The decision to remove my charges for murder were unanimous as well as the decision to to place me, once again, as captain of the guard and a member of the war council. I was able to move back into my old home near the palace, permitted to walk freely, allowed to shop, play, and converse with my old friends. But two things needed to be done first: I needed to marry Elane and reveal King Pontus to be acting against the good of the Brackin People. Galea had been working the latter since we entered the city and had started to dig up some evidence. I was to focus on Elane, a task I was more than willing to partake.
In celebration of my freedom, I took Elane to our favorite spot: in a meadow next to the creek just outside the city walls. it was here that we first met. I was around 15, having recently joined the city guard. After my watch, I would go sit in the meadow and wash my armor in the creek. Elane's room in the castle overlooked this meadow and she would often walk around it collecting flowers. On that day, she was wearing her favorite white dress and had her blonde hair braided. The sun was out so her jasper eyes shimmered. She had decided to pick only yellow lilies too; she would only pick one type of flower each day, that way they would all be picked equally she said. I was lying on the sandbank when she appeared standing over me with the most curious grin. Every boy my age new of Elane and all hoped to marry her so I did what every teenager would do: I ran. I returned to the creek the next day and found Elane waiting. I set down a ways off from her and she didn't move any closer. The next day she brought her own laundry to do as I washed my armor. After about a week, I would move farther up the creek when I washed my armor, closer to her. A month later I finally said hi. She pretended to run away just to make fun of me. She smelled like lavender that day
Our first date had been in this meadow and she always meet me here when she had a bad day. It was like our private spot, though she always had a royal guard or two with her. Even now as I carried a picnic to our spot, we each had three soldiers. We sat down at our laundry spot and I unpacked lunch: pumpkin stew and fresh celery. It had been so long since we had been there... Everything felt right in the world now that I was back. It was like the war didn't exist, only Elane and this meadow. Only the guards and my brand (now seared with an x to signify my reinstatement) served as proof to the contrary. Elane looked as happy as I was and we ate in joyous silence.
Halfway through eating, we heard footsteps coming up over the hill. King Pontus appeared at the ridge, smiled when he saw us, and started to walk down. He was eight years older than Elane, very built with short blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He had a face that conveyed kindness and strength. "Tristram," he called, " Sorry for interrupting but I have been longing to see you!"
"Hello my king," I said as I bowed.
"None of that Tristram, you are like family. Call me Pontus like my sister." He glanced at Elane and smiled."Sorry Elane, but can I borrow Tristram for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Elane said, "I'll go pick some flowers. I'm thinking of picking some sweetpea today.
After Elane crossed the ridge, Pontus turned to me expectantly. After a few moments he asked, "Don't you have any questions to ask me?" he pointed a thumb in the direction Elane had walked off. Being Elane's brother, he knew of our relationship. Also, with Elane's dad dead, Pontus was now her caretaker and the one I should ask if I wanted to marry her. The suddenness of the question threw me off guard and my tongue refused to work properly. I stuttered and Pontus started to laugh. A happy laugh, not one of ridicule. He smiled at me saying, "Tristram, you have permission to marry Elane, you've always had it from me. How I wish you had married sooner! Then I wouldn't be the king in this aweful war." His mood fell.
"Thank you Pontus," I managed. I didn't mention the king comment. I had not known Pontus well before my banishment but I had never heard anything bad about him. This meeting here seemed to confirm a fear I had had since I heard he was king. Pontus was a pawn, he had no idea he was being manipulated by the Viridi. I wasn't sure if this made our job easier or harder but I decided to risk everything.
"Pontus, I have something to tell you. Have you ever meet Lesion?"
In celebration of my freedom, I took Elane to our favorite spot: in a meadow next to the creek just outside the city walls. it was here that we first met. I was around 15, having recently joined the city guard. After my watch, I would go sit in the meadow and wash my armor in the creek. Elane's room in the castle overlooked this meadow and she would often walk around it collecting flowers. On that day, she was wearing her favorite white dress and had her blonde hair braided. The sun was out so her jasper eyes shimmered. She had decided to pick only yellow lilies too; she would only pick one type of flower each day, that way they would all be picked equally she said. I was lying on the sandbank when she appeared standing over me with the most curious grin. Every boy my age new of Elane and all hoped to marry her so I did what every teenager would do: I ran. I returned to the creek the next day and found Elane waiting. I set down a ways off from her and she didn't move any closer. The next day she brought her own laundry to do as I washed my armor. After about a week, I would move farther up the creek when I washed my armor, closer to her. A month later I finally said hi. She pretended to run away just to make fun of me. She smelled like lavender that day
Our first date had been in this meadow and she always meet me here when she had a bad day. It was like our private spot, though she always had a royal guard or two with her. Even now as I carried a picnic to our spot, we each had three soldiers. We sat down at our laundry spot and I unpacked lunch: pumpkin stew and fresh celery. It had been so long since we had been there... Everything felt right in the world now that I was back. It was like the war didn't exist, only Elane and this meadow. Only the guards and my brand (now seared with an x to signify my reinstatement) served as proof to the contrary. Elane looked as happy as I was and we ate in joyous silence.
Halfway through eating, we heard footsteps coming up over the hill. King Pontus appeared at the ridge, smiled when he saw us, and started to walk down. He was eight years older than Elane, very built with short blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He had a face that conveyed kindness and strength. "Tristram," he called, " Sorry for interrupting but I have been longing to see you!"
"Hello my king," I said as I bowed.
"None of that Tristram, you are like family. Call me Pontus like my sister." He glanced at Elane and smiled."Sorry Elane, but can I borrow Tristram for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Elane said, "I'll go pick some flowers. I'm thinking of picking some sweetpea today.
After Elane crossed the ridge, Pontus turned to me expectantly. After a few moments he asked, "Don't you have any questions to ask me?" he pointed a thumb in the direction Elane had walked off. Being Elane's brother, he knew of our relationship. Also, with Elane's dad dead, Pontus was now her caretaker and the one I should ask if I wanted to marry her. The suddenness of the question threw me off guard and my tongue refused to work properly. I stuttered and Pontus started to laugh. A happy laugh, not one of ridicule. He smiled at me saying, "Tristram, you have permission to marry Elane, you've always had it from me. How I wish you had married sooner! Then I wouldn't be the king in this aweful war." His mood fell.
"Thank you Pontus," I managed. I didn't mention the king comment. I had not known Pontus well before my banishment but I had never heard anything bad about him. This meeting here seemed to confirm a fear I had had since I heard he was king. Pontus was a pawn, he had no idea he was being manipulated by the Viridi. I wasn't sure if this made our job easier or harder but I decided to risk everything.
"Pontus, I have something to tell you. Have you ever meet Lesion?"
Wow, very nicely written Shane! I love all the details :)
ReplyDeleteBut Tristram!!!! I have a feeling he's going to find himself in trouble AGAIN now...... :(