The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 32

Halvor walked over to the head table and sat next to me. There were only two chairs, which meant Gala was left standing. Halvor gestured to her to grab a chair and sit with us.

“It’s fine, I was just leaving” I said as I got up. Halvor looked over at me and then down at my half eaten plate. “Nonsense, you haven’t even eaten half your food. Gala can get another chair easily.”

“I’m tired now, so I’ll just be heading upstairs. That way you two can talk freely, I’m sure you still have much planning to do.” Before Halvor could respond I walked away, and everyone scrambled to rise again as I left the dining hall.

I decided to have a bath and impatiently waited for the servants to fill the tub with the hot water. I quickly got in and relaxed against the edge. My stomach growled loudly and I realized I probably should have at least finished eating before I left the dining hall. I wonder if I can sneak down to the kitchens.

I quickly got out of the tub and dressed again. I decided to take my hair out of the intricate braids that were done that morning, so that maybe less people would recognize me. I pulled back the sides and left the rest down. My hair was not curly like Ann’s, it was relatively straight, but it did curl into loose ringlets at the ends. I donned a plain dress and cautiously opened the door. I glanced around and didn’t notice anyone in the hallway. I quietly closed the door and hurried down the hall towards the back stairs that the servants used. They would take me right down to the kitchens.

I made it there without incident, although when I got there everyone immediately recognized me. “What can we do for you my Queen? Was the supper not to your liking?” One of the cooks asked.

“Oh no, the supper was delicious. I was just hoping to get a little snack before bed is all.”

The cook nodded and handed me a couple of bread rolls, fresh from the oven. They smelled amazing. I smiled and said “Thank you.”

I quickly left the kitchens and snuck out a side door that led out into a small garden. I quickly devoured the rolls as I wandered around. I had never been to this garden before and I realized that the small herb garden led out into a larger garden filled with flowers and trees. I slowed my pace to admire it’s beauty.

I heard voices approaching and I quickly ducked behind some large bushes so I wouldn’t be seen. I was tired of everyone bowing to me as their queen. I suddenly realized that I recognized the voices. It was Halvor and Gala. Of course it was. Just my luck.

“You know you really need to consummate this marriage soon” Gala said. He told her that he hadn’t bedded me yet?

“I know, but she’s so cold to me. I think she’s still mad about the challenge. You saw how she left the instant we arrived at the dining hall” Halvor replied.

“Well maybe you need to spend more time with her”

“When? We have all these meetings to plan a war for her. And by the time I return to my bed chamber she’s asleep.” Well maybe if you weren’t sneaking around with Gala you could see me instead, I thought.

“You’re planning this war for your kingdom. This war will be the making of you as king, uniting two very powerful kingdoms, so don’t try and blame her for it” Gala said.

I held my breath as they walked by the bushes I was hiding in. Once I was sure they had left the garden I crept out of the bushes and let the tears run down my face. I wandered aimlessly around the garden and came to a small pond with some stone benches next to it. I sat down on one and dragged my fingers across the top of the water, watching the patterns the ripples made.

As the tears streamed down my face I realized there’s no point. There’s no point to consummating the marriage. Gala was clearly the one he confided in. He should just keep her as a consort and let me have my own room. And if we win back the kingdom of Inhar I would convince him to let me live there instead. It was easier this way.

I wiped my hands on my dress and brushed the tears from my eyes. A gentle breeze blew across the pond and I closed my eyes as it rushed across my face. It felt refreshing, like the wind was wiping my tears. The Wind in the Trees. There would be no happy ending for me.

“I thought I would find you here.” I jumped at the voice coming from behind me. It was Gala.

“Were you looking for me?” I asked.

“King Halvor was very upset to find you gone from your room. The servants all thought you were taking a bath and had no idea where you’d gone. I told the king I would find you for him to try and calm him down.”

I nodded and said “I was just getting some fresh air. I didn’t think to tell anyone where I was going.” I stood up from the bench and started to walk back to the castle.

“You didn’t think to tell anyone where you were going the night before the announcement? You really didn’t think about how scared the king would be thinking you might have been kidnapped or murdered?”

I stopped and turned towards Gala, looking her dead in the eyes. “The king doesn’t even really want this war anyways. My death would give him an easy out. For all we know he’s hoping you don’t find me at all.” Gala’s jaw dropped and before she could respond I hurried back to the castle.