Welcome Feast - Cut Chapter from Nirel

The palace balcony outside the dining area (not mentioned in chapter)

The welcome feast was part of my original manuscript for Nirel. I decided to cut it and rework most of the events into new chapters. The original draft only had Nirel's point of view, and when I added Corvin's, I decided to make King Leonardin kinder and have him push for wooing instead of a forced, arranged marriage right away.

Please note this is unedited and may contain some mistakes. I've improved as a writer since I penned this.

I WORE THE PURPLE silk dress to dinner. My star necklace rested on a small bit of bare clavicle. King Leonardin sat at the head of the table, the queen sat to his right, and the seat to his left was empty. I was placed between two empty chairs, and opposite of Corvin, who surveyed my dress as I sat.

“Welcome, healer!” boomed King Leonardin. I blushed and bowed my head.

“Thank you so much, your Highness.” I looked up to Corvin’ blue eyes dissecting my face. I looked away and down the table. Not everyone had come yet.

“Looking for someone?” asked Corvin.

“No,” I lied.

His eyes narrowed. I couldn't even tell a convincing lie with one word? I sighed. 

Servants began filling our wine glasses. I ached for food. I’d had nothing since healing Corvin and my body needed to refill its stores. The chairs at the table filled as the guards led various nobles and politicians to the table. The chairs next to me remained empty. I sipped the wine. I needed to fit in and abstaining from wine was not going to do the trick. It tasted strong and delicious.

A guard led a well-dressed soldier to the chair next to me. I looked up, startled to see it was Jase. He glanced at me and smiled. I realized I was grinning foolishly. I was just so happy to be near him.

“I’m glad they brought you,” I said softly.

“Me too,” he said with a smile. “I was a noble before, but now I’m rather highly regarded since I ‘brought’ you here.” His eyes focused on me and his smile dissipated, “Everything is going to be different for both of us now.”

I patted his hand under the table. “That’s alright. I’m just glad you’re here.” 

His fingers gently squeezed my hand. He grinned briefly, then noticed Corvin watching us intently. Corvin sipped his wine and slowly smacked his lips.

The rest of the nobles were seated, but the seat between the King and I remained empty. The King whispered something to a guard’s ear and he hurried away. Then I was introduced to everyone. I met most of the senators. Each province would send two senators to represent them to the capital, usually one man and one woman, but not always. The senators from Trestaine were absent, as was one of the Kerulen and Lisaire senators. Still, the thirteen names blurred together after a few minutes.

  The guard returned just as the last introduction finished. He led a young man dressed in royal blue clothes by the arm. I realized this must be the fifteen-year-old prince, Anthony. The boy sat in the chair next to me and slumped forward toward the table. He glanced around the table and wiggled uncomfortably in his chair. The King leaned toward him, “Anthony, are you going to greet the healer?” The King motioned towards me.

Prince Anthony looked at me and rested his head against the tall chair. He was a handsome combination of his parents, with black hair, large brown eyes, deep brown skin, a long nose, and sharp cheekbones.

         His hands moved in controlled gestures. Sign language. I smiled, but had no idea what he had said.

"He welcomes you to the palace," said Jase in my ear. He knew sign language? Was there anything he couldn’t do?

         “Thank you, your highness,” I said.

The prince nodded curtly, then turned to survey the food. There were rumors about the eldest prince in the village, that he couldn’t speak much, but I had not believed them.

The feast began. Servants piled our plates high with sliced beef, roast pork, spiced potatoes, buttered carrots, and so much more. The King took the first bite, then gave permission for everyone else to eat. Everything was scrumptious. Corvin watched me eat, especially how I held the silverware and sliced my food. It was disconcerting.

         Jase nibbled his food but did not seem hungry. Corvin watched Jase too. Why was he so intent on us? It was like we were an apple that he wanted to bite.

Prince Anthony reached his long fingers for a slice of bread and began to methodically take bites all around the sides. He left the middle of the slice and grabbed another. I tried not to stare.

A slight tingle from the wine made my head float, but I knew that I had eaten enough food and that my body was large enough to handle it.

         “So, Nirel!” said King Leonardin, interrupting my thoughts, “Have you thought about marriage?!

         My fork dropped with a clatter to the table. Corvin watched in amusement as my cheeks flushed.

         “I have not, your majesty,” I said.

         King Leonardin laughed and looked over the nobles at the table. “Well, allow me the pleasure of assisting with that.”

         My throat went dry. Was he going to arrange a marriage for me? That wasn't common. Besides, he’d only introduced me to the senators. There were nobles mixed in that I didn’t know at all yet, but I assumed many were the senators’ spouses. I stared at the King, waiting for him to continue.

         “You are to marry my advisor, Corvin,” said King Leonardin.

         My eyes flit between the king and Corvin. When had they decided this? I paused to collect my composure. I remembered Jase’s words. I could make choices and they needed me. 

         “An arranged marriage was not part of the contract, your Majesty.” Perhaps the wine had given me courage.

         “Your contract as my healer has nothing to do with your marriage arrangement,” he responded firmly. 

I was at a loss for words. My mouth dangled as I tried to find a respectful response.

One of the Astralind senators, Vesta, raised her voice, “Your Majesty, arranging a marriage is almost unheard of for healers.”

The King’s eyes flashed at me, then at Vesta. She raised her eyebrows as if to demand an answer.

His eyes narrowed. “Corvin requested her hand as soon as news of her discovery came to us. He is the most eligible noble in this city, and it is high time he took a wife.”

Vesta turned her piercing green eyes to Corvin, who met her gaze with calm confidence.

“Don’t you think she should have some say over who she marries? Or are you afraid she’d pick someone else?”

Corvin smiled, but did not answer her question.

“Senator Vesta, your concerns regarding the arrangement are noted, however, this is my decision. Nirel,” King Leonardin looked at me, “You might feel this hasty, but I believe this to be a most advantageous match for both of you and I don’t want to waste time when there’s a war underfoot. Understood?”

         I swallowed the bile at the back of my throat. “Your Majesty, please,” I murmured.

The King sighed. "Look at Corvin."

I glanced at him. His blue eyes caught my gaze and held it. There was a fierce calmness to him, but I couldn't tell what he felt or thought.

"If you don't want him, tell him to his face."

The words cut like a knife. "I want to make my own choice," I whispered. I wouldn’t be cruel, but I deserved my own choice. If he wanted me, he should woo me.

Corvin sat forward, crossing his arms on the table. "I know the choice you would make in your naivete," his deep voice flowed over the table like warm honey, "And it would be the wrong one."

I looked down and gripped the sides of my chair. How dare you?! I wanted to scream.

Prince Anthony adjusted his body next to me. He had to be uncomfortable too.

Jase gently covered the hand closest to him under the table. I glanced over at Jase. His lips were pressed into a thin line and he glared at Corvin. Had he known? Is that what he meant by our lives were going to be different?

"Your Majesty," said Senator Yesenia, "This is insulting. The healer is fully capable of choosing her own spouse."

I looked at the elderly senator from Lisaire, with her yellow dress and deep tan, narrowing her golden eyes at the king, and gratitude emanated from my heart. I noticed the lack of support from the men, but Senators Vesta and Yesenia I now considered allies. I'd support them too if they ever needed me.

"Well, this welcome feast has turned into an insolent dinner of women against the King," said King Leonardin with a frown.

"Tsk, tsk," said Queen Amina, "Enough of this argument. We can discuss these things over assembly if it's that important to you, Senators."

The King frowned, but Senators Vesta and Edwina nodded politely to the queen. Vesta sipped her wine and watched me closely.

I leaned heavily back into my seat with a sigh. I faced Corvin and hot anger coursed through my veins. He had the gall to smile. I frowned.

“How old are you?” I asked.

Vesta gasped with surprise, then grinned.

The corners of Corvin’s lips twitched into a small smile. He sipped his wine. “Thirty-two,” he replied as he set his glass down.

He was twelve years older than me. My dinner churned in my stomach. His age didn’t matter that much, but I was already separated from my family and dragged down to the capital against my will. This advisor had just stolen the one choice I had left regarding my own happiness, after I had let Robert die before I surrendered my freedom to a man. How dare the one before me claim me now, as though everything I had done before didn’t matter?

Corvin crossed his arms across his broad chest. “I certainly hope I don’t appear older?”

I hadn’t answered. I didn’t have the energy to joke with him.

“You’re the picture of robust health, my friend,” said one of the Damai senators farther down the table.

Corvin tilted his head in thanks.

         I wiped my mouth with my napkin to hide my grimace, then placed it on the table. I stood from my chair and attempted to not tremble with suppressed rage.

         “Pardon me, gentlemen and your majesties. I am going to retire for the night.”

The King dismissed me with a benevolent wave of his hand. “Go rest, healer. I’m sure today has been exciting enough.”

         I choked on my rage, but kept my face still. I gulped the rest of my wine in an unladylike fashion, then turned to leave.

         “Miss Nirel!” shouted a noble, one of the senators from Northumbrich if I remembered correctly. I turned back. He’d had too much wine by the looks of his flushed face. He swayed slightly in his chair. “Let’s see a kiss from the newly matched couple.”

         I blanched. The queen frowned at the senator, but the king chuckled. Corvin sat unmoving in his chair and swirled his glass of wine.

         “Come on now, Corvin! Give her a good kiss!” said the senator.

         Jase stood and raised his voice, “Miss Nirel is from a modest culture and your behavior, Sir, is insulting to her.”

         Warmth spread throughout my heart. Here he was protecting me even now that we couldn’t be together.

         “Her culture, or your culture, Lieutenant?” asked Corvin.

         “In this instance, hers.”

         Corvin chuckled softly and stood. “Pity you couldn’t win her then. I heard you made quite the negotiation for her." His smile turned serious. "She’s mine now.”

I wasn't his! And negotiations? Had Jase tried to have the King give me to him instead? He looked at me, and the truth of Corvin's words were apparent. He'd tried to save me, even here, where his position was low compared to advisors and senators. We could have been happy. The memory of Jase’s lips on mine flashed to the front of my memory, then the realization that I might never feel his skin on mine ever again drained the last of my joy like blood onto the ground.

The disappointment tasted more bitter than willow extract. Corvin turned his attention to me and strode up to me. I clenched my fists. He noticed.

         “Do you want a kiss?” he whispered in my ear. Despite my anger at the situation, relief flooded me.

         “No,” I responded quietly.

         “Go on then. I’ll keep Bellamy at bay.”

“Thank you.” I fled the hall to the sound of drunken boos.