Llessur Atner sat looking out her window. Down below in the courtyard, she could see her son Thayer speaking animatedly with several men. The movement of his arms told her that he'd been flying again.
"How will he be able to rule his country if he gets himself hurt flying," she harumphed. "Or even killed." She shuddered at the thought.
The Queen Mother's court of ladies-in-waiting sat on the other side of the room. Several had heard her musing and whispered to each other. Of course they knew how upset their mistress was with her son.
Llessur watched a bit longer before turning around. Her room was just as it had been before the exile, the only difference being her ladies-in-waiting. They were young, some siblings of her former ladies. But they were nothing compared to her first ladies, right after she married Enad.
Oh Enad, she thought. I miss you so, my love. The frown etched in her face deepened. Nothing was the same anymore. She hated it. There was nothing to remind her of...
"Sunev."
The young girl quickly stood, her needlework falling from her lap. She crossed the floor to stand a respectful distance from her mistress. Dropping into a quick curtsy, she bowed her head, "Yes, ma'am?"
"I vaguely recall that one of our new citizens brought ferrets with her. Is that correct?"
"Yes ma'am. Chef Boyd and his wife own several." Sunev's brow furrowed slightly in confusion.
The Queen Mother waved a hand. "Fetch his wife with the creatures. I wish to see them."
The young girl curtsied. "As you wish." Turning, she hurried from the room.
"You are cheating," the young boy yelled as he lost yet again.
Vickie looked at Rekla and grinned. "No I'm not. I've just been practicing."
The Jedi and the young Mendellian had become fast friends, especially when the boy found out she owned a PS2, Dreamcast, N64, Game Cube and two Gameboy Advanced. He was impressed at how well she actually played many of the games, especially the fighting games and SSX Tricky.
Tricky was the game they were playing at the moment. She had done a Backside 360 with a Nac Nac on the last hill to beat him. He marveled at her ability, knowing full well she wasn't using her Force abilities to best him. "One more," he said with a grin. "I will beat you this time."
"Pick a venue," she replied.
He knew the exact place to go. Aloha Ice Jam. The toughest board on the entire game. "Prepare to become frozen bait."
Just as he was going to start the game, there was a knock on the front door. Vickie reached out with the Force to see who it was. "Ok," she said in a confused tone as she stood up to go answer it. "Any idea why one of Llessur's ladies-in-waiting would be coming here?"
Rekla's eyes widened. "Which one?"
She shrugged and opened the door.
Sunev stood nervously on the step. Her jaw dropped when she saw who was answering her knock. "Captain Boyd! I never realized... I..." She was stunned that the cook's wife and Captain Boyd were one and the same.
Vickie chuckled lightly and held up a hand. "It's ok. What can I do for you?"
The young girl swallowed hard and lowered her head. "Lady Llessur wishes your presence with your ferrets."
"The ferrets?" Her brow furrowed.
"Yes ma'am," she replied with a curt nod. "Is there a problem?"
Vickie looked back at Rekla. The young boy's jaw was still hanging open. She had to hold back the grin threatening to split her face. "No, not at all. Please come in..." She paused a moment. "What is your name?"
"Sunev, ma'am."
"Sunev. Do come in while I go collect the business."
A few minutes later, Vickie returned with a small carry cage with several ferrets inside. They poked their noses through the gate, trying to see and smell where they were going.
Sunev looked curiously at the cage. "Do they bite?"
"Well, these three probably wouldn't." She smiled and turned to Rekla, "Stay and practice all you like."
"Thank you, Vickie," Rekla said with a grin. He whistled and Leia came over and lay down beside him.
She let Sunev lead the way into the palace. They went up several flights of stairs and through winding hallways until they reached Llessur's room. The young girl tapped lightly on the huge oaken door before opening it.
Llessur looked up from her desk as they entered. Her eyes brightened when she saw the cage. "Welcome Captain Boyd." She did not move, though she wanted to go take the ferrets. "How nice of you to come."
Vickie moved over and bowed slightly. "I could not pass up an invitation from the Queen Mother."
She smiled. Impressive. "And who have you brought along to visit?"
Three noses peeked out from the cage door as she sat it on the desk. Opening the top door, she pulled out the largest of the three. "This is our eldest, Chewbacca."
Chewie stretched along her arm, his cinnamon coat contrasting with Vickie's orange shirt. He looked at Llessur with interest.
She reached out towards him and he crawled onto her arm. "My, you are a hefty one," Llessur said with a smile.
Vickie held her arm towards the cage and the silver mitt, Winter, quickly scaled up to her shoulder. The third ferret, Serina, a sable, poked her head up out of the cage and looked around.
Llessur was enthralled by Chewie. He had crawled up and was lying across her shoulders. She reached up to scratch under his chin. "He has a broken tooth," she said referring to his missing canine.
"Yes, we have no idea how he lost it," Vickie replied. "We just looked at him one day and it was gone. It's given him a new nickname. Fang."
"I say it gives him character." She pulled him down into her arms.
Serina, meanwhile, had crawled out of the cage and was searching the desk. She found something she really liked and was trying to drag it back to the cage.
Vickie looked down at the small sable. "Serina!" She reached over and took the pen from the ferret's mouth. "I'm so sorry, M'lady. She has a fondness of shiny objects."
The Queen Mother looked up. "That's quite alright."
They sat with the ferrets for a while longer. Llessur sighed deeply. The ferrets were sweet and comforting, but it just wasn't enough.
Vickie felt the sadness rush over the Queen Mother. "Are you feeling well," she asked with concern.
She looked up at the younger woman. Eventhough she was a member of Terra Group, she seemed to look genuinely worried. Llessur knew the Captain was the eldest of the group. "Your ferrets are wonderful," she said while placing Chewbacca back in the cage. "But they cannot replace all that I have lost."
Vickie put Winter back in and closed the cage. "No, they can't," she said sitting in the chair before the desk. "But they can help. I hope they have."
A soft smile crossed Llessur's features. "Yes, they have. I only wish..." She stopped. Why was she beginning to open herself to this woman? True, she had been a part of getting Eugor overthrown and allowing her to return home. But does that mean she can be trusted?
"Madame Atner, I know you are having a hard time with all these new people disrupting your life. I know you hoped to come home and everything be as it was. Even I hoped that when I went home. But changes must come. Slowly, I'm learning to adjust.
"I know it is harder for you. You returned to your palace unable to be by your husband's side. Your son has changed dramatically due to Eugor's reign. The people of Mendellia have also changed. There are new faces and new experiences for everyone." She leaned forward to look Llessur in the eye. "I hope that with time, you will be able to accept us... accept me into your life."
The Queen Mother locked eyes with the woman. She is right, she thought to herself. Changes enough I have seen in my life; ever Fortune's wheel turns and takes me where it will. "Captain," she began, "I would like to perhaps see your ferrets several times a week. Would that be acceptable?"
Vickie nodded. "Quite, Your Majesty. I'm sure they would enjoy it."
"I thank you for bringing them today, but I have some things to attend to. One of my ladies will come for you the next time I wish a visit."
She stood and bowed. "Yes of course, Madame Llessur. Je vis a servir." She picked up the cage and headed home.
The corner of Llessur's mouth rose slightly. She lives to serve. We'll see about that.
[1] Oh, and the title... a group of ferrets is called a business.