Jon found herself marching with head held high, looking directly ahead, as Allaria's manners forced him to move as a princess should when approaching a royal audience. But she could still scan the room with her eyes.
Not that she could see much of the room. On either side, lining the elves' path, were perhaps thirty humans. From their fine dress Jon guessed they were nobles, here to witness the kings audience. Jon felt with uncomfortable certainty that they were witnessing her more than anything else right now. Wearing this gown in front of her servants, Karyn, and her mother had been bad enough. She suspected elf maidens were a rare sight in this neighborhood, and she didn't like playing the exotic beauty.
And directly ahead was the king, whose throne appeared to be the only item of furniture in this hall. He looked every bit the fantasy king, with a full, blond beard and long hair. At his left, in front of the dais, was the court herald. "Identify yourselves and state your business for the king of Kornost!" he called out.
Alarias mother spoke immediately. "I am Queen Thenesra of the Greater High Elven Kingdom of Tyr. This is my advisor Iroldu, and my daughter Alaria. We are honored by the hospitality your servants have shown us since our arrival last night."
The king spoke. "The honor is mine. We have not had elven guests in a very long time. What brings about your visit now?"
"We come before you to speak of a shared threat: Morbanem. As you know, our kingdom fights him as we speak. The threat is grave, and if Tyr were to fall, Morbanem would press on into Kornost. In your wisdom you must see that this threat can not be defeated by either kingdom alone, but by an alliance of the two."
There was some murmuring at this, but the king nodded. "Morbanem is a grave threat to my kingdom, and I welcome the opportunity to defeat him. I am concerned however. Our people have grown far apart in recent generations."
Thenesra touched Jon's arm. "I propose a further step to unify our peoples. You have a son who is of age to marry. Take my daughter, Princess Allaria, into your family."
The crowd's muttering was noticably louder here. One nobleman, near the king's throne, was especially upset. "Your Majesty! Surely you are not contemplating this... miscegenation. Take an elf as a princess of Kornost? As a concubine, perhaps."
"Duke Kagon, when you insult my guests you insult me. Is that your intention?"
"I only want to caution you, Your Majesty. The elves are trying to bring us into a fight on their behalf. Morbanem would never move against Kornost. Our knights are too strong."
The king stood and raised a hand to call for silence. "I would never question the martial prowess of my knights. But Morbanems sorcery is as great a threat as his legions are. Our college of magic includes some talented individuals, but far too few of them. You know as well as I do that the elven mages are the only ones with the power and numbers to counter him."
"But all this strategy only distracts us from the more important, and happier point. The elves are our friends, and our friendship will be renewed by this union." He stepped off the dais and toward Jon. "Allaria, it will be my great honor to introduce my son, and soon to call you my daughter in law. However..."
