Fire and Ice

CHAPTER 20

When Marcus reached the castle, everyone was going to the dining hall to eat. He raced to his chambers to put the flowers away, the ring however he kept close within a pocket on his clothing. He hurried downstairs just in time to see Joselyn taking her place at the dining table. Marcus tried to catch his breath as he walked over to sit next to his father, King Leon. Leon and Rowan had already taken their seats on either side of Joselyn. Marcus was irritated he didn’t get to sit next to Joselyn, but his mind was racing anyway. He wouldn’t have been able to focus on a conversation. Everyone was sitting when their first course arrived. “Where have you been all day Marcus?” Leon asked. “Oh, I had some business to take care of in town.” Leon was not satisfied with his answer, more than likely because he liked to get to the bottom of everything. “What business were you taking care of. This isn’t your Kingdom. What have you been doing all day?” Marcus had already became furious. His nosey father was going to mess his entire plan. “Father, I had personal business to take care of, and that’s all I’m going to say about the matter. Let’s please change the topic.” Leon looked at his son. It must have something to do with the emerald he wanted this morning. King Leon wanted to question further but his gut told him not to. “Well, while you were gone to town, Rowan had me secure all my weapons for fighting, made me practice every weapon I know, and I fought Leon with the sword and one.” Joselyn said as she laughed. “Now, I still maintain that wasn’t a fair fight. I tripped over a rock and it gave you the advantage.” The entire table laughed. “You have to be ready for anything, even rocks” Rowan said as he along with Joselyn and Marcus laughed even harder. “Well, it sounds to me like Joselyn got the better of you in the fight father.” Marcus said as he gave her a small wink. Leon shook his head back and forth to justify his loss when Marcus continued, “Joselyn, after dinner will you take a walk with me in the garden?” Rowan immediately raised his head, “We can go for a short walk, but then we must get back to work with Rowan. You missed quite a bit today, he will need to fill you in.” Rowan put his head down and continued eating. “Thank you, that’s all I want, a short walk in the garden.” The rest of dinner had a lighter tone to it, there wasn’t any talk of war. It was a pleasant change of pace for everyone. After dinner Marcus looked at Joselyn, “Will you meet me in the garden. I won’t be but a few minutes.” Joselyn shook her head yes and went toward the garden. Rowan and Leon went the opposite direction toward the training grounds. Marcus went as fast as he could to grab the bouquet he bought for Joselyn, then just as quickly made his way to the gardens.

Once he reached the gardens, Marcus tried to slow his breathing and began walking slowly toward her. She had her back turned to him and was sitting sideway on the fountain gazing out into the many rows of beautiful flowers. Marcus suddenly became nervous. He wasn’t sure why, Joselyn already agreed to marry him. He wasn’t sure if it was the sheer beauty of her or him giving her a ring to make their engagement official. It felt like forever to him, but Marcus made it to the fountain and sat down next to Joselyn. She looked at him and smiled, “What is this need for a short walk about?” she asked him. Marcus pulled the flowers out from behind his back and gave them to her. Joselyn gushed over how beautiful they were as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her reaction to the flowers he bought her gave him more confidence. “Joselyn, I asked for your hand in marriage and you agreed. Do you still feel that way?” Joselyn looked confused. “Of course I still want to marry you, have you changed your mind with regards to asking me?” Marcus could see the adorable yet worried look in her eyes, “No, I don’t regret asking. I do however want to give you a token that solidifies our engagement,” he said as he pulled out the green box. Joselyn’s eyes went wide as he handed the box to her. “What is it?” Marcus laughed, “Open it and you will find out.” Joselyn’s hands were shaking a little as she opened the green and gold box, the colors of his kingdom. When she saw the ring she gasped and placed her hand over her mouth, “It’s beautiful” she managed to say. “I wanted to give you something that represented us and our kingdoms together. The emerald is from my father’s crown, which will one day be mine. The diamonds are from one of your dresses that show your kingdoms colors, and the ring itself belonged to me. It is an heirloom that I wore on my finger, and now hopefully you will wear on yours.” Joselyn had tears streaming down her face after he explained the distinct parts of her ring and what they represented. Marcus had never seen Joselyn cry, “Are you happy with it?” he asked. “She nodded her head through her tears. “Will you wear it now, or do you want to wait until after the war to announce our engagement?” Joselyn held up her hand, “I want to wear it now.” Marcus almost jumped with gladness as he slipped the ring onto her finger. They both looked at it on her hand, then embraced one another. They sat for a few more moments in the garden holding each other and talking when a maid walked through the doors of the garden, “Pardon me my Queen, Rowan sent me to get you.” Joselyn thanked the maid and looked at Marcus. “We need to find Rowan and Leon. There’s much to discuss about war and future marriages.” Joselyn laughed as she and Marcus walked toward the training grounds.

Joselyn and Marcus walked arm in arm to the training grounds. They arrived to find Rowan training his men as well as King Leon. Rowan turned to see them walking toward him, “There you two are. Joselyn you know we have to train.” Joselyn was still beaming from her engagement, “I know Rowan, I apologize for my tardiness.” The softness in her voice along with her apology made Rowan raise an eye and King Leon hold up his hand to the man he was training with. He looked at them arm in arm and noticed a ring on Joselyn’s finger with a particularly familiar green stone. “I don’t believe it. You two are engaged.” King Leon said. “Well now you know the need for the stone father.” Joselyn was still holding on to Marcus and both couldn’t stop smiling at each other. Rowan began clapping his hands in a congratulatory manor, “Queen Joselyn is engaged” he yelled. The rest of the guards joined in with Rowan as he clapped. “I never thought I would see the day she would accept a proposal.” King Leon looked at both of them, “Well, come and give me a hug. My closest ally and my son are engaged.” All three embraced each other while Rowan stood to the side smiling. Joselyn put her hand out and motioned for him to join in. He had been her closest friend since she took the throne. King Leon stepped away, “Now why is it that you chose Marcus here after turning every other man down?” Joselyn smiled at Leon, “Marcus is different from any other man I know. He still managed to capture my heart while I was trying to prevent it. He uses his heart and his head, much like you Leon.” King Leon beamed with pride as tears rimmed his eyes. He was so proud to hear the description of his son, and from Joselyn no less. It made him even happier to hear Joselyn say Marcus was like him. “Well, after all this war business we will have a proper celebration. You both need to start training, and I need to resume mine before Rowan has another fit on me.” Rowan shook his head, “I didn’t have a fit on you Leon, you had bad form while swinging your sword; I simply corrected it.” Leon grunted as he had already began training with his sword against a guard, “You call it correcting, I call it a fit.” Rowan took Joselyn to the targets with the other archers. The last target was for her. “Start with this, and use your knives as well. Afterward we will move to swords.” Joselyn picked up a bow and arrow, “Where is Marcus going to be during the war?” Rowan knew this question was coming, “It turns out he is talented with a bow as well, so he will be with you and the other archers.” Joselyn smiled, “Why isn’t he practicing with me.” Rowan smiled, “I placed him on sword first so you two can actually focus on the tasks at hand.” Joselyn smiled as she pulled back on her bow and let an arrow fly, “Understood.”