Princess Elise

Chapter 5: The meeting

Chapter 5: The meeting

Nathaniel's Point of View:

The days went passing by as usual, just doing my duties and boring stuff like this. Nothing exciting happened since I exiled my brother and punished Arnar. It took only 4 years of peace without Arnar until he came to visit me again and annoy me. Then another 8 years passed without him causing any major problems to me or my kingdom. The bears were not coming for the villager's food anymore and everything was fine. Except for me. 

I felt like I was going berserk without my mate by my side. That's when I decided to go check up on her. I wanted to ask King William how it's going with her studies and training as I told him to. When we met at festivals or other sorts of gatherings he would've told me that she started her studies and it's going well, the same with her training, but I still don't know anything about her behavior or the things she likes and that intrigues me. 

He haven't talked to me in 4 f**king years and I don't know anything about her anymore. 'I think it's time to pay them a visit Clyde. What do you think about that?', I asked Clyde that was relaxing inside my head and he started to raise his head slowly from it's paws smirking at me. 'I think the same my dear friend.', answered Clyde, happy to see our mate for the first time since she grew up a little. I'm curious about how she looks like right now. I just hope she's not gaining too much muscles in the future from all the training, that wouldn't be so lady-like for her. 

So, now all I had to do was come up with an excuse to leave my kingdom so the other noble people won't find out my actual reason to leave. It could be a threat for her if others would knew my mate is vulnerable right now and without me by her side. If the territories around have signed an armistice it doesn't mean I don't have to be cautious. Traitors can be found everywhere with the right motivation. Traitors like my brother. 

I decided to tell my butler to inform every noble that would come by that I've left to inspect the western part of the kingdom and that I won't be gone for long. I prepared a horse, tho werewolves doesn't actually ride. Some horses can get really scared by our presence around them, but this time I need one because I intend to transform in my lycan form and let Clyde out so I could see her thru his eyes at some point and I would prefer to know my clothes are clean, not thrown on the ground; and then I heard Clyde scoff at my thought about clean clothes. 'Big bad lycan needs clean clothes. Pf', he mocked. 'Just shut up already!' I won't get dirty if I don't have to. Tho the only job that I would do with pleasure and get myself dirty is k**ling, but not before t**ture, that's the best part.

The only thing that stops me right now is that f**ked up armistice I have signed and the new laws I had to implement in my kingdom, so now I can't just k*ll people around without a good reason. 'That s**ks!', said Clyde rolling his eyes and I have to agree with him. Only Clyde knows how much I enjoy k**ling people who did wrong to me after t**turing them. Oh... and of course, the people I t**tured. Every time I think about those times a smile slips on my face. The way they scream and begs for mercy... oh, it just made my days better. 

I attached a bag with clean clothes to the saddle just in case I need to transform quick and don't have time to undress. I think at all possibilities, I have to be prepared for everything. I have a 6 hours ride and a few stops so I won't exhaust the horse, and then I have to find a d*mn boat to get to Norway and that would mean another few hours spent on the way there and when I arrive I will just have to carry the bag myself or find another horse. 

I left the palace the next day around 6 a.m. and from 6 hours I would have made by myself, I got to be on the road for 7 hours and another half an hour. When I finally found a decent boat, Clyde scratched inside my head to let him out and go back to the castle.

'Are you sure you wanna go there?', I heard him complain inside. 'I mean... we could always go back and send a letter to that "King William" to let him know you changed your mind... and... and you want her to leave here with us.', he finished with a sheepishly smile and I scoffed.'Look where the big bad lycan was hiding all this time Clyde. What happened? Are you afraid of some water?', I mocked him. 'Shut your mouth! You know I prefer the land.', and I snickered at him. 

After 3 hours of paddling, I finally arrived in Norway around 16:30 p.m. and I still had another 3 hours run in my lycan form to reach the castle with a f**king bag on my back. I decided to don't stress over the hour that I will arrive there as it's gonna be late anyway and I should relax a little and find a place to rest for the night. I decided to let Clyde out and find a place to sleep outside. At the middle of the way to the castle, Clyde found a pretty nice spot in the forest and quiet at the root of a huge tree so we stopped in that place overnight. I was curious to know how she looks like at this stage of her life and how she's progressing.

On the day time it was so warm outside, I felt like throwing myself into the river when I transformed. As the night came, cool breezes were blowing against my lycan's fur cooling us both down, leaving a chilling sensation for the rest of the night. The next morning I woke up around 8 or 9 a.m., I don't know exactly, but it was still cool outside. I took advantage of the weather to let Clyde in charge a little longer until we reach the city where I would see her. I argued a little with Clyde when we reached near the castle as he wanted to stay like this until we see her, but I explained him why a huge lycan can't just go into the public square in a territory full of f**king people. Good for me that I packed an old ragged cloak with me so no one would think I have a d*mn rank and look at me. Expensive clothes makes the commoners curious. I changed myself behind a tree before going out and I reached the public square. I mean, it's Friday, she must visit this place once in a while, right?

After a few hours of wondering thru the square I wanted to give up waiting here for her and just go to the palace and talk to her father, but then a particular dumb a*s girl with an expensive cloak and an too extra cared for horse appeared in the square, trying to walk by unnoticed. 

'Please, don't tell me she thought this s*it is gonna work...', I face palmed myself at seeing her plan of running away from the palace and Clyde clearly heard me as he started snickering in my head rolling over in an attempt to hold it together when he saw her marvelous plan of coming by herself in the square. That's when I noticed how she starts being anxious from all the stares people gave her. 

'What the f*ck did she thought could happen? Dumb a*s children!'. I kept staring at her until her eyes got wide with surprise and I didn't know what she could have seen now to look this surprised, but then I saw what she locked her eyes on... and it was a curled potato... a f**king curled potato got her to look this surprised and I face palmed myself... again! 'You have to inform her father to make her learn how to cook for us.', admitted Clyde looking dumbfounded and I tried to compose myself and try not to laugh. Then she gave me one more reason to never let my future children out with money in a public square without me or their mother. She just paid 12 silver coins for a potato on a stick. That vendor had enough money to give that children to eat already, why give more than necessary? This young lady better stop being such an angel with everybody 'cause I don't appreciate this behavior of her's. She better be good with me and only me!

'You wanted to say "us", right "your Highness"?', asked Clyde mocking me. 'Yeah... Whatever'

When she saw that small girl jumping and laughing in happiness she began to smile too and I can sense just how happy she was for making another children smile. A smile crept across my face before I even realized. 'Stop smiling, you look dumb! She can't see you smile anyway.' ,said Clyde, remembering me how miserable I feel without our mate, not having any reason to smile for now.

 I watched her as she ate her curled potato and riding her horse and I found that quite funny with her pink cheeks looking like a fat baby from that potato and I could hear Clyde sigh and looking at her with tender eyes. 

After a few minutes of following her, she finally finished that thing and by the moon goddess name! She eats too slow! I would have finished 4 while she would still chew on that. 'That's cute tho.', admitted Clyde. I thought he doesn't know what 'cute' means, but it seems he does. She's cute in her own way. And then her eyes light up with pure excitement when she saw a guard dog next to another child... or more like a b*at.

She rolled her eyes at my mate when she began to ask about the dog's owner and that's very annoying in a child's behavior. 'Oh, what I would do to those b**ts.', said Clyde getting annoyed as well. 'Patience, we're not in our kingdom anymore.', I reminded him. And then I found out my mate is not just a doll and actually replied back to that b*at. 

-" I do not find little b**ts like you any interesting, I'm sorry for the dog that he has to guard a child like you. I'll just leave if your parents did not care enough to give you an education.", tho it was not that mean, but at least she haven't turned her back and left. That's a plus. But then a snickering was heard from behind a building and I didn't wait for it to come out as I already sensed his intentions.

So I tried to go on the next alley and transform, ripping off my clothes as I gained even more muscles and I grew taller and more hairy, claws coming out to play, my teeth getting sharper transforming into fangs and my face elongating itself into a snout and my eyes a dark red from the anger.

 I ran back towards her and that b**tard was ready to punch my mate. He f**king wanted to punch her! I stood there upon her that was frozen in her place and I caught his fist into my paw, just perfect for me to bend his fist in the opposite direction of the normal one and I can hear his bones cracking, but it was not loud enough for me so I broke his forearm in half and that's when my ears heard some real music. Him screaming in agony. But I decided to have  mercy this time, just because I didn't wanted my mate to meet me for the first time while t**turing someone  so I tossed him in the corner of the building he came out from to make sure that if he won't die in agony from that broken arm, at least he would also break his spine and would never walk again. And I heard another few bones cracking in his back and his shoulder as he landed on it, but he already passed out from the pain. That's a pity. 

When I saw my job done I decided to ran away from her, but when I tried to get my bag with clothes back and dress myself to blend in with the people, someone already stole my bag... I was gone for 3 minutes at most...and they stole my clothes already. 'F**king commoners!', growled Clyde annoyed. He doesn't quite appreciate thieves. It seems to me that he's gonna lead today.

 He started running behind her and her horse. I think she realized she's being followed as she emanates from all joints anxiety and fear. 'So she's afraid... that's good! Maybe next time she won't be that dumb to  come alone in the square anymore!', I was annoyed by her actions. 

'She's a child, even if she's a princess. Children make mistakes.', said Clyde to me and I didn't know how to react anymore. First he calls her cute and now this? Since when does he allows any mistakes? Even from children?'A mistake is a mistake. And this mistake could have costed her her life!', I retorted, now being annoyed on both of them. 

She galloped for a few minutes thru the forest 'till she got to a particular place in the woods, something like a glade and I waited for a few minutes to see what happens or if anyone is out there, but no one came so far and then I heard her voice calling for me.

-" Hey! I saw you... Come out! It's not funny!", she yelled at me. I was reluctant at first, but after a minute or so I saw her face palming herself, maybe because of that pathetic call, but I didn't like that she's hitting herself, I don't care if it hurts or not, so I came out for her to see me and I stood beside a tree as she looked dumbfounded by my looks.

I don't know if I should see it as a good or bad sign, but I can't think straight when I'm looking into her brown eyes. I found myself going next to her so I lowered myself to her level; and that means really low for my lycan form, and I sniffed her and let out a low, short growl as I forgot the manly smell on her is from her mother's knight so I stopped growling pretty quick  and I hope she haven't realized that was a growl. I got my snout closer to her hand so she could caress my fur and she did and I felt the sparks where her hand was caressing my fur and I saw her smile at me. I found myself purring under her touch. Her smile is actually cute, I have to admit. 

But then I heard the sound of hooves hitting the ground violently towards us and the smell of anxiety all over that person so I assumed to be that knight and I ran away, but not too far. I wanted to see for myself if it was indeed that particular knight I saw last time or if it's someone else sent to hurt her. I was far enough for them to don't see me, but enough for me to hear and see them.

 I relaxed when I saw that it's just her mother's knight that came and took her home. Then I remembered that I told my butler I wouldn't be gone for long and today I should retreat to my territory so I can arrive 'til tomorrow, but instead I decided to stick around for another day and see if she will come out again. A part of me hoped she would come alone so I can talk to her or at least be close to her, but that wouldn't be that wise of her. 

And just as I thought, she haven't came out at all. I went back to my kingdom, but whenever I had some more free time in my schedule I would go and check on her and make sure she's safe.

***

Surprisingly, she haven't sneaked out by herself in 4 years. I wonder what was more scary for her to make her such a good girl and go out only with her parents and knight. Was it me in my lycan form or that man laying on the ground that tried to hurt her? In any way, that was still a good thing that she was no longer into the forest by herself. That doesn't necessarily mean that I don't have to check up on her tho.  

I left my kingdom in Wednesday and arrived near the castle in Thursday afternoon. As usual, I went to the back of the castle somewhere, so I can hide myself in the forest and get unnoticed thru the woods along with them, but today was different. She f**king jumped thru the back of the castle by herself and galloped thru the forest with that new horse of her's. What is wrong with this girl? Does she think that if she's 16 she can just jump like that and run away from the castle and her parents?

'Hell no! I'm following this little dumb a*s right now!', so I began to run after her and she was fast as f*ck! I don't know if I should praise her for this or not. I can still follow her with ease as it would be impossible for a horse to overtake me and I waited behind a tree to see what will happen. She just stood there seeming to wait for someone and I wondered if that someone is me, but before I could even think to come out, a blond guy came on horseback looking surprised to see her and excused himself, but I couldn't care less about his apology for being there and I wanted to hear what my mate would say to him and when she opened her mouth to speak I felt like I would tear her apart.

-" No, it's alright. Really...", she smiled at him just the way she smiled at me 4 years ago. When he tried to approach her I let out a loud roar that made him freeze in his place. I came closer to him, revealing my fangs to him and I watched him trembling from all joints in front of me and reeking of fear. I love this smell and I smirked a little before I let out another roar that made him run away without even glancing back at my mate and left her all alone with me. Big mistake. 

I've got close to her and she f**king wanted to pet me like a docile animal. Instead of letting her pet me I growled at her and that made her retreat her hand from me. I sniffed her to make sure his smell is not lingering on my mate and I was right. His smell is no where near her and this could have been the first time he saw her, but it doesn't mean that I don't have reasons to be mad at her! She told him to stay!  I glared at her one more time before I got on all fours and ran away. When I was far enough from her, I let out a howl to try and relax a little and maybe that would help me think straight. That's when I decided I will go to her father at the castle and tell him about my unpleasant sight in the forest with his daughter and another male.

In 17 minutes I reached to the palace and roared at the guards at the entrance in my lycan form to call King William immediately outside for me and he saw my black lycan form from the garden where he walked beside his Queen and came in a hurry to see what's the problem. 

I suppose it's pretty easy to recognize a giant black lycan with red eyes calling for the King as his guards have done nothing to make me go away.

-" What does this mean? Why this rush and anger calling for me?", asked William looking confused and I lowered myself to look him in the eyes and I couldn't help but to reveal my fangs at him for a few seconds.

-" I wanted to  make you a surprise and visit your kingdom when I saw my mate jumping off your gate and running thru the woods. Does that sounds familiar to you, your Highness?", asked Clyde in his 'big, scary lycan' tone and I would have snickered if I wouldn't have been this angry. William took me inside and offered me to go to a guest chamber to change myself if I please and go after him in the throne hall when I'm finished. In 2 minutes I changed and marched to the throne hall to tell him what happened. I dressed in some black pants and shirt with a dark red cloak and a black and red mask with some carvings on it as I don't want her to see my face. 

-" Look, King Nathaniel, before you say anything else I want you to know that I ...", but I cut him off and growled.

-" You began avoiding me, William. You realize that won't help you keep your daughter, right?", I asked annoyed, not waiting for an answer. " Today I was looking forward to pay you and my mate a visit when I saw her leaving the castle by herself thru the back of your not that well secured wall around the castle and meeting with a stranger in that glade you like that much to visit!", I put accent on the 'meeting' part so he would get the hint and then I heard my dear future mother in law yelling at me.

-" For your own good I hope you haven't laid your filthy paws on my baby girl!", and I raised my eyebrows at her affirmation.

-" Silence! Don't dare speak again!", yelled William back at her and then turned his gaze back on me. " Are you sure my daughter is out there with a boy right now?"

-" Oh, no no no! He's not there anymore, I made sure of that. He ran away pretty fast when I came closer to him.", I assured William. " As for your affirmation about my paws, your Highness, I want to let you know that my paws are clean most of the times. And that's when I'm not k**ling my subjects and intruders.", I retorted displaying an mischievous smile for her and then we heard the doors began to open and I took a seat next to the King.

When she entered, she made a small bow and before she could speak, her father began to ask her questions. 

-" Elise, do you know why you are here?", asked William glaring at her. That means he got my hint. Good!

-" Because you and mother asked me to?", responded Elise with another question and a sheepishly smile on her lips making me stiffen in my place. 'How defying!' 

-" No, Elise! That's not the answer I'm waiting for! Don't play dumb, young lady! We all know you are not. Tell me what happened into the woods today!", yelled William growing impatient with his daughter.

-" Nothing happened into ...", she tried to lie, but her father cut her off.

-" Don't lie to me! Tell me EVERYTHING that happened today. All the details!", and she began to tell.

-" ... I sneaked out as I used to, then ... when I got to my favorite place I just sat there for a few minutes and I got bored, but then a boy appeared with his horse and he seemed shocked by my presence there alone and he said that he's gonna leave, but I told him to stay if he wants to 'cause I don't want people to think that I'm acting like a b*at and then ... and then he ran away because there was a wolf behind the trees.", she finished her story with a lie.

'She did not just called us a wolf! She can't just confuse a f**king lycan for a wolf!', said Clyde growling annoyed.

-" A wolf?", asked William with a raised eyebrow, already knowing it was me.

-" Yes, a wolf.", she repeated.

-" First of all, do you know who is our guest? Secondly, are you sure that's all that boy did?", asked William coldly.

-" I'm sorry, I don't know who the gentleman is. And yes, I'm sure that's all."

-" Elise, it's time you should stop talking to strangers and especially to boys, and he is King Nathaniel of Iceland. He's ... ", but she cut her father off. 

-" He's the King of beasts? You let the King of beasts hear how you humiliated me?", she yelled frantically and I let out a roar that echoed thru the castle's walls and yelled back at her.

-" This b*at will learn to behave in my presence and I want her punished for how she dared to talk about me!"

-" I'm not going to behave in your f**king presence!", and I rose up from my seat and got a grip on her jaw while her mother screamed behind us.

-" Do NOT provoke me! You wouldn't like that.", and I let go of fer jaw. " She won't get any food for 5 days. Who's gonna feed her is going to be e**cuted. She is allowed water. We wouldn't want the princess's lips to dry, would we?", I asked in a fake concerned expression smirking to myself. I heard her mother gasp and I found that annoying. I mean ... it's not that bad. She is a princess after all, she should have known to act like one!

Her father led me to the gate and that's when I realized that she has no idea that I'm going to be her husband!

-" King William.  Do you remember my requests 16 years ago for your daughter?", I stopped in the gate's opening, having no intention to leave without an answer.

-" Of course I do. Why would you think the opposite?", asked William, looking worried and his heart beating like crazy. 

-" And what was the reason for your daughter's naughty reaction back there? Does she not know that I am her future husband?", I tried to not lose my composure in front of everyone.

-" Well ... you see ...", and I cut him off being fed up for today with lies, defying persons and the ones that tries to say half the truth.

-" All I see is that people around me tries to hide the truth and deceive me, King William! I want her to know who I am before our next encounter and I want her to behave!", I announced him with a stone cold face.

-" And that is ... ", he tried to ask, but I took it before and answered.

-" And that is in 5 months from now.", I told him turning my back to leave. Before he could tell me anything else I transformed and ran away to go back to my kingdom.

Such a horrible day!