Sweet Waters Throne

56 Chapter 5The whole kingdom of Maldonia was so occupied with the news of the king’s wedding, the royal wedding. Artemis proposed officially to Aurora and he invited all the nobles from the great houses and the lords who gave him his vote, of course with an exception of House Iron Falcon and House Old City who had declared an open rebellion to the crown.

House Iron Falcon publicly showed Artemis they support House Horriss and not the crown, hence that’s why they involved themselves in the upcoming war to be fought soon in order to keep a Mithandir on the silver throne.

The matters of the war didn’t seem to bother Artemis that much, nor did it get the attention of his citizens who seemed so focused on the wedding. Artemis was the first King in the history of kings who was set to wed a common woman with neither titles nor power.

Some of the people outside the capital of Blackmount spoke highly of Aurora, and their experience with her. They talked of her lemon cakes, her way of thinking and how good she was to people.

They said “She will make a fine Queen, I know of it” and some even declared “Perhaps she is the best queen Maldonia has ever seen” before she was even crowned. So, to his people Artemis was a man who stood for the woman he loved and he was ready to share his feelings with the world no matter the consequences.

To his lords and trusted advisors, and this also goes to “the four” well, let’s say they were worried about that. Lord Akirbus, Master of the coins perfectly budgeted everything needed for the wedding to be successful and grand. He was the busiest of them all, as always the matter of money is never easy for anyone to control.

Lord Balrus and Lord Angun were busy sending out invites to the nobles and royal guests from far lands beyond the sea. Kings and Queens were expected to make their arrivals in a week, just like when they were invited out to Artemis’s coronation and now they were invited to his wedding. However, some were disappointed when they heard the status of the new queen of Maldonia.

Apparently, Princess Aeryn also joined the ones who were disappointed in Artemis and she didn’t want to play any part in her brother’s upcoming wedding nor did she want to face him. Lord Balrus noticed it, and he decided to speak to Aeryn when she was all alone roaming around the gardens of the palace.

“May I approach my princess?” he asked.

.....

“Lord Balrus?” Princess Aeryn was shocked “What are you – how may I help you?” she stuttered and that’s because she wasn’t expecting him.

“I needed a break from all this chaos. Sending invites after every single day, so exhausting...”

Princess Aeryn chuckled softly but it was so fake she couldn’t even hide it. Lord Balrus moved closer to her “Incest wedding? Really?”

“He told you?”

“No, I overhead you a week ago as I should remind you my princess... I know everything”

Princess Aeryn didn’t seem to care anymore nor was she afraid of Lord Balrus like she used to. She ignored him and kept walking.

“Princess must I remind you of what I possess?” Lord Balrus made a threat.

“No need my lord, I simply don’t care anymore” she replied and kept walking forward.

Indeed, Princess Aeryn didn’t care anymore whether her brother will be mad at her, or if he finds out that she wrote a letter to their uncle Prince Arcadia of Marinus who was exiled by their father. The heartbreak she was experiencing after being denied by her brother shuttered her.

Luckily Lord Balrus experienced it first hand at how broken Aeryn was, and a broken woman is always a dangerous woman because no one knows how far she will go to fix herself or to get back at who broke her.

Hence, Lord Balrus made haste to find Aurora. He walked in a hurry with his hands backwards as usual and trying to keep up with his long and heavy brown robe. There was only one place he would find Aurora and that is in her small castle just a few yards from the main palace and close to the Hand’s castle.

Artemis gave Aurora the castle as per tradition as soon as he engaged her. A queen to be is ought to have her own castle before she marries the king, with her own servants and guards – or as they were famously called “Queen’s guards”.

Lord Balrus entered the front gates of the castle without being questioned nor searched, and he made his way straight to the hall and there he found Aurora with a book. She seemed so deep reading it silently, a rather weird book with drawings and spells.

“My lady...” Lord Balrus bowed softly.

Aurora closed the book and walked to Lord Balrus “My lord, the bowing is unnecessary we are friends after all” she said with a smile.

“You are the future queen of Maldonia, the highest seat after the king’s”

Aurora sighed and rolled her eyes, she pulled Balrus’s hand and they walked together to the dining hall.

“What is it my lord? I can sense the unrest energy inside you”

“The book that you were just reading, is it the book of Ashantis?”

“You flatter me my lord” Aurora was stunned “Is there anything in this world that you don’t know?” she continued and laughed.

“I have seen it before”

“May I ask where have you seen it?”

“We can have that talk later on but for now, to more important matters. It’s the princess”

“What about her?”

“Did you know about her -”

Lord Balrus paused and he was struggling to continue, Aurora waited for him for about thirty seconds and then she intervened “About her asking for Artemis’s hand?”

“Yes, and of course His Grace turned her down but I fear for her soul. She is hurt, and ignored”

“Her soul is dark, filled with hate and her heart is so cold like the winters in Prophis” Aurora added then she walked a little bit forward “She hates me”

“That’s not new and that’s not what worries me, it’s what she will do next”

“What do you think she’ll do?”

Lord Balrus took a deep breath “She wrote a letter to Prince Acradia, their exiled uncle who wanted the throne after his brother’s death. I told her I hadn’t opened it, but I did and – she asked him to storm into the capital and take the crown from our king, A sort of ambush and that’s all because he declared his love for you”

Aurora’s eyes widened with amazement but she didn’t say anything. The talk between Lord Balrus and Aurora ended with Balrus giving Aurora the letter which Princess Aeryn wrote to her uncle. And from there Aurora had a choice of whether to show it to Artemis or keep it and spare him from harm.

“It’s all in your power now my future queen, I hope you make the best decision for the good of the crown” added Lord Balrus and then he walked away.

The burden that was placed upon Aurora was heavy. She read the letter, from start to finish and then she stacked it at the back of her book. Aurora knew there will reach a time she may need to show Artemis what her sister really is, but that wasn’t the time.

Back in Prophis, wedding celebrations were due between Lady Aryan and Prince Amabel. Unlike how weddings are usually done in Prophis, this one was intended to be more discreet and quiet with only invited nobles and lords of great houses. Hence House Bellward, Raven and of course Claydall were present to witness the union.

First it was two days of feasting, and the whole palace was occupied with the smell of delicious lambs and sweet cakes, together with honeyed wine and breads. Then, followed by one day of tournament and this one was done in the huge arena where citizens of Prophis were invited.

It was a big day for Lord Gandalf and he dressed for the occasion, as he told his sister “This is the day we get to see the people we shall rule together” with a smile.

“I don’t like this plan of yours brother” Lady Aryan expressed her concerns.

“You have nothing to worry about sister, I can assure you that. Wed this little boy and let’s go to battle. After that... we can fuck whoever we want. I will have a whole pleasure house full of whores for you”

Lady Aryan rolled her eyes and excused herself from her brother’s presence. They were all alone inside Lord Gandalf’s chambers getting ready to join others for the tournament, it was a beautiful day and the sun was shining even though it was still cold as hell.

As usual Aryan was in her black trouser with a black armor shirt and a huge fur brown coat on top with black boats. She tightened her hairs with a knot which Olivia gifted her.