A Winter's Tale

Chapter 1:

      I knew that my King had been pondering this for a while. The dark shadows under his eyes, and the creases along his forehead told me so. It was not that I was unsuitable for marriage, but I was too odd a girl for just any union. I had never been exactly like the other women at court. I was more interested in the books my King had to offer than the gossip. Balls, and other social gatherings, I hastily avoided. I tried hard not to flirt, or catch the eye of any man. Noble, or servant. For all of this, I was shunned by the other ladies. 'I just wasn't right,' was their main reasoning behind it. I didn't mind though.

      "I have decided," King James' voice broke through my reverie. I focused my gaze on the tall, slim man with the unusual pallor "you have decided what, my King?" King James stood walking across the room to me. His stature, and height looming over me. Though, he did not strike fear into me. I was closer to King James than his own sons, acting the role of the daughter he never had. "Who you are to marry. He is not a common one, but you do not fall into that either, do you? I believe you two will fit together nicely once you get over the initial animosity," King James looked down on me with a hand on his chin. I smiled "well, who is it?" I was excited to know the man I would marry. The man I would give heirs one day.

        "The Count of Dubois," my King said. My smile dropped completely. Not the infamous Count of Dubois. The savage man that was known for being severely unkind. "Why," was all I could mumble. I'd thought I could handle any man King James told me to marry. But, I couldn't handle this one. The tears were not lost to King James, and the steely look in his eyes told me he was not to be swayed. "He will be the best for you," King James turned away. He would be the best for a more confident, louder, boisterous court lady. But, not me, soft spoken, tiny, fragile.

      No one really knows what happened to Maria De Bulgaria, and Stephen De Bulgaria. They just seemed to exist one day, then not the next. Maria was still very much with child when they all had last seen her. But, it seemed that that the night Emery De Bulgaria had been born, the wealthy couple had disappeared. Court ladies had much to say about this to me. I turned my back to my king, my gaze on the fire in the room "when do I leave?" "In two days time," King James turned to face me, "and, Emery?" I turned to look at him. "Give him time," the tall King placed a gentle hand on my shoulder "life has not dealt him an especially good hand. Be patient with him, he is as new to this as you." I looked up at him with wide eyes before nodding solemnly. I was dismissed.