Chapter 43

**Merianna**

After my “meeting” with Noch had finished, I went straight to my new room and flopped down on my fresh new furs and linens, sleep was absolute bliss.

Hezerial's first words to me in the morning when I emerged from my cave and walked towards the kitchens were: “Have you any inkling as to how worried I have been?”

“Good morning Zarial, thanks for welcoming me back.” I deadpanned with a yawn as I pulled an apple from a basket.

“...G-good morning and welcome back my Lady... but still. I have been beside myself when I didn't receive any word from you for hours, only to come back from the ether and find you passed out on your bed, safe and sound.” He said disapprovingly.

“I haven't contacted you because I was perfectly fine! I do not need someone walking in my shadow all day long. I’m used to doing things on my own.” I shrugged his worries away and started walking to a bench. “Sorry though, I should have probably told you I was back safely before falling asleep.”

When I looked up at Hezerial, he looked positively torn. I wondered what was going on in that head of his. It didn’t take long for me to find out though.

He fell to his knees and bowed his head in one fluid motion. “You have no need to apologise my Lady! I’m just overjoyed that you are back safely! And thankful that you are so considerate and accommodating towards me.” When he lifted his face, his eyes were shining blue orbs of tears.

I sighed. “You don’t have to cry about it you know…”

“What on earth did you do to him Meri?” I heard Nelia ask from behind me.

“Good morning to you too. What is it with no one having proper manners today? And I didn’t do anything to him. I’m innocent in this exchange.” I looked back at Zerial’s teary face. “Mostly innocent.” I amended.

“Lady Nelia, my Lady did not notify me of her safe return last night while I was beside myself with worry!” He cried.

“Oh you poor thing.” Nelia cooed as she patted Hezerial on his blonde head. “Meri, shame on you. You must take better care to be mindful of the people around you! You didn’t even let ME know that you were safe!” She admonished.

Both Nelia and Zerial were looking me in the eyes with identical gleams in their stares. I couldn’t believe this! They were playing on my emotions and intentionally wanting to make me feel bad! Was it working?

Yes it was…

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to fall asleep straight away! You two can stop making me feel bad already! I got the message!” Nelia smiled smugly and Zerial’s tears dried up immediately as a smirk took its place.

“Unbelievable!” I fumed and bit viciously into my apple.

“Love you too Meri.” Nelia said as she quickly came over to hug me from behind. I just grumbled in response and kept moodily munching away as Hezerial disappeared into the kitchen.

Within a few moments an explosive commotion broke out from that direction.

“You heathen!!!” I heard Dorris yell at the top of her lungs from the kitchen’s depths. “Get out! GET!!!” A series of thundering bangs and thumps followed closely behind her outburst. “I do not care that you are her guardian! This is MY KITCHEN! MINE! OOOOUT!!!”

“Oh my…” Came Nelia’s surprised whisper at the commotion.

I was just as surprised as she was…

Never in our 3 years of living here had we heard Dorris rip into someone so vehemently as she was doing right then. Come to think of it, no one had managed to stay in the kitchen’s space for that long either. No one but Noch or Fog, but they had earned the privilege of being in the kitchen’s space a long time ago according to Dorris.

Soon enough a rhythmic dull thumping sound started traveling from the depths of the kitchen to the entrance. Hezerial emerged from around the wall looking happier than a cat with a canary in its jaws, carrying two steaming plates, while the sound became louder with his approach.

I frowned as he put the plates down in front of Nelia and I. At this stage I started hearing aggravated grunts accompanying the whacking sounds.

“Hezerial, turn around?” I asked suspiciously.

“Certainly my lady!” He said brightly and promptly spun around to present me with his back.

Dorris was clinging onto one of his wings, and was whacking him on the back of his head with a frying pan quite viciously. I was surprised that she hadn’t lain him out flat yet with those devastating blows. In fact, Zerial looked quite unphased.

“I don’t think he feels that Dorris.” I said as calmly as possible. All I desperately wanted to do was fall over and laugh at the ridiculous sight. Good sense had me exercising caution while Dorris was armed.

“I don’t care! This barbarian must learn his lesson! Not even Elondara is allowed in my kitchen and he must follow the rules!!!” She yelled while still whacking him.

“Elondara is not allowed?” Hezerial asked while suddenly turning his head to look at Dorris. Dorris didn’t take this opportunity for granted and promptly aimed squarely for his face.

The resounding bang reverberated off the stone walls and left us stunned in our seats. I was seriously wondering if Dorris actually managed to leave a mark. With a satisfied huff she removed the pan and revealed his face.

Zerial’s eyes were wide open in surprise. His gaze moved back down to Dorris curiously. “You say that Elondara is not even allowed in the kitchens?”

With a groan Dorris let go of his wing and slid down to the ground along with her pan where she sat panting in exhaustion. This was the first time I had ever seen Dorris tired! She seemed to have enough energy to power this whole realm with the way she constantly jumped from room to room, and the kitchen for meals day in and day out.

“You shouldn’t cause Dorris such trouble Hezerial.” Nelia said as she also took in the scene.

“Poor Dorris Hezerial. Shame on you.” I added while eyeing Dorris.

“B-but…” Hezerial started. He didn’t get a chance to start defending himself though. Dorris jumped back onto her feet and waved her pan threateningly in his direction.

“Stay out of my kitchens you pigeon! Anything with feathers is supposed to be plucked and fried!” She fumed and promptly whirled around to travel back to the kitchen.

“But I’m Angelic, not an aviary creature…” Hezerial said with a confused frown.

Nelia and I doubled over and couldn’t help ourselves.

“That’s why Ela had feathers missing that one time?!” Nelia bawled.

“And why she never dared to go back apparently!!!” I whooped back.

We never could figure out why Ela had suddenly stopped causing trouble in the kitchens when we were younger. Ela had regularly sneaked into the kitchens to try and get something sweet to bribe us with, especially me since I caused Noch the most trouble. One day she had just suddenly stopped wanting to cause trouble through bribery and had a naked spot on her wing where a handful of feathers were missing. Now the mystery had been solved.

Nelia and I were busy finishing up the breakfast that Zerial had brought us when we suddenly heard a commotion coming from behind us. By the entrance of the dining hall there was a group of members walking past. Noch suddenly appeared as Junnie went breezing past him with the group, and spied us.

“Merianna, Nelia, another fire message has arrived. Grab your gear, we’re going.” He said quickly and disappeared with the rest of the members.

“Lets go!” I said and quickly jumped to my feet.

I before I could get far, I bumped into Zerial. “Zerial, we have to go help! You are NOT making me stay behind in this castle!”

In answer though, he held up my weapon’s belt that already had everything strapped in as well as my sturdy boots. “I understand my Lady, and I will assist in any which way I can.”

With a grin I took my weapons and boots from him. “Try to keep up.”

“Of course!”

The three of us sprinted after the group towards the Atrium and stopped in front of the gateway to hear what Noch had received.

I quickly took the opportunity to throw my slippers aside and put on the boots that Zeriel had kindly brought me. Sadly there wasn’t any time to change out of my dress, it would have to do. Or maybe I should just stick to wearing battle ready clothes every day from now on...

While waiting for everyone to gather, I took stock of who was there already. It seemed that most of the Order Members were already present besides the ones that were obviously out on bounties.

The usual suspects were also all accounted for. Nana Ara, Jasnine, Raska, Fog and Noch as well, all already planning on causing as much trouble as possible. I glanced Junnie again and noticed that she looked just as excited about the oncoming fight as the rest of the troublemakers were. When she moved around excitedly, I saw her black hair had a red sheen to it. Maybe her hair was a very very dark shade of red? I had never seen anything like that before, it was beautiful.

“The current alert that we have received is not for a Hunter attack.” A sea of mumbling erupted from the gathered crowd. With the amount of Hunter activity that had popped up over the past few months, this was a surprise.

“The attack is this time orchestrated by Nirns.” He announced.

At the mention of Nirns I quickly shot my gaze over to Jasnine who was unsuccessfully trying to hide herself behind Raska’s slender frame. A ball of dread started forming in my gut. I really hoped that this turn of events was completely unrelated... pleaaaaase please be unrelated.

“Keep your wits about you, stay in groups, attack unpredictably, you all know how fights with Nirns can turn out, so make sure to fight against their weak points. I will send out doppelgangers with updated situation circumstances as needed!” He turned his gaze straight to Nelia and me. “Nelia, team up with the Ga’s like last time, Demon Child, group up with Jasnine and Raska. Lets move out!”

I didn’t have a chance to throw any of my usual retorts back at him before he jumped through the whirlpool opening of the gateway, getting completely swallowed up by the bright colours it emitted.

“Ready Meri?” Nelia asked from my left.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose. Although I must say that I hope it’s not a certain group of Nirns that I am already acquainted with.” I replied while moving into the funnel of bodies that were getting ready to jump through.

“When did you ever get a chance to meet Nirns?” She asked in surprise.

Oh, that’s right. I didn’t tell Nelia about what exactly happened on the Jasnine Bounty trip.

“It’s a long story that I might or might not tell.”

“You’re terrible.” She pouted.

“Ha! No more than you are when you’re angry!” I retorted while Zerial disappeared into the ether.

“I will most definitely get angry if you don’t tell me after this situation is over!” She got out just before we both stepped through the warm gateway, and onto the next battlefield.