The Prince of the Northern Lands stood by, waiting for the opportunity to present his gift. His assistant was holding something rather large, covered with cloth, standing on the floor, and everybody was interested in what the Northerner had brought with him. Eric's face remained impenetrable, even though he didn't just draw attention to himself with his appearance - he seemed to be the main news of the next week, if not the whole Tournament.
More than three hundred years later, the Northern Lands sent a participant back to the Seven Kingdoms Tournament - yes, he was late, but until the greeting ceremony was over, everyone had the right to make themselves known. Of course, Prince Eric did it louder than anyone else by showing up right in the middle of the gift-giving ceremony, but he did, even though the history of the Tournament had not known for a long time that anyone would be late, and even more so by showing up looking like everyone was waiting for him alone.
Eric looked at the Prince of the Central Lands inextricably, it seems that he was conquered by the beauty of the young Xavier no less, and maybe even more than the others. It was as if the northerner was cold, his pale skin and blonde hair were so contrasting with his black clothes that it seemed that he was not a man, but a dressed marble statue. The grey eyes looked indifferent and arrogant, but when they looked at Prince Charles, a strange flame flashed in them, and Xavier himself could not unravel his nature.
The Northerner had time to see all his rivals, assessing them at first sight, but realizing that the impression can be deceptive. He was probably the same age as Prince Jamie, maybe barely older, and that's where they crossed their minds to see that the tournament would be hot. The mountaineer even slightly inflated his nostrils, looking at his rival, though he remained calm and discreet, Eric smiled at the corner of his lips, looking at the young prince on the platform at the throne again, and Frasier almost attacked the northerner right there.
Finally, the Prince of the Northern Lands stood up to Charles, scrutinizing his gaze, barely smiling in response to the coolness in Nathan's eyes: it seems he was clearly dissatisfied with the behavior of the last participant in the tournament. Lenscherre leaned slightly, rather nodding, and took a small box from his assistant's hands.
- Allow me, Prince Charles, to present you with a gift that could be as beautiful as I thought it would be, but I was wrong, - Eric opened the box, and the hall greedily moved forward, trying to see what was in it.
The King of the Central Lands was also slightly elevated from his throne to open his eyes, just like his son, who was pale in an instant. Prince Charles looked at the northerner's face to see that he knew, yes, Lenscherre knew. He knows that Prix has studied the history of all seven kingdoms around the world, that he is familiar with customs, not only modern but also rooted in ancient times. Obviously, Eric knew as much about his own country as he did about the central kingdom.
Each of those born in the royal family in the Central Lands at birth was dedicated to the stone, which became his symbol and amulet - and chosen by the advisor, who tried to predict the future character of the royalty. Precious, semiprecious, even a mineral - the main thing was to understand that it will save its owner from attacks and will give him strength. This stone became a companion of a man for many years, a decoration of his clothes and royal attributes, almost a second name. King Xavier's stone was a ruby - because of his fervor, which was already manifested at birth, he was such a noisy baby, and despite the wisdom and peace of mind, inside he slept a volcano, which was better not to wake up.
The newborn prince was dedicated to the sapphire - the advisor did not hesitate long enough to see the child's eyes. A stone of wisdom, fidelity, purity, hope, chastity - it seems he was Charles' perfect companion, whose blue eyes were absolutely everything. And the prince's crown, of course, was decorated with sapphires.
And now the sapphire sparkled in the silver claws of the ring, drowning in the black velvet of a small box. The stone was so big, it seemed that Charles had never seen one of those in his life, but it was different.
In the tradition of the Northern Lands, the ring was considered the most expensive, important, significant gift, even an intimate one, because the northerners gave each other the rings only once - when they were bound by marriage, and this exchange was more important than all the vows, because it went back to the distant history of the kingdom, when the ring was a symbol of belonging and absolute loyalty to the other, however, it remained so now. And now the prince of the Northern lands presents the ring - with the stone of young Xavier, unambiguously clenched by the claws of the dragon, the symbol of the Northerners.
To Be Continued...