by Daris Howard
All my love,
Alexander
She looked up at Marina and Elizabeth, tears flowing down her face. She was too late. Alexander had already left for military training.
Chapter 9
Going After Alexander
She ran to her parents room and collapsed into her mother's lap, sobbing. Her father was concerned. "Louise, what is it?"
Unable to speak, she handed him the letter. He read it and handed the it to the queen. Soon tears were rolling down her cheeks as well.
After a moment the king breathed deeply and spoke sternly. "Louise, you are going to be queen someday. How are you going to handle something like this?"
Louise tried to stifle her sniffling. "What do you mean?"
"You are going to command armies and navies. You will control kingdoms and estates. You've got to be ready to make decisions and have them carried out. It is time you started. What are you going to do?"
Louise wiped her eyes. "What do you suggest?"
The king laughed. "I'm not your advisor. You've got to make your own decisions. You are going to command, not ask. It is all right to ask for advice, but the final decision must be yours. For good or bad, you will have to live with the results, receiving the praise or the blame."
Louise looked at her mother, then back at her father. "What are my options?"
"With an army at your command; with a navy at your command; with a Royal Guard at your command; with Dukes and Duchesses, Lords, Ladies and Earls, and..." The king paused, placing his hand on the queen's shoulder, "with a king and queen at your command, your options are many."
Louise felt a surge go through her as the realization of what he was saying began to sink in.
The king smiled and playfully bowed to Louise. "What would you have us do, Your Highness?"
Louise grinned and stood up. She tried to stand as stately as she could. "We're going after him. We leave at dawn."
Louise hugged her father. The queen patted the king's hand with affection.
The king acted falsely stiff. "We better get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us."
Louise almost flew back to her room. When she entered, Marina and Elizabeth had hardly moved. Their faces were still long, sad, and tear-stained. They knew of her love for Alexander. Her smile took them off guard. "Your Highness?" Marina asked.
Louise could hardly contain herself. "We're taking the Royal Guard and going after him."
Elizabeth and Marina squealed with delight. She had to tell them all about the whole day she'd had in the mountains, her father's approval, and everything. She could hardly believe it. Alexander was going to be hers. He hadn't asked her or anything, but she knew he loved her; his letter even said so. It took forever to get to bed, and it took even longer to get to sleep. She got almost no sleep at all, but was up early, running on pure excitement.
Locating Captain Johnson of the Royal Guard, she told him to prepare to move out as soon as possible. She told him to ready the supplies to travel to the Northern Military Training Center. He wasn't used to taking orders from her, but he saluted and said, "Yes, Your Highness," looking quizzically at Lieutenant Richins, who just shrugged.
She went in and asked the cook to prepare lots of food, and the largest batch of honey candy she had ever made. The shocked cook said it would take a couple of hours, but it would be ready.
By then, everyone knew that Alexander was gone. It didn't take a great imagination to know what Louise was up to either. The question in everyone's mind was whether she had the king's permission. Before her parents awakened, she had the whole castle hopping. After preparations were well underway, she went to find Lady Margaret and Duke Reginald, who were just exiting their quarters. Lady Margaret's eyes were red and swollen. Alexander would not have left without telling his parents good-bye, and their sorrow showed in their faces.
As they came from their room, could see everything around the castle flying at high speed, and Louise waiting for them, they looked at her questioningly. She knew this seemed all backwards, but she was going to do it anyway.
"My Lady. My Lord. I have a question to ask of you."
Duke Reginald nodded. "Yes, Your Highness?"
Yes, this really seemed backwards, but it was kind of fun. Ceremoniously, Louise asked, "Would it be all right with you if I married your son?"
They stared at her in shock. Duke Reginald blinked a couple of times, as if he were dreaming. "Alexander?"
She grinned. "You don't have another son that I don't know about, do you?"
Duke Reginald shook his head. His eyes were big and he looked like a shocked deer as he spoke. "Why, yes, of course, it would be fine!"
"Then you don't have any problem with me going and getting him out of the military and bringing him home, do you?"
Duke Reginald nodded. "Yes." Then realizing what he said, he shook his head. "I mean, no. I mean, it would most definitely be fine."
"Good," Louise said. "Because preparations are already under way."
"And, uh, what does you father think of all of this?" Duke Reginald asked.
"Oh, he has already given his permission. In fact, he told me I'd have command of whatever forces I need." She then looked at them teasingly. "You don't think he'll put up a fight, do you?"
The whole situation began to dawn on them. Duke Reginald's eyes sparkled as he laughed. "I don't think so."
Lady Margaret had not said a word. She reached out and hugged Louise and smiled through her tears. "And we will love you as our own daughter."
Louise hugged her back. "You already have."
Duke Reginald stood at attention. "You couldn't use an additional old, former soldier could you? I'd really like to be there when you find him."
Louise laughed. "I'd love to have you along."
As Louise was heading to the dining hall, she ran into her parents. Her father seemed pleased with her ability to take charge. He shook his head in disbelief. "You sure have this place busy, Louise." He then looked at her and stood very formally. "You couldn't happen to use an old king in your plans, could you?"
"You'd come?" Louise asked.
"If it's all right," he answered. "I wouldn't want to miss it for the world."
Louise nodded. "In fact, Father, I have a plan, and it involves you."
It took longer than Louise had hoped to move out such a large contingent. It was almost noon before they rolled through the castle gates. She rode right at the front with her father, Duke Reginald, Captain Johnson, and Lieutenant Richins. She turned to see her mother and Lady Margaret waving from the balcony. Below, the courtyard was filled with almost everyone from the castle waving, and wishing them godspeed.
It would take them at least three days to get to the camp. She figured Alexander, unencumbered by supply wagons, would have ridden all night and, perhaps, the full next day, so he would be there by nightfall. He would be in the military for around three days before she could get to him. She had heard the treatment on the first days was the worst, and she wished she could be there sooner.
She pushed them as fast and hard as she could. When asked when he would like to camp, or any other questions, the king would point to Louise. "I am not in command here; she is."
It was almost noon on their third day when they finally reached the military training camp. They flew the flags of the royal family and were still a good distance away when a greeting party was dispatched from the camp. The top commanders came personally, led by General Lavison. He had a worried look on his face when he saw that the king himself was riding at the front.
The general bowed. "Your Majesty, to what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
Louise thought, by the look on the general's face, he really thought it was anything but a joyous occasion.
The king, as he and Louise had planned, did not defer to her this time, but looked sternly at the general. The king's voice was strong as he answered. "You have a new recruit here, a young nobleman by the name of Alexander of Bernodia. Do you know
the man of whom I speak?"
The general looked to his officers and some of them nodded. He then turned back to the king. "Yes, Your Majesty, we know the man of whom you speak."
"I have given him a command, and he has shirked his duty, disobeyed me, and has run away to join the military," the king said.
The concern written on their faces was evident. It was obvious they wondered what kind of command this young man could have disobeyed for the king to come after him himself, and what kind of man he was for the king to bring a whole contingency along. The king continued. "I want him brought to your headquarters, where I will meet with him. I do not want him treated roughly, for I will mete out any punishment. You are not to let him know that it is I who seek him, nor anything of this; just that he is to report to headquarters. Is that understood?"
The general bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king continued. "Some of us will come with you. I will tell you exactly what I want him told of my visit, but he is to be told nothing until he is standing outside the door of the room that I am in. Is that clear?"
The general bowed again. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king spoke sternly to the general. "Lead on."
The group rode solemnly to the military camp. Only five followed the army officers, and the rest were left to make ready for the return journey. Louise wanted to get back to the castle as soon as possible, and had given orders that as soon as they had Alexander, they were going to head back. They still had most of the day left, and she didn't want to waste it.
She had asked Duke Reginald, Captain Johnson, and Lieutenant Richins to accompany her. As they followed the army officers back to camp, the king rode in the lead, followed by Louise, then the others.
Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Richins stood guard outside the door to the king's make-shift headquarters. Louise and Duke Reginald hid behind where the door would open, and the king moved to the middle of the room, where Alexander would see him when he came through the door. The men were just coming off of a march. Louise could hear a man bellow out, "Alexander of Bernodia, you are to report to headquarters."
A few moments passed before, from her hiding place, she heard the general's voice outside. "Alexander of Bernodia?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have been informed," the general said, "that you have disobeyed a direct order from the king. He awaits you inside."
The military officers were nonchalantly hanging around outside, wanting to know what was happening. Inside, Louise grinned to herself. Oh, how she would have loved to have seen Alexander's face when the general spoke to him. She was glad he was young or his heart probably would have stopped on the spot. Slowly, surely, the door opened. She could not see Alexander from her vantage point, but she could imagine what was going through his mind.
Her father played his part well. She could not believe he had agreed to this, but he was as good as any actor at the royal palace, and seemed to be relishing his role in this drama. She had to play this one last trick on Alexander. Of all the tricks she had ever played on him, it would be her best, and she wasn't doing it out of spite this time, but because she loved him. She smiled to herself. Besides, he had it coming for leaving with only a note of good-bye.
The king stood with his back to the door. As the door was carefully opened, it squeaked on its hinges. The king turned slowly, deliberately, and faced Alexander.
The king's voice was stern and harsh. "Alexander of Bernodia."
Alexander quickly stepped forward and fell to his knees before the king. "Your Majesty!"
Now Louise could see Alexander clearly. He was wearing the uniform of the army. He was dirty and sweaty from marching. He looked exhausted, and he was trembling and breathing hard. She didn't know how much was from the march and how much was from fear.
The king took a deep breath. "Young man, did I not give you a direct order?"
Alexander nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"And what was that command?" the king asked.
"That I should report to military training," Alexander replied.
"Was there not a command that superseded that?"
Alexander paused momentarily, seemingly confused. "Uh, well, you said..."
"I said you were to be my daughter's escort until such a time as she no longer needed you, did I not?"
"Well, yes, Your Majesty, but you said she was to marry."
"But did she ever tell you she was no longer in need of your service?" the king asked.
"Well, no, Your Majesty, but I thought..."
"You thought? You thought? Do you think this is your place to make the decision?"
"Well, no, Your Majesty, but I, uh, I..."
Poor Alexander was really trembling now, and his voice was quivering as he stumbled all over his words. Louise clapped her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh, and she could hear Duke Reginald beside her gulping back his own laughter. Alexander must have heard them or sensed their presence because he turned slightly, though he didn't dare turn away from the king.
The king's voice suddenly became soft and kind. "Perhaps, Alexander, you should ask her, don't you think?"
Louise burst into laughter as did Duke Reginald. Alexander turned to see her, and she ran to him, pulling him to his feet and throwing her arms around him. He seemed embarrassed and confused, but he half-smiled, as the king also joined them in laughter. Still, Alexander obviously had no idea what was going on.
When Louise could finally get control of herself, she pulled back and took Alexander's hands in hers. "You see, Alexander, you are never going to be released from being my escort, because Father has given his permission for me to marry you."
The stunned look on Alexander's face was priceless. She had sworn that she would break his composure some day, and this time she finally had.
The king smiled kindly at Alexander and added to what Louise had said. "Not only my permission, Alexander, but my blessing."
"You see," Louise said, "we decided I should marry the best man I could find, and, well, we decided I couldn't find a better man than Alexander of Bernodia."
Tears started to pour down Alexander's face, mixing with the sweat and dirt that was there. Louise reached up and kindly touched his face. "But there is a little problem. You see, Alexander of Bernodia has never asked me to marry him."
Alexander's breath started coming in gasps as his tears seemed to be choking the air from his lungs. He turned and looked at the king, and the king nodded. He turned and looked at his father, and his father nodded. He turned back to Louise and smiled through his tears.
He had to swallow a couple of times, but finally he was able to speak. "Princess Louise, if you will marry me, I promise to always love you, to always support you as queen, and to always be your best friend."
Now Louise was crying. She couldn't even speak. She just nodded and threw her arms around his neck. He took her in his arms and kissed her, and she didn't even mind the mud and sweat. She leaned against him, and he held her for a long time. She knew, more than ever, how much she loved Alexander of Bernodia, and how much he loved her.
Chapter 10
The Wedding Day Finally Arrives
It took only a brief moment for Lady to be prepared for Alexander. Alexander said he had debated taking Lady with him to the army, but he was sure she would feel as lost without him as he would be without her. They weren't even mounted before word of what had happened had spread like wildfire across the camp. Some of Alexander's immediate commanding officers came to wish him the best. Louise could see by the way they addressed him that they were slightly fearful. She imagined that they had treated him badly and were worried about it.
Alexander never seemed to hold animosity toward anyone. He wished them all good luck, but she thought to herself that it was well for them to feel awkward. When she told Alexander she had brought honey candy for his friends, he had it spread equally through the camp from General Lavison to the lowest private. The general even allowed the men to all wav
e them on their way, saying, "Discipline, be hanged!"
When they reached the contingency of Royal Guard and men from Bernodia, a loud cheer erupted. Alexander seemed embarrassed by the attention, and Louise decided to add to it. Now that she felt no need to hide her feelings, she grabbed him and kissed him. Alexander blushed bright red, and the men all cheered louder than ever. Alexander lowered his eyes and grinned, and she could tell he liked it, even though he was shy about this public display of affection.
It took them until evening on the sixth day to arrive back at Denville. The lookouts were watching for them, and they had no sooner come over the ridge where they could see the castle than they could hear the heralding trumpets and church bells announcing their approach.
The castle was still far in the distance, and it seemed to Louise like the last few miles took forever. When they arrived, the queen and Lady Margaret were waiting. Louise jumped from Rusty's back and ran to her mother and hugged her; then she hugged Lady Margaret. She ran back and took Alexander by the hand to stand before her mother. He smiled and bowed, and the queen threw her arms around him and hugged him. "Welcome home, Alexander."
There was much to plan for the wedding. They decided it would be in just over three months - at Christmas time. The king and queen had originally planned to stay only a few days, but with the six added days to get Alexander, and another week to work out the wedding details, their stay was quite extended.
Louise wanted to have their wedding at Denville. The king was a little disappointed in that, but consented, as long as they had another celebration a month later at Winslow. With that, they made plans for Alexander to spend the first month and a half with Louise at Winslow, and then they would make the winter trek back to Denville a month and a half before the wedding to finish up the details. Louise chose Denville for her wedding, thinking that fewer highbrow people would come north in the winter, and Alexander would enjoy a smaller, more informal wedding. She talked her parents into inviting only closest family and friends and leaving the rest for the celebration at the palace.