Chapter 11: The Market
By the end of September, Shelby was used to what she was able to do in the castle and around the grounds. As she and Midnight had been able to get to know each other better and become more comfortable around each other, Shelby grew confident in her ability to ride Midnight.
Over the course of the few weeks after first meeting Midnight, when Shelby went alone to see the horse, she often found a way to sneak apples from the kitchen. She had also begun taking slow, leisurely rides on Midnight. By mid-September, Shelby knew that Midnight loved having her as a companion and it showed when they went alone for long rides. The first few times Shelby got Midnight going at close to full speed where short because Shelby was still getting used to riding and was nervous about falling off. However, Midnight was a great horse and they were soon racing through the open fields of the castle together.
To a small extent, as well as over the last month, things with Sebastian had also been getting better. Everything with Sebastian was by no means great and Shelby knew it was unlikely that things would ever be great, but he did do things to assert his dominance less often than before. After their conversation, he really began to realize that she wasn't someone he could just push around.
Shelby had spent her Sunday at the end of September out in the fields and open pastures on the castle grounds with Midnight. There was a freedom Shelby found in taking Midnight out to race through the open fields. The wind always blew Shelby's hair back and everything about it made her feel ten times better than anything else ever did.
"All right," Shelby spoke, making it back to the stables with Midnight late in the afternoon as the sun was beginning to sink into the horizon. "It's time for me to head back to the castle," she said, leaning forward to pat Midnight's neck and run her fingers through her mane.
After another few seconds, they made it to the stable that was actually Midnight's. Shelby dismounted and tied Midnight up again. Once Midnight was secure, Shelby reached for the bag she had left a couple apples in. Shelby gave one to Midnight and feed her the rest over the couple minutes she spent petting the horse.
"See you later," Shelby gave Midnight one last pat before getting the bag to head back up to the castle.
At the castle door, she was immediately greeted by one of the servants she had become familiar with in the last month; her name was Alice. "Queen Shelby," Alice spoke in greeting. "King Sebastian is waiting for you in the dining room. Would you like me to escort you there?"
"No thank you," Shelby replied. "You are dismissed," she added after a brief pause. Alice nodded and headed down the opposite direction that Shelby was going. In the course of the last month, not only had Shelby become more familiar with how to interact with Midnight, but also how to interact with the servants in the castle that attended her.
Sebastian and Lucinda were the only ones who truly knew that she wasn't Daisy and that she wasn't from their time. After the first week or so with no change for Shelby in being able to get home to the 21st century, Lucinda had begun teaching Shelby some royal etiquette. Since it didn't appear that Shelby and Daisy would be trading places back any time soon, they decided it would be best if Shelby knew more about the time so she wouldn't end up revealing herself to the rest of the world. If people found out that she wasn't Daisy and that she was a time traveler, she'd be much worse off than someone in the 21st century discovering that she was a time traveler.
As Shelby had expected after talking to Alice, she found that Sebastian was seated at the end of the table he normally sat at when she entered the dining room. Almost as soon as she had taken her seat across from him, their food was brought out to them.
"So, you were out at the stables with Midnight again today?"
"Yes. She's good company."
Sebastian nodded. Though he and Shelby continued not to see things eye-to-eye, their conversations were, for the most part, more civil than they had been at first. "I actually want to talk to you about something later, but somewhere in private."
"Okay?"
"It's about plans for tomorrow."
Shelby nodded though she was unsure what that meant. "What did you do today then?" Shelby asked to keep the conversation going.
"I worked with some of the knights in training, including William. He spends some time here and some at home."
"Okay," Shelby nodded.
The two didn't talk much more than that during the meal; they weren't sure what else to say or talk about. Afterwards, Sebastian had some other things to take care of while Shelby went to find a book to read from the library.
XXX
Shelby was sitting on the bed reading when Sebastian returned to the room later that night. "Let me know when you have made it to a point where you can stop," Sebastian said as he sat down beside her. He met her eye as she gave him a small nod of acknowledgment.
"Okay, what is it that you wanted to talk about in private?" Shelby asked, marking her page as she turned to Sebastian.
"I guess it was arranged or something, but some of our advisors have set a thing up for us to go see some of our subjects tomorrow at the market."
"Okay. Well, it's not like I really had anything planned," Shelby laughed.
"Sorry about the short notice on that. I really am," Sebastian replied. "I didn't know anything about it until today either."
"No worries," Shelby replied. Sebastian had been making an effort to be better recently, especially after the bigger arguments they had had.
"I think it will end up being a longer day tomorrow, so I'm going to get to sleep early," Sebastian said. He got up out of bed and headed to the other side of the room. "Would you like to go to bed early as well?" Sebastian asked when he sat down on the bed after changing.
Shelby shrugged in reply.
"I can help you," he offered.
"I don't know about that," Shelby said. "I don't really trust you and your intentions."
"Okay."
"But, I do feel pretty tired," Shelby admitted.
"I will not try anything," Sebastian spoke.
"You swear?"
"Yes."
"All right," Shelby agreed. She moved to the other side of the room with Sebastian following behind her. He undid the ties on her back only to the point where he knew she would be able to do the rest on her own. While Shelby changed, Sebastian went around the room to make sure the torches and candles were put out. Once Shelby had returned to bed, they blew out the rest of the candles and went to sleep.
However, Shelby lay awake for a little while afterwards and considered how Sebastian had changed in the last month. In the first week, if he had the chance to 'help' Shelby change, he would have used it to his advantage. He would have done anything to annoy her or make her feel uncomfortable. This time, he had only done what she really needed help with before letting her do the rest on her own. She still held hatred for him, but it was less than she had at first.
Shelby had to shake those thoughts from her mind to be able to fall asleep that night. They raced through her mind at a million miles an hour, but she needed her sleep that night. A little while later, she was finally able to get the thoughts to stop whirling through her mind and fall asleep.
XXX
"Shelby, wake up," a gentle voice woke Shelby the morning she and Sebastian were meant to go to the market and see their subjects.
When Shelby was able to come to her senses, she was surprised to see that the voice belonged to Sebastian.
"I think we'll be having breakfast together in the dining hall before going to the market," he explained once he knew that she was awake. "I can help you get dressed or I can have someone find Lucinda for you if you would prefer," he said as he got out of bed.
"I guess I'd prefer to have Lucinda come," Shelby answered.
"That's fine." Sebastian went to the wardrobe and took a few minutes to change. When he finished, he left the room. Lucinda was the next person to enter.
"Sebastian will be waiting for you in the dining hall when we are finished here," Lucinda explained while she helped Shelby change.
"Okay. Is there anything I should know about going to the market today? Did Daisy ever do it before? Did her parents?"
"Her parents would, yes. She hadn't gone since she was very little. I believe it has been about 6 years since she last went out to the market to do something similar to what you will be doing today. And even then, she was young and with her parents."
"All right," Shelby nodded.
While Lucinda helped Shelby get dressed as well as doing her hair, she explained some of the things that then King and Queen would do when they went to the market to interact with their subjects. "Do you have it all?" Lucinda questioned when she had finished explaining everything.
"I think so. Or, at least, I hope so," Shelby sighed. "I guess I'll have Sebastian there as well if anything goes wrong," she gave a shrug as they finished.
Lucinda walked with Shelby to the dining hall before departing to do some of the other things that were on her agenda for the day. As Lucinda had stated, Sebastian was sitting at the table waiting for Shelby to arrive. She sat down across from him and their breakfast was brought to them a minute later.
"So, is there anything specific I should know when we go out to see the people today? The only experience I have with that was when. . ." Shelby trailed off and looked around to make sure no one would overhear her. "Was when I came back with Cyd to try and break your engagement to Daisy," she finished in a whisper.
Sebastian looked up from his plate and over to Shelby. He seemed to be recalling that moment in his mind because after a couple seconds, he seemed to shake his head slightly as if coming out of a memory. "No, nothing specifically. It's sort of a public relations type things just to interact with the people."
Shelby nodded. It was something she could understand. She saw things about movie stars and other celebrities interacting with their fans. It brought them down to a more human level. Shelby assumed this was what going to the market was meant to be do as well.
The two didn't talk much more as they ate. Shelby was silent in part because she had begun to feel nervous about the whole situation. What if she said something wrong and people found out that she wasn't really Daisy? She very highly doubted that people in the middle ages would be kind to time travelers. Were the witch trials going on yet? Had they started? Would they think she was a witch?
Would Sebastian let it happen?
The thought struck Shelby more than she thought it would. She had a feeling he still saw her as a way to be king and have a son to rule after him, but would he make sure something like that didn't happen to her?
She didn't have much longer to consider the thought as a servant entered the room. "My King and Queen, the carriage is ready to take you to town whenever you are done with your breakfast and are ready to go."
"Thank you. You are dismissed," Sebastian spoke to the servant.
The servant gave a nod and a small bow before leaving the room.
XXX
"I'm finished," Sebastian said a couple minutes later after the servant left. "Are you almost done?"
Rather than meeting Sebastian's eye to reply, Shelby looked down to her plate. There were only a few tiny pieces of her breakfast left on her plate and she knew what her answer was going to be. Still, looking down mant she didn't have to meet his eyes again.
"Shelby?" Sebastian's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Yeah. I'm finished."
"Are you ready to go then?"
"No time like the present," Shelby replied as she stood. "Or your present. Wait, is that a phrase that's used now?"
"No, but I get the meaning," Sebastian replied. He stood and walked to Shelby. He linked their arms together and lead the way to where a carriage was waiting for them.
"My King, my Queen," the driver of the carriage greeted them. He stepped to the side of the carriage and opened the door for them. He first helped Shelby up; she was then followed by Sebastian. "It should only be a short trip to town, Your Majesties," the driver said as he closed the door.
A few seconds later, the carriage shifted abruptly as it began to move. The sound of the horses walking filled the air. As she looked around the inside of the carriage, Shelby noticed for the first time the sword Sebastian wore at his hip.
"Any reason for why you need that today?" Shelby asked, gesturing to the sword.
"Not particularly," he hummed. "But you never know what might happen. There could be thieves lurking among the people. You can never be too sure. And I am a knight first and foremost," he finished.
"You think something like that will happen?"
Sebastian shook his head. "Not really. And I have friends among the people who will be around as well. So I really don't think it will come to that at all."
"Should I feel better about that? I mean you did best me when Cyd and I tried to break your engagement to Daisy. But then again, Cyd did best you."
"I've spent my life training to be a knight and I've done some more sword work since then. I have never lost other than to your friend."
"Her name is Cyd," Shelby shot.
Sebastian met her narrowed eyes. He'd learned in the last month that she expected to be listened to when she spoke. While it annoyed him, he knew that it came from the society she was raised in. "I haven't lost before or since your friend, Cyd, beat me."
Shelby nodded, satisfied that Sebastian had used Cyd's name rather than leaving her nameless.
As they got closer to the town's center, the noise outside the carriage grew louder. People were cheering when they saw the carriage that held their King and Queen in it. Even while the noise outside the carriage grew louder, the noise inside it was minimal. Sebastian and Shelby didn't have anything more to say to each other.
A few minutes later, the carriage came to a halt and the cheering outside grew even louder than before. There were curtains inside the carriage that were drawn so Sebastian and Shelby couldn't see outside until they arrived at their destination. The driver opened the door and spoke, "My Lady, Your Majesty." He held his hand out to help Shelby down and out of the carriage. Sebastian followed without any assistance.
"People of North Upswich!" the driver declared to the crowd that suddenly feel silent. "You King and Queen."
The noise in the town center resounded in the area ten times louder than it had been before. The noise was quickly silenced by Sebastian as he raised his arms to quiet the people.
"It has been an honor to serve as your kind these last few weeks," Sebastian spoke in a declarative voice. "As your King and Queen have done for generations before us, we will serve you to the best of our ability. And, as generations before us have also done, we will becoming to the market to see you all like this," he finished.
The people clapped for a couple moments. When they quieted down, Sebastian put his arm around Shelby and they began to walk through the crowd.
"Your Majesties," many people called as they walked by.
Sebastian didn't seem to want to stay and talk to the people very much, but if Shelby was stuck in the 16th century, she wanted to be a benevolent leader. "Hi," Shelby did her best to greet everyone with a smile.
"My Queen, you are even more beautiful up close and in person," one kind looking older gentleman spoke to her.
"You are too kind," Shelby replied. "Thank you very much."
While Shelby took time with the people in a way Sebastian thought was somewhat unnecessary, he began to notice how well the people took to Shelby. They didn't know that she wasn't really their queen, but they did take to her well. Her compassionate attitude seemed to work well for that.
Many of the comments heard from the people were praising Sebastian and Shelby or commenting on Shelby's beauty. Every comment and short conversation Shelby had with the people showed the compassion she held for them.
"My Queen," one woman spoke. Shelby turned towards her. "The whole kingdom is talking about your marriage to the knight Sebastian."
"I'm sure they are," she said with a smile, even though she hated the fact that she and Sebastian were married.
"And many people are wondering, my Queen," the woman gave a brief pause. "Are you with child?"
Shelby gasped slightly. She didn't expect any question like that. "Um, well, if— if I was, it would be too early to tell," she stuttered.
"Of course, of course," the woman said. "I should have known."
"It's quite all right," Shelby replied, though it pained her to give that answer.
"Shelby," Sebastian drew her name out in what was meant to be an elegant manner.
"Sebastian," she replied, turning to face him as he put his arm around her waist. "What is it?" Shelby asked, trying to maintain the Queenly persona.
"We need to be going over this way now."
"Right. It was nice to meet you," she said to the woman before she was lead away by Sebastian. "What was that about?" Shelby asked through her teeth a minute later.
"Nothing," Sebastian replied.
"I know you're lying when you say nothing like that."
"Hello," Sebastian said to a man on his left while Shelby remained at his right.
Shelby briefly zoned out of the conversation Sebastian was having with the man. She could tell he was purposely leaving her out of it anyway. Even though things had been better between them, it was obvious that Sebastian was holding onto his ideas of women having no say in anything. On top of that, nobody was speaking to her at the moment so she had time to zone out. She dropped back down to earth when Sebastian lead her aside from the the throngs of people.
"You can't say things to the people like what you said to that woman," Sebastian spoke fiercely.
"Like what? Telling her it is too early to know if I was pregnant or not? That's a fact. It is too early to know for sure. Plus, it could keep an untrue rumor from spreading across the kingdom."
"Hmm," Sebastian thought for several moments. "That is true."
"Exactly," Shelby shot.
"So I guess that works as something to say if people ever ask during one of these occasions."
"Told you I'm not stupid."
"Yes, sure," Sebastian waved her off as they made their way back to the people. Shelby rolled her eyes, an act that went completely unnoticed by Sebastian.
They were soon back within the group of people that had gathered in the market. Throughout the entire morning and into the afternoon that the two spent there, Shelby continued to interact with the people as she had before. Sebastian had no comments to make about her actions as they rode back to the castle later that afternoon.
"Lunch should be ready for us in the dining hall when we return to the castle," Sebastian relayed to Shelby after a few minutes of silence in the carriage.
"Okay," Shelby replied. Her reply was punctuated by the sound of her stomach growling.
Sebastian let out a laugh. "Is your stomach going to attack?"
Shelby rolled her eyes. Like you've never been hungry enough that your stomach growls to let you know you need to eat."
"No. Never."
"Yeah right."
They sat in silence for several long moments. The silence was broken by a low growl, this time coming from Sebastian's stomach.
"Never, huh?" Shelby raised a brow.
"It was the first time."
"Really?" Shelby asked.
"Really," Sebastian nodded, though both of them were more than aware of his obvious lie. The air in the carriage was suddenly light and the two broke out in shared laughter.
"That was the most obvious lie I have ever seen and I'm a terrible liar, especially when it comes to keeping things from Cyd," Shelby trailed off as her expression fell.
Sebastian noticed the shift in Shelby's expression but decided not to say anything about it. "You were really good at interacting with the people today," he commented after a minute. "How did you do it all so well?"
Shelby looked up to meet his eye and was surprised to see a soft expression in them. The blue of his eyes was actually very similar to the blue of her own eyes. Her voice was more gentle when she answered him. "I guess it was just natural really. Kindness matters. It's something that's been taught to me since I was little; it's how my parents raised me," she continued, her voice catching in her throat.
Sebastian only nodded. They were getting close to the castle anyway.
The short remainder of the ride was a quiet one where neither Shelby or Sebastian knew what to say anymore.
When they arrived back at the castle, they returned to the same door that they had left from that morning. Their carriage driver had the door of the carriage facing the castle and helped Shelby out of it as he had before. Sebastian thanked the man as he himself stepped out.
"Lunch?" Sebastian held his arm out to Shelby.
There was a lightness to his voice that he often lacked. Maybe it stemmed from the light tone of their conversation in the carriage. But for once, when Shelby took his arm to head to the dining hall, it wasn't in vain.
XXX
However, moments like that wouldn't come around for her and Sebastian all that often. Even though she and Sebastian had a bit of an understanding of each other, he'd soon resume his quest to have an heir to the throne.
Because of Sebastian's different and random shifts in personality, Shelby would find there were days she completely hated him and days where she thought he was changing. Somehow, he always circled back in the wrong direction.
XXX
"You know I hate what we—you—did to me last night," Shelby spoke once morning several days after their trip to the market as she put her robe on.
"It's an arranged marriage, it's not supposed to necessarily be enjoyable if that's what you're implying," Sebastian replied, wrapping his own nightshirt around his body.
"Should I really hate it as much as I do?"
"Generally speaking, you should understand that this is how things need to be."
"What, that I'm supposed to just let you do whatever you want with me and have no choice in what happens to me because of you?"
"More or less," Sebastian shrugged, making his way to the other side of the room.
Shelby sighed as she sat back down on the bed and picked up the book she was currently reading to pass the time. She ignored Sebastian and pretended he wasn't in the room while she read until he left.
The remainder of her day after that went much as it had before; she ate breakfast in the room on her own after Lucinda came to help her change, went to the library after that to write an entry in her journal, then spent the rest of the day taking care of Midnight and reading at the stables.
There came the occasional day where Shelby's normal schedule would be interrupted by getting to take a bath or by spending time in Daisy's tower to see if she could get home. In general, her days had very little variation. With each passing day and week, she began to realize that the 16th century had become her new reality. She also realized she would likely read her way through the library before she got home, if she ever got home.
A/N: Thanks you everyone who is still reading. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update. I'm currently a student at university and have had a lot of reading and writing of papers to do this semester and I need to keep being a student as my first priority as much as I love writing and updating this.
I'd love to know what you thought or how you think I could improve my writing. I appreciate constructive criticism because it helps me become a better writer.
So, thanks again to everyone reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.
Reviews:
sweetsimplegirl: I hope you enjoyed the moments where we got to see the softer side of Sebastian in this chapter. I really enjoy writing those parts and we're getting to a point in the story where they start to happen more often and I can't wait to be able to share those. I hope you enjoyed this chapter in general. Thanks for reading :)
