The knight, Matthew, looked at Finn with a small smile. "Don't worry, Young Master Finn. We'll speak to your father, make sure he goes lenient on you." He said pridefully.
Finn raised an eyebrow, skepticism written across his face. "You're gonna talk to him? That'll definitely help." He responded with a small grin .
The group began their journey back to Elderon, the trees parting to reveal the castle's spires in the distance. The mood was lighter now, with Finn's safety no longer a concern, but the prospect of facing his father still hung in the air.
As the group approached the gates of Elderon, a tense scene unfolded before them. Franklin Sixton, Finn's father, paced back and forth, his face etched with worry.
His wife, Lady Amber Sixton, stood at the gate, her eyes scanning the horizon with a mix of anxiety and relief. The captain of the guard rode forward, clearing his throat to announce their arrival.
"Lord and Lady Sixton, we found Young Master Finn. He's safe."he said out loud.
Franklin's pacing stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze locked onto Finn, and for a moment, he just stared, relief washing over him. Then, his expression turned stern.
"Finn Sixton, were my orders to you not clear enough? You're too young to ride a horse, yet here you are, sitting on a horse comfortably." Franklin looked at his son with anger and slight amusement.
Then Amber, his mother, stepped forward. "Finn, my dear boy, are you hurt? Come, let Mummy see." She started walking forward towards him then She stopped in her tracks and looked at the horse her son was on. "Is that... Is that horse you're sitting on Destroyer?" She asked panic in her voice
Franklin's eyes widened in disbelief. " Oh My stars, son, please tell me that horse you're sitting on is not Destroyer!". He asked fearing the answer as his heart starting to beat fast.
Finn scratched his cheek, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Actually, Mother and Father... his name's not Destroyer... it's Brutus."
Franklin's face turned red with incredulity. "FINN! Finn! YOU DESTROYED HALF THE TOWN! I ought to..." he sputtered, his words getting lost in a mix of anger and exasperation .
"Lord and Lady Sixton! please wait a moment. If it wasn't for young master Finn's, reckless actions we would have lost our third princess Lady Aria. So we ask that you be lenient with him please. Matthew step forward slightly bowing.
Just then Aria stepped down from the horse and approached Franklin and his wife, a gentle smile on her face. "Lord and Lady Sixton, I humbly ask that you don't punish Finn too severely on my behalf. After all, he is my savior," she said, her eyes pleading.
Franklin let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Fine. Since the young lady has spoken on your behalf, Finn, I won't punish you severely. However, I'm still gonna punish you. Starting tomorrow, all the damage you caused, you'll help the people repair it. Is that understood?" he said with a frown, staring at Finn.
Finn just nodded, "Yes, Father. I understand," he said, looking sheepish.
After a brief conversation with his son, Franklin then turned back to Aria and spoke with a respectful tone of voice. "Princess Aria, what brings you and your entourage to my neck of the woods?" Franklin asked curiously.
Aria just looked at him and sighed. "My father asked me to deliver a this to you," she pulled a letter from her pocket and handed it to Franklin.
Franklin took the letter and opened it, and a hologram of a man with a smiling face appeared. It was the King of the Elven Kingdom and Aria's father, Vintan Starcloak. With a wide grin on his face, the hologram began to speak.
"Greetings Duke Franklin, I hope this letter finds you well. I know you might be wondering why I gave my daughter a letter to give to you. Let me explain," he said smiling.
The hologram continued.
"As you know, when elves reach a certain age, they are sent out into the world to learn how it operates, and my daughter is at the rightful age of five. I think she's the same age as your son, now that I think about it,"
the hologram said, scratching his beard. "Anyway, enough of that. What I want you to do is help her on her journey. This is sort of like a rite of passage for her, but be warned, my daughter is very mischievous, so you'll need to keep a close eye on her. Thanks a lot."
As the hologram was about to disappear, it suddenly stopped and said,
"Oh yeah, one more thing. Before I forget,"
it turned to Aria with a stern expression. "Arianna, listen to me carefully. Franklin, I mean, Duke Franklin, is a close friend of mine. You will be staying with him, and his family, for the Time being. So do not cause him any trouble. Am I understood?"
Aria frowned and nodded at the hologram. Then the hologram smiled and turned back to Franklin and said,
"I know this is a lot, old friend, but I greatly appreciate you taking in my daughter. Thanks alot good luck and bye for now".
Duke Franklin just stood there with his mouth open, speechless. "But...but I... What" he stuttered, clearly caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
He trailed off for a few more minutes, then cleared his throat. "Well, young Princess Aria, I believe you'll be staying with us for the time being. I'll have my servants prepare a room for you," he said, trying to compose himself.
"Late as it is, it's almost time for supper, so let's all go wash up and prepare for that," Franklin said, gesturing towards the castle.
Aria nodded, her eyes wide with excitement, and followed Franklin, Finn, and the others towards the castle.
Lady Amber excused herself, heading ahead to speak with the maids about preparing a room for Aria and her seven elvin bodyguards. "They'll need accommodations nearby, but not in the main guest quarters," she instructed, as she hurried off.
The royal guards took their positions, while Aria's bodyguards formed a protective circle around her. Finn turned to Aria and whispered, "Hey, wanna see the best part of the castle?"
Aria's eyes sparkled, and she nodded eagerly. Finn grinned, leading her through the castle's corridors, pointing out hidden passages and secret gardens.
They walked past the grand staircase, and Aria's bodyguards kept a discreet distance, their eyes scanning the surroundings.
One of them, a tall elf with piercing green eyes, caught Aria's glance and nodded almost imperceptibly. Aria smiled, knowing she was in good hands.
Finn stopped at a wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings of vines and flowers.
"This is it," he whispered, pushing the door open.
Aria gasped as a hidden garden unfolded before them, filled with twirling vines, colorful flowers, and a sparkling fountain. Her eyes widened with wonder.
"Welcome to the secret garden," Finn said, grinning.
Aria stepped into the garden, her shoes crunching on the gravel path. The scent of blooming flowers enveloped her, and she closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
"It's amazing," she whispered.
Finn chuckled, leading her to the fountain. "I like it here. My siblings and I play here all the time... or at least, we used to when they were still around."
Aria opened her eyes, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
Finn shrugged. "My sisters are Mages, and my brothers are knights. They're always busy with their duties, but when they're home, we play here."
Aria's eyes widened. "Wow, they sound amazing."
Finn nodded proudly. "Yeah, they're the best! But it's nice to have them around sometimes, you know? Even if they are always telling me what to do."
Aria smiled, and Finn continued, "Anyway, the best game is 'Castle Quest'."
Aria's eyes sparkled. "Tell me more."
Finn leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face. "It's a treasure hunt, basically. You have to find clues and solve puzzles to uncover the hidden treasure."
Aria's grin matched Finn's. "Sounds like a challenge."
As Finn and Aria were about to begin their Castle Quest adventure, the Headmaid, Mrs. Jenkins, entered the room and called them, telling them it was time for dinner.
Mrs. Jenkins smiled kindly at the pair. "Time to eat, young ones! Let's get you washed up and then to the dining hall."
Finn looked up at Mrs. Jenkins with pleading eyes. "Aww, do we have to, Mrs. J? We were just about to start Castle Quest!"
Aria laughed, getting up from the bench. "Come on, Finn, dinner won't wait."
Finn trudged after Mrs. Jenkins and Aria.
Mrs. Jenkins led them to the washroom, where Finn reluctantly washed his hands, his mind still on Castle Quest. Aria chuckled and splashed some water on her face, earning a grin from Finn.
Once they were clean, Mrs. Jenkins took them to the grand dining hall. The table was set with fine china and silverware, and the aroma of roasted meats filled the air. Finn's eyes lit up. "Dinner smells amazing!"
Aria smiled, taking her seat. "Time to fuel up before our next adventure." .
The grand dining hall, normally bustling with the Sixton family's lively conversations and the cl cl cl of silverware, was unusually quiet tonight. The long, polished table, typically set for fifteen to twenty-five guests, had been shortened to accommodate just four diners: Duke Franklin, Lady Amber, Finn, and Aria.
The soft glow of candelabras cast a warm ambiance, and the scent of roasted meats wafted from the kitchen, making Finn's stomach rumble with anticipation. Aria, seated to Finn's right, smiled at him, her eyes sparkling in the dim light.
Duke Franklin, at the head of the table, cleared his throat. "I hope you're both hungry. Cook has prepared a feast fit for... well, fit for royalty." He smiled at Aria, who giggled.
Lady Amber, to Franklin's right, added, "And we have a special guest tonight, so let's make sure to be on our best behavior." She smiled warmly at Aria, who nodded, her eyes wide with excitement.
The dinner conversation flowed, with Finn and Aria chatting about their adventures in the secret garden. Duke Franklin and Lady Amber listened intently, asking questions and sharing stories about the Sixton family's exploits.
As the main course was served, Finn leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "Hey, Aria? After dinner, wanna sneak back to the garden? I have a clue for Castle Quest..." 😊 Aria's eyes sparkled, and she nodded almost imperceptibly. "Deal."