GARION'S RIVAL
Garion and Ce'Nedra have been happily married for many years, but when a young soldier arrives in Riva and tries to seduce his Queen, can Ce'Nedra resist his advances? And how does she keep her potential lover a secret from her husband?
The ship gently rocked and creaked in the harbour as a cloaked figure pushed out the gangplank. The wooden board hit the stones with a little more force than was strictly necessary, and the figure straightened up with a grunt of irritation. Ellik, son of Greldik and captain of the ship in question, was not in good humour. "Get yourself down that gangplank, you lot. I have to be back in Camaar in four days; I don't have time to wait around while you dally like a gaggle of girls." Twelve lightly armed soldiers, garbed in chain mail and Rivan gray, hurried down the gangplank, exchanging nods with the captain on their way. The last man off turned back to the ship. Tipping his head back, he allowed his cowl to fall from his head, exposing olive skin, handsome features, and short dark hair. "Thank you, Captain Ellik," he said in a quiet voice. "Here is the gold you were promised - Tolnedran coin. The journey was quick and the crew efficient." A pretty-boy thought Ellik sourly. Probably doesn't even shave regularly yet. But he still took the gold with a gruff word of thanks. Lieutenant Konemar led his company of men up to the barracks on the island of Riva. His men were housed five to a room. He was shown to his own small room with the instruction to make sure that his men were extra-smart tomorrow - King Belgarion and Queen Ce'Nedra were making a royal inspection of their soldiers first thing in the morning.
"Garion, dear. Don't forget the barracks inspection tomorrow," Ce'Nedra called to her husband from the nursery. She tucked the younger of her two daughters into her bed with a kiss to the forehead. "Goodnight, Rosa." The girl smiled sleepily up at her mother. "Goodnight, Beldaran," to the older girl. "Goodnight, mama," said the red-haired Princess quietly. Ce'Nedra left her children and returned to the bedchamber which she shared with her husband. "I'll come to bed later, Ce'Nedra," Garion said absently. He continued reading the parchment in his right hand while drinking wine from a goblet held in the left. Ce'Nedra wordlessly kissed his cheek and departed.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, although the air was chill. The Rivan King made his stately way down from the Citadel with his Queen on his arm, and an entourage of servants and ladies-in-waiting following closely behind. The soldiers had been ordered into faultlessly straight lines, and the officers stood smartly to attention nearby. As Garion and Ce'Nedra entered, they shouted with one voice, "HAIL BELGARION! HAIL CE'NEDRA!" The royal couple acknowledged the greeting with nods and smiles, and proceeded to walk up and down the lines as was expected, inspecting the troops. "Well," said Garion the best part of half an hour later. "That seems very satisfactory. Thank you Lieutenants, thank you Colonel." He didn't notice the over-friendly lieutenant solicitously chatting with his wife as Colonel Corem updated him on the training of his soldiers, didn't notice the irritation obvious on the as Corem politely interrupted to introduce the young officer to his King. "Your Majesty, Lieutenant Konemar. He arrived here last night with a small detachment of Sendarian men. Lieutenant, His Majesty Belgarion." Konemar made a short, typically Sendarian, bow and turned back to the Queen. ".and of course, we train every day." Corem frowned warningly at Konemar, and as Garion took Ce'Nedra's arm again, followed them back up to the Citadel.
Garion and Ce'Nedra have been happily married for many years, but when a young soldier arrives in Riva and tries to seduce his Queen, can Ce'Nedra resist his advances? And how does she keep her potential lover a secret from her husband?
The ship gently rocked and creaked in the harbour as a cloaked figure pushed out the gangplank. The wooden board hit the stones with a little more force than was strictly necessary, and the figure straightened up with a grunt of irritation. Ellik, son of Greldik and captain of the ship in question, was not in good humour. "Get yourself down that gangplank, you lot. I have to be back in Camaar in four days; I don't have time to wait around while you dally like a gaggle of girls." Twelve lightly armed soldiers, garbed in chain mail and Rivan gray, hurried down the gangplank, exchanging nods with the captain on their way. The last man off turned back to the ship. Tipping his head back, he allowed his cowl to fall from his head, exposing olive skin, handsome features, and short dark hair. "Thank you, Captain Ellik," he said in a quiet voice. "Here is the gold you were promised - Tolnedran coin. The journey was quick and the crew efficient." A pretty-boy thought Ellik sourly. Probably doesn't even shave regularly yet. But he still took the gold with a gruff word of thanks. Lieutenant Konemar led his company of men up to the barracks on the island of Riva. His men were housed five to a room. He was shown to his own small room with the instruction to make sure that his men were extra-smart tomorrow - King Belgarion and Queen Ce'Nedra were making a royal inspection of their soldiers first thing in the morning.
"Garion, dear. Don't forget the barracks inspection tomorrow," Ce'Nedra called to her husband from the nursery. She tucked the younger of her two daughters into her bed with a kiss to the forehead. "Goodnight, Rosa." The girl smiled sleepily up at her mother. "Goodnight, Beldaran," to the older girl. "Goodnight, mama," said the red-haired Princess quietly. Ce'Nedra left her children and returned to the bedchamber which she shared with her husband. "I'll come to bed later, Ce'Nedra," Garion said absently. He continued reading the parchment in his right hand while drinking wine from a goblet held in the left. Ce'Nedra wordlessly kissed his cheek and departed.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, although the air was chill. The Rivan King made his stately way down from the Citadel with his Queen on his arm, and an entourage of servants and ladies-in-waiting following closely behind. The soldiers had been ordered into faultlessly straight lines, and the officers stood smartly to attention nearby. As Garion and Ce'Nedra entered, they shouted with one voice, "HAIL BELGARION! HAIL CE'NEDRA!" The royal couple acknowledged the greeting with nods and smiles, and proceeded to walk up and down the lines as was expected, inspecting the troops. "Well," said Garion the best part of half an hour later. "That seems very satisfactory. Thank you Lieutenants, thank you Colonel." He didn't notice the over-friendly lieutenant solicitously chatting with his wife as Colonel Corem updated him on the training of his soldiers, didn't notice the irritation obvious on the as Corem politely interrupted to introduce the young officer to his King. "Your Majesty, Lieutenant Konemar. He arrived here last night with a small detachment of Sendarian men. Lieutenant, His Majesty Belgarion." Konemar made a short, typically Sendarian, bow and turned back to the Queen. ".and of course, we train every day." Corem frowned warningly at Konemar, and as Garion took Ce'Nedra's arm again, followed them back up to the Citadel.