The King's Crest

Chapter 1

Breathless I once again struck Jeremiah hard in the side. Jeremiah stumbled backwards but kept his balance. Blow after blow we went against each other. Even though it was a cool morning, I was dripping with sweat when he finally knocked me down for good. "Okay, that's enough!" I shouted.

"Come on, Kat, you let me win. You are better than that," he said back in a low tone, irritated at the thought of letting him win just to make him happy.

"If I let you win, would I be drenched in sweat? I don't think so. I just have not been trained quite as well as the prince," I sighed before saying "besides, you know I would never intentionally let you win."

"Please, you spend almost all your time training! You beat all of my guards and soldiers," he shrugged ignoring my last remark.

"I just can't always beat you. Only sometimes do I get to reign in triumph over your pitiful defeat. Now, I have no glory to currently bask in, so you should go get cleaned up, birthday boy." I teased.

"I know I should, but I'm so upset the celebration isn't for both of us," Jeremiah whined.

We sat in silence for a minute staring at the training ground around us. "Secretly we could celebrate together like always. Meet me in the gardens at our normal spot after you are cleaned up. That way, you will still have enough time to go get in your royal attire and I can get ready at my uncle's house. Besides, Rem, I'm not the crowned Prince of Vezana," I said half-jokingly.

"Let's not forget you are also Lady Katerina. Oh, and Kat, I'm no longer a 'boy' you'll have to stop calling me that," he smiled as we parted, both going to get cleaned up a little for the nights festivities.

After a quick stop at my uncle's house to change and bathe, I bounded down the path to the middle of the maze garden, where I would hopefully meet Jeremiah under our bush. My long, curly, light brown hair bounced against my back as I continued down the path. My blue eyes were bright with excitement as I drew near our spot in the middle of the garden. Even now that Rem is seventeen, and I'll be seventeen tomorrow, we were still sneaking around the castle like when we were five year old kids thinking the whole world was just the kingdom of Vezana.

Even though we went to the garden for privacy, for some reason I doubt we were ever fully alone, but at least we feel like we are. The quiet, lulling feel of the garden has always made the perfect place to hide from people. Now that Jeremiah is about to be king though, it is not often that we get to have a little time together, even in public.

I reached the bush and ducked underneath to a secret cave made out of plants. I slipped as I clambered in, luckily Rem caught me. "Stupid shoes," I muttered under my breath as Rem helped me upright on my feet. Knowing we were pretty much hidden, I gave up any remaining composure and clumped to the ground.

"Oh, you are definitely princess material!" Jeremiah said chuckling.

"I know. I could definitely be queen one day," I joked as I brought up my posture in a sloppy manner. "I believe this year you get to open your present first."

Before he objected and tried to give me my present first, I pulled out the cloth bag. I smiled as I handed it over to Jeremiah, anxious to see his reaction when he opened the gift. He grabbed it from my hands and quickly opened it. As he slid the bag off, his face lit up.

"Kat, I can't accept this. It's beautiful. The balance on it is perfect; the handle has an amazing grip in our kingdoms colors-silver and blue. I've never seen a sword this nice... Did you make it?"

I beamed at the praise that was being bestowed on me. "Thank you, and yes, I did make it.  You have to accept it; it was literally made for you. It wouldn't work as well for anyone else considering the balance is meant to match your size and fighting style. Turn it over," I said, excited to see him so delighted.

He turned it over and he grinned so wide his face scrunched up, "Heh, it has my name on it. I think it will match my sheath I already have for my previous sword," he said.

"That was my goal. There was a reason your sheath went missing a couple months ago." Before I could say more, he took the present he had for me out from behind him, too anxious to hear about me stealing from him in the months prior. He did not wrap it, and when I saw it I understood why.

It was a tiara of white gold with little blue gems running across the bottom. It pointed at the top and had a lacey design. When the tiara met at the top, it almost made a heart shape and from there, swirling strands of diamonds dangled down. The sophisticated, intricate design went down around the sides, making the occasional shape of flowers. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it was. 

I felt tears forming in my eyes as I stared at the thoughtful gift. "Jeremiah... It's gorgeous. I'm not a princess though; I'm not even allowed to have this!" I declared still taken back.

"Well, this gift isn't just from me, it is also from my parents. I think the King and Queen of Vezana can give a tiara to whoever they want. It was my moms first tiara, she received it for her seventeenth birthday, too."

My mouth was wide open and I could not even get the words out of my throat. I tried to speak but it just came out as a squeak. I just shut my mouth, deciding I needed to be more ladylike if I was going to be even semi close to be worthy of wearing my gift. I looked at the tiara and let my fingers gently trace around the delicate tiara. Finally, I looked up at the crowned Prince and mustered enough strength to respond, "Rem, I love it. It is absolutely beautiful, but I really do not think it would be appropriate to wear in front of people."

He looked at me and took the tiara back into his large hands. I happily gave it back to him, glad he finally saw my point. However, to my complete surprise, he lifted it just high enough to lightly place it on my head. He hugged me lightly as he whispered, "you are as much a part of this family as I am. I'll see you soon, Princess Katerina Grace Bergliot." He then quietly went back the way he came in as if nothing had happened, holding on to me as long as he could before my hand was out of his grasp.

After a few more minutes, I decided to get up. I stood (more like crouched) and brushed off all the leaves that stuck to me. I looked up a bit more to see if anyone was around, then, not noticing anyone, I climbed out of the bushes. I stretched a bit before starting my walk. I calmly walked back through the gardens singing and admiring the flowers, picking a few in the way. I could not help but be glad no one was around so I could enjoy the quiet walk before the storm of people and music all night.