Declan had enlisted the help of the others to gather everyone at midday to ask them for their support. It was almost time and he was nervous. He had never spoken before an audience before. Finn had offered to stand beside him and he accepted.
“How do you feel?” Finn asked Declan.
“Like I might be sick,” he answered.
Fin looked at Declan’s face, “You seem to be turning a nasty shade of green.”
Morganse had just walked up behind them, “Finn, that is not helpful.” She said. “Declan you are going to do a wonderful job, you can do this.”
Declan smiled weakly and nodded, he felt as though if he opened his mouth, his breakfast would be loosed and he did not want Morganse to see that.
Declan walked up to the middle of the square where everyone had gathered around. There was a small stepping stool that he was going to stand on so that everyone could see him.
“Better you than me” Finn nudged Declan in the side.
Declan had no response, he just focused on his breathing. He stepped up onto the stool and took another deep breath before facing the crowd. “Tree folk and people of Roseglen,” he began, he found Morganse in the crowd and she gave him an encouraging smile.
“I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude for your immense hospitality towards my friends and I. You accepted us and offered us work and food without knowing a thing about us. Your selflessness has won my heart. Roseglen is a true light in the darkness. I feel obligated to each one of you to be honest about who I am.” The crowds murmured and Declan gave them a moment.
“I am Prince Declan of Whitehaven, the younger son of the king.” The villagers gasped and began muttering amongst themselves. Declan could not tell whether what they were saying was in his favor or against him.
“My father is dead. He is supposed to have been killed by my brother’s hand.” He paused. “Out of this great tragedy, I am now considered the heir.” Declan saw that fear was coming upon the villagers and he called out “do not be afraid, I am not here to harm you.” He was losing them and he didn’t know how to regain their attention.
“Oy! Listen up!” Fin screamed at the crowd.
They all quieted down and looked back at Declan.
“My aunt, Lady Revna, has resumed the throne where she does not belong. She has told the others that she is acting in my stead until I am found. Her idea of finding me is to have me killed.” Declan had their full attention now. “If this land is to ever experience peace again, I must rise up against her and claim the throne that has passed on to me. I know that you have a dark history filled with pain and death. I would not ask this of you if I did not need all of you. If any of you is willing to stand with me against her, I will fight for you with my last breath.” Declan waited a few moments for them to understand. “Are any of you willing?”
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Pimm spoke up, “How do we know that you are not just like your father? He abused his power and refused to uphold justice.” Many in the crowd shouted “here here!” in agreement.
“Pimm,” Declan said “I will not pretend that I have all of the answers. I know nothing of politics, and I am sure there is someone much better suited to be king than myself. The only thing that I can offer all of you, is a promise. To fight for you, to fight for truth, to fight for justice, and to fight for peace for all. For too long the creatures and the humans have been at war, I would like to restore that peace.”
Declan heard a small voice out in the crowd, “I will join you Prince Declan.” The crowd parted the way and turned to see who was speaking.
Declan smiled and called out “Thank you Duster.”
Duster made his way forward through the crowd and stood next to Declan. “I have known Prince Declan since I first began working at Whitehaven castle fifteen years ago. As many of you know, I grew up in Roseglen below. I lost my entire family down there that horrible night.” He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. “Through that tragedy, I became bitter and I hated seeing anyone else happy, then I met the young Prince Declan. He was a kind boy with a heart of gold and his father hated it. The king believed it was a weakness. He attempted many times to beat it out of him and belittled the young prince at every turn. The late Queen decided to protect him from his father and sent him to live as far away as she could. I would visit him every chance that I got and he always treated me like a friend. Over the time I spent with him, the bitterness went away and I remembered that even though bad things happen, there is still goodness in the world. You would not give me a better option for a king than Prince Declan here.” Duster bowed his knee and his head to Declan. Pimm stepped forward and joined Duster in bowing. Like wildfire, each person from Roseglen stepped forward and bowed in turn.
Finn not wanting to waste this opportunity shouted, “all willing to fight for King Declan, say Aye!”
Aye echoed out from the crowd around them Declan had won their hearts thanks to Duster.
Among the crowd, Duster moved closer to Declan. “Master, I am so glad that you arrived safely” he said.
“Duster, please I would like you to address me as Declan from now on, you are no longer a servant, I am going to bestow the order of the knights on you” he said.
Duster looked as though he might faint, “truly?” his eyes welled up with disbelief. No non-human had ever been granted a knighthood. Duster would be the first.
“Here here!” Declan seized the attention of the crowd.
He said to Duster, “kneel.”
Duster knelt and Declan drew his sword, he touched the blade on either shoulder and then said “Arise Sir Duster.” The crowd erupted in cheers as Duster arose with a huge smile stretching across his face. Duster wandered over to the side as people patted him on the back and congratulated him.
Muriel had been running through the crowds looking for Marwynn but she could not find him. She walked over to Duster and said “Congratulations Sir Duster.”
Duster beamed, “thank you! What is your name?”
“Muriel” she answered him with a smile.
Duster’s smile faltered, “is your father Master Raff?”
“Yes, do you know him?” Muriel answered quickly.
“He told me all about you when we shared a carriage together to Embergate” he answered.
Muriel could not breathe, her heart felt as though it had stopped even though it continued beating. She could feel her legs buckling beneath her and then she lost consciousness.