The Royal Announcement

Roland brought the private Council meeting to a close. It had gone smoothly. The Treasurer and Peacekeeper had had many questions about his children, before the official announcement was made, but they both had confidence that Roland would act in the best interests of their world. 

Not just his own family. 

In the war, saving this world meant saving his own children. The interests weren't really at odds, at least so far. 

The expedition was agreed upon. Although the Treasurer was a bit disappointed to once more temporarily lose one of his best librarians, he agreed that it was best the matter be resolved as expediently as possible. 

That minor matter resolved, and the journey to begin the following day, Roland turned his attention to the matter at hand. 

The public meeting. 

Finn and the children would join him during the announcement. They had practiced at home standing behind Roland as he read the decree, keeping neutral expressions on their faces. They were to appear neither happy nor upset, this was merely who they were. 

Nothing more, nothing less.

Neutrally pleased to be helpful to the kingdom, but not prideful or eager to lord the magic over others. It was a large thing to ask of three ten year olds. He had faith that they would be able to endure the scrutiny. 

Roland reflected on the last Council meeting he had attended which bore the great weight of the future upon it. He and the others were working to expose the imposter, Mau, who had been impersonating the Provider. 

He'd been nervous then. Getting Finn out of jail had depended on success, to say nothing of Klain prevailing in the war. Now, his children's futures depended on how this went.

He was older now, and far more experienced in leadership and politics than he had been at the time. The people loved him well enough, but the court of public opinion could be fickle. His best hope was to get this out in the open before it leaked out on its own. 

Walking into the room, he kissed his wife and took her hand, then led her up to stand at the crescent-shaped Council table. The triplets followed, dressed well but modestly. Roland knew from experience that no matter what, they would not please everyone with their wardrobe, word choices, posture… though the crowds often acted as one in the heat of emotion, for dry announcements, everyone had their own opinions. 

Many had come. The Hall was full, of both swordbearers and regular people alike. A notice had been posted that all would be allowed to attend today; an unusual enough event to have started the gossip chains running overtime on what could possibly be happening. 

Another war? An invasion of their world? Was the Queen pregnant again and they were going to announce it? Perhaps the couple was ready to name which of the triplets was firstborn and would be the heir! 

Finn had already heard most of these, as reported by the neighbors. People always assumed their closest neighbors had all the juiciest details about the royal family, but those dear neighbors knew that if any of them talked about what they shouldn't, the royals were likely to move to a different area. 

Since none of them wanted that, they were a particularly tight-lipped and helpful batch of citizens. 

The rest of the city had no such qualms, and the word of an announcement had spread quickly enough that the Hall was already packed full and spilling over into the square. Roland briefly considered whether the meeting should be moved out of doors, but the pronouncement had already been copied onto several large notices to be posted outside as soon as he finished speaking. 

Everyone would find out at the same time. 

Stepping forward, he cleared his throat. 

"Welcome, everyone to this special Council meeting." 

The crowd quieted quickly, with a few hushes and shushes near the edges to those who had missed the first words. Silence quickly reigned. 

"Today the usual order of things, including reports and disputes, will be deferred until tomorrow. If you have an urgent matter, please contact one of the guards at the conclusion of the meeting and you will be helped. We know, as always, that the proud citizens of Klain, Rhone, and Ceto present will remain orderly during and afterwards." 

It had been a decision of the Council early on in the merging of the kingdoms for the status of Swordbearer to be extended to war veterans of all three nations, as well as allowing anyone of age to do a year of military training. Ceto had established a similar protocol for training young people for battle on the seas. 

With a deep breath, Roland glanced back at his wife with a smile more confident than he felt, and moved on to the main part of his announcement. 

"Today, I stand before you a proud husband and father. My wife, Queen Serafina," He used her title despite not particularly liking the status to which he'd raised his family, "ten years ago bore us three fine children. An unusual event in itself, but made all the greater because of the kind and hardworking dispositions of the three souls given to us to raise and cherish. 

"I stand before you today to announce that these three young people, the future leaders of humanity, are even more of a blessing to our world than you know. Though it has been years since the war that ended the presence of magical portals and herbs in our world, we have been gifted nonetheless. 

"My precious children, the princes and princess of our lands, have talents above and beyond the norm, which will aid us into greater peace and prosperity than we have previously known. Though they are young, and their talents as yet untested, it is my desire that all people may look to them with hope for the future. 

"As for the talents themselves, they concern light, water, and earth, one from each child. As their father, I pledge to you that these powers will be used for the betterment of our kingdom, the safety of our world, and the care of humankind." 

There had been some debate about adding 'and its allies,' but since the halflings were the only non-humans still in their world, and they were isolationists at best, it seemed better not to bring up the topic. 

He also didn't want to directly associate his children with non-humans. They were fully human despite their powers, and there was no reason to plant the idea that they were otherwise. 

"I ask you now to please join me in celebrating the bright future of our kingdom." 

He raised his voice and his hands at the end to rouse the people into applause, which doubled in intensity as the Hall suddenly seemed to be filled more brightly with the sunlight that had been streaming through the windows. 

Roland resisted the urge to shoot a cross look at Ivan. That had not been planned. 

The family had considered a demonstration of the children's powers as part of the announcement, but Finn thought it might reduce them to a show akin to the performers who came for the festival each year. 

The children were future rulers, not entertainment. 

The subtle show of power by Ivan did seem the proper touch to cap off the speech, and the people were left in awe when their applause died down. Roland stepped back to walk out with his family while the room and the square burst into excited chatter. 

The Council filed out, and Riley slapped Roland on the shoulder as they reached the exit. 

"Well done, good speech, lovely touch at the end with the light." He grinned. 

"Indeed." The father now glanced at Ivan, who ducked his head slightly. 

"I didn't even think about it until you were saying 'bright future'," Ivan said by way of apology. "It's just… you didn't want people to be scared. In the history lesson we learned how the mountain fell into the water and drowned many people, so earth and water power might make people a little scared, but…" 

He glanced at his siblings, who took no offense at his words. 

"But if people are scared of the Void, which was made of Darkness, then light would make them feel happier and safer having us all around." Lily finished. 

Roland was humbled by the wisdom his children sometimes showed. He hadn't given a reason for not announcing which power belonged to which child when they talked about it, but his thinking had been along these same lines. 

"I won't pretend to like it when you deviate from the plan," He looked at his son, "but in this one circumstance, it was well done. I meant what I said about being proud of all of you. I love you." 

"We love you too, Father," The triplets chorused as they pressed in for a hug. 

"Wait, what about me?" Finn cried with mock offense, until she, too, was drawn into the family hug.