Chapter 11 - Coronation (Posted 4 April 2011)
A/N: You guys really are the best! Keep those lovely reviews coming :P
:James's POV:
My eighteenth birthday. The day I officially inherit the throne. Most kingdoms wait until the current King dies or becomes unfit to rule before passing the crown to the heir, including ours. But my father was so proud of me, that he decided to retire on my eighteenth birthday and give me his throne as my gift.
I was thrilled. I knew I'd come a long way and I'd earned this. And I knew this should have been one of the happiest days of my life, but I just wasn't feeling as happy as everyone else seemed to be.
Don't get me wrong, I was overjoyed that this was happening. There was a huge party with lots of food and music. Imported wines and lavish gifts were being placed in front of me all day long. Only one thing was missing.
There hasn't been a day when I didn't think of Kendall. I never did see him after that night at the stable. I kept my eyes and ears open for any sign of his return, but he never came back.
But today was the day. He promised he'd be here. And even if I didn't get to see him, just thinking about his presence was making me nervous.
Was that odd? Was it stupid to hang onto a childhood friendship like I did? I often feared I would grow up and lose the memories of the time we spent together. Or worse, that I would remember and he would forget.
But even if he did forget, he wouldn't overlook this. The news was all over the kingdom. Peddlers and messengers were sent out months ago to spread word of my coronation. So even if he forgot, he would have been reminded. And even if he didn't value our friendship as much as I still did, I just had this overwhelming desire to believe that he would be here no matter what.
I knew there was a good chance that I wouldn't see him. Whether he never made it to me or he didn't want to be seen by me, I'd accepted long ago that I may never see him again. But there was still the possibility that I caught a glimpse or that he tried to approach me.
People were already arriving for the ceremony even though it wouldn't be starting for a few hours. I greeted some of the early birds. Of course I kissed the hands of all the ladies. One poor girl even fainted. I wasn't sure if it was from heat of from my dazzling smile, but she recovered.
There were many beautiful people there. I was so honored that practically all my subjects had showed up. It was magnificent.
When the ceremony started, the whole castle was quiet. I was surprised, you would think at least a few people would be talking in a crowd this large, but I didn't hear a peep.
My back was turned to the audience as I listened to my father recite his decree as he passed his domain to me. He cried. And so did my mother.
When the crown was placed on my head, I turned and bowed to my people, who then erupted into boisterous cheers.
And there he was.
In the front row. He had a bandanna on his head and his hair was hanging in front of his face, but there was no mistaking him. The way he stood there with his arms crossed and a smirk I could see even through his dangling locks, it had to be Kendall.
He looked amazing. There was a bandage on his left wrist, secured neatly to hide what must have been my Royal Mark. He was wearing what appeared to be a brown sparring robe tied with a purple belt sash. He must be a respected worker to be able to afford anything with purple dye. Hanging from the sash was a thin scabbard. So he'd become a swordsman. And quite an honored one judging by the elaborate hilt that he was so obviously pretending not to show off. But good for him, at least he'd succeeded in something. My main concern had been whether he'd lived. So I couldn't hide my smile at knowing he was alive and doing rather well from the looks of things.
And dangling at his hip was an old, raggedy satchel. Could that really be the one I have him all those years ago?
That's when I noticed it. He was staring right at me. I'd been so focused on the rest of him, I completely missed his eyes. I didn't understand how they were able to shine so brightly from behind his hair, but they were beautiful. And they were staring right back into my eyes. He knew. He knew I saw him. Had that been his intention?
As the ceremony came to a close, the guests filed out to continue in the festivities for the rest of the night. But he stood there, watching as I made my way through the few guests who approached me.
I looked over the shoulders of everyone I conversed with, and his eyes never left mine.
When I was talking to one of my prospective brides, I swear he winked at me. If there was any doubt in my mind about who he was, it was erased with that one small action. I smiled the biggest smile I think I ever had, and I think this woman interpreted it incorrectly because she leaned forward and squished her breasts together. I didn't even know her name, and I was barely paying any attention to her as it was so her shameful attempt at gaining my affection was ultimately in vain.
I couldn't take my eyes off the smirking man I knew to be my long-lost friend. When this sorry excuse for a princess finally realized I'd checked out of the conversation, I knew it was my chance to speak with him.
I turned to face her and bow as she curtseyed, and watched as she walked away. I wasted no time in spinning myself back around in Kendall's direction.
But by the time I turned, he was gone.
I searched for him nonstop for the remainder of the evening. And I was severely disheartened when I could not find him. But he'd been there, and I'd seen him. He'd kept his promise, and I was perfectly happy with that.
Plus, seeing him gave me hope. If he hadn't wanted me to see him, he would have been able to hide himself. But drawing attention to himself meant that he'd wanted to be seen. And even though he disappeared, I knew he wouldn't do that unless he intended on us seeing each other again. So I committed his appearance to memory, even though I was sure I'd recognize him no matter how much time passes between now and when we would meet next.
