Forbidden Love (Rewritten) | Arthur Pendragon

25 • THE WELL OF WYRD

When the news that the daughter of Queen Elvira and King Arno had survived the Great Purge and returned to Usad had spread like wildfire, a shift occurred in both East and West Usad. The Resistance in the Kingdom of Cenred was growing stronger and more opposed to their King, and those who could, all moved to East Usad. This caused pressure on the economy of East Usad. Having more people to take care of meant that the harvest would grow weaker, and ensuring the well-being of all was rendered more difficult. Especially when the situation was already tricky to handle. But the Crown Princess of Usad, Eowyn Elford, let down no subject. With the help of the High Council, they organized a survey, called the Heimdall survey, to assess the state of the harvest and economic situation in the entire kingdom. This had taken several months to perform but it had allowed Eowyn to adapt the expenses and taxes to the growing population.

Not all were truly convinced by the return of the princess, even within the people of Usad, and within the court. Her apparition had been so sudden some believed it to be a joke or simply had not given her their trust. After all, the princess had not grown up in the kingdom, and the fact she had never been seen outside the castle for the past year was not helping her cause. But she had earned the trust of the High Council and of the warriors. It was enough to enable her to rule without worrying about a coup.

The other worrisome troubles were the confrontations within the West Usad. A resistance against Cenred had seen the light, but a nemesis as well. Some wished to remain part of Cenred, perhaps out of convenience or out of fear of repression, but they opposed the resistance. Fights even escalated between the unionists and those wishing to remain citizens of Cenred. However, the true menace came from both Cenred and Uther. Neither of the two had seen with a good eye the return of the princess. Uther viewed it as the dawn of a rebellion while Cenred had to deal with the rising resistance in his kingdom caused by this single princess. The two kings were losing the hold they had on Usad and fear was growing which could lead the a more armed conflict. This was the very reason why the High Council had advised Eowyn not to leave Himmelsk Vind, so no mercenaries would attempt to end her life. And also, to protect her identity from Uther the longest.

"What is the situation in West Usad?" Eowyn asked.

She and the High Council were gathered in the council room. Sitting at the end of the table, Eowyn, dressed in a beautiful blue gown made of several layers of the same thin fabric, resting on her body so fluidly it resembled waves or the breeze, was presiding over the meeting. Her beauty was slightly flawed by the grave look on her face as she skimmed on the multiple parchments laid before her.

Sitting on her right, her Royal Knight, Ulric, spoke. "The spies we have scent are reported to us that no fight has broken. The resistance has laid low as you have ordered. But Cenred has sent knights at the border with West Usad as law enforcement. We fear he might close the border,"

For the past year, Eowyn had changed and issued several things in Usad, which is the very reason Uther was strongly against her return. Of course, the changes had been brought gradually. It had started with the creation of the Knights of the Crown. It was a small unit made of the mightiest, most fearless, bravest, and most trustworthy warriors of the kingdom. These ten warriors, knights or valkyrie, had been dispatched around East Usad and given land to supervise. They acted in the name of the princess and as such, represented her and her voice whenever they would be. They were also given a battalion to protect the people in the region they were given. This also allowed the surveillance of the conflict with Cenred, as well as dissuaded any mercenaries from attacking the smaller villagers. But most of all, if the border with West Usad was ever breached, having a battalion present in the region would slow down the advancement of the enemy as well as give time to the royal city to be made aware and prepare for war.