Landford
As we arrived upon Landford Castle, I sat in the
carriage.
“Thomas” I whispered. “We are here.”
He arose and looked out the window.
“Home Sweet Home” he joked.
I was nervous. I did not know how Father was
going to take all this.
As Greyson opened my door, I paused and said
“Greyson, take Thomas to my room.”
“Your room, My Queen?” He responded.
“Yes Greyson, my room. He does not belong in the
dungeon.” I replied.
“But he is a prisoner, Your Highness.” He
continued.
“I will go and speak with Father and Mother first,
please give me a moment.” I said as I looked at
Greyson, then at Thomas.
I quickly enter the Castle.
Mother awaited me at the door.
“My daughter, I am so relieved you are home.” She
said as she hugged me. I grabbed her hand and
kissed it.
“Where is Father?” I asked.
She looked puzzled and asked “In his room, Why?”
“I need to speak with you both immediately, please
come with me.” I replied.
We both walked hand in hand to his room. Father
lie in his bed, he was awake but not feeling well.
He raised his hands as he saw me and murmured
“My child you have returned, what you have to say
about your adventures?”
Mother helped him sit up as I sat at the end of his
bed.
“Am I not worthy of a hug?” He asked as he
opened his arms.
I moved over to him, bowed my head and hugged
him.
“Father, I have a dilemma I must speak with you
about but you need to completely listen to
everything before you respond.” I said.
Mother glanced over pondering what I was going
to say.
I took a deep breath.
“This is something I should have told you a long
time ago.” I asserted.
“What is it my child?” Father said concerned.
“Before Thomas left to battle, he and I were wed
at a chapel in town. I know it is against your
permission but our love was too strong”.
He looked at me then at Mother.
“You knew about this?” He asked her.
I interrupted “No Father, no one knew, just Thomas
and I.”
Mother lowered her eyes.
“Well then, Thomas is gone, why are you telling
me this, to clear your conscience?” Father added.
“Thomas is not gone, Father” I said.
Mother inhaled loudly.
“What is this you say? How do you know Thomas'
whereabouts?” Father said.
I looked down and said “I found him in Willshire.”
“Alive?” Mother asked.
I nodded yes.
“WHAT? Where is he? Is he with you?” Father said
excitedly.
I nodded yes and replied “He is but he is the
prisoner from Willshire, he is who killed King
Michael.”
Mother began crying.
“Amelia, did you not think? You have committed a
crime, why did you bring him to Landford?” Father
said sternly.
“I could not leave him to die in Willshire.” I
answered.
“But child, that is his destiny, he killed a royal!”
Father shouted.
I stood up and said loudly “But he is King, Father!”
“Just because you are Queen does not make him
King, Amelia” Father yelled upset.
“He is my husband and I could not betray him in
that manner” I said in a soft voice.
“No you would rather betray your Kingdom and
Willshire by harboring a murderer.” Father
continued.
“He is your son Emmanuel.” Mother said weeping.
“Where is he now?” Father asked.
“In my room, he will not see the dungeon here.” I
said.
“You are making a huge mistake, Amelia. Your
Kingdom will not allow this treason” Father
interjected.
“If there is treason, may I be punished but in my
heart, it is what I choose.” I replied.
“Take me to him” Father said as he weakly rose
from his bed.
We slowly walked down the corridor to my room.
As we opened the door, Thomas stood in the
center of the room.
Mother quickly ran to him and began hugging him.
“My son I have prayed for the day I would see and
hold you again” Mother said.
“As did I Mother” Thomas responded.
Thomas walked passed Mother towards Father.
Half way to him, he kneels and says “May I
approach Father?”
Father stood strong and nodded yes.
They stood face to face.
The room was silent.
Father raised his hand, grabbed Thomas and
began hugging him. “My son, my son” he said as
he collapsed in his arms.
Thomas held him as tears streamed from his eyes.
“Forgive me Father” He said as he helped Father
to my bed.
“Thomas, the sight of you does not make me ill.
The excitement has gotten to me.” Father replied.
Greyson stood at the door.
Father called for him.
”Greyson, come to me”.
Greyson slowly approached and knelt.
“My King” He said.
“Greyson, thank you for returning my children
home safely.” Father exclaimed.
Greyson bowed his head as he stared Thomas
down.
“It is my duty, Your Excellency. I must take the
horses to the stable for food and rest.” He said as
he dismissed himself.
I ran after Greyson and said “Greyson, Thank you!”
“For what my Queen, I have done nothing for you
to be thankful for” He admitted.
I smiled and replied “You have always been a great
friend and confidant.”
I reached over and hugged him.
“Oh my Queen, what an honor” He answered
shyly.
I walked into my room and the view was beautiful,
all it needed was David. Mother and Father were
so pleased to have Thomas home. As I stood in the
doorway Thomas motioned for me to enter.
“Is all well? He asked concerned.
“Oh yes, my King all is wonderful” I answered as I
put my arms around him. Father smiled and
proposed “Tomorrow we must sit down and figure
out what we are going to do about this situation.
Thomas is still a prisoner in Willshire’s eyes.”
I nodded in agreement.
“But for now we shall eat and rest.” He added as
he walked towards the door to leave the room.
“Also this room must be prepared for you and
Thomas, now that you are wed. Shyanne please
make the preparations.” He continued.
Shyanne bowed her head and proceeded out.
Mother smiled and whispered “We will leave you
alone.”
I began removing my travel attire when Thomas
commented “I forget how small you really are”
I smiled and replied “Small but dangerous”.
He laughed. He sat in a chair near the window and
murmured “How I missed this place. I thought I
was never going to return.”
I sat on the bed and replied “Well you are home
now; better make the best of it”.
“I just feel so strange, I know now what these men
know, I have seen what they have seen and it is
nothing pretty. I am hoping my mind can forget.”
He added.
I listened and smiled.
As he stood up and walked towards me he added
“I also saw something, I am not sure if it was an
illusion since I was sleep deprived but it has
remain in my mind since.”
As I removed my shoes I asked “And what was it?
He cleared his throat and whispered, “I think I saw
David?”
I reacted surprised “David? Our brother David? No,
where?” I asked.
“Down by the old cottage on the outskirts of
Willshire, the one your Father built” He continued.
I began folding my clothes as to avoid eye contact
and said “Your eyes must have been playing tricks
on you, Thomas. David is dead.”
He grabbed my face and raised it to look at him
“Were they, Amelia?” he questioned as he looked
at me suspiciously.
“Yes Thomas, you saw him die” I replied hastily.
“Other mysterious things have happened, I just
thought…”
He said as I quickly interrupted him “You thought
wrong. I often think I see him in town. It is because
we miss him terribly”
I knew if Thomas saw David he was not going to
put this to rest.
I must think of a way to imprison Thomas without
really imprisoning him.
This way he could not leave the Castle and go
investigate what he saw.
As Thomas bathed, I looked for Greyson. I found
him at the stables. “Greyson we have a problem” I
stated.
“What is it my Queen?” he replied.
“Thomas saw David near the cottage, he says
when he was hiding in that area, he swears saw
him at a distance” I recalled.
“It is possible but David is not unwise, he would
not show himself.” He reasoned.
“I know Thomas, he will go and seek him out if he
believes it was David he saw” I reassured.
“My Queen, relax maybe after speaking with you
his mind will be at ease and he will forget about
it” Greyson theorized.
“I hope it shall be” I added.
It was time to join Mother and Father at the dining
room. I felt nervous, Thomas’ words about David
kept replaying in my mind. If he finds him, it will be
awful. I would have betrayed Father and my
Kingdom. I will be put to death.
Father looked at me and commented “You look a
bit jittery, is all well?”
I took a deep breath and responded “Oh yes
Father, it was a long trip and I am still a bit jumpy.”
He nodded his head.
Thomas glared at me from across the table and
added “Are you sure it is that?”
I nodded yes.
The evening went on as usual.
As Thomas and I returned to our quarters I was
still uneasy, hoping he would not revisit the
subject.
He closes the door behind him and says “What is
wrong with you Amelia, all through dinner you
were acting strangely?”
I removed my shawl and replied “I am fine, I just
have a lot on my mind especially what to do with
you or did you forget? You are a prisoner.”
He smirked and insisted “Are you sure? Plus a King
cannot be Prisoner? Look it up, it is in the
testaments”
“Thomas, please” I answered angrily. He was
taunting me as if to get a confession of some kind.
“I apologize” He said softly.
“Are you going to imprisoned me like any common
criminal?” He continued.
I shrugged my shoulders and scratched my
forehead. “I do not want to do that but what am I
to do? Maybe I can make an amendment that has
you only in the Castle and its grounds, no further.
Then you would be a prisoner but not a prisoner.”
He laughed and responded “Anything is better
than the dungeon, only thing you need to rephrase
it so Father will understand your gibberish”
I laughed “You understood so you must be fluent in
gibberish.”
Even though I was in Thomas’ arms I could not
sleep. I tossed and turned enough to interrupt
Thomas’ sleep. “Amelia, my love, what is bothering
you?” He asked.
I cuddled myself to him and whispered “Life.”
He kissed my forehead and replied “Try to sleep a
least a little.”
I smiled and closed my eyes.
My nightmares were so vivid. Thomas finding
David, David being brought back to the Castle and
imprisoned and I being put to death for treason.
There was no way of making all this correct. But
then Thomas was not sure he saw David. As long
as I could keep Thomas away, everything would be
well.
I awoke to Thomas already gone; Shyanne said he
was riding around the grounds. I took the
opportunity to go speak with Father on the
decision to imprison Thomas.
“My beautiful girl, come in come in” Father said.
He seemed to be feeling better and in better
spirits. “Father, I have made a decision about
Thomas. I will not imprison him in our dungeon. I
will confine him to the Castle and its grounds. He
will not have access to the outskirts. Thus he is
imprisoned.”
Father smiled and replied “But Amelia, he is your
husband and King, he must be introduced plus he
is very stubborn, you must remain strong with
your decision, no matter how much love you feel
for him.”
I looked confused but responded “I will be strong I
know he will try to get out of it. He can be King
and not have any real power, is that correct,
Father?”
Father jested “Thomas, King with no power,
impossible and not likely.”
“Well if he likes his freedom, it is what he must
agree upon.” I responded.
Father agreed so the decision was made, now to
let Thomas know. I awaited him in the garden but
he did not return promptly, this worried me.
As I was speaking with Father, Thomas decided to
take a ride to Willshire; he needed to prove to
himself the man he saw was not David. As he
arrived at the cottage, no one was there. He
looked through the windows and through the
surroundings. In the distance he created an area
where can sit inconspicuously and watch. The sun
began to go down and no one had returned to the
cottage so he decided to head towards Landford.
“Maybe it was my imagination” He thought to
himself. “But it was so real” he whispered to
himself. As he rode back through unknown
passages, he saw Schillingburg Soldiers. He rode
quickly to avoid them but they saw him and
returned to Schillingburg to alert King Erich.
“Your Highness, we have word for you.” The 1st
Soldier said.
King Erich disturbed snarled “About what?”
“Prince Thomas of Landford, he is free, we saw
him” answered the 2nd
Soldier.
King Erich got up from his throne and motioned to
the soldiers to approach him.
“Where? Where was he?” King Erich asked.
“He rode on the outer passages and he now wears
the King’s Cloak” 1st Soldier replied.
“King’s Cloak? Kings Cloak from where?” He
sneered.
“Landford, my King” 2nd
Soldier responded.
“IMPOSSIBLE!!! Willshire returned him to
Landford? WHAT IDIOTS!!! Where is William? Get
me William!!! He yelled.
William quickly entered the room.
“My King, you called?” he said nervously.
“YES I called. What is this I hear that Thomas is in
Landford and wearing the King’s cloak?” he asked.
“I have no idea Your Highness” William answered.
“THEN GO FIND OUT!!!” King Erich shouted.
Upon arriving at the Castle I confronted Thomas at
the stables. “Where were you?” I snapped.
“I was riding, why? Must I ask permission from the
Queen to go riding?” He answered.
“Did you leave Landford? Are you mad?” I
hollered.
“Just for a bit, I have returned well, what is the
problem?” He argued.
“The problem is that you are a prisoner Thomas,
you cannot be doing as you please, it can get you
killed.” I suggested.
“Killed? Not likely.” He laughed.
“For once Thomas, you need to take things
seriously, your imprisonment is not a laughing
matter. I spoke with Father and we have agreed
upon you being confined to the Castle and its
grounds only” I continued.
“WHAT? I am not a child” he replied angrily.
“Yes and as your title of King, it will remain but
you have no power.” I added.
“Is this a joke, a King without power?” He replied
with a laugh.
“Take it or leave it Thomas, I am done trying to
make you comfortable and you with no respect,
not even for yourself, be trotting around like you
are a free man.” I concluded.
“Wait and what is my other option?” Thomas
asked.
“The dungeon” I said as I walked away. “Oh and
make your decision hastily” I added from a
distance.
As I entered the Castle I came across Father who
overheard the conversation.
He smiled and said “Well done.”
I smiled and went to my room for a bath, maybe it
could relax my tension especially after the moment
I just had.
Shyanne as always had everything prepared for
me.
“My lady, your warm bath water awaits you.” She
said.
I smiled as I began to remove my clothing.
“I cannot wait.” I replied excitedly.
“Yes, Your Highness, I added lavender and other
oils, it is perfect.” Shyanne added.
I walked across the room and climb into the basin.
The water was so warm and inviting.
Suddenly the door flies open and Thomas stood in
the doorway.
“Excuse us Shyanne, I must have a word with the
Queen.” He said loudly.
Shyanne quickly left the room and closed the door
behind her.
I had nowhere to run so I remained covered by the
water.
“What is it Thomas? Can you not see I am
occupied?” I said annoyed.
“It is a perfect time because you cannot run and
hide, as usual” He implied.
I watched as he stormed across the room.
“Have you gone mad, you are just as unreasonable
as Father. A King without power is a joke an
unflattering spectacle. I will be the laughing stock”
he protested.
“And what would you like me to do, Thomas?” I
answered.
“I am fine with being jail at the Castle and its
grounds but not a King without power” he
interjected.
“Give me some time to think and see what I can
come up with, yes?” I responded.
He looked at me serious and walked away.
Thomas did not return to our room that night. He
remained in his old quarters or so I thought.
As I slept, Thomas again made his way to
Willshire. This time he uncovered my secret. It was
not an illusion. It was David, in the flesh.
“But how could this be? I saw him die.” He asked
himself.
As he rode home, he could not help but think
Amelia knew about this. “She did react strangely
when I mentioned David and she is rather witty”
He said to himself.
At the same time Greyson and William were
meeting. William asked Greyson about Thomas
and Greyson told him what he knew but nothing to
incriminate anyone.
He advised Greyson that Thomas was seen around
Schillingburg Castle and if he is seen there again
they will be force to kill him.
Greyson agreed and went on his way.
William returned to Schillingburg with the news.
King Erich could not believe what he had just
heard.
“So Thomas is King” He said confused.
“How is that possible?” He added.
“I cannot believe Willshire did not execute him for
killing their King.” He continued.
“IT IS UNACCEPTABLE!” He yelled.
“I am sure when King Paul finds out about Thomas
he will think the same. Maybe I should take things
into my own hands and punish Thomas myself, you
know, a show of good faith for Willshire” He
contemplated.
“What will you do, My King?” asked William.
King Erich stared off and mumbled “Hmmm,
maybe it is time Thomas lost what is important to
him. What greater punishment is there than losing
Amelia?”
The next morning as I walked along the garden,
Greyson confronted me “My Queen, I spoke with
William of Schillingburg and he informed me
Thomas was there.”
I nodded my head
“I know, he told me he went to Willshire” I
answered.
“He is going to get himself killed” Greyson
affirmed.
“I know, I have told him but he is of strong will and
laughed. He does not care.” I responded.
“It will end soon enough. I am confining him to the
Castle as his punishment. He will not be allowed to
leave.” I added.
“Do you think he will obey?” Greyson asked.
“I am hoping so, for his sake, he really does not
have a choice.” I concluded.
As I returned to my room, Thomas stood there
with flowers in hand.
Smiling he sai