Chapter Text
The carriage rolled along the back roads of Katolis, swaying and bumping and making your headache worse. You’d been plagued with them since you’d looked into that mirror but figured it was just a coincidence. After all, they’d come about even when you were hundreds of miles away from it. You’d been pulled from your thoughts by the yelling of your driver, scolding one of the horses for trying to veer off the trail. Your gaze flickered around and fell upon your traveling companions and you sighed.
It had only been two weeks since you and your little brothers had defeated the slimy star elf and righted the world, at least, for the most part. Not everything was how it should’ve been… You glanced over at Viren, he was sitting behind the closed silken curtains of the carriage and pouring over some ancient tomb he’d managed to get his cold clammy undead hands on while on the road back to Katolis. Sorren sat beside you with a bored expression, his armor clinking with his every move and making you wish you’d put him outside. Instead of tearing into your poor husband, however, you chose to harass your new favorite “henchman.” Soren had claimed that it made you sound like a villain but you told him to get back to you when he found a better term for his father’s new position. He’s yet to do so.
“So why did you want that thing?” Your brow was raised in mild interest as you looked at the book in the old man’s hands. He jumped a little at your acknowledgment, eyes going wide and mouth parting. You rolled your eyes, an annoyed huff leaving your lips. “Oh just-“ you grumbled as you took the book from him, patience waning. He only blinked back at you in either terror or shock, you weren’t sure and didn’t care. Then you looked at the book with pursed lips. It was written in a language you couldn’t read and it was so dusty it made your eyes water. “Ugh, never mind. Keep your old ass book to yourself.” You dropped it back into the man’s lap without looking at him, instead dusting your hands on a handkerchief you’d already had out. “…unless it’s important.”
“My love,” Your husband's voice was the only other one you’d been hearing for hours and it was at that moment you realized that his father had not spoken a single word the entire ride back. Honestly, it pleased you more than anything. He’d finally learned to shut up and sit down instead of being literally the worst “King” in Katolian History.
“And what is it now?” You looked to your dear Soren with exasperation. “Are you hungry? I can tell the boys to pull over and find somewhere to get lunch.” The offer was met with a shake of his head.
“No, but…” he bit his lip and shrugged, armor clinking and taking you a step closer to the edge. “Maybe it wouldn’t kill you to be nice to my dad, huh? He was just resurrected again.”
—
“ Why must you bring that creepy old thing into our home?” Rayla had her arms crossed, watching as two elves from their ranks and Callum all hauled that oversized gaudy mirror into his new study.
“Why would I not? This thing is a magical wonder!” Callum looked at it with such reverence it made her sick.
“Yea, and look who was using it,” she grumbled back, not at all pleased. “Who even has the other one?” It took him a minute to respond, his smile turning nervous.
“…(y/n).” He didn’t look at her, hands clasping together as he continued looking at the mirror, making sure it looked right.
“And why would you want a direct line of anything connected back to her ?!” She’d been a bit too aggressive with it, perhaps. He turned around to give her a hand stare, eyes narrowing slightly.
“She’s still my sister, Ray, you know that. Just because we don’t agree on some stuff is… irrelevant.” He looked back at the mirror and frowned a little. “Guys? Move it a little to the left.”
—
“Your Majesty, you’re back!” Opeli had seemed mildly happy and overly shocked when you’d waltzed through the doors of the Keep, Soren, Ezran, Viren, Gren, and Corvus all in tow like your little ducklings.
“Of course I’m back,” you scoffed at her as you approached, happy to be back home and even happier to be back at the helm of your Kingdom. “How have things been going since we last spoke?”
“Oh,” her smile dropped just the slightest and your hands fell to your hips.
“ Oh ?” You echoed her with a suspicious look, not at all liking her tone.
“Nothing,” she waved her hand dismissively and shrugged. “It’s all been going just fine! Truly, the Lords have even been on their best behavior!”
“Really? Lord Tully seemed happy to have her gone?” Garrett, one of the boys you’d grown up with turned Knight, and a maids son at that, had decided now was a good time to point shit out. He’d overheard and bravely ventured over. Opeli glared so harshly at him that one would think lightning would strike. ‘ Shut up ’ she mouthed to him, pretending— no, praying that you wouldn’t understand. You did but chose not to say anything and instead logged it away in your brain to add to her long list of indiscretions.
“Well then,” you said shortly, nodding at Garrett and effectively dismissing him. “It doesn’t matter. I’m back and I shall deal with it all head on. Though I’m sure everything is fine. Right ?” You sounded so confident that Ezran wondered if you were an idiot. He’d been telling you that things would be a mess but you’d told him he had no clue what he was talking about. He was convinced and would surely prove you wrong.
“Yea, no, yea,” Opeli nodded back and shrugged again, trying her best to be nonchalant. You crossed your arms. “Everything is fine! Just- wait.” She held her hand up as she surveyed your incoming caravan. You were expecting to be berated on everything you’d brought home such as the furniture and silks and such but it was quite the opposite, instead, you were being hounded about everything you didn’t. “Where’s Callum? And Rayla? And your aunt? And why in the Hells are you not on the horses you set out on? There are only half!” She looked like she was about to have a fit and you’d been expecting that, at least. She, like you, was always on the verge.
“In order?” The question was simple enough but the look on her face made you continue without an answer. “Ok well, Callum, Rayla, and Auntie Amaya are all back in Xadia. Supposedly they all want to start a new colony where… uh…” your eyes narrowed as you wracked your brain for whatever he’d said. You hadn’t thought he’d meant it at the time so you hadn’t paid attention. Silly you , you supposed. Viren stepped up quickly and cupped his hand over his mouth as he whispered. You nodded along, eyes never leaving Opeli. “ Right - where humans and Elves can live harmoniously and choose their own leaders or whatever.” You’d pursed your lips, waving the older man away as you didn’t want him stinking up your air with the musty garbs his daughter had been dressing him in. “Oh, and I traded the horses for… other things…” you smiled shamelessly, and as if on queue, a cage with a huge white tiger was wheeled in.
—
“Does she seriously think that she can just do whatever she wants like that?” Ezran had retired to his room early, Bait and Corvus in tow. Gren stood outside while they spoke, though Ezran hadn’t been too concerned considering the Commander wasn’t exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.
“She is the Queen,” Corvus said tentatively as he stood by the window, gazing out upon the city he’d so dearly missed. “Technically she can.”
“Does that make it right?” Ezran was quick to counter, not having anyone’s excuses today. Then again he probably shouldn’t have been going to Corvus of all people to air out his grievances. Still, he continued. “Her husband doesn’t even try to reason with her! He just sits there and smiles while she trips over him! Oh and suddenly Viren is back?”
“That I can agree is rather conspicuous… but I’m sure she has her reasons,” the older man shrugged, not one to go against his friend, or rather his Queen. “But I do not think he’ll be much of a problem anymore. He’s terrified of (y/n).” He turned to look at the boy with his arms crossed over his chest. “Your sister is not an easy woman, I’ll admit. But she means well. Perhaps you should try to see things from where she’s at.”
“She’s on top of the world! Ugh, you don’t get it.” Ezran shook his head and looked to the door with a frown. “I just wish Callum were here. He’d get it.”
—
“Dad!” Soren hurried down the steps of the dungeon and around the corner to his dad’s “office.” Well, you’d told him it was an office. He assumed it was his dad’s old lab, but when he found the old man he paused. His father was sitting in an old prison cell behind bars with books piled high over his head and a small bed in the corner. He was sitting at a large table that had been brought in, scrawling over a huge scroll and muttering to himself. He’d not noticed his son, too caught up in his writing, whatever it was.
“Dad?” Soren went over and clutched the bars, frowning.
“Oh-!” Viren finally looked up, eyes wide but turning happy when he saw his son. “Soren, my boy, what’s the matter?” When he saw his son’s expression he looked a little puzzled. He wasn’t sure why he’d be upset. After all, they had just gotten back home and things were going relatively well so far. It had only been a couple of hours, granted.
“Why are you in a cell? Did (y/n) do this?” His frown deepened and his shoulder slumped just a bit but Viren shook his head.
“Well, yes and no. I got to choose,” he shrugged a little as he got up, knees and back cracking and making him groan. Soren cringed and looked away, his dad’s pain unenjoyable to say the least. His dad made his way over to the door and produced a silver key with a sapphire embedded in the hilt. “It even locks from the inside!” He smiled almost gleefully at his son and Soren could only nod as he watched his dad stick the key in the padlock hanging inside. He seemed happy with the small luxury, but Soren couldn’t imagine why his dad would want to lock himself away in the first place.
“So what are you doing down here?” He frowned again as he stepped past his dad and into the cell. His dad shrugged again and headed to a pile of his books, his newest one, the one you’d manhandled, sat at the top.
“Researching. The Queen wishes to find a solution to the money problems.”
“Money problems? (y/n) never mentioned any money problems.” Soren frowned again, his usual expression nowadays.
“Well, half our treasury is gone, now that we’re back, and The Queen isn’t pleased so she tasked me with solving the issue of outgoing funds.” Viren thought he explained it well but Soren was left with more questions than answers. And now that he knew money had disappeared? Dinner would not be going well…