A Warrior's Dance

VII – Wedding Bells

The White Tower was located in the heart of the whole kingdom. It was an old structure, built for learnings and trainings for the people. Maidens were the one who teach different skills, from proper walking for the ladies, perfect curtsy, sewing and knitting, cooking and mixing ales as well as painting and writing songs. On the other hand, former knights and commanders were the one who hone skills for men who wanted to learn sword fighting and strategies.

Matthews was now on his last year in White Tower, almost learning everything it could offer. He was forced by his cousin Raiden to enroll in sword fighting and so he did but didn’t excel in that course. He then concluded he was better in arts and books and such.

After Madam Lariza dismissed the training for writing songs, the prince started to leave the room when he noticed a girl at the back, sobbing quietly. Instead of meeting his two unmoving guards outside, he turned his heel and approached the girl.

“I wonder what kind of sadness warrant your tears, my lady.” Matthews remembered the first time he heard her sing in their session. Her calm soothing voice captured his heart.

The girl shot her head up and met the prince’s eyes. Shame bounded her, unable to muster a proper curtsy. She hastily wiped her tears away, clutching a crumpled paper.

“M-my apologies,” she stuttered. Some ladies began to look in their directions, surprised that a prince was talking to a common girl.

“For what, my lady?” Matthews asked, a smile on his lips. “You did nothing wrong.”

She remained silent, unable to get the right words for thanking him for showing concern.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

The girl winced, suddenly disappointed at herself. “Lira, my prince,” she said.

“That’s a beautiful name.” He smiled at her again, putting her at ease. “And what is that?”

Lira knew he was asking for the crumpled paper in her fist. Her cheeks reddened. “A- a drawing.”

“May I?” he asked, hand spread out, awaiting her response.

Lira carefully handed over the crumpled paper. The prince straightened it out and was shocked to see a familiar face looking back at him, as if it was real.

“Raiden,” he muttered. “This looks exactly like him. You have a talent.”

The girl shook her head. “H-he didn’t want my drawing.”

Matthews furrowed for a moment. “Had you given my cousin a sword, I am very sure he won’t be refusing that. But no need to.”

Lira couldn’t help but smile. She wasn’t expecting the prince to be so kind and gentle.

“Keep up the good work, Lira,” he said, carefully returning the drawing to her.

The girl bowed her head as the prince walked away.

Matthews went down the staircase, his hand holding a book. His cousin didn’t show up in song writing training and he knew there was only one place he would be at. He called it the dungeon, a basement in the White Tower, where lads practiced their skills in sword fight.

Raiden was still catching his breath, his upper clothes messily lying on the floor. He looked curiously at his cousin when he approached.

“Are you lost?”

The prince smirked and bumped his shoulder. “I saw a lady crying because you rejected her drawing.”

“Well, that’s a first,” he replied as he picked up his clothes.

Smiling, Matthews observed the wide dungeon, looking at the other noble lads as they shoot arrows on the targets.

“Do you need anything, Mat?” Raiden asked after a while.

He really knew the prince well. “What makes you think I need anything?”

It was Raiden’s turn to smirk. “I know you well.”

He laughed as he shook his head. “I like her.”

“Who?”

“Lira.”

Raiden narrowed his eyes at him. “You like every girl who cries.”

A punch landed on Raiden’s shoulder. He wasn’t expecting the prince to strike him.

“This is different.”

“How so?”

Matthews leaned closer to him. “I think she likes you. That would be a complication, don’t you think?”

“Well, I don’t like her,” Raiden stated. He shied away to ladies trying to befriend him. He felt like they were just curious to see his scars and would turn their back the moment they saw the curse in his face. “So that makes it not a complication.”

The prince placed his arm over his cousin’s shoulder, not minding the sweat on his skin. “I wonder why you always give me what I want.”

Raiden circled his arm around the prince’s shoulder as well. “You’re the heir of this kingdom. It’s my duty to give you what you want.”

“That’s all?” he asked, a hint of sadness lingering his eyes.

“Well,” Raiden said and tapped his shoulder. “You’re my best mate, Mat. You’re the closest brother I ever had.”

With that, Matthews grinned, his light demeanor made Raiden to smile as well. “You tell me right away when the time comes and you find a lady you fancy.”

“Why?”

Matthews tapped his cousin’s back, face sincere. “I’ll do anything to make sure you get the girl.”

Raiden raised his elbow and hit the prince on his side, sending pain to his ribs. “That’s the worth of everything I am doing for you, cousin?”

Matthews pushed him away, clutching his side. “Just so you know, girls are sometimes the reason for war.” He gestured his pointer finger to Raiden, giving him a knowing look.

Both of them just smiled and they went up the stairs to ride their horses.

****

A huge silver bell began to ring, sending the doves away as the sound echoed throughout the palace. The White Tower had only one bell and the palace used it to announce a royal wedding.

Matthews and Raiden were bathing in the river while the prince started to plan on how to confess his love to Lira. Though his cousin didn’t show much interest, he filled his head with Lira’s beauty. When he looked at her, he saw innocence and purity, a certain grace the other ladies were lacking.

“Just how serious are you, Mat?” Raiden asked, his bare chest exposed under the starry night, as they both stayed afloat on the water.

“Dead serious,” he muttered.

“What if your father, the king, won’t allow you to like her?”

Matthews looked taken aback. “Why not?”

“Because she’s just a common girl.”

“So?” the prince shrugged. “I’m sure my father will allow it.”

“What did you see in her, anyway?”

Matthews shot him an incredulous look. “What you did not see in her, Raiden? She’s pretty and talented and…”

“And what?” he asked. “Does she have a name? Can she provide the kingdom foods for the people? Is her father one of the wealthiest lord? Is she a chieftain’s daughter? Is she a princess from another kingdom who swore an oath to your grandfather?”

The prince thought for a moment. His twinkling eyes suddenly became dull as realization dawned on him.

“It’s nice to be with a lady you like, don’t you think?”

Raiden took a deep breath. “It’s not how it is, cousin. You are the crown prince, and soon, you will be the king. Love by marriage is not a popular thing here. That only happens if you’re a neraida.”

A horse neigh from a distance, disturbing their peaceful bath. Raiden went out of the sea, Mat trailing behind him, as they saw a royal guard approaching. Behind him was Lord Yuric himself, the king’s counselor.

“Greetings, my prince,” the old man said, his husky voice still had a tone of authority. His black cloak hooded his head, giving him a mysterious aura. Raiden was afraid of him when he was a child. Lord Yuric had a white hair and bulging eyes, the kind of man who didn’t know how to smile.

“Lord Yuric,” Raiden bowed to him. Feeling too naked, he shoved his dry clothes over his body and stepped aside.

Matthews did the same, giving respect to his father’s most trusted man.

“King Darius asks for you, Prince Matthews. He’s waiting in the dining hall.”

“Just how important is this, Lord Yuric, for my father to send you?”

The old man stared blankly at him. “It is to discuss your wedding, my prince. They will be sending the invitation tomorrow at dawn.” He then turned to Raiden, addressing him. “The king asks for your presence as well.”

Matthews was beyond surprised.

He hasn’t expected to hear that.

At all.