King Pontus' eyes filled with understanding and horror as I told him of Lesion's plot to take over the three kingdoms. I also told him that his adviser was manipulating him and had probably killed his father. At the end of my explanation, he simply said "thank you, I need to think about this," and left. and left back towards the castle. After a minute, Elane came from the same direction but without any flowers.
"What did you do Tristram?" she said sternly. Surprised at her tone, I searched for an eloquent answer. I failed. "I told him he was a pawn and started a war so Lesion could take over our kingdom" I blurted out. Elane punched my shoulder. "Idiot!" she shouted. "You have no idea how fragile my brother is! Would anyone react well to being told they are incompetent at being king? Pontus wants to be king even less than you but he is doing it because he wants to make our dad proud!"
"Elane, why didn't you tell me any of this before? Had I known he was being manipulated in the first place, our entire plan would have changed."
"You never bothered to ask. You never thought that I, the king's sister who lives in the castle, might have information that would help you stop this war."
"That's a ridiculous reason, everything would have gone smoother if you had just told us. I wouldn't have to marry you if I knew your brother was on our side."
I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth. Elane gave me a cold glare and said, "so you don't want to be married now, is that right? or is it that you feel like you HAVE to marry me?! Am I just part of your civic duty?! Well now that you know my brother is good, you don't have to marry me. You've escaped your horrible fate!"
"No, I mean yes, I mean..." She threw up her arms, giving up, and stormed off back towards the castle. "Elane!" I called after her, "wait please! I love you, of course I want to marry you, but not under these circumstances. I want our wedding to be festive, not marred by a war. Most of all, I don't want to be king. Yes, I want to marry you, but I wish it could be done under better circumstances." She turned around sharply, "Tristram, get over yourself! I don't need a big wedding, I just want to be married to you, but only if you really want to be married to me." She started to cry; twin streams that raced down her face, though they didn't obstruct her speech. "We've been friends for ages, more than friends almost as long! Don't you think it is about time? I don't care about the circumstances, all I want is you and me at a wedding altar. Maybe a couple friends and family."
I paused for a moment, taking time to recompose myself and understand the situation. "I'm sorry Elane, I should have asked you about your brother first thing. I'm sorry I didn't take into consideration his feelings as being king. I'm sorry I didn't ask you about our wedding but assumed I knew you completely." I held her close and murmured into her hair, "I absolutely want to marry you, I've just been afraid that I wouldn't be good enough for you."
"That's all I needed to hear." After a minute, she removed herself from my arms. she was smiling a little and the pain in her eyes faded away. "So," I said, "is there anything else I should know: about your brother, the advisor, or the war?"
"No, I've basically told you all there is." A sheepish grin spread on her face."So how about tomorrow?" I looked at her, puzzled, then understanding came. "Yeah Elane, we can get married tomorrow."
"What did you do Tristram?" she said sternly. Surprised at her tone, I searched for an eloquent answer. I failed. "I told him he was a pawn and started a war so Lesion could take over our kingdom" I blurted out. Elane punched my shoulder. "Idiot!" she shouted. "You have no idea how fragile my brother is! Would anyone react well to being told they are incompetent at being king? Pontus wants to be king even less than you but he is doing it because he wants to make our dad proud!"
"Elane, why didn't you tell me any of this before? Had I known he was being manipulated in the first place, our entire plan would have changed."
"You never bothered to ask. You never thought that I, the king's sister who lives in the castle, might have information that would help you stop this war."
"That's a ridiculous reason, everything would have gone smoother if you had just told us. I wouldn't have to marry you if I knew your brother was on our side."
I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth. Elane gave me a cold glare and said, "so you don't want to be married now, is that right? or is it that you feel like you HAVE to marry me?! Am I just part of your civic duty?! Well now that you know my brother is good, you don't have to marry me. You've escaped your horrible fate!"
"No, I mean yes, I mean..." She threw up her arms, giving up, and stormed off back towards the castle. "Elane!" I called after her, "wait please! I love you, of course I want to marry you, but not under these circumstances. I want our wedding to be festive, not marred by a war. Most of all, I don't want to be king. Yes, I want to marry you, but I wish it could be done under better circumstances." She turned around sharply, "Tristram, get over yourself! I don't need a big wedding, I just want to be married to you, but only if you really want to be married to me." She started to cry; twin streams that raced down her face, though they didn't obstruct her speech. "We've been friends for ages, more than friends almost as long! Don't you think it is about time? I don't care about the circumstances, all I want is you and me at a wedding altar. Maybe a couple friends and family."
I paused for a moment, taking time to recompose myself and understand the situation. "I'm sorry Elane, I should have asked you about your brother first thing. I'm sorry I didn't take into consideration his feelings as being king. I'm sorry I didn't ask you about our wedding but assumed I knew you completely." I held her close and murmured into her hair, "I absolutely want to marry you, I've just been afraid that I wouldn't be good enough for you."
"That's all I needed to hear." After a minute, she removed herself from my arms. she was smiling a little and the pain in her eyes faded away. "So," I said, "is there anything else I should know: about your brother, the advisor, or the war?"
"No, I've basically told you all there is." A sheepish grin spread on her face."So how about tomorrow?" I looked at her, puzzled, then understanding came. "Yeah Elane, we can get married tomorrow."
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