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Queen of Kings, Part 3 - A showdown in the gardens.
(Please read the earlier chapters if you haven't read them so far or you won't understand this part)
The letter continues:
(Please read the earlier chapters if you haven't read them so far or you won't understand this part)
The letter continues: For some years after that horrid day in the slums I pondered what to do about my problem of having such an unsuitable heir, I searched my mind for answers, looked for ideas, but I found none.
One day I looked in the mirror and I finally admitted it to myself that my youthful good looks were fading. My eyesight wasn’t as sharp as it once had been and I had developed quite a gut. It could only mean one thing – time was moving, and as we know, it waits for no man.
As the days crept by Grantley’s time to reign edged ever closer. The need to act was becoming more and more urgent.
I went for a walk in the gardens to think things over. By now I was the Father of two teenagers, I was a widower who was trying my best to raise you two the best way I could. With Grantley however, I could never win. I had no idea where I had gone wrong.
I loved my boy and I had great hopes for his future, as his Father I always wanted the best for him even though we often didn’t see eye to eye, but those hopes never included him being the next King. While passing by I noticed in Grantley on the lawn. This was nothing new of course, his friends and he often occupied the gardens on pleasant Sunday afternoons.
I was about to walk on when I overheard a conversation that stopped me in my tracks. “What’s the first thing you’re gonna do when your King, Grantley lad?” his friend young Bernard Roth asked.
“Go into battle of course” he replied with no hesitation and without even looking up from the chess board.
Another of his friends who was sat on the bench behind him wondered whether to speak up. “Prince Grantley?" he studdered, finding the courage. "With whom?....There is no war”.
"Really?" he sighed and rolled his eyes, "do I have to spell everything out to you?...I will pick my battle with anyone, with any country I choose” he answered, “I will begin my reign with a display of strength, I will teach the world from the beginning that I am not a King to be messed with!”
What a fool!
I was livid!
I emerged from behind the trellis' and I yelled at the top of my lungs! “That is NOT what it means to be a King! How dare you? You think you're a man but you are but a silly little boy! What have you got to say for yourself?!”
“Prove your might by doing good!” I shrieked, “...if you know how!” He continued to look at his chessboard as though I wasn't there. His friends shot to their feet and greeted me then proceeded to watch on awkwardly.
"Answer me, Grantley!" I demanded. "For crying out loud, Father! I am trying to plan my next move here, can't you see? I don't interupt you when you are playing chess!" Your brother fled in a rage and I did likewise, we were unable to look at eachother. Our relationship had always been strained but now it was reaching breaking point.
It was my duty as King to stand up for what was morally right in my eyes, it was also my duty as a Father to embarrass my children, and just then I succeeded in doing both of those things. By that stage a certain young Lord Morris Heartfield was on the scene, you were born the same year and had been friends all your life but lately you had become inseparable. Wherever you were, he was there too - in the music room, in the gardens, on the balcony, you were never far from each other. Despite that I wasn't too thrilled about you having a boyfriend- what Father would be?- I liked him, he was a decent young fellow from a decent family and he made you happy. And as long as you were happy then so was I.
Of course Grantley felt differently about him. As you two were sat in the lawn chatting he sped past, still reeling from the showdown in the gardens.
"Crikey, Grantley. The gardener spent days planting all those flowers and you just stomp all over them, come on, have a little respect!" you said as he raged through the flowerbeds.
"Respect? He doesn't know the meaning of the word" Morris muttered under his breath. Grantley turned on his heel. "I'm sorry, Morris, did you say something just now? Say it a little louder, if you have the guts. Go on! Don't be scared!" "Scared of you? Don't make me laugh!" Morris shouted as he jumped to his feet. "You know what Morris? You're really beginning to get on my nerves, and believe you me that's not something you want to do!" he hissed.
"Really? Why's that?" Morris challenged him.
"Oh. Let's see. Maybe it's cause I am your future K..." he started.
"You're my future King!" Morris interupted, "yes, I know. Everyone knows. You say it often enough. Well, do you know what else I know? I know that I speak not only for myself but on behalf of this whole realm when I say we don't want you as our next King. You're a callous bully, you're truly formiddable! THAT'S what I know!" By a timely coincidence, just then, the skies suddenly darkened to match the mood in the gardens.
Like Grantley, it was as if they were preparing to unleash their wrath. An atmosphere of great solemnity surrounded the grounds. He had never been spoken to like that in his life but now the time had come, and of course, he didn't like it. "Now you listen to me carefully" Grantley whispered as he pressed his forehead threateningly against Morris's, "I have never liked you! I don’t care if my sister thinks you are the love of her life, what tripe, as soon as I become King I am having you exiled to the farthest reaches of nowhere so I have never have to see your face again! You have just made a very grave mistake” Will the Princess lose the love of the life at the hands of her bitter brother?
Read on to find out
:)
Next chapter coming soon. Thank you for reading.
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6 Comment(s) posted so far
#1 On Jul 24, 2012 pancakewafflewarrior wrote:
aahh! I love this!
#2 On Jul 24, 2012 taj39759 wrote:
more please!
#3 On Jul 24, 2012 blackswan057 wrote:
This story is all and more than I hoped for from the first chapter. This would make a good book. I love to read and this would be a definite book that would keep me up reading all night. I love this and will look each day for more. I hope it does not conclude too soon. Thank you so much!!!
#4 On Jul 24, 2012 BrittNicole3 wrote:
i seriously love this story! lol
#5 On Jul 25, 2012 Lady Arielle wrote:
Love the story! couldn't find chapter one, but was able to read chapters 2 & 3...... hmm hope she can keep the throne from her brother, who sounds like a despot.....
can't wait for the rest....
#6 On Jul 25, 2012 TheRedCortina wrote:
Excellent once more! You have a fantastic way of narrating, really very good