luna, had raised a wand to the sky and made an explosion of light and color, the crowd had gone wild as if it had been made by fireworks.
"Her, it was a spell, a relatively complex one, yet the princess poured so much magic into it, I got nervous for a moment" Luka explained his cousin, only him and lady Liliane were truly gifted with magic, and only Luka truly practiced it.
"The late empress Morgana le Fay was regarded as one of the greatest magic casters in the continent, it should not be a surprise that her children inherited her gifts, Aedrik's elder brother, grand prince Levi is said to be an accomplished caster as well" lord Damian added.
Grand prince Levi, heir to the Fey Danan Empire Levi is a little too sarcastic, but he is good, you are going to like him, but I feel he will like you, better', Frey remembered Aedrik laughing when he said that to her, he also said his brother had an on-the-job face, but he was much more amicable in private. Frey had seen the royal duke and even Luka, often present do the same, was it because they were young?
"It does not matter" lady Lunebleau voice called everyone to attention "They are Aedrik's sisters, they are going to become our family, and they are our guests. I expect all of you to treat them properly, I admit we all became too familiar with Aedrik, too quickly, much like how our dear René became part of us" Frey saw her mother smiling gently at her daughter in law, René blushed and Luka gave his wife a kiss on the forehead "It is time for us to make the princesses feel welcomed in our home"
"We are going to have the princesses cook for us as well, like you did with Aedrik the day the royal duke visited the state at Meury?" Frey saw her mother open her mouth at her sister comment, to everyones delight "Perhaps it should had just been you to receive the princesses, we should have joined you later, once you had a moment alone" Frey saw her aunt Liliane eyeing the room a little preoccupied.
"No, Aedrik and I shared a word, you are all here, because you are all our family, and Mrs. Emeryn is representing him, he recognized her as his family" Frey saw a smile on her mother's lips, she must have been worried like her aunt was, but Aedrik answer soothed her, she turned and saw Mrs. Emeryn looking at her teacup lost in her thoughts.
The blue hall was a large space on the second floor on the main wing of the castle, it was where the family gathered. The grand hall on the first floor was only used when they needed formality, Frey's mother had wanted to receive them there, but she had insisted on doing it here, and her mother agreed in the end.
After her mother's words the air around the hall changed, they were all nervous it seemed, Frey had been nervous, until Lucy, had jumped on her. Now, she was curious, she turned and saw that Lea, was looking at her, she lifted her hands, and shaking as if she were a ghost, she smiled at her friend.
"Everything is ready my lady"
"Thank you, Clementine" lady Lunebleau replied to the head maid of house Lunebleau, Mrs. Clementine, was the right hand of the lady of the house. She was just a few years older than Frey's mother, professional with her staff, strict with the men-at-arms and loving to a fault with the young of house Lunebleau. Just as Mrs. Clementine was about to leave, another maid came in.
"My lady Lunebleau, the visitors are on their way" as the maid informed, lady Lunebleau and Mrs. Clementine exchange a nod, the newly arrived maid was taken with Mrs. Clementine, house Lunebleau was prepared for their guest.
A few minutes later the doors of the hall were open, Aedrik accompanied by his sisters, Pan and Siv entered the blue hall, and everyone got up. Frey found Aedrik looking at her, and she went to receive her guests.
"We could not greet you properly before, welcome to Château Lunebleau" Frey said as she went near Aedrik and faced the princesses, she made a small bow and was met with one from the princesses. Aedrik quickly moved to hold her hand.
"You have a lovely home, lady Frey" Vania replied immediately.
"I know we exchanged pleasantries but there was no way, I could properly introduce my sisters to you" Aedrik said to everyone.
"My elder sister, Vania" the tall princess made a gracious bow.
"My youngest sister, Luna" the young princess made a bow with confidence but blushing.
"Last but not least, my younger sister, Lucylle" the last princess made an elaborate bow, while smiling happily to everyone.
"This is lady Frey Lunebleau, and her family" Aedrik now presented Frey as if she was the most incredibly thing in existence, making her blush, she made a simple bow and before she had even stood up, Lucy had jumped on her again, she grabbed both her hands and jugged her tightly like she did when she went out of the carriage, and in the same manner, princess Vania took her younger sister from her.
"Lucy we've talked about this"
"Fine, but I can help it" everyone was baffled by this second display, Aedrik however just smiled, Frey felt his warm hand.
"Here are lord and lady Lunebleau" the princesses turned to the lords of the house and gave them a cordial bow, and Frey's parents returned the gesture "You've already met lord Luka, but next to him is wife, lady René" Aedrik continued presenting his sisters to everyone and the princesses went greeting and exchanging pleasantries "Lady Noelle is Frey sister, and her cousin lady Danielle".
It had taken a few minutes for everyone to exchange pleasantries properly, and as that happened, tea, biscuits, an apple pie, and a lovely cake had been arranged on the tea table.
"No one exchanged pleasantries or any formality with me when I was first introduced" Pan said while faking to be miserable.
"That's because you are not that pleasant cousin" Lucy answered immediately at Pan, and jumped behind Vania, as the fey tried to seize her. It seemed to be a common occurrence; Frey understood.
"Why don't we take a sit and enjoy some tea" lady Lunebleau offered, and everyone quickly returned to their already designed places, she was still unsure how to proceed. A sofa and some chairs were conveniently place near the center and close to the tea table for the guest to take.
Aedrik help Frey to her place, and he was about to help his sisters, but the three princesses remained standing, Lucylle cleared her throat, prompting Aedrik to give them space.
"In the name of the Fey Danan Imperial family, we sincerely thank you for the invitation to your home, lord and lady Lunebleau" the three princesses made a deep bow for lord and lady Lunebleau who got up quickly.
"We also feel grateful for accepting, prince Aedrik to wed lady Frey Lunebleau" it was princess Vania who continued.
"In the name of my father and brothers, the Lachdanan le Fay family sincerely welcomes you into our house, now and forever, lady Frey Lunebleau" princess Luna said with the most serious face she could muster. This time the three princesses went to Frey.
"Welcome to the family" Vania took Frey's hands and as Lucy had done, she gave Frey a kiss on each cheek, and parted.
"Welcome to our house, lady Frey" Luna the youngest was visibly blushing but still she held Frey's hands, she had to stand on her tips to reach kiss Frey, but like her sister she gave her to kisses.
"Welcome, sweet Frey" Lucy once more came and this time Frey was ready, as the princess kiss each of her cheeks "With that, all formalities are done, no backsies now Frey" Lucy added smiling, the three princesses now went to where they supposed to sit. Leaving Frey and a very confused Aedrik standing.
"What was that all about?" Pan asked confused as well.
"Neither of you where there when Astra and Inkar were welcomed to the family" Vania replied to the confused Pan "Our father and brothers asked us to properly welcome you Frey, and to thank you, lord, and lady Lunebleau.
"Now that all formalities and obligations are over, we can proceed with the gifts" Lucy said with an enormous toothy smile. Vania took a preciously decorated bag from somewhere on her dress and lower it for Luna to use it.
The young princess took from the bag a little wooden box, it was a very simple design. The princess carried the little box and gave to lady Lunebleau.
"For you lady Lunebleau" For all the seriousness the princess could display, she was embarrassed "A small gift to celebrate our meeting" Everyone was surprised by the gesture.
Lady Lunebleau received the wooden box with care from Luna and open it in front of her. Inside the box lay an exquisite hair brooch, it shone with a silver glow, small pearls adorned its edge, and it had a soft blue sapphire cut in the form of a crescent moon, the mark of house Lunebleau.
"Thank you, it is incredibly beautiful princess Luna" Lady Lunebleau said smiling gently at the princess.
"The box is simple, but it was made by my father. He thanks you for accepting my brother, and apologizes for any trouble he may cause"
"I will take care of it, it is an incredible detail" lady Lunebleau said with courtesy and returned a bow to Luna, who nodded embarrassed.
"A small token of friendship, lord Lunebleau" besides Luna, Vania came with a simple bottle with an amber liquid inside, the imperial crest of the Fey Danan family was engraved on the bottle "Danan morning dew it's a very traditional liquor, it is only drunk to celebrate something, it is not sold, and it is never the same, for each family has its own recipe for it. When the Empire was founded, our father shared the Lachdanan recipe with our mother. This is our family morning dew, aged with the Empire, a drink to celebrate our meeting, and becoming family" Lord Lunebleau received the simple bottle from Vania surprised.
"Thank you, princess, I have heard about danan morning dew" the lord looked at the bottled intrigued and a little embarrassed.
"We are already done with formalities; gifts are to celebrate and have fun. I'll do the next one" Princess Lucy broke the solemn atmosphere in the room and went and searched inside the bag of holding that was laid on a simple chair. After a second, she seemed to have found what she was looking for and grinned triumphantly.
Lucy had taken a long wooden bow. It seemed nothing special, but Frey noted it was very different than the bows used in Loire, it was longer with a strange curve, a fey bow she understood, she had no doubt to whom was the gift for.
"I had wanted to give it to you since we met at the border, lord Luka, but then you would have been empty handed today" Lucy gave the fey bow to Luka "It is not an excellent bow, but its balanced, you'll notice once you try it. I have very little time to do it, so I must admit, my master helped me with it" Lucy was grinning as Luka took the fey bow, and he was loss for words as well. Frey turned to look at Aedrik and she saw him grinning as well.
"You made this yourself?" Luka had always been able to keep his face neutral, but he was at a loss, much to Lucy's delight.
"I did"
"You knew about this?" Frey turned to Aedrik
"It is a Fey tradition, to celebrate meetings with gifts" Luna explained to Frey nervous
"Why didn't you say something, so we could reply to the gesture" Frey said frowning to Aedrik, who was smiling nervously.
"Luna already told you, it is a fey custom, to celebrate meetings" Aedrik pleaded
"How convenient, where is my gift from we first met then?" Frey demanded while smiling
"It is on your left-hand Frey" Frey went completely red as she saw Aedrik pointed at the ring he had given her, much to his delight.
"It is an ancient fey custom, but Aunt Morgana always loved to keep it alive" Pan added, and Frey stopped arguing.
"Don't mind him Frey, the idea of this is to celebrate and have fun, that is why mother liked it" Frey turned to Lucy, who was giving princess Luna another gift from the bag of holding. Luna had an strange roll of fabric.
"Aedrik told us, you had a knack for clothes lady Noelle" Princess Luna placed the different roll of fabric on Noelle's lap "My mother weaved this fabric, she took to weaving when I was little, she did it whenever one of my brothers or sisters did something. She would turn to it, to calm down" Noelle was inspecting the fabric but stopped when she heard the princess explanation "We are to be family, gifts are meant to share something" Luna said to Noelle smiling "Lucy is right, this is a celebration"
"The empress made it?" Noelle was taken aback by the young princess.
"My mother did, I chose it for you" Frey saw her sister confused faced.
"Thank you, princess Luna, what an incredibly gift, I am honored" the words were enough for the princess, she nodded to Noelle.
"For you lady Liliane" Vania had gone to a window and called for her to approach. Frey stood and saw that on the garden facing the window was a muscular giant of a horse "Loire is known for its horses, Aedrik told us you are a horse breeder this is a…"
"A Leven pureblood" lady Liliana said before princess Vania could finish.
"He said you talked with him about them, it is a young stallion, I understand there are very few breeders in Leven, but this one comes from the best" Vania explained, and lady Liliane smiled as she looked at the horse as it was held by some men-at-arms from house Lunebleau.
Frey turned and saw Aedrik smiling but he was surprised, she could not remember when he had talked about horse breeding with her aunt, but he had taken the time to know her family.
"Thank you, princess, it looks magnificent" lady Liliane made a bow to Vania.
"Mine's is next" Lucy was already at the bag of holding again "This one is for the famous lady Danielle" Lucy had a delicate crystal box; it had a complicated marking that hide whatever was within. Lucy gave the surprised Danielle the crystal box "Go on, open it, lady Danielle" said Lucy expectantly.
Danielle caressed the intricate design and opened the box slowly. Within the box were several small containers. As Danielle opened them, she understood quickly what they were, any young lady's dream, a collection of eyeshadows and liners, as well as color powders were orderly kept in the containers, Danielle was marveled at them.
"Many fey ladies would kill for something like that" Pan said surprised at the gift as well. Lucy had her feline smile; Frey was certain if Lucy had a tail, she would have been waving it delighted.
"Thank princess Lucylle it is and incredible gift" Danielle said enchanted with her gift, she was like many of them at a loss for the well thought gift. She was so taken by the gift she must have missed the, 'famous' part of Lucy's statement.
"Here lady Ide, Aedrik said we are almost the same age so" Princess Luna had two gifts for the young Ide "This is a two-way fey board" a small wooden board adorned with fey magic glyphs on its edges, Frey recognized immediately, Aedrik had gifted her one when they parted. For all princess Luna was calm and serious she blushed a bit "Whatever you write on it, will appear on its pair, which I have… I was hoping we could become friends" the princess explained embarrassed.
"Thank you, princess Luna. I admit I was nervous of meeting you; I would also like to become friends with you" Ide replied and offered a solemn hand to princess Luna, who shook it and smiled.
"Wait there is one more thing" Luna had a simple designed bracelet and gave it to Ide "My elder bother gave me this bracelet. While you wear it, you will not feel fear, he gave it to me when I first had to assist any event, he said I should not get used to it, that it should help me learn. It is difficult to be the youngest, I hope it serves you as well" Ide took the bracelet for the princess, they were almost the same height. Ide quickly undid a red ribbon on her head.
"I wore this for something like that, my father gave it to me, it is not the same but is precious for me" Luna took the red ribbon from Ide with the outmost care.
"Thank you, it will take care of it, I promise" both young ladies felt embarrassed from being look by everyone and their ears were red.
"Here next one is yours Vania" Lucy gave Vania a brown box with sigils on it.
"This one is for you, lady Cecile" Vania placed the brown box in Cecile hands. Cecile open it with care and felt how warm the box was, inside it was a nest and a single large and grey egg "Aedrik said you told him you liked helping your mother with keeping the stables, but lord Percy said you had a hand for taming animals, he said that you trained message eagles, and since you are the older sister, a thing we share I hope you like this"
"The egg holds a grey duskwing, they are famous in Zel for they trained them as life companions for their winged guard. They are not easy to train, but they are extremely loyal, this one will supposedly hatch in two or three weeks" Vania explained, and Cecile looked thrilled about the idea.
"Thank you very much, princess Vania" Lady Cecile gave Vania a bow "I have heard about them, I'll do my best to train it"
"It is my turn again" Lucy quickly found what she was looking for and took another wooden box this one was square "For you lord Percy".
Percy received the wooden box with care an as he opened his eyes sparkled, for an exquisite helm was inside the box. Percy quickly picked it up and was surprised about how light it was, it had a strange design to what was usual in Loire, and he noted the visor was completely closed, with what seemed like obsidian glass.
"This helm will never hinder your sight, the obsidian is enchanted if you wore it at night you will see things as if they were during the day, smoke or magic will not get in your way. A helmet for a unrelenting knight" Lucy said happily and on Percy face an enormous grin had appeared.
"Thank you, princess Lucy, what a fine gift" Percy was enchanted with his helm, he was putting it on as he spoke, he did not care it looked weird with no armor on, much to the delight of princess Lucy.
"Here lady Anne this is for you" while Percy was putting on his helm, Luna had already taken the next gift, she placed on Anne hand a little bag of purple silk. Anne untied the bag and she saw there were seeds inside the silk bag, six seeds of a large size.
"Aedrik said you like trees and flowers lady Anne, I must confess I loved them as well. These are Londenora seeds, the trees that make the heart of the Londen Forest, they seldom give seeds, and it is difficult for them to grow in another place, but these seeds were kindled by a druid friend, I hope you would grow them on your home" Anne eyes were wide open, the Londen Forest trees were famous, no other wood was sturdier, they were magical.
"This is an incredible gift princess Luna; I am not sure I can accept it" Anne said worried at the seeds on her hand.
"Why? it is a gift for our meeting lady Anne, I did not steal the seeds I asked for them, for you" princess Luna closed Anne hand on the seeds "I would like if you invited me when they bloom though" the princess added embarrassed, and lady Anne nodded.
"Hurry Vania, I want to give mine already" Lucy said as Vania took a large wooden case from the bag of holding. The oldest princess placed the wooden case in front of lady René.
"I admit, I spent a lot of time thinking on what could I gift you, lady René" René gently opened the case, and within it were two things "Aedrik told me how incredible friendly you had been with him, and how smart you are" René turned to look at Aedrik, who look to other way a bit embarrassed "There are still to many places where women are not seen in the same light as men, and yet, the ladies of Loire are strong"
"The first thing is a magic wand lady René" Vania pointed at a delicate and strange three little three branch "It has a the lighting strike spell within it and can be use up to three times before the magic needs to replenish itself" René was about to touch the wand and stopped, everyone was surprised, lighting strike was a powerful spell, and self-replenish wands were incredibly rare "The second thing is a great portal scroll, you'll have to attune it to a place, and it would take up to 4 people, from anywhere between the Empire, Zel or Loire to where you mark it"
"Thank you, princess Vania, these is an incredible gift" René said immediately.
"Our brother Levi made the great portal scroll, lady René, it will not fail I assure you. I hope you never have need to use these gifts, but keep them at hand" princess Vania said, and René closed gently the case.
"Finally, my turn" Lucy was already looking through the bag of holding "This one is for the person who stole from me the chance to become Frey's best friend" Lucy had a mischievous smile as she looked at Lea and pulled the gift from the bag of holding.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone