Chapter 10/Week Sixteen/Ten Months Left
Marianne takes a moment to breathe as she leans against her chamber door, caring nothing about the discomfort it brings her squashed wings. If she had thought the first week her daring guest had inhabited the castle had brought chaos, then this was nothing short of calamity.
In Bog's defense, it wasn't his fault. Not entirely anyway.
Three weeks ago had been a turning point of sorts. She discovered that Bog had magic, restrained though it was by Plum's curse. Bog saw visions of the moment Plum cursed those of the castle and also of the day she made her bargain. She grew fearful for his safety after the ensuing conversation as they headed back to the castle and could only find peace if she talked to his mother that very night.
The things that were revealed as she talked with Stuff, Griselda, and Thang had brought about the most change. Stuff's animosity toward her being stemmed from her fierce protection of Bog and not because she disliked the cursed human queen, a seemingly insignificant thing but important to Marianne. Huron's regrettable failure at keeping the royal court's matters a secret. Griselda and Bog's deeper connection to Roland than just the land issue. And something far more important. The discovery of why Sir Lionel was so insistent about his grandson marrying a member of the royal family, specifically the one next in line for the throne, that they coerced the former queen to declare her own sister a traitor and betrothed Roland to her own daughter.
Marianne had known Roland was power-hungry, his lust-addled words to his doxy had confirmed such, but she hadn't known that she was merely a pawn in his family's quest to return to their birthright. A birthright her ancestor seemingly stole.
The first thing she had done after returning to the castle that night was to scour the archives to confirm Griselda's words and there were ample records that both helped and frustrated her. She knew about her ancestor's feat, a low-ranking foot soldier who rose to protect his infant prince when marauders ravaged the land when the former king succumbed to a long-term illness, his queen having died at childbirth. The kingdom was in turmoil when Lucas arose to rally the others to defend their kingdom and he organized the kingdom's forces with cunning and brilliance despite his poor beginnings. It was through his leadership that not only had they managed to repel the enemies surrounding them, but it gave peace and order to the kingdom that had been lacking with their king having been in such poor health for so many years.
It was no wonder the kingdom's inhabitants cried for him to be their king. But Lucas had resisted their pleas, reigning only as regent as his prince grew older under his care. Then came the day of Lucas' sudden death shortly after his thirty-third birthday.
All of Marianne's lessons never explained what happened to the former prince, just that the death of Lucas came with his own son being declared heir to the kingdom, having been crowned king when he turned eighteen four years later. Even the archives held no information concerning the fate of the last member of the previous royal family and it was just assumed that the young prince died.
Griselda told differently. A story passed from father to children of how Prince Griswald was rejected as king because the people favored Lucas and when Lucas died two years before the true royal became of age to take the throne, the people chose Eric to take his father's place. Prince Griswald had feared for his life when the son showed none of his father's honor or humility and had fled the castle to live as an unassuming peasant for the rest of his life. It wasn't until Griselda's great-grandfather that the desire for revenge and to reclaim the throne had entered the minds of Prince Griswald's descendants.
Realizing that Roland would not stop in his quest to become king had been a fearful discovery with the added knowledge that her death would leave Dawn vulnerable to his advances. The terror that gripped her the following day had been hard to conceal, though Bog had easily recognized that something bothered her and had been unsettled himself. She had been unable to tell him until the day after when she joined him at his mother's once she finished her duties.
The poor man had thought she had been upset at finding out about his mother's lineage and being related to Roland. She had quickly set his mind at ease before explaining her concerns about Dawn. It was an easily solved matter to ensure her little sister would not become Roland's second wife, but Bog had...immensely overreacted at the suggestion of marrying the former queen's youngest daughter.
Only in her deepest heart would she admit that his reaction thrilled her, and not just because he had no desire to fulfill his great-great-grandfather's thirst for revenge.
Her second choice for Dawn's suitor had taken some time to convince his father but King Hasani had eventually agreed to the match when assured that the curse that had befallen her kingdom would be lifted. He was also pleased that she was more interested in both young royals agreeing to the match themselves than for them to just arrange the whole matter and force them into it.
"Marianne! Quit hiding from me!" Dawn whines, her tiny fists pounding on the door with surprising force. "How could you do this to me?!"
"Dawn, it's not as bad as all that," Marianne huffs softly, opening the door to allow her tiny angry sister to perch on the forefinger of her right hand.
"You betrothed me to a foreign prince!" Dawn screeches.
"You didn't hear a word I said, did you?" Marianne questions dryly.
"Of course I did," Dawn defends. "You said that you found me a suitable husband and he's going to be here today so I can meet him. I'm not even sixteen yet!"
"You'll be sixteen next week," Marianne reminds, gently tapping a clawed finger on her sister's blonde head. "And you're not betrothed yet. King Hasani and I agreed to let the two of you decide whether you're a good match for each other."
"Well, he's still a foreign prince. If we do get married, I'll have to move to his kingdom," Dawn huffs.
"Prince Sunny is the youngest of King Hasani's six sons and he's not in line for succession as the two eldest brothers already have children of their own. Should you two agree to this union, Prince Sunny will move here and rule our kingdom by your side when you become queen," Marianne explains.
"As if I'll get the chance to be queen," Dawn scoffs playfully. "You may say you're not going to marry, Marianne, but you'll change your mind and beget the new crown prince or princess before That day."
Marianne can't stop the soft sigh at the mention and absentmindedly twists the polished intricately-carved wooden band around the fourth finger of her left hand with the thumb. Her bargain with the goblin and Sugar Plum's curse ensured that she would beget no heirs. But even if the goblin returned in time to force the curse to be removed, she was still doomed to the royal curse.
Now knowing of Prince Griswald's ousting by her own ancestor, she can only wonder if the curse is somehow connected.
"But what am I going to wear?!" Dawn gasps, disrupting her sister's thoughts. "I look a complete mess!"
"You look fine, Dawn," Marianne assures.
"I look cursed, Marianne!" Dawn corrects. "How am I supposed to impress a boy looking like this?! He won't even consider me once he sees what I look like!"
"You're overreacting. Other than your size and wings, you look exactly like your true self," Marianne reassures.
The reassurance falls on deaf ears as Dawn falls deeper into a loud bemoan of how she'll never be able to draw the attention of anyone and that she's doomed to remain loveless. Any attempt at remaining regal vanishes under exasperation and Marianne gives an incredulous look to their nearby father. His expression of barely contained laughter doesn't help. No doubt he would have reminded her of all the times he had to deal with her if he could talk.
"I'm not going!" Dawn states firmly.
"Dawn," Marianne tries.
"I'll look like a fool to him, Marianne!" Dawn whines.
"You look pretty, Your Highness. He'll be the fool if he rejects you," Bog assures.
Turning to thank him, Marianne blinks at Bog's changed attire. Instead of his worn but pleasant green tunic and brown breeches, he was now wearing a new red black-filigreed long tunic and new green breeches. Even his boots appear new.
"I've been recruited to act as your sole attendant during the meeting on behalf of half the castle servants. As long as you don't mind, Your Majesty," Bog explains at both sisters' looks.
"It is fine. Felix had expressed concern he and the others shared about appearing before foreign royalty in their cursed forms," Marianne comments.
"And yet my concerns about appearing like this means nothing?!" Dawn huffs with indignation.
"The meeting tent has been erected within the castle gate and all its furnishings in place as per your orders. King Hasani's entourage has been spotted approaching and they're adding the refreshments as we speak," Bog announces.
"I'm not going!" Dawn repeats.
"Princess Dawn, I shall offer you a bargain," Bog states, bowing before the tiny princess. "If you agree to go to the meeting without any more fuss, giving your royal word that you will take seriously the proposal Her Majesty has made, then I shall kiss your sister."
Marianne can't stop her look of betrayal to the man before her. How could he think such a deal was permissible? And worse, how could she keep from revealing her true feelings if he went through with it?! This is a disaster in the making!
She turns her look of betrayal to her tiny sister when she enthusiastically agrees to the absurd bargain. It's not like she could truly refuse Bog...well, she could. But he was a goblin, half-goblin he may be, and even a bargain made in jest had to be fulfilled or would cause him pain. She would not refuse him a simple token of affection out of fear for her own reaction.
"Remember, Your Highness, a bargain made is a bargain done. Once I kiss your sister, you must meet Prince Sunny, visit with him the entire afternoon, and give him serious consideration as a potential husband," Bog reminds.
"Yes, yes, I understand and have agreed," Dawns responds flippantly, flying to perch on her amused father's head as she starts giggling. "Now kiss my sister!"
The giggling turns to a gasp of outrage and frustrated growling when Bog lifts Marianne's left hand to his lips to kiss the back of it. Her shaking perch doesn't help Dawn's feeling of betrayal when her father laughs at the trickery.
"That's not fair!" Dawn cries.
"Now, now, Your Highness. Neither you nor I specified just where I had to kiss your sister, so kissing her hand is permissible for my end of the bargain," Bog responds, his lips twitching to keep from smirking. "I believe you have just enough time to change your dress, if you so desire, before you need to appear at the castle gate to greet King Hasani."
Watching as her father ambles after her groaning sister, Marianne allows herself a soft chuckle before turning her attention to Bog. She waves him to enter her chambers and gestures toward the fabric within his arms as he obeys.
"Is that the cloak I requested?" Marianne asks.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Mariah just made the finishing touches and asked me to deliver it," Bog answers. "Are you sure about this?"
"I scare my own people with this appearance, and it would not do to frighten King Hasani's people as well. Hiding myself as I do during days of court could appear hostile to our allies, so this is the next best thing," Marianne comments before sighing. "This would be much easier if this...armor would allow me to wear clothes."
"Mariah said the same thing. She was lamenting that her skills were rusty with you having no need for her services since the curse was cast," Bog chuckles, holding the lengthy fabric out for it to be seen.
"Her skills have no lacking to them," Marianne praises, admiring the purple cloak with embroidered designs of gold thread. "Would you assist me, Bog? I don't want to accidentally ruin such exquisite workmanship with my claws."
Marianne turns her back to him when Bog nods and she bites her lower lip as he sets the heavy fabric to rest on her shoulders, his hands running the length of her shoulders to make sure it's settled. Her indifferent composure is hard to maintain when he walks around to the front of her to secure the gold clasp at her throat. But it's nothing compared to her struggle to withhold a gasp when he brings the large hood forward and accidentally brushes against the longest of the black horns, a smooth spiraled pair that curve from the top of her forehead along the top of both sides of her head to curl slightly at its end just past her skull.
If he notices her struggle, he doesn't show it as he continues settling the hood, taking great care that the fabric doesn't snag on the smaller black horns that emerge in front of the larger ones, short curved horns above both of her temples and the slightly larger three that adorns her forehead. She can't stop from closing her eyes when a long finger brushes against her skin as he makes a final adjustment.
"Are you okay?" Bog questions softly.
"Yes, just...tired, I think," Marianne murmurs. "I shall be glad when this is all over."
The feeling of fingers gently touching her face causes her to open her eyes in shock and she stares in open amazement at Bog. It takes all her strength not to lean into the soft touch as he caresses the rough skin.
"Don't give up," Bog pleads quietly. "Stuff promised to open the portal herself if it doesn't open before the curse's deadline, so please don't give up."
"There's more than just Plum's curse involved. There's also...," Marianne starts, stopping as Bog quickly turns his attention to the open door. "We'll talk later."
Bog quickly resumes settling the cloak and fastens the golden cords along the front. Her ears catch the faint sound of soft footfalls just as he finishes.
"King Hasani approaches, Your Majesty," Felix announces after knocking to signify his presence. "I've already sent a servant to inform Princess Dawn and I await your orders."
"Bog of Glenndale shall attend to me and Princess Dawn during the meeting, so no one of the castle is required to appear in King Hasani's presence if they should so choose. However, keep several of the servants outside the tent to assist him in his present duties so that there may be no mishaps," Marianne informs.
"Very good, Your Majesty," Felix comments, bowing before his queen. "I shall accompany those outside the tent to guide Master Bog in his duties, as I'm sure Chancellor Boris will be as well."
"They won't stop calling me that, no matter how many times I tell them it's not appropriate," Bog grumbles after the steward leaves.
Marianne withholds her amusement as she tests her movement under the concealing cloak before leaving her chambers with Bog following close behind.
She had been entirely truthful to Griselda when she praised Bog's capabilities three weeks ago. Bog had been flourishing with the knowledge available to him during his stay at the castle and she had first invited him to accompany her to her duties within the castle grounds nearly six weeks ago.
She won't admit that it was more to have his company more often than to test his abilities. At least, not out loud. It had been enjoyable to hear Bog's thoughts on matters of the kingdom and there were many times her mind betrayed her with thoughts of him in a future that could not exist.
Boris had equally been impressed by Bog's wisdom after the first several days and had taken to calling him Master, a title repeated by the other castle residents. She did not doubt that it was another poorly subtle attempt to convince her of his worthiness for the title of king consort.
As if she needed convincing.