Nixiesocean: So, here it is. My many apologies for not updating sooner! Life, like I states in The Younger Twin, caught up.
Responses:
Piratess of Summer: Just wait 'til they meet again! Also, I've had summer friendships like that, so that was homage to those types of relationships. Heck, I had a friend for six years, who, the year we went on to 6th grade dropped me for the "popular" kids – since I have no social life and am a total bookworm.
Bingo5: Actually, that was misleading. It's ten. The six-year thing was 'cuz I wanted it to be sometime between four and seven, and six came to mind.
Dark Ninja of Mount Hope: Soon! It will! Actually, "soon" is a relative term… I'm not quite sure. It'll be sometime at the end of summer. : - ) Their summer, of course, maybe sooner if I feel like it. Besides… you have to give me time to think up who Mercy's gonna get! Sadly, right now I don't have a match for Mercy… : - ( I know. I'm such a loser.
Anyways, read!
Chapter 7: Ten Years; Was it Truly That Long?
Time flew by, Mercy thought glumly. Only ten years past, she and Marcus had been high-spirited children. Not that they weren't high-spirited now. Marcus was nearly twenty-one. Mercy remembered vividly a southerner princess she had met those ten years ago. The self-absorbed princess had left, leaving an eight-year-old Mercy to cry about no friends, because maids and servants could hardly be princesses.
Mercy was, once again, drawing. She was drawing a picture of the mountain out her parlor window. The sun was setting on it, and threw radiant colors into the sky. A knock on her parlor door brought her attentions to the real world. Her maid opened the door and a runner gave her a small message.
"Your mother requests your presence for a dress fitting." He told her politely. He bowed and the eighteen-year-old princess dismissed him. Marcus' big plans for marriage were well under way. He had to be wed by the Hanor New Year – which was one month before the winter solstice, or he would be unable to inherit the throne, as was custom.
It was just past the Vernal Equinox. He had, officially, eight months until he was to be wed and he hadn't even a bride yet! Queen Anna was going crazy with worry and their father was hurriedly trying to get all the princesses to come to Hanor to see his son, and marry him.
Unfortunately, Marcus had some sort of idea of when exactly the princesses would arrive and would sneak off into the forest.
Mercy knew, but it was a common law between them. Marcus could sneak into the forest when they came, but he couldn't speak about Mercy's help in allowing Her Highness as well as her private lessons in dagger-fighting be brought to attention of the sibling's parents.
It worked well.
Very well.
- - - - - - - - -
My Royal Cousin,
Our son is twenty-one and must be wed one month before the winter solstice. We were wondering if you could, possibly, send one of your daughters to meet our son, and possibly we could arrange a mutually beneficial marriage.
With all my heart,
King Jonas Marcus of Hessex and Queen Anna Lilly of Grayington
- - - - - - - - -
A sheaf of parchment was on Hannah's desk when she arrived in her parlor. She wanted to know why it was there – she had left her writing desk clean when she went to the library. The red-brunette sighed and picked up the folded paper.
The seal was that of her father.
He must have sent this note, She mused as she broke the seal. I wonder what he saw to say. He rarely sends me letters.
She sat down on her chair to read the letter. Her eyes scanned the parchment, not comprehending what was written.
How DARE HE! She yelled to herself. He absolved me of that rule after THEN! I refuse to be a pawn! REFUSE!
Then the princess saw the attached paper. She gasped, barely recognizing the man on the paper, yet, she was totally enchanted by him.
The man had curly hair, and she knew from her memories it was like spun gold. His eyes, she knew, were a sapphire blue and they sparkled. He was well muscled and his body, she saw, had hardened over the years. His eyes still held that mischievous light and his smile was true.
This wasn't the boy she knew. He's changed. She realized.
The bottom on her stomach plummeted to the ground as she looked over him. He was handsome, that was for sure. His teeth were perfect, she saw. He was, if a man could be called such, beautiful.
She bit her lip to balance the sudden feelings she had for this barbaric northerner she knew from ten years past.
Would she go? Unsteadily, she stood, clutching the charcoal portrait of Prince Marcus in her hand. Would she go, as her father wished? Her feet led her to her father's study.
- - - - - - - - -
Cousin,
One of my many daughters is currently on her way. We, my lady and I, hope you will enjoy her company. She is our last unmarried daughter.
I hope the nuptial bells ring in chorus soon,
King Darrin of Diamond Coast
- - - - - - - - -
Marcus knew when the princess had arrived. He had heard one was coming, his "last hope" for marriage before the nobles of Hanor were allowed to be selected. He didn't recognize the seal on the carriage door.
Someone tapped his shoulder.
He turned to see his mother tapping her foot.
He sighed, knowing he'd be forced to attend the meeting for the second time. The first was another northern princess from the neighboring country of Sckvana. He had fled from the hideous princess.
She left two days later.
He went into his rooms and changed out of his hunting garb and into royal clothing. Mercy spotted him.
"Marcus! Why aren't you gone? The princess is here! You should be-"
"In attendance." Queen Anna Lilly interrupted. "You cannot fathom how much this means to me, Marcus. You-"
"Have eight months before I am to be wed, whether it is for my own happiness or not. If I can't find a wife, I'll be wed to some woman of some far reaches and I'll be forced to sire a son with a woman I don't love. Got it, Mother." Anna Lilly, luckily, was a patient woman and didn't have her son whipped for the message. He knew it as well as she and Mercy gawked.
"Do not, dear," Anna told her daughter, "It is rather unbecoming for a princess." She turned on her son, "And do not contract, honey, it is improper."
"Yes, Mother," Marcus replied sullenly. "Any idea who the new meat – I mean princess – is?"
His mother glared. "I do not have any idea. Even if I did, I do not have permission to tell you, Marcus."
This time, it was Marcus who glared. "Come on, Mercy, we might as well go greet her."
Mercy followed behind her brother, and for an instant, the queen saw a girl of eight following her brother of ten. Anna Lilly sighed and wished she could go back to the times when marriage wasn't an issue and her children could be carefree.
Time passed, however, and not ever the queen of Hanor could change time.
She followed their path some time later.
- - - - - - - - -
Hannah's carriage pulled up to the drop-off point for carriages. The royal family was in attendance. They stood in order. King Jonas, Queen Anna, Prince Marcus and her old friend Princess Mercy.
How would Mercy react to her coming back? How would Marcus react? Surely the king and queen had told them!
The carriage halted and the door opened. Gracefully, the nearly twenty-one-year-old princess stooped to get out of the carriage. She saw Marcus' face. She saw Mercy's face. She saw Queen Anna's face.
Her stomach dropped again. She swayed. Marcus was so handsome now. The picture did him an injustice. He stood, but his mouth gaped wide. Mercy knew enough not to gape, but instead her eyes were wide in astonishment. Queen Anna's face was that of polite interest and King Jonas beamed proudly.
Marcus was the first to recover, "I'm sorry, Your Highness," He stepped forward to aid in her decent from the carriage stairs. Mustering every etiquette lesson she knew, Hannah managed to step down from the carriage and still stand.
Where Marcus' hand had touched, she felt on fire, her stomach plummeted and she had to focus intently on getting down in those dratted heels. There was an odd sparkle in his eyes, one that wasn't in that picture. He still held onto her hand, she felt like she couldn't handle it, when the fire nearly raced into her eyes, he let go. He remembered his lines, however, and spoke clearly to those in attendance.
"Welcome, Princess Hannah of Bavar, to Hanor."