The celebrations went on for hours and hours. After the kites’ competition, people split into smaller groups and continued celebrating, singing and dancing, playing games and doing everything they had prepared for the occasion. Around lunchtime, tables full of food and cool drinks were erected, and people began treating themselves and each other.
They saw and spoke to many people, most of whom Daniel didn’t know, but who seemed genuinely happy to meet him. He was glad to meet with Eleanor again. It dawned on him that she had known from day one who he really was and he felt even more grateful for her help.
The two queens spent quite some time talking to each other, while the boys enjoyed some of the finest treats the feast had to offer. Nemo was looking especially happy, and Daniel wondered whether young Íro had something to do with it. Though she never left Diane’s side, her eyes constantly looked towards the young prince, as his did towards her.
The Lords also came down from their thrones and blended with the people. Daniel at one point noticed the White Lord and the Sky-Queen conversing warmly with each other. There was a considerable distance between them, but he could swear that underneath his white bushy eyebrows, the White Lord was looking at him intently, whenever he could manage an unnoticed glance.
When their eyes eventually met for the first time, he felt a chill deep inside his spine, but he did not look away. He wanted to see inside those eyes for himself and find in there the truth that some suspected, but most were oblivious to. The eyes of the White Lord, however, were unreadable, and their contact was severed quickly.
As he followed Diane back to her throne, now re-joined by Nemo, Daniel heard his mother speak.
‘My Lord Autumn. May the Great Lord’s blessings be with you!’
Daniel turned swiftly to see the approaching Lord being accompanied by a second person, who immediately claimed his attention. She was a stunningly beautiful young girl, seemingly around 17 or 18, though Daniel knew better now than to trust their looks when it came to their age. She was almost as tall as him, slender and elegant in a long white dress, that clung to her body tight, highlighting an amazing form. Her long black hair was left to fall free over her bare shoulders, with a single thin braid falling tastefully on her left side. She walked straight and gracefully, carrying herself with a proud and royal look. For some reason Daniel thought of the little girl he used to have a crush on when he was in school, the one he had written the love letter to. If he saw her today, she might have looked something like this.
He felt absolutely captivated, and wished he could have had more time to look at her, but Lord Autumn himself was coming to meet with them and he obviously deserved his full and undivided attention.
He forced himself to look away from the girl and bowed down on one knee before the current ruler of Endërland, next to his mother.
‘And with you, my dear Lady of the Land,’ Autumn greeted her, bowing his head. This was the first time Daniel heard his mother being addressed to by that title. Diane had explained to him that the Lords officially referred to the queens by their subject of dominion: sea, land and sky.
Autumn’s eyes turned to Daniel.
‘So, I finally have the pleasure to meet with our new Visitor. I have heard much about you, son.’
Autumn extended his hand in a very human and friendly gesture and Daniel shook it, now standing up. Diane made the introductions.
‘My lord, if I may, this is Daniel Adams. He has been kind enough to allow me to offer him a place at the castle while here in Endërland.’
‘It is an honor, my lord,’ Daniel managed to say, trying not to shift his gaze from the old man to the beautiful girl standing next to him. ‘Daniel Adams at your service.’
‘The honor is mine, I am sure, Daniel. May I call you Daniel?’
‘Of course, my lord,’ Daniel hastened to answer.
‘Hadad is my name, if so you wish to call me; and my family and I are at your service. May I introduce to you my daughter, Hëna? She almost never leaves my side.’
Daniel felt shock, among other feelings he couldn’t name right then and there. He had thought she might be a helper or assistant of some sort, like Íro was to his mother.
Hëna did not shake his hand or come any closer. She just smiled courteously at him from where she was standing, bowing her head ever so slightly. Not knowing what to do, Daniel did the same, suddenly feeling very nervous looking at her pitch black beautiful eyes.
‘It has been a long time since we’ve had a Visitor, as I’m sure you already know,’ Lord Autumn continued. ‘They have always been welcome in our kingdom and I do sorely miss news of your world. I would very much like to have the pleasure of your company tonight, if you would indulge me. I would like you all to be my guests for supper.’
‘It will be our honor, my lord,’ the queen replied on behalf of her company.
‘Good, then. I will tell my lady to prepare for your arrival. See you all after sundown.’
With that the lord of autumn greeted them and moved on towards another group of people, followed by the beautiful Hëna. Daniel watched her go, the view from behind just as beautiful, and desperately hoped she would look back just once. She didn’t. It was alright though; he was going to see her again that very evening.
The Council