Just Like a Fairy Tale

[Emstar202]

Princess Clarissa gazed out the window dreamily, imaging the luxurious life that awaited her in her betrothed’s Kingdom. “Tell me again. What is he like?” Clara asked breathlessly, not turning her gaze from the window.

Her handmaiden sighed. “I’ve already told you a hundred times, my lady. Trust me, he hasn’t changed in the past half hour."

Clara laughed happily and fell back in the carriage. She turned on her side and faced her steward. Lady Angelica had been her humble servant since childhood. She’d nursed Clara along with her own children when her mother hadn’t the time. She’d entertained Clara with fairy tales time and time again and made sure she was safe and comfortable. Sometimes Clara took the old woman for granted, but never on purpose. "Please!! I won't ask again, I promise!" Clara begged.

“Well, sunstar,” Angelica began, referencing her childhood nickname. “He’s tall and handsome, with dark hair and sharp features. He is a strong King and a skilled warrior. He fought in the war between our two Kingdoms, you know that? And now, with the war over with, your union with him will solidify this new-found peace.”
Clara beamed brightly and hummed to herself, fantasying about her upcoming wedding day. Clara had always been a romantic; those fairy tales Lady Angela had told her throughout the years never seemed to fade away, and Clara was intent on having her own.

*~*

Two nights passed, and then they finally arrived. “We’re here, Clara,” Lady Angela whispered, gently rousing the sleeping princess.

Clara shot straight up. She hadn’t truly been sleeping as soundly as she looked. The excited butterflies that waltzed in her stomach would not allow for that. She pressed her face to the window and looked out. Her betrothed’s beautiful kingdom seemed to gleam in the early morning sunrise. It was even more beautiful than the landscape portraits had depicted it as.

As the carriage neared closer and closer to the castle, citizens roamed in the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young princess. The King’s guard greeted Clara's group of royal carriages at the entryway, and they were led up to the castle.

“Can we go any faster?” Clara asked impatiently, straining in her seat to see further out the window.

“Hush. No, we can’t. Sit back down and act like a lady. This trip will be for naught if his majesty is displeased with you.”

Clara huffed but sat back down. He had to like her. He just had to. She’d been trained in all the proper etiquette and was dressed up to the nines. There wasn't a single hair out of place or a poem she couldn't recite. She was the epitome of innocence and beauty. Clara was ready to obey his majesty’s every command and sit by his side as his young queen. She would do anything for this man she never met, as long as it meant she got to live this fairy tale life.

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

The blazing sun beat down on the courtyard as King Wilhelm dodged just in time to avoid the thrusting sword of his guardsman. The boy was one of the youngest of the elite soldiers and had stamina which rivalled the King's own, but his skill were still untested in battle and the King could easily read his moves. Spinning on his heel WIlhelm brought the length of his sword down across his opponent's back, the fragile wooden training blade shattering into pieces as the boy was thrown down into the dirt.

"Your majesty," Randolph said as he stepped forwards from the side of the training arena, "I believe it would be best to prepare for your guests' arrival at this time."

Holding out his hand to help his fallen opponent to his feet Wilhelm let out a deep tortured sigh. "If you insist." He called back to the courtier with resignation. "I don't suppose she'd care to join us in our duelling rather than sit through all that pomp and ceremony?"

Randolph tried not to show the deep disdain the King's suggestion caused within him, after all for more than forty years the 'pomp and ceremony' of the kingdom had been his primary focus in life. It was all Wilhelm could do not to burst out laughing at the expression on his minister's face.

"As His Majesty is not doubt aware, the young princess is mild mannered and fair. I very much doubt she would enjoy... rough housing."

Taking a cloth from his page Wilhelm quickly whipped away the sweat from his face. His body was glistening in the sunlight, muscles flexing with every step. He wasn't used to this life, if truth be told. When he'd taken to the throne the kingdom had been in disarray, wars and rebels ravaging the lands, and for most of his life he'd ruled from the saddle rather than the court. His body was a testament to his success, well formed and chiseled by battle, with the few scars he had a sign of his near unbroken record. In recent years though the kingdom had fallen quiet, the rebels quelled and the wars won, but now he found himself facing an altogether more daunting task.

As he moved into the shade of the castle's corridors Randolph fell into step beside him with practiced grace. With a wrinkle of his nose the only sign of displeasure the courtier cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, might a suggest a quick bath before your audience? Your exercises have left your bearing rather... fragrant."

 

[Emstar202]

Little was known about the Western King's daughter except that she was rumored to possess an otherworldly beauty, a beauty surpassed by none in all the lands. The women who greeted the young princess at the castle gate and escorted her into a chamber filled with sweet smelling roses and incense certainly seemed to think so. They'd taken her along with Lady Angela to bathe her and prepare her for her meeting with her betrothed, and they were constantly chatting with each other as giddily as Clara had been in the carriage.

"You're so beautiful, my lady," a young, plain looking girl commented. She was currently scrubbing Clara's back and in her excitement pressing down a bit too hard. Clara winced with discomfort as the girl continued, "Your hair is as gold as the sun and your skin as pure as snow but touched with a summer glow, and you're going to marry King Wilhelm! He's ever so handsome and brave. I wish I were in your place. I-"

"I don't think the princess wants to listen to your fanciful dreams, girl," the oldest lady-in-waiting answered. She had a dark complexion and brown eyes full of mystery. She was barely older than 30, but the way she addressed the other two girls with such authority you'd think she was 30 years their elder.

"I'm a little nervous," Clara admitted as her handmaiden Angela trickled rose water over her shoulders.

"Don't be," the plain girl who she'd come to know as Jane commented. "You're the luckiest girl in all the kingdoms!"

"I just want him to like me. Is there anything I should know? Anything I should or shouldn't do? Please, you must know him better than I," Princess Clara asked, her clear blue eyes full of hope and wonder.

Jane opened her mouth to speak, but the older lady-in-waiting, Margaret, cut her off, "Just don't act too excitable. Be respectful. Be quiet. And do what he says. The King is not a patient man, nor is he proper. He's lived a life of war these past few years and likely eager to bed a pure maid such as yourself. He will spare you no gentle touch."

The words of this older, jaded woman frustrated Clara. How could she speak this way of a King? Jane spoke in Clara's place. "How dare you speak of our King that way? Look, you're scaring the fair princesses." She turned to Clara then, helping her out of the tub, and said, "Don't listen to her. Everything will be fine. You're going to be Queen to the most powerful man in all the Kingdoms. What could be better?"

Clara looked towards Angela, the one she always trusted to give her comfort, but Angela offered no solace this time, but nor did she back up Margaret's words. She kept silent. Did these older women know something Clara did not?

Once Clara was all dressed up in her figure hugging blue gown with a silver, sparkling crown placed atop her golden head, and heading for the door, Angela finally whispered, "Don't be scared Sunstar. You've always wanted to marry a handsome prince. Your dream is coming true." She gave Clara a tight squeeze of her hand as the two of them were whisked away by two new ladies dressed in the same fanciful purple dress.

"Come Princess, it's time," The tallest of the two spoke. She took Clara's hand and lead her through a myriad of hallways before they finally stopped in front of a set of huge double doors that Clara could only assume led to the ballroom.

She took a deep breath, felt her breasts straining against the constricting fabric as she drew air, and then entered the ballroom. Her face was flushed red by nerves and blush. She was a petite girl, but possessed a shapely figure despite her small size. Her face was sweet and innocent, blue eyes aglow with excitement.

She could not wait to become Queen.

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

Water splashed down around WIlhelm as the servants tipped another bucket over him. The warmth was welcoming against his skin but the king still found the serving girls' touch uncomfortable after a life in the field. Their slender fingers moved the wash cloths over him, cleaning every part as Randolph watched critically. When one reach up between his legs, taking hold of his manhood with one hand and rubbing the cloth over his crotch with the other Wilhelm felt a rush which left the young girl blushing and smirking.

"I believe His Majesty would be most comfortable in the full ceremonial regalia for the audience, as is befitting the reception of a dignitary." Randolph droned as the maid stroked the wet cloth along the length of Wilhelm's spear, biting her lip as she gazed at it hungrily. Many a young girl had made a good start in the world by bearing a royal bastard, and with Wilhelm's tall, dark frame any son would be strong and healthy.

Shifting on his feet uncomfortably Wilhelm pushed the girl away an grabbed a towel from a nearby valet, quickly covering himself up even as the maid knelt to clean the wet tiled floor. The sight of her prostrating herself in front of him sent another surge through his loins, ut at the same time Randolph's mutterings reminded the king that he was less than an hour away from meeting his future wife and to meet her with the scent of another woman still clinging to his body would be improper. Besides, the young princess was famed as a beauty herself, and hopefully before long it would be her scent clinging to him.

"I'd be more comfortable in armour, facing a hoard, than dressing up in all this frippery." Wilhelm barked, making his way into the dressing chamber where more maids waited to dress him.

"It is expected Your Highness," Randolph continued, his tone at once reverential and chiding. "To appear attired otherwise may be taken as a slight to the union."

Tossing the soaked towel aside Wilhelm paused for a moment as a maid held his pantaloons ready for him to step into. "No man should be forced to wear such foolish garb," He muttered angrily.

The maid's hands quickly pulled the drawstring tight around his waist before drifting over his well-toned abs with a teasing lightness. A quick glance up into his eyes let Wilhelm know that she was another in search of a tumble with the throne and he let out a sigh. Most nights he had his pick of any girl in the castle, but still his battle-honed caution meant he spent most alone between his sheets, taking a partner only when the urge grew too great to deny.

As his shirt was pulled down over his head Wilhelm shot a critical eye over at the courtier. "I thought this union had already been agreed to by you and your associates? I was told there was no choice in the matter."

Randolph's tilted head told the king more than words ever could. WHat he'd been told was a convenient lie, given to him to help steer him into a choice that was best for the kingdom despite whatever his own feelings may be on the matter. "Your Majesty surely understands that the necessity of the union is what has been agreed, and until the marriage ceremony has been completed and the coupling consummated no alliance can be ratified. At this time any perceived insult or dishonour could be severely detrimental."

With a sigh Wilhelm settled back, waiting as layer after layer of soft, silken clothe was added to his outfit until he was left feeling like a pampered buffoon surrounded with pointless finery. When he was finally fully clothed he turned back to Randolph with a flourish. "Since the choice no longer seems to be mine to make I suppose we'd better get this cattle market over with."

"As Your Majesty wishes," Randolph replied with a smile gesturing the guards to begin their march to the great hall.

 

[Emstar202]

The ballroom was more elaborately decorated and expansive than the ballroom at her castle. The space was intricately decorated, not a rose petal or tapestry out of place. The dining tables where pushed to the side to open the middle of the floor for dancing. Clara was so taken aback by it that it took a moment for her to hear the resounding clapping of the court around her. Princes and princesses, lords and ladies, all here to witness the meeting of his majesty and his betrothed. Clara smiled pleasantly around at them all, curtsying the best she could within the tight dress and flowing skirt.

When would the King arrive?

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

Stalking his way angrily down the corridor, surrounding by fussing maids who were desperately trying to poke and tease the last adornments of his regalia into place against his wishes, Wilhelm made his way as quickly as he could towards the great hall. If any of his men saw him dressed this way he wasn't sure what he'd do, especially as the sword hanging at his hip was nothing more than a tin foil piece of decoration that no true soldier should ever have to carry.

"If His Majesty would be so kind as to wait here I shall make the proper announcements or his arrival." Randolph stated, preening himself as he stepped out of the corridor and onto the royal dais which dominated the end of the ball room. THe courtier was truly in his native element as he swanned up onto the platform and waved his hand towards the orchestra to quieten for a moment.

Once the music had ceased, the royal fanfare had been sounded and the murmur of conversations had dimmed Randolph cleared his throat and plunged into the King's formal introduction "All rise and hail His Majesty, Ruler of the Kingdom and Lands Across The Seas,. Protector of The Faith, Bearer of The Crown, King Wilhelm of House Bloodborn, First of His name. Long may He reign."

As the hall rang with the lords and ladies responding to the declaration with the customary call "Long may He reign" WIlhelm stepped out of the corridor where he'd been hiding and took his place before the throne. Casting his eyes critically over the crowd he saw nothing but sycophants and popinjays, each preening and primping themselves for the honour of their King's attention.

Just as he was becoming certain this evening would be just as dull and tiring as every other of these royal functions his eyes came to rest on the beautiful young maiden surrounded by her maids. He smiled to himself at the sight of her, looking so innocent and pure surrounded by the vipers and turncoats of the court.

Without waiting a moment longer, and ignoring Randolph's attempt to restrain him, Wilhelm stepped down onto the dance floor and strode towards the girl. Bracing one hand behind his back, as Randolph had advised him to do so many times, the King bent low and held his hand out in offering to the girl.

"Would you care for a dance, my dear?" He said, his head tilted back as he bent low so that he could gaze directly into her eyes.