Fire and Ice

CHAPTER 16

Joselyn and Marcus trotted next to each other with Rowan and his guards surrounding them. As they slowly rode through the village Rowan began clearing his throat. Joselyn knew he was trying to indicate the brothel was across the street to the left. Joselyn laughed and said “You and your guards go ahead Rowan, take your time.” Rowan gave Joselyn a hurried thank you as he and his three guards rushed into the brothel. Joselyn dismounted her horse and led it by the reigns as she walked. Marcus followed Joselyn’s actions and walked next to her. Marcus chose to watch Joselyn instead of trying to make conversation. He wanted to see the way Joselyn interacted with her people. Joselyn walked from stand to stand talking with each person. She talked to commoners as she would talk to nobility. Marcus was taking all this in. He realized why she had such a strong Kingdom. Her people loved her because she loved them. Marcus was watching Joselyn interact with her people when a loud noise caught their attention. They both looked across the street to find a large man wrecking one of the villagers stands. Joselyn immediately walked over to the stand and said, “What is the meaning of this?” The villager who owned the fruit stand bowed to Joselyn. “She looked at him and again asked, Joseph, what is the meaning of this?” Marcus didn’t realize she also knew many of her people’s names as well. “This is none of your business woman. It soon will be, but I must finish with him first,” said the man that Joselyn didn’t recognize. Joseph looked at her and said, “My Queen, this man came here this morning threatening each of us. He wants us to pay him a portion of our profits or he and his friends will continue to destroy our stands. We won’t be able to feed our families without selling anything.” Joselyn listened to Joseph as her anger continued to grow. “Who are you, and where are your friends?” Joselyn asked. The large man laughed at Joselyn and said, “So you are the Queen. You are one woman out here with no guards, that doesn’t sound like any Queen to me.” As he said this he returned to Joseph’s son who was hiding behind him. He grabbed the small child from behind his father and slapped him hard across the face. “Listen to me, you nor your family will be safe unless I am paid.” Joselyn lost all restraint. She grabbed her sword and with one swift swing chopped the strangers hand off. He let out a loud scream and hit the ground. Three men Joselyn didn’t recognize came running with their swords drawn. Joselyn pulled her other sword while Marcus stood beside her and pulled his. These men immediately began swinging their weapons. The fight didn’t last long, Marcus killed two men while Joselyn killed one. She then turned to the man dropped on the ground. “Stand up” she commanded. The man struggled to rise to his feet. Once he was standing, Joselyn immediately slit his throat. She then turned and addressed the village, “All of you know me and I you. If anyone comes into this village threatening you and your families, causing harm, or anything that is not tolerated in this Kingdom come to me immediately and it will be taken care of. I promise to keep you safe, but I must be notified of what’s happening.” Joselyn looked around the village trying to read her people’s face. She could see relief and tears of gratefulness in their eyes. “Are there any men willing to take these bodies out of the village to be buried?” Several men came forward and began to collect the dead men while Joselyn continued, “Has anyone suffered monetary loss due to these men today?” A couple of people came forward and Joselyn took the money bag from the large man she had killed and gave their money back. “I can see many of your stands have been destroyed and you will have to spend time repairing them. Tonight you will have a feast from the castle. I want you to forget your worries and enjoy yourselves. I will have it delivered quickly. Remember what I said, if there is trouble here come to me. I will protect you.” Joselyn got on her horse and turned toward the castle with loud clapping and cheering behind her. Marcus was riding along her and he could see why her people loved her. He could also see why they looked to her to lead. She slit a man’s throat and killed another because they were bullying her people. Marcus killed two men as well, but he wasn’t going to let her fight alone. Joselyn stopped outside the brothel where Rowan had just walked out. Rowan could see her face and immediately said, “Something happened didn’t it? Why are you always put in harms way when I am having a good time?” Joselyn looked at him and said, “I can assure you Rowan it was nothing that Marcus and I were not able to handle. I am going to ride fast back to the castle and have a feast sent back to the village, the people have had a distressing day.” Rowan said, “Let me get the other guards and we will go.” Joselyn immediately said, “Don’t bother them. They will just be coming right back. I suspect you will be coming back this evening for the feast as well.” Rowan said, “Of course not, my job is to protect you my Queen. I will be where you are.” Joselyn said, “Good, because I will be back for the feast with my people this evening.” Rowan smiled and said, “Well let’s hurry and get this food back.” Joselyn laughed as she, Rowan, and Marcus rode hard for the castle.

Joselyn, Marcus, and Rowan arrived at the castle and Joselyn gave orders to every cook and maid in the castle. The cooks were told to immediately begin preparing the food and the maids were told they would help take all the food to the village. Joselyn was sure to include the invitation of her castle staff. As Joselyn was giving orders to castle staff, Rowan was giving orders to his guards. He ensured the castle was protected as well as the Queen. Rowan knew he would need more than 3 guards to accompany them. He chose to take fifty guards and still felt that would not be enough. The Queen would be exposed, however she would still be in the Kingdom. While the castle staff hurried to prepare the food, Marcus found his opportunity to talk to Joselyn. He walked up beside her and cleared his throat, “I understand why your people care for you so much. You are a fierce yet sympathetic Queen.” Joselyn smiled, “I should thank you Marcus, you came to my aid once again. I am making a habit of putting myself into terrible situations you rescue me from.” Marcus saw a vulnerable side of Joselyn he hadn’t seen before. He took the palm of her hand and raised it to his lips. He placed a tender kiss in the middle of her palm and said, “If you allow it, I will always be by your side. I also enjoy coming to your rescue.” Joselyn knew what he was inadvertently asking. He wanted her hand in marriage. Marcus was trying to gage how she felt about it. Joselyn knew she had strong feelings for Marcus, but she didn’t want him to know yet. Marcus leaned in to Joselyn and spoke softly in her ear, “This isn’t a proposal, and it isn’t a way to see how you feel about me.” His lips swept softly across her ear as he continued, “I simply want to be by your side, and I already know you have feelings for me.” Marcus pulled back with a smug and gratifying grin on his face. He knew she would take his advance as a proposal, and he loved watching Joselyn get rattled and without a loss for words. He wanted her for himself, and he had told her as much. He knew however, she wouldn’t accept a proposal right now. Joselyn couldn’t believe he refuted everything she was thinking, except for the fact she had feelings for him. She looked at him with a confused face and Marcus couldn’t help but laugh. “Why did you ask if you could always stay by my side if you were not proposing?” Joselyn asked still confused. Marcus couldn’t help but laugh again at the expression on her face, “I do want to be by your side, but I also know you’re not ready for marriage yet.” Marcus kissed the top of Joselyn’s hand and he turned to walk away. He turned his head over his shoulder and with a wink said, “I also know you have feelings for me.” He turned his head confidently and continued to walk away. Joselyn was once again left speechless, she just watched him walk.

The food was prepared and packed to take to the village. Joselyn planned to have a good time with the people of her Kingdom, but she couldn’t get Marcus out of her head. How did he manage to know what she was thinking? He was right, she did have feelings for him. How did he know that? Joselyn continued to rack her brain when the answer finally found her. Marcus intentionally made her think he was proposing, he did it on purpose. He automatically knew what she would think. Joselyn smiled while she thought about his little stunt. He was so smug when he winked at her and walked away. Joselyn was still smiling when Rowan called her name as he walked toward her. “What is so funny?” Joselyn grinned “Nothing, I was just thinking about tonight.” Joselyn left out the part she had planned for Marcus. She would be the one with a smug smile on her face later tonight. Marcus walked up to Joselyn and Rowan who had already made their way to the stables. “A guard told me you were ready Rowan.” Rowan was looking around taking inventory of what was being taken to the village as well as the number of his guards. “Yes we are ready, get on your horse we are leaving for the village.” Marcus quickly mounted his horse and rode up next to Joselyn who still had a sheepish grin on her face. Marcus didn’t ask her about it, even though he was curious. Marcus and Joselyn rode side by side as Rowan was on full alert in front of her. He had his soldiers strategically placed around Joselyn to protect her. The village came into sight and cheers could be heard. Rowan gave orders to his guards and the castle staff to take the food into the village at a faster pace. Joselyn finally arrived with Marcus, Rowan, and other guards, and the food was already set up. She got off her horse, turned to her people, then yelled “Let’s eat.” There were loud cheers as a lined formed for the food with Joselyn at the head of it.

Marcus watched Joselyn as she talked and ate with her people. It amazed him that she talked and joked with a lower class; he never would have done such a thing. He was surprised when she locked her arm in his and walked around introducing him to her people. Marcus was thrilled to have that small affection from her. He began talking to the town’s people and joking with them as well. As the evening turned to night he realized the town’s people were better human beings than most nobility he knew. He finally understood what Joselyn was talking about. He felt embarrassed he never had the foresight to get to know the people in his own Kingdom and instead looked down on them. Marcus was lost in his thoughts when Joselyn whispered in his ear, “Let’s walk somewhere more private.” She gently placed her hand in his and led him away from the village. When they were out of sight, Joselyn pulled Marcus on the ground next to her. She continued holding his hand in hers as she moved her body closer to his. Marcus was at a loss for what to say or do. He just sat there holding her hand while her mouth was inches away from his. “Marcus, did you mean it when you said you always wanted to be by my side?” Joselyn was looking deep into his eyes and tried to hold her giggle as Marcus fumbled for his words. “Of course I meant it.” He was almost certain she was going to let him propose and he waited for her to continue. Joselyn leaned in to whisper in Marcus’s ear. He could feel the touch of her lips and warm breath on his skin that sent a shiver down his spine. She slowly spoke, “I am not giving you permission to propose to me. I already know you want me.” She slowly moved away from his ear and stood up. She began to walk away, stopped, and turned her head. Joselyn clearly displayed a smug smile as she winked at Marcus then continued to walk away. Marcus knew she put on this rouse to get back at him, however being that close to her drove him mad. He stood up and quickly caught up to Joselyn. He turned her around, looked in her eyes, then placed his lips on hers. She pulled back but still held his gaze. Joselyn didn’t realize how strong her attraction to Marcus was until his lips were back on hers. He took her arms and snaked them around his neck as he placed his around her waist. Joselyn let herself melt into Marcus and after a few moments she removed her lips from his and looked into his eyes. Marcus couldn’t believe the feeling he felt when kissing and holding Joselyn; he never felt anything like it and he didn’t want to let her go. She could see a dark wanting in his eyes. Joselyn could hear footsteps coming and Rowans voice yelling for her. She gently pulled her arms off Marcus and rubbed her hand across his cheek. Joselyn turned to leave, but he didn’t want to let her go. She removed his hands from her waist and began to walk toward Rowan’s concerned voice. “I’m over here Rowan” His footsteps ran to her along with five other guards. “My Queen, are you alright?” “Of course I am Rowan, I just took a walk with Marcus. I didn’t realize how far we walked.” Marcus walked up behind her and said, “It’s my fault Rowan. I should have let you know we were going for a walk.” Rowan seemed satisfied with his answer and said, “My Queen, may we all go back to the feast so I can protect you?” “Of course Rowan, lead the way.” Marcus and Joselyn walked side by side with the events of earlier whirling in both their minds.