Chapter 3: The Queen of Outremer
Beshte took in the gentle ocean breeze from the bow of their ship as it glided across the Mediterranean Sea. The hulking Norman Knight savored the spray of water across his face, cooling him from the sun's incessant burden from a lack of clouds.
Beshte never did well in the sun but figured he'd have to get used to it given where he'd live now.
"Nervous?" He heard Anga ask. The noblewoman came up beside him and leaned against the wooden railing.
"Maybe." Beshte admitted sheepishly.
Anga chuckled.
"Maybe? What happened to the booming confidence you Norman's are known for?"
"We're fearless in battle. This is something different. Leaving home-" Beshte started.
"Leaving home! You Normans are famous for leaving home to seek glory and adventure-" Anga laughed, earning a frustrated look from the imposing knight.
"Are you just going to keep bringing up what most Normans are known for and laughing at the fact that I don't fit all of those descriptions to a tee?"
"Well, you saying that takes some of the fun out of it."
Beshte sighed.
"Look, I'll admit it wasn't as easy leaving France as I thought it would be." Anga admitted, her expression becoming more vulnerable.
"Still, we're practically a family ourselves, and no way I'm letting Kion go to perhaps the most dangerous Kingdom on Earth alone." Anga's voice hardened again into fierce dedication, earning a smile from Beshte.
"Oui! Plus, Kion isn't the only one there who needs help. Protecting Outremer is a duty to God, one that requires the utmost strength, devotion, and commitment." Beshte was about to speak when the two heard vomiting.
Looking over, they saw a sickly Bunga, green in the face and utterly miserable as he lay sprawled over the railing.
"Utmost strength, devotion, and commitment. Someone ought to remind Bunga of that." Anga chuckled.
"Uhhhg, if God intended men to travel by sea, he'd have given us fins." Bunga moaned.
"Ohh, Bunga." Beshte sighed.
Below deck, Kion stood in a fighting stance across from Fuli. The Prince wore only a pair of trousers with his muscular body exposed. Despite this, Fuli paid such things little mind and smiled.
She held a wooden knife in each hand and lunged towards her Prince, slashing and stabbing with ruthless efficiency. However, Kion blocked our countered Fuli's attacks, grappling with her but unable to land a decisive blow due to her speed.
"Come on! A knife can kill just as easily as a sword, Kion!" Fuli growled with a devious grin. Narrowing his eyes, Kion snatched Fuli's wrist as she came in to stab. The young woman tried to force his arm back and get him into a vice, but Kion proved too strong and swept Fuli's legs, hurling her onto the ground.
However, not a moment after doing so, the Prince snatched up a wooden sparring sword on a nearby table and brought it up just in time to counter a blow from Ono.
The chaplain followed up with a series of furious strikes high and low, keeping Kion on his toes until the Prince found his stance and came back, eventually landing two armor-beating half-sword blows onto Ono's bare chest and side.
Ono grunted but nodded with approval. All three youths panted heavily and felt sweat trickle down their skin as if they'd taken a dip in the ocean.
"I think that's enough for now." Ono said.
"What? Come on. It's not enough for Kion to maintain his edge. We have to make him sharper!" Fuli protested. Kion looked down at his sparring sword with an unsure expression.
"There are matters he has to prepare for." Ono reminded him as he emphasized a manuscript on the table nearby.
"Right." Fuli sighed and took a towel from a young page in the chamber. The boy then provided one to Kion and Ono before a second page poured water into goblets for them.
All three sat down, and Kion slowly began reading the manuscript, a firsthand account of the First Crusade. He and Ono read it aloud together, and Fuli, already tired, did her best not to doze off, never having much interest in reading about history.
Kion felt his nerves tighten when he reached a passage on the Battle of Dorylaeum.
"By the time this had been done, the Sonn has already surrounded us on all sides. They attacked us, slashing, hurling, and shooting arrows far and wide in a manner strange to behold. Although we could scarcely hold them back or even bear up under the weight of such a host, nevertheless, we manage to hold our ranks." Kion pictured himself and those he cared about most surrounded by the deadly horse-archers, arrows coming at them in every direction.
"Kion!" Ono quickly snapped him out of his trance.
"Huh!" Kion found himself sweating again, much to Ono and Fuli's concern.
"Kion, don't freak out. You're a proven warrior and leader." Fuli assured him, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"...Against Norsemen and Routiers. These Sonn beat the Aurevitas Empire and the Persians..."
"And lost to your grandfather, if he overcame them, so can you." Fuli added.
"My grandfather." Kion said, thinking about the stories his father told him about King Mufasa I. The man who built the Angevine Empire.
"Don't forget what kind of Kingdom you'll be ruling over." Ono reminded Kion as he pulled up another account, this time describing the early Kingdom of Outremer.
"Westerners have become orientals, the Frenchman and Italians of yesteryear have become men of Outremer, the settlers have now become the natives. By the grace of God, he who was poor attained riches here. He who had no more than a few livres now finds himself in possession of a fortune. He who owned not so much as one village finds himself by the grace of God, the lord of a city."
"And you get to be King of such a place."
Kion slowly nodded.
That night, he knelt before his bed, hands clasped together as he prayed.
"Lord God, I humbly ask thee to always remain by my side. Watch over my family back home and all those I ever lorded over. Keep them safe and prosperous, my sister, brother, nephew, and parents." Kion took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm despite his body's trembling.
"Loving God, I beseech thee to guide me, your humble servant, as I bear the responsibility of Kingship. Always remain by my side, protect those under me, my friends, my retainers, and my subjects. May I prove a King worthy of your son's passion." Kion crossed himself and exhaled.
The next day, he stood with his friends at the bow of the lead ship as they approached Acre. The bustling port-city looked busier than any port Kion had ever seen before. Dozens of vessels came in and out of the harbor with countless flags of origin.
"Woah! So much commerce, and it's only one city! Kion's going to be swimming in gold!" Bunga tried to laugh only to gag as his seasickness came back.
"Bunga, don't be blinded by greed." Ono corrected his knight companion.
Kion agreed with Ono but also knew how expensive running a Kingdom was, especially one constantly under threat. The Angevine Empire was incredibly wealthy, yet Kion thought back to the description of Outremer he heard the other day.
As they docked in the harbor, Kion got his first look at the people of Outremer. He saw a good many people from Europe, fair-skinned and large in stature like them, but far more numerous were the native Christians.
Their skin was tan or even brown, and they were smaller in size, though not as much as they'd once been. Kion also noticed many men and women of mixed heritage, undoubtedly the children of Frankish settlers who'd intermarried with natives.
The city itself was a wonder to behold, massive fortified walls with towers and parapets. The homes, churches, markets, and bathhouses were a mixture of Latin architecture and Aurevitas. Some of the churches were catholic but far more looked eastern orthodox, with just as many orthodox priests preaching and teaching alongside their catholic counterparts.
Taking a deep breath, Kion made the first steps into his new Kingdom but saw someone waiting for him. A tall and broad-shoulders Frenchman with a thick-brown mane just like his father's stood before him, adorned in a suit of mail and plate with a white surcoat over it, and the red Cross pattée of the Knight's Templar.
His face was chiseled and scarred like a rock that endured the constant pressure of the ocean waves. Despite his rugged appearance, the man gave Kion a warm and comforting smile, allowing the wind to carry his white cape back slightly.
"Christ be good. It's as if I see a young Simba again."
Kion lost his breath and froze for a moment.
"Uncle Kopa!"
"Kopa!" Bunga and the others cried in disbelief.
The Templar nodded, and within moments Kion raced forward to embrace him with an iron grip.
"Uncle Kopa!"
"I was overjoyed when I learned his holiness, and Queen Rani chose you to become the new King of Outremer. I promised your father I'd keep a close eye on you."
"Forgive me, uncle. I almost forgot you were out here. Congratulations on your election to grandmaster." Kopa bowed his head humbly and crossed himself.
"I only did my duty all these years. Just as you will."
"Wow, the Kopa! It's an honor to meet you, grandmaster." Ono said.
"Ahh, Kion's famous Lion Guard. I'm glad Outremer has you as well."
"Oui! Those Sonn don't stand a chance!" Bunga declared. Kopa's face hardened slightly, making Kion somewhat concerned.
"I hope so." Kopa, wasn't actually Simba's brother, but his childhood friend, whom he named his first son after.
"Well then, we shouldn't delay. Deiurbem and your Queen await."
Kion eagerly nodded. A few of the arriving Templars also greeted Kopa and received instructions before a Templar Lieutenant, Vegter, led them off.
Most of the retinue Kion brought with him would trickle out over several hours, with the Prince and his Lion Guard leaving Acre alongside Kopa.
Fuli lost herself to Outremer's beauty as she took in the lush paradise, a sea of greenery through palm forests, grass, vibrant rivers, and farmland stretching for miles.
The farmers used the same three-field system from Europe, such innovations brought via the first Crusade, alongside masterful castles grander than anything they'd seen in France.
"It's incredible! This is God's masterpiece!" Ono said, nearly coming to tears.
"I've never seen anything like it!" Beshte muttered when he looked at a waterfall nearby.
"The coast is the most fertile. There are more arid areas further inland and deserts."
"Kion, can I have an estate in this part of the Kingdom!?" Bunga cried.
"Bunga, wait your turn." Fuli almost growled.
However, Kion saw ominous signs in the distance despite the beauty, particularly with the number of castles and Templars/Hospitallers escorting caravans along the roads.
"Sonn raids, do they come this deep?" Kion asked warily. Kopa took a deep breath and nodded.
"They can. It's why we need so many castles to counter them and provide safe havens for the commoners."
Kion and his Guard hardened their expressions, particularly when they saw a cemetery with marked graves and greaving commoners placing flowers over the tombstones.
Each crossed themselves and tightened the grips on their reins.
"Not for much longer." Kion growled.
"Let's see how they deal with the Lions of France!" Bunga growled.
"Indeed." Kopa said with a smile.
After several hours they saw another city before them with countless caravans coming in and out of the great fortified walls. The Prince and his companions lost their breath when they saw Deiurbem for the first time. The same city where Christ preached, performed miracles, died, and rose again, the most sacred city in all of Christendom.
Kion dismounted and fell to his knees in prayer, followed quickly by the others.
"I remember when I first saw Deiurbem. It's something beyond this world, something everlasting." Kopa said. When they reached the gates, Kion saw white flags with the Outremer sigil flying atop the walls over men-at-arms, dressed in the same equipment as soldiers back in France.
"Who would enter?" A sergeant asked.
"Templar Grandmaster Kopa and Prince Kion of the Angevine Empire!" Kopa answered.
"Your majesty! Welcome to Deiurbem!" The sergeant, despite being of mixed origin, still spoke French. However, his and Kopa's accents were quite different from any spoken back in Europe. Of course, there were regional accents in the Angevine Empire, but these sounded quite unique.
Once inside, Kion and the others took in Deiurbem's bustling atmosphere, much like Acre's. However, the Lion Guard's attention soon became fixed on the royal palace with its grand architecture and clear Aurevitas influence with its domes.
"Incredible!"
"Don't get used to it Anga. We won't be spending too much time here." Kion said, earning a smile from Kopa.
"A King doesn't rule from a palace. He rules on a saddle." Kion continued.
"Still, I can't wait to see what it looks like." Bunga said.
"Well you'll have to wait a little longer." Kopa said as he turned them down another street moving away from the palace.
"Huh? Where are we going?" Kion asked.
"My orders were to take you to Queen Rani." Kion grew particularly interested as he saw Kopa's smile widen. The Templar took them down a destitute street with many downtrodden and beggers moving about while clergymen and Hospitallers did their best to provide aid. Including distributing blankets, food, and water.
An old woman practically in dirty rags came up to Beshte begging in another language. Taking pity, the Norman Knight took his waterskin and handed it to her.
He smiled upon seeing the woman quench her thirst, muttering something before offering it back. However, Beshte shook his head and pushed the waterskin back into her hands.
The others followed his example, including Kion, who emptied his purse entirely by the time they reached their destination, a Hospitaller orphanage.
Two of the nuns greeted Kopa before gasping upon seeing Kion.
"Your majesty, this way."
Once inside, Kion came to an open room where three fully-armored Knights adorned with the Outremer cross on their dark-blue surcoats and three other armored men stood guard.
These men weren't Knights, nor were they Frankish in origin who kept their faces hidden behind chainmail aventail and helmets, their broad shoulders and torso covered in chainmail hauberks and immense-steel lamellar cuirass.
"Perdidit cataphracts." Beshte whispered to Kion. Perdidit was a principality within the Kingdom of Outremer like the Principality of Principatum. However, Perdidit was unique in that it was ruled entirely by the descants of Outremer's natives and followed Eastern Orthodoxy, though the Principality itself still owed allegiance to the Frankish Kings of Outremer.
These six armored men turned to Kion and watched him closely until they saw Kopa and eased their stance, each nodding.
Before Kion could speak, he saw a few dozen children all surrounding a young woman his age. The young woman wore an elegant dress of blue silk with areas of gold and black swan feathers covering her slender body, topped off by a golden crown with a sapphire gemstone in the center. Her skin was almost the same tone as the natives, though not entirely as tan. Her raven-black hair extended past her shoulders, well-groomed but free, with a pair of deep brown eyes shining from her beautiful face.
Despite her rich appearance, she carried a soothing and gentle demeanor while kneeling in front of a little boy.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Lorin." He muttered, trembling as he did so. However, the Queen eased him with her warm hands on his shoulders.
"It's alright. Your father was a soldier, wasn't he?" Lorin nodded.
"He died." The boy said, on the verge of tears. The Queen hugged Lorin tightly with a sincere expression.
"He fought under my father protecting the Kingdom and everyone in it, and I'm eternally grateful for his sacrifice. Right now, he's with the Lord in heaven watching over you." Lorin remained silent, at least until Rani took out a small crucifix necklace and placed it around his neck.
"I want you to remember your father with this because he and Christ both died for us. Now to show my gratitude, I'm going to make sure you're taken care of, all of you!"
Kion felt his heart race like a destrier as he watched her. One by one, she spoke with the children while two royal aides distributed toys out and another gave a large sack of Bezants.
"Queen Rani of Outremer." Kopa said.
"I like her already." Ono said with a deep smile.
Anga and Fuli watched the Queen closely, both impressed by her generosity but also cautious. Neither and felt protective over Kion.
One of Rani's ladies in waiting, a young woman with long black hair and blue eyes, caught Bunga's eyes. She glanced his way and smiled, making the Knight turn slightly red.
"Something on your mind?" Anga asked, nearly making him jump and causing the noblewoman to giggle.
"Your highness, we have some visitors." She said to the Queen, who nodded.
"Merci, Binga." Rani's eyes met Kion's, and the two royals stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. The Queen saw Kion's Plantagenet sigil and looked him over, the warmth in her expression vanishing into something almost harsh.
Fuli tightened her grip and returned Rani's gaze.
"She's sizing him up." Anga whispered with similar distrust.
"Hmp, sizing Kion up? I still haven't decided if she's good enough for him."
"Prince Kion, I presume?"
"Oui, Queen Rani. It's a privilege to finally meet you." Kion bowed his head, and the Queen slowly extended her hand for him to kiss.
"The Lion of The Angevine Empire, my Queen. I assure you, he's everything we were promised." Kopa said, placing a hand on Kion's shoulder.
Despite this, Rani narrowed her eyes towards Kion.
"We'll see."
Kion's stomach churned full of angst. His betrothed certainly was a lioness herself. The palace interior proved even more extravagant than the one in Angers, with great artwork and architecture of catholic and orthodox origin mixing well with each other.
However, they didn't have much time to appreciate it, for Rani immediately brought Kion into a large chamber with a map of the Kingdom set on a table with two more nobles waiting for them.
One, a tall man of clearly Norman-French origin with golden-blonde hair that almost looked white, though not from age, for he looked perhaps thirty-three.
The man next to him was in his mid-twenties, not Frankish, but native Perdidit, with brown skin and matching hair. He wore the same kind of armor as Rani's cataphract bodyguards, though with an additional scale breastplate.
"Rani." He said with a glowing smile.
"Baliyo!" Rani rushed to meet the young man and embraced him before they began speaking in Aurevitas.
"Who is that?" Beshte asked.
"Baliyo, Prince of Perdidit, and the Queen's brother." Kopa answered.
"Brother? Wait, shouldn't he be the King then?" Bunga asked.
"No, they're only half-siblings. You see, his father was the previous Prince of Perdidit and married a niece of the Aurevitas Emperor, Princess Ananda. Together they had Baliyo, but the Prince died a year later, leaving his brother Surak as regent until Baliyo came of age. However, given her prestige, Princess Ananda's uncle Emperor Manuel insisted she remarry. Thus she became betrothed to King Sahashi of Outremer, and together, they had Rani. Sadly, her majesty passed away several years ago." Kopa said, crossing himself.
"Her brother." Kion thought, noticing Baliyo stare at him with a look of distrust and warning.
"Prince Kion, the honor is mine." The other nobleman said, bowing his head.
"Huh? Oh yes, it's a pleasure, Lord?"
"Rune, Prince of Principatum and current Constable of Outremer."
"Oui! I'm privileged to be here."
"Indeed, we've heard many great things about you, and I can see you have a keen mind for loyal friends already." He said, nodding approvingly at Beshte.
"We Normans can spot each other easily."
"I've fought alongside Normans my whole life. It does my heart good to know I have a whole Principality of them now."
"Prince Kion." Baliyo finally spoke, though with a passive-aggressiveness behind it.
"Prince Baliyo." Kion said back respectfully.
"Soon to be King, Kion. Your King." Fuli reminded Baliyo with a smirk.
Baliyo and Rani glared at her, but the noblewoman didn't back down.
"These are my closest companions. Sir Bunga and Sir Beshte, Lady Fuli and Anga, and my Chaplain, Ono. Together they make up my Lion Guard."
"Indeed, the fiercest company in Christendom!" Bunga declared.
"At least they're confident." Binga giggled to Rani.
"When is Kion going to get coronated anyway?" Anga asked.
"Anga-" Kion started.
"Soon enough, but make no mistake, you're in the most dangerous place on Earth. If you think you're going to come into the Kingdom my father and countless others devoted their lives to protecting even to their dying breath and take it as some prize, you're sadly mistaken." Rani growled.
Kopa and the others opened their mouths, but Kion beat them to the punch.
"You agreed to this union, Queen Rani. Which means you know what I've done back in France and England." Kion growled like a lion.
"I didn't come here to lose myself to palace life, I came here to serve Christ and his people, so if you're done antagonizing my friends and me, can we get down to business."
Rani and Baliyo looked taken aback by Kion's aggressive response, and for a moment, Fuli and Anga thought they saw Rani blush.
"Right." Together they saw down and spent the next two hours going over details about the Kingdom. Including the various towns, cities, and castles, the lords of each barony, which estates were owned by the Templars or Hospitallers, and the income brought in.
Kion listened diligently and had Ono write down notes.
"How many troops can the Kingdom raise?" Kion asked cautiously. Rani, Kopa, Baliyo, and Rune each took a deep breath, their wariness concerning the Lion Guard.
"The Principality of Principatum can raise roughly forty-five hundred infantry, eighteen-hundred light cavalry, and five-hundred mounted knights." Rune said.
"Perdidit can raise five-thousand infantry, twenty-two hundred light cavalry, and eight-hundred cataphracts." Baliyo continued.
"The Templars and Hospitallers can raise roughly twenty-two hundred light cavalry and a thousand Knights between us." Kopa said.
"The rest of the Kingdom can raise Eight-thousand infantry, twenty-three hundred light cavalry, and twelve hundred Knights." Rani said.
Kion took a deep breath and nodded.
"I brought roughly thirteen-hundred men with me, a thousand infantry and three-hundred Knights. That gives the Kingdom a little more than thirty-thousand fighting men." Kion muttered.
"That's plenty!" Bunga said dismissively.
"That's all we have!" Baliyo growled.
"If our army is destroyed, the Kingdom is helpless! There is no other Christian Kingdom for hundreds of miles to provide us with aid!" Rani added.
"What about the Aurevitas?" Anga asked.
"I'm afraid not, they have their own troubles with the Sonn, and their new Emperor is increasingly hostile towards us, claiming that Outremer is rightfully his." Rune said.
"What about the Sonn?" Kion asked.
He saw something he hadn't expected to see in Rani and the others, fear.
"Their King, Radcliffe, has completed his conquest of the Persians and now surrounds the Kingdom. He has almost eighty-thousand men under his command."
"Eighty-thousand!" Ono almost screamed.
The others also began to tremble.
"However, he has to keep much of his army in Persia to suppress the rebels." Kopa added.
At that, Kion relaxed a little.
"So, any decision to commit to pitched battles is done so at great risk."
Rani nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Now, about Kion's coronation." Fuli said.
"Fuli-" Kion started.
"There's no point delaying it. You came here to serve. The sooner you have a crown on your head, the sooner you can get to work."
"In more ways than one, the Kingdom needs an heir too." Binga giggled.
The others certainly hadn't expected that, particularly Rani, whose face turned bright red as she furiously turned to her giggling lady-in waiting.
"Binga!"
"Binga!" Baliyo growled.
"Wow." Ono muttered, crossing himself.
"She's unbelieveable." Bunga said, blushing.
Anga, Beshte, Kopa, and Rune all chuckled under their breaths, while Fuli merely grinned.
"She's not wrong, you know." Fuli whispered into Kion's ear, turning his face bright red.
That night, Kion stood inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and struggled to take in its endless majesty. Twas on this very spot where Christ rose from the dead and redeemed mankind, a place where countless pilgrims came to offer themselves up to the Lord.
Kion gazed upon the heavenly colors and artwork depicting Christ's birth, miracles, passion, and resurrection, and for a brief moment, almost forgot why he was there.
"Kion." Bunga whispered, snapping the Prince back to attention as he stood near the altar with Bunga, Ono, and Beshte.
Noblemen, noblewomen, and clergy from across Outremer stood in attendance alongside commoners allowed in where there was space. An angelic choir sang joyful hymns as Baliyo led Rani down the aisle.
Her dress was imperial purple with clear Aurevitas fashion that emphasized Rani's immense beauty alongside her crown. So much so that Kion didn't even notice Baliyo's intense gaze as he reluctantly gave his sister away, kissing her cheek before returning to the bride's side near his own wife, Afia.
Taking a deep breath, Kion and Rani joined hands and laid down together on a rug placed a few feet from the altar. Bunga, Ono, Beshte, and Binga placed a large veil over the bride and groom, then began slowly chanting. A server handed an older clergyman in front of them a goblet of holy water.
This man, Rani introduced earlier as Old George, the Patriarch of Deiurbem, and taking the rings from Bunga, he bathed them in the water while chanting in Latin.
"Heavenly Father, bless this water with your divinity." He then knelt before the veil and carefully placed the rings in their joined hands. From there, thirteen coins of pure silver were set down before them, and each received blessed water.
Kion breathed slowly and got up with Rani. He could feel her hand shutter but gently moved the Queen along. With the veil moved, they walked to the altar where they stood with Old George.
"My Lord, your majesty. Please take the rings and say your vows." Lucas carefully took Kasrin's ring and performed a holy sign just in front of her.
"I, Kion de Plantagenet, in the name of Christ, our savior, do take you as my wife. In this world and the next, I will protect, cherish, and honor you." Kion stared deeply into Rani's eyes as he spoke and, for a brief moment, thought he saw a glitter of passion in her gaze.
"I, Rani de Châteaudun, in the name of Christ, our savior, do take you as my husband. In this world and the next, I will support, preserve, and honor you." After placing the rings on each other's fingers, George put his hand on theirs.
"Heavenly Father, by your divine grace, unify them as one being in your name. One soul, one union, husband, and wife. I declare this holy matrimony complete." At that, the church erupted into applause, with Bunga and Fuli cheering louder than the others.
Kion smiled and moved to kiss Rani. However, her expression remained severe and directed him back to Old George, who now held a crown much like Rani's, with the same blue gemstone in the center.
Kion trembled slightly but mustered his confidence and knelt down before the Patriarch.
"Oh boy!" Bunga almost screamed in anticipation.
"On this day, under our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hereby anoint thee, Kion the First, King Consort of Deiurbem." Old George placed sacred oil upon Kion's forehead and then slowly set the crown atop his head.
"Long may he reign!"
"Long may he reign!" The crowd declared, with Kion's Lion Guard crying louder than any other. Kion himself struggled to get up, for he'd knelt a Prince, and now he rose a King and truly felt the weight upon his shoulders.
That evening, a grand celebration took place in the palace. A great feast, jubilant music, great dancers, and entertainers dazzled the crowd of nobles, foreign dignitaries, and commoners alike.
Kion found himself drowned in a sea of guests from every corner of Outremer. One by one, Rani introduced him to the dignitaries, to which Kion saw the warm and gentle Queen he'd first met in the orphanage come back as she spoke with them. How he longed to have a moment alone with her.
It wasn't as if this was his first time being among so many nobles at such a ceremony. But this was his wedding and his coronation, and complete strangers surrounded him instead of the people and nobility from the Angevine Empire he'd known his whole life.
There was, of course, his Lion Guard and the others who'd joined him, but right now, he found himself completely cut off from them. Out of the corner of his eye, Kion saw Bunga in a vigorous dance among many others.
Ono, Beshte, and Fuli, however, did try to reach Kion and back him up but to no avail.
"Grrrr, I don't like this." Fuli growled.
"Me either." Ono muttered as Fuli towards Beshte with a slight smirk.
"Beshte, you could barrel through that crowd if you wanted. Go on, clear us a path."
"Fuli." The Norman said.
"Guys, Kion's fine. He's got to meet these nobles at some point. Let's just enjoy the evening." Anga countered.
"How can we have a good night when Kion's clearly so miserable!" Fuli growled louder, emphasizing the courtiers circling their friend like vultures.
"What is your plan exactly, have Beshte smash through the crowd and fight them off?"
Fuli, Ono, and Beshte went silent, unable to answer her.
"It's not ideal, but he just has to power through it. If he's going to be the King, he will have to deal with things worse than this. Now let's just relax while we can because soon enough, we're going to be right beside him facing those hardships." Anga took Ono by the hand and pulled him back onto the dance floor.
"Maybe she's right." Beshte said, earning a deep sigh from Fuli before she noticed Beshte offering her his hand.
"Why not."
Meanwhile, Kion endured the endless talks from a baron and Baroness.
"And that's why our boy ought to be considered for the marriage to Count Tripoli's daughter! He's a proven warrior and statesman!" The Baroness insisted.
"We'll certainly consider Piere, Lady Eleanor, but we must be fair to the other suitors." Rani said respectfully.
"If he is a capable Knight, I'd very much like to see him carry a lance against our enemies." Kion added, earning a vigorous nod from the Baron.
"I assure you, he's as good as any Knight back in France, my liege."
"High praise, to be sure, but in the Angevine Empire, we trust most what's proven to us."
"Indeed." Baliyo muttered under his breath from nearby. Rani glanced back at her brother for a moment before she noticed Afia tugging him towards the dance floor.
"Your highness." Old George's voice drew Kion and Rani's attention, and the Patriarch approached with an aged but comforting expression.
"Your excellency-" Kion started.
"Come now, my King. There's no need for such formalities. I'm not just here as the spiritual father of Deiurbem, but for you as well." Kion found his smile returning.
"You may have competition. I already have my personal chaplain." Kion emphasized Ono earning a chuckle from the Patriarch.
"I look forward to working with him. The young can offer just as much to the aged."
"Trust me. You're going to need Old George before long. He's been like another father to me." Rani hugged the clergyman, who hugged her back like a devoted guardian.
"I'm grateful to our heavenly father to have such a devoted Queen and even more grateful to know that the Grandson of King Mufasa the Bold has become her King. If you're anything like him, I'd say God smiles on us indeed."
Hearing George say this eased Kion and Rani alike, and the two looked back at each other.
"Wait, you two haven't danced together yet. No, this won't due, clear the way for your King and Queen!" Old George declared. The crowd dispersed and gave the two an opening.
Feeling his heart race faster, Kion took Rani by the hand and slowly led her out onto the dance floor, where they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
"Your majesty!" A voice pierced Kion and Rani's ears, making them grit their teeth. Rani almost growled at the approaching messenger, who panted with sweat trickling down his face.
"Forgive the interruption, but an ambassador has arrived from the Sonn." The entire palace went as silent as the crypt before murmurs arose in the corners.
"Sonn." Bunga and the other members of the Lion Guard narrowed their eyes in anticipation.
"Send him in." Rani growled.
Kion slowly watched as three men entered. They were relatively small in stature, standing roughly five-foot-five in height with skin fairer than the natives of Outremer but still tanner than the Franks. Their eyes were slightly narrowed by design with rather handsome faces and thing black mustaches. One wore elephant green robes with two mailed guards carrying curved scimitars.
"Greetings, Queen Rani." The emissary smiled with far too much satisfaction towards Rani, causing King and Queen alike to harden their expressions.
"Emir, Makucha." Rani tried to put on the facade of respect but struggled to do so. Makucha turned his unsavory eyes onto Kion, and an unsettling silence followed as he sized up the new King of Outremer.
"So, this is he, your new King. Kion was it?"
"Kion de Plantagenet." Kion answered firmly.
"Well, congratulations on your marriage and coronation. I trust you're handling it well enough, being so far from home, and help."
Kion heard the clear threat in his voice but remained firm.
"They're not as far as you think. My Grandfather is proof of that." Hearing Kion saw this earned a smile from Rani and many others, but Makucha merely chuckled.
"Indeed, my liege, King Radcliffe is most grateful for your Grandfather culling the Sonn herd and opening the door for his ascension. In fact, he has a gift for you to celebrate your coronation." Makucha's smile turned malevolent as he approached Kion holding something wrapped in cloth.
Two nearby Knights and Cataphracts grabbed their sword pommels while Fuli and the others tried to move in. However, Kion slowly moved the cloth and felt his heartrate hasten along with Rani's when they saw a Persian crown with bloodstains still visible across the edge.
"You needn't worry about returning it. He'll have it back soon enough, along with two more."
Rani opened her mouth to speak, but Kion beat her to it.
"He's free to try, but one who enters a lion's den does so at the risk of his own life."
"That's right!" Bunga cried.
Makucha, however, only laughed.
"Good, King Radcliffe loves hunting lions."
Kion took one step forward, emphasizing his vastly more enormous stature as he virtually towered over Makucha, who only now realized just how big the Plantagenet was and struggled not to tremble.
"He should be careful, one misstep, and the hunter can easily become the prey, especially when hunting something like a lion and a lioness." Kion emphasized Rani, who finally smiled confidently.
At this, Makucha left, and the audience applauded.
"That's our King!" Fuli cried, and even Baliyo found himself impressed.
Later that evening, Kion stood on a balcony overlooking Deiurbem and the night sky. Makucha and Radcliffe lingered on his mind, but so did his family. The young King wondered when he might see them again if he'd ever see them again...
"Kion." Rani's warm voice lifted Kion out of his trance and he turned back to his wife, who smiled at him with the same love and devotion as she showed back in the orphanage.
"Are you alright?"
Kion took a deep breath and gazed back up at the sky.
"I'm just thinking about my family, is all." Rani came up beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You have a brother and sister, right?"
Kion nodded. Rani thought back to her own family, losing her mother and father. She, of course, had Baliyo, any others like family, but when thinking of her potential King, she never considered taking him from his family.
"I'm sorry if I came off as hostile. I just wanted to be sure you were what Old George claimed you would be." Kion said. Deep pain and agony in Rani's eyes as she looked out at Deiurbem.
"My mother and father devoted their lives to protecting Deiurbem and its people. When my father was on his deathbed, I promised him and God that I'd preserve Outremer no matter what."
Kion heard the deep sorrow in Rani's eyes and even saw her tear up slightly. The King placed his arm around his Queen and pulled her in for a warm embrace.
"I'm honored that you saw me as worthy of such a privilege and responsibility. Before the Holy Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary, I swear to devote my life to you and Outremer, to my dying breath."
Rani wiped away her tears and looked up at Kion with a vigorous smile.
"I saw that with how you handled Makucha. I was told you Plantagenets are Lions. Now I'm quite convinced."
"A lioness needs a lion." Kion returned her burning expression, and Rani tightened her grip around Kion.
"Oui." The Queen reached up and pulled the various pins in her hair, allowing it to flow free in the breeze. Kion didn't wait a moment longer, and with his strong arms, he lifted Rani off her feet, planting a deep and passionate kiss on her lips as she melted away into his arms and returned the Lion King's enthusiasm.