Young Writers Society

Arryn and Soren exchanged a glance and then Soren sighed. "Guard," he called out and the door opened immediately. "Please escort our guest to a suitable room. He'll be joining us for dinner."

The guard nodded and stepped aside, waiting for Leo to move. Arryn grimaced and slid out from beneath Soren's arm, shifting uncomfortably and crossing his arms over his chest. The entire situation was really weird to him, and he didn't like. He eyed the lion cub again, waiting for an order or any indication of what was going to happen next--once Leo had left the room. He had a pretty good idea, but he wasn't going to voice it. Especially not with Leo still in the room. He'd let Soren guide the rest of this interaction.

Still carefully holding Molly, he left the room.

It was only when he was outside that he finally put her down - there was no need to keep holding her, especially when they were walking. Molly could use the chance to get some energy out; maybe he'd actually be able to get her to sleep for once.

Nearly an hour and a half later, Arryn was sitting in the private dining hall in the Royal Wing, watching as his king bent over some paperwork with a little frown. Arryn sighed and leaned back in his seat with a wince, then shit Soren a glare. By the tiny tilt to his lips, it was clear that Soren knew that Arryn was mad at him.

"So, what's the plan for our unannounced guest?" he asked, slanting a sly look at his king. Soren glanced up and tilted his head.

"What do you mean?" the king said, and snorted. "I have no plans."

Arryn's gaze narrowed. "You always have a plan."

"I do not."

"Yes, you do."

Right as Soren opened his mouth to reply, the door opened. He snapped his mouth shut and turned towards it expectantly. Arryn rolled his eyes and followed suit.

His hope that Molly would fall asleep was for nothing - by the time they were entering the dining hall, Molly was still a bundle of energy. She had been running around his legs the entirety of the walk, and it was only his experiences with her that prevented him from tripping over the energetic cub multiple times.

Molly went to dart forward, but stayed back when Maahes said her name under his breath. She turned back and gave him a guilty look before slinking back over to his side.

"Leo," Soren said cooly, and shot Arryn a dark look. "Come, take a seat."

"Dinner's about to be served," Arryn added, glancing towards Leo, and then Molly. "I think Soren had some meat set aside for Molly?"

"I did," the king said, gaze back on the paperwork in front of him. "Now, please be quiet for a few minutes so I can finish signing this paperwork."

"Boring," Arryn muttered, sparing Leo a sly grin. "He's been doing this for half an hour now."

"I do 'this' all day, Arryn."

"You only stop when I demand attention--"

"Arryn."

Arryn just grinned widely and shifted in his seat with another wince. "So," he said, focusing on Leo. "Any idea how you're gonna get back to wherever you came from?"

He picked a seat that was closer to Arryn than it was to Soren. He wasn't sure if that would come across as offensive or not, but he felt much safer near him.

"I'm not sure yet," he quietly admitted, trying to keep his voice down for Soren. "I've been in similar situations before, so it might just be solved through waiting. I'm hoping I can find something to bring me home, or someone I know will find a way to, but I'm really not sure-"

He had planned on saying more, but then he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see that Molly had jumped up onto the chair beside him, peeking up over the top of the table at the three men with an eager look to her big eyes.

Arryn also caught the movement and glanced towards the lion cub. "She's adorable," he whispered, leaning forwards slightly to get a better look. "Wait, why does she have a mischievous look in her eyes? She's not gonna get on the table or something, is she?"

Soren snorted. "She had better not," he said without looking up from his paperwork. "I'd hate to have to explain that to our servants." He flipped a page carefully and then signed the next one with a flourish. "As for how you'll get home, I have no idea. I suppose that when it happens, it will happen."

Maahes gave her a stern look, but she refused to get off of the chair.

"I think she knows she's not supposed to do that when we're not home," he said. Technically, she wasn't ever supposed to do that, but Vala and Arin were a terrible combo when it came to getting Molly to stop doing things. Vala especially didn't reprimand her, even though Maahes knew that she would eventually start doing it outside of their home - like right now.

"Hmm," Soren hummed, still reading his paperwork. "Well, if she does get on the table, my sister may have a heart attack. Or she'll think the poor thing adorable and beg to keep her."

Arryn cast his king a look. "Charna woudn't--"

Soren snorted again, a slight smile tilting his lips up. "She would," he said and signed another piece of paper before flicking to the next. "And dinner will be served in a few minutes. I just have to sign a few warrants and the like."

Arryn sighed and slouched down in the chair with another wince. "Typical," he muttered, scowling. "Just make everyone wait, why don't you..."

"Arryn."

"What? It's not like you don't like making people wait."

Soren glanced up to fix Arryn with a stern look. "I'm King," he said by way of explanation and went back to signing his papers. Arryn rolled his eyes and sulked. "My word is law."

Maahes sat stiffly and awkwardly in his seat. Being stuck in the middle of an argument was something he doubted he would ever get used to - he never knew what to say or do. And, given who he was dealing with, he doubted that interrupting right now was a good idea.

His gaze returned to Molly.

Who had put both of her front paws on the table, and was giving him an incredibly adorable look. Any worries that he had momentarily faded away - even when she refused to get her paws off of the table. He had to lean over and push them off, but she thankfully kept them on the chair afterwards. The only indication that the incident had ever happened was the loud purr that left her right afterwards.

Arryn watched Leo and Molly interact with a small smile, even as he studiously ignored Soren and his stupid paperwork. The cub was being a brat, but at least she wasn't putting her paws on the table anymore--which was probably because Soren kept glancing towards her.

Finally, after a few more minutes, Soren set aside the pile of papers, ink and quill, and leaned back in his seat. He gazed steadily across the table at Leo and Molly, completely ignoring the servant who collected the papers, ink and quill.

"So, now that you're done," Arryn said, tone bordering on insubordinate. "Can we finally eat?"

"Yes, Arryn," Soren muttered with an eye roll and reached out to grab his glass. His gaze flickered back over to Leo. "There's nothing that might make you sick if you eat it, is there?"

Leo shook his head.

"There isn't anything," he reassured him. It was a well practiced lie that he had been using for years. He couldn't eat like the human he was supposed to be could; his essence didn't like anything that wasn't essence. But he knew how to feign humanity well enough to not protest food, and also knew how to be polite in the presence of someone important like these two.

His gaze turned to Molly. He wasn't sure if they were going to get her any kind of food, but he could always share some of his if there was meat involved - it was the only thing she really was supposed to eat when she was her actual self.