Honor
Chapter Two: Storm
The night had passed fitfully for Princess Annie, but morning brought her comfort as the sky was darkened with the promise of imminent rain. (She secretly hoping that a storm would begin and her concerned father would postpone the trip.) But the universe wasn't working in her favor, apparently.
Annie shoved the dark green dress brutally into the spacious trunk. The princess brushed off her hands and drew herself up. She gave the truck a hard kick for good measure. Her maidservant, Reva, stood off to the side as she watched the princess pack. She seemed to be torn between informing the princess that it was not her station to be packing her own things or joining in on Annie's trunk abuse. She was not overly thrilled about the move either. Sense prevailed, though, and her voice came meekly in the large room.
"Annie?"
The Princess turned to address her maidservant.
"Yes, Reva? If it's about me packing my own things, I'd rather you didn't say it," She sighed loudly as she turned to glare at the trunk at her feet, "I've had my fill of being a proper princess. All it's gotten me is a one way trip to a distant kingdom in France to marry someone I don't want anything to do with."
Reva took a step toward the Princess, "Forgive me, but may I at least help? His Highness would have a fit if he knew you were packing your own trunk."
Annie opened her mouth to respond, but a mild tap on the door cut her off. Annie recognized the knock as that of a servant, probably a young vassal of her father's. Nobles knocked with authority, three sharp taps. The maidservants gave two knocks that were neither loud nor soft, a happy medium. Those who were unfamiliar with the part of the castle reserved for royal chambers knocked timidly. Those who knew of her family reputation as the 'black sheep' also knocked timidly, except for those who she was personally acquainted with.
Reva moved to open the door. Sure enough, it was a young lad at the door. He wore a tunic that bore her father's emblem. He bowed uncertainly to Annie, and the Princess realized that he must have heard her kick the truck. He must think of her as a violent maniac.
"Good day, P-Princess Annie. His H-Highness the King wishes m-me to inform you t-that you are not to p-pack your own things..." He trailed off meekly. He fidgeted noticeably.
Annie sighed loudly, "Of course I can't. Dismissed."
The boy turned tail and nearly ran out of the room.
She shifted her attention back to Reva, "Father certainly knows me too well," she gave a dark chuckle, "You win, Reva. Should I pick them out and you put them in the truck?"
Reva nodded solemnly, but laughed internally at the poor boy. Annie was by no means a cruel person; she simply didn't like the ways of being a proper princess. She preferred boy's breeches and riding horses to pink ruffles and fine china. That was just her personality. Those who mistook her stubbornness and tomboyishness for rudeness or weirdness needed only to get to know her.
Reva only hoped that the French nobles would give Annie a chance.
The packing went quietly for a few minutes, except for a few exasperated moans from Annie upon finding a particularly bright or frilly dress. The solitude was interrupted again by yet another knock. This time, it was Annie who crossed the room and opened the mahogany door, since she was closer to it. The Princess was annoyed by the interruptions to her quiet packing system.
Annie flung the chamber door wide open and confronted the interlopers with all her regal fury, "You can just go tell my father that I'm not packing my own things, so he can stop sending you up here, thank you very much!"
She was about to slam the door shut when she paused to look at those she had just yelled at.
"Well, that was a nice welcome, Princess," a man chuckled sarcastically.
Annie took him in first. He was dressed in the traditional clothing of a royal knight, though he wore no helmet. He was well built and tall. He had black hair that was just starting to grey around the sides. His younger companion was dressed similarly, with messy brown hair and a slightly-larger build. Both men wore amused smiles on their faces.
"Um..." Annie flushed, "I'm sorry, I thought you were one of my father's vassals coming to pester me to be proper again..."
Luckily, Reva had joined the Princess at the chamber door, "Won't you please come in," she asked courteously. She bobbed slightly in a small curtsy.
"Thank you," the brown-haired man spoke. Annie and Reva stepped aside to let them pass. They bowed to Annie as they entered.
"Princess Annie, I presume," mused the black-haired knight, "Hopefully we are in the right place. These castles are quite large and confusing."
"That is correct, I am Princess Annie," Annie turned to her guests, "But I am still in the dark as to who you two are."
The black-haired man nodded before he went on to say, "I am Sir Arthur, and this is Sir August. Or Auggie, as he prefers to be called," Arthur motioned to Auggie, who nodded his hello, "We were sent by your father, but not to scold you into being proper. We are to be your guards during your journey and during your time in France."
Annie laughed out loud, even though it wasn't proper for her to do so in front of guests,"'During my time in France', hah! You make it sound as though I'm coming back! They intend to marry me off to this Prince Jai! I doubt I'll ever see this castle again!"
"Well, thinking like that won't get you anywhere," reasoned the one identified as Auggie. He smiled at her, "You never know what might happen, Princess."
Annie heard the familiar sound of rain pattering against the stone walls outside, "I don't know what you think is going to happen, Sir Auggie, but I hear certainly wedding bells..."