" Morgan", Anna whispers. A pain shoots through my chest. I quickly lean up and wince. " Are you okay honey?", Anna asks.
" No, but I'll be perfectly fine", I lie. I don't know if I'll ever be the same. " We have the ball today, and then home", Anna says with a smile.
" I don't know if I can dance honey", I say grasping my chest. " We don't have to honey, we can just sit in the big, boring room all day and night", Anna says sarcastically.
" Okay, I need my cane though", I inform Anna. " Thank you for this Morgan, I'll make it up to you", Anna promises. I kiss Anna passionately.
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I slip on my white gloves. Today I'm wearing a purple coat, shirt, pants and shoes. " Here you go Morgan", Anna says as she hands me my cane.
The cane has a gold dragon handle, It was my father's cane, he hardly ever used it though.
" You look great Anna", I say as we walk down the hall. Anna chose a black dress, with the straps hanging off her shoulders.
We walk into the huge ball room, at least 200 people dance and sit at tables. Trumpets blast, " All bow for King Morgan and Queen Anna of Wales", A guard yells.
We walk down the stairs as people bow and curtsy. We sit in our chairs. " Both of you look great", Wilhelm says. " I have some news on Harold, Pope Louis had issued an excommunication", Arthur informs me.
" Good, if I was giving orders I would have his head off", I say after adjusting my crown. " I know he tried to kill you, but ease down", Arthur says.
" He tried to murder me and tried to usurp the Duchy of Morganwgg. I despise him, we have a rivalry", I say firmly.
Trumpets blast again, " All bow for Harold, Duke of Gloucester", A guard yells. Harold smirks as he walks towards me, he stops in front of me.
Harold's cold breathe blows onto my face. For the first time in a long time, I've felt real fear. " Greetings Your Royal Majesty", Harold says with an emotionless face.
I stick out my hands, Harold bows and kisses it. " I know what you did", Harold whispers in my ear. " I can do worse", I whisper back.
I kiss Harold's cheek and shake his hand. " We need to talk outside", I say as I stand up and grab Harold's arm. I drag Harold up the stairs and down the hall. " Wait are you doing Morgan?", Harold asks. We walk outside.
" You ruined my life Morgan. I now have all three of my brothers threatening to overthrow me", Harold yells. " And you tried to end mine", I scream even louder.
" Me and you are nothing without these. How dare you try to take mine", Harold screams after ripping his circlet from his head.
" It needed to be done", I say calmly. " I despise you. Morgan Dinefwr. That's all you are. You're not blessed by God or special. You're just a man", Harold says angrily.
Harold sits down on the stairs, I sit next to him. " May I just ask why. Why try to kill me?", I ask.
" I don't know. My father was a mean bully. I was the spare, then my older brother died. My father hated me, thought I was too much like his brother. Uncle Michael was a good man. I've just been told that I'm weak, and I guess I wanted to prove I was strong", Harold explains, nearly in tears.
" We all make mistakes. I made one yesterday, and I want to fix it", I inform Harold. " I'll talk to Pope Louis, I'll get him to lift your excommunication", I add.
" I'm sorry for trying to kill you. It was a stupid mistake", Harold says sniffling. " Like I said, we all make mistakes", I say as I stand up.
Harold stands up next to me, we lock eyes. " I hope to see you again brother", I say as we hug. Harold holds me tight, the tightest I've ever been held.
I get down on one knee, Harold puts out his hand. Snow falls as I kiss Harold's hand. I stand back up and bow.
" Thank you for your time", I say firmly. " Thank you for understanding", Harold says as we walk back inside and down the hall.
" I hope this little rivalry of ours is over", I say confidently. " Yes of course brother", Harold says as we walk back into the ball room.
" Be good brother", I say as I walk back over to my seat. I sit down next to Anna. " What happened?", Anna asks.
" Me and him talked it over. We're friends now", I say with a smile. " That's good, the dance is about to happen", Anna informs me.
Violins strum and trumpets blast. Anna and I stand up. I grab Anna's waist, she lays her head on my chest. Father and mother taught me to dance.
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" I can't get it right", I say frustrated. " Calm son, let me show you again", Father grabs mother's waist again and dances her around the room.
" It's all about the movements", Father says smiling, dancing mother around the room. Father slows down and slips Mother into my arms.
I grab Mother's waist and dance her around the room. " Good job boy", Father says as he slows me down.
" Supper at 7 son", Mother yells as I run upstairs.
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" You saved the day again Morgan", Anna says. " All I did was make a new friend", I say smiling. " I think I want another kid", Anna informs me.
" That would be great", I say, Anna lifts up her head, we kiss passionately.
YOU ARE READING
A Sacred House
Historical FictionKing Rhodri IX of Wales has just died in the year 1449 after serving 37 years on the throne. Rhodri's son, Morgan, has to now steer his way diplomatically and militarily through the mess.
