by Daris Howard
Chapter 34
Peace At Last
December 30th was a gorgeous day for a wedding. The sun was just rising as Louise, Marie, and Jacob made their way up a small hill to the beautiful cemetery. It had not been cared for in the ensuing years, much the same as Denville Castle had not. Louise had had the fence around it repaired, and Jacob and Marie directed the trimming of the bushes and trees. On this day of the wedding they wanted to spend a short time there away from the busy crowds that would follow, alone with their thoughts. Louise thought about how beautiful and peaceful it was. The trees had long since lost their leaves, but the sun rising over the Bernodian mountains cast an orange glow across the clouds on the horizon. The red, orange, and yellow hues burned like fire across the whole eastern mountain rim.
The fiery sky was reflected in the clear lake that sparkled and shimmered in the slight breeze. Marie and Jacob carried some special gifts wrapped in cloths. Louise carried some dried flowers that Queen Ellen and Lady Margaret had prepared. They had come for the wedding, but the long carriage ride was hard enough on them that they could not make the climb up the hill. Instead, they sent their love in the flowers they prepared.
Louise placed the flowers on the grave of Alexander and Duke Reginald, and Jacob unrolled the cloth and placed a pumpkin, some corn, some potatoes, and the head of a sunflower on Alexander's grave. Perhaps some might think this was a strange remembrance, but they could think of no other way to honor him for the many things he had given his people. Jacob stood and held Marie close. "He would be so proud of you."
Marie smiled through her tears. She then unwrapped a book, printed on her father's press. The press had been started again to send books out and to teach people to read. She had written this book herself from the stories her grandmothers told her. It wasn't as complete as she had wanted, and it wasn't very big, but she had it printed anyway, as a gift to her father. It was simply titled "Alexander and Louise."
As the tears streamed down their faces, Louise hugged her daughter. "It's a beautiful story, but it isn't finished. It needs to be followed by one titled "Jacob and Marie". Jacob and Marie looked at her and smiled.
Jacob put an arm around Marie and one around Louise. All was quiet as they were each lost in their own thoughts. Both women leaned against Jacob. He had become a strength to both of them, just as Alexander had. They stood there quietly for some time, the cool breeze swirling the smell of winter around them. There was not yet any snow, unusual for Bernodia. Marie had expressed her disappointment that they would not be able to have snow cream and snow candy for her wedding. She wanted so badly to have Jacob try them. Even without it, they would have plenty of honey candy.
As they all stood there silently, Marie turned to Louise. "Mother, will the pain ever go away?"
Louise wisely answered, "Would you have the love you have for them be gone?"
Marie shook her head. "Then," Louise said, "there will always be the pain, for you cannot have the one without the other."
Unannounced, two others quietly made their way up the hill to join them. As they entered the cemetery, the gate squeaked, and Louise, Marie, and Jacob turned toward the noise. Matthew, pale and walking with a cane, his empty sleeve hanging at his side, came slowly in with Eldna supporting him.
Louise smiled at Matthew. "You shouldn't be clear out here."
Matthew smiled back. "I'm just warming up for my big role today."
They all stood there quietly. Eldna looked at Alexander's grave. "I wish I would have gotten to know him better. I guess I didn't give him much of a chance."
After some time there, they made their way back to the castle to prepare for the wedding. They moved slowly, and Jacob and Eldna walked beside Matthew to help him. They paused in Alexander's garden. Horses had been turned in during the preceding years, and it had been completely destroyed. Louise had had a new fence built around it and had it prepared for spring. Marie would be directing the planting of it next year; Louise could hardly wait to see it full of life again.
Denville Castle, nearly renewed, sparkled in the morning light. Louise had brought in artisans from all over Bernodia and even some from Esconodia. They had worked around the clock for nearly two months. They were afraid the cold winter would slow them down, but the days stayed unusually mild.
Honey and cream had been purchased from all over the land, and much had been given freely. The hard times in Bernodia were becoming a memory. Through the last two months, as work went on in the castle, Louise had spent her time sorting out and returning properties to the rightful owners - doing what justice she could for the people of Bernodia. Peace and prosperity were returning.
Matthew had sent an embassage to Esconodia as promised, including one of the royal cooks to teach them how to make honey candy and snow cream. He had told them to promise the king that he would come himself when his strength had returned. The cook sent was the daughter of the old cook that Alexander had loved so much, who was now very old, but very pleased when Louise invited her to the castle to help direct the kitchen for the wedding dinner. When the cook's daughter returned from Esconodia, she brought huge amounts of food and crafted items as gifts for the wedding. A beautiful, hand-carved cradle was presented to Jacob and Marie. Louise joked that she didn't expect it to go empty very long.
After breakfast, Louise and the ladies-in-waiting whisked the bride away. Jacob's parents and sisters arrived. Matthew and Jason, Jacob's father, were excited to see each other. They talked of old times and reminisced the rest of the morning since it didn't take the men nearly as long to prepare for the wedding.
Louise stood in her old room, now Marie's room until the Duke's quarters were repaired. She looked out the window and remembered coming here so many years ago and how angry she had been. She remembered how beautiful she thought it was then.
She wondered if Alexander would somehow be able to see his daughter married today. Something told her he would. She felt so close to him. She looked above the mantle. The picture of her mother had been replaced by one of her, Alexander, and Marie.
She knew Alexander would be proud of his daughter. She hoped he was proud of her, too, for looking beyond how Jacob was born to how he lived. She knew Alexander would approve of him.
As she looked out the window, thinking about Alexander, it began to snow - the first snow of the year. She called Marie, who was busy dressing. Marie left the ladies-in-waiting and hurried to her mother's side. Gradually, the dark soil of the landscape disappeared, and a pure white blanket started to cover the land. Marie smiled. "We may not have snow cream for my wedding, but we'll have it for the New Year's celebration."
Chapter 35
Jacob And Marie's Wedding
Jacob dressed in his finest Royal Guard uniform. His medals hung from his chest and the Colonel insignia hung from his shoulder. Since John was now to be Captain of the Guard, the queen insisted Jacob's rank had to be advanced, even though he would soon be Prince Jacob and wouldn't be known by any military rank.
The wedding was fast approaching. As he crossed the courtyard, the soft new snow muffled any sound. John and Edward stood guard at the chapel doors. John smiled at him. "A little late for your wedding, aren't you, Sir?"
"Just fashionably on time, Captain Hashner."
"You wouldn't be getting cold feet, now, would you, Sir?" Edward asked.
John answered first. "He wouldn't dare. With Princess Marie he could run, but he couldn't hide."
They all had a good laugh. Jacob grinned at his friends. "You forget one thing, gentlemen. I love her as much as she loves me."
"You know, Sir," Edward said, "you were right when you said that you would return for the wedding of the princess. I just don't think you knew she would drag you back, at sword point, to be part of it."
Jacob thought how right everything seemed. He had never imagined in his wildest dreams he could feel as happy as he did. Though he was released from the Royal Guard, it was still part of him. "And how has the security been?
" he asked John.
John sighed. "Since Duke Elnard was taken into custody, there have been no attacks on the palace. Since peace was established with Esconodia, and after the queen reduced the taxes and settled things here in Bernodia, it has all been very quiet."
Jacob nodded. He already knew the answer. It was just second nature for him to ask. "Yes, I'm sure it will be rather dull around here now," he said. "Well, wish me luck. It is time for me to be married."
He walked into the chapel as his two friends patted him on the back. Edward turned to John. "You know, dull is probably not the word I would use. With Princess Marie, I don't think it will ever be dull."
John laughed. "Her getting married will probably just make it all that much more interesting."
Edward suddenly got very serious. "Speaking of which, did you tell her to quit challenging the new recruits to a sword fight?'
John shook his head. "If you want her told, you can be the one to tell her."
"You're the Captain of the Guard," Edward said.
John nodded. "Yes, and I plan to live a long time. Besides, she could beat most everyone, except her future husband."
Edward nodded. "And don't forget the honorable Lord High Chamberlain."
"Who, of course, is wise enough not to accepted her challenge, nor is he in any condition to, anyway."
Edward smiled. "What a marriage it will be." He spoke in a high falsetto voice. "I'm bored tonight, Dear. How about something romantic, like a sword fight?"
They chortled. John joined him in a falsetto voice trying to do his own impression of a girl. "Loser makes dinner."
They were still laughing when they saw the wedding entourage approaching. From the other direction, slowly, came Lord High Chamberlain and Lady Eldna. Everyone was there except Louise. Marie looked worried. "Where is Mother?"
Lady Margaret smiled kindly at her. "Don't worry, Dear. I'm sure she is on her way. She had an errand to take care of."
As if on cue, Louise came down the hallway with a small group of her own. She smiled at Marie, pointing to a beautiful, blonde woman. "Marie, do you remember Nell?" Marie nodded. Louise continued. "Her daughter is going to be one of your flower girls, and her son will be the ring bearer." A shy little girl dressed all in white poked her head out from behind her mother. Marie knelt down and beckoned to her, and at her mother's prompting, the little girl ran and gave Marie a hug. Nell smiled. "Her name is Louise." Nell pushed her little son forward as well. "His name is Alexander."
Marie thought of her father as she held out her arms to the little boy. He looked at his mother, as if questioning if he had to go to her, and Nell nodded. He dutifully, but slowly, walked over, and Marie scooped him up and gave him a hug.
Everyone that was not in the procession hurried to their places in the chapel. The music started and Little Louise and the other flower girl started on their way down the aisle with their flower baskets. Marie followed with Lord High Chamberlain. He walked straight and proud, though slow and careful.
Jacob, standing up near the priest, beamed at Marie. She smiled back at him. Louise leaned over to Eldna. "Could there be a wedding in your future?"
Eldna smiled. "I don't know. Right now it is enough just being friends again."
Behind Lord High Chamberlain and Marie came eight girls carrying her train. Following them was Little Alexander with the ring. Bringing up the rear were John and Edward.
As they neared the front, Jacob held out his arm. Marie let go of Lord High Chamberlain's and slipped hers through Jacob's. Eldna stepped up and helped steady Lord High Chamberlain as he moved to sit down between her and Louise. John and Edward moved to Jacob's side.
As the priest performed the wedding, Louise turned to Lord High Chamberlain. "Aren't they beautiful together, Matthew?"
"I don't think I have seen a pair so perfectly matched," he replied.
Louise chuckled lightly. "You are very diplomatic, Matthew. But I just love stories that end well."
As Jacob leaned over to kiss Marie, Lord High Chamberlain chuckled lightly. "Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, marriage isn't the ending - it is only the beginning. And knowing Princess Marie, Colonel Jacob Richins, former Captain of the Royal Guard, has only begun to learn what a good challenge is."
As Jacob and Marie turned to face those in the hall as husband and wife, Prince and Princess, the crowd rose to applaud, and Louise thought of Alexander's words. "A person's heart is the essence of the true measure of anyone. That shows in the way he lives his life, not in how he was born. It is not in the nobility of his birth but in how nobly he lives that makes a man great or small."
She looked at Matthew and Jacob, and thought of Alexander, her father, and Duke Reginald. She then considered her cousin Tobias.
Yes, Alexander was right.
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About The Author
Daris Howard is an author and playwright who grew up on a farm in rural Idaho. He associated with many colorful characters including cowboys, farmers, lumberjacks and others. Besides his work on the farm he has worked as a cowboy and a mechanic. He was a state champion athlete and competed in college athletics. He also lived for eighteen months in New York.
Daris and his wife, Donna, have ten children and were foster parents for several years. He has also worked in scouting and cub scouts, at one time having 18 boys in his scout troop.
His plays, musicals, and books build on the characters of those he has associated with, along with his many experiences, to bring his work to life.
Daris is a math professor and his classes are well known for the stories he tells to liven up discussion and to help bring across the points he is trying to teach. His scripts and books are much like his stories, full of humor and inspiration.
He and his family have enjoyed running a summer community theatre where he gets a chance to premiere his theatrical works and rework them to make them better. His published plays and books can be seen at http://www.darishoward.com. He has plays translated into German and French and his work has been done in many countries around the world.
In the last few years, Daris has started writing books and short stories. He writes a popular news column called Life’s Outtakes, that consists of weekly short stories and is published in various newspapers and magazines in the U.S. and Canada including Country, Horizons, and Family Living.
Other books
by
Daris Howard
Amazon page: http://amzn.com/e/B004H76UGK
Life’s Outtakes books
Each book contains 52 humorous and inspirational short stories.
When The World Goes Crazy
Life’s Outtakes Year 1
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All’s Well Here
Life’s Outtakes Year 2
http://amzn.com/B007AQB5TW
When Life Is More Than We Dreamed
Life’s Outtakes Year 3
http://amzn.com/B007DNL286
Nothing But A Miracle
Life’s Outtakes Year 4
http://amzn.com/B0087FZE56
Singing To The End Of Life
Life’s Outtakes Year 5
http://amzn.com/B0087FB9G4
It's Ninety Percent Mental
Life’s Outtakes Year 6
http://amzn.com/B00AYRTS48
Other Books
For discounts
(education pricing, store pricing, etc.)
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The Three Gifts
http://amzn.com/1449961436
A beautiful Christmas story about three young men who are convicted of mugging little children for their Halloween candy. Instead of sentencing them to jail, as is expected, the judge sentences
them to 100 hours of community service babysitting at the Women's Crisis Center.
They were prepared for jail, but they were not prepared for what was in store for them as the children opened their eyes and hearts and changed their lives.
The Mail-Order Bride
http://amzn.com/1480200387
It was to be the big day for Eli. His fiancée, Molly, was coming in on a ship. Two years earlier, unable to find work in England, he had headed for America. His ship was caught in a storm, and he ended up, not in Pennsylvania as he planned, but in Newfoundland.
But that was all behind him now. He had written to Molly every day for the two years, and now she was coming so they could be married.
But Eli was in for a surprise. Unknown to him, Molly had married. She had bought him a mail-order bride, and Eli's life was going to suddenly take an unexpected twist.
Play Scripts
For printed scripts or to read a portion of the scripts online, go to: http://www.dramasource.com/catalogauthor.php?id=dhoward
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The Mail-Order Bride
(Drama/Comedy Play Script)
http://amzn.com/B0097FLREW
A touching, but humorous story of a young man who works to bring his fiance to Newfoundland. Unknown to him she has married and sends a mail-order bride in her place. One of our most popular plays.
April Fools
(Drama/Comedy Play Script)
http://amzn.com/B00981BWFE
Three roommates decide to play an April Fools joke on their roommate by setting her up with a nonexistent guy. But when a guy arrives who has been beaten and mugged and can't remember who he is she thinks he is the guy.
Cultural Differences
(Drama/Comedy Play Script)
http://amzn.com/B00AFEAEES
This is a fun sequel to The Mail-Order Bride where Anya's father sold her. Now he comes to visit and finds himself in a culture where women think for themselves. A lot of humor dealing with the differences in two people's cultures.