Chapter Four

In the remaining days that led up to the wedding, Cor felt as though he was caught in a current which carried him further and further from where he wanted to be. He saw next to nothing of Aravis or Corin, but he saw plenty of the courtiers who twittered on about seating arrangements and floral arrangements and protocol. He thought of speaking to his father, but the King was occupied elsewhere as the nation unobligingly refused to stop for the royal wedding. Cor felt that the wedding was an invading force which he was powerless to stop. He noted the irony this comparison, and it gave him courage because there might be something he could do yet. If he had saved the country from its greatest peril, surely he could help his brother escape a poorly matched marriage.

No real opportunity presented itself in the intervening days though, and Cor couldn't help but panic a little. He spent the first part of Corin's stag night worrying through the party while Corin got spectacularly drunk in the corner. A bad sign—usually Corin would be cavorting with Dar and Darrin who still acted like children despite being full grown men and knights. When two goblets of wine yielded no inspiration for how he could help his brother out of this mess, Cor decided the least he could do was offer his brother some company.

Prince Erech was sitting at the table nursing Corin through a bottle of wine. "Easy now," he said as Corin tipped a full goblet to his lips and started to drain it. Erech prized the goblet from Corin's hand and replaced it with a glass of water. Then he looked up and noticed Cor. "Hullo, Cor. Join us, won't you?" He kicked out a stool.

Prince Erech was not what the world envisioned Queen Susan's husband would be. He was not a gallant, dashing knight or a handsome prince. He was a woodsman and a farmer. He was a giant bear of a man, broader in shoulder even than Corin, with shaggy black hair and a thick black beard. He stuck out like a sore thumb in Queen Susan's long line of suitors, but then perhaps that was why she chose him. It was well known throughout the Northern countries that they loved each other tenderly.

In addition to this, he and Corin had become good friends. Seeing Erech's smile, Cor could understand why. His face was open and honest. Cor bowed his head in thanks and sat down on the stool.

"Drink up, brother. I'm getting married tomorrow!" Corin slurred. He grinned sickly as he raised his water glass.

"Mmm," Cor said tightly. He was still trying to think of ways to stop the wedding.

Erech poured him a goblet of wine. "I can see you're not very happy about it either," he said in an undertone.

Cor shook his head in brief agreement.

"Erech's in love with his wife," Corin said disjointedly into his water. "This is isn't wine. Where's the wine?"

"You've had enough wine, friend," Erech said.

"Oh no! There's not enough wine. I'm marrying a woman I don't love. That's against your principles, Erech."

Erech took the bait. "Too right it is. Marriage isn't easy, so you'd better make sure it's worth your while. Having someone you love is the only way to be happy."

Cor blinked in surprise and blurted before his manners could stop him "Being married to Queen Susan isn't easy?" The notion was surprising: Queen Susan was one of the sweetest, most peaceable people he had ever met. And they loved each other so much…

"Marriage isn't easy," Erech repeated. "Bringing two people's lives together is a lot of work. But it's like—" he scratched his beard as he looked for a simile, "—like planting a garden. In the spring, when things are new, it's a lot of backbreaking work. But come summer, when the garden's in full flower, you know it's worth it. Mind you, there's always weeding to do."

This assessment gave Cor pause, especially the part about things being hard at the beginning. He thought about all the fights he had with Aravis. At the heart of every argument Cor could see now that he was thinking back, all she wanted was for him to be better, for them to be better. He still found her misguided on occasion, but somehow her misguided zealousness gave him a warm glow of affection. He worried sometimes if they were meant to be with each other since they were at each other's throats so much, but maybe the fighting wasn't so bad after all. He couldn't think of anyone else he would rather be with. A peaceable girl would be boring.

Cor's train of thought was interrupted by a great sniffle. He turned to see his brother with tears dripping off his chin, his cheeks very red. "I wish I was marrying Lucy," he confessed in a choked whisper. "Nothing's hard with her. And even if it were, I wouldn't care because she would be worth it."

"Lucy?" Erech repeated in surprise.

"He's loved her for years," Cor muttered in explanation.

Erech looked nonplussed for a moment, but then an understanding came over his face and he nodded.

Corin buried his hands in his hair, resting his elbows on the table. A profusion of gold curls spilled over his hands, hiding his fingers. "I can't do this. I can't marry her. I'm still in love with Lucy. Why, the night I was supposed to be bundled with her I snuck into Lucy's room instead. I tried to tell Lucy then, but she wouldn't hear it. She kept saying it was too late, that I was already promised. But I still love her. She's right though, isn't she? It's too late. I love Lucy and I'm marrying someone else."

Erech and Cor exchanged a glance, and Erech reached out to pat Corin's arm. "Take it easy, friend."

Corin suddenly sat up and gripped Erech's sleeve. "Erech! You're my friend. You have to help me. We have to make a plan and run away. We have to convince Lucy—" Corin got no further with his plan. He passed out, mid-sentence.