Queens Chronicles

Chapter 3

    Kathryn and the rest of the Queen's stand up and exit the room, leaving things on the table for now. They all stride down to the throne room where Richard and Diego were having a discussion about the fate of Spain. Kathryn walked up to Richard and stood by him for she knew he's now more worried than he has ever been. Kathryn discretely slipped her hand into his and he gripped it tight, not wanting to let go. Esperanza walked over to her king and stood next to him, seeming to shy to even look at him. That was until he gave her a worried look and she knew that something was very wrong. The other three Queens stood there and watched in silence, letting the two married Queens support their Kings. As silence consumed the room, everyone is silent thinking of a plan to stop the Ottomans- and wondering if they really can stop the growing threat. As a royal there is always that fear that you cannot stop the danger, that you cannot save your people. That is the fear that controls you, makes you think of your country above all else. Above yourself, above family, above friends, even above love.

"This is a new development that requires immediate attention so we need a plan." Richard says, looking at the young Spanish king.

"We should send some troops to Spain, and contact Italy, we need to strengthen the alliance between our countries." Kathryn told them as she took charge because everyone else was in a eerie silence.

"What if there was an arranged marriage." Liliya suggested. This took everyone by surprise. "Who is not married in this room?"

"Only yourself." Indira said.

"No there is also Ayutaya." Liliya accused.

"I cannot remarry... It is against royal customs." Ayutaya sneers. " Besides if you accept this marriage proposal then you can claim his land and add to your own supply."

"You really think I'd want to share my land? He will want me to be something I could never be." Liliya slowly comments.

"No one says you have to love the man, you just have to marry him. And I'm sure that he won't even dream of stealing your land because he will be too terrified to even think of it." Ayutaya says, trying to convince Liliya to accept.

"Why force her to marry someone who does not love her? Or make her marry someone she cannot learn to love? That would be a pointless marriage." Esperanza calmly states. "Believe me I would know." She whispers under her breath. Earning a slight glare from Diego who caught what she said.

"Let's not jump to conclusions before we even contact the Italian king, who has just lost his wife and has been threatened by the Ottomans." Kathryn says, attempting to stop the marriage conversation for now and redirecting it back to the Spanish problem.

"I agree we need to focus on Spain. We need to send at least half of our soldiers to the Spanish border." Richard said agreeing with his Queen.

"I need to go back to my kingdom, and be there for my people." Esperanza says.

"That's not happening." Diego said, taking a stand against his wife.

"I have to be there for my people! I need to support them- protect them from harm, that is

what a loyal Queen does!" Esperanza defiantly states. Everyone in the room goes quiet and stares at the two young rulers mouths agape, not knowing whether to intervene or let the married pair talk it out.

"I'm not letting you get hurt or worse killed, your death is not going to be on my hands, and that's final." Diego says, turning away from her. Out in the open he would never admit it but he did care for Esperanza. The true reason for his hate towards her stems from another place. He loved another girl but when he was asked to marry the princess of Spain and become the next king, and he had to deal with the look of betrayal on her face when he said we was going to marry another.