by Brian Murray
Felix looked at his father in distress, groaned, and rushed away.
Marva put her arm around his husband’s waist and smiled. “He is growing up, Kron. I don’t want to lose him.”
“Well, let’s make sure it is to a good maiden.”
Marva rested her head on Krondo’s shoulder and whispered, “Aye.” Tears of joy welled in her eyes.
***
Humming happily, Christie made her way to the palace and walked cautiously up to the Royal Lancer on guard duty.
The guard saw her approaching him and broke his military etiquette, smiling and nodding towards the maid.
“Morning, Christie,” he said, glancing around, realising he had broken a rule.
“Good morning. I have a guest arriving just before midday. He will be joining me for a picnic in the eastern gardens.” Palace procedure demanded that the guards on duty be notified of any guests arriving, or they would be refused entry into the grounds.
“And who is your guest?”
“It’s Felix, son of Krondo the baker.”
“I know the young man, his entry will be approved and I’ll send him through upon arrival,” said the guard, smiling inside his helm.
“Thank you very much,” said Christie, and with a twirl, she hurried off to the kitchens with her supplies.
At the palace, Christie dropped off the supplies with the cook, then rushed off to her room and changed into her maid’s uniform of a long, grey dress with a white, high-collared blouse. She could not lose the smile now fixed on her face. Returning to the kitchen, she prepared the tray for the queen’s guests, then hurried through the palace. She could not wait to get to the room and tell them her news. Over the past few weeks, Christie had come to know Ireen and Megan reasonably well. They surprised her by asking her opinions and found them very pleasant, definitely not snobbish at all.
Christie knocked on the door and entered when she received a reply. To her surprise, Princess Sasha was also there to break her fast.
“They are just getting ready, you can leave the tray on the table.”
“Yes ma’am,” said Christie, curtsying, disappointed that she could not tell Ireen and Megan her news.
“Is that Christie, Sasha?” called Megan from an adjoining room.
The princess looked at the girl for a long moment and Christie gave a slight nod.
“Yes.”
“Ask her to wait a minute, please.”
The princess looked at the maid and Christie moved over to the door, out of her way, with her head bowed. Ireen entered the room first, smiling, then Megan bounded in. “Well, tell us, did he?”
Christie wanted to share her news, but looked shyly at the princess.
“Oh, Sasha, Christie is sweet on the baker’s son, Felix, and today we were sure he would ask her to walk out with him.”
Princess Sasha loved gossip and leant forward. “Well Christie, what happened? Come here, sit down,” she said, patting the sofa next to her.
The girls huddled together. “Well, I’m meeting Felix in the gardens during my midday break and he’s bringing a picnic along.”
All the girls giggled. “Details?”
“Well, he was stammering over his words so I decided to ask him,” announced the proud maid.
“You asked a boy out?” spluttered Princess Sasha, astonished.
Ireen and Megan laughed. “Of course you can ask a boy out, especially if the boy is
shy,” announced Megan.
“He made me my favourite pastry in the shape of a butterfly with a fresh cream filling. And his father gave me a loaf of cheesy bread for my mother.”
“Oh my, a loaf of bread,” said the princess, mocking a gasp with her hand in front of her mouth. “Now if he had given you jewellery or silk clothes, I would have been impressed. But a pastry?”
“Well, that’s because you’re a princess,” stormed Christie, suddenly angry. “My presents were given to me personally. Has anyone made you a pastry? Put their love into the gift? I think not!” Christie rose and left the room, her happiness dampened by the princess’s rudeness.
Megan turned on Sasha, snapping, “You don’t understand, do you? Christie received a gift. A gift from the man she likes, so it doesn’t matter about the worth. The man put time and effort into it. He put love and pride into it.”
“But a pastry,” sneered the Princess Sasha, laughing.
“Well, let me tell you this,” began Ireen. “The best present I have ever received was a hug from my father after I thought he was dead. How do you measure that? You cannot give it a coin value; it is a gift from the heart. That’s what Christie received. Felix is a baker’s son learning his trade. The best gift he can give as a suitor is what he is good at. There’s no reason for him to buy her silks or gold. Likely she will be a baker’s wife, so gold and silk will not make a life for them. It will be a life made of love and happiness. You, unfortunately, do not know what that means.”
“Thank heavens I do not know what it is to be a commoner,” said Sasha. “To receive such a poor gift.”
Ireen sighed and Megan held her anger in check, but her eyes blazed with emotion.
“Well, thanks to Megan here, I have come to learn to respect all people,” said Ireen proudly. “Each person has a gift and everyone in their own way is special.”
Sasha snorted a response.
At that moment, the queen walked into the room. “Here you all are. I have just seen Christie running down the hall in tears. What happened?”
“Larene, I have been trying to explain to your daughter that gifts of love cannot be measured in coin,” explained Ireen.
To Sasha’s surprise, her mother agreed.
“Aye, the best present I have ever received was the love of my husband and two children.” Then Larene became silent, as she thought about her missing son. She missed Zane deeply.
“I would hate to be a commoner,” barked the Rhaurien princess, faking exasperation.
“I never brought you up to be a snob, Sasha,” snapped the queen. “You are cursed with your father’s arrogance and I hate it. Your father has mellowed and now treats all equally. You could take a lesson from Zane. He treats everyone the same; talks to everyone at their level. He even goes out of the palace and meets people in taverns and such.”
The queen suddenly realised what she had said in her anger and immediately wished to take it back. By telling Sasha, she had told her husband and he would instantly put a stop to it.
“That’s not fair, Mother,” said Sasha, astonished.
Ireen and Megan remained silent, feeling awkward as the queen chastised her daughter.
“I will not say any more. But you had better learn, and learn quickly, or you will find you have no friends.”
“But mother . . .” A knock on the door interrupted Sasha. The queen’s maid entered the room, beaming with a smile. “Your Highness, I thought you would want this note straight away.”
“Put it on my table. I will be there shortly,” said the queen, still seething, intent on correcting her daughter’s snobbery.
“Your Highness, it is from Ubert. I think you should read it now,” the maid insisted.
The queen looked up at the smiling maid, took the note, and instantly recognised the seal. Looking up at her heavily pregnant maid, she smiled. The queen swiftly broke the seal, unfolded the parchment and started to read. Tears of delight flowed down her face.
“What is it, Mother?”
The queen held the letter close to her chest and wept, rocking backwards and forwards. She smiled and looked at Sasha.
“It is from your brother. Zane is alive.”
The only emotion Sasha showed was a meek smile. The queen’s maid stood by the door, silently weeping at her mistress’s joy.
Megan moved and sat next to the older woman, knowing how much she had been fretting over her missing son. “I am so pleased, your Highness,” she said softly.
The queen hugged Megan and through her sobs whispered,
“My boy lives.” She looked up at her crying maid and mouthed silently, “Thank you.”
Ireen looked at Sasha with anger. Here was her mother crying with joy over news that her son Zane lived, but Sasha just sat there, showing no emotion. Tears of joy even flowed down Ireen’s face. How cold this girl is, thought Ireen. She needed to have a lesson like the one Ireen had received when forced to leave her palace in Kal-Pharina and travel here to Teldor. But her thoughts remained unsaid.
***
Christie tried to put the conversation with Sasha behind her as she continued her chores. No sooner had she left her room, it seemed she was hurrying back to her room. She just had time to bathe and wash her hair.
Christie heard a knock on her door and called, “Come in.”
Ireen and Megan entered the room, smiling broadly.
“What are you two doing here?” asked Christie, puzzled.
Ireen lifted up a dress and looked at Megan inquisitively.
“I hope this will fit. What do you think?” asked the Phadrine princess mischievously.
“You can’t go on your first date without a dress to fit the occasion,” added Megan. “The queen told us to ensure you’re dressed correctly.”
Christie beamed a smiled and looked at the dress. She started to cry. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
“Enough of that, we have some work to do here,” announced Megan, hugging the girl.
The three young women spent the morning laughing and joking. Half an hour before midday, Christie stepped from her room, smiling broadly, looking every part a princess and radiating happiness. With her hair tied up and lips painted, she looked wonderful.
“I think you are ready for your tryst,” said Ireen, admiring their work on the maid.
“Yes, I’m sure Felix will be surprised,” added Megan happily.
***
Felix had rushed around all morning completing his chores. His father felt for the boy as he remembered his first encounter with his mother and how nervous he had been. About an hour before midday, he called his son over.
“Fee, I think you should get ready for your lunch. You have a picnic to make.”
Felix looked at his father and cursed. “Time passed so quickly . . . I . . . I . . .”
“Well, you are lucky your mother did have time,” said the boy’s father, pointing to a workbench where a hamper sat with a blanket draped across the top.
Felix smiled and ran into the shop where his mother was serving a customer. Rushing up, he planted a kiss on her cheek and said, “Thanks ma. What would I do without you?”
“Well, I’m not having the girl thinking you cannot make a hamper,” said Marva, pinching her son’s cheek playfully.
Felix rushed out of the shop and up to his room where on his bed laid his best clothes, all neatly pressed. He entered the washroom and had a bath, singing merry tunes, hitting all the wrong notes. But it did not matter, he was happy.
Felix combed his hair and looked at his reflection. His curls would not behave but apart from his hair, he looked every bit a gentleman. He smiled and winked at himself.
Proudly, he walked downstairs and entered the bakery, where his father whistled.
“Now, is that what my son looks like?”
“Oh Father, I have to put up with mother, you don’t have to start.”
His father walked to his son, smiling broadly, and fixed his cloak.
“Now boy, you enjoy yourself and always listen. Women like to talk and like their man to listen to them talking. So you just listen and take an interest, no matter how boring. You hear me?” Still smiling, Krondo handed his son the hamper basket and blanket. “Oh, and remember to put your cloak down for Christie to sit on.”
“Yes, Father,” whined Felix, kicking the floor softly.
As Felix left the shop, Krondo put an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“He’s all grown up now, Kron.”
“I know.”
A tear came to Marva’s eye as Felix passed the big shop window and waved goodbye. She sighed and busied herself with serving customers to take her mind off her emotions.
Felix rushed along to the palace, making sure his shoes were shiny and his hands remained clean. He arrived at the palace gate and smiled at the guard.
“You must be Felix,” the guard said.
“Yes, sir.”
“You are to go to the eastern gardens and Christie will join you there,” said the guard, pointing down a path.
“Thank you, sir,” said Felix, bowing his head slightly.
“There’s no need to bow at me, son. Enjoy your lunch.”
Then it struck Felix; the guard knew his name and what he was doing in the palace. He nodded to himself, thinking it was probably procedure. Felix walked around the side of the palace and entered the household’s private gardens. He marvelled at the colours of all the flowers and the neatly cut lawns. Walking on, he admired the roses and other flowers and the sweet scents they released. Even at the end of summer season, the garden still looked and smelled absolutely gorgeous to Felix. Looking around, he put down his hamper, reached into a rose bush, and picked a pure white rose. He admired the flower and decided he would present it to Christie.
Picking up his hamper, he turned the corner and stopped. Christie was gliding towards him, accompanied by two other girls. But they did not matter to him – she did. Christie was dressed in a yellow and white frock; her hair had been pulled up, showing her slender neck. Speechless, Felix stood stock-still, unable to move. Meekly, Christie walked up to Felix, who still in shock at her beauty as he held up his rose.
“Oh my!” he said, his eyes wide.
Christie took the white rose and smiled sheepishly. “Felix, let me introduce my friends,” she purred sweetly.
“My!” Felix repeated, just managing to drag his eyes off the girl.
“This is Ireen and this is Megan, princesses from Phadrine.”
Felix shook their hands, then realised they were princesses and bowed low. “Forgive my rudeness, your Highnesses.”
The girls giggled and Ireen said, “Get up, man, there is no need for that, we are friends.”
“If I had known your friends were coming, I would have brought more food.”
Again the girls giggled and Megan said, “We’re only here to make sure you’re presentable for our friend. Now that we are satisfied we will leave you two love birds alone.”
Christie looped her arm into Felix’s arm and led him to a picnic area on neatly cut grass. When they arrived, Felix quickly unbuckled his cloak, placing it neatly on the ground. He then took Christie’s hand and gently lowered her until she sat on his cloak.
He unrolled the blanket and sat down next to her.
“I thought the rose was one of the most beautiful things I had seen. But at this moment the rose is ugly when held in your hand.”
“Thank you, Felix,” said Christie, blushing at the compliment.
“You look absolutely perfect, the most beautiful creature in the entire world. I mean it, truly beautiful.”
Christie’s smile broadened as she looked into his eyes. The two enjoyed every moment of their picnic; eating beef sandwiches made with Krondo’s cheesy bread and some pastries washed down with fresh apple juice. As soon as they sat down together, it seemed time to leave. Felix felt so happy; he did not want the moment to end.
“If I could stay here forever, I would be the happiest man in the Kingdom,” he announced dreamily.
Leaning over, Christie kissed Felix on the cheek. “Thank you for a beautiful picnic.”
He blushed. “Well, to be honest, my ma made the food.”
Christie leaned over and kissed him again on the cheek, smiling. “In that case, give that to your ma.”
“I don’t think it will be the same,” said Felix bashfully.
“We’d better go, someone wants to meet you,” said Christie, rising. Felix put away the blanket, picked up his cloak, and dusted it free of crumbs. Putting on his
cloak and fixing the clasp, he asked, “Who is that?”
“The queen.”
Felix froze on the spot, unable to move. “Why does she want to see me?”
“I don’t know and neither will you, unless you go.”
Felix nervously packed away the rest of the hamper, ensuring he picked up everything. Then taking him by the arm, Christie led Felix to the queen’s private chambers, through what Felix thought a never-ending maze of corridors linking the rooms of the palace. Every door looked the same, dark, varnished wood, and if not for the different paintings and sculptures, every corridor would have been identical. Finally, Christie stopped at a door and knocked.
Felix waited, relaxing when there was no immediate reply. Then the dreaded reply came, “Come in.”
They entered the room and sat behind a large wooden desk, the queen looked up and smiled warmly.
“Ah, Christie, this must be Felix? It’s a pleasure to meet you, young man.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” replied Felix bowing awkwardly.
“Now, Felix, to matters at hand. I understand you made Christie here a pastry that is better than the ones I have been receiving. Why is that?”
Felix stood motionless and immediately answered, “I do not intend to wed you your Highness.” Suddenly, he realised what he had said and his cheeks flushed.
This shocked even the queen, who looked at Christie, who seemed just as surprised. The queen’s smile broadened and she replied, “There is nothing I can say to that, is there?”
Felix grinned at the queen, but did not answer. He was as surprised at his answer as the other two in the study.
“Well,” began the queen, “you look absolutely beautiful, Christie. I will see you tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Thank you, your Highness,” Christie replied with a curtsy.
Felix again bowed awkwardly.
The two left the queen’s chambers and wound their way back through the maze of the palace, not saying a word to each other. They stopped at Christie’s room, where she collected the gift for her mother from Krondo. Finally, to Felix’s relief, they reached the gardens and he took a deep breath. Christie stopped and turned Felix to face her.