by Lisa Heaton
Her expression made him falter. Her brown eyes were pooled with tears and he watched as she blinked and blinked trying to chase them away. She was stronger than she knew. Any lesser woman would allow her emotions to rule her.
“There is so much to look forward to in Kidian. Truly, there is. Our kingdom has suffered loss after loss. They need the hope you will bring. They need the queen you will be. I believe in you, that you will bring a breath of fresh air into a people who have known many sorrows.
“You have nothing to fear, or I assure you I would never take you there.”
Isabel repeated what she had heard from Elias. “He’s a good man.”
Elias nodded.
“I will honor him because of that,” Isabel said.
“He is worthy of honor.” Elias closed his eyes. “Yours and mine.” He looked back at her. “So again I ask that you forgive me that I have dishonored the man you will marry.”
“And I ask you to forgive me for dishonoring your king.”
For a moment they sat in silence. Finally, Elias smiled. “If you could grant me one wish.”
She smiled in return. “What would that wish be?”
“That you would remain my friend.”
“Wish granted. To arrive in your kingdom as a stranger, with a friend and ally such as yourself, will be a great blessing to me.”
He nodded. “You couldn’t do much better.”
That made her chuckle.
“Commander?”
“Yes, Princess?”
“Thank you for saving my heart from confusion.”
“It is my job to always protect you, to watch over you.”
“As Commander of the Palace Guard?”
He lifted his glass to her. “That, too.”
***
The party was underway at first light the following morning, and just as in those first days of travel, Isabel was trapped within the walls of her carriage, seeing only a blur of the countryside as they passed by. Because she was constrained and with the bumps and rocking of the carriage, she became nauseous at times. By the time they stopped to eat at midday, she could barely get anything down.
“I was thinking, Commander,” she said as she nibbled on a piece of bread, “that I should ride along with you on horseback.”
“Absolutely not.”
She said no more. Instead, she set her bread on her napkin and looked out at the meadow before them, taking advantage of her freedom and the gentle breeze for her last moments.
“Aren’t you going to argue?”
Isabel cut her eyes around to look at him and grinned. “Is that what you expect, for me to argue?”
“I would expect nothing less.”
“What do you think would be my argument?”
He thought for a moment. “I believe you question my decision, presuming I am being overly protective. And that you are in just as much danger inside a carriage as on horseback. A wheel could fall off and the carriage could crash. No such thing would happen with a horse. You wonder why men are allowed to ride exposed to the elements and a woman is confined to a carriage when everyone knows women are the stronger gender. You can withstand childbirth and raising children, while men, on the other hand, can’t bear to watch a woman cry without weakening.” He smiled at her expression. “Shall I go on?”
“No, Commander. You’ve done a wonderful job arguing my point.” Isabel could hardly contain her laughter at this amusing man. “Have you won yourself over?”
“Absolutely. You may ride until we break for camp tonight.”
“I am truly skilled at diplomacy. I will make for a persuasive queen.”
“You will, indeed.”
“May I ask you, Princess, what was to be your argument?” He looked at her with brows raised. “I know you had one in mind.”
“That riding contained in the carriage is making me more and more nauseous the farther we travel.”
His smile faded. “Have you felt that way all morning?”
“Yes, most of it.”
His tone was gentle, filled with concern. “You should have told me. I would have stopped sooner.”
“No need. You have talked my overprotective commander into allowing me to ride. All will be well now.”
Chapter 4
Against Elias’s better judgment, from that day on Isabel made the majority of their travels on horseback. Surrounded by swarms of men, day after day, she rode alongside him and they talked as they made their journey to her new king and kingdom. Because they were constantly in the presence of others, both were free to allow a friendship to blossom without the fear of inappropriate intimacy forming. Actually, for those closest to them, those in earshot, they were invited into the conversation. Laughter filled the inner circle as jokes were told and tall tales shared.
Each evening the men would argue over who would ride alongside the princess the following day. Soon enough, a schedule had to be created to allow each to take a turn. Elias had to give each man equal time. It was amusing to him to see how much her sweet disposition affected strong and mighty men. Likely, they felt as he did. The princess brought with her hope of better times, a new light to cause them to forget the darkness of mourning.
Already they had been underway for ten days when they came to the sizable town of Garstall, situated on the farthest edge of the Kidian border. Because they were within the boundaries of Kidian, Elias determined it was safe enough and high time the princess had better accommodations and a real bed to sleep in for the night.
Elias thought, too, of his men. Considering their long journey so far and their lack of recreation in Moneia, he would allow them some free time. To his surprise, when they were offered that freedom, many remained near the lodge where he and the princess were located. This new admiration they shared for their future queen brought out a level of loyalty and protectiveness that surprised even Elias. These men were devoted beyond what he expected. Admittedly, so was he.
“It will be nice to have a bath.” Isabel said.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that, Princess.”
She chuckled at his statement as they walked up the stairway together, Elias loaded down with her bags.
“That smell you are smelling, Commander, is closer to your nose than you think.”
He knew that to be true. While in route, as best he could, he had tried to wash, but they all stunk to high heaven, all but his princess.
When they reached her room, Elias and Isabel waited in the hallway as two of their soldier companions entered to ensure the room was secure. After the princess’s reception, Elias was less confident of his decision to stop. The town was abuzz with news that their future queen was among them. A crowd had already surrounded the lodge in the hopes of getting a look at the princess. This interest the princess drew from her admirers caused all the men, Elias especially, to operate with greater care. Gone were their travel days filled with jovial times and laughter. All became vigilant to the point of excess where their princess’s safety was concerned.
There was a moment when she had first stepped from her carriage when the crowd had begun pushing in on the soldiers. Elias had taken hold of the princess as she made her way along the cobblestone walk toward the door. Of course she wanted to greet the people, but Elias had pulled her along. The power of the masses was surprisingly and alarmingly felt as his men stood in formation, creating a barrier between their princess and the crowd. Elias found he regretted exposing Isabel to danger without having first more strategically prepared his entry point as would have been wise. He had let down his guard, and not for one moment had he stopped berating himself for it.
With the princess now secure in her room and guards posted, Elias was in the hallway with his most trusted captain.
“This was an unwise stop. We will leave before first light. Inform your men,” Elias said.
Phillip hesitated a split second. “I will begin to round them up at midnight, sir.”
“They will be drunk by mid
night and worth little to us for travel.”
“Shall I round them up now, Commander?”
Elias thought for a moment. “No. Give them until midnight. Sober them up, and we will leave by mid-morning. I better not have one man unfit for duty to his king.”
“Yes, Commander.”
***
After days of travel and road dust, Isabel was able to bathe and change into finer attire. Her modest travel clothes were not something that would normally bother her, but in the commander’s presence, she found she wanted to look her most beautiful.
Fina, the older of the two maids, brushed her hair as Isabel studied her in the mirror. She was, Isabel suspected, in her mid-twenties. Not at all unattractive, Fina did border on the plain side dressed in her maid’s uniform with her straw-colored hair pulled into a severe bun. All the while attending her, Fina rarely spoke a word.
“May I ask you, Fina, are you naturally quiet or do you believe me not open to conversation?”
Fina smiled and continued to brush. “A little of both, Princess.”
“I’m always open to conversation.”
“What then shall we talk about?”
Isabel thought for a moment. “Because the commander is a man, I’ve heard very few details about the king. I would like to know more than he’s a good man and great king.”
“Men are sparing on details.” Fina grimaced.
By her reaction, Isabel wondered if Fina liked the Commander.
“Would you like my complete honesty, Princess, or my proper answer?”
“Tell me your honest opinion.”
Fina let out a small sigh. “King Colin is the most handsome man you will ever lay eyes on. He has dark hair and soft brown eyes, and when he blinks he causes every heart to flutter. His hair is worn short, but when it does grow out, you can see a trace of curl in it.” She paused and thought better. “Maybe you would call it wave rather than curl.”
“Is he tall?”
“Yes, but not as tall as the commander. And he is leaner.” Fina looked at the princess and smiled a shy smile. “Even when his lips aren’t, his eyes are smiling. He is kind to those who mean the least in the palace, which demonstrates the true heart of any man, in my opinion. He laughs often and insists that merriment be present at nearly all times.
“He is generous to those who need it most and expects others to act accordingly.”
Isabel’s stomach turned at least two flips. “He sounds perfectly lovely.”
“By your fallen expression, Princess, I take it the commander has told you of the late queen?”
“I know the king still loves her.”
“He does, but there is hope that he will love again someday. I can’t imagine any man not loving you within a day.”
Isabel nodded her appreciation over her compliment and considered Fina’s words that there was hope. The commander had suggested the same. Maybe there was.
Isabel was sitting with Elias by the fire having a private supper in the main dining room of the lodge. All other guests were turned away during that time, leaving only them and the soldiers who stood watch at each doorway.
“You smell much sweeter.” Elias said.
“And here I was just thinking the same of you, though I have much too much diplomacy to say such a thing.”
“Oh, you do?”
She rested her fork on her plate. “Absolutely. I’m known for my diplomacy.”
“A trait necessary for any great queen.”
With a sudden turn of thought, Isabel directed her attention to the fire crackling near them. Every day of travel only brought her closer to her king, something that struck fear into her heart. Along the journey, as the soldiers had spoken of their king, she actually felt their sincere admiration for and loyalty to him spilling over. The stories only grew of his greatness and became so vast that she could scarcely believe any one man could be so revered.
She looked back at the commander. “Your stories of music and dancing, were they true?”
“I’ve told you I will never lie to you.”
“If the king’s heart is grieving still, why then does he entertain as he does?”
Elias pondered the question a moment. “I believe it is in his late wife’s memory that he does. She loved to dance, so they had some form of entertainment at the palace most every night. At first, after her death, it was all pretense on his part when he began to entertain again. After months of grief and solitude, the kingdom began to experience ill effects because of it. The people grieved with him, but after so long, life for everyone else goes on. They expected the same of him.”
“So he just pretended that all was well and went about the normal business of court and parties for the kingdom’s sake?”
“Few know that, but yes.”
“And now?”
“Now…” Elias paused. “He seems to enjoy the merriment. He smiles and laughs and has a lighthearted humor. If I had to guess, I would say he is sincere.”
“Does he dance?”
“No.” He shifted in his seat. “That’s a good thing since you have promised your first dance to me.”
“Did he dance with his late wife?”
He only nodded.
Isabel sat for a moment, trying to decide how to form her next question. “You are not a man who would accidentally tell privileged information, which some of this seems. Why then have you told me so much? Was this his directive to you, to prepare me?”
Elias remained silent.
“You have done your job well. I now have no expectations of love and romance.” Isabel stood. “I would like to retire for the night.”
“Please stay.”
She tossed her napkin onto the table and spoke with a hushed tone so that no one would overhear. “Was your directive to flirt with me, to make me develop feelings for you? Is that why you were chosen, because you are charming?”
Elias jumped to his feet and nearly knocked the table over. Glasses and dishes clanked and the vase in the middle teetered. With no concern over who witnessed or the fact that he had six men in the room, he took hold of her arm. “Absolutely not.”
“We have a long day tomorrow. I should turn in.”
Isabel pulled her arm from his grasp and marched toward the door leading to the stairwell. While she heard him take every step behind her, she refused to look at the commander. At her door she slipped through without a word to Elias.
After her conversation with the commander, the night wore on painfully slow. Isabel could never fully fall asleep; instead, she dozed on occasion but never actually rested. The moment she would drift off, dreams of Elias would jar her awake. His face and smile were ever before her eyes, awake or asleep. Everything about him fascinated her and caused her heart to beat out of rhythm.
Pious may not be the exact word, but it was what came to mind when Isabel considered her life of faith. She had been a faithful follower of Jesus. Because of that, her feelings were so shocking to her that she could hardly believe she had not only flirted with the commander as she had, but she had welcomed every moment of his advances toward her.
The more she considered their conversation over supper, the less she believed her own accusation. The idea that the commander would set out to make her fall for him did not linger long after their encounter. Still, she felt hurt that it was his assignment to prepare her for a future of living unloved. How can any heart be prepared for that?
During the never-ending hours of the night, Isabel thought of the king more than she cared to as well. Each time she tried to envision him, however, she found her heart only stinging at the thought of trying to conjure up an image of a man she could never have as her own.
Chapter 5
The ride was much quieter and more unnerving than before. Elias spoke little, and if Isabel did, it was to one of the soldiers nearest her. The dampened mood of their princess wasn’t lost on the men as Elias noted how they glanced at her on occasion and then at one another.
Mid-mo
rning arrived and Elias watched the horizon as storm clouds gathered up ahead. In a matter of minutes, the skies before them darkened to nearly black.
“Phillip, move ahead and seek shelter for the princess.”
Phillip and several others galloped off as Elias again scanned the skies. The storm was moving toward them at rapid speed and gave cause for true alarm. Only blue skies had been visible minutes before.
Elias turned to Isabel, who was looking at him wide-eyed. “We will seek shelter for you. For now, let’s get you to the carriage.”
Even as he spoke, rain began to fall. Not steady rain at first as would be expected, but straightaway a hard, soaking rain that drenched and pelted them. In the not-so-far-off distance, lightning began to crackle and pop and streak across the blackened sky. When a bolt hit nearby, striking a tree less than a hundred yards from their position, Elias reached for Isabel just as her spooked mare reared up. He dragged her over onto his lap and bent over her, trying to keep her safe from the wind and rain.
When Phillip arrived back, Elias followed his lead and continued to cradle a frightened Isabel to his chest. Mid-way up a steep embankment, Phillip slowed before him, dismounted, and took the princess from him. At that point, seeing a cave entrance just up the hill, Elias jumped from his horse, grabbed hold of the princess’s hand, and dragged her along behind him up the hill to safety.
Just within the mouth of the cave, he hesitated, waiting for Phillip. “Have you been inside?” It was then that two men appeared from deeper within the cave, having already cleared the area for them.
Isabel stood in silence, shaking and cold. All of them were soaked through and through. One proceeded to build a fire while the other went back out with Phillip, at the commander’s orders, to see to the horses and that the men were gotten to safety.