by Nina Monroe
Tamzin nodded as her mother continued to talk and her ladies looked at her with sympathetic eyes. She felt slightly calmer, with the knowledge she could return home if she truly needed it, but it wasn’t her first option and was only a last resort.
Tamzin pursed her lips and pressed her forehead against the window again. She had thought William was handsome; he was. His dark curls would feel amazing between her fingers. It was unkempt and thick and his heavy brow brought attention to his striking blue eyes. They were eyes he shared with his father. He had a masculine build and she believed the stories of him being an extremely capable soldier. He was probably the biggest man she had ever seen. His eyes foretold his life; he was haunted by what he had seen. He may have only been two years older than Tamzin herself, but the Prince looked so much older than her.
Tamzin closed her eyes and let the sounds of the hooves lull her to sleep. Her dreams were a better place to be than here.
Will took a deep breath as the kingdom gates opened to allow the royal families to enter. The people gathered to watch as the carriages blew past with speed towards the palace. Will knew the townspeople had gotten a glimpse of Tamzin as they all began to talk rapidly and in large groups. He brought Angus to a screeching halt right in front of the palace and he looked at his own party. His father’s face showed his grinding teeth, much similar to his own son.
“I hope this temper tantrum is over,” Gregory spoke sternly to his son as they both dismounted from their respective horses. “I pray I don’t need to make myself clear on this, but I will say it anyways. You never, ever, lay a hand a hand on that girl. You don’t like her, fine, but you can still treat her with respect. You never touch her with an ounce of anger inside of yourself. You do not consummate this marriage until she wants to. We are of the North; we never rape or harm women.”
It had never crossed Will’s mind to harm Tamzin, but his father seemed to think there was a possibility that it could happen. Will bit his lip as the carriage door opened. Queen Gemma was the first to come out, followed by the ladies, and then Tamzin herself. She kept his cloak wrapped around her, and Will felt himself shiver from the cold and from her. She looked so innocent and naïve, but resilient as well. She stood against the cold like it wasn’t strong enough to hurt her. Even as a native, the cold still got to Will at times.
Tamzin looked up at the castle, and it was so different from home. It was much more sturdily built to keep out the cold with stone walls and the doors closed tightly by wood. Will watched as Turner and Gemma came to place their hands on their daughter’s shoulders. She turned to look at them and smiled. Will could tell that the Roth family had a very strong bond. Thom, Tamzin’s younger brother, watched the family and then the castle. He ran up to his sister and hugged her tightly around her waist.
“I think it’s going to be hard for her,” Garrett said as he came to stand next to Will as he watched. “I know you’re upset by what your father said, but he said it, not her,” Garrett continued but Will didn’t listen too much. He stopped watching when Tamzin looked up and locked eyes with him. Her gaze was penetrating, and she could see inside of him. Will quickly turned around and pushed his way through the gawking nobles and into his palace. “Your father will be angry,” Garrett called out as he jogged up to Will’s retreating figure.
“It’s cold outside,” Will responded almost emotionlessly. He ran his hands up and down his arms for friction when he heard his father’s boisterous voice as he explained the various parts of the castle. Will watched the Roth family out of the corner of his eye with a mild fascination. Tamzin stared at the various chandeliers, and Will knew this castle was not as grand as her own home. The Thurston Castle needed to be able to withstand the cold and terrible snow storms, hence the harsh looking palace.
“Will, please show Tamzin to her quarters until you two are married,” Gregory asked with a tight smile on his face. Will watched Tamzin look at him with an alarmed expression on her face and then looked to her parents. Will nodded and extended his hand to the Princess. Tamzin nervously came forward and placed her hand in his. His hand was still warm, like before.
“We,” Will coughed nervously. “We live upstairs,” Will said as he led her up the staircase slowly. With her other hand, Tamzin held the cloak and her dress as they ascended up the stairs together. “In your room, we have provided you with warmer clothes. The winters here seem to last longer than the summers.”
“I’m not used to the cold,” Tamzin said as they came to the landing. “It’s warm all the time in Roth Territory.”
“The winters can be unforgiving here,” Will said almost warningly. “The woods that surround the walls are filled with animals and nature that will hurt you or kill you. The coldness alone can kill you if you aren’t dressed properly. We usually have four straight months of snow and cold.”
“It sounds like something from a scary story,” Tamzin replied with a smile, but Will didn’t return the grin. “What shall I call you?”
“Will is fine. Is it just Tamzin?” Will asked as her bedroom door came into sight.
“Yes, but sometimes I am called Tam,” Tamzin said as she kept her eyes forward. Will, with his soldier senses, watched her out of the corner of his eye. She wore gems and fabric in her hair like a band and it shined when the lit candles hit them. Will stopped in front of a door and opened it for her.
“This is your quarters until we are married. After we are married, and, ahem, share our marital bed, this will continue to be yours. It is custom that I will not be allowed in unless you ask me. Through that door,” Will said as he pointed to a door in the corner of the room, “leads to our shared bathroom quarters. It has a tub, but it’s warmer to take your bath in front of the hearth. My room is through there, if you need me.”
“What do you do for fun?” Tamzin asked as she let go of his hand and walked to her bed. She ran her fingers over the thick fabric of the bed, over the furs, and looked to the fireplace that was the main centerpiece of the room. In front of the fireplace was a large bearskin rug and two chairs. Built in bookcases framed the outer walls of the room, and in the corner was a large wardrobe and then a vanity.
“I serve on the majority of the councils with my father, so I spend my day with those councils. I also train extensively with my soldiers,” Will said as he placed his hands behind his back in a respectful stance.
“I used to spend most of my time outside, since it was so warm,” Tamzin continued as she touched the impressive carvings on the headboard. “Do you have a library?”
“Yes, we do. We also have chess tables and battle strategy tables,” Will watched as Tamzin walked around the room in enthrallment of everything she saw. She moved like silk, so smooth and it looked like her feet never touched the ground.
“I like chess, but I’m not very good at it. My father was teaching me along with my little brother. He says it’s a ruler’s game,” Tamzin laughed, and her smile was brighter than the candle he stood next to. “Do you have parties?”
“No, but we are in court almost nightly. We have dinner with them,” Will explained with a gross taste in his mouth. Tamzin took note of his pursed lips when it came to court.
“Do you not like court or parties?”
“I’m afraid I don’t, your grace,” Will answered politely and tried not to let his irritation show. “I find it tedious.”
“Do you find all happy and exciting things tedious?” Tamzin asked smartly with a devious grin on her face. Will tried not to smirk and kept a stone face.
“Just dancing, your grace,” Will continued as he clenched his fists behind him. “We have also provided you a horse.”
“I’ve never ridden before,” Tamzin said as she sat in the chair by the fireplace. “Will you show me?”
“I will probably be too busy to show you, but I’m sure someone could,” Will watched her sit on the chair, with his cloak framing her.
“I was hoping you could teach me to ride and I would teach you to dance,” T
amzin said with a smile and beckoned him over. “You can call me Tamzin.”
“I’m afraid I won’t have much time for dancing or riding horses, unless I am training, of course,” Will clarified, his mind imagining dirty and inappropriate things about the Princess.
“Could your ‘man-in-waiting’ teach me?” Tamzin laughed as she remembered Garrett. “He seems charming.”
Realistically, Will knew that he could completely trust Garrett, but his head hurt when he thought about them together. Garrett always had an easier time with girls, and though Will wanted to believe that he didn’t want to marry Tamzin, he knew it would hurt if Tamzin preferred Garrett to him. It felt like most people, his own father included, preferred Garrett to him. This young girl backed him into a corner so quickly and his anger quickly rose.
“I am the future King of the territory and I don’t have time to dally around with a silly and spoiled Princess. If you will excuse me, your grace, I have actual things to tend to,” Will barked at Tamzin. Her face fell and her eyes watered nearly instantly. He stormed out of her bedroom and into his own bedroom.
His room was much plainer than hers, with simple bedding, a fireplace, one chair, a wardrobe, and a war table filled with various strategies. This castle was his, the crown was his, and he already had a father that didn’t think he could rule on his own. This girl wasn’t going to make him lose his focus or make him risk his kingdom.
Angrily, Will plopped down in his chair and stared at the dead fire in his fireplace. He set his jaw again as he listened to Tamzin soft cries, but she slowly pulled herself together. He imagined her as she sat at her vanity and dabbed her eyes.
Will knew he may have been a bit harsh on her, but his pride stopped him from apologizing or seeking her forgiveness. He wasn’t weak, he wasn’t raised to be weak, and Tamzin wouldn’t make him so. He ran his fingers across the wooden carvings in his chair when Garrett came into the room. His face was slightly grave when he came to stand in front of his friend.
“It’s time for dinner, and no one could not help but notice Tamzin’s eyes are red,” Garrett nearly scolded.
“What did she say?”
“Only that she has some allergies developing, much like I do to your bullshit,” Garrett said as he grabbed Will by his collar and pulled him up. “Your father told me to do that, so don’t behead me, please.”
“I suppose he’s angry?” Will asked softly as he adjusted his shirt.
“He is the single most controlled livid man I have ever seen,” Garrett said as he began to walk out of Will’s room with him in tow. “You’re the luckiest man I know, but you never act like it.”
Will didn’t answer, as he felt like a cow being led to slaughter.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dinner had been an awkward affair. The entire Roth clan sat on the other side of the table of the Thurston family, with King Gregory at one head and King Turner at the head of the other side. Her mother and her ladies surrounded Tamzin, while Will sat with his father and Garrett. She never once met his eyes. Gregory tried to keep the mood jolly, but Will could feel the stare of death coming from Turner nearly the entire night.
Will picked at his thick and juicy piece of meat in front of him, while he watched Tamzin delicately cut it into tiny pieces before she ate daintily. He had to give it to her; Tamzin truly did act like a lady, even during times of duress. Her lady in waiting, Lucy, didn’t hide her distaste for him. Every time she took a bite, she turned to look at Will and with that stare; her throwing her knife at him might be less painful. Kendall, on the other hand, paid him no mind and talk animatedly with Queen Gemma.
“Turner, my friend, would it be agreeable for you and your family that the wedding be held in a weeks’ time?” Gregory asked casually as he cut into his meat. He turned to look at Will when he continued. “If you agree, I would like to have it as soon as possible to solidify the alliance.”
“Perhaps we should leave it up to the bride? I would hate for her to live here with such severe allergies,” Turner said as his angry blue eyes faced Will. Will looked at him, but the blazing stare burned him. Will reached for his wine goblet and took a long sip. The attention turned to Tamzin, who still wore her Roth clothes and his cloak. She inspected her meat, like it may hold the answer to her question.
“I think it would be wise for the wedding to be held as soon as possible. I agree, King Gregory, the alliance needs to be solidified. I am not a romantic girl, so I don’t expect my wedding to be grand,” Tamzin said as she looked to King Gregory to give him an unconvincing smile. Turner looked to Gregory with sad eyes and Gregory nodded to him.
“Tamzin, please call me Gregory. I have a profound respect for a person that can put aside their own personal happiness to assure what is right for their people. I am honored that Turner has bestowed unto me a fantastic and certainly capable ruler in you, Princess,” Gregory said as he raised his glass to her. The others, including Will, raised their glass to her.
“I am sorry if I seem disrespectful, but may I be excused? It has been a long journey,” Tamzin said softly as she pushed away her half eaten piece of meat.
“I have no objections, Tamzin,” Gregory said as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You are excused.”
Tamzin smiled and curtsied before she ran up the stairs in an extremely unladylike fashion. Her two ladies smiled as well before they darted after her. Will felt like he was standing with a pack of starving wolves and he smelt delicious.
“With all due respect, Gregory, but I’m not as stupid as my daughter thinks I am. Allergies, my ass,” Turner said as he turned his full attention to Will. “No one speaks to my daughter the way you have. I don’t even know what you said, but I assure you, I am not kind to people that drive my daughter to tears. I brought her here because my country and this one need peace, but I think I am willing to spend all my years in war than to have her be driven out like this.”
“You are acting irrationally, Turner,” Gregory said as he stood to try and diffuse the situation. “Their courtship has gotten off to a bumpy start, but didn’t all of ours? It’s about maturing and improving.”
Turner looked like he was going to rip Will’s head off until his wife’s soothing touch on his arm forced him to sit down. Thom sat absentmindedly on Garrett’s left, while the two looked at the ceiling and the floor awkwardly.
“If I may say something?” Queen Gemma said as she stood at the table of all men. Gregory waved his hand to give her the floor. “Tamzin has assured me that she will try to give this union her full cooperation, but if she finds it cannot work, I think we can all agree that she should be able to come home,” she asked as she looked for the men to agree. “If Tamzin feels the need to break the alliance, I implore you to let her return home immediately, Gregory. We must also find a way to seal our alliance without enacting war if these two should fail. You and I both know that we must stay united against a common enemy.”
Gemma spoke these harsh words with her eyes on Will the entire time. Gregory followed her eyes to his own son, when he sighed.
“Agreed, Queen Gemma. It seems you have very brilliant women in your company, Turner,” Gregory said as he finished his wine. “We shouldn’t begin this alliance so glumly. Won’t you join me for a discussion, Turner?”
Turner turned to his wife before he nodded.
“Come, Thom, it’s time for bed,” Gemma said with a smile as she held out her son to her son. The table had cleared out, with the exception of Garrett and Will.
“Well, you know how to make an alliance work, don’t you?” Garrett asked as he finished his wine and his meat. “I think every person at this table scolded you tonight.”
“But not you,” Will warned as he finished his own meal. “You seem to like her lady in waiting. Kendall, is it?”
“Well, my courtship with her is going considerably more well than your own,” Garrett said as he stood from his chair. “What exactly don’t you like about Tamzin?”
“I don’t kn
ow her well enough to like her or not like her,” Will continued as both men left the private dining area. The castle was bustling after Tamzin confirmed their wedding would be in a weeks’ time. The servants brushed past them as Will and Garrett returned to his own room. “Do you fancy a game of chess?”