Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Five - Terebinthia

    The castle gates opened to reveal a long hallway with a bright teal rug running up the length to a set of thrones. The walls were lined with colorful tapestries depicting sea creatures, and underwater scenes. The sconces were gold and decorated with corals of pinks, whites and blues. The whole aesthetic made you think of the stories of the mer kingdom. There was a strong smell of something familiar emanating from a series of burners lined along the walkway, but you couldn't put your finger on it.
    King Odel and Queen Eneln stood when they saw you all approaching. He was tall and thin, with dark olive skin, and thick black hair landing on his shoulders. His beard was neatly trimmed and came down to a sharp point. The Queen was the definition of beauty. Also thin, with tan skin, but her hair was silvery blue, and her dark black eyes stood out against the contrast of color.
"Welcome King Caspian X! And his loyal subjects!" Odel greeted enthusiastically.
Caspian bowed at the foot of the throne platform. "Thank you, your Majesties. We are so pleased to be able to visit your wonderful kingdom at last."
Your father got down on one knee and bowed his head down, and you and Raxe followed suit. You watched Caspian out of the corner of your eye.
"Yes, I heard you attempted a visit in the midst of our epidemic last year." Odel made his way down the steps toward Caspian. "We are very sorry we had to turn you away."
"No, thank you for sparing myself and my crew. I am glad to see things have recovered." Caspian clasped arms with Odel.
"For the most part." Eneln followed her husband down the steps. Her voice was melodic, and entrancing. "There are still a few villages on the outskirts of the island that are recovering, but thank Aslan we found a cure."
"May I introduce my subjects," Caspian turned to you three. "The Captain of my ship, and my National Liaison, her first mate, and my royal shipsmith."
"Rise my friends, welcome to all of you." Odel beamed.
Your father stood, and you all copied.
"How unusual to see a female Captain." Eneln approached you. "I would be fascinated to hear how that came to pass."
"I would be honored to tell you the tale some time, Your Highness." You responded shyly.
"You must all be exhausted and starving." She smiled. "Please, we have had rooms prepared for you, and are having a feast in your honor tonight."
"I cannot wait for you to meet our daughter King Caspian, she is occupied at the moment but she will be attending the feast." Odel added.
Caspian nodded. "It would be my privilege."
Odel clapped and several servants came running out, "Show his Majesty and his subjects to their quarters. Ensure they have everything they need."
"I cannot wait to see you at the feast tonight, My Lady." Sir Mar spoke softly to you and smiled as you were being led away.

The guest rooms were all in the same wing of the castle, you and Caspian next to each other, then Raxe and your father across the hall. You couldn't believe your eyes when the servant opened the double doors.
It was like stepping into a work of art. The white walls stretched as tall as the mast on the Shade, and the windows ran almost the full height. Massive blue curtains framed each one, held open by gold woven ropes. The floor was a magnificent deep blue tile that looked like moving water when the sunlight hit it at the right angle. There was a seating area in front of a coral colored marble fireplace, with two velvet lined armchairs, a dining table with four seats, a desk and bookshelf, and the bed. Oh... the bed.
Sunbleached wood with seashells inlaid throughout the frame, the sheets were coral satin, with a thick white comforter and pillows on top. It looked so soft, you thought if you jumped in you would sink all the way through. A matching vanity and mirror, and wardrobe stood on the side of the bed, along with a sheer privacy curtain, which behind lay a bathing area.

You barely began to gain your bearings when you heard a knock at the door.
"Come in." You responded.
A young woman opened the door, she was dressed a bit nicer than the other servants.
"Afternoon, My Lady, my name is Nat and I've been assigned as your personal attendant for your stay. Is your room to your liking? "
"Oh Aslan, yes." You exclaimed. " But I don't need an attendant, I'm ok. " You smiled, uncomfortable at the thought of someone being "assigned" to you.
"Oh it's my pleasure, My Lady. No trouble at all. I've been asked to help you get ready for the feast tonight. "
"Oh... ok... but please don't call me 'My Lady' ... "
"Would you prefer a different title? Captain perhaps?"
"No, no. Honestly I feel uncomfortable with you calling me anything like that..."
"I'm required to use a title when I speak to you, I will get in awful trouble otherwise..." she looked nervous.
"Ok. Uhm... what's the least official thing you're allowed to call me?"
"Miss?" She asked hesitantly.
"Alright, I guess that's fine..."
"Oh thank you Miss. Do you know what you were planning to wear this evening?"
"I only have one dress, and I left out on the ship. But I can go back and get it ..."
"Not to worry, Miss! We have a selection of clothing just for such an occasion. I will order a bath drawn for you and go pick some out for you personally!"
"Oh I can draw..." too late, she was already gone. So this is what it's like to be a noble. How awkward. You were suddenly curious as to how Caspian interacted with his servants. It was hard to imagine him bossing others around, being waited on, not having to lift a finger for himself. It seemed so unlike him, but then again, you haven't seen much of "King" Caspian in full form.
You let in a small group of women who drew your bath, and then bathed you. Thoroughly. You tried to get them to leave, insisting you were capable of cleaning yourself but either they didn't speak the common tongue or they were ignoring you. Completely unphased by your naked body, they scrubbed you from head to toe, washed your hair, and dried you. Then left without so much as a word to you. You sat on the vanity stool where they left you, in a silk robe they had brought, unsure of what was expected of you now.
As if an answer to your thoughts Nan knocked on the door and you hurried to let her in. She was followed by a line of men each holding a different dress. They stood side by side, lined up across the room at Nan's command.
"I picked out ones that I thought would best compliment your skin tones, do you see any you like, Miss?"
You looked down the line at a series of stunning dresses. Most of them were probably worth more than your entire inn, though they didn't really feel like "you." Some were too frilly, others had way too much going on, but you stopped at a dark purple silk gown with a low v-cut front, and thin black lace around the waist.
"That one is really nice." You motioned.
"Oh good choice Miss! Yes, that one will compliment you very nicely." Nan dismissed the other men, and hung your dress up on the wardrobe. "Shall I help you with your makeup?"
"Makeup?" You had only worn makeup when the other wives of Vorsud put it on you.
"Yes, I think a subtle touch would suffice. You have such beautiful skin."
You blushed. "Oh...thank you. I never really thought about my skin before..."
She walked you over to the vanity and sat you down.
"You could almost pass for Terebinthian, your skin is so tanned." She smiled.
"I have spent a lot of time in the sun these last couple of months." You laughed. "I'm normally more fair skinned..."
"I have lost some of my color myself, having to wear long sleeves during the epidemic."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
    "No one really knows where it started, but suddenly people began developing a rash on their bodies that spread rapidly. It seemed to be contagious from person to person. It was aggressive, and would spread to the inside of the throat, many people died from suffocation. Our doctors couldn't find a cure, until a woman came from a far off land. She determined the cause, and developed a preventative and a cure. Though unfortunately not everyone could be saved, those who were too far infected, there was no way to treat the inside of their bodies... The rest of us were lucky to come away with only scars." She lifted her sleeve to show you what looked like a series of red dots on her forearm.
Your mom, it had to be. "Do you know where this woman came from exactly?"
"Sorry Miss, I'm not very good with geography. But the King would know, you can ask him tonight."
"So it's gone now? No one else is getting sick?"
Nan shook her head. "From what I understand it had something to do with the weather. Now that we are getting into our dry season there have been no new cases."
"Do you have to keep wearing long sleeves?"
"No... I suppose not... I just find the scars very unbecoming..."
"I don't think so." You smiled at her in the mirror, and lifted your chin, showing off yours. "Someone once told me scars are trophies of the battles we won."
"Oh my!" She covered her mouth. "That is quite a trophy!"
You laughed. "Yea, I suppose it is. But yours is too. That was your battle, and you won."
"I never thought of it that way..." She gave a small smile. "Thank you, Miss."