Salva Falls - Part Two

I walked until I reached a luxurious dark silk tapestry. Slipping behind it, I pressed my hand into a gap in the stone opening one of the many secret passages I'd played in as a child.

This passage was different from the rest because it was well-lit and well-used by our family as a back entrance to the hall.

As I approached I could hear a man complaining about the infidelity of his wife while she cried off to the side. My mother was listening in silence. The wife began her submissions explaining that she was forced into the marriage through deceit to acquire her dowry and that her husband had been cruel ever since getting her money.

My mother remained silent for a time before she looked up at both parties like she saw into their souls. "Your words have been weighed" she began, glancing between them with her bright green intelligent eyes narrowed, "and would advise you against attempting to mislead the crown to waste my time today. State your intentions plain."

Huh? I cast a sideways glance at mother, what was she on about?

The picture in front of us rippled and then shattered. With a flourishing bow stepped out a man I'd only seen once two years ago when my father had turned down his request for my hand, Erik Blackwater.

He had dark hair and a stocky build. His face wasn't attractive but it wasn't unattractive either and he looked up at me with deep set blue eyes.

"I am sorry your majesty, your keen insight is the thing of legends I could not resist." He state with a chuckle that he tried hard to make seem good-natured.

"State your purpose Blackwater." She answered coldly, her face blank.

"I would again ask for your daughter's hand in marriage." He began, taking a step closer.

The guards in the room made to come forward but my mother signalled discreetly with her hand for them to hold their positions.

"You are aware that Cecilia is engaged to the prince of Rhodalia are you not?" She continued.

"At one time she was also engaged to the prince of the Emerald Isles as well." Erik answered almost cheekily.

She paid him no heed, "And that their union will merge the two kingdoms under one banner after seven hundred years of division, supplying all of the people of Salva with grain they so direly need?"

Erik took a step back.

"And so I put to you, little lord of blackwater, what is it you would bring to the kingdom?" She asked sharply.

He stumbled in his words, "Blackwater is a main trading port for the countries to the nor-" she cut him off before he could go any further and his face took on a pink sheen, be it from anger or embarrassment I couldn't say.

"This is not new, nor would it solve our food shortages. How would you feed Salva? Lumis? Lake Town? And if you could, why have you waited so long to say so?" She chastised him.

He looked at the floor. Silent.

"Not only that, but the wedding is already set for six months after our new queen's coronation. The arrangements have already been set. No little lord of Blackwater will upset the future of our soon to be prosperous kingdom." She finished, motioning to the guards to remove him.

I stand there in silence simply watching this all unfold.

He looks up at me and all semblance of kindness has faded from his pale face. He turns the gaze back to my mother and a chill trails down my spine.

"Then I will ask instead, out of respect for my father, that I at least be allowed to attend our princess's coronation so that I may recommit the resources available to her new reign." He says elegantly.

My mother's lips are pressed in a grim line.

"Last I checked the Lord of Blackwater was not dead, he will be in attendance himself this evening to fulfil that role. As such, your presence here is not needed." She said dismissively and I could have sworn something dangerous glinted in his eyes when looking at her.

The guards moved forward to force him from the hall but he shrugged them off and stormed out himself, all chaos like a coming storm. The infamous bastard of Blackwater.

"Do you think he'll be a problem?" I asked my mother softly, and she gripped my hand. The ice fell from her eyes and she offered me a smile, "He will be, but you'll succeed. You're stronger than even you know."