Chapter Two
Artur sat at the high table where he and his family sat, along with some chosen guests. He was staring at the doors that lead out into the city of Shandalle, the capital of the country. His father whispered "Do not worry so much, my son. Amaline will be here tonight, I promise you" into his ear. Artur relaxed a bit after hearing his father said that, but only a bit. The gold ring in his pocket felt like a band of ice, and it was getting colder and heavier as each minute passed. He was getting a lump in his throat, and he grabbed a goblet of wine, and drunk it quickly. Myrdin whispered into his wife's ear.
"Methinks that our son is getting slightly nervous, don't you think?" he chuckled a bit, as he watched Artur fidget in his chair. Mailinde gazed at her husband disapprovingly. "Myrdin, why don't you just tell him what you arranged? It would calm our son down, and make me feel better in myself."
"Mailinde, my heart, do you not find it amusing to see our son in love so deeply? As I recall, I was like that when I asked you to marry me." Mailinde and Myrdin smiled.
As the last of the guests walked into the Hall, Artur noticed that Amaline was not there, and nor were her parents. He slumped in his chair dejectedly. Then he saw the last person walk into the Hall, and take off her cloak.
Amaline Tagora stood there, in a gown of pale green silk. Her brown hair and green eyes shone in the firelight, and she had a glimmer of a smile on her face. Her hair was not held back by one of her tiaras, which was how she usually wore it, but loose, flowing down her back. She walked up to the table where Artur and his parents sat, and curtsied formally to them all.
"Your highnesses, Prince Artur," she seemed to say this with fondness in her voice "I am sorry that I am late, Prince Artur, but I was told that I was to be the last guest to walk into this hall. As a noble, I have to follower the orders of my…" Artur cut her off, as he looked at his father, who was trying to smother a laugh.
"Father! You…asked the Lady Amaline…to come in last?" Myrdin nodded, laughing quietly. "It was worth all the gold in Shandalle to see you, my son. Now, I believe that you wanted to ask this good lady something?" Amaline looked at him, with her head on one side, smiling. As Artur fumbled in his pocket for the ring, he thought to himself.
"Light, why do she make me so nervous and be so beautiful?" As he found it, his father banged his goblet down on the table. The music stopped playing. The people stopped dancing. It was as if the whole world had stopped so he could ask Amaline this question. Artur stepped down from the High Table and went to hold both of Amaline's hands in his own.
"Amaline, I have known you for the past two years now, and ever since I met you, I was in love with you. Since that day, my love for has never waned, but increased, and I was wondering if whether or not you would do me the honour of accepting to marry me?" He then pulled out his mother's engagement ring, and looked at her.
"No…" she started, but Artur cut in. "But I thought…"
"Let me finish." Said Amaline. "No question have I ever been asked have I had a more certain answer. Artur Paendrag Tanreall, I accept your proposal." The cheers that shook the hall drowned out any other sound, as Artur and Amaline kissed.