Fire and Ice

CHAPTER 14

The next morning Joselyn took her place at the head of the breakfast table. Leon, Aaron, Henry, and their Queens were sat along with Marcus and Rowan. “Joselyn, Leon said, this upcoming war, you know you have my men but I thought maybe Rowan could lead them. He is very skilled at combat.” “You’re right he is very skilled at combat, but you will have to ask him; that is his decision to make.” Joselyn said while she ate. “Well, how about it Rowan. Would you be willing to lead my men as well as your own?” “Rowan looked at Leon and said, “It would be my privilege.” Aaron and Henry looked at each other and decided to follow Leon’s lead “What about our armies?” they both asked in unison. Rowan looked at them “Are you wanting me to command your armies as well?” he asked. Henry and Aaron both said “Yes” in unison once again. “It would be my pleasure” Rowan said. He continued, “This way will make it easier to form a strategic battle plan.” After breakfast, the Kings were all set to leave. Leon turned to Marcus and said “Your clothes will be delivered to you in a few days son. Have fun” Leon said with a wink. Joselyn bid farewell to her allies and walked back inside with Marcus by her side. “So what are we going to do today?” He asked. Joselyn looked at him with a smile and said, “Today you will get to see what I normally do on a day to day basis. I hope you are up for it” “I hope so too” Marcus said with a smile.

Joselyn and Marcus took a walk through the garden after breakfast. He realized her garden was beautiful, but it wasn’t just flowers. She had many different types of herbs growing, probably the same types she used to save his life. Joselyn had a small basket with her and she began picking different plants and herbs. “What are those for?” Marcus asked. “Well, some of these plants can be used for indigestion, sore throat, and when some are mixed together they can be used for the healing of wounds or fever.” “You gave me some of these herbs didn’t you.” Marcus said. “Yes I did. It’s important for me to keep some in the castle for emergencies, such as yours. We will take these and place them in a room where I keep all my medicines.” Marcus didn’t say anything he just watched her choose her herbs carefully. She explained what each one was and what it was used for. It had been almost 2 hours when Joselyn said, “Ok, lets take them to my medicinal room.” Marcus happily followed her. On the way back in the castle Marcus asked, “Where did you learn about herbal medicines?” “Well, when I was young there was a woman who worked for my father. He had a physician but he also had her. After a while he mostly used her for healing purposes. I was so young and without a mother, she took me under her wing and treated me like a daughter. She taught me everything she knew.” Marcus listened as she talked then said, “She must have been an excellent healer.” “Why do you say that” Joselyn asked. “Well because you are an excellent healer. I have never seen anything like it.” Joselyn smiled and continued walking back into the castle with Marcus right beside her. She led him to her medicinal room. When she opened the door Marcus was amazed. There were herbs hanging to dry, herbs growing in pots, and grinders. “I didn’t realize you had so many.” Marcus said. Then a thought came into his head. “You were wounded too, who treated your wound?” Joselyn finished putting the herbs away then answered, “I treated my own wound Marcus. I cauterized my wound in here before I treated you.” Marcus stood there for a moment then said, “You cauterized your own wound? Did anyone help you?” “No, I performed it on my own.” Joselyn said. Before Marcus could comment further he heard Rowan “Joselyn, it’s time to go.” “I’m on my way” she yelled. “Well Marcus, are you ready to see more of my day?” He smiled and said, “I can’t wait.” He was unsure what it had to do with Rowan but he wanted to know everything about her.

Joselyn and Marcus were led by Rowan to the training grounds. Marcus was walking beside Joselyn when Rowan suddenly turned with his sword. Before Marcus retrieved his sword Joselyn had hers out and was fighting Rowan. Marcus retrieved his sword and began to fight Rowan. “Marcus, no!” yelled Joselyn. Rowan put down his sword. “I don’t understand.” Marcus breathed heavily with his sword still in his hand. “I train everyday with Rowan. He catches me off guard sometimes so that I can be prepared if it ever happens.” Joselyn continued “I train with Rowan everyday so I can protect myself. Today, you are more than welcome to train as well.” Marcus sheathed his sword. “I wish you would have told me he said laughing.” Rowan had his hands on his hips and said “Now that we have that settled, Joselyn it is time to train.” Joselyn rolled her eyes then said, “Alright Rowan, what are we doing today?” Marcus realized she trusted Rowan fully. They talked as good friends and when he told her what to do she listened. This was a part of Joselyn he had never seen before. Rowan looked at Joselyn and said, “You had to fight 3 or 4 men at a time, and you weren’t trained to do it. We are going to work on that today along with your bow and arrow skills. You haven’t practiced with a bow in a long time and there is a war coming.” Rowan looked at Marcus and said, “Do you want to participate and be one of the men she will be fighting?” Marcus looked at Rowan and said, “If she permits it.” Joselyn looked at Rowan and nodded. Rowan was wearing armor and he instructed Marcus to place some on. “What about Joselyn?” Marcus asked Rowan. “She won’t wear it. It prevents her from getting to her weapons” Rowan explained. Rowan instructed Marcus to attack quickly and Marcus nodded. Rowan turned to Joselyn and began running toward her with his sword out and Marcus did the same. Joselyn released her top garment and raised her gown to reach her daggers. She through two daggers at each man striking their armor. Joselyn heard a rustling behind her and immediately grabbed her sword and turned. There were three men attacking. She fought very well with her sword and in between the sound of metal crashing on her sword she would throw her daggers. The fight went on for a while until Joselyn had a dagger in every soldier and performed adequately enough for Rowan to stop her sword training. “Now we move on to bow and arrow” Rowan said. He placed targets close as well as further away. Marcus was taking off his armor and still trying to wrap his mind around what he just witnessed. For one he came at the woman he loved with a sword, she raised her garments in front of other men, and she had defeated every man. If it was possible Marcus loved her even more. He was thinking about the fight when he heard Rowan, “Focus and hit the target Joselyn.”

After Joselyn finished her training she was sweating and out of breath. Her hair was messy and she didn’t bother trying to fix it. “Rowan I’m going for a ride on the grounds.” Joselyn said as she placed her daggers back around her thighs. “Make sure to stay on the grounds, don’t go outside the castle walls without me.” Rowan said with a protectiveness in his voice. “I won’t.” Joselyn replied as she walked slowly toward the barn with Marcus following behind her. Marcus quickened his pace so he was side by side with Joselyn. He could hear her heavy breathing as she tried to get it back under control. “Do you have soldiers attack you often?” Marcus asked. Joselyn looked at him and smiled, “Yes, I often have soldiers attack me to maintain and improve my fighting skills. You heard Rowan. There is going to be a war and I must be well prepared to fight in it.” Marcus stopped walking and Joselyn turned to look at him. “Do you mean you plan to fight in the war instead of overseeing it?” Marcus asked with concern in his voice. “That is exactly what I mean. I will not send my soldiers to fight and die in a war that I called for. If they are willing to fight for me I am willing to fight for them, and that means fighting by their side.” Joselyn stated matter of fact. “That is the reason Rowan pushes me so hard. He knows I will fight alongside his men and he wants me to be able to protect myself” Marcus was shocked to hear that she was going to fight alongside the soldiers. Usually leaders of a Kingdom don’t even go to the battleground, and if they do they stay far back so they aren’t in danger. “Don’t worry Marcus, you will be sitting beside my allies while the war is being fought. You won’t be in any danger.” Joselyn said. Marcus took a little offence to her statement. Surely she did not think he would watch while the woman he loves placed herself in harms way. “Joselyn, I will be alongside you fighting. I will not sit back and watch you fight while I cower in the shadows. What kind of man would that make me?” Joselyn looked at him but didn’t answer his question. She was happy with his answer, and she was happy he wanted to do things with and beside her. War is not ideal, but he wouldn’t let her do it alone. Joselyn was enjoying the true Marcus, however time would tell if this persona was the true Marcus. Joselyn and Marcus continued their walk to the barn in silence. Marcus was not happy Joselyn would put herself in harms way, but he also respected the reasons why she would. He respected the love she had for her people; she cared for them much she would die beside them if need be. Joselyn broke the silence when she said, “I am going for a small ride around the grounds; you are more than welcome to join me.” “Show me which horse I can ride” Marcus stated. Joselyn and Marcus mounted their horses and slowly rode them around the grounds. Joselyn had her eyes closed and she was smiling. Marcus liked seeing her this way. She did not look at all like a Queen. Joselyn was a mess from training and she was riding a horse with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. Marcus was almost shocked she had her eyes closed because she wasn’t able to see him. He smiled to himself, this meant she felt safe around him. “Marcus, you need not feel obligated to be by my side every moment. I’m sure you would like to do something else.” Marcus smiled as she never opened her eyes and still had a smile on her face and he said, “I don’t feel obligated Joselyn. If I didn’t want to be in your presence I wouldn’t. It just so happens you have a way of making me want to follow you everywhere. No woman has ever had that effect on me before.” Joselyn just let a small “hmm” sound. “Joselyn may I ask why you are riding with closed eyes and a smile on your face.” Joselyn smiled even wider and said, “I feel content. I don’t have to worry about training, wars, or anything else. I just get to enjoy the smell of the flowers and I trust my horse to guide me along.” Marcus grinned and shook his head at her answer. She is always saying or doing something in her own way that surprises him. It’s these little surprises that continue to draw him closer to her. “It’s almost dinner time. Let’s put these horses up and get ready.” Joselyn said. “Thank goodness” Marcus said. Joselyn opened one eye to look at him, “I’m starving” he finished. Joselyn smiled as she turned her horse and they rode back to the stables.

When they entered the castle Joselyn walked to her chambers to get ready. Marcus watched her walk to her room down the hall then he entered his room to freshen up as well. It didn’t take Marcus long to get ready. A bath had already been prepared for him. It seemed like the maids know what and when to do it depending on Joselyn’s events during the day. Marcus looked himself over in the mirror and then walked down the stairs for dinner. He was shocked when he saw Joselyn already sitting at the table with Rowan. She looked beautiful as always. Somehow she managed to always take his breath when he laid eyes on her after just a short time apart. Marcus took his seat next to Joselyn and across from Rowan. He had also managed to freshen up and get to the table before Marcus. “We have been waiting for you” Joselyn said. “Yes I can see that. How did you two manage to get ready so quickly?” Marcus asked. “A hungry stomach” Rowan said flatly. The maids immediately began bringing out dinner when Marcus sat down. They all three began eating when Rowan spoke, “Joselyn, I am going to have several thousand men under my control on the day of the war. It’s not going to be easy especially if any of them don’t want me to command them.” Joselyn listened and could hear the concern in his voice. “Rowan, you will have each ally giving a direct order for them to follow your orders. However, in the event a soldier goes against your orders he is going against his Kings orders as well, and that’s treason. Slit his throat. I will have my allies reiterate that their soldiers follow your commands while you are present.” Marcus didn’t know what to think when Joselyn told Rowan to slit a soldiers throat. He knew they were going to fight a war, but killing a soldier that is helping to fight baffled him. So he asked, “Joselyn, why would you kill a soldier who is helping to fight your war?” Joselyn and Rowan looked at Marcus as if he were ignorant. “Well Marcus, Joselyn began, Rowan is the commander of my army and every soldier respects and obeys him. A soldier from another Kingdom may feel he should not be fighting in the war and refuse to take orders from my commander. If nothing is done immediately there will be other soldiers who will follow his lead. If that happens, Rowans battle plans will be destroyed because we will be fighting amongst ourselves. This leaves us vulnerable to an attack that we won’t be prepared for and we will all be fighting blind. Does that answer your question?” Marcus didn’t realize that his mouth was open when he said, “Yes, yes it does. I must admit I never thought of it from that angle. You are more skilled in battle plans than I am. I would have never considered that scenario.” Joselyn replied “I only know what Rowan has taught me. He is the Commander of his men.” Rowan laughed, “Don’t let her fool you Marcus, she was taught by her father from an early age about battle. She knows just as much if not more than I do.” “Is that why I let you boss me around with your training, because I know more than you.” Joselyn teased Rowan. Marcus took this opportunity to ask a question he had from earlier today, “Yes I noticed you ordered Joselyn about like a regular soldier, and treated her as one also. That’s not normally how a soldier treats his Queen.” Rowan stopped eating and looked at Marcus. Joselyn decided not to speak and let Rowan handle his own conversation. Rowan pierced Marcus with his eyes and slowly said, “It is if you are ordered to do so by the Queen. I protect Joselyn to the best of my abilities. She wanted to learn how to fight and she gave me the order not only to teach her, but to treat her as I would one of my soldiers. My orders were to teach her how to protect herself, and that is what I do. Joselyn is a Queen and a soldier; she can protect herself but as my queen I do my best to protect her.” Marcus listened and could hear the intensity in Rowans voice. He had his answer but Marcus wasn’t finished with his questions to Rowan. “I understand you were given orders by your Queen, but as a soldier why do you speak to Joselyn on an informal basis occasionally and sit at the same table to dine?” This time Joselyn chose to answer for Rowan. She placed her hand on Rowans and said “Marcus, I have one man in my Kingdom that I trust and that is Rowan. He is not just a soldier. He is not just the Commander of a large army, he listens to me, gives me advice, and follows my orders. But Rowan is the best friend that I have. He knows everything about me, and he does his best to protect me. Yes he will try and tell me what to do when it comes to my safety. Whether I listen or not is up to me. Furthermore, Rowan is respected not only by me, but your father as well. You are not aware of this, but Rowan is always present in our private meetings such as the one I had with our allies. Lastly, Rowan will always have a seat at this table and he does not need an invitation.” Marcus could tell he went to far. He didn’t realize Rowan was so important to Joselyn. “Rowan, Joselyn, I meant no disrespect. I only know how one Kingdom works and that is the one I am from. The only reason I ask these questions is to try and understand how this Kingdom is ran. Please forgive me for any offense” Rowan nodded in his acceptance of Marcus’s apology. Joselyn said, “I understand you are not aware of how I run my Kingdom. If you have questions in the future that may be offensive ask me privately.” “I understand” Marcus said. “Well, you may get a better idea of how Joselyn runs the Kingdom. She is going into town tomorrow unless she changes her mind.” Rowan said. “I still plan on going” Joselyn reaffirmed. Rowan continued, “Marcus you will see that in a public setting I do not behave informally because I am working to ensure she is safe. However you will get to see a side of Joselyn I’m sure you’ve never seen.” The tension in the air cleared and Marcus said, “Now that is something I’m looking forward to see.” Dinner was almost over when Joselyn asked, “Rowan do you have any battle plans set in place yet?” “I have been putting different ones together. I figured it was best to have back up plans in case something goes wrong. But I do have our main battle strategy in place.” Rowan said. “Good to hear.” Joselyn then looked at Marcus and continued, “That’s why all of my allies placed their soldiers with Commander Rowan.” Marcus gave her an understanding smile. “Well men, I am going to retire for the night.” Marcus immediately said, “Let me walk you to your room, I’m finished eating too.” “Ok, Joselyn said… “Goodnight Rowan.” “Goodnight Joselyn” Rowan said as she and Marcus walked up the stairs and down the long hallway. They were making their way to Joselyn’s room when Marcus said, “Joselyn, you told me to ask you in private if it was something that could be offensive. Well I want to ask you something. Are you romantically involved with Rowan?” Joselyn stopped walking and turned to face Marcus. “No I’m not, and why would you ask such a question.” Marcus tried to find the right words before he spoke, “You were so protective over him, he is your confidant, and you and he seem so relaxed around one another. I didn’t know if that was the reason you never married.” Joselyn could see Marcus was embarrassed by his question but he also had general concern. “Marcus, Rowan has taught me everything I know, and like I said he is the only man I trust with my life in this Kingdom. I am not the type of person who takes that for granted. I barely know you yet you have the right to sit and dine with me. Why wouldn’t I let a man who has protected me my entire life. The reason I have never married is because I have never fell in love with anyone. I know the way I do things is much different than what you’re use to. I rule my Kingdom the way I see fit. I don’t place myself higher than anyone who has my best interest at heart. And if you must know, Rowan is excited to go to town because he enjoys visiting the brothel.” Marcus felt foolish and he could feel his face turning red. “I apologize Joselyn.” “Marcus it’s fine. The reason you’re here is to learn more about me and I you. If there is ever a question you want to ask, then ask me. Now I will say goodnight.” Joselyn turned and walked the rest of the way to her room alone.