chapter 5

King Ephraim gripped the princess slender hands as they walked through the corridors of the palace. They talked about so many things that makes their heart merry. This make them laughed heartily as they went.

His face was turned to his side to looked down at Eleanor who just made a statement. He served her an outburst of laughter. The walkway was cool and empty. Only their voices echoed through the golden walls.

On lifting his face to sight his front. His eyes met queen Margaret standing in the far end of the walkway. She walked towards them when she realized that they saw her.

"My king" she bowed. "I came to have a word with you if you would permit. I sincerely apologize for interrupting. The maid told me you were with Eleanor in the garden. I thought I should meet you there".

She stepped aside for the king as he moved forward. Eleanor was still holding firm to his right finger.

"My queen, I greet you"

"My gist mate" she answered her.

Eleanor giggled.

Queen Margaret hurried up to walked in line by his left that she brushed her shoulders against the wall slightly.

"What bothers you?" He asked in a plain tone not looking at her.

"I got words that my mother lie ill my king. Please let me go to her that I may take care of her. I shall stay for three days if my king would permit". She bowed again.

" is there no one to cared for now over there.". he asked turning to looked at her.

"Emmm..." She stammered before gathering courage to speak.

There is". She said fondling with her fingers. It was getting dark. The lantern were lit by the maids just now to give them light. Queen Margaret woke a wearied look. She wished the king would look at her maybe he may grant her request without she having to explained nothing.

"its been years since I last set my eyes on her. I have missed her. Permit me to used this opportunity to see and be with her. I fear she might die and I wouldn't have to see her again". She let out a low cry.

Eleanor jutted her head over her father's thighs to see her face. She was trying to wiped the tears that escape off her eyes. Eleanor gave her a smile to comfort her.

King Ephraim halted and signaled Bernard who was trailing them from behind to come over.

Princess Eleanor gaze was firm on her face. When their eyes locked. She switched hands and was now holding her father with the left so she would be near the queen. Bernard jogged, he shouldn't keep the king waiting.

"My king" he bowed.

"Get the coachman ready and some knights. Prepare the carriage for my queen. Queen Margaret shall embarked on a journey tomorrow"

"As you have spoken my king". He bowed again and left. Smiles crawled into the queen's face. This made the smile that was on Eleanor's face broadens.

"Thank you my husband". She bowed happily. She begged to leave but Eleanor stopped her. She walked in between them holding both their hands.

The king looked at her in confusion.

"I know I am a child. I shouldn't be interfering in adult talk until I'm invited to speak".

Her neck was craning to looked at her father and then back to queen Margaret. They waited patiently for her to state her point.

"My queen, you have a mother?" .

"Yes I do" she answered with a faint smile.

Eleanor let go of her father's hands. They were walking really slow. So that the princess would meet up their pace perhaps.

"You are really lucky then. I wished I had one". Queen Margaret eyes dilated.

King Ephraim stopped to looked at his princess. She paused and bowed.

"You already do". She told her and pat her fluffy cheek.

He continue walking and listening to their small talks. He inwardly appreciated the fact that they tally along with each other. Queen Margaret was the only queen who had an interest in the princess wellbeing.

They have been close and friends just like she was with her mother. If he leaves them alone. They could talked for hours.

"Father I would loved to go with her to see her mother".

"Never" the king responded furious. He stopped. They did too. But the princess spoke before he could.

"Please father I begged of you. I have never asked you for a favour. Grant me just this one favour".

Not that king Ephraim didn't want her to go. It was a far journey. He didn't know how trustworthy queen Margaret could be. If she was another sheep in wolf clothing waiting for the right moment to strike. He couldn't trust the princess in her cared for such a long journey. He was scared of what might happened to her if she goes.

Eleanor was frightened by the terror in the king's eyes. Queen Margaret too.

"I emm.. Elea... Eleanor don't angered the king" she broke the silence.

"Don't angered the king Eleanor. You must always listen to your father. He means the best for you. Beside, my land is faraway. It a long journey that shall take weeks to accomplished".

"But you requested for three days?". Eleanor asked.

" Three days to stay in my kingdom when I finally arrived. It would take weeks and some days to get there and back. This, the king knows".

"There, where is your kingdom?" she asked curious.

"In.."

"Eleanor this way".

The king interjected with a commanding tone. He stretches his hand to have hers in his. They had gotten to another turned that led into the kings chambers. Eleanor's chambers was next to his.

Eleanor shook her head. She wasn't ready to joined him. If the was one person who wasn't afraid of his angered tone was his daughter, princess Eleanor.

"Go" queen Margaret nudged her shoulder to met up with her father.

"Don't be stubborn princess and don't make the king wait. Go take his hands".

The princess was more than stubborn. The king dropped his hand and held it behind, still standing there. His gaze never left her. Queen Margaret feared she might be punished for her stubbornness.

"Father you taught me that if I needed something I should asked. I just did. Permit me to go with her. I feel this longing to accompany her. I really must go. Please father…".

She bowed. She knew the don'ts around here but she does it anyways. When she wants to be silly around her father. She roll her eyes and pouted her lips. " my king" she bowed again " I'm not coming in with you. I shall go with queen Margaret to her chambers".

Queen Margaret was stunned at her boldness. Her gaze quickly ran to the ground when the king's gaze met hers. She was wondering what she was going to tell this adamant princess to convinced her not to put her in the king's bad book. No matter what the princess might say or do the king could never hurt her but she doubt for her self.

"Princess Elea…"

"My queen there is nothing that you would say that shall make me changed my mind". The princess told her plainly.

Queen Margaret looked up to the king asking him with her eyes to say something. It was on occasion like this that she dared to maintained an eye contact with the king

Eleanor held the queen' s hands. "Let go" she said. The king was just staring at his little daughter. He was in shocked as she has never speak to him in such manner neither as she disobeyed him before.

"What is wrong with her" he thought to himself.

" There is always until a first time to something sometimes" he answered himself.

The queen was moulded to the ground. She would never move if the king doesn't.

King Ephraim walked ahead. He was in front while they walked behind. The king halted and threw his gaze behind him. Queen Margaret had branched into the corridor that leads to the king's chambers. Ridges was formed on the king's forehead as to why she was following him.

She pleaded for Eleanor to accompany her.

If she must go then Eleanor things must be prepared tonight since they were going to leave tomorrow at the dawn. She was looking at the back of the king. The way he now walked with an uneasy gaits. His countenance changed to thoughtfulness.

Princess Eleanor didn't give much of a thought. She had spoken her mind and that was what she wanted.

The king heaved. "you can go" he signaled queen Margaret to leave. "I want to have a word with her". He said.

"Please Eleanor go with him" she turned to whispered to her. She then bowed and left.

Princess Eleanor hurried and keep up the pace with her father. He led her in silence to the chambers not his.

It was one of the three chambers that was in the same block. The king, the princess and the other one he has never told her who once occupied it.

"father whose chambers is it?".

"Your mother queen Lucy". She knitted her brow surprised. She took her former place holding his little finger.

"My mother's". He turned his head and looked down to her. He nodded.

"You know I promised I was going to take you to your mother's chambers".

"yes" she said. " I don't know why you didn't." She was eager to be there. He has never taken her but always promised he would.

He called the guard that was behind them. Bernard had replaced himself with him. To see to what the king had earlier ordered him to do.

"Get the door opened" he said. He was on it. After he was done, the king ordered him to get the maid.

"Informed one of the maid to be here"

" Yes my king" he courtesy and left

The house was filled with dirt and grime. The king had not let anyone in for eight years now.

He went to the window to opened the blind for the evening breeze to have it way through and diffused the air. The room's mustiness was overbearing.

She could see the mother's room was very closed to her father yet she knew not of.

"Father! You mean mother's room has been this closed yet you never showed to me".

"You were too young to handled it. And still is. But I feel it time to show you around".

It was grand. Very spacious, bigger than her own bed chambers. She folded her hands as she stood at the center of the room. King Ephraim sat on the couch. It was dampen. He moved to the bed while watching Eleanor moving about every hooked and cranny of the room.

"This is still the bed spray she laid on a night before you were born, years ago. I made sure to retained the room in the same shape she left it. This is the very colours she love. She had specifically ordered the maids to changed the drapes and bed spray to yellow.

There was a knocked on the door.

"It must be the maid" . Eleanor said. She was asked to come in. "You shall clean this bedchamber today". The king told her.

" Father please not today. I begged of you. Let it be done when I'm ready. I want to spend more time in this room. I need to feel my mother's presence in it".

The king dismissed the maid.

She was dusting this portraits with her fingers. The portraits of her mother when she was pregnant.

She lay on the sofa in front of the forest of daisies in the king's courtyard garden. She lay flat on her back holding hands with her husband whose thighs she turned to her pillow. Their eyes were locked in each other. She was wearing a yellow dress. Her left hand was on her tommy bump while the right was tucked in the king's hands.

She observed the portrait carefully. Her father who saw the portrait from above her head was smiling to himself.

They were too many things that caught her attention. On the table she saw different bottles of scented perfume oils. She like many but lavender got her fantasy.

Her gaze went to the side table by the couch. Under it she saw a letter. She didn't want her father to read it before her. She picked it up quickly and hid it in her dressed.

She then walked to the closet. She opened it. So many clothes she loved. She saw babies clothes too. she knew it was for her and she hasn't worn most of them. She doesn't know if she had. She was still a baby and babies don't have memories of their first few years.

King Ephraim went to her. He stumbled into the yellow dress her mother wore in the portrait.

"Here is it" He gave her the yellow dress. Instead of collecting the dress he stretched out for her. She hugged him letting the clothes be in-between them.

His eyes was cloudy. This days his eyes often looks like that. Right from the time she was born.

" Eleanor",

" Yes father, she responded loosing her grip and stepped back to see his face. He moved and sat on the bed again. He took the bed spray to his nosed and inhaled deeply.

It been eight years since her demised but he still hope maybe he could perceived her sweet lavender scent. Her jovial nature. They way she gently shoved him to the bed and mount on him.

So many memories that made his eyes wet again. She stood watching her father. He gave her a warm smile when their eyes met.

And pulled her closer. He patted the bed for her to sit on.

"I brought you here to see if you would at least understand how I'm feeling right now. I have lost your mother. I'm afraid of losing you. That is why I don't want you to go".

She now knew why he was angry when she opted to follow queen Margaret to her kingdom. Even a king have fear for the unknown. She kissed his hands.

"father you would not loosed me. I have never left this kingdom. I want this opportunity to visit other kingdoms. Please let me go I shall surely return".

"Your mother wanted you to have this" He gave to her a bracelet. She collect it and wear it. Still looking at it. She took it close to her heart.

"You are all I have left my child. I'm scared of loosing you child".

"Father nothing shall happen to me. I shall go and come back, you will see".

There was nothing he could say to make her changed his mind. She insisted on going. He didn't want to displayed the power of a king over by locking her up in some room till queen Margaret go and returned. He held her hands.

"Okay child" he gave up. "Yes" she screamed.

" Father I shall go to queen Margaret and informed her immediately".

The king stared at his daughter as she left happily. He didn't know why she insisted so much on going with the queen but he gave her the benefit of doubt.

King Ephraim went to his chambers to rest. He was going to wake very early the next morning. To make sure his princess doesn't leave without saying goodbye. The night was longer than all the night he has ever experience. Long and dark. He kept looking through the window to see the sky. Repeatedly, back and forth. He made short walk around his room.

Then the chime finally broke the news that it was dawn. He hurried out. He was awake before any one could. Maybe the knights and other queens because princess Eleanor was already dressed.

He went to Eleanor's chambers. The maids were preparing her. She wore a long tunic and a trouser. The tunic had a slit from under her bust down to her knees where it stop. Her dark hair was packed and pinned up. She looks prim and pretty.

"Good morning my king". One of the maid greeted when she turned to sight the king standing in front of the opened door.

"Father" she ran to him and gave him a warm hugged.

"How was your night father". She was quick to asked. Letting go of the embraced

"Sleep was scares in my eyes my child. Thinking of how I shall missed you for weeks"

" I Shall be back before you know it". She commiserate with him.

" I am ready father" she said enthusiastically. The maids gather her bags for the traveling and led the way.

"You haven't had breakfast". The father asked.

" Father I have. I took it in my room". The king was dazed it's was barely morning.

"So you are really eager about this journey. It not too late you can still changed your mind and stayed. I mean you are too young and a princess to just leave your kingdom and embarked on a journey just to go and see some sick woman. If you wants I can ordered for her to be brought here".

She heaved. She choose her words carefully or the journey shall be terminated.

"my king please let me visit another kingdom other than mind. Let me see for my self rather than read in a book".

They were now at the entrance stairs of the palace. They saw queen Margaret was there speaking with be the head knights.

"My king" she bowed. They knights greeted too.

They were all ready to proceed in the journey. Eleanor, queen Margaret and the knights. The cloud was turning ash in the sky. It was beginning to give light to their feet.

King Ephraim spoke to his daughter over and over again. Like she would be going for ever. To queen Margaret he caution and warned her sternly to make his daughter returned safely and without a mole or scratch on her skin. Queen Margaret promised with her life.

Four carriages were brought before them. They turned to looked at the king who was standing on the upper stairs of the perron.

"Father is there another who shall come with us"

He was descending the stairs. " The knights knelt. "Knight shall accompanied you to keep you safe". He spoke as he walked in their midst.

He reminded them of the rules and the implications if they don't protect the princess with their all.

It was then the princess knew the weight of what she has done by insisting on following queen Margaret. She didn't know why she was so excited just wanting to followed her father's wife to a kingdom she knew of.

"Father I shall be safe." Still she insisted. She consoled him with a smile. The guard helped her into the carriage. Queen Margaret went in after her.

The horses neighed as he began to moved.

"Run" the leading coachman whipped but the horses stopped.

When they felt they were not moving. They looked out through the carriage window.

"Is everything well. Why are they blocking our way?". Queen Margaret spoke to the knight who was near them. It was riders on horses. Knights to be precise well dressed with their golden knights armour and armed.

"My queen the king order us to followed you". One of them who had gotten to the carriage where they were spoke. Queen Margaret turned to princess Eleanor by her side surprised.

Eleanor gave her a warm smile and a nod.

She opened the blinds again and told them to lead the way. Queen Margaret knew she was treated this way because of the little princess who followed her and why she agreed to follow her is yet to be told.