spaceout93: Yeah, it would be great if Aithene replied like that. If it wouldn't kinda mess up the plan I have for the story, I so totally would have done that. Oh, and yeah, some rulers would probably kill a servant for being so forward, but I think Aithene and Celeste are sort of friends, and have known each other for a long time. Also, Aithene is highly unlikely to punish a servant that harshly for tickling her.
Aithene stood at her bedroom window, looking out at the courtyard below, where hundreds of her troops were preparing themselves to march out the gates and battle the Adrallan forces. Hearing a noise, she turned to find Celeste standing behind her, a tunic, leggings, and armored breastplate in hand.
"I thought you might be wanting these, your Highness," she said.
Aithene abandoned her regal exterior for a moment and grinned at her maid. "You know me too well, Celeste," she said, reaching for the clothes. "Please have my horse ready for me in ten minutes."
Celeste smiled back. "Yes, my Queen. Of course."
Aithene nodded her thanks, and ducked behind her changing screen to attire herself for battle. It was a very good thing she had Celeste. She really didn't know what she'd do without her.
The Darran soldiers were already assembled on the plains of Darra when Aithene rode up. At the sight of his Queen in leggings and battle gear, Sir Rodney's mouth fell open, and he stammered. "Wh-wha-what are you doing here, my Queen?"
Aithene pursed her lips in annoyance. "I should think it would be obvious, Sir Rodney. I am here to fight."
At this Sir Rodney's mouth fell open even wider, but he managed to collect himself and say "Your Highness, are you absolutely certain? The-"
"Battlefield is no place for a woman?" Aithene inquired frostily. "Yes, I've heard. But this is one battle I would really prefer to win, and as your men lost the last three battles we've had with Adrall, I think it might be time a woman took command. "
"Took-command?"
Aithene laughed. "Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I'm not taking your post from you, Sir Rodney. I am merely planning to fight at your side, as a good ruler ought to. Besides, does not the King of Adrall fight with his troops? We wouldn't want the enemy to think that the Queen of Darra is to cowardly to fight, now would we?"
Sir Rodney sighed. He knew there was no dissuading Aithene from her decision to fight, and he could only hope that the men would be able to protect her from harm. Heaven knows what they'd do if she were killed.
"As you wish, my Queen," he said at last.
Aithene smiled dazzlingly at him. "Thank you, Sir Rodney. I knew you'd see reason. And now…I do believe I see the Adrallan force approaching on the horizon. Do ready your men."
"Yes, your Highness." Sir Rodney made to raise his hand in the attack signal, but he was stopped by a shout from one of the soldiers whose eyesight was slightly better than his own.
"They're carrying a white flag! They want to talk!"
Aithene started in her saddle. "Sir Rodney, is this true?"
The battle commander peered ahead at the approaching army. Sure enough, they carried a large white flag of truce, signaling that they wished to talk before the battle. "Yes, your Highness, it is."
"Hmm." Aithene considered. "Ought we to obey tradition and hear them out?"
Sir Rodney coughed lightly. "It is customary to do so, your Highness, but if you wish otherwise…"
Aithene shook her head. "Oh, no. By all means, let us hear what these barbarians have to say."
Sir Rodney nodded. "Let the Adrallans approach!" he bellowed.
When the Adrallans were close enough to speak, Sir Rodney rode forward. "What is your business with us, that you come bearing the white flag in such troubled times?"
The Adrallan soldier in front of him inclined his head slightly, but not enough as to seem respectful. "Our King requests the pleasure of speaking with your Queen. Please fetch her immediately."
"There will be no need for that," Aithene said, riding forward. "I am already here."
The soldier looked at her quizzically for a moment before responding. "So you are. One moment-I shall inform his Majesty." He turned and rode his horse back into the crowd of soldiers. A moment later he returned, followed by a young man on a chestnut stallion.
The soldier bowed from his saddle. "His Most Royal Highness, King Avar of Adrall."
The man on the chestnut horse rode forward, and Aithene examined him carefully. So this was the King who was waging war on her small country. Well, he certainly was good looking, although he had a rather arrogant look about his face. He had had shoulder length, glossy honey-brown hair, which he wore tied back in a single ponytail, blue-gray eyes, and a slender build. He looked to be older than her twenty-one years, perhaps he was twenty-five?
Tradition dictated that, as the one bearing the flag of truce, King Avar speak first, and he did. "Queen Aithene," he said, barely inclining his head. "I am here to discuss terms of this war."
"Cannot we just cease fighting?" Aithene burst out passionately. "Cannot we simply drop the fight and allow our two lands to return to a peace and prosperity they have not known for decades? Cannot we make peace, King Avar?"
The King smiled slightly. "Indeed, Queen Aithene, that is my wish too, and my object in coming here today."
Aithene smiled back at him. "Wonderful. Then we can draw up a document saying we'll make peace and-" She trailed off, for King Avar was shaking his head.
"I'm afraid that there is only one term I will agree to if we are to make peace," he said.
"Well? What is it?" Aithene demanded. "What is your term? I will do anything if it will stop this useless fighting."
The King smiled unpleasantly. "Matrimony."
Aithene stared at him in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"
"Matrimony," the King said again. "I will agree to make peace between our two kingdoms only if you consent to marry me, Queen Aithene."
For a moment Aithene was so taken aback she could not speak, but then she nodded. "I said I would do anything to end this war, and I meant it," she said. "Very well, King Avar, I accept your proposal."
The King nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, I should like to bring you to my castle as soon as possible for the wedding, and of course there are documents to be drawn up…so perhaps I could meet you at your castle tomorrow to draw up the treaty, and we could retire to my castle the next day for the wedding?"
Aithene nodded again. "So be it. I will see you in Castle Darra tomorrow at noon, King Avar. Good day."
The King bowed from his saddle. "Until tomorrow then, Queen Aithene." And with that he turned his horse and rode away, leaving Aithene to explain things to her stunned army.
