Kendrick was awoken suddenly when a man next to him snapped his fingers in front of his face. "My liege, please do try to stay awake during important meetings," Kendricks royal advisor told him in a hushed voice. Kendrick shook his head slightly and tried to pay attention. In the past month since he took over, Kendrick spent more time trying to fix the huge amount of mess the previous king made. Kendrick was able to solidify his rule with the people in the city, which was not that diffucult considering his contributions to ending the previous rulers reign. Kendrick spent day after day in meetings with many colorful characters, ranging from unlawful gents who felt they were owed money still and other debt collectors, dignitaries from the other cities who wanted many things from him including but not limited to his cooperation, attention on certain matters, and they even tried to renegotiate trading agreements to work out more in their favor. Other meetings involved ordinary city folk who wished for audiences with the new king. 

Today however they were discussing the new tax system. Now the old king has over moderate taxes set in place to help him afford his gambling habits, and one of the first things Kendrick had done was lower taxes. Today they were reviewing his decison and reflecting how it would affect the kingdom as a whole. Kendrick, while a capable warrior and leader, had come to the realization that he would rather be an exile again than have to stay in and listen to one more boring meeting. Kendrick had not expected this.

Kendricks mind started to wander again, this time to Zach. He had been hurt pretty badly the day he took back the throne, and in the month that has passed Kendrick was relieved to see Zach almost back to full strength. He still had positions to be filled and he wanted Zach, Niesha, and Sofia to fill them. Niesha had been a tremendous help to him when she wasnt by Zachs side. Since his coronation he had to be inserted into the royal leger, or at least start a new one since his bloodline was newly royal. He made the decision to make Niesha his cousin, officially, since thats what was said on their wedding day. He had not told her this yet though, as he had been very busy the last few days. As his cousin Niesha would be practically even more royalty than before. 

And speaking of Sofia, Kendrick was lucky enough to stop day dreaming at the moment he caught Sofia's eyes as she peeked through the courtroom doors. Kendrick smiled, then stood up.

[color=004b80]"Yes yes execellent work today everyone. But as it happens-,"[/color]Kendrick said as he pretended to be in pain[color=004b80],"I feel as if I have the stomach pain. I must dash off for now. No need to follow me."[/color] Kendrick looked his royal advisor, then his gaurds.[color=004b80]"Stay.....stay."[/color]

Kendrick laughed internally as his gaurds chuckled and his advisor frowned. Kendrick walked out of the courtroom, then turned his head to look for Sofia. She couldnt have gotten far.

Sofia had gotten bored with her meetings about designer dresses and charity work and she had gotten irritated with her maids continually fussing with her hair and makeup. Finally, she had told them all to leave her and she had gone into her room undressed and put on a comfortable walking dress like she used to wear. It was still warm out so she wore one that barely came to her knees which was apparently shocking for a queen. She chuckled and then she had begun taking her hair down and scrubbed her face. When she had looked into the mirror she hadn't even recognized herself. Now that she looked like her true self she had gone to see if she could find Kendrick. She wanted to be footloose and free for the day and they both needed that desperately.

She was watching him in his boring meeting. She caught his eyes once and he started ending the meeting. She could see his need for normalcy and when she saw him heading toward the door she bolted down the hall and slid just out of his sight around the corner.  She peeked to see where he was and he almost scared her to death and she laughed as her arms encircled his waist. "My love, we have got to take a day away. If we don't I fear my hair will all fall out." She kissed his neck softly and felt his warmth against her. "Let's go to the lake. We don't have to tell anyone. No guards, just us? Maybe a picnic with Niesha and Zach later today?"

Niesha was reading a letter from her brother. Since, due to their fathers death, he had gone from a minor lord to a great Lord, he had come to court to pay homage to the new king. Niesha hadn't been able to stay away from Miquel, they had been communicating by letters. It seemed that even after a few correspondants it wasn't enough to cover two years worth of life. Her brother hadn't seemed surprised to find her alive, which had puzzled her, but she didn't ask, not wanting to bring up the fact that she had faked it. His latest letter made her smile, but she wasn't sure what to say to the offer to visit. She had a Nephew and Niece that she hadn't met, and that unnerved her slightly. 

She sighed, putting the letter aside to respond to later, when she could think on it. Despite the fact that she hadn't particularly liked her father, and that he had tried to kill her, nearly kill Zack, Niesha had done what she could for her brother to deal with the arrangements of his burial. It wasn't for her father, but her brother that she did so. 

With things changing, after the events of overthrowing the old king, Niesha found that she hadn't had much time for her clinic, but she had been thinking of adapting it for what she had first dreamed of when making the clinic hers. Making it larger, having others working there, making it a place where those that couldn't afford care could come, without fear of having any bill to pay, was something she wanted to do, and with how things were, she thought it might be possible. 

She glanced to the letter, tempted to read it again. 

Kendrick embraced Sofia tightly and kissed the top of her head,

[color=004b80]"Sounds perfect. And I have some big news, so having Zach and Niesha there with us is very important."[/color]

Kendrick held Sofia's hand in his and walked with her down to the kitchen. As they entered the kitchen, the staff gasped and bowed.

Kendrick laughed.[color=004b80]"Guys, guys calm down. Raise your heads there is no need to bow ive told you again and again. But if you guys dont mind I need a picnic basket filled enough for four."[/color]

The cooks all smiled and quickly put together a picnic basket. They offered the basket to him.

Kendrick took the picnic basket.[color=004b80]"Thanks guys!"[/color]

Kendrick walked out of the castle with sofia in one hand and picnic basket in another.

[color=004b80]"Lets go back to your old house, prepare there and then look for Zach and Niesha in a bit."[/color]

Sofia smiled wide and kissed him on the cheek. As they walked outside one of the guards was caught offguard and started to choke on an apple and Sofia whacked him on the back and made sure he was breathing before they walked to the village. "I can't seem to get used to all of the fluff of being a queen. I never had any idea that her job was basically just to change dresses and hair and makeup all day and listen to politics but not to say anything unless she was asked directly unless of course the king is not there." 

As they made their way into the village people had to do a double take. One of their neighbors came up to Sofia and the King and bowed. Sofia sighed. "My queen? Are you in disguise? Is there trouble at the castle? Should I round up the men for a revolt to storm the castle and take it back?"

Sofia looked at Kendrick with a mixture of laughter and frustration. "No thank you, all is well. We are just playing hooky for the day." This answer got her both a smile and a nod. "Have a wonderful time m'lady, sire."

Zach looked up as his sister and brother in law arrived on foot and alone. He grinned. "I'm surprised that you managed to escape the confines of the nobility."

Sofia hugged her brother tightly. "I've missed you. You have no idea how tiring it is to change clothes for every damned thing. It's truly exhausting." Automatically slipping her arm back around Kendrick she asked, "So can we tempt you and Niesha into a picnic by the lake this afternoon? We need to get away and thought this was perfect."

"Niesha, can you come out here please. Look who has come to visit."

Niesha  was already coming out at the sound of voices, recognising Sofia's voice, she smiled, [color=f7941d]"A pleasant surprise."[/color] She said brightly, [color=f7941d]"I'm hoping nothing has happened"[/color] Neither of them looked worried or panicked, so she assumed that was a good sign. [color=f7941d]"And yes, I do know how tiring it is to change clothes for everything. There were some days when I think I spent more time changing the doing anything else  "[/color]

Kendrick smiled and held up the basket.

[color=004b80]"By royal decree your king declares it is picnic time. Hope you guys can take a break for a small bit of time. Well more than hope. I have some news I need to share with you guys. All three of you."[/color]

Sofia grinned and went into the house to get a couple of blankets to use by the lake. Zach pulled everything out of the fire and soon the four were on their way to the lake and it wasn't long before they could see the water. For some reason it always soothed Sofia to be by the water. She  was so happy to be out of the castle that she looked like a child on Christmas morning. Once they picked out the area the ladies spread the blankets and set up the food. "Shall we swim first or eat and talk?"

[color=004b80]"Lets talk."[/color]

Kendrick patted Zach on the shoulder then took a seat on the blankets. He faced everyone as he spoke.

[color=004b80]"So.....as everyone is aware when we all got married to our significant other, that there was a slight complication. I had to vouch for Niesha and made some statements that werent true."[/color]

Kendrick pulled and held out a rolled up document.

[color=004b80]"So I rectified that. As of now Niesha is first cousin to current king, related by blood before marriage to her husband, whose sister is the queen. Lady Niesha has nobility status equivalent to the royal family, titles, wealth, and land. All the informaiton is in this document."[/color]

Bemused by Kendrick's announcement, and touched that he would go to such lengths to cover their butts, had Niesha fall silent for a moment. She stared at the document for a moment, before saying [color=f7941d]"You'd make me a lady again? The first time round didn't stick"[/color] She smiled, amused, [color=f7941d]"Thank you, for then, and now."[/color]

The thought of being back to nobility status wasn't shocking to her, not now really. There wasn't anything to fear, now that she didn't have to be afraid of her father. She didn't care what status she held, what she did. She was happier then she'd ever been. 

Zach smiled. "Thank you Kendrick. That was very kind of you to ensure that the loose ends were all properly tied up. I know that it might not be likely to have happened but it could have happened had her brother wished to push it." He looked at Niesha and pulled her to him like a child does his favorite teddy bear and teased her. "Hear that? You are all mine....forever and ever, even if you get sick of me." He kissed her and grinned mischevously. "I'm starving, what's in the basket?"

Sofia giggled and watched as Zach opened the basket and started pulling things out. Sofia just lay in Kendrick's arms in the fresh air and inhaled it deeply. "Mmm, I smell fried chicken." She mumbled hungrily.

Kendrick sniffed the air and smiled.

[color=004b80]"Thank the Gods someone had the genius to slaughter a chicken and fry it. The best dish I have ever eaten."[/color]

Kendrick stroked Sofia's hair as he spoke. He was happy to have this little retreat away from responsibility. He missed the late night vigilantism, and being able to have privacy, but at the same time he finally felt empowered to make the changes he always wanted, for the better of the people.

[color=004b80]"By the way I should mention two things. One, if Me and Sofia die before we produce an heir you guys are the quick replacement for King and Queen. But in the mean time I need I need more people I trust in the castle. What will it take to get you guys to come work inside the castle?"[/color]

Zach nearly choked on his chicken. "What?" Wiping his mouth he said "Well then you'd better not die because I'd make a terrible King. He looked at Kendrick and lifted his glass. "Here's to you both living to a ripe old age!" After he drank deeply he glanced at Niesha and back at Kendrick who was absentmndedly stroking Sofia's hair. Zach chuckled. 

"You want me to move my forge to the castle? Do you realize how long the forge would be down in order to move it? It would be weeks and weeks just to cool it down properly. Niesha could move her practice into the castle much easier than I could move my forge."

Niesha listened to what Kendrick was saying, letting her mind wrap around it, there were a couple of things she suspected. [color=f7941d]"I agree, I can handle being nobility again, but there's no way I want to be Queen, Don't die. Apart from that, I'd rather not lose anyone else"[/color] She said.

[color=f7941d]"I...I can't leave my clinic, it does so much good. I want it expanded, and at least having two healers on staff. You...what are the jobs you want us to fill?"[/color] She didn't think that Kendrick just wanted them in the castle, not when he had said that he wanted people he could trust. 

Kendrick shook his head.

[color=004b80]"Its ok Niesha. Essentially I was hoping you could continue your line of work in the safety of the castle, but I understand. But what you guys do is essential. So any funding you need to expand or hire more help or gain more resources is yours. Without question."[/color]

Kendrick reached over and grabbed one of the bottles, taking a big drink then offering some to Sofia.

[color=004b80]"I may be paranoid, but I feel uneasy right now. The old King had many people he owed and I feel like they would be willing to do harm to anyone I am close to just to get their money."[/color]

Sofia looked at Zach and said quietly, "I was hoping that I might be able to talk you into taking the head of security for the castle. When I worked there there was always something that needed to be stopped. Someone angry with the king looking to get back at him for some trivial matter and since we are trying to have a baby I thought it might be enough to ask you to take the position. We need you brother, please?"

Zach looked at his little sister and slowly nodded and looked at Niesha. "We are too, and yes, I'll just work from the forge when I'm home."  Sofia slid over to her brother and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much. You'll never know how much this means to us." 

Zach hugged his sister and looked at Kendrick over her shoulder. He could tell that like it or not Kendrick had fallen for his sister completely and he just wanted to keep her safe.