by Daris Howard
Every time she did things like that, he would blush and get all tongue-tied. It made her giggle. He admitted that love had a way of muddling his brain.
A second night with another family, a night at an inn, and they were finally at Walsken Manor. Alexander directed the care of the horses and the unloading of the luggage from the coach while Louise started exploring. She hadn't been there for years, yet, when she walked into the halls, her old memories of being there for a few weeks each summer, playing jokes on Alexander, running, playing, climbing the apple trees and eating apples, all came rushing back.
Suddenly, there in the large sitting room, she recognized an old couch that she recalled hiding behind to throw a rotten apple at Alexander, and she burst out laughing. Alexander poked his head in the door. "Is everything all right, Louise?"
She grinned and put her arms around his neck. "Oh, Alexander, this place brings back so many memories, not all of them good. I was such a little brat in the way I treated you. Can you ever forgive me?"
He kissed her and laughed. "I don't remember any bad memories. Besides, life is made for looking forward. Forward is always brighter if happy memories are remembered and others are forgotten."
She hugged him tighter. "When we were small, did you ever imagine we would be married?"
He smiled. "You know, sometimes I could see something wonderful behind that tough exterior of yours. But I have to admit that the thought of the two of us marrying was probably the absolute opposite of what was on my mind back then."
They held each other for some time. She was glad they had come here. She had thought it might not be the best place to spend their honeymoon because of the memories of summers, but she was also finding that building good memories seemed to erase the pain of the bad.
They had a wonderful two weeks at Walsken. At night the old guardian of the estate would sit with them by the fireplace and tell them stories of their mothers. The queen grew up there, and Lady Margaret grew up not too far distant. When she became the queen's lady-in-waiting, she moved to Walsken. Louise laughed to hear new stories of her mother - stories of pranks she had played and things she had done in her younger years. In many ways, she found she was more like her mother than she had ever known, and she felt closer to her for it.
Alexander took Louise sledding on a hill near the manor - a new experience which she found exhilarating. She liked to catch him with a good snowball, now and then. He was too much of a gentleman to throw one back at her, but he wasn't above coming in from the cold and placing his icy hands on her bare neck as she sat by a warm fire.
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Alexander was true to his word, and they started spending most of the winters at Winslow and most of the summers at Denville. The winters and summers seemed to come and go quickly after that. They wanted children, but no children came. She knew how much he wanted one, and each time she would get her hopes built up only to find out again that she was not pregnant, she would cry. She had felt that, in so many things, she had been a disappointment and less than he deserved, and, in this one thing, she had hoped to please him.
He would always comfort her and tell her it didn't matter. He would remind her that the thousands of children all over the kingdom were like his own. That would ease the pain in her heart, because she knew it was true. Wherever they went, the children flocked to him. Even if he didn't have candy, he would read to them, and if he saw a child hurt or crying, he would stop and comfort them. He especially had a soft spot for the children of Bernodia.
But finally, there came the day that she was sure she was pregnant. She kept it to herself for quite a while, not wanting to get Alexander excited just to have him be disappointed. When she was absolutely positive, she told him. Alexander could hardly contain his excitement. He danced her all around the room. As the day grew closer, he fussed and worried over her. He was so concerned all would be right.
When the night came for the delivery, he paced and paced, worried and worried. Her father had tried to calm and reassure him, but he kept saying that he didn't know what he'd do if she wasn't all right. His worry was all for naught. When Alexander and her father were invited in and their new little bundle was placed in Alexander's arms, the tears flowed down his cheeks. He kissed the baby, and then he kissed Louise. "She's beautiful," he said. "She looks just like you."
They named her Marie, and she truly was beautiful. She adored her father, and he loved her. Before she was even two, she was helping him with plants in the gardens. He would take her everywhere. She could be seen at parades, at balls, at any royal gathering, either riding on her father's shoulders or standing beside him, her little hand in his.
And if Marie wasn't with her father, she was with one of her grandpas. They all adored her, and Louise thought they didn't just spoil her a little.
When she turned two, Alexander wanted a special horse for her. He wanted a foal from Lady. Lady was getting older, but in spite of Alexander's concerns, they soon had a little filly. They named her Yadee. Marie couldn't say Lady but called her Yadee, thinking the word meant horse. Alexander said they should name her horse a name she could pronounce, and it stuck.
Alexander spent hours and hours with Marie training Yadee. Yadee was as gentle and calm as her mother, and with all of the attention, she was soon devoted to Alexander and Marie. Alexander wanted his little girl to ride with him to visit the villages and people. He started taking her after she turned two, but he never felt they could go for more than a day trip at that age.
Everyone loved the little princess. She got to be the one that passed out the honey candy. She was so cute, dressed up in her frilly dresses, passing out the pieces Alexander would hand to her.
Alexander had hoped for more children, but more never came, and, as the king was getting older, Louise found her duties in the court increasing. She found herself saying more and more, "Next time" as Alexander would ask her to accompany them on an outing. The king started leaving his work and joining them, as did her mother and Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret. The king would often tell Louise, "The problems won't go away. They will still be here when you get back."
She kept thinking there was always plenty of time later. At least, she did until the day a messenger rushed in to the court to tell her something had happened to her father.
Chapter 12
A King And A Father
The word was that her father had collapsed. She rushed to his side. Alexander and Marie were already there, as was the queen. There were doctors arguing over the best remedy. They each had a different name for his ailment and a different idea on what caused it. Tiring of the unwelcome attention, the king told the doctors to leave him alone with his family.
He looked weak and pale. He called Louise over. "Louise, it is time to plan your coronation."
Louise was shocked. "Father, you are going to get better."
"I may for a while," he said, "but I know I am not going to live a lot longer."
"But, Father, there has never before been a change in the ruler while the current one was still alive."
The king glanced at Alexander as he replied. "It will not be the first time we have broken with tradition, and I think that time turned out extremely well, don't you?"
She knew what the king meant. Had they stuck to tradition, she would not have been allowed to marry Alexander. She knew how much her father loved Alexander. She had always been grateful to him for looking beyond Alexander's lack of title. But she also felt that if he turned over all ruling power to her, he would have nothing to live for.
She took his hand in hers. "Father, I'm not sure I am ready to be queen."
He squeezed her hand. "Nonsense! You have shown yourself wise and kind. This will be good anyway, because for what time I have left, I can guide you if you need it. You also have Alexander. Besides, I am concerned about contests to the throne."
"What do you mean?" Louise asked.
"I feel your cousin, Tobias, would debate your right to be queen because of
your marriage to Alexander," the king said. "I feel that is why he used his mother's friendship with Captain Johnson to be in the Royal Guard instead of the army. He has used that to learn all of the ins and outs of the palace. I do not see the goodness in him that I see in you, and I do not want him to rule my people."
Louise could hardly believe what she was hearing. Tobias had acted so happy about her marrying Alexander. Could there have been an ulterior motive?
But she still struggled at the thought of being queen. "But, Father, what would you do?"
"I would help you if you need it; otherwise, I would spend what time I have left with my family, including you when you're not busy."
Tears clouded Louise's eyes at the thought of losing her father. They had had so many disagreements in her younger years. They seemed so unimportant now. As she thought back, even at the times she had thought her father was wrong, she knew that he had always acted only out of his love for her. She knew that was why he finally allowed her to marry Alexander.
She had, at times, brought great sorrow and hurt to him. If she could go back and relive those times, she definitely would do things differently. But she wouldn't change the love she had for her father now for all of the what-could-have-beens in the world.
Louise left the room in an attempt to get her feelings under control. Alexander left Marie with her grandparents to follow Louise. She fell into his arms sobbing. Alexander was always so kind and unassuming. He was always there for her. Many men would be bothered by their wife's power, but Alexander wasn't bothered at all. He supported her and defended her. He was always the primary one to take care of Marie. He had been there whenever Marie was hurt and needed comfort. He tried to be there every night to read Marie a story and tuck her in bed. He said the consistency would be a security to her. He was the one that taught Marie right and wrong, reading the Bible to her and pulling her onto his lap to talk to her when she was naughty. From him she had also learned to love books as he had.
And, as the king was getting older, it was Alexander who was there to comfort Louise and Marie, and look after the king and Louise's mother, Queen Ellen. After Louise had a good cry on Alexander's shoulder, they returned to Marie's side. Marie was only six, and she loved her grandfather. She was smiling and holding his hand. "...and when you get better, Grandpa, you will have to come out to the riding stables. I have taught Yadee how to jump."
The old king smiled. "Is that so?"
"Yes. Yadee will be the best jumper anywhere, someday."
Alexander put one hand on Marie's shoulder and one arm around Queen Ellen to comfort her. "What do you say, Father?" he asked. "When you get stronger, how about we all watch Marie ride Yadee?"
"I'm not sure I'm ever going to have the strength to get out and watch Marie ride Yadee," the king answered.
Alexander looked as if he, too, was holding back tears. He spoke sure and strong to assure the others. "Well, we'll just have to do something about that then."
Alexander had the palace craftsman create a chair with wheels. It looked like a four-wheeled, wooden pony cart, barely wide enough for one person. It had two handles on the back for someone to push it. He would push the king in his cart where the going was tough, but Marie wanted to push him where she could.
They spent many hours out in the fresh air watching Marie riding Yadee, enjoying the sunsets, watching the new young animals in the spring, and listening to Alexander read a book in the shade of a tree. Queen Ellen would join them, and the bond between the four of them became very strong. Louise would join them when she could.
The coronation was a grand affair. Tobias refused to attend, and Aunt Eldna frowned her disapproval. But, then, she pretty much always frowned. The king instructed Louise to surround herself with trusted men who could share the burden. She was no sooner queen than she appointed Captain Matthew Johnson of the Royal Guard to be her Lord High Chamberlain. He was such a loyal man, and she had relied on him and his advice a lot already. He suggested Lieutenant Richins be advanced to captain, which she did.
These appointments seemed to anger her cousin Tobias, and something happened. Matthew later said he had to have Tobias released from the Guard and sent away. She didn't question it at all, but trusted his judgement.
With Louise on the throne, the old king was able to enjoy his remaining time, and he relished life with his family. He laughed, joked, and teased his granddaughter mercilessly. It was not uncommon to see the two of them with Alexander, down in the kitchen before bedtime, enjoying raspberries with milk and honey candy.
But over time, his condition worsened. He became so weak he couldn't even sit in the cart Alexander had made for him, and everyone knew his time was short.
The last night was a beautiful summer evening. The sun was just setting, and the heavens were full of orange, red, and brown tapestries. Queen Ellen, Louise, Alexander, and Marie were all there. He requested a bowl of raspberries with milk and honey candy. Alexander had some brought to him, and then held him up while Louise helped feed him.
The king was so appreciative. He smiled at them as he finished, and they laid him back on his bed. He smiled at Louise and looked at Alexander.
"You know, Louise, the biggest mistake I made in life was when I objected to your marriage to Alexander. For as a great young man said, a person's heart is the essence of how a person is truly measured. That shows in the way they live their life, not in how they are born."
Louise found tears filling her eyes as she heard her father quoting Alexander. Her father loved Alexander, and the two had come to think much alike. Her father continued. "The smartest thing I ever did was listen to you and correct my ways. Let that be a lesson to you. Do not be afraid to admit it when you're wrong. Promise me you will remember to always look on a man's heart and not on how he was born."
Louise only nodded. No one could speak for the emotions they were feeling. Then the king started talking about that day they went to get Alexander from the military camp. He loved to tell that story, because Alexander always blushed. Louise slid up next to Alexander as they all laughed about it. Alexander held her close. Then, when the king finished the story, he held out his hand to Alexander and Alexander took it in his own. "My son," the old king said, "I want you to know I couldn't love you more if you had been my own son."
Alexander nodded. He couldn't even speak. The tears flowed down his cheeks. In turn, the king told each person he loved them and kissed each of them. Marie climbed right up on the bed and laid down by him. After a while the king said he needed a little rest, so they all slipped from the room.
That night, as he slept, he left them to be with God.
Chapter 13
Losing Alexander
There was great mourning in the kingdom when the king died. He had always tried to be good and fair, and the people loved him.
Louise deeply felt the loss of her father. He had always been the stability in her life. Even when he was busy he had made time for her. She had tender memories as she thought of the times he had taken her on his knee as a small child.
He had dreamed of a son. But he always made sure she felt his devotion. He had done everything with her. He had taught her how to ride, how to play, and even how to fight, if the occasion required.
Alexander was her main strength now. He spoke at the funeral, relating the story of the king coming to the military camp to get him, and everyone chuckled. But then, Alexander got choked up and couldn't speak. Louise knew how much Alexander loved her father. There were probably no two men that were better friends, unless it was Alexander with his own father.
Prior to the king's death, Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret had come to live at Winslow to be of comfort to them. Duke Reginald's health was also declining, and they never returned to Denville. They truly were a great strength during that time.
Alexander and Duke Reginald would take Marie out riding. They rode all over the countryside. Duke Reginald took great delight in watching his granddaughter.
Lad
y Margaret was there for Queen Ellen. They would have tea together and talk about when they were girls. They would often join Alexander and Duke Reginald with Marie for outings.
Even though the duties of her office were sometimes overwhelming, Louise made it a point to join them at least once a week. Her father had told her he never once looked back with regret at having spent too much time with his family. He said, if anything, the regret would be for not having spent more.
Her new Lord High Chamberlain showed himself to be worthy of the trust she put in him and took a huge amount of the work load from her shoulders. This made it possible for her to join on outings to Walsken. They spent two weeks there, just the six of them. Lady Margaret and the old queen would walk the grounds, each holding one of Marie's hands, as they told her stories of their youth.
Louise enjoyed the time away from the palace. It was a time for her to remember the happy memories there. She especially remembered her honeymoon. She hadn't thought she could ever love Alexander more than she did the day they got married, but her love for him had continued to grow every day.
Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret had planned to go back to Denville Castle when they left Walsken, but Duke Reginald suddenly became very weak. Alexander talked them into coming back to Winslow. In Duke Reginald's absence, there was no one to rule Bernodia. Thus, the assignment fell to Alexander. Alexander would make the trip up to Denville every couple of months to take care of things there, spending a few weeks on each trip. He always took Marie and a few of the Royal guard with him. Marie was seven by then, and as good a horse rider as any man.
Traveling light, they could make the trip in just over a week. He spent much of his time visiting the villages. The people of Bernodia loved the young princess, as they did her father. Alexander always made sure he took her the week of the Esconodian market. They always came back with something new, and Marie would spend hours in the gardens with him testing the new plants. Many of the new foods Alexander had introduced into their country had grown and done well. He helped to open up markets in the south for the Bernodians sell their products.