by Daris Howard
Jacob paused, seemingly still unsure of everything. He glanced at Marie and then back at Lord High Chamberlain. Lord High Chamberlain nodded and motioned Jacob toward her. "Well, go on."
Jacob turned to Marie. "Marie, I must admit, though I tried to lock my heart against it, I have actually loved you from the first tutoring day when you kicked me." He paused as she blushed and smiled. He too smiled at her as he continued. "But the day you first wore a gown and I took you in my arms to dance, my heart told me there was no turning back, and that's why, when I was sure you didn't need me anymore, that I felt I had to leave."
"Perhaps I didn't need you as a tutor any more," she said, "but I will always need you to be my friend."
Jacob held both of her hands in his and stood facing her. "Princess Marie, if you will marry me, I promise I will always love you and do everything I can to make you happy."
She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed openly. "Yes, of course I will!"
As the men of the Royal Guard let out a cheer, Lord High Chamberlain patted Jacob on the back. "Well, then, let's get back to the palace. We have a wedding to plan."
Even though the sun was almost set, Lord High Chamberlain was concerned that others of Duke Elnard's men might try to rescue him, and decided they should get into the South before daylight. They traveled all night by moonlight, and much of the next day before they stopped to camp. Two more hard days' travel found them at the palace.
Jacob was nervous about meeting with the queen, but as Marie brought him before her, the queen smiled warmly. "Welcome back, Jacob." She didn't even address him as Captain, and Marie felt her heart flutter as she knew what Lord High Chamberlain had said was true. Her mother had planned for this all along.
Chapter 31
A Council Of War a Proposal For Peace
As a fuller understanding of what had transpired under Duke Elnard's rule came to light, a council was called. Word had it that Andrew, Duke Elnard's son, was preparing for war. If he chose to attack and had Esconodia with him, the balance of power would likely be shifted against the southern provinces. The generals were called in, Jacob and Marie were asked to attend, as were some of the major diplomats, and, of course, Lord High Chamberlain.
The generals dominated the discussion. They were of a mind that they needed to attack at once while the surprise could be on their side, and before Esconodia had a chance to bring their forces into Bernodia.
Louise felt horrible about this. How could she have let things go so far? She wished she would have listened to Matthew and not put Tobias over Bernodia. Since their return, Matthew had explained to her about Tobias's threats and his own poor judgement regarding bringing charges against him. She understood how hard it must have been. Tobias was not only one of Matthew's men, but, because of his love for Eldna, he could not bring himself to destroy her son.
What a strange web life weaves for each of us, Louise mused. Actions and inactions, love and loss, many years later affect our judgement and change the course of our lives when they may seem insignificant at the time.
Matthew begged her forgiveness and told her he would tender his resignation immediately.
"Matthew," she had said, "you are more than forgiven. But I will not accept your resignation. I don't want you to ever mention it again. I can't imagine acting any differently than you did under the circumstances, and I need your wisdom now more than ever."
He bowed to her, and she could see the tears of gratitude in his eyes. He had carried a heavy burden for way too long, blaming himself for the problems he saw around them. He now stood silently in the council room, and she knew he still felt much of the blame was his.
In the council room there was a spirit rising that she didn't like. There was the sentiment expressed by some of the generals that Jacob, a Bernodian, should be removed. They treated him as a spy. Her anger finally got the best of her.
"Must I remind you," the queen said, "that Jacob will soon be my son-in-law and will therefore outrank all of you. Furthermore, must I also remind you that Lord High Chamberlain is Bernodian, and my daughter is half Bernodian. For that reason, and for my love for my husband, Alexander, I feel a great kinship to Bernodia, as well. I feel more loyalty from those in this room that are Bernodian than I am sensing from many of the rest of you, and perhaps I should reconsider your positions. I could easily put more loyal men in your places."
They became quiet and sullen after that, but she wasn't through. She continued to speak forcefully. "One of Alexander's greatest concerns about how our military is run is that those who have nobility of birth are given rank in the army, often passing over more qualified men."
Encouraged by her own words, and driven by her anger, she continued. "I make a decree, here and now, that rank advancement due to bloodlines will end, and all men will be expected to serve in the military, regardless of birthright. Furthermore, all men will start at the bottom rank and their advancement will be based on merit only."
One of the generals objected timidly. "But that will defy all tradition."
Louise was not to be denied. "Tradition be hanged! Tradition has caused the problems we face now."
No one dared question her further on the matter. As things calmed down again, Louise turned to Lord High Chamberlain. "Matthew, you have been quiet during this discussion. What have you to say?"
Lord High Chamberlain stepped to the center of the room and bowed to the queen. He turned and scanned the room, stood nobly, then finally spoke.
"In war, it is not just the guilty that die. We should not be afraid to prepare for war, but also not be too proud to strive for peace. The Bernodians are in rebellion because they have been misinformed and mistreated. The best offense against misinformation is the truth."
"But," one general asked, "how do we get the truth to them if they do not trust us?"
Lord High Chamberlain stood quietly for a moment deep in thought. Then he spoke. "I feel the queen's own statement here in this council about the loyalty of many Bernodians is the key. Throughout this land are many Bernodians, and perhaps even a few Esconodians, that are loyal and friendly to us. If we can enlist them in our cause, perhaps the truth can be made known. If we can get them to take documents into their towns and villages and explain that it has been Duke Elnard that has done this, the word will hopefully spread, and we might be able to undermine the support of the army he has raised in Bernodia. In addition, an embassage should be sent to Esconodia immediately explaining our position."
There was some murmuring among those gathered. One general spoke out. "That will all take time, and time will only play to their side. Besides, they may view it as weakness on our part. If we don't attack now, we lose the surprise, and soon winter will be upon us, making the attack on the north more difficult, if not completely impossible."
The murmuring showed many agreed with the general. Louise called for quiet, and Lord High Chamberlain continued. "The people of Bernodia feel we are their enemies. If we attack them, that will only substantiate their belief. I propose we move our full army to the edge of Bernodia to show we are not afraid, but make sure the people understand we are willing to try for peace."
There was some further murmuring, so Lord High Chamberlain continued to strengthen his point. "We talk of these people within our council as if they are our enemies or foreigners. Well, they are not! They are our fellow countrymen. Would you attack the cities and towns where you lived and were raised? If not, what is the difference?"
That seemed to quiet everyone. Louise could see the strength of both sides. She said in her heart, "Oh, Alexander, if you can somehow help me, please help me now to know what to do with your people." She had no sooner thought that than she remembered Duke Reginald making her promise not to forget his people. That was it. That was the answer. They were his people. They were her people, too. How could she justify any attack upon them if she didn't try every means of peace first?
She stood, and Lord High Chamberlain sat down, and everyone became
quiet. Her message to the council was just that. They would not commence an attack until every means for peace had been tried.
"But," one of the old advisors asked, "who will lead the embassage to Esconodia? It will surely be a dangerous mission."
Lord High Chamberlain stood and bowed. The queen recognized him. He spoke quietly and humbly. "If it please you, Your Majesty, I will go. As a younger man I went there at the behest of Duke Reginald and your father on a mission of peace, and, if the old king or his son still rules, perhaps I can convince them that we do not have intentions of war against them."
The queen said she would withhold her decision on who would go to Esconodia for further consideration. The council was ended and the process of disseminating information to Bernodia was started immediately. Lord High Chamberlain and two other advisors set about writing the document that was to be delivered. After some consulting with the queen, and some rewrites, it was finalized.
Louise wished she had access to the new printing press that was at Denville Castle, but she didn't, so she had many scribes prepare the documents. She had learned that the printing press had been used heavily by Duke Elnard to help him spread disinformation.
Meanwhile, word was sent through all of the land requesting those who were of Bernodian birth, or who might have ties to Bernodia or Esconodia, and would be willing to help in the cause, to come to the palace to meet with the queen and her advisors.
The army moved into position along the border between Bernodia and the south. Louise gave strict command that there was not to be anything done to provoke the Bernodians, and no attack was to commence without her permission. If either of these commands was broken, she made it clear she would have those responsible court-martialed.
Within two weeks, all was ready, and volunteers were gathering in the Great Hall. Prior to the meeting, Lord High Chamberlain again broached the subject of leading the embassage to Esconodia. Louise shook her head. "You could be killed, Matthew. I can't afford to lose you."
Lord High Chamberlain lowered his eyes. "Perhaps I am looking for redemption for the part I have played in the events that led to our current state of affairs. I don't feel anyone can do as well as I can in this matter, and I feel we should do our very best."
Louise, reluctant at the thought of losing her trusted friend, finally agreed. Not knowing what kind of reception she could expect from the volunteers gathered in the Great Hall, she requested her mother, Lady Margaret, Jacob, and Marie to join herself and Lord High Chamberlain to greet those who had come. Together the six of them entered the hall. What they saw brought tears to Louise's eyes. The hall was full and spilled into the corridors. She realized how much the people loved Alexander and his parents.
The hall went quiet as they entered, and the people bowed. She had Lady Margaret express her love for her people first. When she finished, almost of one accord those gathered clapped for her. Lord High Chamberlain then explained the situation. He explained how Duke Elnard had changed things in Bernodia and how it was necessary to remove his son, Andrew, from Denville Castle and put the rightful ruler, Marie, there instead.
As Lord High Chamberlain introduced Marie, and Jacob as her future husband, he didn't have to mention that Jacob was Bernodian. Jacob's blonde hair made it obvious. The people knew Marie was Alexander's daughter, and that alone was enough. But as Jacob bowed and Marie curtsied, the hall broke into endless applause.
When it was quiet again, Lord High Chamberlain explained how the queen had learned that lands and properties were confiscated, and, after this was over, she planned to travel to Bernodia and help Marie set everything right. He said properties would be returned where ownership could be determined, and justice would be carried out as much as possible. He then explained the goal to avoid war and the purpose in enlisting help in taking information to those who had been misinformed.
Lord High Chamberlain then read the document. It was concise and explained their intentions, and asked those in the military to turn their allegiance back to the queen and surrender so that Andrew could be removed from power and everything could be settled peacefully. It said that all military personnel that came across into the south and joined with the army would be given full pardon, while those who chose to fight against the south would be found guilty of treason.
He then asked all who were willing to take a document to their home villages in Bernodia to come forward, one at a time, and take scrolls for as many towns as they felt they could get them to. Lord High Chamberlain went on to mention that if there were any who could help them send an embassage of peace to Esconodia, they wanted them to stay so they could speak to them afterward. He thanked all those who didn't feel they could help in any way and told them they were free to leave.
Almost everyone stayed, and a line was quickly formed. Lord High Chamberlain passed out the documents, sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes more to an individual, depending on how many towns they felt they could visit. Louise, Marie, Jacob, Queen Ellen, and Lady Margaret all stood in line to shake everyone's hand. Soon they were out of documents, and they promised that for anyone that could return the next day that they would have more, for they hadn't anticipated the numbers.
Everyone continued to stay in line to shake hands with the royal family. They had to get chairs for the Queen Ellen and Lady Margaret as they became too tired to stand. One beautiful, blonde woman stopped in front of Louise. "Do you remember me?"
Louise looked at her and thought there was a vague familiarity, but she could not remember. The woman asked, "Do you remember a little girl named Nell from a mountain village?" The woman smiled, and suddenly, Louise found herself crying. She hugged Nell. Beside her were four men and two women. Nell put her arm around the closest man. "My husband and our friends have come to help, too."
Much of the rest of the day was like that. Person after person that remembered her and Alexander visited with her until Louise was crying openly. Almost everyone had filed out when a group of five men came forward.
The leader cautiously approached. His hair was white with age, and he walked with a cane. He moved to Louise slowly, apprehensively. Suddenly, Marie rushed past her mother and threw her arms around him, exclaiming, "Gareg, I can't believe it's you!"
At the sound of his name, Louise also recognized the old man as the seed merchant. He smiled. "If I know I receive such reception I come sooner." Marie grabbed his arm and pulled him over to Jacob. "Jacob, this is our friend, Gareg, that I told you about that sold us the seeds."
The group of men soon gathered around Marie and Jacob. Gareg shook Jacob's hand warmly as one man in the group joked, "So, how ugly man like you get beautiful princess?" Jacob laughed and shook hands with all of the men. Louise pushed her way through. She, too, threw her arms around Gareg. She then looked into his eyes. "Gareg, it has been way too many years."
He smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty, it has. But Gareg hear of your request and gather merchant friends. We travel far. We come help."
"Wasn't it dangerous?"
Gareg nodded. "For Esconodian in your country, yes. But we take risk for old friend."
After catching up on lost years, with the help of Gareg and the men with him, they talked with some of those who had been in on assassination attempts on the queen and Marie. They found almost all had been convinced by Duke Elnard that the attacks on the queen and princess were best for Esconodia. Some were eventually convinced of Duke Elnard's corruption and agreed to travel with the group to Esconodia.
Jacob wanted to go, but due to the danger, Marie begged her mother not to allow it. Louise requested he stay at Winslow. Honey candy was prepared as a gift for the king of Esconodia, and, with a contingent of four men from the Royal Guard and the group of Esconodian men, Lord High Chamberlain embarked on his dangerous mission.
Chapter 32
Establishing Peace With Esconodia
The trip to Esconodia was fraught with peril. They had to pass through part of Bernodia to get there, and, once they were inside
Esconodia, they would be considered enemies. Within the southern kingdom, they were not safe, either. Traveling with a mostly Esconodian entourage made them open to suspicion and possible attack.
Once they were surrounded by a contingency from the army and threatened with attack, but Lord High Chamberlain was able to block it. Once they knew who he was, and he threatened court-martial, they trembled before him. Afraid of word getting to Bernodia of their mission and risking being cut off once they crossed from the south, he commanded them to escort their group to the Bernodian border, hoping that by forcing them to stay with them, they could not spread the word. Some of the men grumbled at the thought of protecting Esconodians, but they provided the escort.
Lord High Chamberlain knew it would take almost thirty hours to cross southwest Bernodia and enter Esconodia. He determined to cover as much of that ground as possible in the dark. Gareg and the men with him knew the mountains well, and they led the way. The harvest moon was full, so they chose not to light any lanterns.
All seemed to be going well until sunrise the next morning. Riding quietly along, they came face to face with what appeared to be a patrol from the Bernodian Army. Both groups had been traveling so quietly that neither had heard the other's approach until they were right on each other. Lord High Chamberlain could see they were outnumbered at least two to one, and the other group was heavily armed. He thought perhaps he could fake his way through it. As he approached their leader, both groups stood absolutely still, facing each other.
"Who are you and what are you doing?" demanded the Bernodian leader.
Lord High Chamberlain took a deep breath, hoping his wits would avert a problem. He knew sometimes brashness could make inroads when nothing else could. He sat up straight in his saddle. "I am Lord High Chamberlain to Queen Louise on a special assignment."
His boldness seemed to take the Bernodian leader by surprise for a moment. Then, suddenly, the man started to laugh. "Wow, you gave us a scare."