by Suzanna Lynn
The physician nodded to attention at the sound of the Prince’s stern tone. “Oh, I suppose.”
Luana attempted to stand up from the timeworn chair, but swayed with dizziness at the effort.
Baylin hoisted her up into his arms and proceeded to carry her back to their bedchambers.
As he made his way down the long stairwell, Luana clung to him as the chill of the cold kissed her skin. The halls and stairways of the castle were brightly lit by torches and candles, but this did little to fight off the icy cold winter had brought.
As he descended the stairwell, Luana laid her head against Baylin’s shoulder. “Have you seen her?”
“Who?” Baylin asked.
“Princess Isla,” Luana said. “Have you ever met her?”
The words hurt. I do not want to discuss this. It will only bring her pain. Baylin managed a slight nod in acknowledgement of Luana’s question.
“When?” Luana pressed.
“Just a few times over the years. She visited Grasmere for my parents’ anniversary ball nearly ten years ago. I have also been to Mirstone with Lord Cadman,” Baylin explained. “It was all on business for the Kingdoms.”
Luana was silent for a while as Baylin carried her down yet another long, cold hall. Finally she asked, “Is she beautiful?”
“Dearest, please don’t...” Baylin begged.
“It’s a perfectly acceptable question.” He could hear the pain in Luana’s voice when she spoke. “Do you think she’s beautiful?”
As he carried her down the corridor to their chamber, he looked her in the eyes. “Some may say she is, but I cannot call anything beautiful unless I am speaking of you.”
The words brought a soft smile to her lips.
Arriving back in their warm bedchamber, Baylin carried Luana to the bed. “You must rest now, dearest.”
He was making his way over to stir the fire when Luana’s soft words pierced his heart. “When you marry Isla, will these be her chambers?”
Baylin turned to face her, bothered not only by the question, but even more so at the very thought that it was causing Luana worry and sorrow. “It does not need to be discussed now. You must rest.”
Luana rose from the bed slowly, making her way over to him. “I want to know. Will these be her chambers? What is to become of me?”
Baylin could not look her in the eyes as they threatened to well up with tears. Those stubbornly brave, hurt eyes; why must she force me to do this to her? He turned his gaze to the fire. “Tradition dictates that once I have married and had a son with my Queen, you …” He couldn’t do it; he could not say it. It does not matter, none of it. I will have no other wife.
“What? “Luana grabbed his face hard, turning his eyes to her. “What are you not saying?”
“It does not matter, Luana.” Baylin put his hands on her hips. “It will not come to pass.”
“Please,” she pleaded, “I want to know what could happen. Once you are married and have a son with your Queen, what becomes of me?”
Baylin sighed in frustration and hurt. How can I make her see this does not matter?
“Please, Baylin,” Luana begged.
“She,” he began, “my wife, that is. Once she and I have had a trueborn heir, she can have you turned out of the castle and back to your family if she so chooses.”
Luana’s eyes grew large with comprehension as she braced herself, sitting on the padded settee near the hearth.
Baylin sat beside her, pulling a thick fur around her shoulders. “Luana, I will say it again, this does not matter. It will never come to pass. Tradition or not, I refuse to marry Princess Isla or anyone else my father presents to me.”
Luana’s tears could not be contained as they slid silently down her cheeks.
Baylin wiped away a hot tear from her face with his thumb. “It is you I love, Luana, only you.”
He leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly. I will make this right.
*****
The arrival of the royal family from Mirstone was to be a grand celebration, even under the dire events that forced it. King Ashmur and Queen Valasca felt it necessary, given the status of their guests, to exercise the proper courtesies that tradition required. Also, in hopes that a grand party would encourage goodwill in the villages below, the royals invited the entire Kingdom of Grasmere.
Since King Ashmur remained weak, Baylin assumed responsibilities for all the preparations with the assistance of his mother, the Queen.
Generally, when receiving a royal family, the celebration began upon entering the Kingdom’s borders and continued to the castle gates. However, given the winter’s bitter cold, it was changed to take place the day following their arrival. This allowed them to settle in and kept the guests warm within the castle, instead of out in the elements.
Baylin made sure the cooks had a full menu to prepare. Though it was a meal fit for royalty, his larger concern was having enough to feed the people of his Kingdom. This was a prime opportunity to make sure everyone was fed and looked after, and he planned to take advantage of it.
He worked hard to convince Luana that it was about caring for his people. Ever since she heard that Princess Isla would be arriving, she was certain his heart lay elsewhere.
The night of the celebration party, Baylin’s steward dressed him in his finest tunic. A silver doublet with diamond-shaped indigo embroidery running along the seams. It was the same one he had worn the night he chose Luana to be his bed wife.
The Prince looked over at Luana, who lay sulking in the bed. “Dearest, you know this is for the people. I take no pleasure in parading around in silks and talking to people I don’t know. I would much rather be by your side all night.”
Luana kept silent in her anger. It reminded him of when he had first brought her to the castle as his bed wife.
The steward finishing buttoning the Prince’s tunic excused himself from the room. Baylin went to the bed and lay next to Luana. “Please, my love, do not be angry with me.”
She sighed. “I feel like a prisoner, Baylin. I cannot even be by your side. To the Kingdom I’m a simpleton bed wife.”
“It will be over before you know it.” Baylin kissed Luana on the tip of her nose. “Besides, you’re supposed to rest. Our baby needs you to take care of yourself, and a large gathering such as this would certainly cause you unneeded stress.”
Luana huffed and rolled over, turning her back to him. “Just go to your party.”
Baylin kissed the top of her head. “You are not a bed wife to me. You will be my Queen one day.” He turned and left the room, knowing she would not listen to reason at this time.
The Prince entered the great hall, loud trumpets sounding his arrival. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause that echoed through the mountain hall.
The castle had been built within the mountain, which allowed for large spaces and insulation from the bitter cold. The smiles on the people’s faces were true rewards in Baylin’s opinion. They are warm, fed and happy. This is the kind of King I want to be.
As he climbed the stairs to the throne, he surveyed the décor of the room. Large iron-worked chandeliers hung from the high ceilings. Candle flames danced against the detailed diamond-shaped patterns carved into the ceiling. Heavy velvet Keld indigo banners draped over the walls, accented with beautifully detailed embroidery work of silver thread.
Again, the trumpets sounded loudly and Valasca walked in and stood next to her son as the crowd cheered for their Queen.
She looked stunning in a deep indigo gown, which trailed a long train behind it. The bodice had fine detail embroidery along its edging. The light gleamed off the facets of the small sapphires that were beaded along her scalloped high collar. The design had been laid out to create the beautiful diamond shape of the Kingdom of Grasmere.
She wore her long black hair in flowing curls falling past her waist, and on top of her head stood a beautiful silver crown. The filigree crown sparkled with diamonds and sapphires as she moved in
the candlelight.
Baylin raised his hands to quiet the guests. When the crowd silenced, he addressed all within the room. “Good people of Grasmere, you do us a great honor with your presence this night. Our King sends his most humble thanks to you, as he regrets he is unable to attend the celebration.”
The crowd gave heartfelt shouts of “Gods save the King” and “Long live the King.” It warmed Baylin’s heart to know the people loved their King.
Baylin outstretched his hands again to hush the crowd. “My people, we have called you here tonight to welcome our good friends from the Kingdom of Mirstone. Please join us in welcoming King Gideon and Queen Fia, along with their daughter, Princess Isla!” The room again erupted with applause as the royal family walked out to join the Prince and Queen Valasca in front of the throne.
It had been many years since Baylin had seen the Princess; she had grown beautiful. Isla was a curvy but muscular woman with long jet black hair that fell well past her waist in loose waves. Her dark brown eyes appeared black against her olive skin. She wore a stunning gold gown with filigree embroidery that reflected a deep crimson color in the light. Around her neck lay an elaborate gold necklace with faceted rubies that showered down her chest.
King Gideon wore a rich ruby red tunic with matching breeches. Over his shoulders hung a gold velvet cape that skimmed the ground as he walked. He was a rather old fellow, though younger than Baylin’s father, King Ashmur. He was tall, like all the men of the Keld, with warm brown eyes. He had a weathered face that came from years of exposure to the warm sun of the western lands.
Queen Fia was quite the opposite; it seemed time had not touched her youthful appearance. Though she was only a few years younger than King Gideon. If Baylin did not know her to be Isla’s mother, he would certainly have mistaken her for an older sister. Like Isla, she had a rich olive complexion and long black hair that she wore in a twisted braid down her back. Her hazel eyes had a mysterious intelligence to them, like that of a hawk. To match her husband, Queen Fia wore a gown of ruby taffeta that swished softly as she walked. It sparkled with numerous rubies that had been sewn onto the bodice and train.
The Prince bowed slightly as the royal family approached, his mother following suit. Though he and his mother were higher in rank, Baylin extended the courtesy to show his guests they were welcome at court.
“You do us a great honor,” King Gideon said over the blare of the crowd, bowing to Queen Valasca, then Prince Baylin.
“The honor is truly ours,” replied Valasca.
When the greetings had concluded, Baylin hushed the crowd for one final time. “Please enjoy yourselves. Eat and drink your fill. Let the festivities begin!”
The Prince pulled out a chair at the head table for his mother, just as King Gideon drew a chair for Queen Fia to be seated. Baylin glided a chair out for Princess Isla, who blushed sweetly and sat down. He seated himself between his mother and the Princess as footmen brought out large platters of food for the royal family.
As they all were served, Isla leaned in and whispered to Baylin, “Your Grace, it is very nice to see you again.”
The Prince smiled at her. “As it is to see you, Princess. I hope your journey was tolerable under such dreadful circumstances.”
Isla took a sip of wine. “Oh yes, quite. Your uncle, Lord Cadman, received us at the docks last night when we arrived. He was so very kind and courteous. He and his personal guard saw us safely up to the castle.”
“Lord Cadman? Yes, so courteous.” Baylin took a long drink of wine, nearly emptying his goblet. Yes, very courteous; when he wants something, that is. I wonder what his plans are for Isla and the royal family. I will not let him corrupt this sweet, innocent girl like he has my father.
“Apologies, my Prince, did you hear me?” Isla whispered.
Baylin had been lost in thought, not realizing the Princess had continued talking to him. “What? I’m sorry. I’m a bit tired from all the festivities. Do forgive me. And please, call me Baylin, no need for titles tonight.”
Isla giggled and touched him on the arm. “Not at all, Baylin. I understand. I was saying how happy I was to be able to make it to Grasmere with all my trunks intact. I have a very fine collection of silk gowns in them. Of course, they would be nothing without the matching shoes I had custom made by …” The Princess rattled on and on about things the Prince had little interest in. He smiled and nodded in politeness.
The remainder of the night was a dizzying blur to Baylin. He made conversation with his mother and the royal family, not hearing most of the discussion due to the clamor within the great hall. The people talked and laughed, enjoying the food and warmth the castle offered.
By the time the celebration began to wind down, Baylin could barely keep his eyes open. He excused himself to return to his chamber.
Once he arrived, he found Luana had fallen asleep on the fur rug in front of the hearth. She was wrapped in blankets and had obviously been reading due to the large stack of books lying about.
Baylin walked over to where she lay and gently moved the hair from her face, causing her to stir. Her emerald eyes seemed to glow in the firelight as she looked up at him.
She gave him a slight smile and he knew the worst was over. She has forgiven me.
He took her into his arms and lifted her from the floor, carrying her to the bed. As he laid her down on top of the furs, she pulled him in closer and kissed him.
“Promise you’ll always love me?” she asked with pleading eyes.
He leaned down, kissing her lips softly. “Always.”
Chapter Five
During the next couple of weeks, Baylin used the excuse of Luana’s health to avoid having to spend much time with the royals from Mirstone. He had sent word through a steward, begging forgiveness for leave due to his being overly concerned about the health of his heir. However, Luana knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to meet with them and get reacquainted with Princess Isla.
Luana woke after sunrise to the sound of her maids setting out the morning meal and the feeling of Baylin’s arms around her. She had almost forgotten her worries of the war and King Ashmur’s attempts to arrange a marriage between the two Kingdoms.
She and Baylin rose and were dressed in warm fur-lined clothes by their servants. They then seated themselves to eat. The sun shone bright and warm through the tall windows and felt nice against the morning chill.
Luana picked at her food. She was hungry, but nothing seemed to satisfy.
“Do you not feel well?” Baylin asked.
“Could you get me some apples?” Luana requested. She had a terrible craving for the fruit at the moment. It seemed the nausea was beginning to let up and the hunger was taking over.
Baylin laughed. “Apples?”
Luana blushed, realizing how odd the words sounded when she blurted them out. “I’m sorry, they sound so delicious. I know they aren’t growing in Grasmere right now, but I can’t get over the craving for them.”
Baylin smiled, reaching his hand out and laying it on top of hers on the table. “I will get you as many apples as you like.”
Luana smiled and returned to her meal, but she could feel Baylin’s eyes on her. “What?”
Baylin seemed to be smiling to himself. “Oh, nothing.”
“What is it?” Luana pressed. His wide grin caused her to giggle.
“It’s only,” Baylin began, “my mother craved apples when she was carrying me. My grandmother craved them with both Father and my uncle.”
Luana smiled warmly at him, understanding. He thinks it’s a boy because I want apples.
She felt a delicate flutter in the pit of her stomach at the shared delight in his thoughts. His excitement about their child was intoxicating to her. She stared at him with loving eyes. Please let me give him a son. He deserves to have a son.
As they were finishing their meal, a knock came at the door. Baylin rose to answer it.
Luana could not see who it was when he o
pened the door, but she could hear a woman’s voice. “Baylin! So this is where you have been hiding.”
Luana craned her neck so she could see who it was.
“Oh,” Baylin said. “Princess Isla, what do I owe this honor?”
Luana turned her head back to focus on her plate. She tasted bile in the back of her throat, feeling the icy tingle of nerves mixed with anger travel all over her body.
Princess Isla. Luana was miserable. I never thought I would have to meet her, this woman who plans to take Baylin from me.
“Well, when you refuse to present yourself to your guests, the only choice is for your guests to come to you.” The woman cackled as she walked past Baylin into the room.
Luana could not help but look up to see the Princess. She was tall; closer to Baylin’s height. She had to admit that the Princess was pretty, but her face and expression seemed hard and unpleasant.
Isla was dressed as though she was already Queen of Grasmere. She wore a magnificent rich crimson velvet gown with a black and gold silk filigree underskirt. The bodice was encrusted with, what appeared to be, small faceted rubies that shimmered in the light. The edges of the gown were trimmed in gold braided embroidery that traveled from the front of the gown all the way to the back of her long train that trailed behind her when she walked. On her head she wore a gold circlet with a round ruby in the center. It gleamed in contrast with her raven hair.
The Princess turned and saw Luana staring at her. “This is your bed wife?”
Baylin looked uneasy, unsure what to do or say. “Princess Isla, please allow me to introduce Luana.”
Isla’s jaw tightened as she studied Luana. She reminded Luana of a snake deciding when to strike a mouse.
The behavior that most surprised Luana was Baylin’s. He treated her as though she was an equal to the Princess. She knew he loved her, but she never considered herself to be on the same level as anyone in the castle. He really does want me for his Queen.