The King, the Kitchen Maid and the Mage

Chapter Two

Simon could feel eyes boring through his skull. Everyone present in the throne room had a single question searing at the tip of their tongues. Simon was not certain whether he wanted them to ask it or not. All he wanted, what was important, was rescuing Geoffrey from the Klan’s talons. Simon glanced at his mother, she seemed right at home perched comfortably on the throne.

“My Queen, the people are curious, and before long that curiosity will turn into something morbid such as anarchy. The rumors that are spreading are…someone needs to address them.”

Simon weighed the words of Lord Patrick. He was a short, round man that enjoyed his ale just as much as he enjoyed his women. His popularity in taverns had given him an infinite well of information. His relationship with common folk had secured him a seat among the King’s advisors. Geoffrey hated him. He was convinced that Lord Patrick was responsible for starting half the rumors he surfaced during weekly meetings.

Simon suddenly felt a shiver crawl down his spine. What if Geoffrey never returned? Who would rule the kingdom?

“Spread word that the King will address the people before the sun sets. Have them gather in the courtyard.”

For one brief moment, silence draped the throne room and then a staccato of whispers filled the room. Simon leaned back in his chair and observed the King’s advisors. All their faces were etched with two distinct emotions disbelief and worry. Simon scoffed, those pompous power-hungry men were not worried about the King or the people. They were worried for themselves. They knew that if people lost faith in their leader, anarchy would ensue weakening the Kingdom and if the Kingdom were to become weak, all its enemies would launch attacks on them. Simon was about to demand silence when he felt his mother’s eyes on him. He went completely still, surely she was out of her mind. He could not address the people. That was his father’s job and in his absence, it was Geoffrey’s responsibility and then Johann’s…

Johann.

An image of Johann’s pale, limp body flashed in Simon’s mind. Three slits had been visible on his neck. One slit would have been enough but those bloodhounds had slit him again and again. Simon felt anger bubble in the pit of his stomach. He vividly saw himself plunging his sword into the chests of his brother’s killers. While he had not been a good brother to Johann, Simon had vowed to exact vengeance on those monsters. As the saying went, they would rue the day they were born.

“Enough!”

The Queen’s shrill voice echoed in the throne room yet the whispers continued. Simon found himself on his feet with his right fist planted on the round table. He looked at the eight men one by one, his eyes daring them to utter one more word. Once he was satisfied that the men would not interrupt his mother again, Simon lowered himself in his seat and gave a slight nod to his mother.

The Queen cleared his throat and addressed the King’s advisors.

“The royal family was attacked. Prince Geoffrey was taken captive. Prince Johann was killed in his sleep and the King…”

Simon’s heart clenched at the sound of his mother’s voice faltering.

“…We cannot afford to look weak to the people. The Klan will be back and this time they will go for the body, not the head. If they find the people’s spirits already weakened, then we would have lost the war before fighting our first battle. Now please, Lord Patrick, spread the word that there will be a royal address before sunset at the courtyard. We need to re-ignite the people’s faith.”

Lord Patrick stood, gave the Queen a slight bow, and asked the question every King’s advisor had in mind,

“But my Queen, given the King’s…condition. Who will address the people?”

For the first time since his arrival at the palace four hours ago, Simon watched the corners of his mother’s mouth tilt slightly upwards.

“The address will involve the coronation announcement of King Simon.”

* * *

“I don’t understand. You are to be King?”

Simon watched as Jenna squinted her eyes at him. Her forehead was glistening with sweat and there was a tiny spot of dirt on her cheek. She smelled of butter. Instinctively, Simon stretched his arm and placed his thumb on Jenna’s cheek. He then rubbed the dirt sport and watched as Jenna responded to his touch.

They were in their usual meeting spot. Simon had barged into the palace kitchen to find Jenna after his private meeting with his mother. Luckily for them, she had been alone at the time. Jenna had agreed to meet him in their secret haven.

“I’m sorry I made you hide under the bed earlier.”

Jenna’s lips stretched into a warm smile.

“Naked no less.”

Simon mirrored Jenna’s smile and moved his hand to her hair. He gingerly ran his fingers through her smooth, blonde hair.

“You were covered in a sheet.”

“You realize I could have gotten dressed and hid before the guards barged in right?”

Simon held Jenna’s face in his hands and shook his head, his expression suddenly grim.

“Now that was a risk I was not willing to take.”

Jenna’s lips curved into a smile. Simon pulled her toward him and held her against his chest.

“Jenna I am to be King in the absence of my father and Geoffrey. Until we fetch him from those bastards, I will be executing kingly duties. The announcement will be made in the evening, the coronation will happen tomorrow.”

Jenna pulled away from Simon. She stared at him for a while before heaving a burdened sigh.

“I just do not understand. The King is alive isn’t he?”

Simon gritted his teeth at the question and remained silent.

“Does this mean we cannot see each other anymore?”

Simon flinched at the question. It was akin to a slap across the face yet that was the very thing he had wanted to tell her.

“Jenna…this is not permanent. It is only until my brother returns and takes his rightful place on the throne. Then afterward we will run away and we will marry and we will have a litter of children that will have your beauty and grace and my smart mouth. Jenna, I beg of you, do not give up on us, do not give up on me.”

Simon searched Jenna’s face for the reaction his heart was yearning for but then the woman he loved stood and committed an act that crushed his being.

She bowed.

“Your Highness, I shall return to my tasks in the kitchen now. The Madam must be looking for me and I cannot risk getting sacked.”

Simon stood and lifted Jenna’s chin.

“My heart is yours Jenna you know that.”

Jenna shook her head as a sad smile formed on her lips.

“Once you sit on that throne your heart belongs to the Kingdom and you shall do whatever the Kingdom demands.”

Simon thought back to all the times he had relayed stories of his mother’s misery to Jenna. He gnawed over how he thought his father was being unfair to his mother, placing the Kingdom’s needs above hers. Was that what he was currently doing?

“What would you have me do Jenna? The only way to help my family right now, the only way to save my brother, the only way of reassuring the people, is by sitting on that throne. I have no choice.”

Jenna’s sad smile stretched to reveal her stark white teeth. With her right hand on her chest, she muttered,

“Long live King Simon. Long Live the King.”

A while after she had left, Simon dipped his hand into the left pocket of his trouser and fetched a piece of round metal. He then vowed that he shall ensure Geoffrey’s safe return to the throne and then he would elope with Jenna.

Jenna was his and he was Jenna’s. That would never change.