Chapter 1
“Father, do we really need to have another one of these balls?” I yell at the King of Rolland. The King looks wearily down at me, tired of having this argument yet again.
“Gael, you are young, but you are not that young. The time has long come for you to take a bride. You have had the past four summers to pick a spouse on your own, and yet I’m no closer to an heir than I was when you became of age. You may think that you are going to live forever, but I know that I am not and I want to see my son happily married before I go.”
“Father, please this isn’t how I want to meet the woman I will spend the rest of my life with.” I plead.
“Gael, I am tired of waiting for you to find a bride by your own means. So you have until the morning after the ball to pick your bride. After that I will announce your engagement as I see fit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I tell him as I normally do when I know I have lost the argument. The last thing I see is the sad shake of my father’s head before I turn around and head to my room.
***
I spend the seven days until the dance going about the town that surrounds my father’s castle. Yet I am no closer to finding a bride. I just want love in my life and I do not think it is possible to find that in just a week of looking. I have always thought that things like love can not be rushed, so it is not that amazing that since I became sixteen four summers ago I still have not found a lover. I just want to be in love when I marry and I have yet to actually find love.
I pull on my doublet while looking at myself in the mirror. My green eyes stare back at me showing my obvious boredom with this whole situation. “Well, Gael this is the start of the end of your life.” With a sigh I walk out of my room and head towards the ballroom of the castle.
“Prince Gael?” My manservant, Charles, looks at me questioning. I glance up at him glad that even though I am prince I have actually been friends with Charles ever since we were little. “I am afraid we can not delay this evening any longer. We are going to have to start this ball. The King is going to say a speech to start things off.” He looks at me like he is dreading this as much as I am. I just slowly nod to him before talking.
“It is okay Charles, let them in.” I tell him before sitting at the royal table next to my father. My father uses dinner as an excuse to ask me if I think any of the young women in attendance are attractive. Of course I do not bother to answer him.
Around half way through the ball following dinner I have managed to escape from the ballroom and get away from all of the women chasing after me. It is not until I sigh that I realize I am not completely alone. “Too much for you?” I hear a soft voice ask, but when I turn around I’m delighted to find a man slightly younger than myself rather than a young woman.
“Well it does not seem to be your kind of thing either since you are hiding out here as well.” I answer to him relaxing a little to be around someone who is not just after me for my kingdom.
“Well I can not exactly argue that this is not my thing, so I guess we have that in common.” He says to me with a smile. “So who are you anyway? Just one of the extra gentlemen that was invited to even out the women, or are you just here in hopes that you can take one of the disappointed women home when the prince does not choose them?” I chuckle at him realizing that he really must not know who I am.
I stick out my arm to shake his hand in greeting. “Pleased to meet you, I’m Prince Gael.” I tell him watching as he starts full out laughing.
“I am sorry that I did not realize I was in the presence of the Prince himself. Is it really alright for you to be missing your own ball?”
“Well it was not really my idea to begin with. So it does not bother me to miss it.” He grins at my words seeming to have to keep himself from laughing. “So why are you here since you do not seem to want to be here and it is not your ball?” I ask him noticing how easy he seems to smile at my words.
“Family obligation actually. My father wants me to be friendlier with the royal families.” He says, and I grin knowing exactly what he means.
“So are you royal as well? Some sort of distant cousin trying to get higher chances at a throne?” I ask him and he laughs again.
“Something like that. I am not line for any throne at least.” He tells me and I grin. “Are you sure that you do not mind just hanging out with me? Are you not supposed to be in there finding the love of your life? Or some nonsense like that.” He asks me seeming to roll his eyes during the last bit and I laugh a little.
“I doubt that it is really that easy to fall in love. If it were I would probably be married already and my father would stop throwing these grand balls for me to ‘find a bride’.” I jest and he just smiles back.
I spend most of the night talking to him only to realize I do not even know his name. Then almost at midnight a servant approaches us and walks right towards the young man I have been talking to. “Prince Mikhail, your father is waiting for you to leave.” I laugh at hearing that he is a prince as well.
“Well then goodnight, Prince Mikhail.” I say with a smile.
“Good afternoon, Prince Gael.” He says also with a smile before he walks away. Unfortunately for me the dance lasts another two hours in which people slowly meander away. I don’t even bother talking to my father before walking to my own chambers. Charles follows me from the grand ballroom silently. He helps me undress and still does not speak, though I can tell he disapproves about something.
“Charles, whatever is on your mind?” I ask him while I sit on my bed.
“Did you meet anyone tonight?” He asks me softly and I just laugh.
“No, of course not. I did not intend to meet anyone tonight.” I tell him honestly.
“The King has come to a decision for you if you do not have one to tell him.” Charles says softly. I laugh at that wondering just what my father has in mind for me.
“Well I can hardly wait for that conversation. Goodnight Charles. I will see you in the morning.” I tell him before going to bed not really caring anymore.
In the morning I wake up in a good mood and walk right up to my father at breakfast. “So tell me the bad news.” I jest. “Let me guess you are marrying me off to some poor commoner to show how kind and caring we are? Or no, I have to marry some unsightly princess that could not find her own husband.” I almost want to laugh at my own words.
“Please stop talking Gael. Since you refuse to even try to pick a spouse, one has been found for you. You remember King Henry? You are to marry his child.” The words coming out of my father’s lips make no sense to me.
“But Zahara has a husband.” I say not understanding why he would want me to marry Zahara anyway since she is in line for her own throne.
“I did not say Zahara. You will not be marrying her. King Henry would like for his second child to settle down and his son has agreed to the marriage as of last night.” The only word that comes through to me is son.
“You wish for me to marry a man? A prince, that is not in line for a throne and can not even produce an heir? Not to mention the small fact that I am not even attracted to males.” I all but yell at him, amazed that he would do this.
“You are not attracted to anyone. This will give us an ally to the north, where we desperately need one. Zahara has made a very generous offer to solve the problem of an heir. She is currently pregnant and expects the baby in around seven moons. When the child is old enough he or she will become the next heir and travel here for Prince Mikhail and yourself to raise.” The King explains as if it is so simple and makes perfect sense.
“Prince Mikhail? Is he one and the same as the Prince Mikhail that was here last night? He is the one I’m supposed to marry?” I ask shocked to realize that by making better relations with royalty Mikhail really meant relationships.
“You seemed quite taken with him last night. After all he was the only one you spoke to for the entire night.”
“I did not speak to him thinking that I was going to marry him!” I actually do yell this time.
“Well get used to the idea, because in a fortnight he will be coming to live with us for the next four moons during your engagement.” This time my father’s voice raises as well as he seems to be angry with me.
“You expect me to marry him in just four moons!” I yell at him angrily.
“You will respect my wishes and wed Mikhail or you will not become King at all.” He tells me sternly.
“Maybe I do not wish to be King of your Kingdom!” I yell before storming off. Charles stops me before I get further than a room away.
“Gael, please try to think of the position your father is in-”
“Charles! He wishes for me to marry a man! Think of the position that I am in.” I tell him gesturing to myself.
“You don’t like any woman more than you like Prince Mikhail. If nothing else you seem to get along with him, which is more than can be said about any other potential bride.” Charles tries to reason with me and while his reasoning gets through to me more than my father’s the main point still sticks in my head.
“Charles this is not about marrying a stranger, this about marrying a male. I will be expected to consummate my marriage with him.” I say it in a hushed voice because I can barely believe I am saying it at all but Charles just laughs at me.
“Well yes that would be a part of it but I highly doubt that is the worst part of this situation.” Charles says with a smile; I just look at him while thinking he needs to explain this more. “It is not that bad to have intercourse with another male.” He says with a slight grin.
“Charles, are you telling me that you have?” I can not bring myself to say the word. Charles chuckles at me once more.
“Yes I have, and I can tell you that is not the part of the relationship you should be worried about. You should worry about getting along with Prince Mikhail and being able to rule this country and raise your child. You should be more concerned about being able to live with the Prince and get along with him because that is better than getting emotionally involved with him and not being able to see past those emotions.” I sigh softly realizing unfortunately that Charles does have a point.
“I guess you are right. This is no more of a marriage than if I were to marry his sister Zahara. It is just a political relationship. I still do not have to like it I just have to live with it.”
Sooner than I would like and before I really feel ready the fortnight has passed and it is the day for Prince Mikhail, or I guess I should say my betrothed, to arrive. The whole castle is in an upheaval at his coming, a huge feast has been prepared and the bedroom suite connected to mine has been aired out and remade for my new consort. The whole castle is welcoming him meanwhile I am dreading it. While of course I know that I will not actually be marrying Prince Mikhail for another four moons I am still going to have to live with him while we ‘court’. Eventually, I cannot take the waiting, so I sneak out of the castle and take my horse for a ride out to the nearby lake.
By the time I get to the lake it has gotten hot and I am tired from riding. Without a thought I strip off my garments and dive into the small lake. I do not bother paying attention to how long I spend at the lake until the sun starts to set. I start to get out of the lake just as I hear another horse approaching. My eyes gaze up just in time to see Prince Mikhail staring at me while astride a horse. “So this is where you are hiding.” He states simply still looking at me intensely enough to make me realize I’m standing in a shallow enough part of the lake so that all of my body is exposed. My first thought is to take a few steps back and cover my body with the water; instead I walk forward to where my garments litter the beach.
“I was not hiding anything.” I say only to notice moments after the words escape my lips how he will take them. I note the smile on Mikhail’s lips as he stops himself from chuckling. “Why were you sent after me in any case?” I ask while trying to keep myself from pulling on my breeches too fast. He makes sure that I don’t catch him looking at my body as his eyes meet mine every time I look his way. Still I feel naked in front of him despite the thick fabric now covering my lower body.
“I was not sent to find you. I volunteered.” At Prince Mikhail’s words I look up from grabbing my shirt to silently demand an explanation. “Your father seemed like your disappearance was meant to make him look bad, but somehow I was sure that instead you might be unhappy with me.” He says softly and I do not hold back my laugh like he did.
“And why would I be displeased by you? Technically speaking you never lied to me. What was it that you said… something about your father wanting you to get to know the royals better? Well you seem to be doing quite well in that matter-”
“I did not mean to deceive you, Prince Gael. Our fathers had spoken before about forcing you into an arranged marriage with me but I thought it all to be a jest. I did not think they were being serious when my father asked me if I would wed you.” He says his bared emotions showing how he feels on the matter.
“So you do not wish to marry me?” I ask him bluntly.
“I did not say that.” He says looking as if I meant my words as an insult. “I am free to walk away from this but honestly, I would like to try a relationship with you, Gael.” He says my name softly, dropping the formality of my title and acting as if this is not our second time meeting. I try to ignore it telling myself that he should not feel the need for titles being that we are betrothed.
“I am sorry. I have been quite out of sorts since this whole ordeal began and truth be told I am quite displeased with my father. All the same we should head back for his feast assuming I have not already missed it.” I say trying my best to be diplomatic at remembering my conversations with Charles on how this is a political relationship.
Mikhail just grins in a way that suggests he knows exactly why I have tamed my tongue, but he does not argue it, and he never takes a step to dismount his horse. My eyes travel up from his chestnut colored mare to look at Mikhail. My gaze is different this time knowing that I am going to wed him rather then just looking to talk away a candlemark or two of boredom. His lithely muscled body is covered in soft deerskin riding leathers, as it is likely he has not changed since arriving. His garments and the way his hair is messed up attest to his lack of riding in a carriage on the long trip here, showing he rode his horse as he is doing currently. His wind tussled hair is a soft blonde in color like that of hay. His skin matches his pale hair, as it’s light color shows how little time he must spend outside. I surmise that he must have been a sickly child to have such soft skin and lips that seem tender and plump like a woman’s. His blue eyes still look at me as I mount my own horse; a black warhorse stallion as opposed to his chestnut mare.
When we return to the stables, we both hand over our mounts’ reins with little a word to the stable boys before heading inside. Charles approaches us the moment my foot hits the castle pavement. “Princes,” he addresses us plurally rather than me individually, “bathes have been make ready for both of you in your chambers but please hurry for the King wishes to eat shortly.” I note Charles’ eyes directed at me telling me that my father is indeed displeased with me. Good. Charles continues to lead us to our attaching chambers until we arrive by the entrance. He opens the door to Mikhail’s new suite addressing him before me. “I hope everything is to your liking in your new chambers Prince Mikhail. Your chamber’s man shall be along shortly to assist you with any help you may need.” With that he ushers Mikhail into the room and me into my own before angrily dragging me towards the bath.
“Charles, whatever is the matter?” I ask him indignantly.
“Your father is up in arms about your blatant disregard for this country’s well being. It is only Prince Mikhail’s saving grace that you were not hunted down and hauled back here like some sort of common criminal. It does not look good that when your father has prepared a greeting for your own betrothed you are not present to welcome him. Dinner has been delayed a whole hour due to your gallivanting off. This is no way for a Prince let alone a future King to behave.” I try to tune out Charles as I again strip off my garments to enter the water though this time it is the heated water of my bath.
“Charles, I’m sure my father will lecture me on his own time there is no need for you to do it as well.” I say nonchalantly. He huffs off before returning with a rag to roughly scrub me clean. I know he is being more brutal than usual because he is angered with me yet he keeps quiet for the short duration of my bathing. Charles helps me into finer linen garments for dinner before whisking me out of the room and to the formal dining chamber.
Although Charles did not waste time with my bath somehow Mikhail is already sitting at the table. His pale skin seems to shine from his bath and his hair looks even softer now that it’s tamed and lying around his shoulders. His is wearing soft silken garments now and I have to admit that he does look rather stunning. I take my seat at the table next to Mikhail. Before our food reaches our mouths my father decides to speak up about my new engagement. “Mikhail, we here in Rolland are glad that you have agreed to marry my wayward son.” A few of my father’s advisers laugh at this. “I hope that your marriage is a happy one and that your child is a healthy young lad to take the throne. So here’s to the young Princes may their union help us all!” At the King’s words one of the advisers speaks up saying ‘here here’ and we all echo it taking a drink of the ale in front of us.
When Mikhail stands up I know this is going to be a long night of speech making. If I get enough ale in me I may make a speech of my own. “Thank you for having me here. My Father sends his apologies that he was not able to make here and with his apologies he has sent some of our country’s best honey mead for us all to enjoy. So for tonight let us have drinks to celebrate my engagement.” It is a long night of drinks and good food after that so I cannot truly say I remember any more of the speeches that I’m sure happened. I have to say that by the time that our meal is over I am more stumbling back to my bedroom than I am walking.
Although I am not quite drunk enough to get a hangover I am still not happy to be woken up in the middle of the night by a knock on my door. I get more annoyed when I notice that the door that being knocked on is the one that connects my bedchamber to Mikhail’s. Instead of yelling for him to come in, as I am inclined to do, I get up and stumble over to open the door. “Why are you knocking on my door?” I grumble as I answer it, even as my eyes are looking over Mikhail as he wears next to nothing. For a moment he just stares at me but then he lays a hand down on my bare chest.
“You really are breath taking.” He says softly then he leans his head in and kisses me. I push away slightly but before I can get mad at him his body slumps into my arms and he has fallen back asleep. I start to head toward Mikhail’s bed with him awkwardly in my arms but when I get there we both fall on to the bed. I try to get back up and go to my own bed but my legs do not want to work. I end up just falling back asleep as well.
“Gael, you are young, but you are not that young. The time has long come for you to take a bride. You have had the past four summers to pick a spouse on your own, and yet I’m no closer to an heir than I was when you became of age. You may think that you are going to live forever, but I know that I am not and I want to see my son happily married before I go.”
“Father, please this isn’t how I want to meet the woman I will spend the rest of my life with.” I plead.
“Gael, I am tired of waiting for you to find a bride by your own means. So you have until the morning after the ball to pick your bride. After that I will announce your engagement as I see fit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I tell him as I normally do when I know I have lost the argument. The last thing I see is the sad shake of my father’s head before I turn around and head to my room.
***
I spend the seven days until the dance going about the town that surrounds my father’s castle. Yet I am no closer to finding a bride. I just want love in my life and I do not think it is possible to find that in just a week of looking. I have always thought that things like love can not be rushed, so it is not that amazing that since I became sixteen four summers ago I still have not found a lover. I just want to be in love when I marry and I have yet to actually find love.
I pull on my doublet while looking at myself in the mirror. My green eyes stare back at me showing my obvious boredom with this whole situation. “Well, Gael this is the start of the end of your life.” With a sigh I walk out of my room and head towards the ballroom of the castle.
“Prince Gael?” My manservant, Charles, looks at me questioning. I glance up at him glad that even though I am prince I have actually been friends with Charles ever since we were little. “I am afraid we can not delay this evening any longer. We are going to have to start this ball. The King is going to say a speech to start things off.” He looks at me like he is dreading this as much as I am. I just slowly nod to him before talking.
“It is okay Charles, let them in.” I tell him before sitting at the royal table next to my father. My father uses dinner as an excuse to ask me if I think any of the young women in attendance are attractive. Of course I do not bother to answer him.
Around half way through the ball following dinner I have managed to escape from the ballroom and get away from all of the women chasing after me. It is not until I sigh that I realize I am not completely alone. “Too much for you?” I hear a soft voice ask, but when I turn around I’m delighted to find a man slightly younger than myself rather than a young woman.
“Well it does not seem to be your kind of thing either since you are hiding out here as well.” I answer to him relaxing a little to be around someone who is not just after me for my kingdom.
“Well I can not exactly argue that this is not my thing, so I guess we have that in common.” He says to me with a smile. “So who are you anyway? Just one of the extra gentlemen that was invited to even out the women, or are you just here in hopes that you can take one of the disappointed women home when the prince does not choose them?” I chuckle at him realizing that he really must not know who I am.
I stick out my arm to shake his hand in greeting. “Pleased to meet you, I’m Prince Gael.” I tell him watching as he starts full out laughing.
“I am sorry that I did not realize I was in the presence of the Prince himself. Is it really alright for you to be missing your own ball?”
“Well it was not really my idea to begin with. So it does not bother me to miss it.” He grins at my words seeming to have to keep himself from laughing. “So why are you here since you do not seem to want to be here and it is not your ball?” I ask him noticing how easy he seems to smile at my words.
“Family obligation actually. My father wants me to be friendlier with the royal families.” He says, and I grin knowing exactly what he means.
“So are you royal as well? Some sort of distant cousin trying to get higher chances at a throne?” I ask him and he laughs again.
“Something like that. I am not line for any throne at least.” He tells me and I grin. “Are you sure that you do not mind just hanging out with me? Are you not supposed to be in there finding the love of your life? Or some nonsense like that.” He asks me seeming to roll his eyes during the last bit and I laugh a little.
“I doubt that it is really that easy to fall in love. If it were I would probably be married already and my father would stop throwing these grand balls for me to ‘find a bride’.” I jest and he just smiles back.
I spend most of the night talking to him only to realize I do not even know his name. Then almost at midnight a servant approaches us and walks right towards the young man I have been talking to. “Prince Mikhail, your father is waiting for you to leave.” I laugh at hearing that he is a prince as well.
“Well then goodnight, Prince Mikhail.” I say with a smile.
“Good afternoon, Prince Gael.” He says also with a smile before he walks away. Unfortunately for me the dance lasts another two hours in which people slowly meander away. I don’t even bother talking to my father before walking to my own chambers. Charles follows me from the grand ballroom silently. He helps me undress and still does not speak, though I can tell he disapproves about something.
“Charles, whatever is on your mind?” I ask him while I sit on my bed.
“Did you meet anyone tonight?” He asks me softly and I just laugh.
“No, of course not. I did not intend to meet anyone tonight.” I tell him honestly.
“The King has come to a decision for you if you do not have one to tell him.” Charles says softly. I laugh at that wondering just what my father has in mind for me.
“Well I can hardly wait for that conversation. Goodnight Charles. I will see you in the morning.” I tell him before going to bed not really caring anymore.
In the morning I wake up in a good mood and walk right up to my father at breakfast. “So tell me the bad news.” I jest. “Let me guess you are marrying me off to some poor commoner to show how kind and caring we are? Or no, I have to marry some unsightly princess that could not find her own husband.” I almost want to laugh at my own words.
“Please stop talking Gael. Since you refuse to even try to pick a spouse, one has been found for you. You remember King Henry? You are to marry his child.” The words coming out of my father’s lips make no sense to me.
“But Zahara has a husband.” I say not understanding why he would want me to marry Zahara anyway since she is in line for her own throne.
“I did not say Zahara. You will not be marrying her. King Henry would like for his second child to settle down and his son has agreed to the marriage as of last night.” The only word that comes through to me is son.
“You wish for me to marry a man? A prince, that is not in line for a throne and can not even produce an heir? Not to mention the small fact that I am not even attracted to males.” I all but yell at him, amazed that he would do this.
“You are not attracted to anyone. This will give us an ally to the north, where we desperately need one. Zahara has made a very generous offer to solve the problem of an heir. She is currently pregnant and expects the baby in around seven moons. When the child is old enough he or she will become the next heir and travel here for Prince Mikhail and yourself to raise.” The King explains as if it is so simple and makes perfect sense.
“Prince Mikhail? Is he one and the same as the Prince Mikhail that was here last night? He is the one I’m supposed to marry?” I ask shocked to realize that by making better relations with royalty Mikhail really meant relationships.
“You seemed quite taken with him last night. After all he was the only one you spoke to for the entire night.”
“I did not speak to him thinking that I was going to marry him!” I actually do yell this time.
“Well get used to the idea, because in a fortnight he will be coming to live with us for the next four moons during your engagement.” This time my father’s voice raises as well as he seems to be angry with me.
“You expect me to marry him in just four moons!” I yell at him angrily.
“You will respect my wishes and wed Mikhail or you will not become King at all.” He tells me sternly.
“Maybe I do not wish to be King of your Kingdom!” I yell before storming off. Charles stops me before I get further than a room away.
“Gael, please try to think of the position your father is in-”
“Charles! He wishes for me to marry a man! Think of the position that I am in.” I tell him gesturing to myself.
“You don’t like any woman more than you like Prince Mikhail. If nothing else you seem to get along with him, which is more than can be said about any other potential bride.” Charles tries to reason with me and while his reasoning gets through to me more than my father’s the main point still sticks in my head.
“Charles this is not about marrying a stranger, this about marrying a male. I will be expected to consummate my marriage with him.” I say it in a hushed voice because I can barely believe I am saying it at all but Charles just laughs at me.
“Well yes that would be a part of it but I highly doubt that is the worst part of this situation.” Charles says with a smile; I just look at him while thinking he needs to explain this more. “It is not that bad to have intercourse with another male.” He says with a slight grin.
“Charles, are you telling me that you have?” I can not bring myself to say the word. Charles chuckles at me once more.
“Yes I have, and I can tell you that is not the part of the relationship you should be worried about. You should worry about getting along with Prince Mikhail and being able to rule this country and raise your child. You should be more concerned about being able to live with the Prince and get along with him because that is better than getting emotionally involved with him and not being able to see past those emotions.” I sigh softly realizing unfortunately that Charles does have a point.
“I guess you are right. This is no more of a marriage than if I were to marry his sister Zahara. It is just a political relationship. I still do not have to like it I just have to live with it.”
Sooner than I would like and before I really feel ready the fortnight has passed and it is the day for Prince Mikhail, or I guess I should say my betrothed, to arrive. The whole castle is in an upheaval at his coming, a huge feast has been prepared and the bedroom suite connected to mine has been aired out and remade for my new consort. The whole castle is welcoming him meanwhile I am dreading it. While of course I know that I will not actually be marrying Prince Mikhail for another four moons I am still going to have to live with him while we ‘court’. Eventually, I cannot take the waiting, so I sneak out of the castle and take my horse for a ride out to the nearby lake.
By the time I get to the lake it has gotten hot and I am tired from riding. Without a thought I strip off my garments and dive into the small lake. I do not bother paying attention to how long I spend at the lake until the sun starts to set. I start to get out of the lake just as I hear another horse approaching. My eyes gaze up just in time to see Prince Mikhail staring at me while astride a horse. “So this is where you are hiding.” He states simply still looking at me intensely enough to make me realize I’m standing in a shallow enough part of the lake so that all of my body is exposed. My first thought is to take a few steps back and cover my body with the water; instead I walk forward to where my garments litter the beach.
“I was not hiding anything.” I say only to notice moments after the words escape my lips how he will take them. I note the smile on Mikhail’s lips as he stops himself from chuckling. “Why were you sent after me in any case?” I ask while trying to keep myself from pulling on my breeches too fast. He makes sure that I don’t catch him looking at my body as his eyes meet mine every time I look his way. Still I feel naked in front of him despite the thick fabric now covering my lower body.
“I was not sent to find you. I volunteered.” At Prince Mikhail’s words I look up from grabbing my shirt to silently demand an explanation. “Your father seemed like your disappearance was meant to make him look bad, but somehow I was sure that instead you might be unhappy with me.” He says softly and I do not hold back my laugh like he did.
“And why would I be displeased by you? Technically speaking you never lied to me. What was it that you said… something about your father wanting you to get to know the royals better? Well you seem to be doing quite well in that matter-”
“I did not mean to deceive you, Prince Gael. Our fathers had spoken before about forcing you into an arranged marriage with me but I thought it all to be a jest. I did not think they were being serious when my father asked me if I would wed you.” He says his bared emotions showing how he feels on the matter.
“So you do not wish to marry me?” I ask him bluntly.
“I did not say that.” He says looking as if I meant my words as an insult. “I am free to walk away from this but honestly, I would like to try a relationship with you, Gael.” He says my name softly, dropping the formality of my title and acting as if this is not our second time meeting. I try to ignore it telling myself that he should not feel the need for titles being that we are betrothed.
“I am sorry. I have been quite out of sorts since this whole ordeal began and truth be told I am quite displeased with my father. All the same we should head back for his feast assuming I have not already missed it.” I say trying my best to be diplomatic at remembering my conversations with Charles on how this is a political relationship.
Mikhail just grins in a way that suggests he knows exactly why I have tamed my tongue, but he does not argue it, and he never takes a step to dismount his horse. My eyes travel up from his chestnut colored mare to look at Mikhail. My gaze is different this time knowing that I am going to wed him rather then just looking to talk away a candlemark or two of boredom. His lithely muscled body is covered in soft deerskin riding leathers, as it is likely he has not changed since arriving. His garments and the way his hair is messed up attest to his lack of riding in a carriage on the long trip here, showing he rode his horse as he is doing currently. His wind tussled hair is a soft blonde in color like that of hay. His skin matches his pale hair, as it’s light color shows how little time he must spend outside. I surmise that he must have been a sickly child to have such soft skin and lips that seem tender and plump like a woman’s. His blue eyes still look at me as I mount my own horse; a black warhorse stallion as opposed to his chestnut mare.
When we return to the stables, we both hand over our mounts’ reins with little a word to the stable boys before heading inside. Charles approaches us the moment my foot hits the castle pavement. “Princes,” he addresses us plurally rather than me individually, “bathes have been make ready for both of you in your chambers but please hurry for the King wishes to eat shortly.” I note Charles’ eyes directed at me telling me that my father is indeed displeased with me. Good. Charles continues to lead us to our attaching chambers until we arrive by the entrance. He opens the door to Mikhail’s new suite addressing him before me. “I hope everything is to your liking in your new chambers Prince Mikhail. Your chamber’s man shall be along shortly to assist you with any help you may need.” With that he ushers Mikhail into the room and me into my own before angrily dragging me towards the bath.
“Charles, whatever is the matter?” I ask him indignantly.
“Your father is up in arms about your blatant disregard for this country’s well being. It is only Prince Mikhail’s saving grace that you were not hunted down and hauled back here like some sort of common criminal. It does not look good that when your father has prepared a greeting for your own betrothed you are not present to welcome him. Dinner has been delayed a whole hour due to your gallivanting off. This is no way for a Prince let alone a future King to behave.” I try to tune out Charles as I again strip off my garments to enter the water though this time it is the heated water of my bath.
“Charles, I’m sure my father will lecture me on his own time there is no need for you to do it as well.” I say nonchalantly. He huffs off before returning with a rag to roughly scrub me clean. I know he is being more brutal than usual because he is angered with me yet he keeps quiet for the short duration of my bathing. Charles helps me into finer linen garments for dinner before whisking me out of the room and to the formal dining chamber.
Although Charles did not waste time with my bath somehow Mikhail is already sitting at the table. His pale skin seems to shine from his bath and his hair looks even softer now that it’s tamed and lying around his shoulders. His is wearing soft silken garments now and I have to admit that he does look rather stunning. I take my seat at the table next to Mikhail. Before our food reaches our mouths my father decides to speak up about my new engagement. “Mikhail, we here in Rolland are glad that you have agreed to marry my wayward son.” A few of my father’s advisers laugh at this. “I hope that your marriage is a happy one and that your child is a healthy young lad to take the throne. So here’s to the young Princes may their union help us all!” At the King’s words one of the advisers speaks up saying ‘here here’ and we all echo it taking a drink of the ale in front of us.
When Mikhail stands up I know this is going to be a long night of speech making. If I get enough ale in me I may make a speech of my own. “Thank you for having me here. My Father sends his apologies that he was not able to make here and with his apologies he has sent some of our country’s best honey mead for us all to enjoy. So for tonight let us have drinks to celebrate my engagement.” It is a long night of drinks and good food after that so I cannot truly say I remember any more of the speeches that I’m sure happened. I have to say that by the time that our meal is over I am more stumbling back to my bedroom than I am walking.
Although I am not quite drunk enough to get a hangover I am still not happy to be woken up in the middle of the night by a knock on my door. I get more annoyed when I notice that the door that being knocked on is the one that connects my bedchamber to Mikhail’s. Instead of yelling for him to come in, as I am inclined to do, I get up and stumble over to open the door. “Why are you knocking on my door?” I grumble as I answer it, even as my eyes are looking over Mikhail as he wears next to nothing. For a moment he just stares at me but then he lays a hand down on my bare chest.
“You really are breath taking.” He says softly then he leans his head in and kisses me. I push away slightly but before I can get mad at him his body slumps into my arms and he has fallen back asleep. I start to head toward Mikhail’s bed with him awkwardly in my arms but when I get there we both fall on to the bed. I try to get back up and go to my own bed but my legs do not want to work. I end up just falling back asleep as well.