On his eighteenth birthday, Rolf decided. He decided that he was going to take the plunge and ask Kalys to marry him. Part of it was that he'd fallen so madly in love with her that he didn't know how much longer he could wait before asking for her hand, but another part of him wanted to defy the rule system that he'd been subject to his entire life.
He'd had a great fear that the Castle was going to lock him in a room with a girl he didn't know to inform the foolish humans who the Castle wanted its future ruler to marry. Deep down Rolf had no qualms with who the Castle would choose for him; while Castle Glower definitely had a mind of its own, Rolf loved all the people it loved, and had no doubt he would love a woman the Castle chose for him. But it was the principle of the matter. Rolf wanted to be the one to decide all of such things. After all, he hadn't been the one to decide his life's path, and maybe he wanted to escape that.
Future kingship was something he dreaded. Maybe it was the trauma that still haunted him from being king the first time around, or maybe it was because the thought of making decisions on behalf of millions of people was gut-wrenchingly terrifying. While he'd heard his entire life that he was set out for kingship, had the exact lovable charisma a king would need, it wasn't like anyone had actually asked him whether or not he wanted to be first in line for the throne. The Castle had just decided.
But Rolf wasn't going to let the Castle decide today. Even if Kalys was who the Castle would've chosen to be it's future queen (and everyone at court was convinced that she was), Rolf was going to beat it to the announcement. He considered asking Kalys to marry him right then and there, but his parents would not be very happy with him for not consulting them first. Not that Lulath or Lilah had. Besides, Kalys would box his ears for such an unexpected moment to ask for her hand. He'd ask her tomorrow.
His birthday celebration was extremely wild; they usually were. It had nothing to do with him, but because it was soon after the harvest, ale was very plentiful, and even King Glower didn't hesitate to get a touch tipsy. Maybe, Rolf thought dryly, this would be the best time to ask his parents.
He spent most of the feast trying to track down the woman he wanted for his future bride, but she was stealthy during these sorts of things, and Rolf only caught a few glimpses of the Hathelocke woman. She was probably sneaking around with Celie, something the two did often. When he finally found her, she seemed very keen on taking off again, but Rolf convinced at least to dance with him.
"I hate dancing," Kalys pouted, as Rolf pulled on her hand.
He noticed that she had shed her shoes, and he wondered if Delilah had seen that yet. Her long skirts covered her feet for the most part, but Rolf could see her toes peel out every now and then.
"It's my birthday," he retorted. "At least give me a dance."
She rolled her eyes dramatically, though she took his hand, and settled into the position as he put one hand on her waist. She looked incredibly beautiful; Rolf had no doubt his mother and Lilah had shoved her into such a fancy looking gown, but it truly suited her. Her hair was out of their braids and long down her back, a style that Rolf adored.
Kalys was stubborn though. After three missteps Rolf was beginning to wonder if she was doing it on purpose, and when she dramatically lurched about, he knew she was dancing terribly to get out of it.
"How would the crown prince look with such a terrible dancer at his side?" Kalys reasoned, her apparent Hathelocke accent revealing that she actually was quite relaxed.
"You'll be at my side for my than dancing," he retorted, before quickly realizing what he said.
Kalys let go of his hand for a second, her eyebrows raised. He blushed red, beginning to stammer around, trying to figure out how to fix it. Things were not going according to plan.
"You two have to help me," Rolf said, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.
Pogue and Celie just blinked back at him.
After him and Kalys had very awkwardly parted ways the night before, Rolf had tossed and turned in his bed, waiting until morning. Then he'd sent footmen to find the knight and his sister, telling them it was urgent. Now they all had gathered in his chambers, Pogue and Celie looking a bit annoyed to be there.
"I'm going to ask Kalys to marry me," Rolf said quickly. "But I sort of messed it up last night."
He absentmindedly patted Dagger, relating what had happened. Pogue just laughed, and Celie didn't really seem like she thought it was a big deal.
"It's fine, Rolf," Pogue assured. "What have your parents said?"
Rolf looked down at his feet. "Well, I haven't told them yet."
They both raised their eyebrows. Rolf thought the reaction was a bit dramatic. Celie had been doing things without permission the entirety of her life, and Pogue wasn't exactly one to talk about telling his parents about major life-changing events.
"I'm going to tell them today," he wheedled. "Right before you two help me pick out a betrothal band."
"I want to ask Kalys for her hand," Rolf blurted out, flopping into a chair.
Neither of his parents looked surprised. They stayed silent for a bit, just studying his face, which was just building nerves in his stomach. They wouldn't say, no, would they? Maybe they would say he was too young. Lilah had been engaged at seventeen, and Rolf thought he was much more mature than she had been about such subjects.
"It is approaching the time you should marry," King Glower said reasonably. "And Kalys is a very knowledgeable woman, not to mention has very strong ties to the Castle."
Rolf knew for a fact his parents had no problem with Kalys. They knew she was going to be the future queen as much as he did.
"There is the Castle to consider," Queen Celina told him gently. "Maybe you should wait until it makes its wants clear."
"Don't you think the Ship endangering all of our lives to retrieve Kalys from the Found was clear enough?" He retorted, and King Glower nodded thoughtfully. "I don't want to wait for the Castle. I want to ask her."
He set the betrothal band onto his father's desk. It was a simple ring; but he thought Kalys would like it enough. It had an emerald gemstone, her favorite color, and the gold band was intricately carved.
"I bought this today," he said quietly. "Kalys means a great deal to me. And it also means a great deal to me that I show her that I want to marry her because because I love her, not because the Castle told me to."
They were silent for a bit, and Rolf was worried he had offended them, considering they had been betrothed by the Castle. He inwardly panicked that they would refuse him of his request now. Just as he was about to apologize and try to explain himself, his father spoke.
"I encourage, you, then, Rolf. You're skills and knowledge often surprise me. Your heart for your family and your people is beyond admirable. I trust your judgement, immensely." King Glower paused. "I give you my full blessing to pursue a betrothal with Kalys."
By the time Rolf found Kalys, he was nearly shaking with nerves. He'd often found that if he wanted to do something that made him nervous, the sooner he'd do it, the better. He fingered the ring on his trousers pocket, knowing it was certainly time.
Kalys was in the library; her nose in a book on Sleynth history. Rolf fluttered at the sight, cringing slightly when he remembered their departure the night before. She looked up when she saw him approach, a smile on her face. Rolf prayed she'd forgotten.
"Hello," she said, and Rolf offered his hand to her. She gingerly set the book down, both of them knowing Master Charles would murder them both without the tenderest of care.
"Come with me," he said, wincing at how abrupt his words sounded. "I want to show you something."
She took his hand, lacing her fingers with his as he pulled her from the library. He pulled her through the Castle, ignoring the stares of maids and footmen, and brushing off anyone who tried to talk to him. This was more important.
The sun was setting into oranges and yellows when he pulled her onto one of the northern balconies. Griffins rustled about in the warm air, and one could see a lot of the lower parts of the eastern side of the Castle from there. It was beautiful, but Rolf would rather stare at Kalys. The way her large blue eyes flicked over the landscape, well-rocked hands gripping the balcony.
"I want to ask you something," he stated, heart beating fast.
It was on odd feeling; his nerves building so fast and thick, and yet a feeling of home surrounded him. That as long as he could savor her, he would be alright. Her smile, the way her voice sounded, or how she always smelled like pine trees, even in the summer.
"Go on, then," she said, teasingly, and Rolf melted. How was she so perfect?
He fingered the betrothal band in his pocket, wondering if he should pull it out, now.
"I-I think I have fallen in love with you," he whispered, staring deeply into her eyes.
"Doesn't sound like a question," Kalys teased, taking his hand again.
"Will you be my wife?" He asked, leaning to rest his forehead on hers. "Say you'll marry me."
"Yes."
He kissed her fully, then, hands coming to cup her cheeks. Then he was crushing her into an embrace, holding her close. He kissed her again when they pulled away before fishing in his pocket.
"This is for you," he whispered, sliding the betrothal band onto her finger.
"It's beautiful," she told him gratefully, admiring it.
"Just like you."
