The Queen of Rosefield

Chapter 8

    Malana slowly pulled the helmet from her head and looked at the king.  He staggered back and sat in his chair as he looked at the heir to his throne.  He had thought for a moment that he was looking at a ghost except for the blue eyes that looked back at him.

    "A woman!"  Lord Delmar yelled and pulled his sword as he jumped at Malana.

    "Stop!"  The king bellowed, but the enraged lord didn't stop.  "Protect the future queen!"

    "Stay back!"  She yelled and met the challenge head on.  "Lord God in Heaven help me to be the person You wish me to be."  She prayed in a loud voice as she swung her sword.  "Help me to be strong and to do Your will only."  The two swords connected and a loud snap echoed throughout the great hall.

    "Lord Delmar's sword has been broken."  Prince Fredrick said and looked at his cousin.

    Screaming reached the great hall and then came the pounding of running horses.  Swords were clashing near the great hall and it sent the lords and knights running.  Sir Darrel grabbed Malana by her arm and hurried her after the king as he left the hall by a hidden passage behind the throne.

    "Oh my king, they have taken Lady Anna!"  A distraught woman cried as she ran to the king and fell on the floor at his feet.  "We couldn't stop them!"  She cried as she flung her hands in the air.

    "Sir Darrel, go after her."  Malana said and thrust her sword into his hand.  "Take my sword and bring my sister back."  She commanded and the king looked at the future queen.

    "Tonight we crown you queen.  Tomorrow we go to war."  The king said as he looked around.  "Go Sir Darrel, go as your queen has commanded.  Take any of my horses in the stable to ride."

    "Thank you my king."  Sir Darrel said and bowed before the king and future queen before he ran from the hall and to the stables.

    "Take Princess Malana to her chamber and have her prepared for tonight."  The king ordered the woman who was still kneeling on the floor.

    "But my king, shouldn't Lady Anna be found first?"

    "Do not question me, get Agnes to dress your future queen."

    "Yes my king."  The woman said and turned to lead the way to a bed chamber.  "You're to stay here."  She said to Malana and opened the door.  "Don't touch anything in here."  She said.

    "I beg your pardon."  She said as she looked at the woman.  "What have I done to you to make you hate me so?"

    "You have taken my lady away from me."  The woman said and shoved Malana toward the bed.  She slammed the door of the chamber shut before she hurried down the hall away from Malana.

    "Lord what was that all about?"  She asked and went to lay down on the bed to rest.  She was tired and a few hours sleep would do her good.  When she lay her head on the pillow, she thought she caught a familiar scent on the covers before her eyes closed and sleep overtook her.

    Several hours later the castle was in an uproar.  "Princess Malana!  Princess Malana!"  people were calling as they opened doors to all the chambers and looked inside each one.

    "Malana, are you in here?"  The Master Swordsman asked as he opened the door to a chamber and looked in.

    "Father, is that you?"  She asked in a sleepy voice.

    "Malana, thank God I've found you."  He said and hurried to her side.  "What are you doing in this bed chamber?  Didn't you know you weren't supposed to be in here?"  He asked as she sat up on the bed.

    "This is where that woman brought me Father, and I was so tired that I fell asleep."

    "Why did she bring you to Sir Darren's chamber?"

    "Sir Darren's chamber.  All I know is the woman seemed angry with me and this is where she brought me.  She said I was to touch nothing, but I needed to sleep so I lay down."

    "You can deal with the woman later.  Right now the king awaits you in the great hall."

    "But I'm not dressed."

    "It's to late for that now, we have to hurry.  Get your helmet and let's go."

    Malana grabbed her helmet and hurried after her father.  Sir John joined them as they walked down the halls to the great hall.  Other knights and ladies joined the procession as they hurried on their way.  "Father, the king wont like it that I'm not dressed properly.  Is there not someway for me to be more presentable?"

    "Lady Rothschild, have you anything for Princess Malana to wear?"

    "No Master Swordsman, but the late queens chambers are just ahead.  We can find something for her to wear in there."

    "I'll tell the king the princess will be in the great hall soon."  Sir John said and bowed slightly before he hurried off to see the king.

    "Have the knights ready for Princess Malana when we reach the great hall."

    "Yes Master Swordsman."  Sir John said as he continued on his way.

    "Come Princess Malana, this was your mothers chamber."  Lady Rothschild said and led the princess into the chamber with several ladies following.  "Hurry and get out of that armor.  Lady Janna, help her with the straps.  Helga, get me some water and scrub her face good.  Hurry, we must get her ready fast."

    Women scrubbed Malana clean from her head to her shoulders.  they fixed her black hair so some would hand down her back while the rest was wound around her head.  The gold and silver gown that was placed on her was a little to big, but it would do for that night.  The gown was the one that Queen Sarah was to have worn when she presented the heir to the throne to the people of Rosewood.

    "They await you my princess."  Lady Rothschild said and opened the door of the chamber.

    As Princess Malana stepped from the chamber, two knights awaited her.  They were older knights she had never seen before and they bowed before her.  The Master Swordsman turned to look at the girl he had raised as his daughter and drew in a deep breath.

    "My child."  He said as he looked her up and down.  "I never dreamed you would look so beautiful or that you would look just like your mother, but with your fathers eyes."

    "Master Swordsman we must go."  Lady Rothschild said as the ladies flanked the princess.  "Lead the way."

    The Master Swordsman led the way and was followed by the two knights.  Malana followed the two knights and the ladies followed her.  They walked down the halls of the castle and soon reached the wide steps that led to the great hall.  Here Malana hesitated and she looked back at Lady Rothschild.

    The older woman stepped forward and placed her arm across Malana's shoulders.  "It is alright Child.  Everyone gets nervous."

    Another woman stepped up and held a beautiful golden necklace to Malana.  "Please my queen, wear this necklace.  It belongs to Lady Anna and I know she would have liked for you to wear it tonight."

    "Yes Princess, wear your sisters beautiful necklace."  Lady Rothschild said and helped put the necklace around Malana's neck.

    "Thank you."  She said and followed the knights.  She slowly entered the great hall and saw the king sitting on his throne.  The knights drew their swords and watched as the heir to the throne walked under the arch they had made.  They waited and watched in silence as their new queen knelt in front of her father.

    "Lords and ladies, knights and pages, hear my words.  Tonight we crown my daughter Princess Malana as queen.  Tomorrow we shall go to war."  the king said and held a golden crown above Malana's head.  "By Gods grace and power, I crown thee Queen Malana of Rosewood.  Rule this land as God foresees.  Forsake not the people.  Love the land, love the people.  Care for them as if they were your children."  The king said and placed the crown upon his daughters head.  "Stand Queen Malana of Rosewood.  Stand and look upon your trusted servants."  The king said and waited for her to look upon the people in the great hall.  As she turned she saw all the people before her were on their knees.

    "Hail Queen Malana!"  They shouted over and over as they gained their feet.

    Once the queen was seated in her chair, the knights and their ladies lined up before her.  Each one swore his loyalty to her before he headed for the large table to sit.  By midnight the banquet was in full swing and Malana barely picked at the food in front of her.  She cringed as the people before her made loud noises as they ate and drank.

    "My king."  Malana said and saw the king look at her.

    "What is it my daughter?"  He asked as he saw the distressed look on her face.

    "Do the people always eat like hogs when they're at your table?"  She wanted to know and looked back at the people.  Some weren't acting as bad as hogs, but most were.  Sir John had seen the look on his queens face and he looked around at his fellow knights and lords.  He stood to his feet and banged his fist on the table.  Slowly other knights stood and began banging their fist on the table also until the great hall became quiet and ten knights stood and looked at their new queen.

   "Sir John, what have you to say?"  The king asked and looked at the knight.

    "My king, my queen, my fellow knights, lords and ladies.  We're here celebrating tonight the crowning of our new queen, but I notice we are offending her.  She is a sensitive queen and we're acting like starved dogs before the hunt.  With each new ruler we have, there'll be many changes brought about so why not begin learning what our new queen likes tonight."

    "Well said Sir John."  The king said and stood.  "Well said."  He sat back down and looked at his daughter before he nodded to the people to resume eating in a more civilized manner.

    The young queen looked at Sir John and acknowledged his actions on her behalf.