Esmerelda entered the throne room with her head held high while a group of five young men stared at her. Mangu followed close behind with a protective stance with his arms across his chest. She whispered a quick prayer to God as she approached the thrones where the King and Queen were seated. The woman with the beautiful auburn hair smiled at her and Esmerelda let out a breathe as she looked into the woman's blue eyes.
"Welcome, my dear," said the Queen, "My name is Catherine and this is my husband Richard." She gestured to the handsome man on her right as he nodded in approval.
"Welcome to our land," said Richard as he spread his arms out.
"I am pleased to be here, your honor," she said as she did a graceful curtsey.
"These are my sons", said Catherine as she pointed to each one of them with a name. "Johnathan, Edward, Christopher, William and Phillip."
Esmerelda turned to each one of them as their names were announced and curtsied.
"How do you do?" she said as she raised herself.
"I am sorry for the loss of your kingdom," said King Richard.
"You should not lie to yourself, sir," answered Esmerelda with a defiant look in her eyes as she looked at him. "There is no pity in your words nor remorse."
The hall was silent after the statements were said.
"Speak that way is not good," Mangu said.
Esmerelda ducked her head.
"I am sorry for my rudeness, your honor," she said, "it was inappropriate of me."
"Well, anyone would have said the same if they were in your position," said Johnathan as he looked at her.
Esmerelda looked back at him with gratitude in her face.
"It is understandable," exclaimed King Richard, "I deeply do apologize."
Esmerelda looked at Mangu as she tried to hide the tears within her eyes.
"Who is this young man?" asked Queen Catherine as she gestured to Mangu.
"I am Mangu," answered Mangu, "Bodyguard of Princess Esmerelda."
"He is more of a friend than anything," explained Esmerelda with a smile.
"How did you gain that scar across your eye?" asked Johnathan.
"Did you get it from wrestling a bull?" asked Edward with an enthusiastic grin.
"Or did you get it from playing football and a man scratched your eye out?" asked Christopher.
"Or even better, a prank gone wrong?" inquired William and Phillip.
Mangu and Esmerelda chuckled at all the ideas that were being presented.
Catherine and Richard smiled at each other as they could see the bonding of the two countries being formed.
"Street fight protecting Princess," said Mangu.
"It was a street fight at home," explained Esmerelda. "I like to walk into the town and buy fabric to create dresses for myself but I don't like to be accompanied by my father's bodyguards. While we were walking from the dress shop, we came upon a street fight that was happening. While I was walking through the crowds, one of the men that were fighting was pushed into the crowd and into me. I fell down hard and tried to get up, but there were too many. Hands were pulled at everything. My dress, my bags of fabrics, my hair. I felt some men being pulled off and then I saw Mangu grab me out of the crowd and set me on my feet. The man that was pushed into the crowd pulled a knife out of his pocket. He tried to slash at me, but Mangu got in the way and the blade slashed through his face. Mangu grabbed me and we rushed out market. I was extremely grateful for Mangu being there."
"God blessed me," Mangu said pointing to his scar, "Could have been worse."
"Valiant man you are," said King Richard.
Johnathan nodded in agreement.
"I believe you have fighting skills?" he implied to Mangu.
"I was taught by my father who was a great warrior," said Mangu.
"It would be an honor to have you teach some of our soldiers the way of your fighting," Johnathan answered with a bow.
Mangu looked at Johnathan and then at Esmerelda. Esmerelda nodded in approval.
"I would like to show you the armory," Johnathan said as him and Mangu walked out of the throne room.
Catherine rose from her seat and took Esmerelda's hand in her arm.
"We will walk the garden before we talk about business in these next few days," she said as the two women left the throne room.
The King looked at his other sons and sighed.
"What would we do without women?" he said.