Chereads / The Wolf and Fair One / Chapter 5 - Chapter 4

Chapter 5 - Chapter 4

"My lady it is time to wake, the king and queen request your presence." A voice said from the other side of the chamber door. Princess Tegwen began to stir and let out a small groan, the sun shined in her eyes causing her to put her head underneath her pillow. "My lady, please you must get up. It is not ladylike to sleep in bed all day." Mary said as she pulled the blankets off the princess. Goosebumps formed on her bare legs when the cold air hit them, she sat up and glared at her lady in waiting. She knew Mary meant well but still she would have liked to stay asleep for just a little bit longer. "Come I will help you get ready we must make haste your highness." Mary stated again. Tegwen reluctantly stood up as she looked out her window as Mary and a couple other servants began to fill the tub for her bath. 'Today the Vikings will be here. I still can not help but wonder what they will be like.' Tegwen thought to herself. "My lady your bath is ready." Mary curtsied and turned towards the bath. Mary and the servants began to undress the princess as well as unbraid her long red hair. Tegwen entered the warm water and allowed her muscles to relax as she began to lose herself once more in her own thoughts.

Once Tegwen was dressed and her hair was put up in multiple braids as was Welsh custom to do so, she made her way to the throne room to see her mother and father. She wondered on her way there if the Vikings have arrived and what they looked or how they acted in person. As she reached the big oak doors, she could hear her parents arguing about what she was not sure, nor would she ask. "You are being unreasonable!" "Unreasonable! Really?! Woman you should hear yourself." "I am being reasonable I do not want my children to be subjected to those neanderthal of men." "Really Alaw, do you truly hear what you are saying? Those children as you say are half mine and Brioc will be king so he would have to come in contact with them at some point." "And Tegwen.." Queen Alaw stopped when she realized they were not alone. "Tegwen, my child come here." She stated as she quickly wiped away a stray tear. Tegwen walked closer to her mother and simply started at her parents in confusion. "Our precious daughter, tomorrow we are to expect the north men here at the castle. You are to stay out of sight, do you understand?" King Trahaearn stated as he grabbed his daughters' hand gently. "Yes, father I understand." Tegwen replied with a small smile.

There was a small part of the young princess that wanted to meet the north men, she heard the story of Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons all those years ago. However, the art and stories do not depict the Vikings as they truly are. She wanted to find out for herself, but as a princess and a lady she knew better then to go against her father's wishes. The other part of Tegwen was a bit jealous of her brother, even though he was older and the heir to the throne she still wanted to be there with her father and brother to greet these men. Her father kissed her forehead and smiled as he then walked away from mother and daughter. "Tegwen, I cannot say this enough, but I want you to stay in your chambers while they are here. I do not want them to take your virtue away or ruin you in anyway shape or form. You hear me?" "Yes, mother I promise." Tegwen replied as her mother smiled and kissed the side of her daughter's head before leaving in the same direction as the king.