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Unlike how he welcomed his King, Deagol seemed to be more affectionate and kind towards the princess. It was Princess Aeryn who wasn’t aware of Artemis’s presence and nor was she informed, hence it was so awkward for them to meet like that in the Sept where the Faith Crones were preparing Lord Aethelind for the final burial.

Aurora and Artemis have been spending all their time together, ignoring cold shoulders and talking about House Morrow and sometimes discreetly practicing Low Moor. This was all done to distract themselves from the gossips and slung which came from the people of Horriss regarding Artemis’s decision of leaving out his uncle and showing up when his body was cold and dead.

Before going to the Sept, Princess Aeryn had a moment with her cousin and the new Lord of Horriss Deagol all alone in the gardens of the castle. They were holding hands while strolling around the magnificent display of colorful flowers.

“I always thought I’d be the one to marry you, father even told me so” said Deagol seemingly upset seeing Princess Aeryn wed.

“I would be the happiest woman in the realm if I were to be your wife. You are a good man cousin”

Deagol sighed softly “Am I? I watched my father die in Stonedance, I broke my oath and fled the battle... I’m no much than just a deserter”

“You are not an oath breaker cousin, and nor was Mithandir a king but just... a king who never was”

.....

“The fighting has taken a new step so I heard. Outnumbered and fear of losing everything, the general proposed a plan of sacking the King’s City”

“They will sack the capital?” Aeryn was stunned.

“They sure will and lock Castellan’s men out, spread wildfire into the snow and burn them all. I have seen ice burn before and it isn’t as pleasant as you may think...”

“What about the Squire lions?”

“Lions can burn cousin; they may be fearful but they can’t escape fire”

“Do you think they will win?”

Now this was rather a confusing question because not even Lucian Mithandir was aware they will win the war. This was a desperate move and crossing the Green Mountains itself was suicidal enough not to say sacking the whole of King’s City. Deagol had no answers, but he sure cupped his cousin’s face in his arms and kissed her cheeks twice.

“I’m devastated you are in my city and yet so briefly” he said with a somber tone in his voice. Aeryn held him tight and laid his head on her left shoulder, no sooner rather than later Deagol wept on his cousin’s embrace and he sure still grieved the loss of his father.

On the other side, Petrus Octavianus introduced himself to Artemis in the Sept. He was nervous and still unsure of how Artemis would receive him, the king was mad and the match Aeryn made was against his wishes.

“I’m Lord Petrus Octavianus of Storm Town, Your Grace” Petrus curtsied slowly before Artemis and Aurora.

Artemis ignored him “I know who you are, you came uninvited to my coronation ceremony and somehow found yourself in my sister’s chambers”

“Nice to meet you Lord Petrus” Aurora intervened, she was way kind than her husband.

After such accusation, Petrus was even more nervous than before. The slander was wide and open, its true he wasn’t invited to the coronation and the fact that he knew the princess’s chambers, well that was a dilemma on its own.

Lucky for him, Princess Aeryn was right on time to save him when she busted inside the Sept. The Sept was a huge building with tall pillars, white walls and at the center laid Lord Aethelind’s body on top of a table wrapped up in silk ready to be disposed. Faith Crones sat around the table chanting discreetly in foreign language, they have been doing that for a week all day and all night.

What the Faith Crones were doing it was called a traditional passing ritual, done only to the lords and men and women of higher standards such as Lord Aethelind. It was the Faith Crones who sang King Arteides to thy rest, they have their station in House Sea Tone where girls who wish to serve the faith and be crones were trained.

“Your Grace, I was informed that I’ll find you here” said Aeryn walking towards her brother. Then when she reached him, she held on to Lord Petrus’s arm. The cold shoulder towards Aurora had magnified when she spotted her mother’s crown on top of Aurora’s head.

All her life Princess Aeryn was obsessed with her mother’s crown, sometimes she would take it from her and wear it screaming “One day I’ll be Queen” and her mother thought she was just a young girl full of herself. Her father would let her wear the Queen’s crown even at court, and when her mother took ill it was the princess who filled in for her even though she was still no more than four years old. Even when she was older, King Arteides allowed his daughter to wear the crown on official matters so she did feel like it was hers to claim.

Hence Princess Aeryn didn’t hesitate to speak up “She wears my crown” she said to Artemis.

“Your crown? Pardon me but are you the Queen of Maldonia?” asked Artemis. Then he added even more further insult “Or are you some lady of a forgotten Storm Town?” and this time he looked straight at Petrus.

“I can give it to you, I...” Aurora tried to intervene.

Aeryn blurted out loudly “I don’t want to be spoken at by a peasant and a witch” and she was so loud it shook the Faith Crones who turned back to look. “I am well aware of your witch grandmother who you keep at your Aurora’s Hill, every single day practicing spells. You will be a means to his end, and to all of us...”

Princess Aeryn barged outside the Sept in tears, Petrus raced after her urging her to stop. Aurora was as stunned as Artemis, no matter how much they tried to hide Visenya it may seem indeed the walls could talk. Aurora knew very well she had to question all of her servants when she goes back to Blackmount.

The next day tensions seemed to cool off and sorrows took over. The whole family stood up the hills to burn their beloved. A pyre well decorated to serve the status of Lord of Horriss and showcase his wealth for he was the wealthiest man in Maldonia. While the pyre burned, Lady Burchad and her daughters wept. Hawk was forbidden to weep by his big brother Deagol, he told him only women cry.

The ashes of Lord Aethelind were concentrated on his grounds and laid to rest. Now it was then time for Artemis to crown a new lord of House Horriss. Artemis may have no control of whatever his lords do, but he ruled all the ten houses of Maldonia which made up the realm and hence it was up to him to name them lords too.

Things may have taken a wrong turn ever since House Horriss were considered to be in an open rebellion against the crown and even marked traitors. But Artemis believed in his cousin Deagol to be a good lord, the boy was strong and a knight. It was no doubt he will be a good lord of a powerful house such as Horriss.

The naming ceremony happened inside the courtyard when Deagol bent a knee and surrendered to Artemis’s sovereignty. “I, Artemis Arteides second of my name. King of Maldonia and slayer of the elves, Lord of ten houses and protector of the realm, crown you Deagol Aethelind to be the lord of House Horriss and Master of the gold” said Artemis and when he finished, the whole hall erupted in cheers and claps.

Deagol stood up and Artemis covered him in a red cloak as a sign that he was officially a lord and part of the kingdom. The ceremony was followed by a feast however Artemis couldn’t attend for he left the moment he anointed his cousin as the new lord of Horriss. No further words were exchanged between Artemis and his sister.

Hence this act of ignorance hardened Princess Aeryn’s heart towards her brother and she blamed Aurora for it. During the feast, Aeryn spoke with her aunt Lady Burchad and told her all about Aurora’s discreet meeting with her grandmother who was very well known to be a witch.