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Ren stifled a laugh as he watched Shrub cling to the sides of the boat. He rowed a little faster, to get the poor gnome to land sooner.
Eventually, they made it to the Ocean Empire. They rowed between the massive lily pads, villagers looking over curiously. Many of them waved, and Ren nodded at them all in greeting.
Soon enough, they were at the House Blossom embassy. Ren docked the boat and stepped onto the island. Shrub looked terrified out of her mind. Ren offered her a hand and she took it gratefully, clinging onto him for a few extra seconds after she was safely on land. He stifled another laugh.
Normally, meetings with the Ocean Queen would be held in the Undergrove, to account for Shrub’s fear of water. However, as Ren understood it, there was a very important festival approaching, and the Queen simply didn’t have the time to travel to other empires. And since this meeting couldn’t be postponed, Shrub had agreed to meet at the other empire, though she had to be encouraged by Lady Katherine.
Shrub sat back in the grass, groaning. “I’m really not built for water,” she complained.
“I can see that,” Ren replied humorously. She gasped in mock offense.
He breathed in the ocean air, looking out at the Ocean Empire. It really was a gorgeous empire.
There was a ripple in the water. A large shape shot towards them, then circled the island a couple of times in quick succession. Ren’s ears flattened against his head. Fingers latched onto the rim of the lily pad, and the Ocean Queen pulled herself from the water.
Ren sucked in a sharp breath. The Queen was… beautiful.
Her hair was like the tulips that Lady Katherine often gifted to Shrub, or the azaleas he had seen in the neighboring empire of Mezalea. Her skin was the color of the sky, shimmering under the sunlight. Her eyes were like fire, when it burned so hot it turned blue. Her dress was a simple white chiton, cinched at the waist with a string of pearls. She was barefoot, and she wore no crown, but she didn’t need adornments. Everything about her was commanding and regal.
Shrub instantly hopped to her feet and bowed. “Good afternoon, Queen Lizzie.”
The Queen dipped her head. “And to you, Shrub. I hope the journey was not too difficult?”
“Oh, no,” Shrub said, straightening. “Ren over here made sure of it.”
The Queen looked to him. Ren snapped himself out of his reverie and bowed low. “Greetings, your Majesty. Yes, I escorted Shrub to the Ocean Empire. The journey was easy.”
“I’m glad to hear,” she said. Ren decided that her voice was his new favorite sound. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ren.”
He straightened up and dipped his head. “And I you, your Majesty.”
The Queen exchanged more pleasantries with Shrub, then the two of them got onto business. Ren tuned it out.
Eventually, all talk of trades and infrastructure and whatnot was finished, and the two got to simply talking. Ren found himself drawn into the conversation, exchanging stories and gossip with the emperors. They were surprisingly fun to talk to.
All too soon, Queen Lizzie was called away by one of her people. They said their farewells, and Ren helped Shrub back into the boat. The Queen sat on the edge of the island, conferring with the villager.
As he was preparing to sail off, Queen Lizzie called after him. “The Oceanic Festival of the Arts is next week. I think you might enjoy it, Ren. If you were to join me, as my- companion, I would- I would like that very much.”
Ren blinked in surprise. “I- yes, that sounds- that sounds wonderful. I would love to come.”
“Excellent,” she smiled. “Ocean’s Blessings!”
Shrub grinned at him as he rowed them away from the House Blossom embassy. “Someone’s got a cruush,” she sing-songed.
Ren ducked his head, his cheeks red and his tail wagging furiously.
.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.
Ren rowed his boat up to the steps of the Prisma Palace.
Footsteps came racing down the stairs. Queen Lizzie looked radiant in her new dress- it looked like sand, crawling up her chest and swirling around her bare feet.
He hadn’t had any idea what he was supposed to wear to an Oceanic festival. He asked Shrub for advice, but she didn’t know, either.
She’d ended up recruiting King Scott and his secretary Martyn Littlewood to help. Ren had only even seen King Scott once. The elf was extremely intimidating- right up until he opened his mouth and started lecturing Ren and Shrub on fashion. Then he was just… mostly intimidating. Martyn was very fun to be around, and he and Ren had written each other since.
No one had given him any horrified looks when he passed, so he assumed he looked fine.
“Ren!” Queen Lizzie beamed at him. “It’s lovely to see you again.”
“You as well, your Majesty,” he replied.
“Lizzie is fine, Ren,” she told him, bemused.
“My Queen, I couldn’t possibly,” he said. “It would ruin my character. I am the charming knight, loyal to the end. I cannot call you by your name; not until I have protected you from an assassination attempt and am dying in your arms.”
She laughed. “Well, we can’t have that.”
She led him around the empire. There were dozens of booths set up, showing off all kinds of art. She got him a necklace made of red sea glass, and he picked out a necklace for her made of pink sea shells.
Once the stalls closed, she brought him to a quiet beach area to watch the sunset. The sky was painted in gold, bathing them in its light. Lizzie tilted her head up, humming an unfamiliar tune.
Abruptly, she stood up. “Swim with me,” she said, holding out her hand for him to take.
He took it, laughing as she pulled him into the water with her. He was nowhere near as good a swimmer as she was, but it was fun, circling the lily pads and nodding to all the little fish they passed.
After a little while, they swam to the Prisma Palace and Ren collapsed on the steps. Lizzie rested her arms next to him.
Once he had caught his breath, she pulled herself out of the water. She led him up the stairs, to a guest room near her own bedroom.
The day had been… wonderful. Lizzie was kind and smart and funny, and he absolutely loved talking to her. The art was incredible, and the food was excellent. Definitely the best festival he’d ever been to.
And he had two more days here. He couldn’t wait to spend them both with Lizzie.