Chapter 3: The Meeting

(A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I've been very busy and still. This chapter is dedicated to my first follower, mangaliman! Cheers ;) Enjoy reading guys, hope you vote and comment please)

(Photo to the right is a cover created by "FrenchAndIrish". It didn't make it to the top 3 but as promised, I posted your creation. Thanks again :)

=====================

Chapter 3

Valen froze as Lord Thomas announced an invitation for a tea. Townspeople started to look around to look for her and she decided to hide behind the stall when someone grabbed her arms. The grip of the man in a knight suit was so tight that she was unable to escape.

"Please do not try to escape. The Lord Thomas has already announced an invitation for you; please do not humiliate him by escaping and not honoring his simple request", said the knight.

She is unable to see what the knight looks like as he is wearing a full face knight's helmet, he wears armor for knights with higher rank. Valen decides to obey and no longer tries to escape and the knight releases her elbow. She fixes her hood properly over her head as the knight escorts her towards Lord Thomas.

"Lord Thomas, I have escorted Lady Valen"

"Thank you dear knight. Lady Valen, it's been an honor meeting you." Lord Thomas greeted as he placed a kiss on her knuckles.

"No Lord Thomas, the honor is mine." Lady Valen curtsied. "I am afraid I have to decline your offer for a tea Your Highness, as I need to attend to the people here in Algom but I thank you for your offer, it is too kind of you." Valen apologized in a whisper.

"I am afraid as well that I am not going to accept your declination. My wife has also been very eager to meet you Lady Valen. I brought along few medical persons with me who can substitute for you." said Lord Thomas to Valen. "My fellow people, I would like to request for you to allow Lady Valen for a tea with me and my family in the mansion. A few of my medical persons will stay here to attend to your medical needs." Lord Thomas addressed to the townsfolk. "Sir Anton, you heard what I have mentioned to the people, so I request for you and the others to tend to the people in Valen's behalf." Lord Thomas said to the lead doctor.

"That will be no problem Milord, we will stay here and tend to the people. Please enjoy your tea with Lady Valen." Said Sir Anton.

"Thank you Sir Anton, and thank you Algomians, until my next visit. Have a wonderful day to all of you."

The knights escorted Lord Thomas and Lady Valen to the carriage. Lord Thomas sat opposite Valen. Valen has been silent and just looking outside the carriage's window, good thing the effect of the oil will last for a few more hours. Lord Thomas has broken the silence, "Lady Valen, I apologize for asking you this, but can you lower down your hood as I would like to see how you look like."

"I apologize for being disrespectful Your Highness, I just always wear this hood especially when I am outside, in town and when I am healing someone, but I will lower it down." Valen said as she lowers her hood.

Soft honey blond ringlets were uncovered and Lord Thomas mouth hang opened. He was a bit disappointed as she was not the black, straight-haired healer he thought she might be but was astounded of the beauty in front of him. She has an angelic face yet you know that she is somehow strong and tough; and her emerald eyes, definitely he has already seen someone with those same eye color before, yet hers is so enchanting and mesmerizing that it is hard to even look away but soon you'll be looking away for being ashamed and for realizing that you have been staring for too long.

"I know I once have seen that same eye color before, but I cannot remember who, where or when, yet yours is...captivating. I also apologize for staring at it for too long. Honestly, as well, somehow I am a bit disappointed and saddened because I thought the healer the townspeople highly spoke of is a black-haired healer, but I was wrong."

"I apologize milord for not meeting your expectation but may I ask why you have thought that I could be a black-haired healer."

"Do not apologize Lady Valen, it is I who should ask for forgiveness for making an assumption. I really hoped that you were a black-haired healer, knowing that someone survived will truly make me happy. Perhaps, it is also because I still feel guilty for not being able to help them or even find out who kill them."

Valen was not able to say anything; the conversation somehow brings back the sad memories. She does not want to be emotional especially right now. The carriage just passed a tall black iron gates of the mansion then stopped after a few minutes, reaching their destination. Lord Thomas descended from the carriage first and offered his hand to support her. The great mansion is huge and she could not help but hold her breath as she took in its magnificence. Looking behind she saw an enormous and elegant-looking front garden landscape - A cobblestone pathway and there in the middle is a white fountain with an angel or a fairy on top of it, the place is surrounded with beautiful trees, plants and flowers. In front of her is a mahogany door with intricate carving leading inside the black stoned mansion. Lord Thomas ushered her inside as servants lined up to greet them. Her eyes roam around the mansion; two flights of magnificent spiral staircases going up to the second floor with stylish furniture in between them, elegant chandeliers are lit up hanging on the high ceiling, fancy paintings on the walls, marble statues stood tall near the door, the place was so breathtaking she was lost in space when Lord Thomas interrupted her thoughts.

"My son can give you a tour around the mansion, I think you would like to look around, but for now let's have a tea. My wife will be very pleased to meet you. Sandra, will you please call Melinda and inform her to find us in our favorite 'tea spot' and Abby, please prepare us teas and some cakes, whatever we have." Lord Thomas winked as he instructed the nearest servants.

The tea spot Lord Thomas was referring to was just outside the mansion house, surrounded by flowers, a white, small, round table and four white chairs were placed under a big tree. She was offered to sit and soon realized that the place was so relaxing, perhaps that is the reason why this is their favorite tea spot. They were about to take their seats when a lady is literally running towards them wearing a brown bodice and petticoat worn with an open-necked chemise with lace collar. Her medium blond ringlets is braided and in a high bun. She reaches them, gasps for breath and looks at Valen in amusement. The lady has amber eyes.

"Is she the one, darling?" The lady asks Lord Thomas but her eyes still fixed to Valen. Valen realizing who the lady is curtsied and greeted her.

"I apologize milady; I did not realize right away it is you, Your Highness."

"No, no, that's okay. I presume you are Valen."

"Yes, I am Valen, milady; and I thank you as well for welcoming me here in your mansion, it is my pleasure."

"Oh my dear sweet, you do not have to be so formal. You can call me Melinda. You have such pretty eyes and you are so lovely. Let us take our seats, the tea will be serve in a short while, I told them to serve the chocolate cherry cake and a carrot cake, I hope you will like them, I baked them." Lord Thomas took a sit after he helped the two ladies to their seats. The tea and cakes were served and they talked and discussed about different things. The couple even asked Valen where she lives but she just told them it is somewhere in Algom and told them that she learned about plants and herbs through her parents. Valen has witnessed how sweet Lady Melinda and Lord Thomas to each other, you can see in their eyes their love for each other. She also learned that Lady Melinda knows how to ride a horse and that the couple rides a horse together every weekend and their son sometimes joins them. They think their son loves sword fighting, swimming and horses; they have not seen their son take interest to any girl, they do not know why. Lord Thomas loves fishing and loves his horses, while Lady Melinda loves baking and loves her flowers; and speaking of baking, the cakes are so delicious especially the chocolate cherry cake. Valen realized that she feels at ease with them, they both have such lovely personality.

"Where's Edward by the way?" Lady Melinda asks his husband.

"I believe he's with his horse somewhere or perhaps he is swimming in that lake again." Lord Thomas answered.

"But I think he should be here by now, don't you think? Darling, can you take a look or ask a servant if he has returned?" Lady Melinda asked her husband.

"Sure, no problem dear. I'll be back ladies, if you will excuse me." Lord Thomas stands up and makes his leave.

"Excuse me, Lady Melinda," says Valen, "May I know where the lavatory is? I just need to wash my hands."

"Oh, sure my dear, I'll ask a servant to show you the way."

"There is no need milady; I do not wish to bother any servants as there are other things that they are attending to."

"I see. You sure is sweet dear. Very well, the closest one is not so far, just go inside that door, go straight, turn right on the second corner and it will be the third door."

"Thank you milady. I'll be back in a minute."

"Sure dear. I will just wait for you and I hope the two gentlemen will be here as well. I would love you to meet my son."

"It will be an honor; if you will excuse me milady." Then Valen walks straight to the door Lady Melinda had pointed. She puts the hood of the cloak over her head as she walks through the hallway turns right to the second corner, and then enters the third door. After using the lavatory, she puts the hood back over her head, walks outside the lavatory to go back to the tea spot. She was about to turn left when she bumped on a hard surface and noticed that it was a man's chest.

"I apologize", they both exclaimed. The man suddenly realized the lady's appearance, wearing a black cloak.

"Who are you, and why are you wearing a cloak?" The man asks her.

The man is tall, definitely, as her bowed head hit his chest when they bumped to each other; her height is only on his chin. She looks up a bit, trying to see at least a glimpse of who the man is. At that quick glance, she saw that the man has short medium blonde hair and have striking gray eyes.

"I am asking who you are. Are you a new servant or a new cook, perhaps?" the man asks again.

Valen does not seem to like the way the man asked her, he seems somehow arrogant; is he a knight or perhaps a high ranking knight as he seems to possess nice muscular body and broad shoulders. However, he is wearing a simple doublet and breeches instead of a knight's armor; perhaps, he works inside the mansion and is close to Lord Thomas.

"You should talk to me when I ask you, Lady. You look suspicious, can you take down your hood." demanded the man.

"I...I..." Valen rattled. Anyone wearing a hood on his head inside a mansion or anywhere inside someone's home will really look suspicious, but she should hold her ground and be calm. "I am here having a tea with Lord Thomas and Lady Melinda. I'm on my way back to....." Valen said but was interrupted by the man.

"Oh, you're here to have a tea with the royal couple. Do you really think I would easily believe that? You could even be a spy or something. You are even hiding your face under your cloak. Remove your cloak and show me your face." Valen always wears her cloak, hiding her face; anyone who will look or even catch a glimpse of her eyes somehow is enthralled that most of them looks at her intensely but some would be intimidated and look away, she definitely prefer the latter. She was even thinking if this can be controlled so that one look will make them look and turn away just like how wild animals react when she encounters one. However, this time, it is true that she should not wear her cloak and cover her head as she is currently in the royal family's house as a guest. She knows that she should clear this wrong suspicion.

"You don't have to be so arrogant, sir. Yes, I agree with you that I somehow look suspicious because I am wearing a cloak inside the royal mansion; that perhaps I am also in the wrong for wearing the cloak yet I am just a guest here, but I think you could have ask me nicely who I am, or ask me nicely to lower down my hood."

The man was awed by the spirit and courage of the small lady in front of her. Any woman or servant will totally cower with just his presence, with or without their knowledge of who he really is, and yet, this lady, was even able to express how she feels and what she thinks. He knows that he is also in the wrong for not asking nicely, but she really look suspicious. He somehow suddenly feels interested and wonders who this lady in front of him.

"I will admit that somehow, what you said is true, so I apologize for not asking properly, but I remember you mentioned earlier that you also realized that you look suspicious in your cloak, so may I ask for you to lower down your cloak, tell me who you are and why you arehere." The man asks politely.

She was about to answer him and about to lower down her cloak when a man's voice loudly spoke.

"I have been looking everywhere for you. Any servants do not know of your whereabouts inside the mansion, they just know you are already home. Oh, I see, Valen you are here; so you have already met my son, Edward."

=====================