by A. J. Bell
Eureka! She had just confessed what she expected me to achieve. “I seriously doubt it, Princess, but I thank you for this beautiful gown,” I said.
It was time to get her dressed and ready for the ceremony; the guests would be arriving shortly. Her wedding gown was white silk covered with Narician lace – a lace made of washed cotton and real gold threads. It was the most expensive lace there was and it had been the gift from Naricia to the Princess. It wouldn’t surprise me if Victor’s shirt had the same lace on it. Narician lace also covered her face, held in place by a gold comb encrusted with diamonds. I braided her hair loosely, like I had done for almost two weeks in the Jewel of the Seas, then I put more diamonds in her hair. She looked stunning!
The Princess also had some makeup she wanted to wear – a little powder, some colored blush to get her cheeks nice and rosy, and some lip gloss in a little ceramic tub to plump up her lips. Needless to say, I ended up with a little bit of it on my face as well, a little too much for my taste, but the Princess forbade me from washing it off. We walked to the throne room where the marriage would take place, and where all the guests were waiting for Her Highness to arrive.
Her entrance wasn’t as subtle as I thought it should have been, thanks to me wearing a brilliant red dress while walking behind her. As we started to walk down the aisle, she received the first of the glances and the Oh’s! and Ah’s! Then, I could heavily feel their eyes on me. Maybe not everyone, but even though I didn’t look to the sides, I knew who was watching me. As soon as Princess Camilla knelt by the altar, I stood to the side.
When the time came, I brought the rings forward and handed them to Victor. Then they exchanged vows and gave each other their wedding rings. Together, they entwined their fingers as a symbol of the strength of their union and were declared husband and wife by the priest who blessed the couple with a simple prayer. Victor was astounded when he uncovered her face and kissed his new wife. I smiled, letting their joy sink in. Then I felt again someone’s gaze, someone who wasn’t looking at the happy couple.
Dorian was staring at me in my colorful red dress, while Jane stood by his side. I quickly lowered my gaze, took a deep breath, and focused on Victor and Camilla’s happiness.
Once Victor and Princess Camilla were officially married, they went to sit on their thrones, and the court members began to make their way towards the newlyweds. Each one was announced by their titles, where they were from, and who was with them. Then they, of course, expressed their best wishes to the Royal Newlyweds, while I stood next to her Royal Highness, making sure her every need was fulfilled, as her lady-in-waiting for one night.
After a whole line of unknown people came the ones I knew well. “Lord Gilbert Arden, Lord of Stoneburg, and his son, Sir Richard Arden, First Knight of the Realm.” They were the eternal bachelors of the Everlands. No woman ever walked in with them, yet they were never alone during or after a party.
“Lord Darius LaFonte, Lord of Abilene, and his companion, Madam Kressie,” were the next ones in line. Dear Kressie looked gorgeous in an emerald gown, with her hair pulled up into a loose ponytail with her curls hanging on top of it, bouncing up and down like her perky attitude.
Dorian was next in line with Jane by his side. “Sir Dorian LaFonte, Lord of Abilene, Ambassador of Peace of the Everlands, and his wife, Madam Jane LaFonte.”
I gasped when I heard the announcer say the word wife. Dorian had married her. I suddenly couldn’t breathe, and my head felt light. I leaned forward to Her Highness and whispered that I needed some fresh air. She nodded. I ran to the terrace and began to take deep breaths in and out, my eyes shut tightly to prevent tears from falling.
“You can manage, Elle. You knew this was going to happen. Just breathe and pretend everything is going to be all right,” I muttered to myself.
“It was a big surprise for all of us, My Lady,” said Lord Darius, coming to join me on the terrace. I turned to see him, startled by his sudden presence.
“Good evening, My Lord. I did not notice you… Did you travel well?” I said, changing the topic.
“They married almost a month ago, back on the borderline at Dorian’s camp. None of us knew until they arrived here tonight with the news.” He paused, waiting for me to speak, but I said nothing. “I was certain he would marry you now that he had found you–”
“He loves her. I delivered the Prince’s wedding invitation in a desperate attempt to speak with your son, but there wasn’t much to say. His mind was set as well as his heart. And I will be content knowing that he is happy… with her,” I said quietly, trying to choke the emotions arising in my heart and welling in my eyes. Lord Darius offered me his arms, and I let him hug me. I buried my face in his shoulder and began to cry softly.
“It will pass, My Dear, and soon enough, you’ll find a man worthy of your affections,” he said, patting my back softly.
“Father, may I have a word with My Lady, in private?” said Dorian, standing behind us. Lord Darius nodded. “My Lady, will you grant me a dance tonight? I enjoyed it very much last time we danced together,” Lord Darius asked in his last attempt to cheer me up.
“Of course, My Lord, I’d be honored. I’ll be in shortly,” I replied before he left us.
A few minutes passed before either of us said anything.
“You didn’t marry him,” Dorian stated.
I continued to look away as I addressed him. “I believe congratulations are in order, My Lord. Your wife looks lovely tonight.” It was hard to let the words slide out, but I managed them well enough for someone whose broken heart seemed to be crushing her lungs.
“I had many nightmares since the night you left my camp,” he said. “I saw myself coming to your wedding and interrupting the ceremony. In my dreams, I planned the perfect way for us to disappear. I planned how to steal you away from my cousin, riding together on my steed. But then I saw your life with me after that, always hiding, always scared that we could be found…” he sounded desperate. “Other nights, I dreamed of both of us never making it out of the castle and being tried for treason. Then I saw you being beheaded because of my actions, and I couldn’t bear seeing all those awful things happening to you. I knew that if I had no other choice, I would just let you go. I knew if I was married to Jane, my loyalty to her would prevent me from ruining your life – the life of a Princess that Victor was offering to you, instead of the life of an outcast that I could’ve given you. I shouldn’t have used Jane the way I have; I am a despicable person.” It pained me to hear how he loathed himself, but I was too hurt to try to offer him comfort. “I was sure you would be marrying him. Why did you not tell me?” His last words lit the torch inside me. I wasn’t only hurt but also angry at him.
“I rode from Andora to your camp to pour out my heart to you, to beg you for a little bit of your love, to prove that there was no future between Prince Victor and me. And what did I get in return? A few kisses and a broken heart…” I had to take a moment to regain my poise. “She’s a lovely woman. I can’t hate her even though I would really like to. I only wish that you can make her as happy as she deserves to be. It is not her fault that we are too selfish to care for anybody besides ourselves.” I got close to his face so that I could see him eye to eye. “But if you had asked me, My Lord, you would’ve known that I would have rather lost my head a thousand times or lived as an outcast with you than to see you walking beside your wife!”
He grabbed my arm as I began to walk away. He was trying to find words to apologize more, so I waited, trying to calm down. As I stood beside him, not looking at him, I caught the image of a few silhouettes down below where we stood. One of the figures was struggling, while the other three held onto him. I tried to focus my eyes on the shadows below us. Dorian’s apologies were lost in the air of the night. When I recognized the struggling man, my anger dissipated and turned to fear for the man below us – Orman.
“I am sorry I hurt–”
“Hush, Dorian,” I interrupted him. He looked at
me confused, but said nothing when I approached him, removed his belt, and wrapped it around my waist. I ripped off the necklace that Victor had given me – the Royal Seal he gave me when I presented myself as a messenger, to show I was protected by the Crown in my endeavors. I put it in Dorian’s hand. “Take this to Prince Victor and tell him to remember his promise to Orman.” I turned around, but he grabbed my hand when he noticed the men below.
“What are you going to do?”
I looked at his hand holding mine and then looked at his eyes. “That man is my escort and the Queen does not like him, just like she doesn’t like me. Please do as I say. I will stall them.” He was reluctant. “Please, I will be fine!” I reassured him. Only then, he nodded and ran back into the castle.
The shortest way to get to Orman was to climb down, so I climbed through a wall of ivy in the biggest dress I had ever worn. If I fall down on my rear, at least I’ll have plenty of cushioning to soften my landing. I almost made it to the ground when I decided to jump. Although I didn’t break anything, my right ankle sent a wave of pain through my entire body. It was very sensitive since the time I hurt it running away from the true Ghosts of the Haunted Forest. I landed right in front of the men who were holding Orman. They looked at me with surprise when they realized where I had just come down from.
“Good evening, gentlemen. May I inquire as to where you are taking my escort?”
“Queen’s orders!” said the only one who wasn’t holding Orman. I knew he had been hitting him though, because Orman’s blood was splattered all over his armor.
“That statement still doesn’t answer my question. Where are you taking him?” I asked again.
“Queen’s orders!” repeated the same man.
“I heard that the first time, but you still haven’t told me where you are taking my friend.”
“The Royal Prison to pay for his crimes,” said the same man who bid the others to follow him, but I moved to block their way.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you take him. You see, he’s my only escort and I need him so I can go back home tonight.”
The man got so close to my face, he could have taken a bite out of it if he had wanted to. “Get out of the way!” he yelled. I recognized his face just as he recognized mine. His eyes shrank mischievously and hatefully at the same time. “You… again!” he said. I recognized him as one of the soldiers from the Royal Prison, one of the guards who the Queen had sent out after me the day I met Dorian again – during the Squires’ Ball – the same man I had elbowed in the face. I could use this to my advantage to stall until Victor would come.
I was stupid thinking that Victor would leave his bride and his guests to come and rescue me. One more stupid thought to add to my list, but I still decided to try and stall.
“Did I do that?” I said, pointing at his nose. “Or has it always been that ugly?” One of his comrades chuckled, but stopped when he received a killing glance from Mr. Crooked Nose. “I see,” I said mockingly. “You probably got in big trouble when you weren’t able to catch me last time we saw each other.”
“This man is being imprisoned for his crimes against the Crown, and if you don’t get out of our way, you’ll receive the same punishment as your escort.”
“Then let it be so.” I unsheathed Dorian’s sword, which was a lot heavier than Heaven and also a foot or so longer. I wasn’t counting on that, since the weight of the sword alone put me at a disadvantage, but there was no point in going back. Mr. Crooked Nose got his sword out, and right after the first clash, I realized I was in big trouble. I was using someone else’s sword and wearing someone else’s dress. Each one separately was a bad choice for a fight. Together, they could get me killed if Victor wouldn’t arrive in time.
Orman tried to free himself a few times until one of the men hit him in the head with the hilt of his sword and knocked him out. Then the four of them were free to attack me. I used both hands to hold Dorian’s sword and swing it around in order to not lose my grip on its hilt, until I noticed one of the men had Heaven in his belt. He must have taken it from Orman when they caught him! I realized I only had to get to him without getting myself killed in the process, recover my sword and then resume the fight. But then I saw something else sticking out of the man’s pocket in his trousers – the necklace Victor had given Orman.
“I don’t think the Prince will appreciate that you’ve imprisoned a man who wears the Royal Symbol as someone favored by the Crown,” I said, blocking a strike above my head.
“He was wearing none!” snorted Mr. Crooked Nose.
“He was, before one of your men took it and stuck it in his pocket!” I snorted back.
“You are calling my men thieves?” he said, insulted.
“I guess I did.” The pressure he was putting on his sword was too much for me and my aching foot. I could feel my knees giving in inch by inch until I was kneeling on the floor. My wrist couldn’t hold onto the sword any longer, and unwillingly, I let it go. Mr. Crooked Nose smiled viciously and then raised his hand and struck my face with enough force to break my nose, trying to get even.
“A nose for a nose,” he said.
“How dare you lay your hand on a Lady!” I didn’t recognize the voice at first, but when the soldiers fell to the ground, I realized who was my defender. The voice belong to the King, who was apparently taking a stroll with his First Knight. Richard stepped forward immediately to help me to my feet. I was bleeding heavily through my nose, and my lower lip was on fire, which meant it was also split open. He tried to get a look at my nose, but I pushed his hand away and used my sleeve to wipe my face, which I’m sure didn’t help much.
“What happened here?” asked His Majesty outraged.
Mr. Crooked Nose opened his mouth to speak, but the King shut him up and asked again, “My Lady, what happened?” He stood beside me and pulled my face up to see him. Then he took a handkerchief from his jacket and kindly wiped the blood from my nose and my lip. He asked me the same question a third time.
“Your soldiers, Your Highness, were taking my escort to the Royal Prison without an explanation–”
“He’s a criminal!” interrupted the Queen, coming out to join her husband.
“He was wearing the Royal Emblem that His Majesty Prince Victor had given him; you can find it in that soldier’s trousers.” I pointed towards the thief. “My escort is an honest man who has served Prince Victor in the past,” I defended Orman.
“What happened?” asked Victor in alarm. Dorian also came with him, and little by little, more faces filled the crowd. Victor got angry when he saw me. “Get the medic!” he ordered. “Let me see.” He lifted my chin, took his father’s handkerchief, and continued the job himself until I brushed his hands off too.
“I can continue to do this myself. Thank you, Your Majesties. May I be excused to look upon my friend?” Both nodded. I turned Orman around to face me. He was badly beaten. I tried to lift him up myself, but I couldn’t do it alone, so Richard helped me. I continued to hold the handkerchief to my nose.
Dorian offered to help carry Orman inside. Victor and Camilla took the guests, or the majority of them, back to the main hall to continue with the marriage celebration that I had unintentionally interrupted. Lord Darius, Madam Kressie, and the new Madam LaFonte stayed behind with the King and the Queen while I went ahead to help Orman. The last thing I saw before entering the castle was the Queen and the King having a not-so-friendly discussion.
I was not sure what would happen to Mr. Crooked Nose and the other soldiers, or to me for defying the Queen’s authority again, and to be honest, I didn’t care. The only thing in my mind was that the Queen had given them the orders to arrest Orman and that they were way too happy to make sure those orders were fulfilled. Since I stopped them from doing her bidding, maybe the one punished this time would be me!
Chapter 29
My face was throbbing with waves of pain as we trod along the wedding decorated hallways and into my chambers, or at least
the ones where I had always stayed whenever I got to stay in the palace. At first, Richard and Dorian were hesitant to go into the room, but then they decided to do it. They laid Orman on the bed and stepped aside for me to look at him. Luckily, my nose had stopped bleeding, but I was sure I still looked terrible.
Jane came in after knocking softly, followed by Madam Kressie to offer their help. “There’s nothing that any of you can do right now, so please leave us,” I said.
They exited the room without speaking a word, leaving Orman and me alone.
When Doctor Stern arrived, he flinched when he saw me. I’m not sure if it was because of the way I looked or the way I had treated him before and was now afraid of me. He did the best he could to control his emotions and immediately went to work, cleaning my nose and putting towels soaked in hot water and salt on it to help the swelling go down. Once my face was clean, I changed into another dress – a simple light purple gown with no embroidery or anything of that sort. It was actually well-worn, and I understood why. The fabric was soft and stretchy like cotton, and it fell loosely from the waist to the floor, which made it so comfortable. I pulled my hair up tightly in a bun and went to help the doctor with Orman’s wounds. Orman woke up right before we were done dressing all of them.
“Are you insane? You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” Orman groaned reproachfully. “Simple thanks will suffice, Orman,” I said, smiling, pleased to see that he was well enough to scold at me. “Would you care to tell me what happened?”
“The Queen saw me and gave the order for my arrest. It’s that simple!” he said angrily.
I leaned close to Orman’s face, so that only he could hear me. “We’ll leave at once! I won’t give her another chance to kill us both. Do you think that you’re strong enough to ride your own horse, or would you rather ride with me on Stardust?” I asked.