It was now evening. The darkness had trapped the bodies of the five travellers for a couple of hours now. Around them it was starting to get cold and some of them had long since begun to shake. They went down a long dirt road to the side of which the forest covered every possible light and the brightness of the full moon.
Francis was the third to last in line, behind him were only the twins William and Dickon of house Dustin. He had to admit that he was now lacking in patience, because during the eight hours of travel he had to undergo the silly considerations and every little thought the two were exchanging.
He was grateful, however, that he had received that place in the march: first because Gilbert stood directly in front of him and that was enough. Second reason he knew that after years of absence from the castle he could meet his mother and his younger brother again and this made him particularly delighted.
-How do you think the princess looks like?- one of the Dustin twins asked from behind him. -I have never seen her, must say, but from what I have heard around, it is said that she has golden hair and huge blue eyes ... - the other replied before bursting unanimously in one dreamy giggle.
Francis stood for him, he knew that the Dustin twins brought nothing but trouble and loved to put others in very embarrassing situations, and so he ignored them, hoping that they would not speak to him. The young man thought that for their young age they were incredibly smart, but they were smart in the wrong way, using their cunning to get others into trouble. This was their first year of service in the British Army, and it was almost a miracle that these two inexperienced noble-teenagers had managed to survive the Welsh War.
Francis was not much older than them, there were only two years of difference, but despite the minimum age gap he felt much wiser and responsible of the two. He did not like the company of William and Dickon Dustin as a rational person. -Lieutenant?- the voice of one of the two, as feared began to speak addressing Francis -what do you think of the princess? We know that you spent your childhood at the castle-.
The young man in front continued to ignore the two behind him, in the hope that as time went by everyone would forget what was happening, but that was not actually the case. -My brother asked you something, why don't you answer, lieutenant? -. With that statement Francis already knew exactly that the two brothers were ready for war. It was the three of them in the back, and he had to be very careful how he would respond. If he replied that she was beautiful, Gilbert could hear and his hopes of impressing him would be immediately smashed. On the other hand, if he had said she was ugly, he would not only have lied, but would have gotten into even more trouble by challenging the Crown Princess, who at that time was in charge of the whole Britain.
-You shouldn't be interested in her appearance Dustin, unless you want to fuck her... - this was Francis' final response, from whose words came out almost forcibly. The freckled cheeks of the young man were covered with a red complexion, he had in fact managed to beat his shyness and innocence by giving that cheeky answer. A small arrogant laugh escaped Gilbert's thin lips. -I had never heard you speak like that, Francis...- commented the man turning in profile to the others behind him.
-You both should learn to keep your mouths shut, once and for all ...- the general retorted again this time, addressing the Dustin twins, who in that situation, not only felt outraged by the answer that had been given, but were now humiliated.
They finally arrived in front of the gate that led to the castle. It was a decidedly gigantic gate and its formation consisted of a greyish wrought iron arch. And once the guards let them in it wasn't hard for them to find their way. They passed slowly through the garden. The road they traveled was a fairly spacious one covered with white cobblestones. All around them, as they could see, surrounded by the very high walls was an immense green garden. On either side of the road they traveled, a row of gigantic pine trees stood out, both to the right and to the left. It was dark around them, but it wasn't much of a problem for Francis, as he, having grown up there, had already seen all that luxury and majesty several times in his childhood.
The deafening sound of the horses galloping was made even louder and more annoying by the passage on the white pebbles, and Francis was barely holding all the acidity in his stomach. When they arrived in front of the gigantic door of the castle there was not a crowd of people to celebrate their victory or even their arrival, but on the contrary, only one man who welcomed their arrive showing everyone what room was assigned for the next few days.
Not many rooms were needed for their stay, but they were enough rooms to occupy one of the smaller wings of the castle. Gilbert's room was quite larger than those of his companions who had been flanked by two rooms, equally luxurious, but much smaller than the general's. The most unfortunate were in fact the Dustin twins, to whom the entrusted room was to share. Not that the two were too upset by that decision, they were born together, and still at that moment, at the age of eighteen, they loved each other's company. They were informed that the arrangement of their rooms in the eastern area would not have been permanent, but would have been changed with the arrival of their respective families.
As Gilbert entered the room the first time he was surprised by a wave of delicate perfumes, which drowned his nose in a mixture of aromas. There was the delicate water-lily perfume together with a scent of aromatic flowers and white musk. He felt special, for the first time in his life, he strangely felt a sense of peace and calmness, he felt a strange feeling of pleasure rise in him, it seemed almost as if he could already call that place "home".
-New clothings, my lord, has been prepared for you, and a hot tub is ready for your bath... - the servant gestured almost as if to leave the room -welcome home, my lord...-. As soon as the door was closed, many thoughts began to invade the thoughtful mind of the man. He slowly began to undress and take his sweaty clothes off, starting with his pants. He thought about his future marriage, he thought that all this would lead to an end of his military career, that everything and everyone he knew would have disappear.
His clothes had completely fallen off the man's body. He slowly slipped his body into the bathtub, took the soap and began to wash himself. He knew well what a marriage would entail, he would involve rare sexual contacts with his wife, only to bare children, for whom Gilbert had never felt much empathy. Let's say that he was almost impressed by the fact that he could have generated his own children, he had never thought about this. He would never have expected in his life that one day he could see his heir, to see him grow up and become first prince and then king perhaps.
Gilbert got out of the tub and started to go to the chest of drawers, when in his room a crowd of attendants went there to help him. They almost did not care about his nakedness, they put on his body the dark blue jacket and the black trousers. They perfumed his body with different very aromatic and fragrant oils, put the black leather shoes on his feet and tied his long dark red hair in a low ponytail that flowed smoothly over his back. He was led into the corridor, where he was able to meet his comrades again and observe that the same service had been done to them too.
Francis seemed completely another person, his puffy chestnut-brown hair was also closed in a low ponytail, and his neat clothes gave him an even more noble air than he had ever emanated.
The Dustin twins were pretty fun, their red hair had been combed too, and their clothes had been selected in two completely different colours. While William Dustin had been dressed in a jacket whose colour led to a dark blue, Dickon Dustin was dressed in a colour that seemed more brown-saffron, so that at court the two could easily be recognised.
They walked down the corridor, they set off, and each step Gilbert took, he began to feel more and more sick and uncomfortable. He was sweating, he had headache. The door opened, and as well as a magnificent sparkle of the precious crystal chandelier, it was not difficult to understand that that family was the royal one. Everything was so strange, but at the same time reassuring. A mixture of different smells and colours, that golden colour, the precious delicacy of everything on the table. And as the time came, the eyes of the two betrothed met each other.
Gilbert remained with his thin lips half-opened, she was definitely beautiful. He found it hard to believe that that sweet and perfect girl, who was waiting for him, sitting at the side of the enormous table, would have been his future bride. She was really small and her big light-blue eyes were lost in those of the man.
Gilbert almost felt guilty, of the young age and the beautifulness of the girl, and felt immediately it would have been an hard job to officially make her a woman. The man felt strangely stupid and guilty, it had never been so complicated for him to sleep with a woman, but she, that sweet angelic creature, was too innocent to suffer such a fate.
Isabelle also noticed the man, noticed his gaze, his body, and within the situation of general discomfort that began to be perceived. That man was older than her, nine years maybe. She did not like the idea that she, so young and beautiful, in her thirteen years of age, had to grant herself for life to a man somewhat older than her, despite knowing that this was the fate of so many of other noble girls of her age.
She had never thought of this before, but she knew that one way or another this would not have happened, and all she had to do was just wait for the right moment, be able to conceive a child in order to finally gain the status of ruler and be able to get rid of him. Until then, she had to accept the fate of hers, and naturally seem to be pleased by her cruel fate.
Some attendants took their places behind the chairs, first pulling them towards them and letting the noble men, the extraordinary guests of the castle sit and enjoy the food that the banquet had to serve. Gilbert was seated directly next to the young, beautiful girl, his splendid and angelic future bride, and he had to say that once he sat down he felt a mixture of unusual emotions run through his body.
The princess smelled extraordinarily, she smelled of fresh flowers, she smelled of golden and delicious caramel, of chocolate or anything sweet he could imagine. He knew that from that point on he could never go back, he knew that everything that awaited him could not be avoided and diverted.
But the fact that at that moment made the man even more embarrassed was that that girl, his own future wife was so delicate, she almost looked like a doll. It would have been strange a future with her, it would have been strange to imagine that he, in his twenty-three years of age could marry a young fourteen year old girl and then be able to become a prince consort.
This marriage was also a great opportunity for Gilbert's family. The latter actually descended from a noble family of viscounts, who for generations had occupied and governed the territory of the Isle of Man, in the middle between Great Britain and Ireland. 572 square kilometres of land and an immense canal area were all under the control of his family. With this marriage, Britain would have had a considerable territorial and maritime support towards Ireland. Now they were there, both of them, and it was a strange feeling. Gilbert immensely desired to be with her.
On the other hand, these feelings were not entirely of great pleasure to Isabelle, she knew she had to do it, she had to get married, and on one side she wanted it too, but for no rational sentimental reason. As far as the will that her father had left her said, it would not have been enough just a marriage to officially take power, no, she would had been forced to conceive a child. She would do it, for her family, for the territories and for the power, because what she wanted at that moment was her dream of ruling England once and for all.
-I am glad that each of you has come here, without any complications- a voice began to speak at the head of the huge table. The queen had begun to speak, maintaining a politely sublime appearance and demeanour. Her long brown hair had been styled over her head to make them look much more puffy and elegant. Her hair was then wrapped in a thin gold net in order to keep it not only more elegantly gathered, but to give the woman an increasingly elegant and noble look. Lady Katherine gently took the chalice into which some wine had been poured and raised it upwards.
-I would like to propose a toast to the courage and splendid efficiency of our army ...- the faces of the participants immediately lit up with joy, and no one could really understand why. Perhaps they were fascinated by the magnificent figure of the queen, perhaps by the angelic features of the young princess, no one knew what to be happy for, and what Gilbert believed each had their own motivation. First of all, it was magnificent that they had survived the battle in Wales, and as they were told, a time of peace and recreation would be part of their future days, even if Captain Hoover was not convinced.
Francis was sitting next to the Captain, his uncle, and staring with fascinated eyes at Gilbert. He knew that he should not have, because the man in whom he was in love with would soon marry the young princess, and hoping that he would renounce it was rather impossible.
-I would propose a second toast, if you allow, my queen- the Captain said. Gilbert and Francis's gazes met followed by an embraced smile, both blushed. -I would like to propose a toast to our princess Isabelle, the most beautiful young woman in the whole world, and of course also to Viscount Gilbert Stanley, her future husband, may their reign last forever-. Everyone's chalices rose again in the air of celebration, all the members at the royal dinner began to converse. Prince Henry, also there, sitting to the queen's left looked at the scene with attentive and almost critical look.
He had noticed that his sister was watching him and smiled at him sometimes, and many questions mixed in his head. Isabelle had never been so friendly to him, why was she acting so forced and almost disturbing at that moment? Did she had something in mind for him?
Near Henry there was Juniper, his cousin and young Baron of the North, who only sat there, with his hands dipped in his blond curls. He was thinking, he thought of the North, of his home, he thought of how, one day, he could regain possession of it, be able to return there, breathe the fresh northern air again, visit the snowy forests on horseback and travel through the entire Scottish coast, until then returning to the fortress. He would have to find a way to overthrow his uncle, to chase him away, to banish him, if not kill him, for what he had done to his parents. He would succeed one day, he was sure of it. Not only was this his problem that night.
Jealousy was driving him almost mad, seeing his beloved cousin with another man, this literally made him very nervous and at times aggressive towards the general himself. - I can also say nephew dear ... - the queen began to speak seeing the restless attitude of the young baron - does something worries you? -. Juniper was perplexed by that unexpected question that for a while he didn't know what to say. He remained silent, an embarrassed silence, interrupted by the conversations of the others at the table.
-No worries, nothing bothers me- said the young man continuing to secretly keep his eyes fixed on his cousin -I just think I'm not feeling quite well this evening-.
-Do you need a doctor? -The woman asked, this time looking much more worried than before. Juniper slowly shook his head, it was not a doctor what he needed at that moment, also because no doctor, not even the best, would have been able to put his broken heart back together after all those years. Lady Katherine was Juniper's aunt, and as his protector following the death of her husband, she had been given the task of guarding over him.
The late king loved his nephew and cared for him. He had never been able to understand why he, Juniper Whiteblossom, young baron of Scotland, was so important in the life at the castle. He thought that in reality it was not really he who caused such strong trust and sympathy in the members of the royal family, but it was rather for two different reasons. First, Juniper was aware that his uncle always had somehow, loved his sister, Juniper's mother, and he, who looked a lot like her, could have brought to the eyes of his late uncle a memory of her.
The second was that the young man's birth had been completely decided to establish a pact with Scotland, and as a result, Juniper had enormous value for the crown in terms of contracts with the North. Sure, before Augustus Whiteblossom conquered his barony.
Henry, who had been observing his cousin's strangely nervous behaviour for some time, took care to have more wine poured into the glass and to do the same with that of his young cousin, in order to alleviate his thoughts and in part the pain the headache caused him.
-Are you afraid? - the prince whispered in the ear of his cousin. Juniper opened his big blue eyes and tried to keep his feelings inside his heart.
-Afraid of what? - the young man whispered back, continuing to stare at Isabelle with a particularly sad and melancholy air.
-Please, cousin Juniper, stop staring at my sister like that, or some misunderstandings could arise ... - as disturbed as the young baron was by this unexpected request, he could only agree with Prince Henry. Now Viscount Gilbert of the Isle of Man had also come there and Juniper could not, for nothing in the world, allow any person to notice his deep feelings for Isabelle.
He had to try to do everything possible to survive and reach his eighteens, to finally be able to regain his land, and besides, there was not much time left, he only had to wait another year. Until that moment he would have done everything to appear more friendly and kind in the eyes of the royal family.
-Anyway ... -Isabelle began to speak calmly, addressing her words to the man sitting next to her -I heard that the war in Wales was won mainly thanks to your magnificent fighting skills ..-.
-It was partially thanks to us, but as you well know, my princess, to win a war it takes above all a good ruler- Gilbert replied slowly placing the light silk napkin on his lap. Isabelle gracefully swallowed a mouthful of the stew served on her plate and smiled, so sweetly that she almost seemed pleased with that speech.
-What you say makes me very delighted, do you know how to ride? I have a horse, an English thoroughbred, her name is Josefine, like my second name after all... -. Gilbert was quite amazed that an animal could be given the name of a human being. - The servants clean my horse twice a day and they give her only the best fodder, always twice a day so that she doesn't get stout ... -. Gilbert was silent, sometimes eating, sometimes listening intently to what the princess was saying.
- You know my lord, Josefine is a gift, that my father gave me for my tenth birthday, the very year in which ... well, he passed away ... - Isabelle stopped every movement of her body and was silent for a few seconds. The more she was silently still, the more tense air seemed to appear in the room.
- I love to ride like I love horses, my princess ... - the general tried to comment, cheering up the princess -my horse is like a dear friend to me, he accompanies me to war, he never leaves me ... -.
-Fascinating- the princess started talking again -What kind of horse do you own? -.
-A black mustang ... -Gilbert replied compostly wiping his tight lips -I never gave a name to my horse though ... -.
-Do you think that giving a name to an animal is childish? - Isabelle asked, softly smiling. Gilbert tried to look at her face, but he could only observe her graceful profile, her small upturned nose, her wavy hair as blond as gold, her big light-blue eyes.
-No- the general admitted -I just think that not giving a name to a horse makes it feel freer, that's all ... -Isabelle smiled again and continued her meal, this time looking much more relieved and relaxed and even almost smug. - I understand...I like your quite witty considerations - this time the princess turned her sweet and delicate face completely towards the man -tomorrow in the morning I would like to invite you and your companions to a hunt on horseback, in the forests surrounding the castle... -.
Gilbert froze for a moment, almost as if struck by the invitation. A cold shiver began to rise up his back and partially immobilise his muscles, freezing him from the inside. Although Gilbert was descended from a noble family, he had never had the opportunity to participate in a hunting trip, for two main reasons. The first was that the Isle of Man, in the middle between Ireland and England, was mostly composed of high jagged coasts and verdant plains and did not have much forests where to go hunting.
As a second point, neither his father nor any of his three older half-brothers had ever bothered to go on a hunting trip with him, and was therefore very inexperienced on this subject. Anyway, he couldn't refuse to accept a proposal from the princess, and so to please her he nodded, and the only uncertain words he was able to utter were -It would be a real pleasure, my princess-.