The Cobbler's Wish: A Short Story

Part 2

"Father! Father! Come quickly!" Wilhelm, Sir Kristopher's son, was many things but most importantly he was lazy, and his favorite pastime was tormenting Aidan. It was a surprise, therefore, to find Wilhelm red faced and out of breath in the doorway to the shop that evening.

"What is it, Wilhelm?" Aidan looked up from tidying his worktable, surprised by Sir Kristopher's concern.

"It-it's the princess!"

"What about Her Highness?" Celine asked, looking up from her embroidery in the corner by the fireplace. She rarely made an appearance in the shop during the day, claiming it was too dirty for her tastes, but she frequently sat by the hearth in the evenings to hear the news while Beatrice prepared supper in the apartment upstairs.

"There was a herald," Wilhelm started, collapsing into the chair opposite his mother, "in the square. He read a proclamation from the palace stating that–that Her Highness is seeking a husband!"

"I fail to see how this is of any consequence to us," Celine said, reaching for her needle once more.

"But Mother, the herald said His Majesty proclaimed that any eligible young man may present himself to the Princess, along with a gift."

"Did the herald say anything else?" Aidan watched silently as Sir Kristopher began to pace before his wife and son. He could see the gears turning behind the older man's eyes.

"He said something about the Fall Equinox. Hold on, I grabbed a copy of the proclamation." Wilhelm rummaged in the pockets of his overcoat, then moved to his trousers when he could not find the parchment. "Ah, here it is! It says: 'The suitor who presents the most unique and valuable gift to the princess will be announced as her husband at an engagement ball on the Fall Equinox.'"

"Let me see that," Sir Kristopher took the parchment from his son, quickly scanning the paper. "It does say any eligible young man."

"Does this mean that we have a chance to become Her Highness's in-laws?" Celine rose in excitement, her embroidery forgotten.

"Perhaps," Sir Kristopher mused. "This must be why Lord Silvanus summoned Master Gray and I so urgently today. The nobles must have known before it was announced to the public."

"We must send Wilhelm to the palace! He'll woo the princess with his charm, and we'll never have to work another day!" Celine's voice rose with her excitement. "Once you're king, you'll be generous to your dear mother, won't you Willie?"

"Of course, Mother." Wilhelm's voice lacked enthusiasm, despite the growing excitement from his mother.

"Can you imagine, dearest?!" Celine rushed to Sir Kristopher's side. "Lady Celine has such a nice ring to it, don't you think? And you will finally be a real knight..." She trailed off, then gasped in delighted surprise, ignoring her husband's glower. "Or even...a titled lord!" She spun to her son once more, chattering giddily.

Aidan tuned out her excited words, focusing on Sir Kristopher's contemplative expression. He didn't like the glitter that had sparked in the shoemaker's eye, so he hurriedly finished clearing his workspace before slipping upstairs.

Beatrice bustled around the apartment's kitchen, putting the final touches on supper, which was a hearty stew. She looked up when he passed her on his way to the attic's access.

"What's all the commotion about downstairs?"

"They heard about the Princess and the king's proclamation."

"Ah. I suppose that it will be rather busy 'round here for the foreseeable future." She moved over to the stove to stir the stew one last time before ladling it into three bowls for Sir Kristopher and his family. "Here," she passed him an apple and two meat-rolls from the family's lunch, wrapped in a dishtowel. "Enjoy your evening," Beatrice told him before placing the bowls on the table.

Aidan nodded as he moved toward the ladder to his attic room. He clutched the apple in his teeth, juice dripping down his chin as he climbed up, the rolls safely tucked in his pockets.

Once the trap door had been latched behind him, Aidan kicked off his worn boots and made his way to the thin mattress he had shuffled to rest under the room's sole window shortly after his father died and he was relocated to the attic. It was around the same time Sir Kristopher had made it clear that Aidan was not welcome to dine with his family.

After eating his meager dinner, Aidan flopped on the bed and tried to sleep. A soft tapping on the window pried his eyes open to reveal a small bird silhouetted by the moonlight. He smiled as he unlatched the window to let the bird in. Tied around one of its legs was a thin roll of parchment.

Unrolling the message, Aidan's smile faded as he read the familiar scrawl of his best friend. His heart sank as he reread Rosie's words.

"'Aidan, it pains me to write this, but my father has decided that it is high time I be wed. Before I am officially engaged, I would like to see you one last time. Meet me at our tree tomorrow night. Rosie.'"

Aidan stroked the bird's feathers before sending it back out the window. The bird flew in the direction of the palace, likely to Rosie's chambers. It seemed to be a season for engagements, he thought dryly. First Princess Rosalind and then Rosie, her lady-in-waiting. Who would be next, he wondered as he settled back onto his lumpy mattress and tried to chase the evasive sleep.

To be continued...

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Author's Note:

Hi all!

Another update for "The Cobbler's Wish". Please let me know what you think! Any constructive feedback is welcome. 

I'll have this whole short story posted by mid-December with updates every Wednesday!

Thank you for giving "The Cobbler's Wish" a chance! I will see you next week!

-K.