Adalbert

Part 1

Adalbert knew not how to react to his parents' announcement. It was one thing to prove his loyalty to his people by joining the military-he was the Crown Prince, after all, it was his duty to be prepared to protect the country.

But another thing entirely to give up his personal freedom in marrying a complete stranger.

"I don't understand," he uttered at last, "why must I spend the rest of my life with a woman I have never met?"

"You have not met her yet," his mother replied. "You will have plenty of time to get to know each other."

"We have been given strict assurances," his father intervened, "that Lady Ethelinda is the nicest, sweetest girl in the realm and that any man would be lucky to have her as his wife."

Adalbert could not help rolling his eyes. Lady Ethelinda? She wasn't even a Princess, then.

Noticing his son's reluctance, the King motioned to his wife to leave the room. Once alone with his heir, King Adelmar set a heavy hand on the Prince's shoulder.

"Please don't tell me it is a matter of a monarch's responsibility," the young man said.

King Adelmar laughed. "Not at all, my son. Even though it is."

Adalbert sighed and lowered his head, burdened with contemplating a sorrowful future. He had long believed in his father's creed that a happy king is a good king and hoped he would be allowed the same privilege as his older brother: that is, to wed a spouse of his own choosing.

How had it come to this? He desperately wished to know.

"Well, it was either this, or sending off your sister to one of the Southern Princes."

Adalbert suddenly looked up. Now that would have been a catastrophe. The weight of his fate was easier to bear with the knowledge that he had spared his younger sister of a potentially miserable life.

Nodding his understanding, the Prince slowly began to come to terms with his situation. "Who is this Lady Ethelinda?"

"Let's see, how was this again?" King Adelmar raised a finger to sketch an imaginary family tree. "Queen Amelina of the South has a sister who has a daughter...so basically, Lady Ethelinda is the cousin of the Southern Princes and her father is, quite possibly, the most prominent Lord of the Southern Court."

"And this...alliance, what is the purpose of it?"

"The war in the West has left us vulnerable," explained the King. "We...need help or else the nation will starve. The Southern Court needs an army to stand with them, should the Western barbarians advance towards their borders. It is a scheme to benefit both sides."

Adalbert sighed again. "It seems to me that we need their help more than they need ours. How did you manage to negotiate Heidi out of this?"

The King's countenance saddened in a heartbeat. "I did not. I merely managed to postpone her wedding. As she is still young and innocent, the horrors of the world beyond the court are unknown to her. King Theoderic was compassionate enough to offer this alternative. Adalheidis will have the chance to meet and know the Princes before a choice is made."

"And what about this Lady Ethelinda? I recall you described her as nice and sweet."

The King shook his head, chuckling. "So your mother was told by Queen Amelina. I have heard otherwise from the Southern Court officials but nothing that you couldn't handle, I am sure."

Adalbert's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Does she know of this arrangement? Has she agreed to it?"

The King shrugged. "I suppose so. I never thought to ask."