4. Dinner Banquet
A large dinner table filled with food and drink was laid out across the whole room. The guest were all animated speakers. The matter was urgent, they said, due to the push from the Queen. Soldiers from various kingdoms has gathered in a desert three leagues away. The Queen has mobilised her largest army with more on the way. The King and Opa listened politely with what their guests have to say. Some kings with their sons, too, joined in the conversation.
"So, we finally have news as to where the prophesied child will be born. Unfortunately, it seems that the news has reached the Queen's ears, too. Thus, she went with her troops to kill him and we went with our troops to protect him. We must save the child, for he is prophesied to bring peace throughout the land. We can certainly live with less warrings around here. We get tired of it after a while," said one of the visiting king
"But how do we know that this is the prophesied child, instead of some random ones?" said another king. "I'm not convinced that this is the prophesied child at all!"
"We have been all over this before. Our shaman have said so. Some other shamans from other kinngdom have said so as well, so it is clear that we have the right one. Besides, all the description fits. The landmarks are all there. All that's missing is the red carpet, and I have in mind to supply that myself!"
"But none of the shamans described the child! Only that he will be born this month! We dont even have the day! I'm not saying that there won't be a phophesied child there, but are you sure this is the right one?"
"That's where you're wrong," said a regent. "My king right now is camping there because our shaman has provided us with the day. In deed, in exactly eight days, the child will be born and we shall be saved."
"Eight days? To the day? I'll believe it when I see it!"
"Then see it you will! There is no question, that is the child."
"And what hapens if we missed it by a day? what happens if the child is born on a different day? All this thing will be for nothing!"
"I'm sure the prediction will be correct, and you'll see. As to what happens if the prediction is wrong, why not let our host, the Great Warrior king, to let us know what his opinion is?"
Up until that point, Opa and the King sat quietly, listening to all their guests have to say. The King looks at Opa before speaking. "I think," the King said, "it will be easy enough to leave the area once it's proven that it is the wrong child. But the most important thing isn't the child. It's the perception that the child is the prophesied one."
"Is that right? So if we're wrong, we're doomed! Did I mention to you that the Queen is moving, at this very moment, with her great army in order to kill the child?"
"Yes, and that is why me must act quickly," said the Warrior King. "We should be able to handle them, if we stand united against a common foe."
"And if we're wrong, we're doomed. I trust that I don't need to tell you what the punishment is to go against the Queen? She will kill you in the most horrible manner!"
"Let us not worry about it. There will always be a chance for peace. In the meantime, let me assure you that we will help you anyway we can, but let's eat for now. The food is getting cold."
Indeed, the princess has been quietly serving the food. Now that all the food has been served, she started serving the wine. Swiftly and silently, she moved between the guests to serve the wine. One of the visiting king looked at her in admiration, noting how deftly she moved.
"Is she your daughter?" he asked, addressing the Warrior King. "Too bad she's not a warrior. We can use all the help we can."
The Warrior King smiled at this, for he knows that her daughter is equal to any warrior of the land. Opa, on the other hand, laughed heartily. Opa said to the visiting king, "Don't underestimate her! She is very skilled in fighting skills. I taught her myself!"
"Is that right? Is she a good learner?"
"Of course, she is! Am I not a good teacher?" said Opa, pretending to look insulted. His smile and mischievious eyes betrayed him. Then he suddenly and unexpectedly grabbed the Princess who was at the time walking behind him. He laid her across his lap. The princess was confused, but not for long.
"I have a good technique to train her!" Opa was gloating, though this is actually an act. Opa was not a person to gloat, but no one outside the kingdom knew this. "Everytime she makes a mistake, I spanked her like this!" Opa spanked the princess in the rum *hard*. The princess was shocked! This has *never* happened before! Not with Opa. Not with the King. Not with anybody! "Now princess, what do you think you're doing serving the wine to our guests before you serve me? Do you think that I am of lesser statute than our guests? Have you not notice that I sit in the seat of honor? Now hurry up and fetch me my wine!" Opa pushed the princess up. The princess, very red upon her face in shame, ran to the kitchen. All the guests chuckled at her misfortune.
As soon as the princess ran past the curtain separating the banquet room and the kitchen, the princess wailed, "Oma! Did you see what Opa did? He spa-a-nked me!" The princess was breaking down. She was crying her eyes out. Never was she embarassed in front of so many distinguished visitors!
"Hush!" Oma said, "It's your own fault, Princess! You were too quiet in serving the food!" The princess was still crying, but her sharp mind went into overdrive. This isn't about wine? She looked at Oma expectantly.
Oma, who loved the princess as her own daughter sighed patiently. "Why do you think the King have you wear this dress and have you serve the food to the guests?" The princess looked at Oma. Isn't that because Oma is busy in the kitchen and needed help in serving the food? What about the dress? With all the jewelries drapped around her. A flash of recognition came at the same time as Oma's explanation. "You are not a servant serving food. You are a princess being paraded to potential suitors! You need to look presentable and charming as to attract as many potential mates as possible!"
A wave of understanding came over the princess. It was her father's idea after all. She was a tomboy, concerned much about warfare, that she sometimes forget the she was a girl. She looked down in embarassment.
Oma patiently explained, "That little stunt that Opa did, very clever! I dare say that all eyes will be upon you tonight and this dinner will be remembered and talked about by many people and for a good long time. You will have no trouble finding potential mate, princess." The princess nodded her assent. Oma smiled. "Now wipe your tears and serve Opa his wine."
When the princess went back to the banquet room, her whole demeanor has changed. She is now a beautiful princess, wearing stupendous dress. She floats across the room, gently, silently, but with grace and in a way that commands attention. The Warrior King and Opa were smiling very wide. Opa's smile became even wider when the princess dutifully and respectfully poured Opa his wine. Opa said nothing, but his demeanor was clear that though Opa was very old, he was still a force to be reckoned with. The doubting visiting king nodded his understanding.
As princess walked around serving other kings, one of the prince tried to grab her as Opa did. The princess avoided him easily. The Warrior King laughed at this. He spoke to the general assembly. "No one may have her, those who cannot catch her!"
In response, another prince stood up, barring the princess's way, intent in stopping her. The prince's father pulled him down. "Sit down, son! He meant catching her as with honey, instead of wrestling her down as with boar!" Everybody in the room laughed at the young prince's impetuousness, to his embarassment.
The dinner went very well after that, with a lot of eyes upon the princess. The princess, played her role well, and was sure to be courteous to everybody.
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