I woke the next morning to the sound of the curtains being opened and light shining into the room, I turned over attempting to go back to sleep but alas, my lady-in-waiting, Alicia, was there.
"Your Highness, the Queen has requested that you get dressed and meet her for a ride." She said.
"Alright, I suppose I'll get up." I said somewhat annoyed at the thought of getting up. Yesterday had been a very long day and I needed my rest, but of course if the Queen requested I go with her, I would.
"Come, come, we must get you into a bath and dressed quickly. Up you go." She spoke with authority, I liked that about her. Alicia wouldn't let me sleep in or get away with much more than I should, she would stand up to me.
I got up, putting a dressing robe over my sleeping gown, and walked to the bath. Alicia helped me through my bath and getting dressed, she styled my hair in an elegant bun near the nape of my neck. My riding outfit was dark blue with silver embroidery along the hem and sleeves. I made my way to the stables with the help of a guard who showed me the way. Once there I found the Queen mounting her horse, next to her was another horse and a member of the Royal Guard.
"Ah, I see your lady-in-waiting got you up and ready quickly. Good morning, Princess."
"Good morning, Your Majesty." I said as the stable hand helped me mount my horse, side-saddle or course.
The Queen and I rode side by side, while our guard rode a few yards behind us. We were silent while we rode for some time.
"How do you like it here so far?" Asked the Queen.
"It's very beautiful here, I love the way the room is decorated." I said hesitantly.
"Yes, I thought you would. Aiden tried to help with it, but after a while he got tired of looking at fabric and designs." She said laughingly. I relaxed a bit while we rode, it wasn't as formal as I thought it would, the Queen was actually very kind and pleasant.
"Your Majesty, may I ask you a question?"
"Yes, of course, what is it?"
"Well, Aiden said yesterday just after the ball that he understood why you and your husband chose me to marry him. I'd like to know why you chose me. I have an older sister who would have suited him just as well, perhaps more." I said, slightly rushed.
To my surprise, the Queen laughed. Not a mean or condescending laugh, but a kind laugh.
"My dear, we did not choose you for him. He chose you himself."
"But he said you chose me." I was confused, I'm sure she detected it in my voice.
"No we didn't. Do you remember a ball you had at your castle about a year ago? My son and I attended that ball, he watched you the entire night. He saw how kind you were to everyone, how lovely you were, and how content you were to meet new people. My husband and I had been asking him to take a wife, he told me after the ball that night that he wished to marry you. Despite the fact that you had an older sister, and the fact that you two had only met once and that was at the ball." She glanced over at me and smiled.
"So I have met Aiden before? Is that why he is so kind to me?" I was incredulous.
"He is kind, my dear, because you are his wife and he wants you to love him as much as he loves you." She said gently.
"Why did he not just court me, and ask my father's permission, instead of asking for an arranged marriage?"
"My son is strong, but he was afraid of seeming to forward with you, I secretly think he was also afraid of another suitor being the one you chose."
"I would have chosen him if he had acted this way." I mumbled.
The Queen reached over to pat my hand, "I know you would have, dear, your husband is just very stubborn about what and how he wants things."
"So, should I pretend I don't know?"
"He will tell you in him own way, until then, his mother did not spill the beans." She said jokingly. I had a feeling I was going to like it here, I was getting along with my mother-in-law, and my husband was more mysterious than I thought. Being told this bit of information made me understand him just a tiny bit more, I hoped I could get to know him more and more each day.
"Come, come, Princess Ari, we should get back." Said the Queen as she turned her horse around. I did the same and pulled my horse up to match her pace.
We were silent on our way back, I was enjoying the landscape around me and so we rode in companionable silence back to the castle. When we returned to the stables the same stable boy who had helped me mount my horse helped us off and put the horses back in their stables. The Queen and I walked back to the castle together, arm in arm. The Queen seemed to like me.
She left me at the door my room, seeming to know I couldn't find my way there on my own; she smiled and told me to change into something more suitable for lunch with her and the king.
Alicia was waiting there for me when I entered my room; she seemed to already know I would need something for lunch because she had a very pretty ivory gown laid out for me.
She undid my hair and pinned some of it at the back of my head with a pearl hair pin, pulling it away from my face. She helped me with my gown, lacing it up in the back, and sent me on my way.
I eventually found my way to the dining area with the help of some of the passing staff, I really did need to figure out this castle otherwise I'd be lost for the rest of my life. I'll wander around after lunch.
"Good afternoon, Princess Ari." Called the King as I approached the table.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty." I said as I curtsied. He stood as I took my seat across from the Queen. She smiled at me and took a sip of her water.
"So how do you like your new home?" Asked King Marc.
"I like it very well, it's very beautiful here." I answered, smiling.
"Very good." King Marc continued to ask me questions, about here and home, what I liked to do, and many other things. Both the king and queen seemed to be making an effort to get to know me, I hoped I could become more acquainted with them as well.
After we finished lunch, King Marc stood up and the queen and I followed suit. We left the dining room and parted ways; they each had some business to attend to. I decided I would explore my new home until they wished to see me again.
