Waiting on the King

At lunch time, the banquet hall was teeming with people, from advisors to bodyguards, waiters dodging the crowd left and right not missing a beat. Rahil spotted Kamil and Haemus at a table across the room. A vaguely familiar woman and man sat across from Kamil. Meanwhile, along the wall behind them stood Elicer and Mero speaking with whom appeared to the bodyguards of their lunch guest. “Ah, and here is King Rahil now,” Kamil announced as he approached the table. “Your Majesty, I’m sure you have met King Basim of Mancelandia.” Kamil nodded. Rahil began to nod along as realization hit him. Somehow this man was related to Queen Margaret. Based upon the gray hairs that sprinkled is beard, he could safely assume that this was not the current queen’s husband. “Yes, my sincerest sympathies for your loss. I met Queen Lynda only a couple of times at other nationwide gatherings, but she was a delight whenever I had the pleasure,” he shook hands with King Basim. “Thank you for your sympathies. My wife was a wonderful woman who was adored by so many,” the man reclaimed his seat at the table. “I have been speaking with your brother and royal advisor. They happened to claim this table and invited us to join them. I’m sure my daughter will be along shortly and she can join the conversation as well. I would like for you to meet her. Although I’m sure she’s been boggled down by all the men who seem to be flocking to her.” “Yes, I did see her on my way out of the assembly hall. I noticed many of the others were occupying your daughter’s attention,” Rahil could see the smirk on Kamil’s face. “I hope they will allow her to get a little something to eat before the today’s session continues.” “Right,” King Basim turned his attention to the young lady next to him. “Maline, can you go find out what is taking Margaret so long?” “Right away, sir,” the young woman stood from the table. King Basim regaled the table with stories of Queen Margaret’s recent coronation. Rahil attempted to gain Haemus’s attention during the conversation. In pure Haemus fashion protest, he sat in silence eating his food. This was a perfect conversation to prepare Haemus on his upcoming crowning and coronation. Trying to get his brother involved proved to be harder than Rahil expected. He had hoped that by bringing him, the kid would get a new sense of pride knowing that this would one day be his stage where he would play the part of noble king. His hopes dwindled even faster when King Basim asked Haemus what he thought of the session so far, and Haemus shrugged his shoulders and excused himself from the table. “Teenagers, right?” Rahil said towards Haemus’s retreating figure. As Haemus made his quick exit, Rahil’s sight landed on the gorgeous figure of Queen Margaret. “Hello, Daddy,” she placed a kiss on her father’s cheek. “That took much longer than I thought. Every which way I turned, someone else was there…” As if just noticing a familiar presence, Margaret’s words began to trail off. Rahil took his cue, standing to introduce himself. “Good afternoon, Your Majesty, I am King Rahil of Xesington,” he gave a slight bow. “I believe we met briefly at the airport, and I didn’t have the opportunity to formally introduce myself.” “It is a pleasure to meet you, King Rahil,” she held his gaze with an intensity that matched his own. They held each others attention for a moment before Rahil came out of his trance. “Where are my manners?” he held out a chair to the right of her father. “Please have a seat. You must be hungry, and the food tastes too delicious to go to waste.” Rahil gestured to a nearby waiter, requesting a plate for the queen before returning to his seat to the left of King Basim. The waiter swiftly brought a new plate to their table, placing it down in front of the queen. She began eating her food as the group resumed their discussion the events that took place earlier. Rahil couldn’t help watching her out his peripheral. He was so close to having a moment alone with her. Why hadn’t I insisted on sitting next Haemus, Rahil mentally smacked himself against the forehead, referring to the empty seat next that been next to his brother earlier. The group finished their lunch and went their separate ways. The Queen had an interview with her local new reporter, while Rahil had to do the same. Afterward, Rahil and his team made their way back into the assembly hall. Before returning to his seat, he hung back a moment near the observatory bay, where Haemus and Kamil had been seated. “Are you going to tell me how you were able to convince Queen Margaret’s people to share a table with you at lunch?” Rahil pointed is gaze at his friend. “Sir, let’s just say it’s not always about who know, but about how you make new friends,” Kamil said waving at Maline. She was seated across the aisle near King Basim. “Now that you mention I think my new friend, the queen’s personal assistant, could use some company over there. Now, if you’ll excuse me, sir, I think it’s time for us to take our respective seats. Come on Haemus, were going to get better seats.” Kamil winked at Rahil before walking off in the direction of a couple empty seats near the Queen’s people. Rahil shook his head as he walked toward the center of the room to his seat. Kamil was cooking up something in that big brain of his. He couldn’t be sure if it was good or bad, but if it meant getting to know the gorgeous Queen of Mancelandia he was down.