Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Has my father eaten?" Avalyn asked her father's man servant, Gerald. He looked back from the rooms he just came and shook his head.

"No, Your Highness.”

Avalyn let out a sigh, "Would you mind bringing tea and see if there is any more of that chocolate cake from earlier?”

Gerald bowed with a smile, "Of course, Your Highness, I'll be quick." Avalyn curtsied and he set off at a brisk walk. Her father needed a second servant but he liked and trusted Gerald too much to have a desire to have another.

She knocked softly on her father's door, “Papa?"

"Come on in, My Love." He called. She pushed open his door to see him sitting hunched over his desk, hand in his short dark hair, his plain gold crown lopsided on his head. She grimaced at his state and walked over to him. She removed the crown off his head and set it on the desk.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Happily she obliged and cuddled into his chest, as he sat back in his chair. He let out a heavy sigh, "You used to fit so much better when you were little. What happened?”

Avalyn giggled. She let his warm, familiar scent fill her nose, the short whiskers on his face catching her hair. They sat quietly cuddling in comfortable silence when Gerald came in. Avalyn didn't open her heavy eyes but felt her father pick his head up.

"What is this?" Her father asked.

"Tea and cake." Avalyn said before Gerald could.

"Tea and cake, as the little princess requested." She smiled and finally sat up. He placed the tray over documents and papers in front of his sovereigns, ignoring his king's scowl.

"Thank you, Gerald.”

"You are most welcome, Princess.”

Avalyn poured tea for the both of them while her father immediately dug into the chocolate cake, he always had a sweet tooth as bad as hers.

000

Avalyn left awhile later, stomach full from cake and tea, and a letter in hand signed and sealed by the King for the palace tailors. As she approached her room, she handed the letter to one of her guards and asked that he take it immediately.

When she entered her room she was greeted by yipping. She giggled and played with Jasper until he calmed down and she went into her bathing chamber to undress. She took a look at herself one last time in her new gown. She still wasn't sure how she felt about it. No doubt it was beautiful, but it made her look intimidating and people generally were intimidated by her title as it was, she didn't need to add to it. She undressed herself quickly and removed the pins in her hair and shook it out. Drowsiness hit her hard and she wanted to get into bed. She snatched her silk nightgown off its hanger and slipped it on over her head as she walked back into her room. She opened a window slightly, preferring a slight, crisp breeze to a stuffy warm room. Systematically she blew out her candles and torches before crawling into her bed and untying the curtains at the posts. Her way of closing herself off from the rest of the world.

She had only been snuggling under the covers for a minute when she felt Jasper jump on the bed and lie down in between her shoulder blades. His tiny weight was a comfort and she fell asleep quickly.

000

Mikhail looked over at his clock as it chimed midnight. The large gold pendulum swinging steadily back and forth, the weights were pulled up high from being wound up just a few hours before. Its ticking seemed abnormally loud when a knock sounded at his door, he jumped, and glared.

"What?" He snapped. The door opened to reveal a messenger boy. His clothes dusty from running or riding. As he came closer, Mikhail could smell horse.

"Message from your father, m'lord." He said. His accent from the north. He was from home, but of the city. The young boy reached into his satchel and pulled out a letter, sealed with dark green wax and his family's seal. Mikhail took it and popped the seal and unfolded the letter, reading quickly, "Will there be a reply, m’lord?"

Mikhail read the letter again before responding and tossing the boy a gold crown. He had come a long ways, “No."

The lad gave an improper bow and bid Mikhail a fair night and dashed off out of his quarters.

Unsure what he should do, he stood and carefully folded the letter, and followed the boy out. He walked first aimlessly, outside in the courtyards when he saw lights go out on the other side of the palace. He realized they were Avalyn's windows. Destination set he jogged quickly through the courtyard maze and entered into the palace again, headed for the Royal Wing. When he approached the door, his guards looked at him worriedly, "You're dismissed." He growled darkly.

They looked concerned and hesitated before making their way down the hall and took their positions with the guards at the entrance of the wing.

Quietly, he opened Avalyn's door and shut it behind him with click. He heard fabric rustling, “Mikhail?"

He didn't need any light to know where everything was and how she kept her room. He pushed the drapes of her bed aside and sat heavily on the edge of her bed. He unclipped his sword from his belt and sat it against her bed standing up. Light behind him flared.

"Mikhail, is everything alright?" He couldn't bring himself to answer. She crawled over to him and kneeled behind him. She saw the letter in his hand and gently took it out of his grasp, a tad surprised he didn't fight her. She unfolded it and read it before she carefully put it down in her lap, "Kai, I'm so sorry.”

He let out a choked sob, her apologizing finally made it real. She reached out and embraced him, his head falling to her chest. Time felt to be at a standstill as he cried, only aware of the arms that held him tightly, and rocked him gently.

When he started to calm, Avalyn pulled him into her bed. Slowly he followed, clambering afterwards. She nimbly slipped under the covers and invited him under as well.

He shook his head, grieving he might be, he hadn’t lost all his sense. He opted to simply lying beside her, allowing her to cuddle him close.

"How long have you known? Is this what was bothering you earlier this evening?" She whispered.

"I just got the letter. But something did feel-“

Avalyn shushed him and held onto him as he cried again.

000

Sleepily the King buttoned his cuffs as he made his way down the corridor and paused. He turned to look at the entrance of his wing to see six guards, instead of four. He glanced further down the hall to see that his daughters guards were missing. He looked back at the six guards.

"The Knight Commander is in the Princess' rooms, Your Majesty." One of them explained.

The King looked at his daughter's room with suspicion, "When did he send you down here?"

"Just after midnight, Your Majesty.”

Understanding dawned on him, "Oh…" He pursed his lips and thought about it. He had been sent a letter late into the evening of the passing of the Duchess of Emerald Woods. The King hummed in thought, "You keep silent, understand?”

After the chorus of, "Yes, Your Majesty." He walked back down the corridor, he opened the door to his daughter's room to see a large sleeping form in her bed. He closed the door silently and made his way again towards the Royal's personal dining hall.

"Gerald?" He called as he entered.

"Yes?" He drawled, lighting candles.

"Would you ask Mistress Helen if she could make a special breakfast? Time doesn't really matter, so long as I have toast to tide me." He came to the table and took a few buttered slices and walked back out of the hall. Gerald watched him leave now a little worried.

000

Mikhail awoke feeling confused, and very tired. Next to him a little body wiggled, and groaned. Avalyn's head poked out from beneath the covers and looked at him. Eyes sad and worrying.

"How are you feeling?” She brushed some of his hair out of his eyes. He usually kept his hair short. Not quite as short as the army men, but near enough where his hair was almost ridiculous.

“Exhausted and I have long over stayed my welcome. Fuck! I shouldn’t have come.” Mikhail attempted to extricate himself of the blankets, “I’m sorry. I never meant to fall asleep…”

Avalyn grabbed Mikhail to steady him, “Mikhail, you needed a friend. I’m glad you found some solace here. Indecency aside, you think anyone any where would have the nerve to turn me down, Heir Apparent to the throne of Avalon? There’s many a scandal I could get away with. You can call me Queen Consort. Many grieving men come to me for comfort. All the time. So many of them. I’m back logged by months, I hardly know what to do with myself. You didn’t have an appointment last night, but I made a special exception for you.”

Her wicked grin was contagious, but he knew what she was doing and it worked. He settled back down. “You’re not queen yet. How does the saying go? Something about counting eggs and chickens?”

She giggled, “Please. Papa is a golden goose, and I his golden egg. And fear not, your secret is safe with me.”

“What secret is that, Princess?”

“That you are nothing more than a mere tramp. I know why you are always following me around. Don’t think you have me fooled.”

Mikhail couldn’t help it, she got him. He laughed. By the time he settled, his stomach ached and he had tears in the corners of his eyes. “Sure Princess. You’re right. You got me.” She had a small smile on her face.

“Do you need a hug?”

Mikhail considered her offer seriously. He leaned forward and her arms were around him, squeezing him tight. It’d been a long time since he had been held by anyone. Or rather by anyone who wasn’t his mother. Never an evening dalliance, and there had never been any lovers or marriageable prospects. He didn’t want to admit this held significance for him. Mikhail stopped breathing when she pressed a kissed to the crown of his head.

“You’ll be okay, Mikhail. I will speak to father. We will go north for you and your mom.” She let him go and he pushed himself up. He looked at her. She had such a soft, gentle demeanor. Right then, she reminded him a bit of his mother. She never did have time for court nonsense and she never cared about decorum either. Her relationships were too important to her for that. Ava had just proven the same. Instead of letting him make a hasty exit before too many woke in the palace, she consoled him. Made him laugh. Even at the expense of rumors and reputation.

“You’re going to be a wonderful sovereign.” He decided. Her cheeks colored. No one had ever said that to her before.

“You should probably go before my father finds you here. You ever see a chicken with his head cut off?”

A knock sounded and Gerald stuck his head inside, "Breakfast is ready, Your Majesty.”

“Excuse me?” Avalyn asked confused.

"Thank you, Gerald." Her father replied from her sitting area. Mikhail was up out of her bed, Avalyn crawled to the end and pushed her curtains aside as Gerald grunted and closed the door.

The King closed the book Avalyn was in the middle of reading and set it down beside him and stood, "Well children, you heard the man. Time for breakfast."

The two looked at each other both confused and worried, but the King seemed unperturbed. Avalyn slipped out of bed and into her bathing chambers to quickly dress. Slowly, Mikhail stood, trying to size up the King's intention but only got a sad smile, "How are you doing, son?”

Mikhail chewed on his cheek and shrugged. “Fine, I suppose.” He straightened his breeches that twisted in his boots and tucked his shirt in properly. It was a plain white under shirt and now he felt he had been caught with his pants around his ankles. The King picked Kai’s sword up off the floor where it fell over in the night and handed it, hilt first to him.

When Mikhail went to grab it, the King pulled it out of reach, "Did you try anything with my daughter?” He also looked him up and down. It was pretty clear Mikhail had slept in his clothes.

“No."

"Good." He let the blade fall into Mikhail's hand and he quickly reattached it to his belt before the King got any ideas.

Avalyn mercifully came out a moment later, clean faced, tiara in place, and in a simple dark blue gown. The King led the way out, holding the door open for his daughter. He gave Mikhail a wicked grin when he realized that Mikhail did not want the King behind him. Mikhail walked sullenly behind his sovereigns until Avalyn decided she'd rather walk with him. As the Knight Commander walked past his guards, he grumbled quietly, "Back to your stations.”

"Yes, sir." They said.

Avalyn tried to give him a reassuring smile. He wasn’t being dragged away in chains, so there was that.

000

Avalyn looked across the table at Mikhail, looking really uncomfortable. She herself was trying not to smile. She was aware of the game her father was playing. If he was actually upset, he'd be screaming and Mikhail would not be alive and they both would have been awoken in his raging fit, but he had just sat there, and waited. He was purposefully making Mikhail uncomfortable now.

"Stop it." She said, without glancing at her father.

"Stop what?" He asked to innocently.

Then she did glare at him, "Leave him be.”

"The boy just lost his mother, I am trying to be nice. 'Tis the reason he is still alive. I can be understanding" He gave her a wicked grin, "Ham?" He asked, offering the plate to Mikhail.

Mikhail now looked immensely worried, regardless he took one anyways. Not much could deter his appetite. Not even threats from the King.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, my Lord." One of Mikhail's subordinates came trotting in and bowed in quick succession to the Royals and noble, "He handed a wrapped package to Mikhail along with multiple reports from the night watch. Mikhail grunted as he accepted them, dismissing the runner. He glanced through the reports making sure all was normal before he set them aside to open the soft package. White material spilled out. He picked it up and inspected the new uniform.

"Well that turned out lovely." The King commented. Liking the new colors, "Well it seems like we finally have a summer uniform. Decide when you want the uniforms changed out.”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Mikhail looked across at Avalyn who smiled, liking his new uniform as well.

"Everyone should have their new uniforms by the end of the week." She commented, "Did they give you a sample of the Palace Guard uniform?”

Mikhail shook his head, "Just my King’s Guard tunic, and a dress undershirt." He unfolded another silk shirt that was still dark plum, making Mikhail raise a brow, "Wasn't the purpose of the new uniforms to get rid of the dark colors?”

"That is not a shirt you'd wear with your armor, it stands out as a Knight Commander should. Nor are you outside as often as your fellow guards.”

"What makes you so sure of that?" He snapped.

"Because I am inside.”

“Incredibly saucy attitude for a princess.” Her father chided. Avalyn rolled her eyes. Mikhail could not really retort because she was right. If he was inside he was with her or going through reports and creating schedules. The only time he was outside anymore was before dawn training or going out to fetch his princess, again. "Or roll their eyes at their King’s"

"What about their fathers?”

"Or their fathers. Fathers spank their disrespectful children." He gave her a pointed glance.

She gave him a fake smile.

He sat back in his chair, and took a bite out of his egg topped toast.

Mikhail sent Avalyn a smug smile, she puckered her lips and he gave her a smile full of teeth.

”Your Highness?" Avalyn turned to see her hand-maiden at the door.

"Yes?" The young woman greeted her father and Mikhail.

"Your gown has come, Your Highness, when would you like to try it on?”

"My gown? But I got it yesterday.”

Her hand-maiden looked confused, "Your Highness, the Tailor himself just dropped it off." Avalyn glanced at Mikhail. Then to her father.

“Very well!" She replied quickly and bounced out of her seat before Mikhail or the King could object. The King waved Mikhail to sit again rather than follow his princess out. Seeing that the King wasn't going to speak till he was done eating, Mikhail started to pick at his own.

"If Mistress Helen comes and sees that we didn't eat the special breakfast I asked for she'll hang us both. So help me eat all of it. He piled more eggs from a platter onto his plate and placed a small mountain on Mikhail's adding a few more slices of ham.

"Are you being serious?" He asked.

"Believe me, my Lord, I can barely get either of the Royals to eat, but even his Majesty knows when his skin is at stake." Gerald said in the corner, going over paper work. Mikhail was never sure what he did exactly for the King.

The King turned to see Gerald, "If I lose mine, you lose yours." He pointed to Avalyn's seat with his fork. Gerald sighed but did as he was bid, placing mounds of food before him. After sufficiently stuffing themselves till all the food was gone, they sat back in their chairs groaning.

"Cancel everything, Gerald. I think I'm sick.”

"Your Majesty, I can't. I think I'm going to be sick." Both King and Servant looked at each other and laughed. Mikhail looked at them like they were crazy and dramatic.

"Your Majesty, I appreciate your grace and hospitality, but I am very behind in my work day and I must take my-“

"Sit, boy." The King demanded. Mikhail sat, "I understand, you went to her in your grief, to which I am sorry for loss, your mother was a wonderful woman; I know you didn't do anything with her, but understand this, if you weren't her betrothed, I'd have you emasculated, hung, tortured, stripped of rank and all other manner of ungodly acts.”

Mikhail blinked. Then blinked a few times more and looked over to Gerald to see him smirking.

”Your Majesty, I beg your pardon, but I could have sworn you said, 'my betrothed.’"

The King nodded, "You heard right, son.”

He chuckled nervously, "I haven't asked her to marry me, your Majesty.”

The King looked like he was about to hit him, "Your father and I wrote up a contract after she was born, it was your mother's that decided against telling you both. 'I want them to learn to love naturally.' My wife said. Hopelessly romantic, she was. And your mother just the same." He was silent a moment as he thought back to it, "Your father and I are practically brothers, the contract was more to protect ourselves from others who had a desire to try and ask for her hand in marriage. It's been useful. Granted, we were not much better than our wives, we wanted our families to be united as well. I begged and prayed for a little girl after I found out you were a boy. So much for that though, with our wives gone. They would still want you married. I don't think the God of the Beyond could protect me from my wife if she were to learn I interfered in any way. You will not tell my daughter, do you understand?”

Mikhail was sure his head was about to start spinning, with the way the King's attitude was back and forth and all the news he had heard that day, it was beginning to be too much, "Yes, Your Majesty." He whispered.

"Go get cleaned up, don't worry about Ava right now, do what you need to do and I will see you tonight when we go out to the festivities.”

Mikhail bowed and marched out of the room, new uniforms fisted in his hand. He blindly made his way to his study, thoughts of his mother and Avalyn running and bouncing around in his skull. When he got into his room he slammed the door and paced back and forth. When was he supposed to marry her? Was he supposed to still propose marriage to her? What was he going to do after he married her? His job was literally to watch out for her. You didn't pay a husband to look out for- his line of thought halted, and he dropped everything in his hands as they came up and pulled at his hair, he would be the next King.