Bloodred ManchuFranklin looked up from the book he was reading and hurried towards his King. "Your Highness?"
"For the love of Gods, Franklin. It's Ewan."
"I... know. It just makes me uncomfortable." The companion's eyes narrowed and his face flushed. Ewan sighed at the reply and shut his golden-brown eyes in aggravation.
"Fine." He sighed, sitting up straight, "have you taken a look around?"
"Not yet, my King. Would you like me to? Or... perhaps... I could wait?" Franklin's eyes shot towards the door and he shifted in his spot as Ewan chuckled.
"Afraid of our dear Queen? She gave us both quite the lashing."
"Not before turning us out. You really shouldn't have said she was tiresome."
"Wasn't she?" Ewan smirked as he asked the obvious.
"She was... but that wasn't the best way to impress her, my King."
"Mmm," the King murmured. "I suppose there were other options. However, the route I opted for did bring that delicious fire back to her eyes... so I'll call it a win. Regardless of my misdeeds, Franklin, I want you to look around. Talk to her staff. Avoid her as much as you can. I'm sure she's already sent someone to do the same."
Franklin nodded, bowed, and left the room as quiet as a mouse.
King Ewan hailed from a country named Kinbreck. It wasn't the largest. It wasn't the wealthiest. It didn't have the best fleet. However, Kinbreck was deeply rooted in tradition; back before most kingdoms broke off, Kinbreck was held in the highest of regards. Seven generations before Ewan, his ancestors controlled the only reliable mine for weeks of travel. The income made the otherwise lackluster kingdom prosper. Generations of rulers hoarded the wealth for themselves. They kept their people satisfied, but not happy; fed, but not gluttonous; safe, but no protected. Ewan held no sense of grandeur, but he did want more for his people. It was in this manor his attention was drawn to Lynsid.
Queen Leah's reign was impressive simply because she had nothing of an impression to make. Beyond being young, she'd kept Lynsid free from famine, and war, and the trivialities many of the other kingdoms indulged in. Lynsid would have no pages in history books. No bards would sing tales of tragedy or bravery. It intrigued Ewan. He had spent two weeks living among her people. While he wouldn't necessarily say they... 'adored' their Queen, there wasn't a bad word said about her in the kingdom. And, once Franklin reported, it turned out there was nary a bad word in her court. Sure, most would name her mildly petulant, but it was frequently followed by compliments to her character -- and none were motivated by fear. Franklin even seemed more at ease when he returned. And to ease Franklin's worries... well, it must be a special kingdom indeed.
And Ewan wanted to be a part of that kingdom.
He wanted her.
Leah whistled to herself as she walked a line of rose mallows. They were heavy with frost; Ewan watched her lift each one, turn it this way and that, and eventually lower it with grace. She mesmerized him. Her long, pale blonde hair framed her face and one slender hand was snuggly stuffed into the fur hand muff at her waist. He smirked at how gentle she looked. It had been three weeks since his initial visit, and Ewan was entirely too familiar with the intensity of Leah. Her soul carried a flame that could melt all the Northern Isles in the dead of winter. While she hadn't entirely warmed up to him -- in fact she'd distinctly avoided it -- he did notice she had yet to ask him to leave.
"If you're waiting for her to notice you, King Ewan, she won't." Ewan's eyebrows raised and he smiled at Marcella without looking away from Leah. "I recommend just talking to her..."
"Oh, I have. I don't know if my ego can take anymore, though."
Marcella laughed at him and shook her head. "With all due respect, King Ewan? You haven't."
The challenge caused Ewan to turn his head to the woman. "Oh?"
"You've talked AT her."
Ewan waited for a moment, but Marcella did not look inclined to elaborate. "Is there... a difference?"
"Men." Marcella turned her eyes towards the sky before shutting them and smiling. "Ask her about her flowers. Talk to her about her people. If I may be bold, King Ewan, I enjoy your presence. I think you would make a fine suitor for our Queen. But she will expect more of you than anyone ever has."
"I'm a King. I find that impossible." Ewan was thoroughly confused and his face showed every ounce. It was something Marcella appreciated of him, even as she laughed again.
"Your patience will be tested when you least want it to be. She'll require the utmost trust, and truth, and frankness. But if you give the Queen these things, you will never find yourself alone. She has the force of a thousand Gods." Marcella paused for a moment, looking at Leah. "I've watched her grow from a child. I was the handmaiden for her mother, Gods rest her soul. When Queen Leah came of age, she chose me to be her confidant. An honor never bestowed to a woman, much less a handmaiden. You came to Lynsid because of the stories, I presume?"
Ewan nodded.
"They are true, King Ewan. Every ounce of them. Lynsid's people love and trust their Queen. They understand she will lever lead them to harm. Young, yes. Stubborn, yes. Whiny, and childish, and a list about a mile long. But, who wasn't at her age? Who isn't now? Her lesser qualities are far outweighed by the loyalty she harbors. If she trusts you enough to wed you, she will test you. And Gods help you if in time she loves you." Marcella winked at Ewan, then turned on her heels and left.
He stood there, gobsmacked. If he met one of his own court, would they say the same of him? His brows furrowed, he took one last look at Leah and he began to walk towards her.
"Queen Leah," Ewan called from behind her.
Ewan used a different tone and it caused Leah to turn towards him without hesitation. "My King?"
Ewan's head cocked and it took Leah a moment to realize what she'd said. "I mean... King Ewan. What can I do for you? Help you with? I..." She'd flustered herself and felt her cheeks grew red while she fought to ice her voice. "What do you want?"
"I was wanting to see how your day was going." Leah noticed Ewan stifle a chuckle.
"Pardon?" Leah stiffened. Something was different, and she couldn't tell what.
"Well, it was recently brought to my attention that I don't talk with you."
"We talk incessantly."
"Yes, but apparently, I talk at you. I was hoping to rectify my mistake... my Queen." Ewan flashed a smile, aware of his words, and she turned away swiftly. Ridiculous. This man was ridiculous!
He took his steps quickly, walking beside her. The two wandered throughout the garden for some time but did not speak. As uncharacteristic as it was, Leah broke first.
"So... why did you come to Lynsid? There are plenty of princesses to marry, and you are already a King."
"Well," Ewan started and heaved a large sigh, "at the risk of pandering... I came for you. I'm not sure what you've heard of Kinbreck--"
"Not much."
"Aye. That's typical. We're a kingdom that is great at... well, nothing. My people are satisfied in every way. I look not to marry for power, or wealth, or ambition. I initially intended not to marry at all. But, word of your kingdom lives on the wind. In fact, it was King Mason of Dunlyne which warned me of you." Leah stayed silent, and Ewan continued.
"If I remember, King Mason had visited you as a suitor. He returned rebuffed and furious. Which isn't unusual for him." He winked at Leah, gently poking her with his elbow. "However, his stories of your court and kingdom interested me. While I anticipate he was joking, he insinuated we'd make quite the pair. I believe him now."
The two had come to stop under a frost-capped tree, their breaths lingering in the air between them as tiny clouds. Leah stared at him as the weight of what he said pressed on her. While most of her suitors had lasted less than a week, Ewan had been here for over a fortnight -- almost a month. He was brash and direct. And, often, it seemed he lived to taunt her, cackling while she reprimanded him with her words. Yet, he hadn't left. She hadn't asked him to either. And an odd fondness for his banter had settled into her castle for the last few days. Even now, Leah noted the changes in his tone and demeanor from his first visit.
"Leah?" Ewan's voiced had dropped to a hushed whisper, and she took note of her name without its title. It had been years since she heard her name on its own. "Are... you alright? Did I say something?"
She took a deep breath. "You said many things."
"Aye, I did."
"Very pretty words."
"I try my best."
"Do you mean them?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't have said them."
"Hmm." Leah paused. Her eyes searched his face for something -- anything -- that would betray his intentions. She found nothing.
Silence hung between them again, dancing across their ice-cloud breaths. Leah dragged her left hand from the hand muff and lifted it to his cheek. She traced her knuckles down his face before uncurling her hand, sliding it along the side of his neck, and pulling him towards her as she raised herself to kiss him.
Ewan was shocked. He'd kissed plenty of women in his day, and plenty more during someone else's, but each spark he'd thought Leah had didn't compare to their kiss. It was entirely out of order for her to have initiated it and it surprised him further she had done it at all. The kiss was clumsy but passionate, and his arms came to settle around her waist as if they were molded especially for her. He felt Leah's hand leave his neck and come to rest on his chest. They settled into each other for a moment before she pressed him away and his arms retreated to his sides. He stared at her, breathless, and she stared back -- seemingly unbothered.
"It's Queen Leah." She said sternly, breaking the silence. Ewan blinked at her. With that, she stuffed her free hand back into the hand muff, turned on her heel, and left him standing cold and alone in her garden.
His ego bruised, it took King Ewan mere days before he returned to his kingdom. He did so under the guise of attending to affairs, but the reality was known. It took months before tales of Lynsid and its fiery Queen reached his castle. To say he'd forgotten about Queen Leah was unfounded, but he tried his best. It was obvious to everyone that Lynsid had left a mark on his heart.
Moons passed, and Queen Leah's kingdom functioned the same as well. She saw suitor after suitor -- but none compared. They did not exchange taunts or pleasantries. And she had yet to hear her titleless name spoken aloud.
Marcella and Franklin penned letters, conspiring the ways to unite their two rulers. Each brought up comments, or stories, or facts of the other kingdom. Both were ignored.
Until, one day, King Ewan strode down the stairs of his castle and snapped his fingers impatiently at Franklin. "Pack my things and get me a carriage. I want to visit my Queen." Franklin's eyes widened, and before King Ewan could elaborate, Frankling hurried to complete his tasks.
Lynsid was four days ride from Kinbreck. Four days of Franklin listening to his King's uncertainties turn to confidence, and back again. On the eve of day four, King Ewan's carriage pulled to the front of Queen Leah's castle. He did not wait for the footman; he didn't wait for Franklin; King Ewan didn't even wait to be announced. He marched up the stairs, into the castle, and straight to the dining room. Members of the court that saw him gasped or ducked out of his way. And, as he entered the dining room, Marcella let out a squeak of shock. Queen Leah stood abruptly and bumped the table. Wine sloshed from her goblet.
"King Ewan!" Her voice pitched up an octave, and she had brought a hand to clench at her stomach.
Without breaking his stride, King Ewan advanced towards her before taking a knee at her feet. "I... understand this is out of order. I should have written, or sent someone, or... or anything. I come harboring no decorum. But Queen Leah, I ask you to marry me. I don't know what that means, or if you'll say yes, but my heart is in pain. Please forgive my lack of good manners."
She stared at him. This was the chance to crush him or lift him. And Queen Leah had moments to decide. She turned her face towards Marcella who flapped her hands toward her. Laughing, Leah fell to her knees and took Ewan's face in her hands. She kissed him, as she did in that frost-covered garden so many moons ago. Breathless and smiling she pulled from their kiss to look at his face and spoke, as clear and convinced as she'd ever been: "Fuck propriety..."
Profile & Coding: Chelsea
Background Image: Shyam Sundar Hemamalini at Unsplash
