The Princess and The Captain

Part 5-The King

Emory and Aspen raced against time up the winding staircase leading to the royal corridor. Their footsteps echoed off the stone walls, and their shadows danced in the candlelight, illuminating their path. At the top of the stairs was a heavy wooden door that Emory opened for the princess quickly before slipping into the wide corridor.

Here, sunlight shone through stained glass windows. Beams of red, green, blue, and yellow made the hallway glow with color. Emory had never gotten used to the glass's breathtaking artistry; under normal circumstances, she would have taken a moment to study the images portrayed once again. Unfortunately, she had much more pressing matters to tend to at the moment.

Emory looked down the hallway. Behind each door breathed royalty of some kind, and they all were heavily guarded by two guards of Emory's own choosing. The only persons of royal blood who didn't stay in this particular wing were the King and Queen. They had their own wing on another side of the castle entirely. She straightened her back and began escorting the princess to her chambers as calmly and unsuspecting as possible. They passed Tenson and Amber, guarding Duke and Duchess Ellington. Emory gave a stiff nod, pleased to see they were at their posts on time. She continued walking with Aspen passed Ian and Henry, guarding some Lord from a nearby kingdom. You could barely see their tanned skin under their armor, but their piercing grey eyes were unmistakable. Emory rolled her eyes at their smug smiles.

The two brothers were her oldest friends – besides Aspen, she supposed. They grew up, trained, and lived together throughout Emory's teenage years. The boys had suspected that their captain had a little crush on the princess for some time now, but Emory would never give them the satisfaction of confirming. She let a scorching glare linger on them for another second or two before moving on. She passed four more pairs of guards that she knew by name and acknowledged with a nod.

They were halfway down the hall now, and Emory could see the Princess's door. It was more ornate than the others, with gems and intricate lines carved into it. Emory recalled the princess telling her long ago that she hated how glittery it was. That she wished she could give some of the jewels to her people - the very people that barely had enough for bread - instead of wasting the wealth in an oak door. The captain smiled at the memory and the idea of getting Aspen to her room without the king ever knowing about their late-night rendezvous.

Emory's smile dropped as the door to the Royal corridor swung open behind them. She felt Aspen tense beside her as they both turned around to face King Amari Whitlock IV. Both women were frozen in their tracks as the King stalked toward them with boiling anger in his irises. His dark skin glowed under the colors that streamed in the hallway. He was dressed in golden royal attire that indicated he had at least one important meeting that day. His crown shimmered with every step he took. The man's presence was so consuming that Emory almost didn't notice the queen, wearing her own golden garments and dainty bejeweled crown, as she glided behind him. She didn't look angry at all but rather exhausted from following her husband to this wing of the palace.

King Amari's voice bounced against the stone surrounding them as he spoke, "Aspen Whitlock, where have you been?"

"I was just-"

"I've had guards looking for you since dawn!" He fumed.

The King was close now. Close enough for Emory to step behind Aspen and bow her head in the presence of her King.

Quietly she acknowledged him and the queen, "My Lord. My Lady."

His eyes snapped to Emory, "Captain." He started, more calmly with Emory than with his daughter, "The guards said you were in the city for personal matters."

The King examined her, puzzled as to why she was there in the first place.

While Emory was grateful her troops covered for her, she felt uneasy lying to the King. Her lips failed her as she willed a convincing story to slip through them, "I..." She cleared her throat and opened her mouth again but was saved by the woman in front of her.