Once Upon a Romance 02 - As The Last Petal Falls

by Jessica Woodard

  Somehow, in the midst of the preparations, she found the time to pen two swift notes. One was to Max.

  Dear Max,

  You are the best friend anyone could ever hope to have, and I am an idiot. If I make it home in one piece, I promise to treat you better, at least some of the time.

  Love, V

  P.S. Of course, you should burn this. I don’t want you using it against me when I’m back in my right mind.

  The second was harder to write, but finally she bit her lip and scrawled it before she could change her mind again about what to say.

  Dear Father,

  I am not going to ask you to try to understand why I left. I know you understand, you just disagree, and you have your reasons. I’ve even come to agree with most of them, and I cannot apologize enough for all the worry and fear I must have put you through.

  Which makes it even harder to tell you that I am not coming home. Not yet. I have heard that Mother is still alive, and before I return to Albion I need to see her with my own eyes. Once again, I know you will understand, even if you don’t agree.

  I really am sorry, Father, and I hope you’ll forgive me.

  All my love and affection,

  Vivienne

  She gave the letters to Connelly and asked him to see them delivered.

  “I’ll try, lassie, though it might be a wee bit slow. Ordinarily I’d hand ’em over ta the Dame, but she’s not in Albion at the moment.” He gave her a significant look. “Seems she’s sloggin’ through the mountains, in search of a headstrong princess.”

  “Oh.” Vivienne felt chagrined. “Will she be in Inisle?”

  “Who can say, lass? Storms bein’ what they are this year, ’tis a fair chance she willna arrive ’til spring.”

  Vivi felt comforted at the idea that the Dame was coming. Of course, she’d have to take a sound scolding for being so silly, but Fae Merriweather was a formidable ally. She was bound to be able to help if Vivienne got herself into a scrape.

  The men of the keep rallied around her with a spirit that warmed Vivi through and through. One and all expressed their regrets that she was leaving, and then each man in turn offered to help as he could. Benjamin was clever with a needle, and managed to repair her riding jacket well enough for her to wear it again. The Shapherds baked her travel breads, laced with honey given for that purpose by little Billy Notter out of the supply sent him by his mother. And that night before the fire, they took turns telling their favorite tall tales.

  When she finally excused herself with many thanks to every man, Fain came with her. They walked through the barren hallways, hands linked, not speaking. Vivienne finally broke the silence.

  “You’re still angry, aren’t you?”

  He sighed. “Some people are such fools, they get angry instead of just admitting the truth.”

  “And what truth would that be?”

  “That I love you. And I am so very scared for you. I want to beg you not to go, but I know it’s useless.”

  They’d reached her door.

  “Stay with me tonight?” She wasn’t sure he would agree. Maybe he was too—

  Her mind fell silent when he leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss.

  “This may be my last chance to hold you, Princess. Of course I’m staying.”

  Hand in hand they entered the room. Fain turned to shut the door, and Vivi slipped her fingers from his and glided over to the fire. She stood there, staring down into the flames, letting her mind dwell on nothing. Fain came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back to rest against his chest.

  “Did you know that the day you and Marlplot cleaned this room, I snuck in and cleaned out your chimney while you were off in the kitchens?”

  “You did?”

  “Yes. You’d left a bird’s nest in there. You could have set the whole keep on fire.”

  “How did you know I had forgotten to check the draw?”

  “I’d been watching you.”

  She turned in his arms so she could look up at him. “You were watching me?”

  “I watched you for days.” He had a little smile on his face. “I kept telling myself it was ridiculous, but I watched anyway.”

  “If I’d known, I would have washed my face more often.”

  “Ah, but then I would have missed the sight of the Crown Princess of Albion with soot from here,” he gently kissed her brow, “to here.” This time he bestowed a kiss on her nose. “No matter what happens, that is a memory I’ll treasure.”

  “Fain…” Vivienne’s voice shook, and she was suddenly on the verge of tears. “I promise—”

  He stopped her with a kiss. “No, don’t promise me anything. You don’t know what will happen once you ride away from me tomorrow.” Reaching up, he brushed her hair back from her forehead. “Let me have tonight as another memory to cherish.”

  She moved into the circle of his arms and stretched up to meet his lips with her own. Tomorrow would keep. For tonight, they had each other.

  They moved together in the dim glow of the dying fire. Hands touched skin, caressed, and clung. Lips pressed fevered flesh, parted to emit sighs of longing, and came together again to graze their lover’s body. Eventually they found the bed, rocking together in the growing darkness, joining their bodies as though it could wed their souls for all time.

  When they collapsed, limbs entwined, bodies too full of sweet lassitude to move, Vivienne buried her face in the side of Fain’s neck, breathing in his scent, listening to the pulse that was slowly calming just below his skin. They lay for a long time, and when finally he stirred, she clung to him.

  “Not yet. Hold me a little while longer.”

  He settled back and pulled her closer to his side. “As long as you’ll let me, love. As long as you’ll let me.”

  In the morning, Fain rode with her to the tree line. He wished he could think of something to say, some magic words that would keep her from this insane path, but he had nothing. Instead they rode in a silence made miserable by their imminent parting.

  Just shy of the forest, Fain reined up. “Dismount a moment.”

  Vivienne slid from the saddle and walked to meet him. She held him tightly, and for a moment he was tempted to throw her over his shoulder and carry her, kicking and screaming if necessary, all the way back to Albion. He wondered if she’d ever forgive him.

  Vivi gasped. “Fain, look!”

  Grey Tip’s pack was slinking from the tree line. The leader himself padded forward towards the two humans. Idiot rolled her eyes and bared her teeth at the wolves, but otherwise held her ground.

  “I see being lost in the woods has made you less skittish,” Vivi laughed at her horse. “What do you suppose they’re doing here, Fain?”

  “It’s just a guess, but I’d say they’ve come to escort you to the road.”

  “What? How would they know?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “There’s a great deal I don’t understand about Grey Tip’s pack. I used to ask the same sorts of questions, but after so many years… I’ve just accepted it. They know.”

  The moment had come. He went to hold Darling Idiot’s reins while Vivienne mounted.

  “You needn’t look like a funeral mourner. I’ll be careful. And in the spring I’ll head home, with Brannon none the wiser, and come straight to you.” Despite her blithe words, Fain could see unshed tears in her violet eyes. She blinked fiercely and gave him a quavery smile.

  He couldn’t argue with her. Not now. She’d go anyway, and he didn’t want them to part on a disagreement.

  “Of course, your highness. Three months will pass in the blink of an eye.” He took off his glove so he could cup her cheek in his bare hand. “You’ll barely have time to miss me.”

  “As if I would miss an oaf like you,” she sniffed.

  “As if I would think of such a brat every night.”

  “As if I would long to have you with me.” Her voice was barely more th
an a whisper. “Oh Fain, I wish I didn’t have to go.”

  He wanted to shout. Of course she didn’t have to go. She could stay with him. Safe, protected, and far from that treacherous, pretend king. Instead, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, letting her hide her tears against his chest.

  “Just do what you must and then come back. You’re taking my heart with you, Vivienne, and I don’t think I can live long without it.”

  She kissed him then: sweetly, fiercely, with all the passion he knew was there in her fiery soul. He responded, trying to give her back all his love and longing and desperate hope for her safety. At last she broke away, and in one swift motion threw herself into the saddle. They gazed at each other a long moment in silence, and then Vivi took her reins and rode away from him, looking back only once before disappearing into the trees, Grey Tip loping along beside her.

  Fain stood for a long time in the cold snow, praying to every one of the gods for the safe return of his love.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Vivienne stumbled across one of King Brannon’s patrols before the day was out. It was surprisingly easy. Fain had shown her the roads that led out from the town she had supposedly wintered in, and they had chosen a route that overlapped with a number of caravans that carried royal supplies. As Fain had said they would, the small companies were ranging up and down the roads, interrogating travelers in the name of the king. Vivi had been incensed when she’d first learned of this abuse of their powers, but now that a squad was approaching she was delighted. She needed a little lift to her spirits, after such a sad parting.

  “Halt, Madame, and explain your presence on the King’s road.”

  Vivienne drew herself up in her most haughty posture, and stared down her nose at the Captain. He was taller than her, but by some good fortune his mount was quite short. She was inches above him.

  “ I am not a madame, you ignorant lout. And further —” she spoke firmly, ignoring his attempt to respond, “this is not the King’s Road. The King’s Road runs from Inisle to the Sanctuary of Eliss in the farthest mountain ranges of Toldas. This is some miserable goat track that has the great misfortune of being traveled by base idiots. “ She gave him a withering glare, leaving him in no doubt as to whom she was referring. She kept up the glare until he opened his mouth, and then cut him off once more. “Idiots who clearly have never studied the bloodlines of the king which they claim to serve. Had they studied the bloodlines, they would recognize a member of the royal family when she stood before them. Recognize her, and give her all due respect and consideration. Now,” she allowed her face to relax into icy disapproval, rather than outright censure, “would you like to try again, Captain ?”

  “Uh…” The unfortunate man seemed at a loss for words.

  A whispering swelled his ranks, and one of the men in the company tried repeatedly to get the officer’s attention, but the man was too busy turning purple in the face to notice. With some alarm, the infantryman realized his captain was about to say something unforgivable, and broke in.

  “Pardon me, your highness, but aren’t you Princess Vivienne?” Vivi nodded graciously, and watched as the purple-faced Captain deflated, and then turned white with the realization of what he had almost said. It was satisfying—Vivienne loved doing that to abusive, power hungry, little men—but not as satisfying as she’d wanted. Somehow the joke wasn’t as good, without Fain there to share it.

  She chased the thought away. Time enough to mope later.

  “Tell me, solider, what are the standing orders of this company?” She addressed the man who’d been brave enough to speak up.

  “We’re to keep these routes free from highwaymen, your highness, and bring any persons of interest to the capital for interrogation.”

  “Well, I’m certainly a person of interest, am I not?”

  “I should say so, your highness.” The soldier’s glance managed to be frankly admiring, while remaining respectful. Vivienne smiled warmly at him.

  “Well then. What’s your name, good sir?”

  “Dawlton, your highness.”

  “Dawlton, would you and your company be kind enough to escort me to Inisle?”

  “It would be our honor, yo—”

  “Hold on just a minute!” The captain finally found his voice. “This is my company!”

  Vivienne just gave an icy laugh and rode past the blustering man, calling back over her shoulder as the rest of the troop took a formation around her.

  “Not anymore, Captain. Not anymore.”

  It was another two days’ ride through snowy farmlands to Inisle. The captain trailed the company, but refused to ride alongside them or join their camp either night. That suited Vivienne. The common soliders were far more at ease without their commanding officer present. In fact, Vivi realized she felt very much at home among them, almost as though she were back with the men of the keep once more.

  They told her about the countryside through which they rode. Small clusters of homes, grouped around tiny town squares, dotted the hilly landscape. Vivi knew from her studies that Toldas was a land-rich country, but poor in gold and other resources. In Albion, the farmers were prosperous, and their prosperity had allowed merchants and tradesfolk to build a thriving economy. Here, by stark contrast, each village labored hard to produce enough food to support themselves through the long winter after they tithed their best harvest to the crown in tax.

  She asked the men about their lives, curious to hear their opinion of the crown, and the stories poured out. Most of these men were from towns just like these, and had joined the kingdom’s army on the promise of steady pay, to help their families. They never said a word outright, but occasionally someone would speak of a neighbor who had crossed the crown, or failed to raise the money for their tax portion, and the heavy punishment that had invariably been levied. Mouths would tighten; fists would clench. By the time they reached Inisle, it was clear to Vivienne that these men had no more love for their king than the rebels did. She wondered what they would do if they knew he held the throne through deception and betrayal.

  Their second and final night on the road, Vivi discovered that Dawlton played the penny-whistle, and she coaxed him into giving them a lively tune while she danced with every man in the squadron. Then she dragged Dawlton himself up into the space by the fire, and they jigged together while the rest of the men belted out the foulest drinking song she’d ever heard. She fell asleep that night thinking that at least she had some friends in Toldas, even if it turned out she had none in the palace.

  The next day, they reached the capital. The castle had originally been built nestled in the foothills of one of Toldas’s mountain ranges, and the city had expanded out over time. The rolling hills effectively concealed the vast city until one was practically there, and Vivienne was impressed when they crested a final hill and saw the tiered streets laid out before them, rising up behind the large walls that enclosed Inisle.

  Dawlton announced her at the gates, and after one startled look the guard admitted her, while a small boy wearing livery raced away up the hill towards the castle. Vivienne turned in dismay when she realized the soldiers weren’t coming with her.

  “We can’t, your highness.” Dawlton shook his head regretfully. “The royal guard are in charge of the city, and they’ll take care of you proper. We’ve got to return to our patrol duty.”

  She bit her lip on her disappointment, trying not to argue against the protocol. She understood the hierarchy at work, and quibbling would only anger the royal guard. From horseback she hugged each man and nodded icily to the captain before waving them good-bye. By the time they were out of sight, four mounted men wearing chain mail and liveried in the royal coat of arms had arrived at the city gate.

  “Your highness, I am Sir Hugh. Please, if you would follow us. It would be our honor to escort you to the king.”

  “Thank you, Sir Hugh. Might I have a moment to refresh myself before greeting his majesty? The jour
ney has been long, and I am afraid I am not fit to be seen.” She gave her best winsome smile, but Sir Hugh shook his head without appearing the slightest bit affected.

  “I apologize, your highness, but his majesty is eager to see you immediately. Do not fear; I’m sure King Brannon will be most pleased to receive you, just as you are.”

  Vivi sighed, but only on the inside. No sense fighting a battle she was sure to lose. She did her utmost to look radiantly pleased, instead.

  “How kind of you, good knight. In that case, lead on. I am at his majesty’s disposal.” The four men took up positions around her and they set off, riding for the castle.

  Sir Hugh wasn’t one for small talk, and Vivi was grateful. Every step closer to the castle made her stomach flutter. Somewhere in that huge edifice was her mother: a woman she barely remembered, but had always yearned for. Her eyes began to burn, and she bit the inside of her lip to focus. Now was hardly the time to start bawling.

  At the grand entrance to the castle, she was handed over to yet another man, this one wearing formal serving attire. She nodded graciously to the four knights and followed the steward through the palace halls. She couldn’t help contrasting the deep, richly piled carpets and luxurious furnishings with the sparse emptiness of Fain’s keep. She had been riding through this kingdom for three days, and nowhere had she seen the kind of prosperity that would allow the ruling monarch such opulence. Not if he were taxing his kingdom fairly, that is.

  She forced her mind to stop wandering and listened to the steward. He was giving her an account of what to expect in the throne room. Here, at least, was a man who knew his job. His words were precise and to the point, but somehow conveyed the impression of warm welcome.

  “His majesty has been hearing petitions, today, which is why you are to be received in the grand throne room. Normally a family greeting would take place somewhere a little less imposing.” He smiled in apology and Vivi wondered if she was being subtly warned. After all, if she’d been allowed to bathe and change, as was customary, the king would have had plenty of time to retire to a more intimate setting. Interesting.