#KingsArm

On a dark and stormy night-because mustn't all stories start like that?- a hooded figure rushed through the night, lanterns flickered, and rain poured. His cloak covering his head, but slick with water, Helmer opened the large doors that led into the palace of Jupiter the Great.

Dripping wet, Helmer took off his robe, and handed it to a waiting servant. He rushed down endless hallways that all looked the same, and eventually came to a wooden door. Inhaling a quick breath, he knocked.

The whispers he heard from inside stopped abruptly, and he heard thumping of feet, then a clunking sound as the lock was unlatched.

The door creaked open an inch-then another, until Helmer could make out a red-furred buck, “Are you a friend?” came a husky voice.

“Better than a foe? Yes. I am a friend.” Replied Helmer. Then moved a hand onto the door, the other buck nodded then moved back.

 Entering the room, Helmer looked around to see the eight rabbits already seated or standing around a table. At the head sat a brown and white furred buck, a golden crown gleaming upon his brow. To his right, stood a grey and black buck, his brown eyes sparking in the dark room. At an empty chair to the king’s left, hurried the rabbit behind Hemer-the one who had opened the door and just now quietly closed it- and sat down, the young buck with red fur and one eye looked up at Helmer and glanced at the three bucks sitting across from him.

Helmer raised an eyebrow and turned his head towards the bucks. Sitting there with a joyous look on his face was Lord Captain Harlan Seer, along with two other Lord Captains, one being Fesslock-a white buck while the other was named Stam-a lilac-both bucks had an eager triumph in their eyes.

After bowing to the king, Helmer walked over and sat down beside Perkin. 

“Lord Captain Helmer, my friend.” King Jupiter nodded towards Helmer, a small smile on his face. “Thank you for hurrying over, in these times it is good to have friends near.” The king winced, and everyone bowed their heads, remembering what had happened not even a month ago. Helmer clenched his fists, thinking about the traitor soldier who had started the fire in the hospital. But not just any part. The infant room. Helmer hated the very aspect of hurting a hair upon any of those children’s heads. The traitor on the other hand...Helmer wouldn’t care if he burned.

Helmer merely shook his head, “Of course your highness. But I have to ask-what gives? It’s only the middle of the night with the strongest storm in months.” He said wryly, a small grin playing sarcastically on his face.

Jupiter grinned back and chuckled, “Secrecy is needed, for this is important” His smile disappeared and he turned his attention towards Harlan Seer, “Lord Seer, If you’d please. Report.”

Harlan stood up then bowed to King Jupiter then gathered up the various papers strewn about the table. Clearing his throat, Harlan began his tale, “As you know, for the past few months me and Fesslock have been at hard work. Researching about the first travel and the golden land. Legends of Flint and Fay, about things beyond any rabbits imagination. And I was recently reading about a plant back in the days before the first foe...and...and I found something.” Scrambling through his papers with a crazed look on his face, Harlan let out a small ‘aha!’ when he found a yellowed page that looked as if it had been carefully cut from its original spot.

Harlan grinned and lightly placed it down on the table, then turned the picture around. Raising his chin, Helmer peered over at the scrawled and rather crude picture, after some shuffling, the rest of the council also looked down at the picture. After some confusion on what it was someone spoke up.

“A...flower?” Garten guessed.

“Preeeeecisely!” Harlan said, snatching the paper away and stacking it neatly onto his towering studies.

“And what does this have to do with this meeting? Why the secrecy?” Perkin spoke up.

Harlan rolled his eyes, “This is science, sadly, I don’t think your battle tactic brains can take this.” He said with something that sounded like pity in it. “But i’ll try to tone it down.” Harlan finally sat down, Helmer was slightly amused by this, for Harlan looked ready to jump up and down in excitement, “This page,” he held up the paper for all to see, like a headmaster to his pupils, “was found in the oldest book in the royal library. And in it, this was found.” he smiled, “This flower...will solve all our problems. The flower will save us from Morbin.”

The room became quiet. You could’ve heard a pin drop.

Finally, Fesslock spoke, “We call it-from what we translated from those old scribbles-the True Blue.” The historian closed his eyes, as if he could almost reach out to pluck the flower, as if this name was enough to take it. 

And it might’ve been. 

“So...what does this miracle plant do?” Garten ventured, one black eyebrow raised.

“Well-” Harlan began, but was cut off.

“Is it a poison?” Pickwand asked, is white and black fur reflected many dance beams of light from the lanterns. “Do we feed it to Morbin? If so, how do we get it to him?”

“Are birds allergic to it?” said the brown buck; Gome.

“No in fact it-” Harlan tried again.

“Is it highly flammable?” Perkin piped in. “Will it EXPLODE?”

“Hush!” Jupiter and Helmer scolded at the same time, Jupiter gave Helmer an amused look, which led to a warm trickle of embarrassment from Helmer. He quickly sat down. “Harlan, you may proceed.” Said the king.

Clearing his throat, Harlan continued. “This flower, though it is powerful, is not deadly, but...from what we’ve read. It is...a cure.”

Helmer raised a hand. Harlan pointed to him, “Harlan…” he paused, thinking about what to say, “A cure. For what, exactly?”

Harlan gaped, then hung his head, “I -we- don’t actually know yet.”

Helmer sighed then turned towards Jupiter, “Your highness, as much as I’d love to find a cure for nothing, isn’t Harlan needed here? With all due respect, we can’t just lose a seer.”

“He’s not going alone.” Jupiter said, his voice low. Helmer widened his eyes, “Fess and Stam are going with him.”

Helmer was now the one to gap, but before he could speak Gome stood up, “Sir?! I  must say, three Lord Captains? Aren’t they needed here?!” 

Perkin turned his one eye towards the buck on his right, in a calm voice, he spoke. “King Jupiter, I will say this with more respect.” He glanced at Gome, who glared back. “I don’t think this is wise.”

“My word is law.” Jupiter said through gritted teeth, Helmer was confused, why was he acting this way? He stiffened when he saw Garten bend down and speak in the king’s ear, Jupiter twitched, then nodded. Perhaps Helmer was seeing things, or maybe not, for Garten had an eager and hungry look in his eyes. It could have been he was just eager to find this cure, or maybe...no. Garten was one of Jupiter’s most trusted bucks. “Garten is right, extra safety for Harlan, plus more help from the Apocrathies Guild.” He nodded his head, “You leave in a fortnight.”

Harlan nodded and then bowed, followed by his two peers, they sat down and talked excitedly to each other.

Jupiter sighed, then stood, “Council dismissed.”

Helmer narrowed his eyes and stood up, he wanted to speak alone to the King about this, but he couldn’t even start, for Jupiter turned and smiled at his friend. “Helmer, I know what you are about to say, so please don’t say it.” Helmer closed his mouth, “Instead, why don’t you come over for dinner?”

Helmer sighed, “Sir, it’s the middle of the night, is that a good idea? Queen Glenda I know is very hospitable, but I don’t want to push those limits.”

“Nonsense!” Jupiter laughed, “Our door is always open to the likes of you.”

Helmer chuckled, “Well then, I can’t turn down that!” 

Smiling they bid goodbye to the other lords-until Jupiter haggled out, getting Perkin, Garten, and Harlan to come-they headed towards a large section of the palace, specifically set aside for the Royal family.

Once inside the living room-a large room with many paintings and lounging couches- then sat down, and chattered.

Helmer stayed quiet.

He was staring at Harlan, he wondered why anyone would leave the kingdom in such drastic times.

“So Helmer, thinking about ever training a youngin?” Garten pried.

Helmer jumped and looked around, everyone was watching him, apparently they had been talking about their own masters, “Meh. One is enough.” Helmer scowled, looking at Garten.

Jupiter barked out laughter and Harlan chuckled. Perkin cocked his head to the side, “Wait-you’ve trained a buck?” 

“Yea,” Helmer mumbled, then pointed to Garten, “That one’s brother actually, he is...a handful.”

Perkin raised a brow, “Whittle? Hah! That soldier is in my unit, serving under Lieutenant Rake.”

“Whittle tries his best.” Garten defended, “He’s got his heart in the right place.”

“And his eyes on a doe.” Helmer snickered, “Whenever we train, he can barely pay attention all eyes are on her.”

Garten’s face turned cold and he went quiet, “Look at us, noblemen, gossiping like a bunch of does.”

“And are the does the only ones that gossip?” Said a scolding voice, Helmer turned around to see the queen; Glenda, holding a tray with mugs of tea, “I heard voices and thought, ‘Huh, Jupiter invited his little friends in the dead of night, maybe I should make some tea.”’ 

Jupiter laughed, and stood to meet his dear wife, “Well, I was thinking of none other than you beloved.” He leaned closer and in a loud whisper he added, “I know you love to serve my guests at an unholy hour.” 

Glenda rolled her eyes, and in answer, served the Lord Captains at an unholy hour.

Helmer bid his goodbyes and left. It was late, and he sure was tired. As he left he heard footsteps behind him, turning around he saw Harlan.

He smiled at the buck, “Harlan…” He thought about what to say, “good luck. On your journey.”

Harlan chuckled, “I...guess I’ll need it.” With that same eager look, the brown seer stepped closer to Helmer, placing a hand with a firm grip on his shoulder he spoke again. “Helmer, this cure will save everyone, things are going to be different. I can feel it.”

The seer let go, then with one last look, he turned and hurried down the hall.

That was the last of Harlan he saw.

aaaaand that’s it! (Each chapter is going to be VERY LONG) See you at the end of September!