Politics - Chapter Eight

Jon sat back with his feet on the table watching the 10 men he had taken with him to set up Bronwen and Seth. He had already ordered them 10 rounds when his prisoner leaned over and asked. "Why am I a prisoner milord."

"I have to make those 10 men think that you are my prisoner because they do not know of the plan." Jon said with a chuckle as the druid stood up straight again. He ordered his men one more drink. Then he stood and grabbed the druid roughly. "I am going to go tie this cur up." His men cheered as Jon drug the druid out the door. In the alley he smiled at the guardsman. "You did a wonderful job. Now I will pay you your full worth."

"Thank you milord." The man said excitedly.

Jon reached into his surcoat and before the druid could see the dagger, his throat was slit and he fell down onto the ground. Jon reached down and wiped of his dagger and put it back under his surcoat. He picked up the body and tossed him into privy pit. When he walked back into the bar he waited for the men to drink a couple more rounds and then he stood. "Come on men lets go."

"Um, we are all bit wee drunk milord to ride." One of them said with a slurred voice.

"All right," Jon said with a smile. The men had started to join into conversations and tell the visiting locals about the princess denying Jon's proposal to help her. Even repeating her comment of preferring to be a whore rather then wed to one of noble blood.

Jon gathered what men COULD ride and left the inn very satisfied. He pulled himself up onto his horse and headed home. His thoughts were well occupied on the way home. He took a long route in case the King decided to send a token effort to recover his fleeing sister. He would send his men into the local brothels of Alban so the tale was truly told. He figured with in a fortnight, all the kingdom would know that a princess of the royal house had chosen harlotry over the hand of one of the kingdom's most eligible men. Soon, he would have exactly what he wanted.

"Now, you see I'm known for two things: my total lack of manners and my brutality with spies." Renny's mother told the bleeding man tied to her tent's pole. She slowly rounded the pole, playing with a little silver knife. "A spy--such as yourself--rarely lives." she gave a short bark of laughter.

The sound grated on the man's half-sawed off ears. He was feeling nothing at that moment. He vaguely saw the blood staining ever part of his outfit--such as it was--heard the sound of blood rushing, but felt nothing.

"But I'm in a rather happy mood, so I thought to myself 'Self, why not let him live if he listens to your story.' Then I remembered my rep and said instead 'Why not tell him the story and then kill him?'" the Captain went on, oblivious to the man's shallow breathing.

"Here's my story...

The Captain's Horrid Love Affair as told by the Captain

A long time ago, well okay about eighteen years ago, I lived in a small village. I was the village tart, but held some respect for my policy of not taking already married men to bed with me. Then HE came along. Looking all dashing and vulgar in his too tight pants and open necked tunic. He had all the girls swaying.

Then he came to me, late one night. I did my service by him, got paid nicely, but didn't expect much more then that. He was--is--noble blooded. Then he started paying court to me. In front of everyone! There was even talk of marriage to me...I was on cloud nine. To think I could rise to THAT station...

Then I started feeling sick in the morning and having odd cravings. The village midwife--more like a damn witch--screamed at the top of her lungs 'SHE'S WITH CHILD!' right in the middle of the square. If I wasn't for the fact I was doubled over vomiting, I would have attacked her.

That night, when HE came to my hut, he was so overjoyed. I had no idea why--it was scandal after all--but he was, so I was. He stayed with me until the babe was born--being a girl no less--and then , about two moons after she was born, he disappeared with her.

No body knew what happened to them, but because of that I was thrown into exile. I was no longer respected. For five years I searched for them, for nothing. So at the end of five years I started to really think hard. I began saving men from death and helping others escape prison. I nursed alot of these men back from health with my own two hands. All I asked for in return was their loyalty.

"And I've gotten that." the Captain finished, squating down beside the man. "And you know what happened to my daughter? I found her, four years ago. But then, you knew that didn't you? Her dear father sent you didn't he?"

"Four...searchin'...Renn..." the man gasped, his body convulsing once before becoming stiff.

"As I thought." the Captain said, shaking her head. Lifting him bodily she tossed him out of her tent. "Get rid of him! And prepare to move out!" she ordered, the men hurrying to listen. "send me Sparrow." she told the nearest guy.

"He tisn't 'ere Captain." the man said uncomfortably.

"Where is he?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"Bear went after 'im. Thought he might be seein' Renny." with that the man hastened away.

Grinding her teeth, the Captain stalked back into her tent, tossing things into her rucksack without thought. "Something must be done." she muttered. "Soon."

Rowena had kept to her rooms ever since Sir Gwynne had brought her back from sneaking into the city. She did go to check her nursery once a day, but other then that, she could hardly be coaxed from her room to eat.

Iorwerth walked into the room quietly, he didn't want to wake his daughter if she was asleep. But he could see her sitting by the window. "Hello Little Princess." He said as he sat down next to her. "How are you feeling, my little one?" He had been angry when she had run away again, but when she had been so ill, Iorwerth just couldn't be angry with her.

Rowena turned and crawled into his lap. She clung to him, silent and trembling. Her little body seemed so much smaller then those of her age. Her long hair was loose at the moment and looked to weigh more then she did.

Iorwerth held her close. "It is alright little one." but he wanted some answers now, so he said gently. "You have run away before, and you never came back scared. What happened?"

"You won't believe me." she whispered against his neck.

"Why wouldn't I believe you? Little one? I am your father, and I love you. And I know that you do not lie. So trust your old father." He said holding her close.

"I see things. Not with my eyes, things that could happen." She whispered. "Sometimes when I touch something or someone, it just happens."

"I am not surprised. Maybe I should have told you sooner." Iorwerth said. "Neither your mother or I have this gift, but it runs in both our families. And it seems that you have inherited it. are you very scared, little one?" He asked softly.

She nodded vigorously. "Some things I see aren't always good things."

"I know, little one. And you don't know what to do with it. It is a good thing that your brother agreed that you are to be taught by the druids. They can help you understand yourself. Until that time your mother and I are going to protect you. Would you like to sleep with us for now? But you must promise me not to run away any more."

"I can't leave the castle. Hawk is not here." Rowena whispered. Her voice held fierce conviction. "Bad things will happen to a lot of people if I leave the castle."

"Do you know what?" Iorwerth hesitated. "Have you seen anything about Hawk?"

She shook her head no. She had not seen anything bad happen to Hawk. "Papa, when another had this .. gift. Were they wrong? I mean, did they sometimes see things that didn't happen?" Her voice held a sound of worry one so young should not have.

"I am not sure, lass. My mother told me that her mother had the gift, but she died before I was born. Your mother probably knows more about it, the gift is more common in her family. But my mother did tell me, that sometimes a telling could be changed. I don't know which form of the gift you have, we will have to find out. Can you tell me what you have seen, Little one?" Her father asked gently.

"Someone is looking for me, she is not a nice person. If she finds me, bad things will happen. But, I think I already met her." Rowena did not want to get the Lady Morgan in trouble and then be wrong.

"Can you tell me more about her." Iorwerth asked. "That is very important if we are to protect you."

Rowena reached inside her dress and pulled out the medallion. She pulled it off and give it to her Papa. It was pure gold, embossed onto the medallion was a black raven. "I think she is the Raven but I am not sure."

"Where did you get this?" He asked softly, not wanting to alarm her more.

"I took it from the lady." Rowena answered. "I know I shouldn't have gone to her rooms, but I wanted to find something I could touch,. I don't like her and I wanted to know why. Now I wish I didn't know." She whispered.

"Who is this lady, Rowena?" Her father asked. He wanted nothing more then to arrest her, and get the truth out of this woman.

"Her name is Morgan." Rowena whispered. "She is a bad person, papa, a very bad person."

Iorwerth heard about the woman. He had not met her himself. But that would change soon enough, with his son gone, he held authority in the capital. "Don't worry, little one. Soon she will not be able to threaten you any more. Do you want to go with me and be with your mother?"

She nodded her head yes. She didn't want to be alone if he was going to leave the castle. "Papa, if she hasn't done anything wrong yet, can you still stop her? Just because I say so?"

"Yes, I can and I will." He said clearly. Then he took his daughter in his arms, and Carried her to her mother.

Before Alterian could even open the discussion with a cordial greeting, he was interupted. "I am resigning my post as the Knight of Emerald," Amlyn said bluntly.

Alterian looked at the knight in stunned disbeleif. "You are resigning? One does not just decide not to be a knight? You should wait and speak with the King?"

"There is nothing to discuss. I don't believe it is in anyone's interest that I claim to be one of Abertawe's knight's any longer. I... would have preferred to speak to the King, but it seems the palace is rather empty at the moment." Amlyn's face was a pale, featureless slab of slate.

"Surely if something has happened to make you feel that the King is not worthy of your service, we can discuss this?" It was clear that Alterian had never dealt with such a situation. No one had ever resigned a position of knighthood before.

Amlyn thought carefully about what to say. It seemed that no matter how he would put things, it would appear that he was abandoning his vows to Hawk and turning his back on the throne. But he felt torn into pieces: he kept making promises and swearing oaths, and finding others only too willing to have him compromise them. Apart from his loyalty to Hawk, he had made a pledge to the Raven to return her children and keep her identity a secret, and then agreed to the worst of deals with Nwython in order to achieve it. Hence, he wanted to cut himself away from Hawk with at least dishonour as possible, and consolidate his efforts into solving his present troubles without tarnishing anyone else. If Nia had been there, she would have recognised his thinking in an instant: he was running away on his own again.

So he spoke the words he had been hearing around the court. The rumours and the gossip that were frighteningly persistent. His emotions told him that Hawk was a good man, compassionate and always willing to do what was right. His head told him that he was not yet a man who could claim to be a King. He had the urge to do this straight away, like an arrow wound that he knew had to be dug out with great pain now, to avoid even greater pain later. That Hawk was not here made things even worse.

"The King is at risk," he began. "His overwhelming benevolence may make him seem warm and caring, but for many it portrays him as weak and unwilling to make the distasteful decisions a King is ultimately responsible for making. His actions with the princess have only reinforced this view. While the peasants may love him greatly, it is the nobles who wield the power. Unless Hawk can show a firm hand with those closest to him, then it will only be a matter of time until he is replaced or the burden of leadership becomes too great for him. But that is not the reason why I have to leave. The simple answer is I do not wish to become another problem for him to address later."

"And you think you will become.. a problem?" Alterian asked, eyes narrowing.

"If I am still holding the Crest of Emerald... perhaps." While he wasn't completely certain, he did not think the people of Nethbo would take too kindly to him holding such a title so soon after their conflict.

Alterian walked around his desk. "Then you may leave your emblem and crested items here with me. I wish you prosperity in your future." His tone showed he clearly disapproved.

Without a word Amlyn placed the items Alterian requested on the table. He had barely worn them during his time there anyhow. "One last thing," he said. "The outlander Pwyll performed more than admirably during the expedition to Ailinne to look into the Sect. I'm sure you've already heard about what happened, but I just wanted to make sure that his efforts won't go unrecognised."

"I will be sure the King is aware. May I ask why you are not with him?"

Amlyn looked confused. "Do you mean right now? I believe he would be at the Swan, attending to his business."

"He has not returned last I checked." Alterian answered. "But since you left together, I thought you might know what had happened to him."

"I plan to see him shortly anyhow, but we were seperated before reaching Ailinne. He went ahead with the majority of soldiers and from what I have been told they found the location of a Sect encampment and released quite a few civilians. They returned only recently, so he may be recovering from the journey."

"I see." Alterian nodded. "Well, good fortune to you Sir." It was clear that Amlyn had earned the man's displeasure and was dismissed.

**********

On his way out the door, Amlyn almost walked into a pair of guards escorting a small girl. He stepped back against the door and allowed them room to pass. His head was stuffed full of plans and outcomes that played out in a chaotic mess in his mind.

The little girl stopped and looked at him. Her eyes puzzled. She took a step back and frowned. It was as if she were looking through him.

Amlyn noticed the little girl's expression. He thought that because she did not recognise him, she was concerned. He had not met any of Hawk's children before this, but the guards indicated to him that she must be of some importance. Perhaps he hadn't bowed? He did so.

"Good Evening, Sir." She said politely. "I hope that your travels go well."

"Well enough," he lied. "My name is Amlyn. And you would be?"

"I am Princess Rowena ui Iorwerth." She said, her little chin coming up proudly. She was watching him very intently.

"Your highness," replied Amlyn, using the correct protocol. "My apologies. I came to see your father, but he is not here."

Rowena nodded. She knew that. There was something about this knight. He had no hand while half of his forearm was missing, and she thought that curious but there was something else. She moved forward slowly. The guards watched but were not concerned as Amlyn was well known. She stood but a foot away from him and then reached out and touched his good hand. Her eyes became very sad.

Amlyn smiled grimly. "It matters little to me anymore princess," he lied again, assuming that she felt sorry for him and his arm. The last thing he really wanted was for people to start feeling sorry for him, but with children they were too naive to get angry with.

"That is not true." She answered quietly. "You walk in darkness and you hate it."

Amlyn's smile faded, and he slowly lowered himself onto his haunches to look at the little girl at eye level. His conversation only moments before with Alterian came to mind, particularly with regards to his views on the King. His sword, his old companion of many years, clattered gently off the floor as he briefly adjusted his feet, it's deep, red eye absorbing the light from the corridor. "Princess... sometimes, people are burdened with responsibilities that they neither like nor wish to carry out. Sometimes they involve doing unpleasant things or having to make important sacrifices. But if fate decides to deal you such a hand, then it's important that you follow through with it and hope that in the end, everything works out generally for the best." For some reason, he thought of Eruic while he talked to the little girl.

"Sometimes people refuse to let go of responsibilities better carried by another." Her words did not fit her small childlike frame. "If you deal with darkness, there is little chance of finding light."

Puzzled, Amlyn tilted his head slightly at her. He did not want to start a theological argument with a young girl. "What do you suggest I do then, your highness?"

She smiled again, her smile once more childlike. "I am only eight. I cannot tell you what to do."

He nodded. "That is true. You are very wise for eight years, princess. Imagine what you will be like when you grow up. Perhaps then you might understand more about how terribly hard it becomes to pass on responsibilities to anyone else. Particularly when you become a queen." He stood up again and tried his best to smile.

"I will never be a queen." Rowena said with soft determination. "I have another path to follow. You should leave, for you are friend to the enemy. If my father were to know, he would be very angry."

Amlyn frowned, and resisted the urge again to discuss the child's strange words. "Take care, your highness," he said, bowing. "Mayhap we would meet once again, someday."

"We will." She answered with a smile. She turned and with her guard continued on.

Amlyn allowed the little girl to pass, and then he strode down the hall, and out into the courtyard, leaving the castle for what could be the last time.

Bronwen was tired and cold by the time they found the next village. It was late by the time that Seth found an inn and got them a room. She fell wordlessly asleep before he had even finished removing his boots. She was pale and her face had hollows in her cheeks. He was going to have to make her eat more if the baby was going to be healthy.

The couple slept peacefully until the cock crowed the next morning. The sun was coming up and the fire was out. The room was cold and damp. "Seth, where are we?"

"We're in the next vilage and I hear there is a chapel here where we can be married. Before that though, you will eat something. You're eating for two now my love. I went ahead and got you some of the best food I could find. I also found the best drinks in town. I hope you don't mind that I went ahead and got some breakfast?" He had tried very hard to please her, but it had seemed like her passion had fled her. He loved her more than life though and knew she still had that passion. It was the circumstances that brought her normally bright state down.

"I don't mind. I am hungry." She rose from the bed, pulling her skirt over her shift and moved to a table where food was laid out. She had never heard him rise from the bed so was surprised. She was also surprised that he had managed to get them a room alone. It was not uncommon for strangers to share bedspace in a crowded in. She began to nibble on the food. "What will we do once we are married?"

Seth smiled and said,"I thought we could goto my home. As I told you before I have made sure to buy the best I could there. Would you be alright with that?"

"Right now I would be happy with anything that meant no more horse." She teased. She was feeling better knowing she had put off Sanglet once and for all. That combined with food and rest was doing much to revive her spirits.

He said,"I can gaurntee you no horse and nothing but the very best I can do. The very softest bed I could find. only the best for the most beautiful woman in the world."

Bronwen smiled. "So, how do we go about finding the druid?" She asked. "One not corrupted by Sanglet's tricks and deceptions."

"Actrually it appears that there is no druid in this town. There is a priest of the One God. He is the next best thing and they are beginning to be recognized afterall. Is that alright with you?"

At least they would be married and she was fairly sure that it was recognizeable. Later, she might want a ceremony of the old gods, but right now, she just wanted to be able to say she was Seth's wife. To know she could hide behind that when Sanglet looked her way. To know that she was married to someone who wanted her for who she was and not what she could gain him. She nodded solemnly. "Aye, it will be fine."

Seth grinned and said,"Then as soon as we are done here we can go right over." His excitement was hard to contain.

She smiled. "I can eat anytime." She dusted her hands on a towel and dug out her comb. She began to unbraid its length and comb the knots out. "Do you think you can get a maid to bring water so we can wash the dust away?"

Seth nodded and said,"I'll be right back." He exited the room and found a maid to get the water. The water was brought in shortly after he came back.

Bronwen kept her hair down, tying it loosely with a ribbon and then unpacked the white gown once more and changed into it. She was careful to keep her shift on as she was still a little embarassed about being seen.

He tried not to stare, but still had a lot of trouble considering just how angelic she looked. He was looking at her face mostly and struggled not to drift downward when she was only in her shift.

Bronwen finally felt presentable and turned to see Seth staring at her. "Is something amiss?"

He grinned and said,"Nothing at all. You just look so angelic I can't take my eyes off of you. The only thing missing is your halo, you're so beautiful and wonderful."

Bronwen moved to him and took comfort in his arms. "You always know how to make me feel good.

"You do the same for me. We complete each other my love. I will go ahead of you and then you will follow shortly after or would you prefer to go at the same time?" He wanted to make sure which way she preferred.

"Why don't you go make sure that he will marry us. I will join you directly." She didn't want to be there if the priest turned them down.

He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly and said,"I will return very shortly my love. I promise." He left the room for her ot eat and drink for one last time if she wished to and he walked over to the chapel and entered in noting no one else was there. He walked up to the priest and said,"Hello, I was wondering if you could marry me and the love of my life. I know this is sudden, but we both love each other so much. Can you do it?" he had made sure to keep his voice down.

The priest looked to Seth and saw the desperation, but truht in his yees. he faced him and put his hands on his shoulders. He said,"You my boy must first give me both of your names and then I will marry you. I know you are being truthful my son."

Seth's face lit up and said,"My name is Seth McCullen and my future wife's name is Lady Bronwen ui Iowerth. Thank you very much for agreeing to this."

The priest smiled and said,"Go my son. Fetch your bride and tell her the good news. You are anxious about getting married aren't you? Go."

Seth nodded and ran to rheir room and entered with a bright smile. he said,"Come my love and Lady, we are to be wed!"

Bronwen gave a sigh of relief and held out her hand to his. He led her to the strange building that the priests of the One God called a chapel. She entered it looking around at the strange symbols with interest. "It is safe?" She whispered to Seth.

Seth nodded and said,"Of course it is. They are something cllose to pacifists I believe. Come, let us be wed my love. Put all fears of danger aside and trust." he had staired into her eyes as he said the last sentence. He now turned and walked down the aisle with her. The arrived and the priest directed them to face each other.

The priest began,"We are gathered together for the blessed union of Seth McCullen and Browen ui Iowerth. Under both man and woman's consent are they here for this union. Seth, repeat after me." he handed him a golden ring that had a diamon ontop. He knew this was extremely important to him and wnated it to be right. He instructed set hto put it on Bornwen. "Now say this,'with this ring I thee wed. With all my love and heart. through sickness and health, through riches and poorness, through lfie and death'" Seth did as instructed and staired into Bronwen's eyes the whole time.

Bronwen was handed a simple golden band and instructed to put it on Seth opposing hand and said,"Repeat after me. With this ring I thee wed, with all the love of my heart. through sickness and health, through riches and poor, through life and death.'"

Bronwen did as she was told and recited the words and slipped the ring on his hand. She didn't undertand the meanings of the rings. HOwever, the words had meaning for her and tears filled her eyes as she stared into Seth's.

Seth and Bronwen were made to face the priest once more and the priest went through a veyr long and lengthy prayer and said,"By the power invested in me by God himself I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your new bride Seth." seth's eyes had brimmed with tears of joy as he faced her once more and put his hands under her chin. He then moved in and kissed her deeply and passionately shunting all of his being into that one kiss.

Bronwen returned his kiss and then remembered the priest. She pushed away blushing.

Seth reddened a bit as well and the priest just smiled and said,"Go and be blessed. You are wed." Seth's excitement bubbled as he turned and offered his arm to bronwen and asked,"Shall we now go my lovely wife?"

"Aye!" She answered and dropped a curstey to the priest. She finally had a genuine heartfelt smile. She was not alone and pregnant. She was married and if her parents did not want her anymore, she would accept that. She knew her parents fairly well, she was sure they would come around after their anger cooled.

They walked out fo the chapel a brand new couple full of joy and glee and bound for their new home. Who knows, maybe her parents would be able to accept them afterall ,but for now their plans were to head for Seth's place.

Bronwen led him back into their rooms at the end. She pulled him over to the bed and then kissed him passionately. "Now you can make love with me as your wife." She whispered when the kiss broke.

Seth smiled and said,"Oh I';ve waited for this for so long." He kissed her deeply and began to remove his clothing to reveal his ever chiseled chest that he had worked very hard to make so muscular for her.

Bronwen had only let him touch her the one time in the cave. So this was like starting over. She was nervous and excited. She revelled in his body as he helped her undress. The two lovers collapsed on the bed in each other's arms. Bronwen broke her kiss and looked at him. "I love you." She whispered. She knew he had longed to hear those words from her.

"I love you too," he said emotion filled. He had truly longed for her touch and her words. he would be gnetle and he still felt so odd doing this. He wasn't exactly incredible practiced.

The two lovers lost track of time and their surroundings as they were finally able to express their love to the fullest and rightfully in the eyes of the Gods.