Tabletops layered with trays of the most delicious food and drinks lined the walls, delicacies capable of making one's mouth water, a whole roast deer with sprigs of rosemary threaded through its antlers and stuffed with bacon and rye bread, marinated chicken, grilled trout with lime, and a pineapple glazed pork, mounds of fragrant wild rice, mashed potatoes and diced pumpkin smeared with b.u.t.ter and spices baked on hot stones, and all sorts of varieties of salads and side dishes. A tureen or two on each table contained either hot soup or a hearty ca.s.serole.
The dining hall in the castle echoed with the laughter of dwarves and the elves. On each side of the oak table, the dwarves and elves kept stuffing their bellies with the delicacies cooked in the castle and the food Don bought from the Royal dine.
Elves were more focused on food and kept their tables while the dwarves drank till the wine flowed out of their mouth however some elves joined the dwarves and drank with them as well as started to sing and dance.
On the front of the hall, Don watched the joy on everyone's face Don guessed it was their first celebration in a long time including him. Amaryll was laughing and showing her dress to Arya and Arrora as having a girl talk among them. Stodemar and Arwen on the other side having a drinking contest as the Dhursir already on the verge of falling due to hangover. Elrond and some elven children sat with the dwarven children chatting happily without any reservation from one another.
Uncle Dior and Amaryll did a good job of preparing the feast and distributing the new clothes to the elves as the elves looked very clean and elegant in their new clothes. When the feast started Arrora came to thank Don for wearing the robe he bought for her, she was very emotional when she thanked him but Don just gave her a nod and asked her to enjoy the fest yet the girl still glance at Don occasionally and say thank you.
"Wow, the girl can really cook Don?" Knight said as he already licked the bowl clean.
"Who Amaryll?" Don didn't start to eat yet
"Arrora she prepared this for us and Amaryll's dishes were tasty too"
Knight pointed at the chicken dish before Don when he mentioned Arrora's name.
After seeing Knight staring at his dish Don decided to eat before the lion steal his food and when the moment the chicken meat touched Don's tongue he realized why Knight kept looking at the dish. for a man like him who ate meat roasted in a campfire, it was extremely delicious even delicious than the food he had in Royal dine.
"Uncle Dior how much it cost him to buy all these food from Virnam?" as Amaryl asked she took a sip from the wine gla.s.s,
"Wow" Amaryll's eyes sparkled when the wine touched her tastebuds and she gulped the wine without taking the gla.s.s off her mouth as Uncle Dior breathed a heavy sigh
"Let's just say the sip you just took was the most expensive thing you did in your lifetime"
Amaryll almost coughed up the wine she drank when she heard Uncle Dior and looked at the wine bottle with wide eyes.
"Arya, do you know how much this bottle is?"
When Amaryll poured the wine to Arya she saw Arya's jaw drop slightly and stopped her from filling the gla.s.s but she didn't think of it much however when she heard Uncle Dior she turned to look at Arya.
Seeing the squinty eyes of the elves Arya knew she couldn't evade the question so she tilted towards Amaryll and whispered the price of the wine bottle into her pointy ears.
Amaryll turned red when Arya finished telling the price of the wine bottle as she started to shiver. Seeing Amaryll everyone around her couldn't keep their mouth shut as they started to laugh at her
"I need to have a talk with Don about his extravagant ways"
Few meters away from Amaryll's table Don couldn't understand why Amaryll gave him a death stare as he took a sip of water.
Eventually, after a dance and songs the dwarves and elves couldn't standstill. Some of them had their heads on their friend's shoulders and slept while some of them laid on the ground without moving due to hangover including Arwen and Stodemar. Thankfully some female elves and dwarves didn't get drunk as men so they took the children away to sleep in their rooms. Arya dragged the fully drunk Benedict to his room while Amaryll took sleepy Elrond.
Reghys didn't come to the feast because when Don asked her she said that she needs to stretch her wings and took off carrying her egg accompanied by Catalie.
After a full meal and long day, Don and Knight went towards their rooms to call it a day.
***********************
The next day everyone stood before Don in the throne hall waiting for his plans. Sitting on his throne Don was able to see the red eyes of many elves and dwarves, especially the drinking contest partic.i.p.ants Arwen and Stodemar.
"Alright I hope everyone had a good time but now it's time to focus on more important things"
As he said Don turned his gaze towards Amaryll
"I've been told that I'm being wasteful so first I'll choose Amaryll to take over the treasury"
At the moment he entered the throne room earlier Amaryll ran towards him carrying the wine bottle then started to lecture him about saving money and scolded him angrily. Having heard all the lectures on how much he can do with the price of a single wine bottle he realized Amaryll is a perfect person to take over the treasury.
Even though Amaryll knows nearly nothing about prices of somethings especially the fancy stuff the higher cla.s.s people use in the world but with the help of Uncle Dior she has the chance to learn and would never leave a penny unaccounted for. He just needs to bring her to the outside world more to make her learn about the prices and get some knowledge.
The important reason he chose her for this job is that Knight recommended her, apparently he saw this half-elf girl have the potential to be a leader and a good accountant, as well as Uncle Dior vouched for her so he decided to give her a chance.
However, some dwarves frowned and looked uncomfortable when they heard Don putting an elf to control the treasury but didn't speak their disagreement
"Amaryll will be fair to all of you if she doesn't I'll replace her but remember I've already said there will be no feud between races here don't make me say this again"
Seeing Don's stare, the hall became deathly silent and the dwarves who showed some hostility towards elves shut their mouths and looked frightened.
"Stodemar Dhursir I heard you guys are experts in building stuff?"
At the moment Don asked them this question the atmosphere lightened and dwarves had a proud grin on their faces
''its nae only me an' stodemar me king every dwarf be a born architect, with enough resources we cou' build anything"
Dhursir said as his voice was full of confidence and determination.
"Good you will be responsible for building houses for everyone here and everyone else should help them"
Don looked at everyone in the hall when he said the last part. The meaning for his look was very clear to them that they need to work together, the dwarves should help elves and the elves should help the dwarves in the construction.
The Oldman Dhursir seemed very happy to receive Don's order as he nodded his head enthusiastically and gave him an ear to ear grin.
"Next the most important thing is our forces, after building houses I want every able-bodied dwarf to join the army and start training I won't force you it's your choice to join or not"
Don expected to see the dwarves hesitate but unlike he thought the dwarves seemed very motivated and b.u.mped their fists together like some tradition. Even some female dwarves had excited faces when they heard Don.
"They really are hotblooded and battle lovers Don" Knight sent a telepathic message to Don when he saw the dwarves seemed very happy to join the army.
"Every person here will get their wage according to their contribution to our kingdom"
Don knew even if they get the wage from him they don't have anywhere to spend their money yet. However, when he starts conquering and expanding, this land would turn into a real kingdom. At that point, everyone who contributed to the kingdom could enjoy the life they wanted. Don knew that time isn't too long in his heart.
"but me king we do nae need any training we dwarves have battle skills in our blood"
Stodemar stepped forward with his buddies and punched the air to show his eagerness
"Is that so?" When Knight saw Stodemer and his group he slowly rose from his seat and stepped forward with an evil grin. On the other side, the fifty members' elven force couldn't help but shook their heads and looked at the dwarves with pity. They very well knew the meaning behind the evil grin of Knight.
"They're going to regret every word" Gael murmured under his breath and felt bad for the dwarves thinking the h.e.l.lish training Knight is going to put them through as he did with them.
