part three

20 years back

She stood there, in the huge corridors, all alone, giving final instructions to the head guard and the head maid. She wanted this event to be perfect, after all it was her pregnancy revealed to Elijah, she wanted this moment to be remembered. Feeling two large arms wrapped around her waist, she quickly dismissed the servants, which did seem strange to the man behind her frame, but he shrugged it off. Turning her around, got extremely close to her face. His attempt at kissing her went in vain hearing a cough at the end of the corridor behind him.

"Get a room you guys", Elijah's right hand man, also the head incharge of training the officials and best friend, Robert, stood there. Priscilla blushed and freed herself from Elijah's grip, exiting the hallway to excuse herself to the library.

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She sat in the palace library, reading one of the King's numerous books on European history, when she overheard Robert speaking to a servant. He sounded rash and uptight, as if something were wrong.

"...Tell all the servants to be on call…" he was saying, "...and make sure the cook is ready to prepare lunch for us…"

Lunch? For "us?" What could he be talking about? Priscilla wondered. She walked out of the library to see what all the ruckus was about. The hallway looked more like a marketplace: servants passed fervently back and forth as Robert dished out orders.

"Get that rug cleaned. Tell the maid to do up the dining room…" Two soldiers passed by with maps.

"What's going on?" Priscilla asked.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," Robert said.

"Why all the commotion?" she persisted.

Robert could not help but notice her abruptness.

"The arrival of Sir Aaron, Your Majesty," he replied. "He will be here shortly."

Sir Aaron was Tastia's top military leader, with the only exception being the King himself. He was well-known throughout the kingdom for the great victories he had achieved in foreign lands, colonising more territory than any previous leader.

"Sir Aaron?" she repeated. "Why?"

"Well, Your Majesty," Robert explained, "it seems as though a little problem has developed. "

"A problem? What type of problem?"

"Yes, My Lady. The Tastia colony of St. Georgia has been invaded. Sir Aaron is requesting a larger army to deal with the problem. He arrived late last night with the news."

"So the King wishes to dine without me this afternoon?"

"No," Robert replied. "As a matter of fact he wishes the complete opposite. He says that your presence is requested, being that the upcoming events may affect you just as much as he. All the dukes and generals will be present as well, in an hour hence."

"Very well," she said. "I will be there."

"A-he-hem…"

It was Robert. All turned upon hearing his voice.

"The King is coming," he said.

Priscilla, Sir Aaron and all dukes all took their seats immediately, with Priscilla sitting herself at the end of the table. The king entered and all rose.

"Be seated," said Elijah, sitting himself down at the head of the table.

"The situation has been explained to me, but only in brief," said the King, "Why don't you explain it to us again, Aaron?"

Sir Aaron had been ready for this. He spoke slowly and clearly:

"Well, it seems, Your Highness, that our largest colony, St.Georgia, has been attacked by the neighbouring Belden colony of Montania. The attack came as a complete surprise to us, since we have operated in that area for years without any breach of peace. I learned of the attack four days after it occured and immediately took to Tastia. From what I gather, an army of twenty thousand men surround our former colony. Our original force of fifteen-hundred has fled and scattered. The people inside support us. They prospered under us. "

Elijah was listening with the utmost intensity.

"How many army men do we have at the present?" he addressed Robert.

"Twenty five thousand," Robert replied.

"Very well. I expect five thousand army men from all the dukes at the least. We must leave within the week, so that gives us five days to compile all our men.", said the king.

"We?" said the Queen, Priscilla, who had been listening quietly up until this point.

"Well, my dear," said Elijah, "you can't expect our army to fight a war without its commander. St.Georgia is very far. If Sir Aaron's plan should fail, it would take weeks to travel up here to form a new one, and then weeks to travel back. Time like that wasted would be far too costly. I must go."

"But you can't!" she persisted.

"I must," said the King.

"Now?" Priscilla questioned.

"Well, of course now, my dear."

"But who'll run the kingdom?"

"I have great faith in you," he said. "Great faith, my dear. I'm sure you can handle matters while I am away."

"But you can't go! Not now,"

"Is there something I should know?" He asked. "What? What is it?"

Her lip quivered, but nothing came out. She braced herself. She let out a mighty sigh.

"I'm- " - her words became lost. "I'm… pregnant," she said, as if the very word was a curse.

The entire room gasped. For a moment, the King sat startled. His eyes watered. His hands grasped the arms of his chair.

"You're pregnant?" he said at last.

Priscilla nodded. The king leaned forward and looked to regain his poise.

"Well," he said, "that's… that's wonderful!" The king's face lit up.

"Aren't you concerned?" she asked.

"Concerned?" said the king. "Why should I be concerned?"

"Well, first of all: What if something should happen to you? And secondly: How am I going to overlook the kingdom if I am pregnant?"

"My dear," Elijah said, "you worry too much. Do not fret. Nothing shall happen to me. Our army is much stronger than theirs. Plus, you can be sure that I will take the utmost care. And as far as your running the kingdom is concerned, you underestimate yourself. I'm sure you'll be fine."

Priscilla nodded, attempting a smile.

"Good. Then we shall depart Thursday. Robert.. Make sure our forty largest ships are ready by then. We are adjourned."

The king rose and all rose with him. Robert held open the door and the King walked out.

Sir Aaron and the dukes congratulated the queen and bowed before walking out. The Queen remained standing there, thunderstruck.