The Prince's Heart

The Dreading Night - Part One

The dining hall was laid out with a resplendent feast. Trays and plates filled with numerous seafood and soups. The elegant and eleborate tureens and bowls glittering the baby blue silk covered long table. Prince Nat who hadn't eaten anything in twelve hours since his departure from West Nalia was ravenous. So much so that he forgot about his wedding, the nervous moments with that half-kiss with Prince Max, and his silly scheming father. Instead he popped hunks of fresh bread, loads of crab, and hearty soup into his mouth. 

He was sat on one side of the heavy wooden long table and Prince Max was on the other. The distance made Nat relax and he stuffed his face until the boning of the corset bodice of his dress pushed against the sides of his waist. But then dessert came out. Fresh strawberries dipped in cream, chocolate brownies, tiny fruit and jelly cakes, and warm cocoa to finish it off with. Nat kept saying that the next bite would be his last, but there was always another bite.

Luckily his father and the Queen of Hampud carried on the dinner talk. Vicar Poppy popping in as well for some witty banter. Shortly, a stringed orchestra was joined by a guitar and guests from both countries took turns at singing. 

Nat smiled looking at all revelry. He was glad to see others happy, forgetting his own predicament for a moment. Prince Nat even saw Big Gems have hushed conversation with a well-built man from Hampud. And maybe he felt a little drunk off the one glass of wine he had or more likely satisfied with all the food in his ever expanding belly.

The music and singing was reaching a fever pitch when the Queen clapped her hands and all became silent. 

She stood and looked around the room, smiling at everyone. "We must bid our Princes adieu for their wedding night. Honored guests of West Nalia, friends of the Hampud realm, please continue with the revelry. Eat, drink, and be merry for this is a joyous day!" 

"Here! Here!" The guests applauded and several wolf whistles rang out around the room.

And there Nat was, back to reality. His stomach dropped and he realized he was Prince and it was his wedding night. He could do nothing else but allow himself to be escorted away. 

He followed the footman through the castle. Passing heavy oak doors and carved marble sconces lighting the way. A door was opened and he dutifully stepped into the chambers. It was quickly shut behind him and Nat stood in the room alone. His eyes slowly adjusting to the candlelit chambers. 

The room was simplistic, stark even. Especially for a castle. A large bed dominated the space with two standing candelabra on each side of the bed. There was a set of windows along one side of the room and a small washbasin and rag. There was a small adjacent room but it contained only a toilet. 

No clawfoot bath, no tapestry, not even a rug. This was quite the letdown from the beautiful  ornate furnishings inside the grooming space, wedding hall and dining space of Castle Mandi. 

The door opened, bringing light from the hallway and Prince Max stepped in. The door was quickly shut and Nat could hear keys jangle and a lock shut.

Max turned around to try to open the door and when he was met with resistance he let out a curse.

Well many curses actually. Nat stood aback, more than a little shocked. 

Prince Max slowly turned back to him. "My apologies your highness." 

"So am I to believe we are stuck here?" Prince Nat asked.

"Correct." Prince Max sighed. "Again my apologies your highness. It is a tradition of Hampud to lock the newly married couple here in the wedding chambers on their wedding night. I didn't think they would do it tonight because of our... situation but it looks like we're trapped."