by K. E. Drake
She gave a huff. Why did her place of peace, her sanctuary, have to be tied to the memory of that frustrating man? Now every time she came out here, she would think about that kiss.
She swept all thoughts of Lyall from her mind as she moved further into the garden and sat down on the edge of the fountain. There her mind went back to how Lyall had rescued her from falling into the fountain during the ball, even though he was the reason she had almost fallen in the first place.
Melody splashed a hand in the fountain to clear her thoughts, and water splattered over her skirt. All the light had almost left the sky and she was brought out of her thoughts when she heard the gate latch click softly shut. She turned around to face the newcomer, hoping that Prince Samuel had not discovered her hiding place, and let out a small gasp when she instead saw the wolf, Devon, standing just inside the gate.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he remarked as he came further into the garden, albeit slowly.
“It’s all right.” She allowed herself to relax a bit. “I just didn’t expect to see you.” She stood and fidgeted with the sleeves of her gown.
“Do you mind? That I came?” Devon closed the distance between them and stopped in front of Melody. He sat back on his haunches, tall enough that his head came up to her waist when he sat.
“Not at all. I’m happy to see you,” Melody assured. Warmth slowly crept up her cheeks and she hesitated but then seated herself on the lip of the familiar fountain.
Devon looked up at the darkening night sky, and Melody turned her head upward to see the moon had slowly began to rise.
Several moments passed as they sat together in a comfortable quiet. Melody’s eyes trailed back to Devon and the question bothered her until she finally asked it. “Why did you come here?”
Devon looked to her and his striking blue eyes almost seemed to soften. “I came to see you.”
Melody’s blush returned, and he spoke again. “Do you come out here every night?”
“Almost every night,” she answered the wolf. “This is my favorite place. I come out here to think.” She picked a yellow rose from one of the creeping vines and plucked off a petal. “Do you have a favorite place?”
He gave it a moment of consideration. “My home in the forest.”
“Is that where we first met?” Melody couldn’t help but smile at the memory.
“It is close to there.” Devon gave a slow nod. “You would like it, I think. It’s peaceful, away from any villages or people. There’s nothing but forests for miles around, and there are hills nearby that give the perfect view of the horizon. It’s where I used to enjoy watching the sun set.”
“Used to?” Melody inquired.
Devon said nothing more, but he looked like he wanted to explain.
“Is it because of your curse?” she asked. It must be hard for him to talk about his enchantment. Or not talk about it, more appropriately.
He didn’t answer her, but decided to take a different route of discussion. “What do you come out here to think about?”
She thought over his question. Should she trust the wolf with her troubles? She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “This evening Queen Monet, my adoptive mother, announced her engagement to the king of Glendower.”
Devon visibly stiffened. “What? When?”
Melody tilted her head at him. “In two weeks time.”
Devon looked away from her and stared at the rose wall, seeming deep in thought.
“Devon?” Melody reached out and placed a hand on Devon’s face, gently stroking his cheek. “Are you all right?”
His eyes searched Melody’s face for a moment before he looked away from her again. “Yes. I’m fine.”
Melody was not convinced, but she didn’t press him. Instead, she left the wolf to his thoughts as she turned her head back up to the night sky. Her gaze drifted from star to star until the castle came back into her view.
“I should go now,” she told the somber wolf, “before somebody thinks I’ve run off into the woods again.” She gave a slight sigh and stood from the edge of the fountain.
Devon got to his feet as well and walked with her as she made her way towards the exit.
Melody pulled open the gate and held it for Devon to come through as well. Once they stepped out, she closed the garden gate and secured the latch into place. She looked to the palace before her and then turned back to the beast beside her. “Good night, Devon.”
“Good night, Melody,” the wolf bid softly.
Melody gave him a smile and walked back to the castle. She reached the old door she used to make her escape and placed her hand on the knob. As she started to go in she looked back, but Devon was gone. With a shrug, she turned back and stepped back inside the castle.
She went up the old stairs back into the abandoned storage room and then came to the corridors where the dining hall doors were. Melody walked past the doors and could still hear the hum of people talking and laughing inside.
She moved a few more steps down the corridor when the doors opened. She glanced over her shoulder as she walked and saw king Cassius come out of the dining hall. Melody snapped her gaze forward again and began walking faster.
The doors were closed behind the king. Cassius turned down the hall and hadn’t taken two steps before he saw princess Melody walking just ahead. He closed the space between them in a few long strides and grabbed a hold of her arm.
Melody gasped and tried to pull free, but he kept his hold on her. She struggled and opened her mouth to scream, but the king slapped his other hand over her mouth.
Cassius dragged her into a darkened hall, bearing the onslaught of the struggling girl before he shoved her back against the wall.
Melody’s heart pounded and she tried to scream again, but it only came out muffled through the hand still clamped over her mouth.
“I’ve won now, Princess,” he hissed in her ear.
His beard scratched her check and she could smell wine on his breath. He’s drunk.
“I will marry the queen in two weeks time, and there is nothing you can do about it.” He twisted her arm and pain shot up through her shoulder.
A cry welled up in Melody’s throat, but she pushed it back down. She grit her teeth and kept her eyes even with his, refusing to show him weakness even in the position she was in.
The king opened his mouth to speak again when a set doors were opened down the hall and voices flooded into the corridor.
Cassius growled beneath his breath and released Melody with a shove. He moved to the end of the hall and peered around the corner at a group of young women coming out of the dining hall. They came down the path towards him and the princess, and Cassius hid himself in the shadows as the small group passed by them unawares.
Soon, the ladies disappeared down the stairwell and Cassius turned back to the princess, but she was gone.
Melody ran quickly and quietly up a back set of stairs. She didn’t alert anyone for help. She didn’t dare. Her hands quaked as she gripped her skirts and her hair flowed behind her as she ran to the safety of her room.
When those ladies came out of the dining hall into the corridor and the king forgot himself and let her go, Melody had slipped away, sneaking carefully and quickly down the dark hall. As soon as she had turned the corner, she bolted, running faster than she had in her life down corridors and up stairways.
Finally, she reached her room and ran in, slamming the door behind her. Her heart pounded against her chest and she collapsed against the door and slid the lock into place with trembling fingers.
Bera was resting on Melody’s bed when she rushed in. The dog got off of the bed, careful of her healing leg, and padded across the floor to stand in front of Melody.
“Oh, Bera.” She crumpled to the floor and wrapped her arms around her dog. Bera laid her head on her shoulder and Melody took a few deep breaths, trying to settle her racing heart. “Something terrible has happened, and I don’t know what to do.” Tears
sprang to her eyes, but she forced them back and held her dog tighter.
She hoped that this would be the end of it, but something told her that this was only the beginning.
Chapter Seven
The King’s Scheme
The next morning, Melody made her way down the corridor to Monet’s rooms with the queen’s breakfast tray in hand. Her heart pounded with each step she took, but she kept moving forward. She had to tell Monet about the king.
She could only hope that the king behaved in that way because he was drunk, but something he had said to her kept going through her mind. When he told her how he had won.
What could he have meant by that? Melody asked herself not for the first time. Whatever it meant, it couldn’t possibly be anything good, so she kept going.
“Trust your heart and trust your instincts,” her father had always told her, and right now both were urging her to warn Monet against going through with her marriage to the king.
The day outside was gray and dreary. It just started to rain, and Monet had said that she had important matters to attend to and would be busy much of the day, so she and Cassius would not be taking their walk in the gardens this morning.
Melody’s mind spun as she thought about how she was going to tell Monet about what the king did to her. She rubbed a hand over her arm where bruises had formed where the king had gripped her arm last night. The injury was thankfully hidden by the sleeve of her uniform.
Sooner than she would have liked, Melody came to the queen’s door and didn’t even bother to knock before slowly entering the room. She found Monet sitting at her desk, scrawling a letter onto a piece of parchment.
She came further into the room to stand in front of a small table near the desk. Monet had not even heard her come in.
She cleared her throat to get Monet’s attention. The queen twisted around in her chair and smiled when she saw her daughter. “Hello dear. How are you this morning?”
“Not too well, actually,” Melody admitted. She set the tray down on the table and clasped her empty hands, fighting the urge to wring them. “There’s something that I need to tell you.”
Monet’s expression changed at her daughter’s hesitation. “Melody? Are you all right?” The queen stood from the desk chair, the skirt of her dress rustling as she stood and crossed the room to stand in front of Melody. She took her daughter’s hands in her own to make her stop straining them and searched her eyes. “Is something the matter?”
“I, um-” Melody didn’t know how to put it. “It is about King Cassius. I have-” She started to say, but Monet cut her off.
“Oh yes! Is he not wonderful?” the queen beamed at her daughter. “He is so kind and thoughtful. When he first asked me to marry him, I said no. We have only known each other for a short time, but I cannot deny the feelings that I have for him. He makes me feel young again, and then he explained to me how our marriage would benefit both our kingdoms, so when he asked me a second time to marry him, I accepted.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. The king...” Melody started, but was cut off again when a soft knock sounded at the door.
Monet’s lips pursed into a thin. She let go of Melody’s hands and turned to face the door, calling, “Come in.”
A moment passed before the door slowly opened and one of the newer maids peeked into the room. She then stepped into the room and bobbed a quick curtsy. “Your Majesty. Prince Samuel is preparing to return to Avon. He’s in the courtyard now.”
Monet nodded and thanked the young girl.
The maid dipped into another curtsy and backed out of the room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.
Monet turned back to Melody with a frown on her lips. “I’m sorry, dear, but you’ll just have to tell me what’s on your mind a bit later.” She reclaimed her daughter’s hand and started to pull her to the door.
“No, it cannot wait for...” Melody tried to protest, practically pleading.
Monet kept hold of her daughter and pulled Melody out of the room with her. “I’m sorry dear, but we mustn’t keep the prince waiting!”
Monet held tightly onto Melody’s hand, to make sure that she didn’t run away as they made their way to the castle entrance to see Prince Samuel off on his journey back to Avon.
Melody protested the whole way down. “I’m not ready to see the prince.”
“We cannot wait. He’s leaving now,” Monet told her.
Melody looked down to her uniform, scrambling for an idea. “I need to change into a gown.”
The queen waved her off. “Nonsense, dear. There isn’t any time to change. You look lovely.”
Too soon, they came to the entrance hall and went to the castle’s main doors where two tall, broad shouldered guards stood. They opened the doors for the royals, and the women walked outside, greeted by the gray sky and a light mist.
Ignoring the rain, Monet walked down the many, wide steps descending from the main entrance with queenly poise while still gripping Melody’s hand.
They came to the bottom of the stairs and stepped onto the stones to stand in front of Samuel’s carriage.
The prince had his back turned to the women as he helped the driver secure a piece of luggage to the roof of the carriage.
Monet finally let go of Melody’s hand, and Melody backed a few steps away, although she remained there however much she wished she could slip away.
“Leaving so soon?” the queen spoke to get the prince’s attention.
Samuel turned and smiled when he saw the women. He hopped from the rungs on the side of the carriage, landing smoothly on his feet on the cobblestones and then going to the women.
“Queen Monet,” Samuel greeted. He took her hand and kissed it. “I am. The time has come for me to take my leave. I fear that I have overstayed my welcome.” His lips curled up in a half grin. He then noticed Melody standing a few steps behind Monet. He bowed at the waist to the princess, and as he straightened up again, he smiled and gave her a wink.
Melody stared at the cobblestones at her feet.
“You have overstayed nothing,” Monet assured Samuel. “Why, you have only stayed here for a few days, not even two weeks, and my wedding is only that far away. Surely, you don’t have to go so soon. Say you’ll stay until the wedding!”
Samuel’s cheerful demeanor dropped and his brow creased. “I’m sorry, but I’ve stayed longer than I intended to. Although, I would be happy to return for your wedding, if only I’m welcome.”
Monet smiled at that. “You and your parents are most certainly welcome to my wedding,” Monet assured Samuel. She cast a quick glance back to Melody and then leaned closer to him, whispering so only he could hear. “Speaking of weddings, how did things work out with Melody?”
Samuel considered for a moment. “I’m afraid she wasn’t as taken with me as I was with her.” He looked to Melody. She was staring up at the rain clouds, but whether or not she could hear them, he couldn’t tell.
“Maybe if you gave her some more time,” Monet suggested. “Maybe when you came back for the wedding, then she will see how much she loves you.”
“I’m not so sure she does,” Samuel said with a laugh. “She actually quite dislikes me.” He took Monet’s hand and kissed it again. “I must leave now, or I may never go”
Monet gave a chuckle as Samuel moved around her and went up to Melody. He took the princess’ hand and kissed it as well. “Farewell, Melody. It was an honor getting to know you.”
Melody opened and closed her mouth, trying to reply, but Samuel had already turned his back to her. He went to his carriage and signaled to the driver as he climbed in. The horses were urged forward, the carriage rolled down the path, and he was gone.
“Well, Melody, what do you have to say for yourself?” Monet asked as she turned back to her adopted daughter.
“What do you mean?” Melody asked.
“You pushed the prince away. Why did you do it? He’s a good young man, and he considered
marrying you.”
Melody only gave a slight scoff and rolled her eyes. She turned and started to walk back up the stairs to the castle.
The queen came up beside her and they walked up the steps side by side. “You are never going to get a nice young man to fall in love with you and marry you if you insist on pushing them away,” Monet persisted.
Melody’s thoughts went unbidden to Lyall and she blushed as she thought about how many times she had pushed him away, but he always came back.
To keep Monet from seeing the red coloring her cheeks, Melody turned her face up at the castle and she saw King Cassius standing in the library window. Her heart stilled and his lips turned up in a slow smile as he looked down at her with gaze unwavering.
A chill ran up Melody’s spine and she looked away, pretending not to have noticed him, glad to escape his eyes as they returned back into the cover of the palace.
Cassius looked down at the palace courtyards from the floor to ceiling windows in the library, watching the queen and the princess come down the stairs to bid farewell to the pauper of a prince.
Princess Melody stood behind the queen as Monet conversed with Prince Samuel.
He saw that Melody was once again dressed in a plain, brown maid’s uniform. At least she knew her place as a servant.
Cassius was so close to his goal. His wedding to the queen of Omrie was only thirteen days away, and then the kingdom would be his.
But then there was the princess, the servant who was adopted into the royal lineage. Cassius turned his upper lip in a sneer as he watched her. She looked nervous as the prince offered her a bow and even winked at her.
Cassius folded his hands behind his back and his mind returned to his blunder last evening. He had foolishly gotten himself drunk and then almost told her of his plans to take the kingdom. Surely, at the very least, he had raised her suspicions, and if she revealed him to anyone else, it would end his plans in Omrie and possibly even harm his reputation in Glendower.
