Chapter 11: The Royal Family

"I believe you had a splendid journey on your way here" Pomona walked one step at a time. Her head was held high and a warm smile on her face.

Sage held oona's hand firmly while walking a step behind his mother. Oona could see he looked tensed or so she thought.

"Sage dear" the queen hummed "you really did surprise me, an invitation to your wedding in an hour, how kind of you" Oona turned to Sage, though he looked unfazed by his mother's words. Oona could clearly see beads of sweat forming on his head.

"Good morning mother" a voice echoed behind them and they all turned to him.

It was Manasseh who approached them, he wore a white and black russet adorned with silver threads and badges. Behind him was a young lady dressed in a blue gown matching her golden brown hair, her head was held low, she seemed sad.

"If it isn't the rebellious one" the queen sighed heavily. Manasseh laughed out happily, walking to her he held up her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"I'd ensure to live up to that name" he stood straight with a jaunty smile. "Callie" he turned to the lady behind him, she looked up straight and smiled warmly, she bowed to the queen.

"Callie my dear, come here" the queen stretched her hands to her and Callie hugged the queen lovingly. "Is he troubling you as usual?"

"Yes Mother" Callie's voice was calm and soothing to the ears. Oona couldn't hold back her gawking eyes, she was intrigued by the tone of Callie's voice.

Manasseh didn't pay attention to them, almost as if he ignored them.

Sage stood aside with Oona, he did seem annoyed with the fact Manasseh had just interrupted his conversation with his mother.

"Mother" Oona turned to the familiar voice, her face glimmered with a bright smile.

"Looks like my cute boy has arrived" Leander walked in holding a young lady's hand. He wore a green russet and she wore a magenta gown that had off shoulder sleeves. Her brown hair glittered under the sun's ray.

Leander hugged the queen tightly and kissed her cheeks. "I'm glad you're back safely". He then turned to Sage and Oona and bowed to Oona. "Good morning princess"

Oona's cheeks flushed, she looked at Sage nervously but he didn't seem to react to Leander's words. Oona bowed to him deeply.

"Good morning Sir Leander" she whispered shyly. Hearing Callie's voice somehow punctured her esteem.

Pomona's eyes were glued to the girl who bowed to her son. Her eyes narrowed a little and a slight smile creeped on her face.

"Why don't we head to the dinning" She clapped her hands gently.

"I am famished" Manasseh chuckled, he turned to Callie who stared at him with sad eyes. "Let's go, I'll have them prepare your favorite" The two tailed the queen while Leander grabbed Sage's arm and pulled him away from Oona.

"Come on, I have a lot to tell you"

Oona turned to the woman who had come in with Leander. She bowed politely to her. The woman turned to her and scrutinized her with her vibrant hazel eyes from head to toe. She looked very displeased for reasons unknown to Oona. The woman walked away without accepting oona's greeting.

'What did I do' Oona thought to herself. She tailed behind them nervously. She didn't know what to expect next, the little time she spent with the queen, Oona could tell she wasn't pleased with the way Sage got married.

While following the crowd she looked at the designs of the inner castle. Everything was either gold or silver, expensive looking artifacts with odd shapes and fragile gaze. She was marvelled by the interior design of the castle but sadly there were no paintings on the ceiling. There were only portraits of people hung on the wall.

Oona often gasped at some pictures or sometimes gaped at the size of the portraits. She stopped at a huge drawing that was huge as a door at the manor.

It was the portrait of a woman who wore a white robe which had vines growing on it, in her right hand was a sword raised to the sky while her left hand held an open scroll. She wore a golden crown that really brought out her grey hair and resting on her shoulder was a dove. Above her was a man sitted on a throne covered with clouds, his waist down to his feet can be seen but his upper body was covered in a glowing light.

Oona felt like a real deity was in front of her. The painting was so realistic it made Oona feel intimidated by the gaze of the woman and anxious about the being behind her(the woman).

"You might get lost if you keep sight seeing" she jolted when she heard a voice behind her.

"Apologies"

A young man stood in front of her, he seemed to be her age mate. He wore a purple russet and a golden scarf across his shoulders."Good morning Milord" Oona quickly bowed. He smiled warmly and walked up to her.

"So you're my brother's wife" he hummed, up close Oona felt beyond ugly. The man in front of her had long golden hair and full golden lashes that hovered above his pale brown eyes. "I'm Erik" he pulled up her stiff hand and was about to place a kiss on her knuckles.

Sage's hand appeared from no where and covered Erik's lip "let go of her hand "

Erik stared at Sage for a while, his bright brown eyes turned dull and deadly. "Hmm, I was just about to acquaint myself with my sister in-law " he mumbled in Sage's hand.

Oona's hand was still in midair, she wondered how Sage appeared right in front of her and behind Erik. She could feel an intense atmosphere that reached the roof. "Fine I'll let go" he dropped her hand and raised his hands to signal surrender.

Sage left Erik's mouth and walked to Oona, pulling her away from the scene. Erik tilted his head and watched Sage leave with Oona, a mischievous smile creeped on his face.

As they both walked side by side, Oona would often glance at Sage. "I'm sorry for wandering off" she whispered under her breath, but Sage didn't reply he just held her hand and walked calmly.

They soon arrived at the dinning hall, Oona's stomach churned at the size of the dinning room. It was as big as her father's throne room. Everyone were seated except for them who had just arrived. Sage led Oona to a seat far away from his mother's.

The queen sat at the end of the table while her sons and wives sat beside her. She looked round and shook her head. "Good morning mother" Erik stepped in majestically and sat on a sit opposite them.

There was a while of silence, the queen turned to the door with agitated eyes.

"We're waiting for him aren't we?" Manasseh sighed loudly and relaxed on his chair.

"He's going to be a father soon so I didn't expect less" Leander chuckled.

"He's already a father" Erik added

"I wish your father pampered me like he does with his wife" the queen joked while everyone laughed, well not everyone. Oona didn't know who they were referring to, Sage on the other hand looked bored and uninterested.

The door finally opened wide, a tall hefty man walked in slowly while assisting a woman walk down the staircase.

He wore a white and golden regalia russet and the woman beside him wore a golden dress just like the queen.

His golden hair fell over his shoulders, while she had her platinum hair packed in a bun. Oona couldn't believe the colour of the woman's hair. She felt like an angel had just arrived.

"Nielsen, you finally join the party" Manasseh hummed.

Nielsen who had just walked in ignored Manasseh and assisted the lady to sit beside him.

"You're late" the queen glared at him.

"We're very sorry mother" the woman bowed her head slightly. If Callie's voice was calm and soothing, then this woman's voice was that of a deity.

"Oh don't apologize Astrid, I know who wasted time" everyone laughed at the Queen's words. "How is my grandson doing?"

Astrid looked at her swollen belly. A sad smile creeped on her face but Niel held her hand gently and squeezed it. "Fine mother"

Niel replied, after a while he looked round the table. His gentle gaze on his wife and mother turned intense and sharp. He glanced through the table and then he stopped at Oona who sat beside Sage.

Oona's eyes glimmered in awe, Niel was indeed handsome but what intrigued her were his priceless golden eyes. They looked to good to be true.

"Sage" Niel looked away from her and clapped his hands. The servants began to serve their meals. "Is this what you picked over Vilma?"

Oona felt her heart twitch but then again judging from all the women in the dinning hall, she couldn't hold a candle to their beauty.

"Yes, you like?" Sage replied in a tone that left veins popping on Niel's head.

"No, I hate stale and blank" Niel served Astrid meal carefully picking out the parts he didn't want her to eat.

Sage stared at his plate of porridge and handed it to Oona, he also placed a plate pf meat and vegetable stew in front of her. Oona watched him pile her meal non stop.

"Not everyone wants to marry grey haired ladies" Manasseh gulped down his wine and bottled in his laughter, Leander covered his face with his hand. Astrid smiled warmly, she seemed used to the whole situation.

The Queen shook her head tiredly and just enjoyed her meal. Niel and Sage glared at each other intensely. Oona held her breath, she didn't want a fight to break out. She looked round the table warily, none seemed anxious like she did.

"Fine" Niel looked away from him and turned to his wife. "She is beautiful but don't pump her with so much food, she might end up fat"

Oona's cheeks burned in embarrassment. She looked at her meal and wondered how she was going to finish all of it. Picking up her spoon she took a portion of it and was about to eat.

"I can't help it, I prefer her big"

Oona turned to Sage, her face turned red like a tomato. Everyone else on the table laughed at his words.

"You never run out of comebacks do you" Manasseh shook his head. The queen turned to Oona with a smile, she studied the girl's expression.

"Tell me dear, where are you from" her once nervous self returned. Everyone now has their eyes on Oona, she turned to the queen slowly and smiled.

"Gareth" Leander covered his face and gulped down his wine at one go.

Niel turned to Sage with a deadly glare. Oona felt weak all of a sudden. Manasseh snapped at the girl with sharp eyes. The queen on the other hand was calm and collected, she didn't look bothered as Oona thought she would be.

"Gareth?" She questioned, Oona nodded slowly "so how did you meet sage"

Oona turned to Sage and then to the queen "he spared my life" she didn't know if talking about the beast was necessary but the truth remains Sage spared her life.

"Really?" The queen hummed "Leander called you princess"

Niel turned to his mother in disbelief, Manasseh as well.

"Yes, I am" She replied truthfully. Sage ate his meal quietly not minding the gaze of his family on him.

"Sage, did you remain single all this time because you wanted to marry a princess" the queen turned to Sage with a glare.

Sage dropped his spoon and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. Turning to his mother he smiled brightly "Yes mother, I wanted to marry a princess"

"That means she must have a gift" Erik added making Oona's body stiffen.