Weeks Ahead - Part 4
Samuel started off his day in a regular fashion, already having made Faleah promise to not make a big deal out of his birthday, he used up what remained of the morning to prepare for the day and joined Faleah for lunch.
"Happy Birthday dear!" She welcomed him with a smile and a hug, which he promptly accepted before they both took a seat with Samuel next to her on the long table. "Thank you, thank you!" He sighed as he sat down.
"You act as if it's not big deal to suddenly be a counted among grown men?" Faleah asked with a smirk to which Samuel sighed and picked up some bread. "Just, thinking of where I began." He replied and Faleah placed a hand on his arm.
"I understand!" She said while tapping his arm, "You look tired!" Samuel said as he noticed her dark eyes. "A lot of work?" He leaned back in the chair as he chewed on the bread.
"The work never ends when you are a lord!" She admitted and looked at her meal, "But don't fret, I intend to give you plenty of time to explore the world before leaving you with the household!" She chuckled quickly and Samuel raised a cup to that.
"I will hold you to it!" Samuel joked, because Faleah was well informed of what his future plan was, he had told him a lot of it. Finding the ones responsible and travelling to see the world at the same time.
"Just promise me you will be here to pick up the pieces eventually!" Faleah chuckled, before growing quiet and thinking of her own two boys that she had lost so long ago, here they sat, two formerly broken people that pushed forward with the help of eachother and others.
The two made casual conversation for the remainder of lunch and Faleah berated Samuel for not completing the paperwork she had given him, fast enough. But it was always in a joking manner.
The rest of the day went about as one can imagine, paperwork and otherwise easygoing and quiet. Until evening arrived and Samuel was summoned to the big hall in some nicer clothing. It was with a big sigh that Samuel got himself dressed up properly for an event, it was typical of Faleah to make something out of his birthday after all.
Samuel went out of the manor and into the big hall and he certainly wasn't expecting the door to be opened and there to be about fifty or so guests in there.
He saw exactly who the guests were even if he did not know all of them personally, House Gryphon, House Skyflie, House Hilgriff & House Sea Gryphon. "Big party huh?" Alsian's familliar voice came from behind him, he was dressed in some nicer clothing as he stood behind Samuel.
"Indeed." Samuel nodded and entered the small ballroom. Where he was greeted by a row of applause. "Today is a great day for house Gillfall, not only do we celebrate my sons 20th birthday, but we also celebrate our expansion and latest success, we celebrate the founding of a new sister house. May Our Wings Ever Spread!" Faleah raised her voice as she adressed all the guests.
Everyone raised their glasses in celebration and cheered. That evening was one of the more boring ones Samuel had ever attended, a lot of people were sucking up to him or trying to seem like they were the biggest and most worthy people around, flailing titles and more.
After he had done several hours of fraternizing he finally found a bit of peace on the outdoor steps with its balcony like structure, in the evening chill not many wanted to stand out there. But Samuel found the peace and quiet refreshing along with the fresh air.
His newfound peace didn't last long as the door to the outside opened and four people stepped out, he turned around prepared for more mixing but found a few younger faces. The three successors of the sister houses and a new face he had not seen before.
Hans Gryphon, Brya Skyflie, Cassie Hillgriff, Samuel said their names one by one. "Come to join me in the refreshing cool night? Along with?" He questioned and turned to the last lady, she was probably a few years younger than Samuel.
Half elf, of the sea... "This must be the beautiful jewel of House Sea Gryphon?" He questioned and the lady nodded. "I am Andria Sea Gryphon, I am cousin to Lord Hans... the new house..." Hans put a hand on Andria's shoulder. "He knows cousin, he knows already!" The man who was only slightly older than Samuel stood tall and proud.
"I hope you do not mind us joining you out here?" Brya stepped forward and leaned towards the railing and yawned, "It gets so awfully cramped up in there, I wish I could just take Skybeak out on a ride and soar through the air." Skybeak was an obvious reference to her Gryphon.
"At least there is something we can agree on!" Cassie was the next to admit and took a position on the side, Hans was the only one to sigh and he turned to Andria, "See Andria this is not how we treat our future house lord." He said and pointed at the two ladies.
Samuel laughed upon hearing those silly words. "Perhaps not in public, but I am a pretty calm guy about these sort of things in private, I have an image to uphold but to be frank I am not too bothered by idiots!" His words made all three girls chuckle while Hans sighed.
"Yes yes." He walked forward and waved his hand dismissively. "Well it is good to see you once more, I have heard some nice tales of how you have solved manpower issues while doing something good at the same time! I am quite impressed and I hope to one day lead my house in accordance with honor alongside the main house!"
Samuel nodded to his words, "Well as long as you bring it forward instead of backwards right!" Samuel's words made Hans finally smile and relax a little bit. "I do admit, it is very crowded in there with all those old birds."
"Doesn't mean you should underestimate those old birds." A sudden voice spooked all of them except for Samuel who had gotten used to Alsian skulking about. "I came to excuse myself for the night little cousin." Alsian said and walked forward handing a letter to Samuel.
"Thank you!" Samuel looked at the letter with confusion, there was no seal or anything to go by. "See you when I see ya!" Alsian held up a hand as he walked away, "Take care of yourself!"
Samuel spent the rest of the evening with the other young lord and ladies, chatting away the rest of the evening with people who had closer interests, but they also spoke of the future because they were all dedicated people who were going to inherit big sister houses.
As the night drew to a close all the guests took their leave, Samuel had no interest in all the gifts they brought but he was sure that Faleah would find some use for them. He walked back to the main house and found Bellana and Alice standing among the other maids at the sides when Faleah walked in.
Alice was barely able to stay awake but she tried her best, Faleah couldn't help but smirk at the sight thinking how cute the child was. While Samuel brought out a big teddy bear the same size as Alice from his shadow pocket.
"Here you go!" He said with a smile and patted her head. Her eyes grew wide and she was fully awake as she saw Samuel's back ascending the staircase. Samuel only had to stop around the corner at the top of the stairs, his hearing allowed him to hear all the maids squealing at how chivalrous he was.
The kind Lord Samuel, but he cared not for all the gossip and nice words of the staff, kindness to Samuel was as natural as life itself. He was hoping to leave the world a little kinder if he could, he heard Alice suddenly exclaiming and showing her mother the big teddy and he heard the proud mother congratulating her daughter.
Unbeknownst to Samuel, after only a few days he had lit a fierce spark inside the young child. A vow and promise that had been made.
He went about the rest of the evening and walked out on the balcony connected to his room, he looked at the starlit sky, but now that less clouds were present he also saw them, the three moons. White, Red & Blue, fully visible and clear. The event that only happened four times a year, the moons sang their song together.
To think that his birthday was on one of those singular four days. A tale of moons, a tale of three moons. That would be a good name for a book about his life, he smiled at the journey and renewed his vows to avenge the fallen and continue walking forward.
Mother, Father, Teric, Sarmah, Erica.... "I walk forward not only for my sake, but for those that I have lost, and also for those that are still alive...." He sighed, "Ulma where are you?" He questioned toward the moons as a tear dropped.