Chapter Text
If there was one thing Scar had to admit it was that Dogwarts Castle was a sight to behold. The outer walls were flanked by impressive guard towers, the inner walls were very well maintained. The castle itself was both imposing with its dark stone and inviting with the opened doors and the sheer amount of innocents seemingly inhabiting the castle. The polished marble floors of the the interior gleamed and chandeliers glittered in the dying light of the late afternoon as he glanced around the throne room. One side held large windows that looked out on the picturesque city lower on the mountain. The other side of the room held tapestries telling the legends of the land, the many faced immortal who built many of the castles and how the werewolf kings united many smaller disparate kingdoms to name a few. Both sides of the frankly massive hall shared crowds of nobles and there advisors leaving a long empty path between him and the steps to the throne, fitting.
Currently on the gold seat sat the King Rendog swathed in dark red fabric, furs, and atop his head, between his ears, sat his equally golden crown. The king’s ornate great sword was leaning against the seat, still sheathed. On one side of Ren was his hand, Martyn, and the other the head of his royal guard, Skizzle. A blood red rug covered the slowly rising stairs the edges were detailed in gold thread. Two steps lower then the king and father to the sides were to men, Ren’s two great mages. The growing shadows of the afternoon sticking to one while the golden light did the same to the other. One in silvers and blacks while the other in golds and blues. They both stood at attention not hostile but on guard, the most dangerous people in the room.
Just behind him he heard Grian clear his throat as Scar flashed his best smile at the look of barely held back rage on Ren’s face, “King Rendog, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“King Scar, Lord Grian.” Ren’s voice was rough and frustrated. He clearly hated everything that was going on, “Welcome to the Kingdom of Dogwarts.”
Jimmy had to admit, he missed most of the formalities when the King Scar and lord Grian showed up. And if it was because he was a bit caught up in how regal Scott looked so what? His (secret) fiancé looked like he came from the legends of old with an elaborate golden mantle and brilliant blue cloak. His hair carefully styled so that everyone could see the finely crafted circlet on his brow. The way the dying afternoon light seemed to float around Scott casting him in a full body halo only enhanced it all. Scott looked the part of the powerful royal mage.
At dinner it occurs to Jimmy that he maybe should’ve been paying attention after the large tables had been set out and everyone had taken there seats. As he’s now a Marquis and seated at the high table with the most influential figures in the land, from the King’s inner court to their foreign guests to the other powerful lords and their most trusted advisors. And everyone was looking over at their guests from the desert. Said guests were on the other side of the boxy crescent shaped tables, across from Jimmy.
“What do you think they’re doing.” Joel whispered to him, the other new Marquis after Grian’s defection.
“What?” Jimmy asked, completely lost.
Joel rolled his eyes at him, “What do you think the desert are doing here?”
“They’re here on a peace mission.” Jimmy replied lamely.
“C’mon you can’t be that dumb Jimmy they’re here for something else, everyone else know it.” Joel said.
Jimmy didn’t know how to respond to that thankfully he didn’t half to find out. As he was stumbling over what to say King Ren held his goblet out for a toast and the dull roar of the room went quiet as everyone raised one in return. Ren had a large grin across his face as he waited for the room to quiet. He’d execute you for treason if he knew Jimmy’s mind taunted. He pointedly ignored that last bit.
“My country men, and esteemed guests, tonight is a night a celebration!” The King declared, “Once again we’ve triumphed! So feast ye all have earned it!”
Everyone drank in toast with the king. And with the king’s words the murmuring of secrets hidden by polite conversation gave way for genuine laughter and good cheer as said feast was brought out. Roast beef, potatoes, gravy, stews of all types, lamb, golden carrots, wild game, sweet berry sauce, loaves of bread, and anything you could ask for really was set down in front of them. Every glass was refilled. Musicians came out of corners to play. Spirits were so high that everyone almost forgot the restrained anger the king had shown earlier in the day.
Joel of course started another argument with Lady Cleo. This was scarily normal and Jimmy was starting to get worried about his friend’s sanity. Even worse it looked as though Etho, the mage of shadow, was egging the fight on. Not to say this wasn’t normal, both Joel and Cleo arguing and Etho encouraging it, but it was still a bit worrying that Joel still engaged in them considering he’d literally never won. But Jimmy had no intentions of making an enemy of Cleo so he stayed out of it.
After everyone had had their fill of both dinner and the myriad of desserts that had been brought out everyone was shown to their quarters, luxury mini apartments that the nobles would stay in during the end of spring and early summer as court convened. Each apartment held three bedrooms, a sitting area, and a study. The nobles who brought advisors with them would share the apartment with them. The King and his inner court on the other hand held permanent residence in the most highly secure wing of the castle.
Jimmy’s apartment was different then the last time he was apart of court, the views were better and it all had a different color scheme. Instead of the soft greens and yellows he was used to it was deep blues and dark reds. He wouldn’t realize until the morning that it was because he was now a Marquis that he would never see the old apartment of his past, something about that felt bitter sweet. Jimmy hadn’t realized how exhausted he was until he immediately fell asleep when his head hit the pillow, still as soft as he remembered them.
In the morning breakfast was delivered by the kitchen staff including fresh fruit kept cold with ice, warm bread and jam, bacon, and tea with honey. There wasn’t much actually planned or required for today. Genuine meetings and trade deals never happened in the first week and almost everyone had arrived yesterday leaving the day almost completely free, except for dinner but that was standard. So Jimmy went for a walk in the gardens.
For anyone not in the know going for a walk in the Royal gardens was innocuous enough after all they were well known for their vibrancy and beauty. But Jimmy had an ulterior motive. In the back of the gardens, surrounded by walls of roses and stone and shielded by an ancient Wisteria tree was a small clearing with a single bench. Not long after Jimmy sat down among the purplish leaves and the pink flowers Scott appeared from the other entrance into the small bear unnoticeable bubble they now shared. The roses interlocked into one seamless bush after Scott walked in making sure there’d be no interruptions, no one would catch them.
“Hey Scott.” Jimmy smiled.
Scott sat next to him, “Hey.”
“I’ve missed you.” It was so nice to see him and know it was safe. That no one would figure them out. That they could just be.
“I missed you too.” Scott said with a smile and a found eye roll.
Sun shone through the trees as they just talked. About how they’d been. About the little changes of life. No politics at least not at the moment, not after being apart for a year. How Daisy the cow was doing since Scott hadn’t seen her in years. All the small things that Jimmy would ache for later, when they were separated again. But this year it wouldn’t be immediate. It wouldn’t be two months of sneaking around only to not see each other for ten. Scott would be visiting his estate for the rest of the summer, and while officially it was to help with crop growth now that there was a slight higher possibility of war it also meant they’d be together longer without sneaking to be in each other’s company. Jimmy was over the moon, it was going to be a great summer.
Martyn couldn’t describe the rage he’d felt when Grian had walked into the throne room. How dare Grian betray all of them then waltz into their throne room with diplomatic immunity. How dare Grian ever show his face again. That red winged traitor should’ve stayed away. He had been one of them and had given it all up to work with a small time desert king! Martyn had his doubts about the life debt claim, how would it even happen without one trespassing in the other’s territory? None of it made any sense! Maybe he was being irrational, didn’t mean he had to like it.
He at least knew the inner court had his back. Skizz had been furious at the mere mention of Grian even being allowed to set foot on Dogwarts land much less enter the capital. The doctor never cared, as long as they were all healthy. Etho had shrugged though he also admitted that he didn’t like it. Scott had been measured clearly trying to think it out sans emotions, which Martyn appreciated, pointing out that it was likely an intentional slight but that there wasn’t much to be done about it.
Ren wasn’t happy about it. In fact he’d rivaled Skizz in anger but even as king there was nothing he could do, not without horribly slighting a foreign nation. And as much as Martyn wanted to slight Scar war wasn’t worth it. They had two new Marquis and while Jimmy had always been loyal, though Martyn was worried about Jimmy’s small crush on Scott returning as that wouldn’t be helpful especially right now, Joel was a bit of a wild card. Not to mention that their lands weren’t nearly fortified enough for war. It had been a mad dash to get basic defenses over what had once been friendly territory.
Martyn sighed as he continued his walk to the library. He didn’t particularly want to read right now but he had to cool off before tonight. The castle was bustling, more so then other years, while court was in session. Any escape from the chaos would be nice. Of course the second he slipped into the library he heard Lady Cleo and her advisors.
“All I’m saying Bdubs is that it sounds bad.” Cleo said.
“I know but it be funny.” Bdubs insisted, “Imagine Etho’s face when it happens!”
“It would be funny, but it’s also really dumb.” Cleo replied.
Martyn shut the door and walked away. He knew he should’ve stayed but he had absolutely no energy to hear about the next part of the architect’s prank war with the shadow mage. Every year without fail they attempted pranks on each other, the last one had resulted in the crown having to entirely refurbish Cleo’s guest apartment. Martyn sighed and instead made his way over to the training yard. Some aiming practice might do him some good anyways.
The yard was empty to little surprise. Most nobles were resting after days of travel and most of the guards were on duty as there were two security threats, foreign diplomats, in the castle. It also wouldn’t be surprising if some people were touring the gardens, seeing the changes made over the early and mid spring. Martyn swiftly grabbed his training bow, as not to waste easily flammable targets, and a quiver of arrows. The weight feels comforting in his hands especially after days of fruitless frustration.
The targets were set apart from the rest of the practice yard, giving Martyn more of the space he’d been hoping for. With a deep breath he drew back the nocked bow and fired, hitting the dead center of the target. The next was a bit off. The one after a bit closer then that. He continued this for what was probably hours. It was almost calming. When he eventually looks up at the sky he suddenly realizes that he has to go get ready for dinner. Muttering under his breath he makes a dash for his quarters to get ready.