The White Prince

The Encounter (Chapter IV)

Dorian an' Margaery arrived at the royal gallery, where their parents, King Jaime White II an' Queen Astrid, were waitin' for them. Dorian was wearin' a white robe, embroidered with silver thread, that reached his ankles an' was tied at the waist with a leather belt. He was wearin' a white fox fur cloak over his shoulders an' a silver brooch of two white cats linked by their front paws on his head.

Margaery was wearin' a white dress, with a fitted bodice an' a full skirt. The dress was made of linen an' was decorated with flower embroidery.

Dorian was surprised to see that his parents didn't recognize them.

"Father, mother," said Dorian. "We need to talk."

King Jaime an' Queen Astrid turned to face him.

King Jaime was wearin' a red robe, embroidered with gold thread. The robe reached his ankles, an' was tied at the waist with a black leather belt. The king was wearin' a grey cloak, embroidered with the White house crest, over his shoulders. On his head he was wearin' a large an' heavy gold crown, with inlays of different precious stones.

Queen Astrid was wearin' a blue robe, embroidered with silver thread. The robe reached her ankles, an' was tied at the waist with a belt of white flowers. The queen was wearin' a blue cloak, embroidered with the White house crest, over her shoulders. On her head she was wearin' a smaller an' simpler gold crown than her husband's, with inlays of smaller an' more refined precious stones.

"Dorian," said the king. "What's wrong?"

"Margaery an' I are gettin' married," said Dorian.

The king an' queen looked at each other, surprised.

"With who?" asked the king.

"With her," said Dorian, pointin' to Margaery.

Queen Astrid approached Margaery an' looked at her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," said the queen. "But I don't know you. Where do you come from?"

Margaery blushed.

"I'm from the Noir house," she said. "My father was the lord of the Noir house, after my older brother died he took his place."

King Jaime frowned.

"The Noir house," he said. "That's a mixed-race house."

Margaery turned pale.

"It's true," she said in a tone that showed anger an' that the king's words offended her. "But the Noir house is a noble an' respected house, it's been one of the vassal houses that has served the royal house the best an' most for centuries."

"I'm not talkin' about their nobility," said the king. "I'm talkin' about their blood. The Noir house is not a pure-blood house."

Dorian felt ashamed. He knew his father was right. The Noir house was not a pure-blood white house. But that didn't mean Margaery wasn't a good person nor did it mean she was less valuable.

"Father, I love her," said Dorian, a bit conflicted because he felt more responsibility than love for her but it was also his responsibility to defend the woman who would be his wife. "And she loves me. That's all that matters."

"Love is not enough," said the king. "The marriage of a member of the royal family is a matter of state, an' I must consider what is best for the kingdom."

"But I'm the heir to the throne," said Dorian. "And I'm the one who has to decide who I marry."

"You're not the only one that matters in this," said the king.

"I'm your legitimate heir an' I'll decide about my life, about how I'll rule, who I'll marry, an' about what I'll do," said Dorian.

"You're nothing but a rude brat," said the king. "You're not king yet, so you can't make the decisions you want if they affect the kingdom, there have never been mixed-race people on the throne."

"Margaery is pregnant," said Dorian, even though neither of them were completely sure yet.

The king was surprised an' a bit annoyed by Dorian's words.

"You've dishonored yourself an' dishonored this family," the king replied to his son while walkin' away without sayin' anythin' else while bein' followed by his wife.

Dorian looked at Margaery a bit sad for the reaction of his parents to the news of Dorian's marriage to Margaery and the possibility that they would have children soon.

"Don't worry... It's okay, I've always been told that, I know that the Noir house is not of totally white blood and all that, but that happened many generations ago... I won't give you black children..." Said Margaery a bit sad when she saw Dorian's face.

"Margaery..." Dorian hugged Margaery and held back his words because he knew he wasn't good at expressin' himself and didn't want to keep sayin' he loved her when he wasn't even sure of it himself.