The Princess and the Lumberjack

by H L Muller

  I knew in my heart that my duty to my Kingdom always came first, and that included marrying Prince Charming. I believed that as a Prince, he would have the same sense of duty and honour.

  “We will just need to wait until he returns from the gardens, dear.” Father told Mother. Easing her stress further. It didn’t calm me though.

  For a few minutes, I remained in the same spot, watching and waiting for Prince Charming to return to the party. In an attempt to distract myself, I began to speak with other nobles from several Kingdoms who had travelled in for the ball. I dance with Father as custom and pick at the many luxurious foods placed on the edge of the ball room.

  "Snubbed were you, Sister dear? Did you even get the chance to speak with him? What is to happen with you now?" Harrison spoke so low and close to my ear, I cannot handle him now, not on top of Charming's current whereabouts. Without acknowledging Harrison’s questions, I turn and join another conversation.

  The clock chiming midnight alerted me to how much time had passed. How could Charming still be outside with this woman? I glance around the room again and notice Harrison and Ambrose talking near the entrance to the gardens.

  Through the doors behind them, it was not Charming who first re-entered the ballroom, it was the Mystery Woman. She tore across the dance floor, crashing into couples in her haste, launching up the stairs and running through the exit. Just like when she entered the ballroom at the beginning of the night, the whole room was startled by her sudden interruption. The music had cut off and everyone was still and silent as they watched her make her way through the room. As the Mystery Woman hit the top of the stairs, Prince Charming raced into the room chasing after her.

  "Wait! Don't go!" Charming called out.

  In a daze, I walk towards the staircase out of the ballroom. I follow them out to the entrance of the Castle, along with a handful of other people I was unable to focus on. When I step outside, I saw the King's guards chasing after a golden carriage, and Prince Charming standing there holding a single Glass Slipper.

  Four

  Turning with an awestruck grin on his face, Charming's expression falls when he sees me. Without paying attention to the other guests standing around us, he bows slightly to me. "Ah, hello Princess Gertrude."

  "Good evening, Prince Charming or I suppose I should say 'good morning' as it is now after midnight. Please tell me, who was that woman?" I keep my tone soft and civil, as I had been trained to.

  "I don't know," he sounds dumbstruck. "I only met her tonight. You didn't happen to recognise her, did you? I didn't even get the chance to get her name! Oh, how foolish of me!"

  He’s not serious, is he? He had dismissed me for a woman that he didn’t know? "Do you remember that we were to announce something at the ball tonight?" I ask, keeping my face and voice clear of emotion, aware of all the watching eyes and listening ears.

  "Announcement? The only thing planned for tonight was my birthday celebration. I am so glad that everyone was able to make it. You included, even though we are not as close as one would expect." He replies dismissively, turning and walking back up the stairs and into the Castle.

  I couldn't tell if he was completely oblivious and had forgotten about the engagement, or if he was trying to manipulate the situation, and pretending was not aware of it to get out of it.

  “And what would they expect?” I ask him, following him into the Castle.

  "What happened, son?" King Kryler asks briskly as we meet him in the entry foyer. "Who was that woman?"

  "Oh father, I think I am in love!" Charming exclaims, his heart in his eyes as he claps his Father on the shoulder. "Have you ever seen a woman so beautiful and captivating? I have sent the Castle guards after her. As soon as she is found I will marry her and make her my Queen.”

  “Marry her?” Mother shrieked, as she and Father join us in the foyer.

  “I was so caught up in her, I didn't even ask for her name. She lost her glass slipper though, and I will try it on every maiden in the land if I must. I will find my Mystery Princess.” Charming continues, ignoring Mother’s question. Disbelief pulses through me, squeezing down on my throat and preventing me from speaking. "I am unsure why she had to leave in such a hurry, she was speaking of pumpkins, mice and 'wonderful things'. I’m sure it will be quite the story when I hear it from her in full one day. She was such a remarkable woman. I can hear the guards returning; I must go to them at once. Good evening, Your Majesties, Your Highness. Thank you again for attending my ball." He bows, then walks outside in the direction of the stables.

  Charming had spoken and left so quickly I didn't have time to fully process what he was saying. Mother's eyes flick between Father and King Kryler. "I'm sorry, but there must be a mistake. Prince Charming was meant to announce his engagement to my daughter tonight. This was established when Gertrude was born and has been honoured for the last eighteen years. We confirmed with you at dinner only last week. Please explain why he is not going to maintain this arrangement?"

  "I am sorry. I know as much as you do at this stage, Queen Cynthia. Please allow me the night to speak with my son and get to the bottom of this. I will attend you tomorrow, and we can discuss this at length," abruptly following after his son.

  I had gone numb. This evening has gone pear shaped so quickly. I left their Castle in a daze, not paying any attention to my family or the journey home. I could see Mother and Father’s mouths move as they spoke, but I couldn’t hear what they said.

  In my chambers, I quickly undressed, washed myself and fell into bed. I was lost within my thoughts, stumbling within the woods of my mind trying to find the exit, I fell into a fitful sleep, replaying the night's events over and over again. With one question floating in my mind.

  Why?

  ***

  In my room, I saw King Kryler arrive and ushered into Fathers study five minutes ago. Not called or told of his visit, effectively excluding me from the discussion, I made a show of dressing to go to the gardens for a walk. Why would I need to be involved? It's only my whole future they are discussing! Doesn't concern me at all! Instead of heading out to the gardens, I loitered near Father's study and hid in an alcove away from prying eyes and listened to their conversation.

  "I am sorry Mason, Charming is determined to find this 'Mystery Princess', as he is calling her. We have had this arrangement for eighteen years, and decades of friendship before that. Can you be lenient enough to allow me time to discuss it with him? I tried last night, but with the hour that the ball ended to now there hasn’t been much time. I know you can understand how headstrong and stubborn he can be. He is a young Prince pushing his limits and trying to find himself. We have all been there. If you can grant me the time until he finds this woman and see what is to come of the situation? I believe once he finds her and the mystery is solved, he will give up his idea to marry the woman. In the meantime, I will be able to discuss his responsibilities further with him and remind him of his duty to marry Princess Gertrude." King Kryler pleaded.

  "What does he hope to achieve? How can this woman be more beneficial for him than your allegiance with the Kingdom of Daes? Of course, we cannot hold off. We have promised you my daughter's hand since she was born. How are we to explain this to anyone? She will not be able to find a suitor now, for everyone will know she was dismissed by Charming. You must force Charming to keep his agreement. At least I can say my daughter knows her duty and will always put that first, unlike some people." I smiled softly. It was amusing hearing Father talk poorly about Charming and snubbing him on my behalf. Father had never stood up for me before, and it settled something in my heart to hear him defend me.

  “Charming knows his duty,” King Kryler interrupts, leaping to his son’s defence. “Nevertheless, Gertrude is a beautiful woman and no one outside of our courts knew about their arrangement. She will still make someone a suitable wife.”

  “People expected it! With how close our Kingdoms are it has been the most predicted match of the last decade.
Preparations have already been made for their wedding next week. He will ruin her if he does not give up this farse.” Mother complains in a high pitch whine.

  Father continues as if King Kryler and Mother hadn’t spoken, "I will be tolerant and grant you time to go to him now. We will need to announce their engagement in the next few days to control the damage your son created and keep to their original wedding date. Everything is already organised and in place. To break this arrangement is going to sever all our agreements. I hope you understand that Kryler. Discuss this with Charming, are you sure he wants to commit an act of war over a mystery ‘Princess’? You are his King and Father; can you not command him to keep his agreements?"

  "You cannot be serious, Mason. Our Kingdoms have had alliances dating back hundreds of years. Don't be absurd, this does not need to destroy everything!"

  "Your son is the future of your Kingdom. He is the one who will need to make and keep his agreements. If he is fickle with his commitments, if he cannot maintain an agreement as small and longstanding as a marriage, how can we trust him? How can we trust your Kingdom?"

  "I’ll handle it." King Kryler replied briskly storming out of the room.

  Choosing to avoid my parent's wrath for now, I ease out of my hiding place and decide to continue my walk into the garden. I knew they weren't angry with me in this instance, yet previous experiences taught me, I would be their target to sling verbal abuse at until they felt better or had resolved the situation.

  I aimlessly wandered around the gardens, passing the hours daydreaming about how the ball might have gone if the Mystery Princess hadn't had arrived. How would be people take our announcement? Would we have enjoyed each other's company? Would the image of him being so happy, yet losing that smile when he looked at me, ever leave my mind? When my feet grew tired, and my legs ached, I turned and headed towards my rooms. Deciding I needed dinner and an early night, I called my maid when I returned to my rooms and issued my orders.

  Evalyn cleared her throat as she entered the room. Alerted to my return by the lady’s maids no doubt.

  "Where have you been? We have been looking for you for hours!" She scolds me like I am a petulant child, not an adult. I am so drained after all the events in the last twenty-four hours, I have no energy to pretend today. I didn’t care what she thought of me.

  "Obviously, not very hard,” heavy sarcasm rolling off me.

  "News arrived. Prince Charming found her, that 'Mystery Princess' from last night. She is not a Princess at all! She was a lady who has been reduced to a servant to her step family, upon her father's death when she was a child." Evalyn continues ignoring my outburst. Relief coursed through me; she is a commoner. Surely, he will choose me over her. "Her name is Cinderella, and she is already married to Prince Charming."

  "She's what?" I whisper in shock, frozen and barely able to find my voice.

  "He married her! He found her this morning when King Kryler was here talking to King Mason and Queen Cynthia. He didn't tell King Kryler that he had found her, until he had already married her. King Kryler sent a letter two hours ago to King Mason, apologising for the broken engagement claiming there was nothing that he could do. He has offered for Prince Ambrose to wed you in Charming's stead, in an attempt to maintain the alliance and friendship between the Kingdoms." Rolling her eyes at the idea.

  I am speechless. I was hurt last night when he ran off with her, but I genuinely thought all would be righted and he would end up with me. It is my duty and my salvation. Did he not think it was his duty to marry me for his Kingdom? And marrying Ambrose? I couldn’t picture it. He was nicer than Charming, yet he had always seemed like a brother to me; I couldn’t see us in bed together, living together. I would no longer be future Queen. I didn’t need to be a Queen to be happy, I just needed to be away from this Palace. Being raised to be a Queen was all I knew though. It was my life’s purpose and now I had nothing, no direction. At least marrying Ambrose would still get me away from Evalyn and Mother.

  "What has Mother and Father said about Ambrose?"

  "Your Father rejected the offer immediately. He no longer wants a connection with their Kingdom." She replies dismissively. “You should have been more engaging, more seductive. You lost to a common whore. Disgusting.”

  She storms from the room leaving me reeling. I no longer had a purpose or escape; I am stuck here.

  I spend the night alone in my room, processing everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. Everything that I had been raised for was gone. I am not going to marry Charming. I am not going to be a Queen. I am not going to be leaving this Castle in a week's time. I am not going to leave. Will I ever be free?

  Five

  Mother, Father and Harrison stare at me as I enter the study.

  “Thank you for finally joining us Gertrude. I have called this meeting this morning to discuss the situation at hand. It is appalling that we have lost the allegiance with King Kryler, of their own faults and irresponsibility.”

  Chucking, Harrison interrupts, “to think, sister, Charming chose a peasant over you.”

  "Enough, Harrison,” Father commanded, cutting off Harrison’s laughter, “You are not at fault either!"

  I sat silently showing no reaction to Harrison’s dig, waiting for Father to continue and get to the point of our meeting.

  "We need to start thinking about how we can salvage this situation. We now have an unattached eighteen-year old Princess, and a single Crown Prince. No one knew officially about the engagement with Charming. We need to get ahead of this before rumours get out of control. Cynthia, use the plans and decorations that were in place for the wedding next week, and invite all the Lords and Ladies we have connections with, and their eligible sons and daughters. We need to make a profitable arrangement."

  "You brought this on yourself," Mother spoke directly to me. "If you weren't so sullen and closed off, you could have had him. He could have thought himself in love with you, not marrying the closest peasant to ensure he would be stuck with you." Mother's words cut though me like a knife, slicing me open right there on the study floor.

  Turning back to Father, Mother continued discussing dinner party arrangements, balls and other events they could cart me off to. Where they could introduce me to eligible suitors and started making arrangements for who could replace Charming in taking me off their hands, as soon as possible.

  With the meeting over, I found myself returning to the gardens. Charming and Cinderella are the lucky ones. Mother had said that he only married her to stop him from marrying me, but that couldn't be true. There were easier ways to break off a betrothal, or still marry me and have a mistress. He must actually love her. If they are happy, then maybe I will have my own shot at happiness and true love now too.

  Enough is enough! No one should be responsible for my happiness, other than me. I will no longer play the meek Princess, content to listen and nod along with no opinions or voice. I was raised to be a Queen, damn it, and I am adamant to do what I need. To take my future into my own hands, and if I wasn't going to leave this Kingdom anytime soon, I need to see it. To know the lands, the villages and towns, the stories. To better know my people, be among them, and not above them.

  Six

  THREE MONTHS LATER

  Today is the first day of spring. I have always loved spring, all the blooming flowers and garden walks; it is truly the best time of the year. The last three months had been very trying for me. I was barely allowed outside of the Castle walls unless I was accompanied. Since Prince Charming married Cinderella, I have had to attend nonstop parties, events and meetings that Mother and Father hosted in the hopes of marrying me off as soon as possible. They had grown very jaded and hostile, making snide comments and slandering King Kryler and Prince Charming to anyone who would listen. After the initial shock had worn off, I could not find it in me to be upset that he called off the engagement. I had forgiven him almost as soon as I had learnt of their marriage. To have that kind of love and pass
ion is my hearts only desire.

  As I was not next in line to our throne, I am a tool that can be used to build connections and establish relationships with another Kingdom or powerful family. My duty is to serve my King in whatever he needs of me, that meant marrying anyone who benefited him the most.

  I'm not sure what Mother and Father think of my lack of proposals. Over the winter they introduced me to ten different suitors, and not one of them has lasted longer than a weekend. Maybe they think that as I was left by Prince Charming that I am not as wanted by other men? Little do they know that I have been sabotaging their attempts.

  Due to the cold and snowy weather, winter had been the perfect time for them to host small gatherings or weekend visitors. Each weekend had followed the same path. On Friday night, a Lord or Prince, or some other high-ranking nobleman that my Father approved of, attended our Palace for dinner. Often a suitor for Harrison would also join us, allowing Mother and Father to play matchmaker for both of us. They were provided with enough personal time to form an attachment to us. Then were invited to stay in the Palace for the weekend, to which was readily agreed to and they happened to oh so conveniently have brought a trunk with them, with enough formal and social wear to last the weekend. Joining in with a full family breakfast, he would join with the men’s activities, hunting or sport of some kind, and she would join myself and mother.

  Afterwards they would swap, he would find me for my afternoon walk on Saturday. I am not sure what Harrison did to entertain his lady friends. On Saturday night, we had a formal dinner that included dancing with our family and court, then Harrison and I each had a private breakfast on Sunday with our prospective partners. No doubt by design of my Mother or Father, assuming that they would like to make their declarations of love in secret. Ending with a "we hope to see you again soon" farewell from the whole court.