The King, the Kitchen Maid and the Mage

Simon smiled at the piece of round metal in his palm. At first, the cool metal had been an unpleasant contrast to his warm palm. But now, he enjoyed the feel of the metal- the once foreign object had become familiar. Simon’s combat master often said time was a strange thing, time had the ability to turn peace into war, time could sit by the sidelines and observe as love turned into hate, time enjoyed death’s company as it was the only constant element in the world. Normally Simon would snicker at his combat master’s words but tonight, Simon thought of the old weasel as the wisest individual he knew. For time had allowed him to like the piece of metal in his palm. And now time was going to allow him to propose to the woman he loved. Simon’s smile further stretched when he heard haste footsteps approaching him. He closed his palm and turned, eager to see the woman who would become his wife. His smile turned into a warm chuckle when the blonde, blue-eyed woman began running toward him. Simon braced himself for impact, quickly tossing the ring into his left pocket and opening his arms to catch Jenna. Jenna. Growing up, Simon had watched the tumultuous relationship between his parents. His father claimed that his mother was cold and wicked while his mother claimed that his father placed the needs of the Kingdom above hers. Simon’s elder brother, Geoffrey, had explained that the root of their parents’ rocky relationship lay in their arranged marriage. The fact was, the two did not love each other. Simon had since vowed to marry only when he was in love. He had all but given up until he met Jenna in the kitchen one day. To date, Simon had never come across such a beautiful sight. The two lovers embraced in the dimly lit room, seeking each other’s scent, craving each other’s warmth. Simon pulled himself from the embrace and held Jenna’s face in his hands. Smiling, he ran a finger across her cheek and watched as Jenna closed her eyes. Simon’s finger stopped on her bottom lip. He watched, numb with anticipation, as Jenna parted her lips and licked the upper part of his finger. Simon felt a need that scared him, how could he want something this bad? How could he want someone in such a feral manner? Jenna opened her large, beautiful blue eyes and reached for Simon’s hands, she then placed them gingerly on her breasts. The two lovers silently stared at each other in the still night, their bodies tense with desire. “I love you, Jenna.” Simon watched as Jenna’s eyes filled with tears. He watched as she began to undress in front of him. “Make love to me my Prince.” Overcome by want, Simon grabbed Jenna and placed her on the wooden table before swiftly removing his own clothing. Jenna arched her back as Simon entered her. The two lovers moaned and groaned with each thrust until they came undone in each other’s arms. Hungry for more, Jenna led Simon to a wooden chair and straddled him. It would be hours before they would gain a fill of one another. * * * “Do you remember when we first met?” Simon was running his fingers through Jenna’s hair. They had finally made their way to the bed where they were lying naked in each other’s arms. “How could I forget? I stared at you for so long that you abandoned your task and fled.” Simon smiled as a peal of laughter filled the room. “It was my first time working as a kitchen maid. The Madam had told me to make butter, I had no clue how to do it. I must have looked like an utter mess with my forehead glistened with sweat, my hair a mess and my dress covered with yellow slime.” Simon smiled, enjoying the memory. He had wanted a snack before going hunting with his father and brothers. He still remembered how Geoffrey had smacked him on his head when he finally showed up at the edge of the woods, late and without a weapon. “Yet you claim that is the moment you fell in love with me.” Smirking Simon said, “To be honest I only said that so that you would sleep with me.” As predicted, Jenna shrieked and swatted Simon’s bare arm. Simon raised his hands in surrender as Jenna pouted. “Jenna, you are the most beautiful woman to ever walk the earth. Even if you were covered in horseshit, I would still have fallen for you.” Simon watched as Jenna blinked owlishly, he watched as his woman’s sensuous lips curved into a warm smile. “Do they teach you how to melt women’s hearts alongside how to become a King?” Simon chuckled and shook his head. “I’m the third born Jenna, our learning is centered on how to wield a sword, marry foreign princesses for peace treaties and licking the King’s boots…” By the time Simon realized the weight of his words, Jenna was already on her feet looking for her clothes. “Jenna I’m sorry.” Jenna’s movements went still. Simon rushed to her side. “Sorry for what? Mentioning a mere fact? Simon, what are we doing?” Simon felt his heart clench at the question. This is a conversation they had never had. Simon had convinced himself that there had been no need since Jenna had never brought it up. How could he have been so foolish? Of course, she questioned the viability of their relationship, any sane woman would. “Do you love me?” Jenna raised her head, her blue eyes were brimming with unshed tears. “With all my being.” Simon smiled and pulled Jenna close to him. “Then you have to trust me, trust that we will be together. In fact, there is something I wanted to ask you.” Simon let go of Jenna to fetch his trouser. Before he could bend to pick it up, however, he heard footsteps, loud footsteps. In one fluid movement, Simon grabbed Jenna, pulled the sheet off the bed, and covered her with it, before instructing her to hide under the bed. He then gathered her clothes and tossed them under the bed as well. By the time the palace soldiers barged in, Simon had put on his trouser. He unconsciously patted his left pocket, visibly relaxing after feeling the ring’s presence. “Gentlemen, what brings you by? You do realize I could have been here with a dozen prostitutes, don’t you? What is the rule again? An eye for every naked body you come across?” Edgar, the leader of the palace guards, stepped forward and cleared his throat. “We apologize for our unseemly behavior Prince Simon. When no one could find you at the palace or the taverns, we grew worried. We thought they had taken you too…or worse.” Simon’s heartbeat accelerated. He took a step forward. “Is the King…Has my father been harmed?” Edgar lowered his head. Simon's heart fell to his stomach. “Is my father dead Edgar?” Simon watched as Edgar shook his head. Simon heaved out a sigh. Composing himself, he took another step forward. “What happened?” “The Klan infiltrated the palace, they took your brother-" “Which one?” Simon whispered. “Prince Geoffrey.” Simon felt his knees go weak. “Go on.” “They slit Prince Johann’s throat.” Simon fell to his knees. His head became heavy, his eyes blurry. “I don’t understand, where were you? Where were the guards?” “Fighting, they were many, so many. My men…we lost ten.” Simon rapidly blinked and felt warm liquid trickle down his face. “My father, what did they do to my father?” Simon croaked, fearing the answer. There was a long pause before Edgar spoke, and when he did, Simon wailed like a wounded animal. Later, Simon would laugh manically and think to himself that time was not strange but cruel. It had stood idly by as a beautiful moment morphed into something grotesque.