by Jody Hedlund
Like great King Alfred the Peacemaker, who divided the kingdom for peace, I’d opted for peace, as well, even if I had to give up my own rights. Perhaps I was a soft man, as my father had claimed, but I wasn’t weak. The very act of bowing my knee in submission to the queen had taken more strength than fighting her. My entire body had protested that bended knee. But I’d forced myself to do it. For the people and for peace.
When we passed through the city gates and Firmin directed me to the waterfront, I realized I was being taken to a ship. Was the queen sending me to an island, perhaps a place where I’d be isolated and alone?
So be it. Wherever she chose would be an act of compassion I didn’t deserve, especially in light of the way my father had treated her and her family.
The crowds only increased as we drew nearer the waterfront until Firmin shouted for the people to make way. As they moved back and we finished the final distance to the shore, I caught sight of the harbor. One of the ships wasn’t flying the flag of Bryttania or Mercia. Rather, the old flag of Warwick fluttered in the wind—two leaping golden lions against a black background.
How long had it been since I’d seen such a flag?
I didn’t have time to contemplate the meaning. My attention shifted to a gathering of people on the wharf. Queen Adelaide Constance stood at the center attired in a regal gown rather than her usual chain mail. She wore the ancient queen’s crown, the one that had belonged to her mother. The two original rubies that had been taken out so long ago had been restored to their rightful place within the crown.
The Earl of Langley waited next to the queen with Lord Chambers and Maribel, as well as a host of other nobility.
But I wasn’t interested in any of them. Instead, my attention locked in on Emmeline, who was standing slightly away from her sisters at the edge near a longboat that was no doubt there to row me out to my ship. She, too, was dressed as fashionably as the queen, except that with her dark beauty she was more captivating than I could put into words.
She’d come to say good-bye.
As I slid from my mount, I didn’t wait for Firmin or anyone else to direct me. I strode to her, fully intending to push aside anyone who tried to stop me. Thankfully, no one did.
She watched me expectantly, but I couldn’t read her expression, nor did I care to. Instead, I grabbed her, bent down, and covered her mouth with mine. With my shackled hands, I couldn’t wrap my arms around her the way I wanted, but I pulled her tight nonetheless. And I kissed her deeply, letting my love and passion say what I couldn’t with words.
She responded by wrapping her arms around me, rising on her toes, and meeting my passion with her own.
I angled in and let my lips fuse with hers more firmly. If this was to be our last kiss, our final good-bye, I didn’t care that I was taking my time and making everyone wait.
But Emmeline broke away and put a body’s length of distance between us, her cheeks flushed and her smile radiating her pleasure.
She took hold of my wrist manacles, lifted a key, and unlocked first one and then the next. They fell to the wharf with a clank. I started to pull her to me again, but she stepped out of my grasp. “No more now,” she whispered with a breathless laugh. “We shall have plenty of time later.”
Plenty of time later? I searched her face for an answer. But truthfully, I didn’t need one. Though I’d wanted to spare Emmeline the life of isolation and deprivation that I’d endure, Father Patrick’s admonishment had circulated through me countless times. You must honor the commitment you made, even in the worst of circumstances.
Emmeline had come to me wearing the ring I’d given her and had told me the only life she wanted was with me, regardless of what it was like. If she could commit to me even now, then I couldn’t leave without her. I had to honor our marriage vows no matter where we were, no matter what life might bring, no matter the hardships.
She glanced to the queen, who’d stepped toward us. Though Queen Adelaide Constance didn’t smile, I could see from the light in her eyes that she approved of my display of affection toward the princess.
My heart gave a strange leap. It was too much to expect the queen to allow Emmeline to be with me, wasn’t it? Even so, I would plead for her.
“Your Majesty.” I lowered myself to one knee and bowed my head just as I had that day in the bailey. “I do not deserve anything but your wrath and justice for my many misdeeds as well as those of my father. Nevertheless, I beg you for one thing.”
She didn’t immediately deny me, so I continued with my head still bowed. “I beg you for my wife. Princess Emmeline means more to me than anything else. She is all I need and all I ask for.”
Next to me, Emmeline placed a trembling hand upon my shoulder, one that told me she supported me and still wanted to be with me.
Silence hung over the shoreline, broken by the lap of the waves. Though overcast, the summer morning was warm and the damp air laden with rain. There would be storms ahead, but I could face anything with Emmeline by my side.
My muscles tensed. What else could I say to make my case to have her? I didn’t deserve her, but I wanted to spend my life cherishing her and making myself worthy.
“Rise, King Ethelrex,” the queen finally said in a loud voice that carried over the gathering.
I stood, confused that she’d addressed me as king. Emmeline took my hand and smiled up at me with an excitement and joy I didn’t understand.
“Since you acknowledged me as the true queen and rightful heir of Mercia,” the queen continued solemnly, “I am fulfilling my promise to show you mercy and kindness.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
She held my gaze levelly. “You have proven yourself worthy of being a king. Therefore, I restore unto you the lands of Warwick and all its holdings so long as you promise to treat the people there with as much compassion as you have shown here.”
For a moment, I couldn’t find the words to respond. I couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. In my wildest dreams, I’d never imagined the queen would give me Warwick. Why was she showing such great consideration?
“Warwick needs a king who cares enough to rebuild and restore the kingdom,” she said, as if sensing my question. “Someone with strength and courage to meet the many challenges there. I believe you are suited to that task.”
“You are equally suited.”
The queen didn’t waver. “I have challenges enough here in Mercia. Moreover, Warwick will fare better under a ruler who resides there, knows the struggles, and is vested in rebuilding.”
Everything she said made perfect sense. And I relished the challenge of returning to my native country and helping to invest in the people and land. However . . .
I laced my fingers through Emmeline’s and drew her closer. “I am grateful for your trust in me. But you must know, I would give up my kingdom and power if it meant I could be with my wife.”
Finally, the queen’s lips curved into a semblance of a smile. “Your wife has done nothing for the past several days but plead with me to allow her to go with you. In fact, she has made all the travel arrangements herself.”
Emmeline squeezed my hand, her eyes full of life and love. And suddenly, I understood the magnitude of the gift the queen had given me. Not only was she bestowing upon me the chance to rule as a wise and compassionate king, but she’d also given me Emmeline.
“I allowed your followers a choice to leave with you,” the queen said. “And they are already waiting for you on your ship.”
I followed her gaze to the vessel flying Warwick’s flag. On the deck, I glimpsed my mother, Father Patrick, Dante, and the remainder of my loyal men.
“Although I gave Magnus one more chance at peace, he chose the way of strife and is therefore sentenced to spend his days in solitary confinement.”
“You offered him more than he deserved, Your Majesty.”
“God oft gives us more than we deserve. I can do no less for others.”
I nodded my ackn
owledgment of her wisdom.
She motioned to a nearby squire who came forward holding a tasseled pillow of bright ruby red. On the top lay the onyx signet ring belonging to the royal family of Warwick. It sparkled brilliantly, obviously having been polished and cleaned to perfection.
As the squire bowed before me and held the pillow out, I shook my head. “I regret that I must decline your gift, Your Majesty. But I have no wish to be anything like my father, not even in the ring I wear.”
“’Tis only what you do with what you are given that counts.”
I sensed this was her admonition to take the freedom and new life she was offering and to be different than my father. I could do nothing less. Without another moment of hesitation, I took the ring and slipped it on, vowing I would live and die only for peace.
“I have also bestowed to Emmeline her dowry,” the queen continued. “I am giving her a portion of the treasure you recovered. I pray you will find it useful in the restoration of Warwick.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I struggled to speak past it. “You are more than generous, Your Majesty. I fear I cannot find the words to thank you for the kindness you have shown me.”
“You can thank me by loving Emmeline and making her happy.”
I glanced down at Emmeline’s upturned face. “Rest assured, Your Majesty, I would have done so regardless. And now, I shall do so doubly.”
At my declaration, the queen smiled her satisfaction.
I pressed my lips to Emmeline’s forehead. “You are sure you want to do this?” I asked her quietly.
“No matter what you told me that day in the tower, I wasn’t planning to let you leave without me.”
“No matter what I said, I wouldn’t have been able to leave you behind.”
“Then you would have kidnapped me a second time?” Her eyes twinkled with a challenge.
“Most definitely.”
“If you’d been able to catch me.”
I bent into her ear. “I told you I never lose, that I always win, didn’t I?”
She laughed, and I captured her lips and laughter in another kiss. This one sweet and soft with the promise of many more to come.
Chapter
28
Emmeline
I stood next to Rex on the forecastle of the ship and watched Warwick’s shoreline draw near. The wind whipped the sails above us and wrested my hair loose from the elegant knot my maidservant had styled earlier in preparation for our arrival.
We would disembark in the small coastal town of Grayson and then travel upriver to the larger capital city of Kensington. Two of Rex’s men would ride ahead and spread the news of his coming as the new king.
Rex was rigid, studying the land with his usual keen gaze. I did likewise, taking in the forested shoreline with its steep cliffs and rocky crags.
We’d spent large portions of the journey meeting with his loyal followers and planning how we could begin to restore prosperity to Warwick. Most of the industries had either failed or were in decline. The land was depleted of resources and infertile. And the people were bitter and suffering. We were arriving at a dark and uncertain place.
Through all of the planning, we’d reminded ourselves changes would take time, energy, and an enormous amount of hard work in order to bring about the healing the land and people needed. The task ahead was daunting. But we were their faithful servants, and together we would set out to accomplish the rebuilding with the courage God had given us.
Once again, Adelaide had shown her great wisdom by giving Rex this mission. From Mercia, she would have had a difficult time bringing about the changes Warwick needed. The kingdom likely would have continued to languish. But since Rex had already established goodwill among the people of Warwick, they’d more easily accept him as king along with the changes he needed to institute. And of course, our marriage ensured his alliance with Adelaide.
My good-byes with my sisters had been tearful. We’d only just been reunited and were separating again. I would miss them, yet I knew we were each using our gifts to bring about peace to the land such as it hadn’t known in a long time. The people of Mercia had welcomed Adelaide as their new queen, especially as word of her wisdom and her mercy toward Rex had spread.
As the royal physician, Maribel had made her first order of business that of helping all the nuns who’d been hurt and displaced by King Ethelwulf. She’d begun the process of rebuilding the convents in the Highlands and Iron Hills, making sure the nuns and friends she’d had while growing up were restored to their positions.
We’d learned that Sister Katherine, the nun who’d been so instrumental in saving us as infants, had taken refuge in her final days among a small band of nuns who’d been hiding in ruins in West Moorland. She’d died peacefully in her sleep the same day she’d received news that Adelaide had entered Delsworth and had been crowned queen.
Although Sister Katherine had gone to great lengths in seeking out Adelaide and Maribel and encouraging them to accomplish their duties, she’d apparently never made any attempt to find me. Had she somehow known my destiny was intertwined with Rex’s? That he must be the one to find me instead of her?
Whatever the case, my sisters and I had each played our parts to fulfill the ancient prophecy. We’d learned like Solomon and other wise kings that real treasure is found in God’s gifts rather than in chests of gold. We prayed future generations would read our account and understand the same truth. But we also realized that over time, greed might raise its ugly head and wreak havoc on the land, bringing about the need for another wise young ruler to rise up and fulfill the ancient prophecy once more.
Adelaide had burned my drawing of the labyrinth and then hidden the original map pieces in three different places throughout the kingdom, putting cryptic clues to their whereabouts within the shanks of the keys as before. She and her descendants would remain keepers of the keys. And we could only pray that once again the legend of the treasure, its keys, and the labyrinth would become more fable than reality.
“Who would have guessed this is where we’d end up,” my father said from beside Rex, his arm around my mother. Attired in his black chain mail and all his weapons, he looked nearly as fierce and warlike as Rex.
“I never would have imagined it,” my mother replied quietly. Before leaving, I’d done everything I could to discover what had become of both Mother’s and Father’s families in those early days of King Ethelwulf’s purge. We’d learned every member of Mother’s family had been brutally murdered, just as she’d suspected.
However, Father’s family had received his message in time and had been able to survive by living under false identities. We hadn’t needed to search too hard to find his brothers and sisters alive and well with families of their own. Although his mother had since passed away, she’d apparently been proud of Father for how brave he’d been to save the princesses.
“I’m glad you decided to come with us.” I bent to rub my free hand over Bede’s head and then did the same to Ruby.
Father smiled at me, which made him look more like the charcoal burner I’d grown up with than the warrior he truly was. “Eighteen years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be sailing to Warwick to live. Even a week ago, I wouldn’t have imagined it, especially that we’d be going willingly.”
I smiled in return. “I guess that means you’re no longer angry at Rex for tying you and mother up?”
“Aye. I’ll let him live . . . for today.”
“That is gallant of you,” Rex interjected. “And I shall allow you to live another day, but only because you are the best elite guard trainer I have.”
“The only elite guard trainer,” my father said wryly.
I loved that the two most important men in my life had made their peace and liked each other. Rex had asked for forgiveness for stealing me away and coercing me into marriage. He’d also apologized for the crimes King Ethelwulf had committed, especially that my father and mother had been forced to live in hiding for so many
years.
To show his gratefulness to Father for his love and care for me all the years I’d been growing up, Rex had offered him the position of his closest advisor and commander of his army. But Father had decided he was more suited to being on the sidelines of the action rather than in the middle of it and had decided to train Rex’s army instead.
Rex drew me into the circle of his arm. “Are you ready for this?”
“Yes.” I was surprised by how much I meant it. Though I missed my forest home, I’d known I could never go back. But even more than that, I was different. Rex and I were both different. And stronger because of it.
I wrapped my arm around his middle and leaned into him. “As long as we’re together, I’m ready for anything.”
“Then, welcome home, my queen,” he whispered. “I cannot promise you riches or ease in the days to come. But hereafter, I can promise I will choose to love and cherish you unto death.”
“That’s all that matters,” I whispered in return before lifting my lips to his and sealing our love with a kiss.
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats. Learn more at JodyHedlund.com
Young Adult Fiction from Jody Hedlund
The Fairest Maidens
Beholden
Upon the death of her wealthy father, Lady Gabriella is condemned to work in Warwick’s gem mine. As she struggles to survive the dangerous conditions, her kindness and beauty shine as brightly as the jewels the slaves excavate. While laboring, Gabriella plots how to avenge her father’s death and stop Queen Margery’s cruelty.