A Tale of Blades & Blood-Chapter 5: Beef & Masquerades

[Norien's Point of View]

The feast we were preparing was to be grand. Father had hired many people to aid us in setting up a large room for my brother's wedding, which would happen in less than 2 weeks now.

Noran has never been more nervous about it, and our dinner with the Ballisters tonight only sets him on edge even more. According to the news spread by the townsfolk, their carriage would arrive here before evening. It was already nearing sunset. The Ballisters should be at Greyburg by now, the last city they would need to travel to before they could reach Northrest Keep.

"Norien!" my brother called out.

Even though he's changing for the better, he still needs my help... sometimes. I get up from my chair and walk outside the hallway, the smell of mother's beeswax still present. I gaze at the paintings once more, then looking away swiftly every time. Eventually, I arrive at my brother's quarters, his door open.

"What is it now?" I ask, leaning against the door frame, my arms crossed, a smirk painted on my face.

"I wanted your advice on talking with Orelia's father." he replied, looking as nervous as can be, his hair messed up, and his face pale.

"No offense, brother..." I begin, "...but you look like you went through a storm." I remark with a smile.

Noran gives me a confused look. "What do you mean? My clothes look perfectly fine!" he remarks, which is true, his clothes were neat, and he even wore what I told him to wear last time. That brought a smile on my face.

"I can see that..." I tell him, "...but your face and hair look messier than ever." I explain, laying my hand on his brown hair and shuffling it.

He slaps my hand away. "Well, you're making it worse!" he exclaimed with playful laughter.

"Fix your hair first, then I'll tell you." I reply, with a teasing tone hanging in my voice, and a playful atmosphere.

"Fine." my brother sighs, his feet running into his room, taking the nearest brush, and fixing his hair. "Can you tell me now before the Ballisters arrive?" he asks, still perfecting his hair.

"Just be who you are, brother." I told him, in a comforting voice, "The family will accept you as you are..." I begin, "...no matter how childish you may seem." I say with a chuckle.

"I do hope so." he says, with more anxiety than ever.

I give him a reassured pat on his back, feeling the bond of brother and sister. We stand there for a short moment, until a melody disturbs the air.

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The time had come. We could both hear the trumpets, loud and harmonic, at the front gates. We could also hear the sound of people cheering, as if someone had arrived. Shortly after that, the wooden gates open with a loud creak, signaling the arrival of The Ballisters.

My brother hurriedly prepared himself, while I rushed to greet them outside. As I walked swiftly to the stairs, someone intercepts me. My father halted me in my tracks.

"Father?" I say, confused as to why he stopped me.

"Remember what I told you..." he began, "...you shall not come to the feast unless someone calls you to. Do you hear me?" he asked, his face taking on an intimidating look.

"Of course." I tell him, giving him an angered look, then walking to my quarters.

In all honesty, I feel that my father's words before mean nothing. Quite frankly, the only concern House Ravenhan has is my father messing everything up. Sooner or later, my father might become the reason for our family's embarrassment and fall to shame.

I wander outside to the hallway, looking closely for anyone that might try and scold me, specifically, my father. My feet shuffle towards the large window, which shows the front gates. The view was magnificent. Confetti of red, yellow, black, and blue are in the air. The cheers of people, even though muffled, are quite loud and lively. I could hear the barks of dogs, the sound of wooden carriages moving, and the hooves of horses.

Below, I could see a grand carriage, white and gold, making its way inward. After a while, it stopped in its tracks. One of our guards comes closer and opens the door. The sound of trumpets erupts once more, signaling the arrival of House Ballister inside the Northrest Keep. There they were, the royal family. The first to exit the carriage was a tall man, whose hair was blonde, and his beard, was very masculine, and rough; the man wore a red and gold mantle, the grandest I have ever seen. This was, of course, Orastor Ballister, Lord of Ororer's Keep, and King of The North.

The next to exit was the bride to my brother. She was grand, that is all I can say, since I was speechless. Her dress was spectacular, the gold, silk – like lines glimmered as the light of torches and lanterns reflected off of them. She had the perfect body, no wonder my brother fell for her—the question is, why did she fall for my brother? She had long, luscious blonde hair, and her eyes were brown. She was, of course, Orelia Ballister.

The final one to exit was a young man. He was handsome, quite tall, yet scrawny in look. He also had blonde long hair, but not as long as a typical mullet. He wore clothes around the same level of grand as my brother. He looked mature, and he looked a lot like his father, without the facial hair. His name escapes me...

Then again, considering he is a royal member and heir to the throne—last I checked—he should appear in the archives inside our great library.

I hurry to my quarters before anyone could see me violating the rules of my father. I hope that the book lays in my drawers somewhere. I search my room for the book, and I spot it, hidden nicely at the corner of the third drawer. The book was quite large, having borne the title "The Greater and Lesser Houses of The North".

I search for House Ballister inside the pages of this large book. Eventually, I spot them, not by their name, but by their coat of arms, which is unique amongst other houses in The Northern Island.

My finger moves swiftly through their family tree, eventually arriving to a name, with the young man's portrait above it: Orevian Ballister.

Orevian! That was the name! At least now, I won't embarrass myself when greeting him and not even knowing his name. A knock on the door disturbs my reading. I turn my head towards it only to see one of the maids.

"Your grace..." she greets with a bow, "...the king requests that you may join them at the dining hall." she finishes.

The smile on my face disappears, knowing I would have to see my father again. I tidy up my dress, and fix my hair, which has become somewhat of a mess, not as much as brother's earlier, though. I stand from my soft mattress, and walk outside the room, following the maid as she wanders off into the dining hall.

The once beeswax smell that the hallway used to have has transformed into a more herb-like scent. Mother seems to be experimenting on those candles a lot more lately. As we arrive into the dining hall, which was grander than before, having been decorated and such, I greeted the Ballister family, and sat down on my chair, soft, and made of wood.

The food was delicate, roasted boar, mashed potatoes, vegetables arranged in a neat pattern that makes you actually want to preserve it rather than eat it. My father stands up, holding a wine glass in his left hand, and a dinner spoon on his right. He gently taps the wine glass, making a bell sound.

"I would like to thank the Ballister house for agreeing to this union between my son, Noran Ravenhan, and your beautiful princess, Lady Orelia Ballister. May this union thrive and bring our houses together in harmony..." my father said with pride, smirking, and eyes gleaming with joy. The Ballisetrs look one another in the eye, each one showing joy the best that they could.

Orevian Ballister, however, showed minimal joy, but I could see it in his eyes that he is just as proud as all of us. Perhaps the young prince might be a shy little boy. "...a toast! For our union!" my father exclaims, holding his wine glass up.

Everyone else stands up, lifts their wine into the air, and exclaim-- "FOR OUR UNION!" at the top of their lungs. We all drink our wine, and the dinner begins.

What started as a silent and peaceful dinner is disturbed by a conversation.

"So, Lord Noran..." King Orastor began, looking at my brother with a smile whilst cutting up his food, "...I have always wondered, how did you meet my daughter?" he asked, waving his steak, pierced by his fork, in the air.

My brother gives out a light chuckle, then speaks. "I met her during a masquerade at your palace..." my brother recalled. "I remember that time, when we both saw each other..." he said, looking into Lady Orelia's eyes with a childish expression. "...we caught each other's eyes immediately. When I offered to dance and she accepted? My nerves got the best of me--"

"And you tripped over your own feet!" Lady Orelia recalled, laughing like a child. Everyone else followed suit as well.

"Ehem." King Orastor cleared his throat, "Tell me, Lord Noran..." he began, "...what traits of my daughter made you fall to her?" King Orastor asked, his expression giving off a curious atmosphere.

"To tell you plainly, my lord..." brother began, "...She made me feel accepted, and special. That is something I believe no other woman can do." my brother recalled. For a moment he paused, and then told us a story, "I still remember when we were together at a garden..." he recalled, "...we ran and ran, chasing each other. I fell and wounded my cheek. It hurt no less than an ant's bite, yet she still cared for me with as much love as she could give--"

"You're making me look like your mother!" Lady Orelia replied with a laugh—and a gentle hit to my brother's head—which spread across the table, bringing joy to this dining hall- for once.

I admire both of our families, sharing joy and laughter at a table that would usually be filled with debates of mothers, fathers, and daughters- never brothers –that would erupt in rage. Dinner was never a peaceful Ravenhan tradition.

"What houses will arrive at the ceremony?" Lord Orevian asked.

"Plenty!" my father exclaimed proudly, "House Strix has already agreed to come, and they will bring with them a feast for the Ballisters..." my father recounted, "...and House Gryphith will arrive here complete. Many minor houses will also arrive, and there will be much joy--"

"--and food." my mother interrupted, "Never forget food at a wedding." she said, a wide smile on her face.

This wedding might actually be something worthy to look forward to. I must admit, I am excited for my brother, and I am proud for Lady Orelia. I suppose she fell for my brother for his childish demeanor, which is unexpected, yet romantic and charming at the exact moment.

As for my father, I have nothing left to do but hope that he sees what I mean and understands what I feel...