The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 10

Gunnar loudly cleared his throat and took a menacing step towards Lord Regan. He immediately released me and stepped back.

“We will head inside my Queen. I am sure your father will escort you in shortly” Gunnar announced. I nodded and Lord Regan clenched his jaw but said nothing.

The bells in the chapel began to ring and the doors opened in front of us. Lord Regan took my arm - more gently this time - and whispered to me “I hope your husband discards you like the worthless trash you are.”

I gulped and glanced up towards King Halvor towering above everyone at the end of the short aisle. I wondered how he managed to look so incredibly handsome in his embroidered tunic contrasting the rugged braid he wore. But somehow being finely dressed made him look even more powerful, instead of more tame.

We made eye contact and I quickly looked down again, realizing that I wasn’t really worthy to marry a king. I came from nowhere and grew up in an obscure nunnery. What did I know about being a queen?

All too soon we had finished the walk down the aisle. Lord Regan gave my hand to King Halvor who took it surprisingly gently. Lord Regan walked back to his place in the chapel and the priest began the ceremony. Everything happened quickly and before I knew it we had said our vows.

When the priest said “You may now seal the marriage with a kiss” King Halvor flatly replied “No.”

I heard Lord Regan laugh behind me as King Halvor grabbed my hand and walked me out of the chapel with his warriors close behind. With our departure only Lord Regan and Sir Felix remained. They were the only other witnesses in attendance.

King Halvor marched straight back to his room and guided me inside. I stepped away from him as he turned to close the door, completely bewildered as to what I was doing here. Did he want to consummate the marriage right now? Or perhaps he didn’t know there was a banquet being held.

“Well, make yourself comfortable” the king commanded. I stared at him blankly for a moment before looking around the room awkwardly, unsure of exactly what he wanted me to do.

Before either of us could say anything there was a knock at the door. King Halvor angrily threw open the door and to both our shock Talia was standing outside.

“Pardon me King Halvor,” Talia said sweetly, “But I’m here to inform you that the wedding feast is occurring presently. Unless of course, Sylvia is currently indisposed.”

The king said nothing, but simply stepped aside, revealing me fully clothed and not at all indisposed.

Talia’s expression went from sickeningly seductive to enraged in an instant once she laid eyes on me.

“Where the hell did you get that gown?” She yelled at me.

My eyes widened and I blurted out “It was my mother’s. She left it to me.”

“You’re a liar and a thief!” Talia exclaimed.

“Where would she have gotten it then? It certainly isn’t yours because you’re clearly too fat to fit in it” King Halvor said mockingly.

Talia’s face turned bright red and she screamed “Her w***e mother wouldn’t have had such a fine gown and that nunnery we locked her in wouldn’t have had anything resembling a gown either!”

Talia suddenly brushed past the king and was headed straight for me. Before I could even react, King Halvor reached across and grabbed Talia by the hair, yanking her backwards. Her head jerked back and she was thrown on her backside.

My hand flew up over my mouth to stifle my surprised laugh.

“You forget you are addressing a king and queen” King Halvor said in a low voice.

If Talia was smart she would have left, but Talia wasn’t smart at all.

“What queen? All I see before me is a sad girl who was raised by nuns and isn’t worthy of being a queen of anything. Even in that fine gown it’s clear she isn’t even a noble. Anyone can see that” Talia spat out.