A Tale of Two Princesses (37 page)

     "I just want to be by myself. I just want to wake up in the morning, get my eggs, clean my barn, clean my floor, and go to bed in my stall and dream about a prince rescuing me from all this."

     "Yet you shun the prince when he calls?"

     "You're a king. You can't rescue me, Court. I'm a stable girl. It doesn't work that way."

     "Why? There's no law against it."

     "There should be," she whispered.

     "Then why, Sienna, did you ever steal that kiss from me here in this barn? Why did you write the letter Wellington found? Why do you behave as if you want me and yet turn away when I come?"

     Her lower lip trembled. "I kissed you because I'm so in love with you it hurts all the time, and you gave me a dress and swept me off my feet, and for one second I actually thought it might be possible for us to be together, and I fought back every argument there was. I just wanted to feel your lips one more time and I kept telling myself maybe it didn't matter if you're a prince, but it does. It matters so much. It's who you are. I wish you never knew it was me behind that mask. That letter was the dream of a girl hoping for something she can't have, and if writing it hadn't saved your life, I would have wished it to be burned instead of hidden."

     "But it did save my life, and the truth in it has become my life." And then he bowed on one knee before her.

     "No! No, Court, don't!"

     He took her hand. She tried to pull it back but he held it tight.

     "Sienna, I can't live without you. I do not wish to live without you. I want nothing else but to be with you. Will you marry me?"

     Her lower lip trembled as she stared down at him. Her eyes grew glossy and her lips opened to speak, but then she tugged her hand away, wiping her face.

     "No," she said, sniffling.

     "Why?" he asked, standing again, stepping closer. "What must I do to sway you?"

     She shook her head. "You can't marry me. Don't you get it? I don't...deserve you. I clean out chamber pots and rake horse manure and wash dishes. I'm not fit for a king. Look at my hands. Look at them." She held them up. They were covered in dirt, all stuck under her fingernails. "That's what I am. Now, look at yours." She grabbed at him angrily, lifting his hands, turning them so he could see. They were unblemished, soft, his nails clean and trim. She let him go. "That's what you are."

     "You think we cannot be together because of a little dirt? Then let me clean you. Or let me bathe in the mud. I do not care which side of the fence you wish me on, so long as you are on the same."

     "But you're a king."

     "I did not ask to be a king anymore than you asked to be a princess. It was thrust upon me, and now you tell me that because of chance, I cannot be with the woman I love?"

     She closed her eyes. "Don't say that. It hurts so much to hear."

     "Tell me the truth then," he said. "If I had been a traveler, a scoundrel even, passing through, taking sleep here at the tavern and so met you as a commoner, would you have felt any differently about me?"

     "I don't know," she whispered.

     "You do know!" he said angrily. "It would not matter to you, as it does not matter to me!"

     "But it does matter to me," she said, looking up into his eyes. "You're a dream. You have to stay that way."

     "Sienna, if I am a dream, then I cannot wake. But I will tell you a secret, and I pray the knowledge will wake you from this nightmare. Do you know the reason the dragon devoured your mother?"

     She bit her lip, shaking her head.

     "It is because your mother laid with the former king, and Celeste, upon learning it, poisoned him and asked Vrine to destroy your mother."

     "What?" she whispered. "That's not true. It can't be."

     "Why?" he asked. "Because you would rather be a stable girl than a princess? Because it is easier to deny what you are, deny me, than step forward and admit what you feel?"

     Tears rolled down her cheeks. "It doesn't matter if it's true. No one else knows. I'm not a princess in anyone else's eyes."

     "You are in mine. Is that not enough?"

     Sienna turned away from him, leaning against the wall. She hit it with her hand and then buried her face in her palms. "Why did you have to come back here? Why couldn't you just let me have my pathetic little life? It was enough for me."

     "It was not enough for me. I cannot take you out of my heart. If you are angry with anyone, be angry with yourself for letting me fall in love with you. I was not wise enough to see you in front of my eyes before, but I see you now, and you are all I want."

     She sniveled as she looked up at him. "What do you think people would say if you brought me to the castle? Everyone still thinks I killed Queen Friora. A man was in here last night threatening my uncle. And now Queen Celeste is gone, they'll think you killed her for me."

     "I am the sovereign king of Avelot. I don't care what they think. I don't care what they say. Let them talk." He came closer, putting his arms on either side of her, braced against the wall, his face right in front of hers. "Come with me, Sienna. I have fallen in love and the thought of never being with you again is agonizing."

     "Please, Court, stop. You have no idea how much I want to say yes, but I can't. I can't be a princess. I can't be a queen. I don't know how to be one. You saw me trying my hardest the night we met. I acted like a fool. That's what everyone would think of me, a fool, a common girl with dirty hands pretending to be something she is not, and they would laugh at me and worse, they would laugh at you. I can't do that to you. I would rather you found a queen who you could be proud of."

     "Sienna, do you not understand? These fears of yours are not my fears! I do not wish a proper queen and would be miserable with her at my side. Sooner would I stay here in this stall with you, minding horses and slaving to your uncle than to go back to that castle and spend a lifetime with a woman like Celeste. Tell me what I must do. Name your conditions. I will cast off this crown and let it rot in that pile of manure, but I will not cast off you."

     "You can't do that," she whispered.

     "I can and I will."

     "You would give up your throne for me?"

     "I would melt down the crown for you."

     "Then do so," she challenged, lifting her chin. "Because I cannot be your queen."

     He took a step back, stunned.

     She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "That's what I thought. So go, Court. Go back to your castle. Go find your queen. But don't you ever come back here."

     His teeth clenched, and then he suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the stall, dragging her across the barn.

     "What are you doing?" she demanded, stumbling after him, his grip tight.

     "Whatever I must," he said, pushing open the door.

     Sienna was stunned to see so many people outside, Wellington, Homa, Betilly, Kathree, Uncle Banyan, and even Mrs. Crockery, all waiting for her, surrounded by the king's personal guard, as well as the priest, the steward, and the chancellor. They all looked as if they were happy, like they were waiting for some sort of announcement. Court let go of her hand.

     "I went to some trouble planning this, Sienna. I intended to marry you right here, today, but..." He looked away from her, his eyes on Banyan. "Banyan, I am afraid your niece has refused my proposal."

     "She what?" he said loudly. "Sienna, you'll accept the king's proposal right this moment!"

     "She won't," Court said. He looked at Homa. "Homa, I'm sorry. You will not be Sienna's lady-in-waiting after all."

     Homa frowned. "I see. Oh, child."

     "Betilly, Kathree," Court said, "I am afraid the dress you have worked so hard to make will not be worn."

     "Dear me," Betilly said.

     "Indeed," Kathree said.

     Sienna hung her head.

     "Priest," Court continued, "neither will you be marrying us today."

     "I understand, your majesty."

     "Chancellor," he said next, "you will not witness our union."

     "Yes, sire."

     "Steward," Court went on, "we will not need the queen's crown after all."

     "Yes, your majesty."

     "Wellington, I will not need that ring either."

     "I am so sorry, sir," Wellington said.

     "Banyan?" Court said.

     "Your majesty?"

     "I wish to buy this farm, lock, stock, and barrel."

     Sienna's eyes bulged. "What?"

     Court did not look at her. "What's your price, Banyan?"

     "No!" Sienna said immediately. "You can't do that!"

     "I can do whatever I want," he shot back. "I am the sovereign king. If I so wish to burn this place to the ground, I shall do it. Do not dare to tell me what I can and cannot do, stable girl. Banyan, name your price, any price."

     Banyan looked nervous. "A hundred thousand gold coins?"

     "Sold."

     Banyan nearly fainted. He had to rest on Mrs. Crockery.

     "Wellington?"

     "Sir?" he said.

     "Pay the man one hundred thousand gold coins."

     "Sir, this tavern is not even worth a hundred thousand silver coins!"

     "Shut up, Wellington. Do as I say."

     "Yes, your majesty. It shall be done."

     Court turned to Sienna. "I own your stall."

     Sienna was getting angry, her fists shaking. "You do not own me, your majesty!"

     "I told you not to call me that," Court said. "And now you will have no reason to ever call me it again. Wellington, come and kneel before me."

     Wellington hurried forward, kneeling before his king. "Sir?"

     "Chancellor," Court said, looking up, "witness this."

     The chancellor came closer. "Sire?"

     "I, King Court Cornelius Cross, do so endow you, William Whitley Wellington—"

     "Sir, you can't!" Wellington cried, looking up.

     "Shut up, Wellington!" Court shouted. "I do so endow you with the crown and bequeath upon you kingship!" He placed the crown on Wellington's head. Then he took off his kingly mantle and threw it around Wellington's shoulders. "Rise and take your place as sovereign king of Avelot!"

     Wellington shot up. "Your majesty, have you lost your mind?"

     Court knelt before Wellington. "Your majesty, I do not understand the question. I am but a humble tavern owner."

     "You cannot bow before me, sir! I am your servant!"

     "A king may relinquish his crown to any he chooses. Is this not the law, chancellor?"

     "So it is," the chancellor said, "though never have I witnessed it put into effect."

     Court looked around. "Why is no one else bowing? Should we not all bow to our new king? Long live the king!"

     Everyone bowed, Banyan, Mrs. Crockery, Homa, Betilly, Kathree, the priest, the steward, the chancellor, even all the guards, shouting out together, "Long live the king!"

     Sienna did not bow. Court glanced up at her. "Sienna, you are committing high treason by not bowing before the king. Is one hanging in a lifetime not enough for you?"

     "It's quite all right!" Wellington said quickly. "Rise, please, everyone, rise."

     Court stood up, looking at Sienna. "Are you satisfied?"

     "Why are you doing this?" she demanded. "I told you I can't be with you!"

     "You can't be with a king. I'm not a king anymore."

     "You're still a prince!"

     "Only in Cross, and I don't live there anymore."

     "Sir," Wellington spoke up, "if you wish, I will return the crown to your head."

     "King Wellington, my name is Court, and I will never accept the crown again. But my last order as king stands, and I do hope your majesty will honor it. This tavern is mine."

     "Sir, of course, I will, but pray, are you certain of this?"

     Court reached out, tugging Wellington into a hug. "Will, there is no man more honorable in all the land who so deserves this more than you." He broke the hug. "Go find your queen. I've found mine." He walked away from him, coming to Banyan. "The keys to this fine establishment, Banyan?"

     Banyan fished them out of his pocket.

     Court took them. "Go with the king to the castle. He will make good on our bargain."

     "Aye, thank you...Court. Might I get a few personal belongings from my room?"

     "Please do," Court said. "And I hope you'll share your fortune with Mrs. Crockery, as I have no money to pay her wages." He looked at Sienna. "Except yours, Sienna, if you're willing to stay on as my stable girl."

     She didn't answer. She just stared at him.

     "Well," Court said, looking out over the crowd, "you are all trespassing on my property, except his majesty. If there is nothing else, I must prepare for my evening guests."

     And then he strolled away, putting his hands in his pockets, passing through the tavern door. Sienna turned back, finding everyone staring at her. She looked at Wellington.

     "I'm sorry," Sienna said. "I didn't know he was going to do that."

     "Didn't you?" Wellington said. "Perhaps you do need to get to know him a little better, for when the prince sets his eyes upon something he wishes, there is no barrier he will not break to gain it. Pray, do him the service of your company, if not your companionship. He has given up everything for you. And, Sienna, if ever you need anything, you are certain to know where I am."

     Wellington moved off, climbing into the white landau. It began to roll away with the guard. Homa came over afterward, hugging her.

     "Child, I do not think you realize all you have sacrificed, but neither do I think the prince yet realizes all he has gained. Or perhaps he does. I would have served you well."

     Sienna frowned. "It would have been nice, being a real princess."

     Homa kissed her forehead. "You shall always be one to me. I will visit you from time to time."