Chapter 3 ~A Locket For You~

Finally the day for Prince Derek's first birthday came along. The castle was bustling with joy and many of the guests were from far-off lands. One of them being King William's good friend, Queen Uberta, who had became a widow a few years back when her husband had died due to a rare disease.

"Welcome! Welcome!" King William happily greeted each of his guests as they walked in. He spied Queen Uberta and her 1 and a half year-old daughter amongst the crowd and said, "Glad you could make it Uberta and little Princess Odette!"

"Of course we would! We wouldn't miss it for the world!" Queen Uberta replied. Odette shyly smiled in response.

As they entered the castle, the view was spectacular as the walls were covered with banners with the kingdom's insignia and there was a large banner that said, Happy First Birthday, Prince Derek! A large birthday cake was stationed in front of Prince Derek's cradle. Odette stared at the marvelous decors that surrounded the castle. She wondered if the little prince was just as amazed as she was with the marvelous decors and his large cake.

From the corner of her eye, Queen Uberta saw her daughter's reaction at the magnificent decors.

"They are quite dashing aren't they?" Queen Uberta said to her little daughter

Odette looked at her mom with bright blue eyes, full of wonder, and sort of sparkled and replied, "Yes mommy" while giving her best innocent smile.

Uberta chuckled to herself after seeing her little daughter's response. Odette always made her, and other people's heart melt. She was like an angel sent from heaven itself, except she didn't have a halo around her head or wings at her back. Odette gave her another one of her angelic smiles before taking her hand and saying, "Let's go to the banquet table. So we won't keep the others waiting."

I hope that she'll be like this til she grows up. The queen thought as she looked at her young daughter while they went over to the banquet table, to where the other guests and important people were going to be.

The other guests were already stuffing their mouths full with the food which was prepared especially for them. King William was seated at the far end of the long table, with some dukes and other very important looking people, while Queen Uberta and Odette were on his far left.

"May I have a word?" King William declared as he tapped his goblet with a spoon and stood up from his seat.

At the request all suddenly became still and both all eyes and ears were on King William. As was customary when a person wanted to express him/herself to the public or when the host would like to express gratitude to his/her guests. And listening meant respect to whomever wished to do a speech.

King William cleared his throat before starting his speech to clear a bit of his uneasiness. He was still having a small bit of stage fright. Luckily being a king does have its perks at these kinds of things he thought to himself before gathering all the words he was going to say.

"First of all, I would like to thank all of you for coming. It means a lot to me that you took a small bit of time and effort to celebrate my young son's birthday together with me and our kingdom. I also hope that in also in the future, we will still gather together for balls, festivities and the like."

At the mention of balls and festivities, most of the other guests nodded their head in agreement. Of course, Odette and Queen Uberta were no exception. No one could resist any festival or ball!

" May we all be blessed this day for today is a day that we should celebrate! And a day where no one should be sad or angry. Please enjoy yourselves and once again thank you for coming here today!" Clapping resounded in the whole castle as King William bowed and took his seat. Then the banquet started as the servants started to lay out the food in front of the guests.

The food was as anyone would have imagined it to be. Laid on silver platters and with the best tableware and silverware any royalty would have for their guests. The appetizer was macaroni cream soup, main course was roast chicken, the best in the kingdom, desert was to be much later as the large birthday cake itself was the desert and the drinks were a choice of wine, liquor or juice.

Finally the time came to give their gifts for the young prince Derek. Everyone lined up in front of the cradle and readied their presents. Many of the presents were simple items, houseware, clothes and toys. But Odette's present was unlike those of the others.

When it came to Odette's turn, she slowly made her way to the cradle. She looked at the young Derek, who also looked back at her with inquiring eyes that seemed to say , "Who are you". She took out her present which was a golden locket shaped like a shield with the insignia of a lion on the front. Odette greeted him a "Happy Birthday" before putting the locket in his tiny hand. She had chosen the locket a few days before the party, and she thought that the lion was far way better suited for a prince then any animal because it symbolized bravery, strength and courage, everything that a future king should at least have.

King William and Queen Uberta were looking at the two together. And then they had a crazy idea. Why don't the two of them get hitched?

The two would get hitched and the two kingdoms would be united through their marriage. Perfect, just like hitting two birds with one stone. The plan couldn't be any better for the King and Queen. But, of course, the two would have to meet first.

Queen Uberta rushed to King William in an instant. The expression on her face was one full of joy and expectation. One you would usually see from a villain, I think, or from a baby wanting candy by bribing his parents.

"You thinking the same super great idea I am thinking William?" she asked excitedly, giggling a bit like a child who was expecting to get his/her present from Santa Claus.

"Of, course Uberta I am thinking that our two children should get hitched! You are thinking the same thing I am right? Or is it about something else?" King William asked with one eyebrow raised.

Queen Uberta laughed then said, "Of course it's about the marriage silly! I was wondering where should they meet first. Well, they met now, but you know what I mean."

" What about your place? Since they were here at mine already." King William suggested.

"Ohhh! That's a wonderful no, its a STUPENDOUS idea!" Uberta gleefully said while clapping her hands together like a kid. "When do you want them to meet?"

King William thought about it for quite a while, Uberta got a bit impatient and abruptly blurted out "WELL?"

"Maybe next summer, every summer to be exact, so they could spend some quality time together and bond. And it should be alternate like my place then your place so that they won't get bored." King William said as he pounded his fist on his palm.

"Another STUPENDOUS idea!" Queen Uberta announced loudly.

"Maybe you should lower your voice Uberta, the other guests are looking at you with an annoyed stare, even your daugther is staring too..." King William said after covering his ears from the noise, and looking around.

"Right." She quickly replied after looking around too. Odette shot her a look that said, 'Mother don't forget your manners!' Queen Uberta nodded her head in reply, at this Odette smiled.

"When should we have the-" King William wasn't able to finish his statement as a 'BOOM!' erupted and resounded throughout the palace halls.

That was it for this chapter, hope it isn't too abrupt. :

Sorry for the super late update for the story, I was very lazy, I have to admit. But I was also busy practicing for my guitar recital, i'll be playing Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" for the recital. Please wish us (the band of students im playing with) luck for it!

Don't forget that any comment and review is gratefully accepted so that I may make every chapter awesome for all you readers out there :D