by Nina Monroe
“Eat quickly, Tam. We need to fix your hair,” Gemma coached softly as she placed the tray on her daughter’s lap. She missed her freshly squeezed orange juice from Roth Territory, but Tamzin sipped the tea and dipped her toast in the warm liquid. Tamzin felt her mother release her hair from the confines of the towel as it spilt down her back. Gemma quickly ran a comb and brush through Tamzin’s hair to remove the snarls. “Your hair is curling beautifully.”
“I can always come home?” Tamzin asked as she turned around to face her mother. Gemma smiled and leaned down so they were face to face.
“You are always welcome home.”
~~~
Will slept until late morning; the haziness of the ale kept him deep in slumber. He awoke to his father shaking him awake. Will opened his eyes to see his father’s matching ones and sighed. Gregory was already dressed in his black, long sleeved tunic and black pants, with his Thurston coat fasted around his shoulders. Will would wear the same thing, as would the men he commanded.
“You should get up now, Will,” Gregory said as he stepped to the side so his son may stand up from his bed. “Tonight, you will be expected to share the marriage bed with Tamzin. If she refuses, then there is no penalty. I must implore you to remember that the long this marriage goes without consummation, Tamzin will be able to leave at any time to break the alliance.”
It wasn’t the conversation that Will wanted to have first thing on the morning of his wedding. “Is it necessary to have this conversation right now? Can’t you wish me luck and assure me Tamzin wants to marry me too?” Will said as he ran a hand through his tousled curls. It wasn’t often that Will allowed his father to see his vulnerability. He tried to take control from his father all the time, but right now, he needed his father to act like a father.
Gregory sat down next to his son in bed and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“You are a good man, Will. I really believe if your mother had a hand in raising you, you would be the best king imaginable for Thurston Territory. Tamzin reminds me a lot of your mother. If you knew her, you would want to marry Tamzin. I didn’t arrange this marriage to be controlling. I arranged it because I believe Tamzin would make you incredibly happy, as well as helping a few of my own problems. You don’t know how much you have changed since she’s come here,” Gregory continued as he smiled at his son. “I want you to build a loving relationship with her. I want to have an entire lot of children running around his castle. I’m looking forward greatly to having a daughter.”
Will smiled at his father’s kind words and what he wanted for the future. Will had felt himself changing with Tamzin in the castle. The castle wasn’t as dark and dreary anymore with her laughter, jokes, and stories. Maybe his father was right? Will got out of bed and stretched his arms and legs. He was stiff from the night before and walked towards the warm fire. He rubbed his hands together, close to the flame as Gregory sat in the chair.
Will walked to the small water basin in his room and splashed the cool water in his face before he ran his wet fingers through his hair.
“It’s very cold outside, so we are having the wedding in the throne room,” Gregory said as he stared at the flames dancing across the wood. “I would have preferred it outside, but the Roths are not used to this weather.” The Throne Room was where coronations were held and the nightly parties were held. During the day, it was a drab, dreary, and freezing cold room, but at night with the nobles, candles, and warm food, the room heated up considerably. “Her cloak is hanging up next to your tunic for today.”
Will nodded as he walked to his vanity and pulled out his tunic, his thick breeches, and what he thought was his cloak. His cloak, still belonging to Tamzin, was replaced with a cloak lined heavily with animal fur. It was what his father wore when he went to war. It made him look larger and more imposing; more like a King. Will held the heavy fabric in his hand when he looked to his father.
“Fighting in battles and killing men does not make you a King. Taking a Queen and dedicating your life to the care of another makes you more of a man than the taker of life,” Gregory said as his gaze returned to the fire. “Get dressed, son. Turner has asked for a word with you before the ceremony.” Gregory speaking those words made Will feel like his throat was closing. He knew that Turner despised him after Will’s initial treatment of Tamzin.
Will didn’t say another word as he quickly stripped out of his clothes and changed his small clothes. Quickly, Will pulled on his pants and tunic, to keep his skin from feeling the chill in the air. It was nearly always chilly in the castle, even with every fireplace burning. It wasn’t a place for any less than the toughest and sturdiest of Queens. Will slipped his boots on over his thermal socks before he wrapped the large cloak around his shoulders.
“A look fit for a King,” Gregory said as he placed both his hands on his son’s shoulders and shook them. “Today is the beginning of a long and plentiful life, William. Your marriage to this girl will be filled with nothing but love, happiness, and children.” Gregory’s words were kind and Will smiled to himself. “Go on, now. Turner is in the Throne Room. He asked to speak to you alone.”
Will nodded and tried to feel brave. He bowed to his father before he stormed out of his bedroom. He took long and deliberate strides towards the main staircase where various servants were bringing in flowers and platters of raw food to be cooked. They paid the Prince little attention as he strode down the stairs and took a sharp left. Behind the staircase was a door opening that led to the private entryway to the Throne Room. It was meant to be used exclusively in cases of emergency, but Will often sat in that entryway to think.
Will walked through the small corridor and slowly opened up the door to peer inside the Throne Room. Turner Roth stood alone by Gregory’s throne and looked at the decorations on the wall. Will took a deep breath before he began to walk towards the King of Roth Territory.
Turner had heard his footsteps and turned around to face him. The King’s blue eyes were not kind or happy; he stared at Will like he were an enemy and calculated his moves.
“Young Prince,” Turner greeted in a formal fashion as the men bowed to each other. “I wished to have a discussion with you before your impending nuptials to my daughter. My only daughter,” Turner sneered lightly. “I have the highest respect and regard for your father. He has been a formidable foe and adversary. I agreed to have my only daughter marry you because I believed Gregory raised a noble and honorable son. I was mistaken,” Turner frowned at Will, who looked down at his feet in shame. “She was my first baby and my only daughter. Some fathers don’t understand how precious it is to have a daughter, but I do. If she is happy here, truly happy at your side as a proper wife, I will forever be an ally to you and the Thurston’s. If you mistreat her and make her return home,” Turner said as he gripped Will’s arm and pulled him closer. “I will crush you.”
Turner gripped Will’s arm so tightly that Will was convinced a bruise was forming. “Understood, sir,” Will responded before he bowed to Turner again. “Is there anything else?”
“You have nothing to say?” Turner asked as he stared at Will with his large cloak on. “Could have fooled me of your bravado with that cloak on.”
“You are to be my father in law and the grandfather to the children I will have with your daughter. I was unwise to treat your daughter the way I did, but I did so in a naïve manner. I acted in anger and I apologize to you formally, Your Majesty. My father tells me that Tamzin is an amazing princess and will make an amazing queen. I am sorry I have been so blind,” Will said respectfully and truthfully. “I promise I will always care for her and never disrespect her. I hope that I will grow to love her, like a man should love his wife.” Will’s words made his face blush through his heavy beard. He imagined it must be awkward for a man to imagine his daughter being plucked as he so suggested.
“Proper words of a fearful, but intelligent future King,” Turner approved slightly. He looked to the grand clock at the head of the
Throne Room. “I believe you only have thirty minutes, Your Grace. Your father should be arriving soon.” These were the last words Turner spoke as he turned around and left Will alone in the Throne Room. Will sat at the first seat in the bench in the first row. He ran a hand through his curls in an attempt to fix them. He really should have requested a trim before today. His nerves were getting the best of him now as he turned to the front entrance where Gregory, Garrett, and the rest of their men walked through. Rainer stood to the left of Gregory and Will scowled to the floor.
Will listened to the cheers of his men as they took their seats in the Throne Room and the strongest stood up with the royal family at the front. With the instruction of his father, Will came to stand up first in the line at the altar. Rainer, of course, was going to marry the couple and Will watched as Rainer changed into his official robes. He turned around to see Garrett standing third, behind Gregory. Garrett smiled at his best friend and bowed slightly in respect.
“Our little William is all grown up and marrying a real life girl,” Garrett teased as he punched Will’s arm. Will didn’t respond as he turned to face forward with a smile. The Roth Queen and Crowned Prince entered the Throne Room. Gemma wore a dark red dress, while Thom wore the Roth colors proudly. The small boy glared at Will, but Gemma had much kinder eyes than her husband and son. They were the same eyes as Tamzin.
He heard his men bang their feet on the ground and call out, “show the bride!” Will looked forward as the grand doors opened. He nearly swallowed his tongue.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The dress fit her like a glove. Tamzin stood in front of her mirror as she watched as her mother finished her hair. She wore the half plait like Kendall suggested, with soft ringlets framing her face. Gemma smiled broadly at her daughter before she placed a tiny tiara on her head, which was attached to a long veil. When Gemma tried to bring the veil to cover Tamzin’s face, she stopped her.
“No,” Tamzin said as she forced the veil to trail behind her. “I want him to see me when I walk down that aisle.” Tamzin’s voice was strong and regal as she stared at herself in the mirror. “I want him to see that he doesn’t scare me.”
“He will fall in love with you instantly,” Gemma reassured her as she kissed Tamzin on the cheek. “My beautiful princess.” Gemma’s words were interrupted by Lucy’s catcalls and Kendall’s slap of Lucy’s arm.
“They were having a moment!” Tamzin listened to Kendall hiss at Lucy, who sighed and rolled her eyes. “Oh my god! You’re stunning!” Kendall screamed as she rushed up to Tamzin and pulled her into her arms. “If he doesn’t love you, then he is blind and stupid!” Kendall’s kind words made Tamzin smile as Lucy fussed with her curls.
“Gorgeous girl,” Lucy smiled as she kissed Tamzin’s cheeks. “Your majesty, do we walk behind Tam?”
“Yes, Lucy. I walk first with Thom, then Turner walks down with Tamzin, and you two follow,” Gemma said with a smile before she kissed both Lucy and Kendall. “I am thankful you two and Rupes will be here with her.” With a final look, Gemma smiled at her daughter and blew her a kiss. She left the room and as the door shut, Turner came in. He took a deep breath when he saw his daughter.
“You’re a vision, my little one,” he smiled as he kissed Tamzin’s forehead. “That man out there, he knows how lucky he is to be marrying you. I made sure of it.” His words made Tamzin blush and look away. “Don’t do that,” Turner said as he grasped her chin. “You are the Crowned Princess. You don’t bow or look away from anyone.” His words were strong, but confident. There was no one who believed in Tamzin more than her parents. Turner offered his arm to his daughter. “Stay behind us girls,” he reminded Lucy and Kendall. “I know it’ll be tempting to slap Prince William, but please don’t.” The girls giggled at Turner’s words as they handed Tamzin her bouquet. It was a bouquet of lilies from Roth Territory, white and pure like her.
Turner had opened the door and Tamzin found an older gentleman standing outside. “Jacque?” Tamzin asked with a smile before she rushed up and hugged the old man. “What are you doing here?”
“I am another that will join you in the Thurston Territory. The Princess needs the finest physician to look over her and her children,” Jacque smiled as he kissed both of Tamzin’s cheeks. “It is an honor to serve you and your future husband, Princess.”
“It is an honor to have you with me,” Tamzin hugged him again and watched as Lucy and Kendall embraced him as well. Turner watched on before he offered his arm back to Tamzin.
“It is time,” Turner reminded as he placed his hand on Tamzin’s. “You have your friends, your dog, and now an extremely trusted advisor, my darling. If you need to come back home, consummated marriage or not, you are my child and you will always have a home in my court.” His words made Tamzin’s eyes water as she hugged her father, the bouquet in her hand pressed up against his chest.
“Thank you, Father,” Tamzin whispered as he kissed her forehead. Together, the rest of the Roth clan descended down the grand staircase. A path had been laid out for the Roth’s to lead them nearly across the castle to the Thrown Room. Tamzin and Turner stood outside as Tamzin’s fingers played with edge of her father’s sleeve. “Father, please don’t let me fall.”
Turner smiled at his daughter. “I never once let you fall when you were learning to walk, and I certainly won’t let you fall now.” His words were drowned out by the playing of the music and the doors opened. She saw so much more Thurston men than her own, but Gemma and Thom stood at the end of the aisle with Will, Gregory, and Garrett.
Tamzin smiled at the look of shock and awe on Will’s face as she began to slowly walk towards him with her father. Her mother had been right; Will could not take his eyes off of her. His men all murmured about her as she walked by, but they all stared at Lucy longer. She undoubtedly batted her eyelashes at them, which was far more tempting than the woman their leader was marrying.
Tamzin stood at the end of the aisle with her father when the fat man Rainer came to stand on the other side of the altar.
“Do you give this woman to the Thurston Prince?” Rainer asked as he leered at the young bride. Turner cleared his throat and Rainer blinked a few times before he refocused.
“I do. On behalf of the Roth Territory, I, King Turner Roth present my daughter, Crowned Princess Tamzin Roth of Roth Territory to the Crowned Prince of Thurston Territory, William Thurston, in a quest for peace,” Turner said as he turned to Will and bowed. Tamzin watched as Will returned the bow before he offered his hand to Tamzin. Slowly and nervously, Tamzin let Will thread their fingers together when he gave her a slight squeeze.
Will looked like a true man, a true king, in his cloak lined with fur. It broadened his shoulders and his heavy beard emphasized his strong jaw line and angular face. She stared at him unabashedly and found herself licking her lips. Will smirked as he kept his eyes on the aggressively unattractive Rainer as Tamzin’s fingers curled lightly in his.
When Rainer began his sermon, Will leaned over to whisper into Tamzin’s ear, “you look beautiful.”
She smiled at him before she turned back and murmured; “I think you’re stealing my thunder with your cloak.” Her quiet words and soft smile made Will grin like a Cheshire cat. He ran his thumb over her knuckles, which made it harder for her to contain her grin.
“No matter how I am dressed, Your Grace, no one can deny that you are the loveliest woman in this room,” Will continued to whisper to her, which made Tamzin giggle lightly. Will felt someone punch his shoulder lightly, which earned a collective laugh from the crowd.
Gregory could barely contain his smile as he gestured Will to look at Rainer. Rainer’s stern face made Will smile broader and he stood up straight, his shoulder pushed back.
“I am already distracting you from your duties, Your Grace,” Tamzin whispered as her lips brushed up against his ear and her hot breath felt nice on his skin. Will knew everyone was watching them, and he squeezed her hand lightly.
“If you would repeat my words, Young Prince,” Rainer began as he gestured to Tamzin. “I, Prince William of Thurston Territory, take Tamzin Roth, Princess of Roth Territory as my lawful wedded wife…”
Will spoke the words with more enthusiasm than he expected. Their quiet japing made him feel more at ease at their marriage; Will was quite sure Tamzin was not as he initially expected. He looked at her as she stared ahead, her porcelain skin glistening under the sun that shined through the grand window. She turned to look at him and smiled softly; her smile left him feeling warm and calm, like he was being tucked into his bed.