(Third Person POV)
[Castle Noxius, Moonryse]
Inside the massive castle, many men-at-arms were moving about as the arrival of the Prince was noticed. It had been a few days since Kristoff Noxius had left the city and gone to the neighboring town to look for a specific person. The soldiers have been told that the Silver Moon Prince had grown restless of late, craving for bloodshed and battle.
This worried them, considering that they never like it when Kristoff Noxius decides to fight something or someone. They are well aware of the damage he could inflict and the King's Inner Circle will punish the soldiers should this happen. They would be blamed for not preventing the Prince from doing battle.
They all stood in a single file as Kristoff walked down, escorted by those who carried his banners. Behind him, the large figure of the Giant Elf was seen, covered in a black cloth tarp as she walked.
The Woman had a nervous look on her face, a bit taken aback that the halls of the Castle were large enough to house her. The ceiling was high above her, with the chandeliers dangling about.
"Welcome home, Prince Kristoff!" the Men-at-arms announced as Kristoff was walking
Kristoff had his hands on his pockets, "Mhm."
As he walked, some of the men looked at the Giant Elf woman, who was still looking around.
"A Giant Elf?" one of them muttered, "How did the Prince get his hands on one?"
"I thought they weren't around in Draecopis. This is a rare sight." another said, "Was she on the road or something?"
"She's a beauty, though." another said as they looked at her, "The Prince might make her his wife."
As Kristoff walked, he reached the end of the hallway, with some stairs that led to two massive black doors. At the base of the stairs, a young woman with blue hair stood. She wore a regal outfit consisting of black pants and a black coat, with a fur trim on top of her. She had a longsword on her side, sheathed in a gold scabbard.
Her amber eyes stared right at Kristoff who towered over her with the Elf woman towering over her as she stood behind him.
"You were gone a long time, My Prince." She said softly, "I have grown irritated with waiting for you."
Kristoff tilted his head, "Noelle." He said, "Is that any way to address your Prince?"
"All I am seeing is a spoiled brat I have been babysitting since he was a child." Noelle said, her expression hardening, "I am part of King Noxius V's Inner Circle, my authority is above even a Prince."
Kristoff chuckled, "So you think!" He said as he crossed his arms, "Well, if you were such a good babysitter, why didn't you come with me to Richville? Hm?"
"I have duties to attend to here in Castle Noxius, even you are aware of that." She said, "But going by your lonesome is reckless, Kristoff. Sending around twenty men-at-arms to escort you back, I trust that they did their job?"
"Something like that." Kristoff said with a nod
Noelle looked past him and at the woman, "And this one?" She asked, "Why bring a Giant Elf here? Are they not members of the Valley of Whispers chapter?"
Kristoff looked back at Valindra, "Speak, dear Valindra." He said, "Explain to my family's sworn blade what happened to you."
Valindra shifted nervously in her feet, her towering figure was an unsettling sight for those around him. Noelle didn't seem to be that fazed by her sight, she simply looked at her with patience.
"I was attacked by a beast and run off from my village." She said softly, her voice was small even for someone of her size, "And when I asked the Caravan for help, they set their men on me, chaining me down and putting me in a cage."
Noelle looked at Kristoff, "What Caravan? The Merchants that come in from Kazuha?" She asked, "They had her?"
Kristoff nodded, a serious expression on his face, "Yea." He said, "You understand why I had to take her, right?"
"Hm." Noelle said, "Aside from your other motives? Well, you did a good service."
"The Merchant claimed that it wasn't illegal to sell a Giant Elf from the Valley of Whispers." Kristoff said, "But I didn't take that as an excuse."
"And what did you do?" Noelle crossed her arms
"I took her." Kristoff said, "That is all."
"Good." Noelle said, "The last thing we need is another incident, Kristoff."
"Hm." Kristoff looked at Valindra, "Let us go, Valindra. I will have my servants bathe you and clothe you."
"U-Uhm..." Valindra said softly as Kristoff began to walk past Noelle, "I...uhm...."
Noelle stepped to the side, "Do as our Prince says." She said, a calm tone in her voice, "You are safe now."
Valindra slowly walked up the stairs, receiving stares from all of the men present. Noelle noticed this and glared at them, causing them to look away immediately.
As Kristoff reached the doors, the guards there were already opening them. He was walking through them as Valindra followed, looking at the large doors in pure awe.
"Oh, Kristoff!" Noelle called out for the Prince
Kristoff stopped and looked back to see Noelle reaching the top of the stairs, "What is it?"
Noelle looked at her, "Your Mother had summoned you." She said, "It is to discuss political affairs."
"Politics." Kristoff scoffed, "They bore me."
"I am well aware of that." Noelle said, "But your Mother still summoned you."
"Did you not care to mention that at first?" Kristoff turned around, "Send word to her. Tell her I will see her in a few hours."
Noelle frowned, "To delay a meeting with the Queen is an insult." She said, "You must know better, Kristoff."
Kristoff nodded, "I am aware." He said,
"But I have matters to attend to."
************
Valindra was kneeling down on the floor, inside a large chambers as several servants were on top of step ladders, measuring her body while she wore a massive towel around her. Her face was completely red, blushing deeply since Kristoff was on the other side, sitting on a large couch as he fidgeted with a dagger.
"Uhm...." Valindra spoke up, "I-Is it appropriate for me to be here, Prince?"
Kristoff shrugged, "Why wouldn't it be?"
"This be the Prince's chambers, right?" She asked softly, "W-Why am I allowed here? I am just a mere Elf with Giant's blood....I do not deserve to be in the presence of royalty."
Kristoff looked at her, "Is that what you think? Silly woman." He said, "I don't see you as inferior. In fact, I do nothing but admire the majesty that is you. But the reason you are here with me is because I did not want to let you be sold to scum. It makes me sick, the fact that such laws still exist. I will have a talk with the King and let him know what I think of this."
Valindra looked down, "Well...." She said softly, "I thank you for helping me."
Kristoff nodded, "Tell me more of what happened." He said, "This beast, what was it?"
"O-Oh." She said, "It was a dangerous being. I did not get to see it clearly; the shadow winds were rampant that day."
"Hm." Kristoff said, "Interesting. And your village?"
"I hope that it is safe." Valindra said, "I hope so...."
"I wish to travel to the Valley and slay this beast then." Kristoff said, "Spending time here in Moonryse is boring most of the time. I seek excitement."
"Oh." She said softly
As she said this, the doors to the chambers opened, and Valindra watched as a jester with a full-face mask walked in, attempting to be sneaky. The Jester had dark red clothes which had black stripes. The mask seemed to be made of metal with a smirking face on it. She saw that Kristoff was unaware of the Jester and she simply stared as the Jester reached the couch, only a few meters away.
The Jester suddenly lunged at Kristoff and tripped, falling down on their belly. This happened right in front of Kristoff, who watched this with amusement.
Kristoff smiled slightly, "Hehe, you idiot." He said, "What are you doing?"
The Jester stood up without making a noise, turning to face Valindra and looking up at the Giant Elf. Valindra looked at the Jester, seeing a pair of striking red eyes through the eye-holes. Kristoff stood up and was behind the Jester, towering over them.
"I asked you a question." Kristoff flicked the top of their Jester hat, "You Fool."
The Jester stepped to the side, pretending to be surprised by Kristoff's presence, exaggerating their movements as they waved their arms around. The way they did this without making much of a sound was both impressive and unsettling Valindra.
The Giant Elf was feeling an unusual feeling from the individual, as if there was more than what meets the eye.
"This Jester...." Valindra said softly
"Oh, this is Red." Kristoff said, "My personal Jester. They have been a close friend of mine for years."
"They are very dear to me."