Chapter 7 - Morghen

The Princess left so quickly I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

Her golden-brown hair loose and bouncing against her back, her hands clutching that silver tiara. She had stuttered when she thanked me and I tried not to dwell on how I'd flirted with my Prince's future wife.

And when she turned, I caught a whiff of… flowers.

I blinked, and descended the stairs and went off to find him.

It was a bold move, beating up one of the Navhëlm King's chieftains right in front of his face, however deserved it was. And before that, when the chieftain with her hair in a braid stepped forward to threaten him— if the Navhëlm King had not stopped her, I would have leapt down into the hall to kill her right then and there.

Then we would have all been slain by a bunch of bloodthirsty Navhëlmen looking for an excuse to tear the Winter Prince a new one.

And of course, there was the matter of the marriage. Beneath the scarf over my face, I chuckled to myself.

Prince Adenos was being shown to his lodgings. The other diplomats were led to a separate wing where they would discuss the terms of the treaty with the Navhëlm King's council. A pair of soldiers walked in front of us. They kept shooting nervous glances at the Prince, looking like they'd piss themselves if he even so much as glanced at them.

Fortunately for their pants, he was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

We were being led away from the rest of the castle, to what looked like a quieter section. Just as well, I think, none of the staff would function properly seeing the Winter Prince of Sonera walking among them every day. It was colder here, away from the castle's central heating.

When we arrived, I trailed behind, waited till the soldiers finished grovelling and the Prince entered his room, then followed him in.

'Morghen,' he said, not turning around, 'where have you been?'

I shed the Navhëlm cloak I'd 'borrowed' and grinned. 'Saying hello to your new staff-in-law, Your Highness. If you told me about the wedding before we left, I would have brought something nicer to wear.'

He said nothing, which I was used to.

He crossed the room to draw the thick curtains. It was still snowing outside, and white sunlight streamed in, revealing the tapestries in a dark Navhëlm blue on the wall and the bed covered with soft furs in the corner. It illuminated his face, too. A few dark strands of hair fell into his eyes, and he swept it away, those severe brows drawing together in a frown.

My stomach flipped as I watched him.

'When you are finished staring, unpack this for me.' Prince Adenos nodded at his trunk.

Usually, that was the servants' job, but there were none in sight. It was a flagrant show of disrespect, isolating the Prince from his retinue. Not to mention the danger he was in alone. I would have to request for a cot so I could sleep by the door.

I opened the trunks and flopped onto the bed, trying to lighten the mood. 'Congratulations, Your Highness! Never thought I would see the day.'

'I must still send word to my father.'

Ah. The Great King of Sonera. Treaties were more up Prince Trisan's lane, and Prince Adenos had not secured a surrender.

The King was not a forgiving man. I rolled my shoulders uncomfortably at the thought, and tried to think of something more pleasant, like… the Princess. What did he think of the marriage? 'Do you know what she looks like? Will you like her?'

'She was not in the throne room.' The Prince was sitting at a heavy wooden desk by the door, ready to compose the letter. He sighed, 'Stay off my sheets, please, they are clean.'

Fair enough. I shuffled off.

'And, no. Does it matter how I feel about her? This is just a marriage of convenience.' He looked tired as he said it. A boy of only twenty, and every time I looked at him it seemed the world weighed heavier and heavier on his shoulders. He rubbed his eyes and glared at the papers before him.

I wanted to help, but how could I? I had protected my Prince from assassins and angry civilians, but I couldn't shield him from his father or the snide comments the nobility made behind their hands. I was just a knight.

I was going to tell him about the Princess when I heard the door creak inwards.

'What was that?' I tensed, drawing my sword and standing between the door and the Prince.

His white travelling cloak was draped on a chair nearby. I threw it over my shoulders and left the room. The hall was empty.

I paced the length of the hall and paused to listen. Not a sound. Probably the wind, I thought aloud. The air smelled faintly of flowers but it must have been my imagination. No way the King would allow his precious daughter near Prince Adenos alone.

When I returned to Prince Adenos, he was still sitting at the desk writing away like nothing happened. I shut the door for safety's sake and resumed unpacking his things.

We were in enemy territory. I couldn't afford to let my guard down for a second.