Chapter Thirteen- The Good of the Kingdom
"How soon can everything be ready? The sooner we are married, the better." Gavin asked Bianca.
"I can plan a wedding in three days time," Bianca said, trying not to smile too happily.
"Excellent! The less time it takes, the less time there is for others to try and stop us," the king responded.
"Stop us? You are worried you will change your mind?" Arwen asked worriedly.
"I will not for sure," Gavin replied, smiling assuredly and a little flirtatiously, "but it is not just my choice that matters." Uneasily, Arwen thought of the light-haired Sir Finnian and felt herself shake with anger.
"We won't let them stop us," she said, gathering Gavin's hands in hers. He chuckled at her courage and kissed her palms, his diamond eyes smiling at her.
"No, we won't." Gavin stood and bowed when the ladies curtsied at him, leaving the room.
"My vision is truly coming true, isn't it mother?" Arwen asked Bianca staring wistfully after Gavin.
"Not quite," Bianca replied grimly.
"What? Why?" Arwen asked quickly, her heart beating loudly against her chest.
"Be calm, Arwen. I mean only that the king is convinced of his love for you, but he now needs to convince Finnian."
"What does it matter what Finnian thinks? If the king wishes to marry me, what should he matter?"
"You don't understand, Arwen. Sir Finnian is the king's advisor, and has been so since a very young age. He is used to the king listening to his advice, but now the king will be going against him."
"Against him?" Arwen felt confused and overwhelmed.
"Yes, against him. The advisor won't want the king to marry you, a simple farm girl. Even if you can be a strong ally in wartime, a rich lady with money can also be a great alliance."
"Yes, but a lady with money won't be a witch like me."
Bianca smiled proudly at Arwen, seeing her daughter's potential for greatness. "No, she wouldn't be like you."
***
Gavin walked into the dining hall and found Finn warming a glass of ale in front of a roaring fire.
Gavin simply said, "Finn, let's talk," and walked back out of the room. Finnian followed him out of the room, then out into the garden. Gavin waited until they had walked deeper into the garden before speaking.
"I have asked the young lady of the manor, Arwen Whitewing, to be my bride and queen, and she has accepted." Gavin spit out, feeling slightly nervous.
Finnian stopped walking and turned to face Gavin. "What? Are you mad? You cannot marry her!"
"And why not? I like her, she likes me, and she wants me too." Gavin said, feeling stung.
"Then bed her and forget her. She is a nothing, a pauper, a farm girl! She could never be queen, I won't allow it."
"I am King of Brigantia, I don't need you to allow anything!" Gavin roared.
Finnian bit his tongue, and took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, this is a mistake. My advice is to leave this place right now, and forget about this all. You're not married yet, and I assume you haven't given her a ring; there is no way for her to prove you ever proposed."
"Her mother was witness to the proposal."
"Two pauper's words against a king's won't do anything for them. You can get out of this right now." Finn said, a bit forcefully.
"I don't want to get out of it. And besides, she will be a great alliance for us."
"What alliance could that child provide?" Finnian asked doubtfully, his blond eyebrows scrunched and his lips pursed.
"Her and her mother are witches. They could provide us with power should our kingdoms ever come to war. Other witches in Brigantia will be on our side, and maybe even witches from the other kingdoms! You know it is only a matter of time before one of my cousins decides to wage battle. When that time comes, we can be ready!"
Finn was quiet for a moment, but his eyes were still shady. "I still think this is a bad idea. We can make other alliances, find better allies-"
"Yes, but I won't find another woman like her." Gavin said wistfully.
"No, Your Majesty, a girl. She is just a little girl, and she won't be a good queen. Your Grace, you have to think of the good of the kingdom!"
"I am! I am thinking of the good of my kingdom, and Arwen is the best answer I have to all our problems. Finn, I am going to marry her; but I will feel better knowing I have my best friend's blessing."
Both the men were silent, staring into each other's eyes, holding their breaths.
"I don't think I could give you that, My Lord." Finn said quietly, his voice rumbling with the argument he was biting back. "I firmly believe she is a mistake."
"I am sorry to hear that," Gavin replied sincerely, sadness filling his eyes that were happy a moment before. He took a deep breath and stood up straight. "The wedding is being planned by Bianca, who will be my mother just as she is Arwen's. The event will take place in three days. Get my men ready to travel back to the castle right now, and when we get there, call for the best decorators, bakers, chefs, seamstresses, and anyone else Bianca will need and send them to her."
Finn sighed in frustration and shook his head, but he said, "Yes, Your Majesty." and left to follow his king's orders.
~
Author: Hey guys! sooooooo sorry for the slow update!!!! I'm really trying, but I'm just so busy right now. I'll update the next chapter as soon as I can, I promise!! Please hold on, it's gonna get really good!!!!
Xo NeonSparkle
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The Emery Chronicles: The White King's Woman (FIRST BOOK)
Romance(FIRST BOOK) In the mystical kingdom of Emery, four cousins rule side by side, haunted by an old prophecy that would bring their destruction. As one of the kings of Emery falls in love, he does not realize that his lover is a woman who is descended...
