(Hey, Literotica. Been a while! I've been struggling with a variety of different issues that have kept me from continuing anything on here. But I'm back and the second chapter of this story is finally complete.)
As slumber came that night, Parsee began to have the strangest dream: He was walking along a dark path, surrounded by a dense fog that nearly blocked any possible images from the near-distance. A land that felt familiar to him, yet one that Parsee couldn't quite place the tip of his finger over. But nevertheless, it was a land that sent a shiver up his spine and had the knight readily clinching his gold-hilted long sword as he moved amongst the treacherous white haze.
Parsee moved through the fog slowly and kept a cautious eye darting back and forth at every surrounding direction, the almost demonic sound of deep croaks that he surmised was from large frogs, only further adding to his wariness. This place that he was at, was the most unsettling land he had ever been so unfortunate to wind up in.
He continued through the dark land, seeing glimpses of dying and decaying trees, the fog getting ever denser, the demonic croaks growing more voluminous. And he was almost certain that he heard the shuffling of feet somewhere closeby.
Eventually, he wandered right into the thickest parts of the fog and then emerged from within it, and he nearly fell forward as he saw that what lied behind the fog was a far-dropping bottom.
Then he woke up.
****
It was near the midday when they were awakened by the voice of Queen Merry, who, along with two of the maidservants, had brought fancy clothes for the special occasion that was drawing near.
"It is my hope that you all slept peacefully," she said to them all. "For tonight, a great deal of fun awaits every each and one of you. As such, I have brought you your formal clothing, by which you are to dress in. So I implore that you all wake up and greet the sun and dress yourselves."
Parsee rolled out of bed when he went to turn onto his side; he had been meaning to shun the words of Queen Merry and just resume a few more moments of sleep, but the moment that he hit the carpet-covered stone-floor, he was as wide awake as he ever would be and pressed himself up using his arms and then dusted off his clothes before turning to face Queen Merry and her two maidservants with a look of clear embarrassment on his face.
"Good uhh, evening, Your Majesty!" Parsee brushed a hand against his hair.
"Good evening to you, Parsee."
"Sorry about that, Your Majesty; I suppose I was a lot more bushed than I had estimated. But, awake now, and I see that the others are also slowly beginning to waken as well."
Queen Merry sauntered towards his bed. At the edge of the bed, she stopped and leaned forward slightly, granting an eyeful of her plentiful cleavage, placing his fancy wardrobe for the night down before lifting herself back up again and then walking towards Chandler's bed and repeating the same.
Her two maidservants served the other knights their formal clothing and once both Queen Merry and her maidservants had passed around all the clothing, they approached the hallway and stood before the door.
"Everyone is ordered to attend the dining room in one hour," Queen Merry announced as her eyes went over them. "The Duke of Tarswaq will be attending as well, he is bringing his son, Marquess Mikhale. And Lady Odette of Ewantia has also been sent an invitation. We are also expecting to be graced with the company of Prince, soon to be King, Aldred of Reselenes. Many others are expected to arrive, and as such, we are preparing quite the banquet to feed all who come."
"Wait, Your Majesty," Parsee tried to free his stuck head from the confines of the frilled powder-blue button dress shirt. "You've undergone quite the task, but that's simply too much to do. While I have little doubt you will have your maidservants and the cooks helping with the feast arrangements, I wish to offer you my assistance."
She waved a hand at him. "That won't be necessary, Parsee, but I thank you."
"I guess we'll just wait here, then," he brought his arms out through the sleeves.
"Just find a means to entertain yourselves, Queen Merry suggested. "The time will fly swiftly."
"Of course."
Parsee pulled the pair of dark purple breeches and reached his hands down to the straps of the maroon-colored leather boots and adjusted them in the brass buckles before lifting himself back up. He stretched, the exhaustion still having yet to release him from its grasp since his slumber was cut short by Queen Merry's gathering of them.
Once Queen Merry had left the room, the knights began to dress for the impending occasion.
This was one of the few times that they dressed in anything but their battle uniforms or the semi-plain clothes that they donned for leisurely wear in the castle. And each of them was dressed in a defined appearance, as opposed to all looking similar in style of wardrobe, as they were on the battlefield.
They waited for the big party that King Harminus was to throw. When the time had finally arrived, Parsee, Chandler, Ricord and the others made their way to the dining room where they could already hear a great commotion taking place, and an even greater commotion coming from the doors of the castle: It seemed many of the guests had arrived and many others were about to come inside to join them for the celebration.
It was odd being around so many people at once. He could recall a time when he felt timid being around so many people at a time, wanting to just leave the presence of them all and go to a much quieter and much less lively place to collect his thoughts. But now, being around such large numbers of people was almost like second nature since he was constantly surrounded by the knights who he had come to consider both friends and family.
"With any luck, chap," Chandler walked over towards him and stood still at his side, with the only movement being from his wandering eyes, "perhaps tonight will be an exciting night for all of us. My heart pounds in eagerness to see all the breath-taking young lasses who will be showing up.."
Parsee narrowed his brows and furled his lip before abruptly smacking the other on the shoulder.
"Best hold your horses there, my virile friend; this isn't about catching a good night you know. The King and Queen are holding this occasion in our honor, and as such, I think we should respect that instead of trying to focus on such trivial things."
"Trivial?" Chandler shifted his weight to glance at him. "What do you consider something meaningful, then? We train our arses off and serve the King and Queen, and we ask for very little in return. What's wrong with us having a bit of fun on the sides?"
"All I'm saying," he drew his hand away from the other knight's back, "is let's just focus on the current event a hand. If you find yourself in that position? Do what you feel is right. But don't make it your entire focus of this night."
"Damn it, Parsee!" Chandler growled, but then just ended up breaking out into a fit of laughter, "I swear over the grave of the Holy Mother, you are too dedicated for your own good, chap. Always thinking of your King and Queen, rarely thinking of yourself, of your needs or wants or desires of a human being. I suppose that makes you the better man, doesn't it?"
"I don't feel like I'm the better man at all," Parsee rebuked. "But it's true that all I want is to make my King and Queen proud and content. I value my own desires or dreams little. They are my focus."
"Bloody cross, my friend!" Chandler laughed still but was silencing his laughter. "Few here can ever hope to amount to the man that you are. Even I myself, feel as though I am a man of black nature, standing to the next holy knight."
"Now, enough of this conversation," chided Parsee, casting his eyes towards the opening twin doors. "I see that the Duke has arrived. And look, there's Marquess Mikhale and is that the young maiden who brings us food every now and then? Looks like Alina has been invited as well."
"And there is Lady Odette," Chandler acknowledged. "She is just as much of a siren as ever! The very face that haunts my dreams at night, but alas, my romantic heart will forever remain in aching."
"Are you absolutely certain it's romance that your heart feels?" Jested Parsee who turned to give him a look.
"All right, smart guy," Chandler struck him in the shoulder with a slightly strong blow of his fist, but still weak enough to make it obvious he was playing around. "I'll deal with you later. But be warned, my good friend, it will be you who will be on the ground without a sword, this time."
Parsee quietly groaned to himself and rubbed the struck area of his shoulder, but dropped down into a polite bow when the Duke and Marquess Mikhale started to walk towards their direction. Chandler, also bowing.
"My friends, the knights of King Harminus," the Duke stopped before them briefly. "It is most incredible and glorious that you saved the King and Queen and defeated those nasty Falisians! Such haste you made your way back here from my kingdom, and then you made such short work of those fiends. Truly, you are all finely trained warriors."
"I am only grateful that His Majesty and Her Majesty, were both unharmed during the attack," Parsee, still in bowing position, remarked with his head down.
"Indeed, indeed!" The Duke placed a hand on Marquess Mikhale's shoulder. "Such a sneaky tactic they pulled back there. But, by His good grace, the King and Queen still stand to rule another night, and another day. But remember my young friends: Do not let complacent ensnare you. That...Was my mistake."
"We have always thwarted any attempts on the lives of the King and Queen's lives," boasted Chandler. "But, pardon my words, Your Grace, let us not indulge on such bleak topics. King Harminus and Queen Merry had thrown us all a wonderful party, one that we should enjoy."
"Wise words that you speak, Sir Chandler. Yes, quite, I think I shall bear them in mind. Now, say hello to the brave knights, my son, and let us go meet up with His Majesty."
It was only when Marquess Mikhale was addressed by the Duke that Marquess Mikhale spoke. The child greeting them with a very small and hardly noticeable nod, followed by the meekest of speaking voices.
"Nice to see you all again," said the Marquess. But then he quickly shuffled along with the Duke.
"That boy is such a shy one," Chandler, leaning over onto Parsee's shoulder, whispered into his ear.
