Eric stared.

He stared back.

Eric sighed and slowly narrowed his tired hazel eyes into a glare.

“Your face will freeze like that at this rate.”

The Prince continued to glare as the man dipped his cookie into the goblet of milk, and took a satisfying bite out of the dessert.

“Your highness, it really isn’t necessary for you to eat the entire plate of cookies. It is good for you to share.”

Eric slowly turned to Fin who was in the process of watching the exchange between Reese Flint and the Prince with growing humor.

“Fin. Why is he here?” Eric asked directly while ignoring the Bard who was seated in the Prince’s usual chair mowing down on Eric’s morning snack with reckless abandon.

“Sorry, he is trying to make me tell him a story by refusing to leave my kitchen.” Fin explained as he sipped from his coffee cup and rubbed his left eye wearily.

He hadn’t gotten much sleep the previous night.

“Make him leave. You’re really good at making people leave.” Eric demanded while ignoring the garbled disagreement from the Bard whose mouth was full of cookie.

“I’m a little too good at it now that you mention it.” Fin muttered as he took another mouthful of coffee.

“What was that cook?” Reese Flint had swallowed the cookie in such great haste that his eyes watered from the sheer volume pressing down his throat.

“Nothing. Reese, do you really want to peeve off the seven year old who is going to be running the kingdom in another twenty years or so?” Fin wondered while setting his cup down on the table.

“Seven year olds remember nothing. Their minds are like… what’s that thing… you’d know…”

“A sieve?”

Reese snapped his fingers several times and pointed at Fin.

“Exactly. He’ll forget all about me by then, and if he sees me again when he is all set to rule, I intend to be a handsome silver fox. I’ll have transformed from my present glowing youthful self, and I will be quite unrecognizable.” Reese then took the opportunity to reach for another cookie, only to see that Eric had slid the plate to his other side out of reach from the man.

“I’ll remember you just fine, and I’ll make sure you never get to eat another cookie again.” Eric glowered threateningly.

Reese placed his hand on his chest.

“My dear Prince! Are you to grow up and be a tyrant?”

Fin would’ve laughed had he the heart or the energy.

“Alright Bard. Shove off- I got work and no time or patience for you today. Eric you can finish the cookies, but then you better get to your studies.”

Reese studied Fin closely then, an oddly mature and serious look overtaking his handsome features.

“Why so tired Fin? Got a lot on your mind?”

It was the redhead’s turn to glare at the Bard.

“I said shove off.” He then picked up his cleaver, grabbed the watermelon from the basket to his right, and in one swift loud bang, cleaved the melon into two halves.

“Your knife show is impressive, but it’ll take more than that to-”

Eric turned to the Bard, stared him square in the turned cheek and said;

“If you don’t leave I’ll tell all the noble Ladies that you took cookies from me, and I’ll even pretend to cry while I do.”

Reese was out of his chair and out the door without another word.

Eric turned to Fin and let out his wizened sigh that Fin had come to know meant the child was about to say something beyond his years.

“Is this about that girl you like?”

Fin was surprised the boy remembered.

“Don’t worry about it Eric, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“Did you…” Eric leaned in, held his hand up to cup around his mouth, and dropped his voice to a whisper.

“Did you kiss her? Is it cooties?”

Fin managed to smile slightly at that.

He was about to answer the young noble, when the door to the kitchen burst open.

“Mr. Ashowan! Someone is here for you! She came with Mage Lee’s wife and is waiting at the front doors! She has an official letter from the King and wanted to speak with you as well.” The young maid was one Fin recalled seeing who had offered her support of his romance with Mr. Howard. She was very excited to see what new drama was spilling out around him, as her freckles practically glowed pink in delight.

The cook looked at Eric sporting his usual magnanimous milk mustache, and who gave him a small shrug of his tiny shoulders.

Sighing, Fin put the cleaver down, and trudged out the kitchen door, leaving the Prince to finish his snack on his own.

The witch’s mind tried to conjure up whom he would know that would carry the King’s letter and ask to see him.

A woman if the message was correct…

His experience with women had been; those on the Island, the patients he had helped his mother with, and now the women in the castle.

Perhaps it was someone from the Coven? Then again, he had already sent off his documentation of his abilities, what reason could they have for coming unless there was something wrong with what he sent?

After passing another set of maids that were whispering and glancing at him with obvious interest, Fin took the East wing exit near the rose maze to go around from the outside.

There would be fewer prying eyes… aside from the Troivackian man that had been trailing him the moment he left his kitchen.

The Knight was having a hard time remaining inconspicuous outside however, so despite his better judgment, Fin glanced over his shoulder and gave the man a small smile and wave.

To his immense satisfaction, the Knight scowled, turned around, and walked away.

Fin continued his journey around to the front of the castle, and as he strolled closer to the massive stone steps he hadn’t set foot on since the day he faced Hilda, he could hear an authoritative woman’s voice coming from the massive stone landing.

“-Preposterous! My husband is the Royal Mage to his Majesty. I will not be forced to wait outside like some mere-”

Fin resisted the urge to twitch when he realized who was shouting at the guard at the front door.

Another mage.

He was about to turn around and head back to the kitchen, not caring that he was going to ignore whoever had had the misfortune of traveling with Mrs. Lee, when his gaze crested over the landing. In the distance he spotted a slender woman standing slightly behind the infuriated mage, clutching her hands patiently in front of her worn skirts.

She had a few gray hairs floating around her wavy shoulder length light brown hair, and her pale face was strained with a forced blankness that the cook knew all too well.

Mrs. Lee was hitting some of the high notes in her litany, when the familiar face of Fin’s mother turned and locked eyes on her son.

Kate let out a loud shriek and ran without a second glance at her traveling companion straight towards her son.

She threw her arms around him while laughing joyously and squeezed him with all her might. Fin towered over her, yet her arms still felt comforting as he hugged her thin body back, he breathed in the familiar scent of his mother; Lavender and sage. His old home.

“Oh my boy! Let me look at you!” Kate released her son from their embrace, but still reached up to grip his upper arms as she studied him with tears in her eyes.

“Somehow I forgot how handsome you are.” She moved her cool soothing palm to his cheek as she studied him more closely.

She then noticed the dark smudges under his eyes, and the fine lines that had appeared at their corners at some point during the five months since he had left home.

“I see we need to have a talk.” She gently brushed her thumb against Fin’s high cheekbone and slowly turned back around.

Both Fin and his mother then noticed that they had a rapt audience back by the doors. Mage Lee’s wife, two of the Royal Guards, and apparently Mr. Howard had appeared and were watching the reunion with mixed reactions.

“Mr. Ashowan?” Mr. Howard called over to them, the tightness around his eyes and his wary tone made Fin’s mother cast a humorous glance at her son.

“That man looks important.” She whispered to him through her teeth as she feigned a smile, and took his arm to guide her as they walked back towards the doors.

“He’s the King’s assistant.” Fin explained in hushed tones.

“Why does the King’s assistant look like he knows you and doesn’t like you?” Fin’s mother had purposefully slowed her pace.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Once they were back in front of the group that had gathered, Mr. Howard waved a scroll with the King’s seal on it.

“Mr. Ashowan, your mother traveled to us bearing this. Do you have any inclination what this is about?”

“Pardon me... mister?” Kate asked politely, gesturing towards the man who was glaring daggers at her son.

“Mr. Howard. I am his majesty’s assistant.”

“Mr. Howard, I would be happy to discuss the contents of the scroll, however it did carry very specific instructions that I was to address the matter with his majesty only.” Kate’s docile and gentle appearance must’ve softened the assistant somewhat, because his taut expression faded slightly. With a sigh, he turned to the castle doors and disappeared back inside without a second glance at Mrs. Lee.

“You’re a peasant who can read? How extraordinary. You must tell me about the brutal hardships you’ve overcome to have reached a rudimentary understanding of our literary language.” Mrs. Lee was tall for a woman- taller than some men in fact as she stood at an imposing five-foot-ten inches. She easily dwarfed Fin’s mother, both in size and volume, however Katelyn Ashowan had long since grown out of the woman who cowered from her husband.

She stared coolly up at the mage with her long white streaked hair, royal blue robes, and mage crystal hanging around her neck.

“I would be happy to. Perhaps we can swap stories about your struggles to understand rudimentary manners.”

One of the guards burst out laughing, but was quickly silenced by Mrs. Lee’s acid glare.

Fin gripped his mother by the shoulders and began to steer her away from the group as Mrs. Lee’s jaw dropped and her imperious voice shouted at them in outrage while the guards fought to regain control.

“Please tell Mr. Howard my mother will be waiting in my kitchen-”

“No need Mr. Ashowan.” The King himself stepped through the doorway wearing a deep frown. Everyone dipped into a bow or curtsy immediately.

“If you two could please follow me.”

Fin and his mother shared a brief glance before they straightened and strode past the bowed heads of the guards and Mrs. Lee.

His head and heart were racing with possibilities. He had only just seen the King the previous night, why hadn’t anything been mentioned? What was going on?!

The King said nothing until they were safely closed up in the council room that had very obviously been cleared of its occupants in a great haste. Maps and books were left strewn across the entire twelve-foot table, and every chair sat crookedly.

“Mrs. Ashowan, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” Fin’s mother blushed, but gave another curtsy.

“T-Thank you your highness.” Her voice came out a whisper.

“I see here that I sent for you nearly two weeks ago by a special falcon carrier, and you have ridden hard relying on the seal to gain you military aid in your travels.”

“Yes, your majesty. In the city of Rollom I went to the magistrate and showed him the seal. He then summoned an escort party for me- they were all very kind!” She added hastily before wringing her hands in front of herself nervously.

Fin saw the small glimmer of warmth in the King’s eyes, and knew that the man found his mother endearing. Most people did.

“Yes, they did well. How is it you came to become travel companions with Mrs. Lee?” He asked gently.

At that, Norman saw the first familial resemblance between Finlay and his mother. The woman developed a small tic in her left cheek before she answered.

“Mrs. Lee was traveling under the invitation of her husband. We crossed paths and I… invited her along.”

Fin knew by the enunciation of his mother’s words that the one and only Mrs. Lee had invited herself along.

“I see.” Norman nodded. If he had gleaned the same information Fin had, he didn’t show it.

“Mrs. Ashowan would you-”

“Miss.”

“I beg your pardon?” Norman’s tone was gentle, which was more than likely why Fin’s mother felt comfortable speaking again. A gesture that made Fin appreciate his King all the more.

“I-I haven’t seen my husband in twenty years and the overall experience of our marriage was… less than pleasant. Please feel free to call me Ms. Ashowan, or Kate if you prefer!”

Despite the woman nearing fifty, there was a youthful exuberance around her that made her hard to dislike.

“Very well, Ms. Ashowan, would you mind kindly just waiting outside the door for a moment. I would like to have a word with your son.” Kate smiled beautifully, and could’ve been mistaken for a woman ten years younger in that moment, as she curtsied once again and rose.

“Of course!” She turned, and as she walked by her son gave his side a small pinch.

“Don’t do that thing you do.” She hissed worriedly before continuing out the door as if nothing had happened.

Fin kept his eyes on the King throughout the whole exchange, and once the door was firmly shut, a slow, wry smile spread across the King’s face.

“What’s ‘that thing you do’ Fin?” The humor in the King’s voice and face made the cook break out into a juvenile grin.

“I tend to aggravate people in a very efficient manner.”

“That you do. Were I not on that receiving end on occasion I’d admire it.” The King mused while only partly jesting.

Fin laughed slightly, then watched as the smile on the King’s face dimmed and he exhaled tiredly.

It was then Fin could see the stress and paleness on his face.

The King had been carrying on as usual, exuding the aura of a calm wise leader, but in that moment his weariness broke through.

“Why was my mother summoned here with a scroll bearing your seal?” Fin dropped his voice, and kept it non-accusatory.

“Remember… the night… with the fountains… and the wine…”

“Yes? Why- Oh no.” Fin’s jaw dropped. “How?!”

“I recall you… telling me about her healing abilities, and I was saying how I wished she could help with my wife and then-”

“Ohhh… noooo!” Fin had zero memories of the occurrence, but knew exactly what must have happened. He rubbed his face furiously as though trying to work some sense into his head.

“The handwriting is mine without a doubt, albeit messier than my usual. I summoned her to help birth my second born. I suppose Lord Fuks didn’t stop all the falcons that night.” The King sighed. As the two men finished processing the new consequence that their night of revelry had brought, they lifted their faces to each other.

When they locked eyes, there was a shared beat of silence, and then they both burst out laughing.

“Gods we have to tell the other men about this!” The King roared while doubled over with tears streaming down his face.

Fin was unable to speak as he found himself void of any breath that wasn’t used howling in hilarity.

His poor mother on the other side of the door however, was more than a little perplexed on what in the name of the Gods was going on in the chamber. Afterall, how was it even possible for her son to be familiar with the ruler of the continent?!

Eventually when the King and Fin and both calmed down, they agreed to keep the details on Katelyn Ashowan’s invitation to the castle a secret from her. Though the rest of the participants of their drunken escapades would hear all about it before evening fell.