So sorry about not updating in months! I have been unbelievably busy lately. Also sorry I didn't post this sooner; my computer was being stupid and wouldn't let me post it.
The days leading up to the duel were uneasy ones for King Edmund. However, the nausea building in his stomach was nothing compared to how he felt when he woke on the morning of.
Sleep had not come easily that night what with nightmares waking him up every few minutes. At four thirty in the morning, when he woke up covered in cold sweat, he finally gave up on attempting to restand began to dress.
He chose his finest robes for the event, trimmed his beard neatly, and had his crown polished ahead of time. If his choice of suitors for Jade was going to be trampled, he supposed he'd better look proud and determined.
"Eddy, dear, what on earth are you doing up so early?"
The king jumped in surprise and tore his attention away from his reflection in the mirror. He turned around to see Queen Isabella peering into the bathroom.
"Just couldn't sleep," he muttered. "Don't know how you can. A few hours from now, one of my best knights will be slaughtered in battle and our daughter will be married off to our mortal enemy, who will take her to live in those barren stone hills, infested with dragons. Then I lose my crown and throne to Topaz and my reputation, as well as the kingdom of Rowana, are crushed."
Isabella sighed. "You know, he did offer to join the kingdoms."
"We can't trust him!" Edmund snapped. "He's an underhanded little fink!"
The queen folded her arms. "That's your excuse, of course. If you cared one little bit about our Jade, you'd—"
"I'm doing this because I care about Jade!"
"If you were to open just one of your eyes, you would see that Jade wants to marry him! He makes her happy! I've seen them together, you know," she told him. "He makes her smile. Tell me, Edmund, when's the last time you've seen her give a real, genuine smile?"
"That's not the point!" the king snapped impatiently. "This is the future of Rowana I'm taking about! And anyhow, it isn't her job to pick her husband, it's mine. It's written in our laws: the king chooses his successor!"
"Oh?" Queen Isabella snorted. "Well that doesn't mean you can't take her wishes into account. Perhaps you weren't informed, but you weren't my father's first choice of successors either."
He turned around and faced her in shock.
"I see this is news to you." She smirked. "He wanted me to marry his advisor's son. Lane Alexander. But I opted to marry you. If kings never took their daughter's wishes into consideration, you'd just be local Lord West, bowing to King Alexander. Why don't you think about that before today's event?" She moved toward the door before turning back to him and adding, almost pleadingly, "And think about Jade."
/
Jade was fairly sure she knew where she'd be twenty-four hours from now. She'd be wearing a long, white gown with a veil over her face. She'd walk into a hall where Beck would be waiting for her, wearing his finest robes and his crown. Her father would walk her down the aisle begrudgingly while Cat sat with the rest of the guests, staring at her feet, holding Robbie's hand, angry at Jade for leaving her. Sir Blacklock would be dead—no great loss, but she could not escape the guilt—and then she and Beck would ride to Topaz, never to return to her home or her family.
Sighing, she put her face in her palms. That was not what she wanted, but at the same time…
She could call off the duel. If she asked, Beck would forfeit the fight and go home. She would Marry Sir Blacklock and her father would be happy, Cat would be happy, and she would never have to leave her home. But she would not see Beck again, unless on a strictly professional basis in which they'd probably be attempting to kill each other.
Neither was a desirable situation.
Jade's thoughts were interrupted by a man's voice sounding behind her.
"Ma'am? Ma'am, there's an open seat beside me, if you'd like to sit."
Turning around, the princess spotted a Topazian lord gesturing to an elderly Rowanan woman to sit.
"Eh? Why thank you, young man," she rasped with a smile. She staggered over to the empty chair where the lord helped her sit. She adjusted her glasses and studied the man carefully. "What's this? You're from Topaz!" She exclaimed in surprise. "Never have I met such a courteous Topazian gentleman!"
Smiling, the man responded. "Well, perhaps we have not gotten along in the past, but our kingdoms may be united soon. And either way, our elders deserve respect, no matter where they're from. Please allow me to introduce myself: my name is Lord Andrew Fanderfauffen. Pleasure to meet you."
"And you, Lord Fanderfauffen!" replied the woman with a kind glint in her eye. "I'm Lady Edna Walden."
"Please, Lady Walden, call me Andrew."
"Well, isn't that sweet!" Lady Edna gushed. Jade was surprised to hear the two rivals getting along so nicely. "Why don't you call me Edna? Now, just between you and me, Andrew, I'm rooting for King Beck! It's about time this war ended. You know, all three of my sons went to fight in this war, as did all of my grandsons. All my sons died. Four of my grandchildren came home wounded. One died. The other two went missing. And for what good? After centuries, this war has not been won!"
Lord Andrew nodded. "I have to agree. Our money, time, and efforts, not to mention lives, could be spent on much better things than fighting! Imagine our combined kingdoms. We'd be one great, unstoppable force together. And I think King Beck has the ingenuity to lead our new era. It's people like King Beck and Princess Jade that our kingdoms need."
Slightly baffled by the enthusiastic outlook of the two very different aristocrats, Jade turned her attention to the main event as it began. Sir Blacklock and Beck had stepped into the arena, and presently Jade's father stood in the center, announcing the duel.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Rowana and Topaz, I, King Edmund West of Rowana, welcome you to our palace. Today we gather to observe the duel between King Beck Oliver of Topaz," —he gestured to Beck, who nodded respectfully to the audience and waved. The audience, Topaz and Rowana alike, roared in their approval and support for him— "and Sir Vance Blacklock of Rowana." Some Rowanans clapped with a lack of enthusiasm, and Sir Blacklock waved at the crowd, clearly discouraged.
King Edmund cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well then, let us begin. As a reminder, the winner of this duel to the death earns the hand of my daughter, Princess Jade West of Rowana. On my count, men. Three, two, one…" the king backed out of the ring and moved to join his wife and Jade in their royal seats.
Beck and Sir Blacklock—or "Vance," as he was apparently called—circled each other maliciously. Or rather, Sir Blacklock was malicious. Beck looked careful and cool. Sir Blacklock watched Beck's sword. Beck watched Sir Blacklock's eyes.
Without warning, Sir Blacklock lunged forward, causing Jade to flinch in surprise. Beck, however, was not startled. He parried the attack with ease, but made no move at a counterattack.
For a long while this went on. Sir Blacklock attacked while Beck easily defended, but no one had gotten hurt. For a moment, Jade wondered what was happening. Beck was better than this. But soon she saw the look in his eye; that was the same look he wore when he practiced with her. Beck was going easy on him!
"Hasn't his mother ever taught him not to play with his food?" Lady Edna muttered from behind Jade. Apparently she wasn't the only one who had noticed.
He won't give in, Beck, Jade thought. Please just finish this already.
The crowd was getting restless, and Beck must have realized this. Jade saw a change in his expression. His gaze hardened and his blows suddenly became stronger. Taken aback by this new and sudden strength, Sir Blacklock backed off slightly. Beck began to drive him back with strong swipes until the knight was cornered, and it didn't take the king long to disarm him.
Sir Blacklock's sword flew across the arena and landed hopelessly far away from the knight in a cloud of dust. He was trapped between the wall and Beck's sword.
From her close seat, Jade could see Beck raise his eyebrows. A final opportunity for Sir Blacklock to forfeit. All around her, the crowd was yelling, encouraging Beck to finish it.
Sir Blacklock trembled in fear, but he met Beck's eyes and shook his head.
Too proud for his own good.
Beck raised his sword.
Queen Isabella covered Jade's eyes just before she heard the sickening thud of the sword.
There you have it! I think there's only going to be one more chapter and an epilogue before the end. Hopefully those will go up a little quicker than this one did.
And thank you for reading despite the long wait. Thank you for all the support so far! You guys are great. :D I hope you'll all hold on until the end, despite my terrible updating habits.