Diplomatic Solutions

After the signing of a peace treaty with the Faesidhe, Carn returns to Westmark where a big surprise await him.

68.

Diplomatic Solutions

 

“There!”  Eleazar signed the final copy of the agreement between the Faesidhe and The Duchies of Westmark and Dullerm, then turned to the Faesidhe dignitaries seated next to him, “The wording of these agreements leave it open to be extended to a new Kingdom that forms.”

“We insisted upon it.” One of the Faesidhe men replied, “For we see what is transpiring to the east of us.”

Eleazar didn’t deny it.

“It is my hope that the nobles of Northmarch will agree to my proposed new Kingdom, which will include the Faesidhe forest as part of this Kingdom.     Remember that in three days, there will be a meeting of all these noblemen, and under the conditions of our agreement, your people have three duchies to fill with whoever you vote to these positions.   They will vote in this assembly.    Can you select these three dukes before the meeting?”

“Yes, Duke, we have all three in mind.   One is Linel Demmet, to pay for the killing of his father and brother.    He has agreed to allow the people to vote on him and to accept the position if he is elected.”

“That sounds completely fair.”

“Duke, it is obvious that you will be selected as King of this new Kingdom - can we expect the same fairness from you as King?”

 

“Well, it is not at all certain that I will be selected.   Honestly, it is such an important role that I worry that I would not live up to what everyone expects from me.   But I give you this solemn vow, before Yesh Almighty.   I will treat the Faesidhe people with great respect, mercy and kindness, as long as they do not rebel or endanger the other people of this Kingdom.”

 

Eleazar’s words greatly pleased the Faesidhe, so after saying farewell, Eleazar led Carn, Aedric and Mattleos onto the Autumn Maid.    Linel stayed behind to prepare for the Faesidhe elections, which they planned for the following day.   

“I’m so glad to see you, Duke.”    Mattleos told Eleazar as they boarded the Autumn Maid, “I look forward to a time of rest.”

“Well, it might be several days before there is any actual rest, Lord Matt.    We have a funeral and then the meeting of all the remaining Dukes and Earls to decide the fate of Northmarch.    Thankfully, Lightmas follows after that, and perhaps we can all relax and enjoy a time of peace on that holy day.”

 

Aedric and Mattleos wanted to know about Amala’s condition, and Carn decided to just tell them, although he kept the details to himself so as to not embarrass the girl.

It was just very late afternoon when the Autumn Maid docked at the airship platform.    The sky was wintery grey and a light and lazy snow fell as they stepped onto the platform with sighs of weary relief.

 

But immediately they knew something was stirring, for on the platform waiting for them stood a group of people.   The travelers looked at each other in puzzlement, but the crowd rushed forward to meet them.

Aedric found his wife throwing her arms around him and kissing him passionately, but briefly, only to take his hand and hurry him off the platform with an excited expression on her face.

“What’s going on?”   He asked, but she shook her head and led him away.

Eleazar was met by Aurei, who held Aidan, and she whispered something in his ear which caused him to look surprised and turn to her, but she nodded and then they both glanced over at Carn.

The Bard looked over at Mattleos, and the Sylvan Elf just shrugged.    But then Mathlyn and Nansea came and pulled him off the platform as well.   It seemed to Carn that they all glanced his way too as they hurried away.

He was about to call to someone and ask them what was going on, when Alvis, Gamel and Mutt rushed onto the platform.    They stood there glancing around as if looking for someone and so he went over to them.

“Hello, gentlemen, are you looking for someone?”   He suddenly realized that he had not seen any of the three men since he had been restored to the form of an Elf.   They had not been present at breakfast with Eleazar and the Autumn Maid crew.

Alvis studied him for a moment, “Uh… are you Carn?”

“I am indeed, Sir Alvis,”   he replied and the three spent several minutes expressing their amazement at his transformation.  

“We were sent here to find you.”   Mutt finally told him after they had all chatted for a brief time.

“What’s going on?   It looked to me as if everyone was being rushed off the platform for some reason.”

“There is an important ceremony tonight, and since you are arriving at the last minute, we are under orders to get you ready for it.”   Alvis said, trying valiantly not to grin.

“What ceremony?” Carn asked, “The funeral is not until the day after tomorrow, and the meeting of the nobles is the day after that, so what is going on?”

“A wedding,”   Gamel told him, "which will take place in only two hours, so come on!”

They motioned for him to follow them and he nearly ran to keep up with the trio.

“A wedding?   Who is getting married?”  He asked as they began descending the spiral stairs to the ground floor.

“You are.” Mutt replied and Carn laughed, thinking his old friend was joking.

“Seriously, Mutt, who is getting married tonight?”

“He’s not kidding, Carn.”  Sir Alvis said as they stepped off the stairs, “You are marrying Amala tonight.”

“No I’m not!”  He replied, still thinking they were joking, but the three men now stopped and their looks told him they were serious.

 

“Wait a moment!”   Carn said, “What in the world has happened since we left?    I haven’t even spoken to Amala since… since last night, and I certainly haven’t asked her to marry me!”

“We know, Carn.”   Gamel shrugged, “But we are just following orders.”

“Who’s orders?”

“Amala’s orders.   She told me - through our mother- that the two of you were going to get married this evening about two hours after the sun sets -- in the Church of Yesh.    We were instructed to collect you at the airship platform, keep you from getting too upset and asking too many questions, then take you over to get your wedding clothing quickly assembled.”

“Thankfully you are no longer the size of a Bugbear, “ Mutt added, “So we should be able to find you some fancy clothes.”

 

Carn stood there dumbfounded, looking at them and expecting to soon be relieved as the butt of a joke.    But they were serious.

“I’ve not even proposed to her!”   He finally stammered.

“Well, nevertheless, she’s accepted, so come on, or we’ll all be in trouble.”   Gamel said to him, then he and Alvis gently pushed him forward.

“I’ve got to talk to her!”   He protested.

“No chance, big guy!”   Mutt responded, “That is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

“But-“ 

“Carn”, Gamel said to him, putting his arm around his shoulders, “Sometimes you just have to let women have their way.   Believe me, I know.   I have one who tells me I’m her husband.”

“Huh?”   Carn replied.

“I’ll tell you about that later.”  Gamel said with a shake of his head, “Right now, we have to quickly get you ready.   Please don’t panic and try to escape.    Amala will hunt you down, you know.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that.”  He said, trying to clear his stunned mind to the madness around him.

Reviews

[Elina]

"Eleazar didn’t deny it, “It is my hope that..." With this, you'll want to replace the comma with a period and make the quotation portion into a separate paragraph.
"Well, never-the-less, she’s accepted, so come on, or we’ll all be in trouble." Perhaps, something along the lines of "Well, nevertheless, she's accepted; so come on, or we'll all be in trouble."

[Eddie Davis]

Thank you, Elina.