Great Expectations

Rhodri laid his hand on his daughter's arm. He beamed at her, "I'm so glad you are safe." He paused, "And to keep it that way, I will be doubling the guards that accompany you from now on." He squeezed her arm lovingly

The girl's temper immediately flared "Father!" Rose protested. "I can barely move as it is."

Already Rose had come up with a half dozen reasons to object to this new demand on her freedom. She opened her mouth, but the king stopped her.

"I will have no argument on the matter," Rhodri said firmly. "Your security is paramount." Rose pressed her lips together tightly, her eyes glistening. More babysitters. Her father saw the display, but was able to withstand the emotional onslaught. "None of that, my dear. I only want what is best for you."

The king had no doubt that he indeed knew what was best for his little girl. It did not matter that she was seventeen and not the child he brought home years before. The king would keep her sheltered under his wing until a suitable man came along.

Following this line of thought he asked, "What do you think of Sir Samberg?"

The sudden change in subject startled the young lady, but she suspected the topic of her safety was still in play. Her face contorted into confusion.

"Who?" the young woman asked. The name rang a bell, but she could not place it.

"One of the handsome new knights, remember?

Tall, red-brown hair, green eyes…" Rhodri demonstrated the man's height in relation to his own and head his shoulders back mimicking the boy.

"You mean Sir Ethyn?" Rose generally called knights by their given name. To her, there were too many brothers and cousins with the same origin to call everyone by their family estate's name.

"Yes, he's the one!" the king clapped. "Quite a strapping fellow, wouldn't you say?"

Seeing the Princess's distraught face, Borit smirked. He was going to relish this conversation. "I, for one, found him quite handsome," the commander added casually, though really the boy had been completely beneath his notice.

Both men looked expectantly at the princess.

"He's very…." Rose searched for a word that would not betray her. "…young."

Rhodri laughed. "He may not be considered distinguished," the man stroked his silvery hair, "but he is older than you, my dear. Though I do agree he is young. I am glad we are of the same opinion in that regard."

Rose blushed. The princess always tried to assert how old and mature she was. With one fell swoop, she had negated all her hard work.

"I mean he is likely a fine knight. I know almost nothing about him. Why are you asking me about him? You aren't thinking of assigning me a personal knight, are you?" Rose's pulse quickened.

"Why? Would you like that?" Rhodri teased.

"Absolutely not!" She cried.

A squadron of guards would be terrible enough, but a personal knight would add an extra layer of suffocation.

She pictured herself having to make almost constant conversation with the man she hardly knew.

Everything she did would be under constant scrutiny. And because a knight was part of the royal court, their relationship—whatever that might look like—would be open season for any and every gossip.

Then there was what occurred during their first meeting…

"You seem to feel very strongly. Did something happen between you two?" Rhodri seemed to read her mind.

"Yes, please enlighten us so we may help you," Borit furrowed his brow, appearing very concerned.

"Why did something have to happen for me to object? I simply do not want a personal knight now or ever. It is unnecessary," princess deflected.

"Then it is good that this was not my plan…for now." The grey-haired king smiled, calming the girl.

Rose looked down, embarrassed. She ran her fingers along her gown. "I am sorry I jumped to conclusions, Father. But if that was not your goal, why did you bring up Sir Samberg?"

The king adjusted the golden circlet, which he wore instead of a crown when he was not in formal settings, that sat atop his head. Rhodri was regal in appearance, and anyone who saw him would instinctively give him some amount of respect.

In the presence of the princess just now, however, the king looked unsure. "This morning I sent an envoy to invite Sir Samberg to have dinner with us ten days from today. I thought we should get to know him better." King Rhodri said vaguely.

"Why would we need to get to know him?" Rose looked at him curiously. Knights joined them for dinner occasionally, but it was usually elder knights in honor of some heroic event.

"I have my reasons." The king cupped her cheek gently. "I do think he will make some delightful company if nothing else. Perhaps you will find him more agreeable than…"

"Please do not bring up Sir Ultrian! That man has the personality of wood." Rose pressed her hand to her temple.

"You are being generous, Your Highness," Borit commented. "Wood at least has some bark to it. Sir Ultrian is little better than a handsome stature."

Rhodri bristled. "I would appreciate it if you both would not make fun of the young man. His family and the royal family go back many generations. I actually find Ultian's vacant expression endearing, and he is quite good with a sword. However, back to my point, I do think Sir Samberg will be a much more sociable dinner guest."

The princess's expression darkened, and she pulled her face away from the King's touch. "Dinner? With an 'agreeable' and 'social' young man? This isn't another attempt to see me married off, is it?"

The king shook his head slowly, his face conflicted. "I would never let you marry anyone you did not desire…but someday you will rule, and it will be helpful to have someone by your side."

"Rule? I have no blood-claim to the throne. The nobility will never let me rule..." This was an argument that the two had fought many times over before.

"My nobles will not dictate to me who I name as my heir!"

"Besides," Rose continued, unaffected by the king's raised tone, "You told me that you were still looking for your nephew. Please tell me you have not given up."

"Of course I have not given up. Borit has been conducting that investigation."

"A million dead-ends will not stop me from discovering the truth," the Commander swore. Rose did not like the look on his face when he made the claim, though she could not say why.

"But until then, I will make sure you have every opportunity to find someone suitable for you."

"Suitable to marry?" Rose cut her eyes at her Father.

"As much as I hate to have you leave me, yes, that is my aim." Rhodri admitted, his heart clenching slightly at the thought.

While marriage might be an escape from the king's far too diligent protection, it was more likely to be another way to keep her planted firmly within the castle walls. "You did well enough without someone," she pointed out.

Rhodri sighed. She was right; he had no one to rule by his side. "Not by choice. If the right woman would have had me, I would have been happily married many years by now."

Suddenly the king was in some far off place. His eyes were unfocused as his mind wandered to what might have been. The thought lovely blue-eyed woman who had turned him down always sent him in a trance. The princess realized her error too late. She hated very much to see the king melancholy. And when he got that gaze in his eyes, the princess knew that only sadness would follow. Rose instinctively backtracked.

"I'm sorry, Father. I forget myself sometimes. Do not take my words to heart. If it is your wish, I will have dinner with Sir Ethyn. I am sure it will be lovely." 'I can do almost anything for an evening,' Rose reminded herself. 'And despite what happened before, he still has to be better than Ultrian.'

Coming back to the present, the king clapped his hands once and smiled warmly. "Excellent! I know you will not regret it. I am sure it will be an evening to remember."

"They always are." The princess rolled her eyes inwardly.

The king pretended not to hear her. "Now that that's settled," Rhodi motioned to the closest servant, who came over quickly. "Bring the three of us some food. I'm sure we could all use the nourishment." He turned back to his daughter. "While we eat, we can discuss these dinner plans further."

Rose shook her head. "I just ate. Please excuse me, I have an errand to run. And Lady Caitlyn is not feeling well after last night. I would like to check on her."

"You are not her nursemaid." The king pulled his lips tightly. "And a servant can run the errand for you."

"You have said a good ruler is kind and loyal. You have also said a good ruler knows which tasks can be delegated and which must be done by oneself," Rose reminded him.

Rhodri shook his head. "Using my own words against me? How clever you are! Very well, but I want to have dinner with you. Please at least grant your Father that request."

"Of course, Your Majesty. I would not miss it." The Princess stood and curtsied. She would certainly check on Caitlyn, but one thought of her 'errand' flooded the front of her mind.

The library was calling her.