Snapshots of SoMo (Short Stories)

9. The Princess and the Stableboy (Part Two)

It's been a couple of weeks since Isolde (Lily James) and Tristan (SoMo) had their rendezvous in the barn.

Early May

10:30am

Princess Isolde was praying during midmorning prayer at chapel when she started feeling funny. She was well rested, but now she started to feel dizzy. She shook it off and kept focus on the sermon from the pastor. The sacrament of communion had started, and she quickly got up out of the pew to receive the host when she suddenly swayed. Lady Miriam caught her before she stumbled, and the pair went and got the host rather quickly. They sat back down in the pew and Lady Miriam whispered, "Are you alright your highness?" "Yes, I'm fine. Just daydreaming about him." "Hm." They continued the rest of the mass without incident. It's only been three weeks since my encounter with Tristan. I wonder if my monthly course will start soon since it hasn't started yet?

After mass was over Isolde and Miriam quickly got into the carriage so as not to arouse suspicion. The door was shut when Isolde curled over with a grimace from cramping, holding onto the door to keep upright. "Princess what's wrong?" "Miriam my course is here! Thank goodness the ride home is short." "My dear we'll freshen up when you get back to your chambers." "Whatever Miriam, I just want to go lie down." "Isolde you might have a bigger problem if you're not careful." "What other problem could I have? I'm being forced into a loveless marriage for the greater good of the kingdom. The man I love hasn't spoken to me since April." "My lady that's because he knows you're promised to another man. He doesn't want to make things difficult for you." "If he cared he would make an effort to communicate with me." They stopped talking as the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the castle. The women got out and quickly went to her chambers to change into their formal day dresses. I hope I can see him today if possible.

11:45am

They were taking a walk in the gardens when she saw Tristan across the way trimming some hedges. "Miriam you can take a rest break. I'll be right back." Miriam sat on the bench near the water fountain and watched the young lady walk toward her beloved. Isolde smiled and started walking towards him but was stopped halfway by Prince Aaron and pulled into a thicket of bushes. "My dear it's so good to see you." Aaron's voice made her sick to her stomach. "Ugh, get away from me. I have nothing to say to you, my lord." "Your highness we have much to discuss with our wedding coming up soon." "I will never marry you!" He became angry and grabbed her forearm and pulled her closer to him. "Listen you little witch, it's high time you learn some manners, otherwise I'll have to teach you a lesson!" "Aaron let go of me, now! You don't own me!" She bit his hand and stepped on his foot causing him to release her. He growled in pain and slapped her, causing her to stumble to the ground. Isolde started cramping again and held her abdomen absentmindedly while trying to get her bearings. Aaron saw the gesture and was furious but kept it in check. "You will be my wife if I have to drag you to the altar myself! Now do me a favor and go freshen up for lunch, you look like hell." He left in huff wanting to cool off before meeting her parents.

Tristan heard a woman crying softly and came into the thicket and saw Isolde on the ground. What the fuck is going on? "Isolde? What's happened to you?" He helped her up and she held him close relaxing in his warm embrace. "If that bastard harmed you, I'll kill him myself, damn the consequences." She started to speak when the lunch bell chimed in the nearby courtyard. "I must go now Tristan, but I'll send a message to you." He gave her a nod and she walked away not wanting to keep her parents waiting.

12:30pm Semiformal dining room

Isolde's parents, Prince Aaron, and herself were halfway through their second course of lunch when Isolde froze. She tasted the duck fat drippings on her vegetables and paused unsure of what to do. Her father had asked her a question, but she didn't answer as she felt a wave of nausea hit her like a ton of bricks. "Isolde did you hear what I just said? Isolde!" She got up and ran out of the room and threw up in the servants' washroom nearby the kitchen. Lady Miriam went to wash her hands when she saw the princess hunched over a chamber pot. "Princess, you must rest and be examined by a doctor. This is getting out of hand!" "Oh, hush and help me to my room Miriam!" They left and went up the back staircase to her chambers to remove the smell of vomit and food from her gown.

Meanwhile back in the dining room Isolde parents were confused as to why she ran off. The queen spoke and said, "Since she's sick we will have to delay the wedding for a few weeks until she's recovered." Prince Aaron chuckled rather smug, as the king looked at him with disdain. "I don't see what's so funny about this in the slightest." "Your majesty, Princess Isolde isn't sick, she's with child." The queen gasped and dropped her silverware in shock. The King laughed but stopped suddenly becoming angry. "You imbecile! Have you ruined my daughter before the marriage contract has been signed?!" "Dearest we need to have her examined to make sure this isn't a hoax. I'll go fetch the doctor." The queen left the room and summoned her pageboy to message the doctor to visit as soon as possible.

"Aaron where's the proof of the consummation? I want it now!" "Your majesty, I don't have proof of consummation because I never touched Isolde. Somebody else got to her first." "Who could it be?" "Your stable hand Tristan was rather friendly with your daughter earlier in the garden earlier today. Why don't you ask him." "Indeed, I shall ask him. You'll come with me for the questioning so we can end this matter at once." The King summoned his guards to bring Tristan to his study.

2pm

The doctor came swiftly and examined her and assumed she was sick with the flu. He told her to stay in bed and rest, drink plenty of fluids and have a healthy diet, no strenuous activities. Isolde didn't believe him and left her room to go read in the library to clear her head after he left. Just as she sat down with the book one of the pageboys summoned her to her father's study. He's probably going to scold me for running out at lunch!

She entered the study and was confused as to why Tristan, Prince Aaron and the doctor were there with her father. "Father what's going on?" "My dear whatever game you're playing has landed you in hot water." "Father what are you talking about?" The doctor leaned down and whispered to the king and then went and sat down in the corner. "You've had premarital sex and now are pregnant, about three weeks along. I want answers!" She paled getting ready to faint when Tristan came over and helped her to a chair near her father. After she was settled, Tristan reached into his pants pocket and handed the king a small pouch. "Father please don't kill Tristan I can't live without him. We fell in love, and it was my choice." The king said nothing and opened the pouch and stilled. Inside the pouch was an old sheet fragment that had the evidence he was looking for. "Thank you young man for being honest with me."

Prince Aaron sneered, "This is bullshit. You can't be considering your daughter to have a bastard child with a farmhand!" Tristan spoke up with confidence, "Your majesty, Prince Aaron was planning on using Princess Isolde's dowry to pay off his gambling debts and has plans to raise taxes for the laborers and common folk in court. You can ask the local barkeep about it at the tavern in town. He also keeps track of the gambling debts in a separate ledger. He also manhandled the princess earlier in the garden today." "Boy you don't know what you're talking about! I can have you hung for this!" "Prince Aaron your marriage contract to my daughter is revoked and you're no longer welcome in my realm. Tristan has spoken more truthfully in the last few minutes, then you have in the past year. He's taken the best care of my horses in the past few years, and knows the community of which my daughter is to one day rule over. If you so much as set foot on my shores, I'll have you drawn and quartered. Guards get him out of my sight!"

Aaron was escorted out by the guards and the doctor followed out soon after. "Now Tristan do you love my daughter, and plan to protect her and the heir to throne to the best of your ability?" "Yes, your majesty." "Well good, that's settled. Since we already have the church booked, we'll have you both marry, and I'll have the marriage license signed after the ceremony." Tristan gave Isolde a hug and politely kissed her cheek. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking with the king about future political plans after the wedding. I can't believe I get to spend the rest of my days with the man of my dreams!

The end.