At World's End
Chapter 2
The banquet was a bit of a struggle for Toby Cavanaugh. He was going to be meeting with the royal family, as well as the families with daughters marrying into the royal family. Wasn't he just the odd one out? He was the irrelevant knight. Spencer insisted, since he did slaughter the son of the longtime opponent kingdom's ruler. And he was sure the Hastings would be pleased to know that their daughter was saved from rape, too. Although he did all this, they probably would have been more pleased if King Frederick was slain as well, since he was the true enemy. But William was in heir for the throne anyways, so he needed to be killed, anyways.
"This boy," King David Campbell acknowledged. "You are not a peasant, correct?"
"No, I am a knight for your kingdom, sir," he politely responded. "Miss Spencer Hastings has invited me to this banquet."
"And Spencer, why is that?" King David asked.
"This knight, this knight right here, has killed the William Mason!" she exclaimed. "The filthy bastard is dead after he tried to rape and slaughter me. This true knight swooped in like a hero and stabbed him. We went to the graveyard, and burned his corpse into ashes, then threw them in the river. We did not believe that this damned son deserved a proper burial after his demonic actions. He was a disgrace, sir."
"William Mason?" King David inquired. "You do not mean... King Frederick Mason's son, do you?"
"Of course we mean him," she said, nodding her head. "King Frederick Mason of Ravenswood."
"You, you are a true knight!" King David exclaimed. "What is your name, son?"
"Tobias Cavanaugh," he answered. "Feel free to call me Toby, sir. It is an honor to be in your presence, your highness."
"You think you could slay King Fredrick himself next?" King David asked with a laugh.
"Toby almost had the bastard, but he jumped on his horse like a coward, and trotted away back to Ravenswood," Spencer explained. "He was too big of a wuss to fight back. He would have slaughtered the damned king if he had the opportunity. What a coward, he is. He should not be too difficult to defeat, when he is not with his Ravenswood army. He is quite the coward when away from them, actually."
"You must be quite a knight, my boy," King David said with a grin. "Cynthia, do you not think that this young man should be our personal kingdom knight? At once, he should move into the royal family's castle, and serve us as the most noble knight in all of Rosewood. A knight who has effortlessly slain William Mason is indeed the best knight I could ask for. A little more work, and Frederick will be captured as well."
"What are you proposing, sir?" Toby asked, shocked.
"Be the Campbell knight," he suggested. "I would like you to be. You may move into our castle, living royally and well, just as my sons and their ladies will. The ladies' families shall also move in now, to be with my future prince and King."
"Father, you are asking this stranger man to be our knight?" Andrew asked, folding his arms. "It is just supposed to be us in the castle, as well as Margaret and Spencer's families. How could you change the plans all of a sudden?"
"Andrew, the boy has slain William Mason!" Jasper cried.
"Keep your mouth quiet, you—" Andrew began angrily.
"We shall have time to debate the castle arrangements later," David said. "Tonight, we are supposed to celebrate the future throning arrangements of our family with an elegant banquet, which these Hastings have so generously prepared. Peter and Veronica, you lovely people. I cannot wait for you to join us in the castle."
"Oh, it was no problem, sir," Veronica said, smiling proudly.
The families, as well as Toby, ate well that night. Toby hadn't eaten a dinner so great in his whole life! There was everything to eat that he could ever ask for. Meats, wines, drinks, fruit, vegetables, sweets... it truly was a perfect banquet, and he was so thankful for his encounter with Spencer that day. King David thought he was heroic, and he had the opportunity to move into the royal castle! His father would be so proud.
"The banquet is coming to an end, so here is the part both of my sons have been waiting for," David said with a grin. "Here are the future positions of power. After I am dethroned, taking the crown will be my wonderful, charming, brilliant, handsome son, whom I know will do such great for the kingdom of Rosewood when given the power. The future king of Rosewood will be..."
Andrew thought it would be him. He had done everything his father had asked lately. He had been responsible, good, and everything. The description that his father had said seemed like it fit him. Andrew didn't find Jasper charming, brilliant, handsome, or wonderful, so it didn't make sense for Jasper to become the king of Rosewood.
"...my courageous son, Jasper Marlin Campbell!"
Andrew dropped his wine glass, making it shatter on the floor. All eyes turned on him.
"Of course, that leaves my other son... The responsible, brave, good son, Andrew Phillip Campbell!" David exclaimed. "My good son Andrew shall become the prince of Rosewood, and well deserved this. You are a good man, Andrew."
"Oh, Father!" Jasper exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "What a proud moment it is to be known as the future king of Rosewood. Andrew, you are going to make an excellent prince. I wish you and Spencer the best as the prince ce and princess of Rosewood."
Andrew ignored Jasper's words and stormed off, heading to the balcony. Spencer sighed, setting her napkin down, and following him. She knew she needed to comfort him. He was at a dark hour. She knew how much he was expecting and wanted to be the future king of Rosewood.
"Andrew," she said.
"For what reason could you have followed me here?" Andrew asked, scowling at the town from the balcony. "Jasper is the true king. He and Margaret will be the Lord and the Lady. You and I will just be the prince and the princess."
"The title of you does not matter to me," Spencer assured him. "What I care about is the love we have, Andrew. Is that not what matters?"
"No, it is not!" Andrew cried. "Spencer, I cannot offer you my hand in marriage until I get the title I deserve. I will do everything I must to become the next king of Rosewood. Until then, we will not get married."
"That is silly," she said.
"Do not call my values silly, Spencer," he said, shaking his head. "Jasper is going to be king, I am going to be prince, and that fool Tobias is going to be our knight. This is a day full of all but positive revelations. I am damned."
"Your moronic behavior is making me unhappy," she told him. "If this is the way you are going to be, I will not support you. I am not going to play this foolish game. I thought that we were going to cherish the love that we have, and get married out of love, not power thirst. Your thirst shall not be quenched, for Jasper is going to make an excellent King, Andrew."
"You are supporting my demonic brother?" Andrew asked, offended.
"I am not going to wait around for you to find a way to become the king. I never cared about your title," she told him.
"Dear Spencer, you will not have to wait long," he promised. "I am going to get the throne faster than you will believe, and then we can get married, and have the life you are dreaming of. Everything is going to be perfect in time, my love."
"Until then— until you have your priorities straight— I am not going to be considered your lady," Spencer told him. "I am finished."
"Sweet Spencer!" he cried.
"I am not your lady," she told him.
And that night, she did leave him without a lady. However, he was not too worried. He had a plan. A plan which would lead him to the throne, to become the future king of Rosewood! And at that moment... the moment of his plan's success... Spencer would come back to him, becoming his lady once again. And they would not be the prince and princess of Rosewood. They would become the King and Queen of Rosewood, and rule together, married and happy, with their own sons and daughters. They would get married, and he would take her virgin purity their first night of marriage. That was his plan. He had everything figured out. And in the end, Spencer would be his lady.