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It shocked Aryan that Cregan had occupied himself a small city, as they always called it “A city within a city” and it took them a pretty much good distance from the gates to where the castle was. This space was like a very different place, as they passed through the men who were training on open spaces looked at them.

The colors these men wore weren’t Prophisian colors, and the banners they carried weren’t the King’s, but they were the banners of the Lawsends: A parrot pierced by an arrow. It wasn’t a crime for men to carry their House sigils, but what made it more suspicious was the absence of a lion banner. Even at the top of the castle when they arrived.

Cregan Lawsend was waiting on the front of his castle surrounded by five knights, somehow Gandalf felt like those knights were Cregan’s sort of kingsguards, and also it didn’t help that Cregan wore his own crown. The servants, knights, scullions and ladies of the house and squires of the castle seemed to want to know of the rare visit from the King.

It had been long ever since a King of Prophis visited the Lawsends, especially since they gained their liberty from the Kingdom many years ago. The kings don’t visit the city; they know the Lawsends aren’t to play with and neither do they like guests especially if they are of royalty. Lord Howsley advised Lady Aryan against visiting them, she didn’t listen though.

Only five kingsguards were allowed inside the Lawsends city apart from the one thousand knights that Gandalf and Aryan brought. At this Gandalf was wroth about “This is part of my city. I am the King” he shouted at the guards. However, Aryan was smart enough to obey the laws and hence left their men outside while they walked inside the gates.

The Lawsends weren’t to be trusted yes, but with Tyriol – a six feet and eight inches’ tall beast, Aryan knew she had nothing to worry about if they were to be ambushed just like last time. Cregan Lawsend was a comely young man with a thick grab of black short hairs, he always wore brown silk or satin robes with black trouser and a black cloak on top.

The representation alone with such fine clothes and attitude on his face, Gandalf knew straightaway that Cregan was trouble. He didn’t bend a knee neither did he address Gandalf as “Your Grace” for a whole thirty seconds, it was just these two men pinned against each other like roosters about to fight.

.....

“Lord Lawsend” Aryan started to speak when she dismounted her lion. Gandalf was still on his because he liked to look tall and in control, a sort of intimidation he placed upon his foes or who he determined to be his foes.

“Lady Squire” replied Cregan softly “What a surprise visit!”

“Is it though, I bet your men had delivered the news earlier about our caravan”

Cregan smiled “It’s hard to miss with such... beasts” then he looked up at Gandalf sitting comfortably on top of the lion. It was so vivid the lions fed his ego, by the way he looked and placed his head up high. Then Gandalf’s lion roared so loudly at Cregan, like it wanted to eat him.

Cregan didn’t move nor was he intimidated, but his guards drew their swords quickly. “They can’t be killed by swords” Suddenly Gandalf started laughing. “They aren’t pigeons you twats, they are mighty” and this time he dismounted his lion and walked straight to Cregan while Tyriol followed behind slowly.

These two proud men stood so close to each other, both with ego and power, both of the same height and maybe a little bit of contrast in their traits. While Cregan was a family man bounded by the love of his family and children, Gandalf whored himself around and had no desire to either settle down nor be as faithful as Cregan was. Cregan was dark while Gandalf had fair skin, with the former strong and intuitive, the latter was full of anger and lacked judgement.

“You wear a crown; do you also call yourself king?” Gandalf confronted Cregan who didn’t seem so shaken by his presence.

“I am no King, just a lord of my city”

“A city within my city. Yet you don’t acknowledge me as your King”

“I never acknowledge kings. We are a free house with our own banners, our own trade, way of life and...”

Whatever Cregan wanted to say next didn’t seem of importance to Gandalf who shoved the crown off Cregan’s head and pushed him back. Suddenly Cregan’s guards drew their swords, and Gandalf’s kingsguards drew theirs.

“I don’t want no blood shade, I never come to your space why would you come to mine and start trouble?”

“Because it’s all mine! It’s my kingdom and I am the King” Gandalf shouted repeatedly about his status as “King” but as once wise men of the council said “A man who must say I’m King, isn’t the right King” even Aryan was aware of that.

Cregan picked up his crown and placed it on top of his head again, then he turned back to look at Gandalf “I forgive you! You may leave”

“Forgive me?” This time Gandalf turned to his sister who was unseeingly very quiet. “Do you understand this guy; what does he think he is?”

Aryan ignored her brother and apologized to Cregan Lawsend for starting at a wrong foot. “My brother can be a hothead; we are here for peace my lord” she said softly.

“At least someone here has good senses”

“What are you doing sister?” Gandalf turned to Lady Aryan.

“We are here for peace brother, aren’t you tired of fighting? The Lawsends have been free for over a century, they may live in Raven but they are allowed to have their own way of life which doesn’t associate with the crown”

Suddenly Cregan intervened “Well-spoken my lady. Perhaps if His Grace doesn’t believe that, he is free to ask Castellan’s head which is rotting in King’s City gates what I told him when he came to my city seeking men to fight for him. I didn’t give him not even a single squire because he was not my King, and neither are you”

Now the rejection was open for everyone to see, and for Gandalf himself to hear that he had no power across those plains and city. In terms of wealth, Cregan was untouchable and if Gandalf were to be so stupid as to interfere then mayhaps what happened to Taelins when he attacked the Lawsends and lost all his men and gold, may happen to the Squires.

Lady Aryan was the sole purpose of calmness and clarity, she spoke very well to Cregan Lawsend with high political cleverness when they were inside the palace and she even promised that Cregan’s sister will be the queen of Prophis, he only had to accept it. “Think about it, a Lawsend ruling besides a Squire. We will be the triumph of the world and kingdoms will crumble at our alliance”

“All four of my sisters are wed, the fifth one is eleven. My daughter is only two, I fear I have run out of brides for your brother” Cregan said looking straight at Gandalf who wasn’t so pleased being inside Cregan’s castle, he hadn’t touched not even a single bite of the food served on the table while his guards were feasting and laughing, a sign that all was well between the two houses.

Cregan excused himself and walked to Gandalf, then he took a bite of the roasted chicken and ate it. Then he drank the honeyed wine, the pastries, two cakes and washed it down with more wine. “I wouldn’t dream of killing a man by poison, especially a King” and somehow this was said with such respect.

“You acknowledge me as King?”

“I know you are a King, it’s like everyone knows now from across the Silent Sea to the Green Mountains. All the mess you’ve made”

Gandalf smiled and for the first time since they arrived during the evening, Lady Aryan saw her brother smiling and she was pleased. Cregan, his wife and two sons joined the feast and also his two-year-old daughter. It suddenly turned into a family dinner, they laughed and rejoiced at what made them strong rather than what will divide them.

And henceforth, by the end of the night a two-year-old Elizabeth Lawsend, daughter of Cregan Lawsend and Laisa Blackwood was betrothed to Gandalf Squire until she comes of age. The two houses finally came together under Lady Aryan’s diplomacy and critical thinking.