The Princess and The Knight

Sir Russell

A Week Earlier:

Meanwhile, in Mezark things looked sombre and the king was furious. He was pacing back and forth and anything or anyone who came in his way were the bearer of his wrath. He had just received news that James and Alexandra were holding their only daughter’s coronation and had not bothered inviting him. A long list of guests were coming but his name was missing. His anger held no bounds and the whole castle could hear him cursing. There was a huge commotion in the castle and everyone knew the King was in one of his worst moods.

Everyone knew that it was useless to talk to him when he was throwing one of his tantrums. A simpleton chef in his line of duty dared to ask the King if he wished to have his food served and was kicked out and immediately fired from his job, thus the king spent the next couple of his days confined in his room.

Finally, one of his trusted advisors sent a beautiful maiden to appease him. After spending some hours on her the king seemed to have been pacified. The advisor thought his decision to be successful and mustered up the courage to ask the king what the issue was?

“A coronation is said to be taking place in Lancebrough of Princess Angela and I have not been invited.” The king said in an agitated way. “They have done this deliberately, imagine how embarrassing it would be when the press asks me why I have not been invited.” He started pacing again with his head bent down and his fists tightly clutched.

He banged his hand on the glass table that it broke into pieces fortunately missing slashing his own hand. But of course he didn’t care. “If only a mishap happens and the coronation stops!” King Marcus seethed with anger.

“It can happen if you really want it to.” His advisor spoke up.

The King stopped pacing and looked at the advisor sharply, “What do you mean?”

“Your majesty, we only need to remove the princess before the coronation and there will be no coronation.” The advisor grinned shrugging his shoulders.

“You make it sound like it’s a piece of cake. Do you mean we should kill her? I am not that ruthless.” The King blared.

The advisor quickly stepped forward to speak more plainly, “Not at all your majesty, we can always have her kidn*pped. No one would know or even think about it.”

“The security would be high alert there and hundreds of people will be constantly inside and outside the palace not to forget the press. Oh forget it!” the king was growing agitated, “You’re the advisor and you cant even come up with a plan.”

“Your majesty, why don’t you leave this in the trusted hands of your knight, Sir Russell? He would find a way and even if he failed, he would certainly not betray you. He’s an honorable man.”

“That he is. But we have to come up with a valid story for him to perform this act.” The King scratched his chin thoughtfully.

“Leave it to me, I will take care of it once he comes.”

“Fine, ask for him then.” King Marcus ordered.

Sir Russell was only twenty eight but he had been awarded the title of ‘Sir’ after showing exceptional courage and chivalry, winning accolades, awards and posts. When he walked into the castle, he did so with a grace, his gray eyes looked honest and he was ever faithful to his King.

The King was fond of him and showed tenderness towards him. He had grown up in front of his eyes and knew his father well. Bowing in front of the King, Sir Russell looked up and saw the anxious look on his majesty’s face. He had grown old and with no heir to succeed him he always looked troubled, though Sir Russell knew that the King had not done enough for his country but he thought it to be a folly of the King’s father who left him to rule the country without guiding him or even a former training would have prevented him from making absurdities.

Sir Russell thought the King was surrounded by slow-witted and dense advisors and would succumb to give his opinions on matters whenever the King required him to do so. He was born and bred to serve the king and be loyal to him till the last drop of his blood.

“Sir Russell, so good to have you here. The king needs your services immediately.” The advisor spoke up.

“At your service, your majesty.”

“The king has been recently informed by one of our spies in Lancebrough that they are planning to overthrow his Empire and take over Mezark.”

Sir Russell shot a quick glance towards the king who seemed to be quiet and lost in thought, “What does the king require me to do?” He asked immediately standing straight with his head held high.

“Before they wage a war on us, we want you to cripple them from within. We want you to kidnap Princess Angela.” The advisor continued.

Sir Russell looked alarmed, “I thought you would want me to prepare our men and strike them before they attacked us.”

King Marcus answered, “No my boy, you know we are not economically or financially strong to fight with a powerful country like Lancebrough. First of all, we would never win and secondly our little country won’t survive and people would end up going below poverty line. k********g the princess is our only chance of surviving. You do understand?”

The king was now standing beside Sir Russell, “Yes, your majesty. But what will we do with her?”

“Once they know that she is with us, they won’t dare attack us and we will sign a treaty with them.” The King explained.

 “I see.”

“Good boy, I know I can depend on you for everything to go smoothly. Don’t let me down.” He patted his shoulder, “I would like you to leave at once.”

The thought of k********g a princess did not sit well with Sir Russell but he had his orders and he was going to follow them. He immediately packed everything of utmost importance as he meant to travel light not forgetting his guns. He took a plane to carry him to Lancebrough and during his flight dug up information regarding Princess Angela. He saw her face on different social media sites and couldn’t help but wonder that she was a pretty girl.

He made a mental plan of how to kidnap her and realized he only had a couple of days left before her coronation which meant he had to take a swift action.

After he stepped outside the airport in Lancebrough, Sir Russell observed that The Royals were highly appreciated and loved in their country unlike King Marcus of Mezark. Lancebrough was a well-developed country and people seemed contented and joyful. Whatever the case maybe, there was no way Sir Russell would allow anyone to wage war over his country and try to overthrow the monarchy. He picked up a spot for himself near the palace where he could keep a close eye on everyones movement in and out of it and scrutinize his surroundings.

He could see through his binoculars how the guards were continuously pacing the palace premises and the entire compound was immersed with the arrival of guests. Seems like the preparations for the coronation are in full swing, he thought to himself.

One night when he was monitoring the palace, he saw a slender figure coming out from one of the castle gates which he thought to be sealed. He froze in his tracks as the castle was silhouetted against the dimming sky and the coveted figure whose face was hidden under a hoodie quickly made her way towards the busy street in the area.

He wanted to catch a glimpse of the person wearing the hoodie but failed to do so. He followed the girl from a safe distance who seemed to know her way well through the twists and turns of the cobbled streets. Suddenly she had stopped when two men were passing her insults. Sir Russell felt like grabbing them and knocking them down but stopped when he saw how the girl had beaten the heck out of the first guy who was lying on the floor. He heard her inviting the second guy to try his luck with her but he ran away not even bothering for his friend.

He was rather amused and couldn’t help smiling to himself which he rarely did so. This girl is good, he reflected to himself. Although she was fully covered but he knew how toned and firm her body must be. With quick steps she reached the unguarded and sealed part of the palace and disappeared before Sir Russell even had a chance to find the opening himself. She was an enigma to him though he wasn’t able to see her but her mysteriousness beguiled him.