“Sir, here is your debrief of Queen Galadriel Haleth,” The servant boy said, handing a scroll to his king.

  “Thank you that is all, boy. You may go.” King Hexion of Regalias replied. He was sitting in his tent awaiting Queen Galadriel’s arrival for dinner. He had traveled over the Northern Mountains in a rush to meet the elf queen before she reached the Village of Lilies. He opened the scroll from his spy in the queen’s camp.

  Queen Galadriel Haleth Intel

  The sun was low in Lily Cove as the small party reached the Lily Cove Guild. Queen Galadriel Haleth had traveled from Isile Kalina, the capital of Dryadalis, through smaller elf towns and villages to Lily Cove in just a week. She had seen many of her people in the last few villages struggling from a plague that was sweeping through the area from the Imber Mountains to Dryadalis. Nearly a thousand villagers on the outskirts of Dryadalis had died from the plague in the last month. Queen Galadriel was determined to help her people. That’s all she ever wanted to do since her parents died in that senseless, bloody war three hundred years ago, leaving her war-ravaged kingdom and infant brother to raise. Her parents were foolish and prideful in their choices, and she was determined to build a better kingdom.

  When the war ended, her kingdom was filled with widows and orphans. The buildings were crumbling around them, and the farms were barren from soldiers pillaging her small kingdom. Queen Galadriel made a choice the day she toured her war-torn kingdom. People were laying in the street with pale, yellow skin that barely covered their well-defined bones. The wounded were weakened by the infection that made their wounds a crusty green color. Most had knotted and matted hair no better than the rats running at her people’s feet. This was no way for anyone to live. Her kingdom of elves once stood proud but was then humbled by this fruitless war. Queen Galadriel brought every person to her palace, and she with her attendants bathed, brushed, bandaged, fed, clothed, and cared for the 400 or so remaining from her once a thousand-strong kingdom. She vowed to make life better for her kingdom.

  Stripping her palace dry of embellishments, she was able to ensure her kingdom was fed for the next three years while she and the widows of the war rebuilt the town. Queen Galadriel had become a farmer, a carpenter, a nurse, a warrior, and a mother to her brother and orphaned children. Time moved on and Dryadalis forgot about her little kingdom. After a hundred years, Queen Galadriel had made her little kingdom strong. They were self-sustaining and well-trained to defend their borders. Only a few months into the hundredth year of her reign, a greedy neighboring kingdom tried to take over her small kingdom. Queen Galadriel won the skirmish and took over the greedy, corrupt kingdom, which was near ruin. Again, she went to work for her kingdom and even freed the orc slaves from their imprisonment to work in the kingdom. Kings and Queens were appalled by Queen Galadriel’s actions, and one after another challenged her. They all failed over the next 200 years to take her down, making her the Conquering Elf Queen of Dryadalis. Her heir is her only brother, who has left the capital to study throughout Lunaris.

  The queen is anxious to meet the herbalist who cured the plagued villages after many medics and doctors could not. She intends to employ the herbalist to save her people from the plague. There is a general from the capital of Apricus on the way to secure the queen’s royal visit. The two parties will meet in the Village of Lilies tomorrow evening.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  End of intel…

  “She really is the people’s queen. Too bad this will be her last goodwill mission,” King Hexion laughed at his thoughts. Soon, he would be rid of the progressive queen, and Lunaris’ future would be secured with her death.

  The servant boy returned, “My king, Queen Galadriel has arrived for dinner.”

  “Well, we mustn’t keep her majesty waiting.” King Hexion smiled his snaggletooth grin. He got up from his large wooden chair and put on his cape of furs. His large stature towered over the human servant boy below him. When walked out of his tent, he saw the beauty of the warrior, elf queen. She was indeed something to behold. He suddenly understood why so many kings and queens had challenged her. Queen Galadriel radiated a nauseating kindness and strength that made him want to smack her across the face.

  “King Hexion,” Queen Galadriel gave a slight bow. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner. Your invitation was quite a surprise, I must say. What has brought you to this side of Lunaris?”

  King Hexion gestured for her to take her place at the table while he settled into his seat. Night had come, and their table was illuminated by the torches and candles around them. The star shined brightly above, framing the moons like a picture. The table had simple fruits, meats, and bread for them to feast upon. The servant boy quickly served orange berry juice to both the king and queen. They were settled in the meadow next to Lily Cove, and they were surrounded by their bodyguards. Orcs and elves for the queen and fellow ogres for the king.

  “I have come to see how the villages are fairing. I have commissioned the Knights of the Land to care for the plagued villages, but I heard you were coming as well. So, I rushed to meet you, so we could arrive together.” King Hexion gave a polite grin to the queen.

  “That was quite kind of you, King Hexion.” She replied, finishing her purple pear.

  King Hexion bit into the salty beef roast, trying to be refined in front of the queen. “I understand the plague has spread to the edges of Dryadalis. How are your people fairing?”

  “We have lost more than I care to lose, which is the purpose of my visit, King Hexion.” The queen pursed her lips in thought. The king seemed to know quite a bit about her affairs, which was troublesome. Why would this ogre king care about affairs outside of his territory? Did he really commission the Knights of the Land to help villages on the other side of the valley of the Lost? She was missing something. His motives didn’t add up. She had met enough royals to know that they always have a reason for what they do. Most of the time their reason was a selfish one. “Tell me, King Hexion. What drove you to help these plagued villages on the other side of the mountains from you?”

  “Ah. Curious little queen, aren’t you?” King Hexion said, kindly. He knew she would question his motives. “You have heard the rumors about me, haven’t you?” Queen Galadriel shook her head no. “Well, Queen Galadriel, you are among the few who do not know my story.” The queen was refreshing from the arrogant men he was used to. “My first wife died in childbirth with my daughter. About six years later, an orc woman was working in my castle as my daughter’s nanny. It wasn’t long before she captured my heart. Our marriage was approved because my orc wife is barren. My wife was born in Stone Creek Village, so when the plague came, my wife begged me to help the villages. A few days later, I enlisted the services of the Knights of the Land for that reason.”

  Queen Galadriel felt embarrassed for her words. The king had a noble reason to help, but she could tell he was still hiding something. “What a beautiful story, King Hexion. If only more royals could be as open-minded as you are.”

  King Hexion raised his glass and the queen followed his action. “Toast to the future of Lunaris!” He cheered.

  “To the future of Lunaris!” She cheered back. King Hexion had a good poker face for an ogre king. They drank their cups and finished the feast. Queen Galadriel decided to keep a close eye on her temporary traveling companion.