Jared's Song - The Second Verse

He sat in his garden and looked at the statue of the Dren that had been erected there, and remembered that battle. Although it was a terrible thing, he felt it should not be forgotten. He became aware of a well-dressed young couple who had walked into this part of the garden and were looking at him as he sat in his worn old trews, boots and shirt. He smiled to them. “Would you mind if we sat here?” the young man asked, indicating an empty bench. “Please do, the gardens are open to all.” He said. They sat, hands held, and the girl glanced up at the statue. “Bren, this statue is different to all the others.” She said, frowning. The young man looked up at it. “Yes, I have seen it before. I believe it is of a race that helped in the great battle, though I am not sure where.” “It is an ugly thing.” The girl said. Jared sighed, and made a mental note. “It is a Dren they fought at the canyons in what was called the Wall of War.” He said, looking up at the Dren. The young man looked across to him, “You were there? An archer?” Jared chuckled, “No, I am not an archer but yes, I was there. The Dren lost half their number, five thousand, but took one hundred thousand of the enemy. It was an astounding battle.” He said softly. The girl looked at him, “Only archers were there. I think you tell tales.” She said. Jared looked at her, “Only archers?” he asked. She flushed, “Well, and Commanders, but you do not have the look of a Commander.” Jared chuckled, and looked down at himself, brushing at his dusty trews, “Of that, you are correct I do not have that look.” He said, grinning. The young man looked around, “Alea, is that not Princess Druna over there? They say that sometimes the King sits here, she seems to be looking for someone.” Jared smiled, already aware. The girl, excited now, grasped her young man’s arm, “She is coming this way!” Druna, looking fine in her long slim gown of dark velvet green, her long brown hair hung in a long braid down her slim back walked down the main path, her hands held together before her, then she turned down the path leading to the benches. The young couple stood, the girl curtsying, the boy bowing to Druna, who dipped her head to them, “Please, sit and enjoy the garden.” She said, and turned to look at Jared. “So, you are here again.” She said to him, and Jared looked down, nodding, “I am.” “Look at the state of you! Can you guess what your wife would say if she saw you sitting there like that?” Druna asked, straight faced. Jared looked up at her, “Oh, I think I can imagine.” He said. “And I suppose you’ve been telling tales again?” She asked, glancing to the young couple, the girl nodding. Druna sighed, “What did he say?” the girl said, “He said he was at the Canyons, an archer.” Druna frowned, “Well, he is an archer, of sorts, though he wasn’t that day.” “Please Mam, he does not look like a Commander.” The girl said. Druna nodded, “He was not a Commander.” She looked down on Jared, her eyes twinkling, and he smiled to her. “He was ‘The Commander’.” Druna said. The girl blinked and frowned in puzzlement, her young man, quicker than his partner, was becoming pale faced. Druna held out her hand to Jared, “Shall we walk a while, Father?” She asked. Jared stood, taking Druna’s hand and they turned, to find the young couple kneeling with heads bowed. “I am going to put up a large sign above every entrance to these gardens. Kneeling before the King is punishable by dire consequences!” Jared growled. The young man looked up in confusion. “I’d stand up, if I were you.” Druna said. The young man stood up, then pulled his partner up. Jared pointed to the Palace, “That is my house. This is my garden. While here, you do not kneel, curtsey, or bow to anyone. Neither do you ever say ‘Your Majesty’. Sire or Mam will do. No titles either. Understood?” he asked, and both young people nodded. “Good. Next point; All that helped us in the Great war were allies, especially the Dren. They may look different; I personally do not see them as ugly. Oh, and you were wrong, young lady, there were also wyverns at the canyons. If it had not been for the Dren, you might not be here, nor I. Now, enjoy yourselves, and if I do not see you here again, I will be most upset.” Druna grinned and she and Jared walked passed the young couple and towards the sea wall.