Chapter 22: Decisions and Planning
Lynn was dressed in her armor, minus her helmet and mask, as she stood beside her father and Mr. London waiting for her highness, his highness, and the prince to listen to their words.
Garret, his eyes were still avoiding hers and she found her resolve shaken. Swallowing the hurt, she stood firm in what she promised. She will continue to fight for them.
"Christian," the king spoke up sitting on his throne made of royal blue upholstery, "What is the urgency?"
Her father stood taller with his back straight and a hand over his chest.
"My king," Christian bowed before straightening, "Mr. London discovered magic was involved when both Prince Garret and my daughter fell ill."
Their eyes widened as both the king and queen looked at one another with fear.
"Is what you say true? You have proof?" Queen Celeste spoke first in a hurried expression looking… hopeful?
Why was she hopeful?
"My queen," Kurt spoke up, "May we request a private meeting?"
"Yes!" the queen stood up quickly surprising everyone in the room. Celeste held her dress up as she pulled her husband with her toward their meeting room.
To be honest, she does not accompany her king to meetings often, but this! This was important for it could change the outcome of their future!
Celeste hurried them in the room and closed the door quickly. Looking expectantly at Christian and Kurt, she held onto her son as if he would leave her.
"When I was repairing the gem, I sensed dark magic upon it," Kurt explained in his soft stern tone.
"You were the only one who survived who can use magic, Kurt," the king spoke up rubbing his forehead, "Had we missed someone else?"
"She must have broken free with the help of King Valor," Kurt stated and Celeste found her hold on her son tighten more.
How…? Was it not protected and sealed?! It was known and signed by all kingdoms to never step foot there!
A slam against the hard desk echoed through the chamber as Alastir growled angrily.
"That bastard," her husband gritted out as he leaned over the desk to catch his breath, "What else?"
"King Valor's rush for her daughter to marry is no farce. He does wish for his daughter to marry Prince Garret, but there is another reason," Christian stated.
"The book," Alastir finished and frowned straightening up.
Celeste watched them nod and a part of her, the mother in her, ached at knowing what was going to occur. Her son, her only child would be married on a farce, a lie! That man conspired to kill her son's personal knight and unbeknownst almost killed her son!
He does not deserve to be a part of this kingdom any longer!
"He almost killed my son," Celeste spoke up with a clear tone as she stood tall like a noble, "I do not approve of this marriage."
All eyes landed on her as she spoke of her disagreement.
"If the woman wishes to aid Valor, then it is their undoing," she continued, "She will not get that book. I will speak with Queen Annabelle on her knowledge of the situation. We will not escort anyone for marriage from that kingdom. Do you all understand."
Always one to get straight to the point, demanding, and cold was what others spoke of her as. She could careless because she knew in her heart the decisions she had made were the right ones. They had to be.
"Then you wish for war," Alastir, her dear husband, always fearing conflict with others.
"I wish for justice," she grabbed his hand in hers, "Speak with the other nobles and call that wretched pig out."
A curve of his lips told her he was agreeing, and she mimicked it.
"Isn't this what you wanted, mother?" her son finally spoke up after days of silence, "For me to marry, for the good of the kingdoms."
Her son… was right. That was what she wanted from him, yet not in a way that would bring down the reputation of their kingdom. Giving forced access of their riches to King Valor was not what she wanted. Seeing her husband worry for hours unable to rest; seeing her son live a life of silence was not what she wanted.
'Am I wrong?' she looked at the young girl in the room.
'She is a knight. She is no princess,' her mind repeated as she glanced at her son.
'But, what if…' Celeste looked back at Lynn who was walking toward her son.
"Prince Garret," Lynn smiled as she stood before Garret, who was worrying the ends of his top.
"Sir Lynn," he said trying to not let his emotions show through his eyes as he thinned his lips.
"I have loved you for many years," Lynn spoke softly looking straight into emerald eyes, "I am sorry for not voicing it sooner."
Garret did not say a word, but his fingers relaxing at the trim of his tunic told Celeste what she already knew.
"Although you are upset with me, maybe hate me," Lynn continued smiling, "I hope that you still give me permission to love you, protect you," there was a pause as Lynn looked down.
To Celeste's surprised, she kneed down on one knee before her son. She blinked out the shock as she saw the young knight lift a necklace off her body and offered it to her son. She couldn't see the pendant, but the small gold chains looked familiar to her.
'That necklace…' she wondered.
Then Celeste saw her son kneed down too and pulled out his own necklace.
Eyes widened, she now understood where she had seen those chained necklaces as she had seen the pendants… no, vine twisted into a ring.
[["Momma!" the voice called out as a little boy rushed to her in the gardens. She was sitting on the bench with a small book in her hand when the child called out to her. The boy's flaming locks rivaled her own as he scooted up the bench near her.
"What is it Garret?" she placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed the small dirt collected there, "Tired?"
"Not yet!" her son said happily leaning against her.
She returned to her reading as she ran her fingers through his hair. This was happiness, wasn't it? She had a kind husband and a beautiful boy. She thought she would never bear children after so many tries, but here he was. A miracle child.
"Momma," she felt his small hands grab her left hand, "This ring is from Papa, right?"
She found herself laughing as she stared at the gold banded ring, "Yes."
"Mmm," her son sounded, "Then can I have rings too?"
He looked at her with his big green eyes, eyes of his fathers.
"Why would you need rings?" she questioned with a smile.
"So I can give it to someone I love too," her son, so innocent and naïve. How she wished for him to stay young forever.
"Alright, let us go find something to make into rings then," she stood and he joined her hopping on his toes from excitement.
As the sun settled behind the trees, they collected enough flower stems and vines for Celeste to create what her son wanted. Twisting and wrapping them around her son's thumb, both rings were formed.
"Remember to only give this to someone you truly love," she stated sternly, "Love is to not be taken lightly. Do you understand dear?"
Her son looked at her with determination on his face as he nodded sharply at her.
"I understand."]]
She understood. She always did. Celeste was a queen first, a mother last.
Closing her eyes, she didn't need to see the two young children to know how much they love one another; how much being apart hurt them.
"Is what you are saying… truly how you feel?" Garret questioned with eyes glittering like the night sky.
"Every day," Lynn admitted as her cheeks dusted with the red rose.
As they embraced, Celeste had to look away.
Lynn was no princess and yet, she was all that her son wanted.
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MichelleLeeee
MichelleLeeee Hello readers!
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