Without hesitation, he thrust his hand into a pocket and withdrew something that I couldn’t see. With it wrapped in his fist, he punched Alida in the side of the head, and she fell instantly.
One of the guards dropped to a knee beside her. But after a brief examination, he looked up in bewilderment, his eyes finding me.
“She’s dead.”
Before I could even process the words, a howl ripped through the air.
Randolph, grown strong in his rage and grief, flung his arms to the side, sending both the guards restraining him staggering back. He surged forward and wrapped his hands around Sterling’s neck. The many guards on the dais all raced to intervene, tripping over each other in the small space.
I saw Sterling aim another punch at Randolph’s side, and the giant man screamed in pain, his body swaying, but he didn’t let go. By the time the guards could pry him off, Sterling had slumped unresisting to the ground, his neck crushed.
I drew in a shuddering breath, still trying to process what had just occurred. It had all happened far too fast.
Randolph dropped to his knees beside Alida’s body and made no attempt to resist as my guards restrained him again, this time hurrying to bind him properly.
Alexander stepped forward to examine both bodies.
I watched in shock. “Are they truly both…”
He looked up and nodded, his face grim.
“But how did Sterling…?”
Alexander pointed at the dead man’s hand which was somehow still clasped in a tight fist, concealing whatever was inside.
“I suspect he had another object stashed away. Perhaps it gave his blow extra strength?”
“We can soon find out,” said one of the guards, reaching toward Sterling’s clasped hand, as if he meant to pry it open.
“No!” Alexander pushed him away. “Don’t touch it. Or him.” He looked at two of the guards. “No one is to touch him, his clothes, or any of his belongings without gloves. And I want his body and all his possessions burned. Immediately.”
He looked up at me, as if suddenly remembering I should be the one giving orders, but I signaled my agreement, and he stood.
“He made it out of Eldon with far too many of these objects for my liking,” he said to me quietly. “I’d rather not take any chances.”
I nodded fervently. “I couldn’t agree more.”
With reluctance my eyes moved to my stepmother’s fallen body. “But for her we should have a funeral.”
“A small one,” I added quickly at Alexander’s expression. “She was my stepmother, and queen for many years. She let her jealousy and hunger for power twist her, but it cannot have been easy to be married to a man in love with a ghost, presiding over a court who saw her always as inferior to her predecessor. She was the queen of Eliam once, and she shall have her grave beside my father and mother.”
“Grace becomes you, Queen Blanche,” said my grandfather, approaching our small huddle.
“Please,” I said, reaching out to him, “you at least must continue to call me Snow.”
“Very well, if you desire it.”
“And you must be my regent, of course.”
He hesitated. “Are you sure that is what you want? I haven’t always been here for you.”
“No,” I said, acknowledging the truth of his words, “but you have been here for me when it mattered most. I would not have my throne without you, and I would prefer to rule with your wisdom and guidance beside me.”
As we spoke, my guards had cleared the dais of prisoners and the deceased. Most of the enemy guards from the main room had already been led away, the last few still trickling from the room. The court, however, remained, some looking elated and others shocked and subdued.
“It is time for you to take your throne, my queen,” said my grandfather, gesturing toward my father’s grand chair.
I licked my lips and stepped slowly forward, my eyes trained upon it. How many times had I seen my father sit there? How many times had I heard him dispense his wisdom, guidance, and judgment from it?
I glanced back at my grandfather. My father had been weak in some ways—it was true. But he had been strong in others. I had determined already how I would rule—with those I trusted beside me to balance out my own weaknesses and bring wisdom where I had a lack. And my father had a place among them, although he no longer lived to guide me in person.
But he had spent a lifetime teaching me about what it meant to rule, a lifetime showing me love and kindness. I would not forget his strengths, or throw away the many valuable lessons he had taught me, just because he hadn’t been perfect. None of us were perfect, after all.
Drawing in calm and peace with each breath, I turned to face the court and sat at last in my father’s throne.
“Long live the queen! Long live the queen!” The cries rang on and on, servants appearing at the back and sides of the room to join in the cheer.
When I held up my hands for quiet, it took a long time to come. When at last silence fell, I took a moment to gaze out over my people.
“Thank you,” I said finally. “Thank you for trusting me to rule you. I swear I will always do so to the best of my abilities. But I know I am still young. Both law and wisdom tell me I must have a regent to stand beside me—for a few more years, at least. I name the duke of Lestern, my maternal grandfather, as my regent. Does anyone here wish to refute his right to the position?”
This time the silence was complete, not so much as a rustle or a cough breaking the stillness.
“Very well, then.” I gestured for him to take the smaller seat to my side. “Take your place, Prince Regent.”
“I am humbled by your trust, Your Majesty,” he said loudly, with a deep bow. “And I look forward to the day when you will rule alone.”
The crowd burst into further cheering as he sat, order breaking down as people moved to embrace each other, laughter on many lips.
I turned to my grandfather.
“I hope I shall never truly be alone in my rule.”
“No, I hope not as well.” A small smile curved his mouth, and his eyes traveled past me to someone lurking on the edge of the dais.
As courtiers began to leave the room—rushing no doubt to spread the news to their families and the capital at large—I turned and looked into Alexander’s face.
Chapter 31
Thoughts of the heart had been pushed aside amid the action and unexpected violence of the past minutes. But one look at Alexander’s face brought it rushing back. My lips tingled from the memory of his pressed against them.
“Go,” said my grandfather, “some things shouldn’t wait.”
I jumped to my feet, but then my steps moved slowly as I crossed over to look up at Alexander.
“Snow—” he started, but I shook my head.
“Not here.”
I slipped over to the small door that led into the royal reception room to one side of the thrones. He hesitated for only the briefest second before following me.
When we stood alone at last, quiet surrounding us, I felt my muscles relax. I wanted to throw myself into his arms but, despite our kiss, there were words that needed to be spoken first.
“Your Majesty.” He bowed to me, lower than he ever had before. When he straightened, a broad smile had transformed his face. “You did it. The kingdom is yours.”
I shook my head, closing the small distance between us.
“No. We did it. We have been in it together since the beginning. This is both of our triumph.”
“I will happily share anything with you, Snow,” he whispered, a look on his face that made me shiver.
“You saved me,” I whispered back.
“I told you on that first night that I would never let Randolph hurt you.”
I gave a quick shake of my head. “I wasn’t thinking of Randolph. I was thinking of the enchantment. Of what Gertie said…” I could feel the flush on my face. Her words echoed in my mind. True love.
A shadow of
horror and pain filled his face, and he reached out to grip my arms, although I wasn’t sure he was even aware of having done so.
“I was frantic when we couldn’t find you this morning. We raced to court, hoping you’d come ahead of us, although Tarver stayed back to look…And then I saw you.” He drew a deep, shuddering breath. “When I saw you lying there…”
“Don’t think of that,” I said hurriedly, leaning into his arms but keeping my eyes on his. “I’m alive. Alive and well.”
“Thank goodness.” His hands tightened. “Or I don’t know what I would have done.”
“You have always looked after me, Alex. And now…now I need to know why.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, his eyes sliding away from mine.
I just leaned in closer. “Yes, you do. You know how I feel. And I thought I knew how you felt. But then that kiss.” I shook my head. “It freed me, Alex. So I need to know. Do you love me?”
“Love you?” He pulled away, stepping back from me. “You ever doubted it? Of course I love you. I can’t remember a time—even as a young boy—when I didn’t love you.”
I stared at him, my eyes wide and my heart hammering. “But in the forest, you…And you said…”
“Snow, you are my queen. That is how I must love you. Not…not as a woman.” He swallowed. “Whatever my heart might tell me.”
“Alex.” I stepped forward, closing the gap between us again. “You’re my oldest and dearest friend. You must know that you’re more than just a huntsman. Even my father regarded you more like a son. I think…I think that secretly he always hoped for this.”
“And what is this?” he asked, his voice tormented. His eyes dropped to my lips.
“True love, of course,” I whispered.
I swayed forward, but I didn’t need to. Alexander was already closing the distance between us, pulling me into his arms as his lips came down over mine.
A different sort of fire raced through me, and my head spun. I clung to him, and he held me tighter. When he at last pulled away, we stared at each other, both of our breathing ragged.
“Snow, I—”
“Don’t you dare apologize!” I cut him off. “Don’t you dare apologize for the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Snow.” I could feel his chest vibrating with his chuckle. “Snow, you just won a throne.”
I shook my head. “I don’t care. This was better. You’re better than any throne.”
“But Snow…” He shook his head helplessly. “I’m just a huntsman.”
“No.” I glared at him. “You’re strong and loyal and smart. You’re the best friend anyone could ever ask for. You have always been there for me—to get me into trouble and back out again.” I grinned up at him. “And I don’t want this throne if I can’t have you sitting in the one beside me. I know I said I wanted you as my Chief Adviser, but it isn’t true. I want you as my king.”
He tried to ease away from me. “But surely you should have someone more fitting. An alliance, perhaps…”
I held on more tightly, gripping him close. “My grandfather has connections enough. And he can handle any alliances—political ones only. I’m marrying for something far more important. Love.” I lifted an eyebrow at him. “And I’m sure my godmother would agree.”
“Well…” He chuckled again and relaxed against me. “If you’re going to bring the godmothers into it…”
“I meant what I said earlier. We’re returning to the old laws. And I seem to remember they said something about a kingdom prospering as long as it was ruled by true love.”
“In that case,” he said, his eyes devouring my face, “Eliam will be the most prosperous kingdom anyone has ever seen.” And he pressed his lips against mine once more.
“So you really love me?” I asked when we came up for air. “I can hardly believe it. I thought you still saw me as a child. One to be protected and pitied. I thought that was why you kept things from me. And why you pulled away.”
He looked at me in astonishment. “Believe me Snow, my issue was not that I saw you as a child. My issue was that I love you too well. I couldn’t bear the thought of causing you pain or seeing you in danger. As for pulling away, I thought your feelings for me came from loneliness and fear. I couldn’t let myself believe they could be true.” He paused. “Are you sure they are?”
I laughed. “You just want me to start praising you again, don’t you? I can if you like. I could go on about your excellence all day.”
He grinned wryly. “Please don’t. You might make me blush.”
“Very well then. You can praise me instead.” I smiled at him cheekily. “And tell me again how much you love me. I think it will be a while before it truly sinks in.”
He shook his head. “No one else will be bemused by it, I assure you. How could anyone help loving you, Snow? Your kind heart, your hidden strength. Your faithfulness. You’ve borne a burden no one should have to bear for all these years as your father wasted away. And now you bear another one just as big. And yet still you stand tall.”
“Only because I have you beside me,” I whispered.
He placed his forehead against mine. “I will never leave you, Snow. All the days of my life.”
“Excellent,” said a hearty voice behind us. “I assume that’s all settled then?”
We pulled guiltily apart, turning together to face my grandfather. But Alexander’s hand snuck out and twined into mine, and I gave him a small sideways smile.
“Yes, yes, it’s all very touching, no need to convince me,” my grandfather said, but the twinkle in his eyes belied his wry tone.
“As regent, I’ll have to insist on a long betrothal, I’m afraid. You are still only sixteen, Snow. But I doubt we’ll get any real objections from the court to the marriage.” He smiled a knowing smile. “I doubt we’ll even get much surprise.”
I flushed and looked down at the ground.
Alexander squeezed my hand. “You know I would wait forever for you, Snow.”
I looked up to meet his eyes, my flush disappearing, replaced by contentment.
“I’m sure the time will pass quickly enough,” said my grandfather. “You have a great many laws and decrees to consider and pass, Granddaughter.”
I grimaced. “Yes, most of them repeals of anything my stepmother put in place, I imagine. There will be a fair amount of cleaning up to do. But some things we should get to sooner rather than later. Like the plight of the poor servants here. And those outrageous taxes.”
My grandfather nodded. “Yes, I don’t think you’ll have any protests on your choice of a king. Not when you mean to start your reign like that.”
I smiled at another thought. “And a longer betrothal will give the children time to adjust to court before they’re asked to stand up as my attendants.”
“All of them?” Alexander looked a little dismayed, but I just grinned at him.
“Of course! It is going to be a large wedding, you know. And I couldn’t leave any of them out.”
“Even Anthony?” He raised an eyebrow at me, and I giggled.
“Perhaps Ben and Anthony can be your attendants.”
“I’m sure he’ll like that so much better,” he muttered.
“And Gertie!” I exclaimed.
My grandfather regarded me with a skeptical look. “You want your maid to be your attendant too?”
“What? Oh, no. I’m sure she would hate it. She’ll want to help me get dressed, though.” I smiled at the thought of my wedding dress. What would it look like?
“Snow?” My grandfather’s long-suffering voice pulled me back into the moment.
“I just meant that we must find some way to reward her. She saved me twice over, you know.”
“Yes, indeed.” He nodded. “Perhaps we can find some way to express our gratitude to all the servants. This wouldn’t have gone so smoothly without them.”
“Oh?” I stared at him, but it was Alexander who answered.
“W
e thought our guards would have to fight their way into the castle grounds, at least to gain initial entry. But, lo and behold, just before the court began to arrive, a side gate popped open and servants began streaming out.” He gave me a knowing look. “Apparently someone suggested they might want to get out before the excitement started. And that a side gate would be a good way to do it. Only a good number of them seemed more interested in letting us in than getting themselves out.”
“Talking about that warning…” My grandfather narrowed his eyes at me.
I quickly shook my head. “I know it was unutterably foolish of me, but I refuse to talk about it today. Not when everything has worked out so well, and I’m so very happy.” I flicked a sideways glance at Alexander, his hand still strong and warm in mine, before focusing back on my grandfather. “You can both berate me about it all day tomorrow, if you like.”
When my grandfather opened his mouth, I cut in.
“You can consider that a royal order.”
He grinned reluctantly and shook his head. “Very well, my queen. All remonstrances will be left for the morrow. What about advice, though? Are you open to hearing that?”
“Of course. Always.”
“I’ve received reports about those children of yours. And they seem to be extremely happy in Lestern.”
I nodded. “They did seem to love it there. Especially being on the coast.”
“Well, I’m not sure they’d love it so much here at court.”
“But—”
“He does have a point, Snow,” said Alexander quietly. “Of course I would love to have them here, but they would be neither servants nor nobles. Can you really see them enjoying being stuck here as something in between, with no real purpose or place?”
I sighed. “No, of course not. But I’ve destroyed their refuge. I can’t leave them without a home, and this is the only one I have to offer.”
“Well, I admit to having a thought on that,” said my grandfather. “The most detailed report I have received on their well-being came from a rather unlikely place—the captain of my guards.”
A Dream of Ebony and White: A Retelling of Snow White (Beyond the Four Kingdoms Book 4) Page 25