He was 50, half the age expected or normal, and he had argued with everyone about it. Both of his parents were dead, killed when he was a child, he had been raised in the light court. A communal child.

He exhaled, he'd never felt quite whole before, but standing here, outside the throne room, was the closest to it he'd ever gotten. So it must be the right choice. He pressed a hand to his chest, over his heart, where he had been blessed.

"Rhosyn." The herald announced his presence, and he nodded, smoothing the fine court tunic he was wearing.

He stepped into the throne room and smiled gently. His playmate sat on her throne, looking regal and more far away than ever. He felt his heart flutter.

Fae cannot make promises lightly.

He took nine paces forward, bowed low. He kneeled on one knee before the throne. "Your Majesty," He looked up and met timeless, ageless eyes, "I have come this day to swear myself to your service. To give you my oath of fealty, now, and forever."

Amestria had been told immediately - Rhosyn, the double-blessed (one of the few double-blessed fae alive and living in the Light Court today) wanted to swear his allegiance to her. Not only just to the Light Court, but to her, as a Queen. Very few people made vows such as this. The King had to make one to the Queen and vice versa when they were wed.

When she stepped from the throne, or until he died. Those were the only two ways this could be stopped, unless he wished to remain in service to the throne and be passed to the new Queen, which Amestria would've then had to have accepted the passing as well.

But she had a feeling, when Rhosyn told her he was doing it.. he would be loyal to her. Not the throne, but her. When he'd asked her opinion, she had merely smiled and continued their game. They'd been playmates since his parents had died. He turned into a communal fae, but not everyone could play all the time. There was school, and some fae children schooled at different times, so she'd always made herself available to him to play with. Her love and games made them instant playmates.. they got along excellently.

Now, here he was, and when the herald announced his name, a smile implanted itself onto her feature. As soon as he stepped in, she felt her heart fluttering, as she remembered his doing when she'd blessed him. She knew he'd be important to this Court. Pledging.. pledging so young.

Nine steps. A low bow, and he was suddenly looking at the floor instead of her. He then looked up, though remained in the bow, pledging himself to her. It was like a contract, she had to accept for it to be finalized, but she wouldn't deny anyone who wanted to make such a severe promise.

Amestria rose, gracefully, wearing what seemed to be a dress made of tree bark, only it was fabric, flowy and marvelous. No circlet, and her hair fell freely, though she was barefoot as always. She stepped forward lightly, until she was standing just a few paces in front of Rhosyn. He looked older than her - not by much, but certainly older. He was taller too, though it couldn't really be told when he was bowing.

She crouched, until they were eye level with each other. "I am honored by your request, my Little Rhosyn. Are you completely sure of this?" She asked. She would never deny him - but she did want to make sure. Naturally, she was honored - she was honored when anyone made this pledge, but it felt.. it felt different from Rhosyn. From Little Rhosyn.

Amestria leaned down before him and he felt his throat go dry. He met her eyes, saw that they were tinged with gentle concern, and he nodded. 'Little Rhosyn' she had always called him, little Rose. When he had asked her what she thought she had ignored him and, like most of the court, she probably felt he was too young.

It was not law to swear fealty, and many fae did not. When they did, they generally swore too serve "The court's best interest." The more specific the wording, the more powerful the oath.

"Yes, my lady." He said, voice strong as steel, "More sure than I have ever been in my life."

His life wasn't much yet, 50 paltry years.

"Please accept my oath." He whispered, half-afraid she would turn him away, "Please, allow me to swear my self and service to you, Amestria, Queen of the Light Court, brightest of lights."

Amestria had not thought him too young. She was actually thrilled when he'd mentioned it to her, but did not want to sway him either way. It was a path to a decision that one had to travel alone, and she knew the Court had already told him they didn't want him too.

Amestria did. Amestria didn't want him anywhere else but at her side, and the grin on her face at his reassurance told Rhosyn and everyone else in the room so.

More sure than he had ever been in his life. People were sure of few things in life - Rhosyn was sure he liked games, and he liked music. Apparently, also that he wanted to serve Amestria for his life or until she stepped down.

His voice - aside from the whisper - was stronger than ever. More sure than probably any words she'd heard from Rhosyn, and she felt her heart skip a few beats, dancing up into her throat. She rose to her feet, putting her hand on Rhosyn's left shoulder.

"I accept your offer of fealty, your allegiance to me, Rhosyn, and it is an honor to do so." She said, voice strong as his had been, her successfully swallowing her heart back into it's appropriate spot. She put two fingers under his chin, guiding him to stand, and meeting his eyes with hers once again. "I would never think of denying you anything you want, my Little Rhosyn." She whispered softly, before moving to envelope him in a hug.

"Congratulations." Maybe she'd have to actually start calling him Rhosyn now, instead of Little Rhosyn... "I'm grateful to have you, and your pledge." She said, stepping back with a bright grin. The two deer by her throne turned, seeming to notice the change. Someone new had pledged to their lady.

She put her right hand against Rhosyn's chest, right over his heart, where she had kissed him all those years ago, and she closed her eyes. "I hereby bless you, Rhosyn, so that you may be well-wished in all you do in your allegiance to me." There was a little pressure put onto his chest, just a little blessing. Protection, mostly, and a blessing of linking, merely enough so they would know if the other was close.

Rhosyn beamed, literally lightly the room around him, as his oath was accepted and Amestria said she could never deny him anything he truly wanted. When she pulled him too his feet he was a head taller than her. Elves grow faster than any fae, and take nearly the longest too 'mature', so they're usually sequestered in the court 'til they're 100 or so.

He wrapped his arms around her slender waist for the briefest of embraces, cheeks pinkening slightly as he did so. She pulled away and placed a hand to his breast, he felt his heart beat faster in recognition.

A bond, a link, so he would know when his Queen approached.
"I thank you." He bowed and stood a little taller than before. He had been deemed worthy to serve her.

Sure, she had never turned down an oath of fealty, almost no one ever did. Still she had accepted his, as young as he was. He kissed the knuckle of her ring finger lightly, and stood a little taller when he strode out of the room.

Amestria didn't really noticed the gentle flush on his cheeks, but she had of course noticed how his heart was fluttering as it had been around fifty years ago. As fast a newborn's, excited, happy, doing somersaults, much like her own was.

Why was she so pleased he had pledged? No one else had pleased her this much when pledging themselves to her. None to date, and she was sure he'd be the first and the last.

As he left, he stood taller, prouder. She could almost feel him, the new protection blessing (nothing impressive, once again, but just a little higher protection when he was in her service). What she noticed most of all was what she felt as Rhosyn left. Not just him getting further away from their new link. But something.. else. Like something inside of her was a weird combination of fuller - because he'd pledged himself to her - but yet.. so hollow, for he was leaving. Walking away.

Amestria beamed. It wasn't like he would ever leave the Light Court. This was his home, where he'd been raised. He'd always be just a quick walk away she thought, as she turned and once more sat gently into her throne. Rhosyn would forever be very important to the Light Court.