Coal Crown (Forging Royalty)

by Maggie Lee

  “The rebels are going to start a war?”

  “Not the ones we met with, no. They’re just messengers for a larger group. The rebels your father's teams have been tracking are harmless. Playing mailman as a distraction for a real alliance throughout our own country.”

  “Does he know that?” I ask confused as this is the first time anyone has called the rebels harmless. I’ve always gathered that my father was more along the paranoid side, dismissive isn’t the reaction to a threat I would believe him to have.

  “He does, but he doesn’t care. He keeps writing them off. I’ve prepared, even though he hasn’t.” Arden’s voice is hard, and I don’t know how to continue my questions without aggravating him further.

  “What are our classes about today?”

  “Ironically, war policy. What to do from our positions and then how to handle it as public leaders.” His annoyance makes me laugh and he uses that as an advantage to pull me closer and rub his beard against my face, making me laugh even harder.

  “You need to shave,” I tell him, rubbing my hands along the beard burn I just got.

  “You’ve never seen me smooth faced. Doubt you ever will. Come on, let’s get dressed. We have a country to prepare to rule for.” He climbs off the bed and goes straight into my bathroom starting the shower like he’s lived here forever.

  Chapter 10.

  I give him his time and then call down for Alexis to bring breakfast for two. Once he’s done and dressed, I take a quick shower myself and dress in a light day dress. Breakfast is ready when I come out and Alexis is waiting for me, chatting with Arden.

  “Good morning, miss. Would you like to eat and then I will do your hair and makeup?” Her tone is ever professional and I’m curious if it’s because Arden is around.

  “No, I’ll just twist it up after breakfast. I’m fine with it how it is for now. Take the morning off, Alexis. Go enjoy some time to yourself today.” She gives me a nod as an answer and then excuses herself from the room.

  Arden and I eat in silence for a little bit, but eventually I start asking him more questions about himself. He tells me some about his childhood and how his father was a tradesman and made sure they all learned to work with their hands. I love the stories he has about learning to blacksmith and how each scar on his hands and arms ties to a moment he didn’t think through an action he made.

  When we finish eating, we join the ladies in the study and start our lesson. I take vigorous notes, but still feel like I didn’t learn everything. However, when they quiz us, I make it through just fine. The pressure to know these things is that much heavier because of the possibility of us having an upcoming war.

  When class is over, Arden gives me another quick kiss goodbye on the cheek and then goes on his way. I’m surprisingly saddened to see him leave. I spend the remainder of the evening going over protocols again and again until I feel like I have them sort of memorized. The next day passes quickly in the study and I’m happy to take dinner in my bedroom when they tell me the king is too busy for dinner. I haven’t seen my father but in passing the past week or so, and it’s been wonderfully quiet because of it.

  “Good morning!” I tell Arden when I open the door to find him waiting on the other side with our breakfast. “Did you intercept Alexis?”

  “I’m planning to take her job, this was my first step.” He laughs and comes in, taking over the small dining table I have set up for meals.

  “Are you? Good luck matching my outfits like she does.” I brush him off and break into the food.

  Everything is still warm and the pancakes are incredibly soft and sweet. With the sun coming in through the windows, everything is glowing in romantic golden lighting. I take my time enjoying the moment and hope that we are going to get many more like this.

  Class goes by in a rush and I find myself excited about becoming the queen of our people for the first time. Working next to Arden, it doesn’t seem quite like a chore.

  Lynn works with us throughout our morning class and then has lunch delivered for us all to eat together in the ballroom. We spend some time after lunch relearning what we worked on last week, but eventually a few other maidens and soldiers to fill in the ballroom for the dance.

  “Good afternoon. We are going to work on the Queen’s Waltz today. Please partner up and let’s begin.” Lynn claps her hands and starts the song that I know as well as my own name.

  Arden’s arms come around me into position and we start to move. I don’t think, just follow, and then time for us to switch partners comes and my heart plummets. I spin and find myself in my father's arms. The panic hits me and I push away, falling to the ground to get away. The music stops and I uncover my face to find Arden standing over some soldier whose name I don’t know. I look around to find where my father went and realize he was never here at all.

  “What the fuck did you do to her?” Arden yells slamming the man into the ground again.

  I push up, and grab Arden’s shoulders. “Arden! Stop! He didn’t do anything, I just had a... a panic attack, it wasn’t him. I’m alright!”

  Arden lets him go and turns to me, wrapping his arms around me, and pulling me close as he stands us up. He leans his head down and whispers in my ear, “Are you sure you are alright?”

  I take a deep breath before answering, “Yes, I’m just fine. I just... I have issues with this song.”

  Arden doesn’t release me, but instead speaks over my head. “We are done for the day. Thank you Lynn for your help.”

  He only releases me enough to pick me back up into a cradle and carry me from the room. We exit the ballroom and he goes straight down the hall and through the busy kitchen like they aren’t even there. We pass everyone preparing for dinner, but no one questions him carrying me through.

  “I can walk, you can put me down.” I tell him, but he ignores my comment and moves us through the cool afternoon air. It feels as though it could snow any minute and the clouds above look like they agree.

  “What just happened?” Arden finally asks as we round the garden’s corner and enter the walls. He turns us and sets me in front of him facing him.

  I start to shiver due to the chill and not being dressed appropriately. “I just wasn’t prepared to switch partners, and when we did, I saw a flashback to dancing with my father.”

  “Why did that give you a panic attack? Elaborate, please.” His words are a gritted command and I’m unsure how much I can truly tell him.

  “He just scares me, he’s a hard punisher and I’ve done things to displease him lately.” I try make it possible to read between the lines, and I know Arden understands by the hardening of his eyes. He looks livid and his breathing gets harder, like he’s fighting for control. “Arden, it’s cold out here. Let’s step into the greenhouse.”

  He’s silent for a moment, still captivated by his own thoughts as he works through something internally. When I wrap my hands around his face, and make him look down at me, he softens.

  “Come on, I have a surprise,” he tells me before pulling me along the walkway. The Greenhouse looks different from the outside and I see that the plants have been rearranged as we enter.

  My spread out greenhouse is pulled to the front, and the room feels jungle like with everything tiered to make room in the back of the greenhouse. As we pass through the fuller isles, I see the back side, our clear destination.

  Candles line the square glass frames that hold the building together and there is a pallet bed made up in the center. The room feels so cozy, even without the candles lit and the hanging twinkle lights on. Arden pulls me along and lays us down on the bed and I notice the table beside with champagne and glasses waiting. I rest in his arms as I hear the creak of the front door opening and shutting. I tense as footsteps approach, but calm when I see its Alexis.

  “Good evening, dinner isn’t ready yet, however I can have something brought to have with your drinks if you would like,” she tells us, standing in the corner.

  I pull from
Arden and we both sit up to face her, “No thank you, Alexis. Please take the evening off.”

  “Thank you for checking in, have a good night,” Arden adds and she turns on her heal, leaving from the private moment as quickly as possible.

  When we’re completely alone, I lean over and kiss Arden’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  Arden wraps his arms around me before pulling us back against the metal headboard of the bed. We rest like that for quite some time as the world around us darkens. Eventually Arden moves and gets us both a glass of champagne and we sit, talking as we drink.

  “Should I grab another bottle when I go to get dinner in a few minutes?” Arden asks pouring the last of the bottle into our empty again glasses.

  “What are we having for dinner?” I ask, because champagne may not go with whatever we are having.

  “Steak and roasted mushrooms.”

  “Deep red wine please.” I give him a smile and he shakes his head, leaning down to kiss my forehead before leaving me alone in the greenhouse.

  I decide to use the time he’s gone to light the candles throughout the room because it’s getting darker by the minute. He is back just a minute or so after I finish lighting the candles. He quickly goes to work on setting out our food. I grab the corkscrew that's laid on the table and start trying pull out the little cork.

  After three attempts I set the bottle down a little hard and get laughed at by Arden. He swoops in, taking the bottle off the table and readjusts the corkscrew so it’s properly in place and then pops the cork out with ease.

  “Why it that so hard? Why don’t they just make a corkscrew that twists in and you just pull out. A handle with a screw out of it!” I accept the glass of wine he’s poured and have a seat at the table with him.

  We eat and talk about today’s lesson until we are out of food and the greenhouse begins cooling. Luckily it won’t drop too low, but it’s time for a warm bath and bed.

  Arden takes me to my room like a gentlemen, and then excuses himself, giving me a brief kiss on the cheek. I let him go, but the loss of his presence is evident as I prepare for bed. My mood sours as I realize I won’t see him until the week is over and I go on my trip with the grocers. He is supposed to attend dinner that evening. I write a quick note before going to sleep, asking Alexis to get in contact with Arden and see if he will join me for the trip to the Grocers.

  The only issue with Arden coming is that I will have to find a moment to sneak away to get my letter from my brother. While I trust Arden, I’m not ready to share my secret with him yet. He can’t find out that I’m writing letters with my brother, not until I’m sure he won’t mind. Or tell my father.

  The next two days pass quickly, I learn more than I feel my brain can hold from Lynn and the other ladies of the council. Every evening I take dinner in my chamber and use the alone time to study. June stops by, but leaves when she sees how busy I am. I never ask her to stay, any of the five times she comes by.

  As the morning comes that I am to go with the Grocers, Arden wakes me instead of Alexis. My heart is elated and I’m looking forward to the trip even more than I usually do.

  “How were your lessons?” Arden asks as he leads me down to his old truck.

  “Are we not riding with the Grocers? And good.” Looking around, I don’t see any staff at all.

  “No, I figured we could have dinner on our own afterwards. I have already cleared it with your father.” He opens my door and helps me in. The smell of Arden and his truck surround me, and it feels a little like home. How much I enjoy his presence makes me think I should maybe let him in on my letters with my brother. Maybe, he could understand?

  “Thank you, how was your two days, doing... whatever it is that you do?”

  “I spent one day in strategy meetings, then the second in my workshop. I have a surprise for you.” He tells me, leaning over my lap to reach into the glove box. “You asked, and I delivered!”

  I look down as he drops a heavy little metal object in my lap. It takes just a moment before I recognize what he’s given me. The corkscrew I asked for.

  A blackened metal handle, attached to a curvy and curly corkscrew. No silly extra pieces or folding compartments. It’s absolutely beautiful.

  “Does it work?” I ask excitedly.

  “I build war weapons and you are asking if a simplistic corkscrew works?” He laughs at me and just nods answering my question.

  The truck rumbles to life and we’re off, discussing how he made his corkscrew. The technical talk of how he made it lasts until we are about three blocks from the farmer’s market and butcher shops I've visited more than a hundred times.

  Once again he is to my door before I'm out. I accept the hand he offers to me and we make our way to the market together.

  If my grocers find us arriving together with me on his arm weird, they don't show it. I give Evana and Kylie both hugs and introduce them to Arden, even though I’m sure they have met by this point. They say hello and then start splitting our group up to finding the produce we need. Our list is longer than usual with all of the events this month holds. Arden and I are sent off to work together, so we take our list and begin our rounds. We stop at one of my favorite stands, run by a sweet old couple that keeps the largest amount of produce in one stand just for us. Most booths only have a select amount of each thing, but they have the quantity I need every time I stop by, so I don’t have to buy from multiple people to get what I need.

  “Good morning, Princess Mackenzie,” the little old lady says from her chair that’s placed in the back of the stand. I give her a wave and start our search. Arden follows my lead and inspects tomatoes with me, as if we do this every day. After looking at over four or five dozen tomatoes we make our selection of which hundred we want and move to the next thing we need.

  "How do you know what's ripe?" Arden asks me in a whisper.

  "Everything is different, some stuff should be soft and some should be hard. Honestly, you won't ever need to know, but if you want to learn I can teach you."

  I get a small nod from him while he compares a handful of onions to each other. After watching him try to make heads or tails of which onions are good, I wrap my hands around his and take all of the onions and throw them in the basket.

  "Don't overthink it. If you would eat it, it's probably just fine." I tell him as we grab more onions and place them in our carts. We have plenty before I send one of the grocers with us to swap out one of the carts while we start to fill the next.

  "Alright, but when your father breaks a tooth on an avocado, don't blame me." if he breaks a tooth on anything avocado, I would be impressed. Since, you peel those and usually work them into a paste of some kind.

  "Alright, if you are so worried, just push the cart and keep the list organized." He takes the mostly empty cart and follows me as I weave around the produce tables. I start picking out peppers and tossing them into the cart, occasionally I feign bad aim and bounce them off of Arden before they land in the cart.

  I usually break off after this booth and make my stop by the post office, since the walkway to the building is behind it. No one usually notices if I disappear while they go over count and prices. Hopefully it will work the same this time.

  I lead Arden and the grocer helping us over to the sweet couple who own the booth. As the grocer starts going over counts, I see my opportunity.

  Chapter 11.

  “Arden, I have to use the restroom. They have one, I’ll be right back.” I point to the post office and hope that they actually have a public bathroom inside in case I get caught.

  “Do you want me to come with you?” he offers and a pang of guilt hits me for lying to him. I should just tell him the truth.

  He has been nothing but a gentlemen, and I truly believe I could trust him, but risking my letters to my brother... I can't risk what little connection we still have. Not to mention the punishment I would get.

  I give him a brisk kiss on the cheek before making my way down the little s
ide alley. As I round the corner that leads into the building, I see a pavilion to the side with actual bathroom. I could for sure get away with saying I was there if I need to.

  Feeling a little more confident I only peek back once before I make the definite turn to the post office instead of the bathrooms. Hopefully if I get caught I can just say I was lost and looking for the restroom. It's possible the post office could have a restroom? Mail workers have to go too.

  I pull the key I brought along, hidden in my skirt and unlock the little mailbox I set up shortly after he left. Still feeling a little of the adrenalin, my nervous hands miss the lock and hit the key against the metal. With a deep breath, I calm myself and my shaky fingers. The key slides in and with a quick twist of the wrist, my lock is open.

  My heart sinks when I see that the box is empty. No letter inside. Quickly, I step back to search for a postal worker. This must be a mistake. There has been a letter in here once a month since we started writing. They must have put it in the wrong box.

  I pace up and down the hall and find that I'm the only soul in the building. I can't play around much longer. I start pounding on any door I can find, but as the time passes, no one emerges and I realize that I am going to have to leave without his letter.

  Tears well up in my eyes as I fling both doors open and leave the building like a petulant child. I stomp my feet harder with every step, hoping to show the world I'm angry. It does no good, no magic fairy is going to show up with a letter from Teijan. I’m going home without it, whether I like it or not.

  I take a few deep breaths and work through anger, but it makes way for a sadness that quickly consumes me. Something could be wrong, or he could be upset with me! Maybe he knows of my engagement and feels betrayed?

  My heart gets heavier with each passing thought until I feel so full I have to sit down. I move to a tree beside the pavilion and restrooms I was claiming to visit and have a seat. Holding my face, I start to cry until it becomes full sobs for everything and nothing at the same time. I was looking forward to telling brother all about everything happening in my world, he’s the only one who can possibly understand what I am feeling right now! Teijan was the only person I could tell about everything, and not expect a fake reaction from. Other’s tell me to smile, I’m a princess. They never see past the glamor that the crown presents.