Runaway Royalty

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

He was forcing me to go with him to the castle, he refused to let go of me. “Please, Prince. Prince Tarquinn,” I corrected myself, “I can’t… My father will find me, he’ll wed me to another terrible man.” I felt weak, but I couldn’t fight Prince. I didn’t have the heart nor the strength. Dag was following us and leading my horse.

I was seated in front of Prince Tarquinn in the saddle and I was stiff as a board, vocally and physically. He had an arm on either side of me effectively caging me in and he was holding the reins as well. “I’m sorry Alexandra. I am being a very selfish man, but I’ve been looking for you for so long,” He murmured, his voice pained. Shivers coursed through me and he spared one hand from the reins to wrap it about my middle.

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back slightly, “I cannot live in a palace again.” He sighed, “I understand, I promise to be a good spouse and take holidays often.” “I do not want children,” I grumbled. He chuckled, “That I  cannot change, we need heirs, Alexandra.”

I opened my eyes and saw the palace was in front of us. “Oh Gods,” I said and grabbed Tarquinn’s hand on my side. “Shh, everything will be okay,” He said soothingly. We galloped inside, he was impatient, I suppose. He dismounted in the large courtyard just inside the gate and I dismounted cautiously.

Tarquinn looped his arm through mine and led me into the palace, Dag hurried to keep up with us. “Where is the group at?” I asked nervously. “They are in the dining room already,” He said. “That is where we are going?” I asked. “Yes.” Thorn “Your parents will not like me,” I stated feebly. “Why would they not like you?” Tarquinn played the fool. “I am Zanthanian, and do not dress as a woman should,” I said.

Tarquinn sighed, “They have no choice Sin- Alexandra.” I smiled a little at his blunder. He pushed open a dark oak door and revealed a massive dining area and a long table at which our team was sat, enjoying a feast. They all looked up and cheered. Was it possible for them to be drunk already?

“I have found my soul mate,” Prince Tarquinn bellowed and held up my hand in celebration. I looked down, embarrassed out of my mind. I heard a man speak behind us, “Who is she?” Tarquinn turned around, his grin falling off his face, “Father.” I looked at the man who raised Tarquinn, he was tall, built and had greying dark blond hair. His eyes were tired, and a murky brown. I fell to my knees and pressed my forehead to the ground, praying he would accept me and not behead me or send me back to my father.

“She is Princess Alexandra, the runaway Princess from Zantha,” Tarquinn said. I was feeling a bit sick, I could feel every eye in the room on me. “Well you finally found her, Tarquinn. I hated aging while you stayed the same, thank the Gods your punishment is over. I’ll get planners on the wedding right away.”

Tarquinn’s shoulders relaxed as if he were being accepted by his father as well, which he may as well had been.  Tarquinn took my hand and led me to the table, he glanced over his shoulder, “Care to join us, Sir?” “I suppose it would not hurt,” The King said in a deep voice and followed us to the table. Prince Tarquinn pulled out a chair for me, the first seat next to the head of the table and I sat in it. Then he sat across from me and the King sat at the head of the long table.

“How old are you Princess? 19?” The King asked. “Yes, your Majesty,” I said softly. “How is your Kingdom fairing?” I asked him. “We are doing well, Miss,” He said. I nodded slowly and a plate with barely any food on it was placed it front of me. I glanced up and saw Prince Tarquinn’s plate piled high with food. I stealthily looked down the length of the table and saw the men’s proportions were similar to Tarquinn’s.

Tarquinn caught my eye and asked, “Is everything okay?” I looked at my plate. “Father, why does she get so little?” He asked. The King grunted, “She is a woman, they do not eat much.” I tensed, I was always looked at strange for the amount of food I ate whenever we weren’t camping. The men all stopped eating and stared. “She eats a lot, your Majesty,” Dag said next to me. I felt the King’s eyes on me. “It’s true, Sir,” Thorn said, who was sitting by Tarquinn.

“Bring her a plate with more food on it,” He ordered. I practically drooled over how good the food looked. I dug in, trying to remember my table manners. The salad was especially delicious, “This salad is great. You must have a royal gardener who is talented.” The King nodded with a smile, “Yes, he is very talented.” A few minutes later I had cleaned the full plate and the smaller-proportioned plate. “Would you like more, Alexandra?” Tarquinn asked.

I nodded, “This food is really good.” He and the King chuckled. “A woman who appreciates food and has an appetite. Thank the Gods,” The King said lightly. I grinned sheepishly, “I work hard, your Majesty." He nodded, “I’m sure you do, running around with my son’s men must have been very taxing on your energy. Putting up with them for so many weeks. How long did it take for you to bring her back home?” The King turned to Tarquinn. Tarquinn blushed, “She was actually my co-leader for two or three years before I came to realize she is my soul mate.” The King guffawed.

“No wonder you eat like a man! You have been living with them for so long!” I laughed, “Yes, well. Things change.” He nodded, suddenly serious, “Yes, they do.” Tarquinn scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Does she know the full story yet?” The King asked him. Tarquinn glanced at me, then his father and mumbled, “No.” I felt my stomach quiver at the thought of what he had done to deserve such punishment.

“He tried to bed a God’s wife here on earth, but he didn’t know she was one of the God’s wives, and she did not tell him. So the Gods punished both of them. Her with a son that would not love her back and Tarquinn with the challenge of finding his impossible soul mate. I’m assuming you were ‘impossible’ because you are from Zantha. I do not like Zantha, but I have been waiting for so long I could not care less.” I felt my body go cold and my face pale at what he had done. That is insane! But, I chuckled the King’s last statement a little.

Tarquinn relaxed a little, “I had drunk a lot that night.” “Excuses,” I chided lightly. He sighed and picked at his food. A little while later, the conversations at the table had wound down and the King took me to my room on the third floor in the East Wing of the palace. The marble floors and expensive animal fur rugs scattered about the floor were stunning. Not to mention the furniture and chandeliers

“There you are,” He said after a moment, “The bathroom is through that door,” He pointed to the door to the right of the headboard of the bed, “The closet is there,” He pointed to the sliding doors across from the bed, “and Tarquinn’s room is through that door, should you need him for anything.” My gaze rested on the last door in the room, to the left of my bed. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said. He nodded, “Good night, Princess.” I smiled and he left, closing the door behind him. I locked the door and heard a soft rap come from Tarquinn’s door.

I hesitated a moment before going to it, “Yes?” “Open the door,” He said softly. I opened the door and he was standing there in his dark brown breeches and green tunic. The green of his tunic brought out flecks of green in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” He blurted. “For what?” I asked, surprised. “For my past, I know it is tainted and could ruin our future, but I do not want it to. I am a new man now, and I love you. I will never hurt you.” “Tarquinn,” I whispered. He crushed me to his chest.

“Will you agree to marry me?” He asked carefully. I nodded, “I will.” He grinned and showered my face with kisses, “Thank you! I will not disappoint you, Alexandra.” I grinned back at him, “I know.” I could see the warmth and love in his eyes, and I knew it would last a lifetime.