Cold as the Crown

James

"Strike left!" my swords master called. I struck left, parrying Adam's strike. I shuffled my boots in the snow and whirled around, knocking his sword to the ground and him with it. I grinned down at him, wiping the sweat from my forehead. I stuck my gloved hand out, meaning to help him up but he pulled me down into the snow. Laughing, we rolled around in the snow. I grabbed a handful of snow and shoved it into his mouth. Spluttering, he pushed me back and coughed it out.

"James!" he choked. I laughed.

"BOYS!" Master Mithers shouted. We stopped and looked at the red-faced man. He looked angry...no furious. I stood up quickly and brushed the snow off my pants. Adam stood up just as quickly, but he had the decency to look abashed. "I swear, you will never have the discipline to become soldiers!" Master Mithers shouted. He continued to berate us. I looked at the clock and gasped aloud.

"Holy Hell!" I shouted. "I have to get upstairs! Master, may I go?" I asked. I had completely forgotten about the audience with my father that he had requested this morning after my lessons. I was supposed to be there half an hour ago.

"Of course, James. But do not think you have gotten away with this!" he shouted after me, as I ran across the grounds towards the palace. Fur-clad lords and ladies all bowed to me as their future king and crown prince, but I ignored them. I raced up the stairs to my father's chamber, my clothes dripping with melting snow. I knocked, out of breath.

"Enter." A cold voice called. I took a deep breath and went into his room. My mother, Queen Anna sat demurely with my sister, Beatrice, and another young woman I had not seen before. She was beautiful, with long golden hair falling down to her waist and a gown that showed off her figure quite well.

"James." My mother smiled weakly at me. She was just getting over losing her last child. I bowed to her and kissed her cheek.

"Mother." I smiled back at her and turned to my father. His lined face had a deep frown on it and I felt my heart beat a little with anticipation.

"James. You are late." He said his deep voice icy. I swallowed and nodded ashamedly.

"I apologize, father. It was my mistake of not keeping track of the time. It will not happen again." I promised, keeping my tone respectful. He raised an eyebrow.

"Very well. As long as it does not happen again. I know very well how it is with your trifles as a young prince. Swordplay is a vital part of becoming a king. Now, I have called you here today to present a proposal to you." As if on cue, the young woman stood up, smiling beautifully at me. I felt my heart skip a beat at her beauty. "Princess Agatha is the daughter of our ally, the King of Lithonia. He and I have agreed to solidify our bond with the marriage of our oldest children." He said. I felt the breath be knocked out of me. He waited a few moments as the information sunk in.

"What?" I asked, shock making my knees weak. Bea pushed a chair towards me.

"The princess of Lithonia, and you, the Prince of Aldaren are to be married at the end of the spring." He said humor in his voice. I felt my hands shake as I clenched the side of the chair. My cold, wet clothes seemed to hug my body and I shivered slightly. I shook my head in disbelief. An arranged marriage. My mother and father had married because of an arranged marriage and yet they had fallen in love. Perhaps that was meant for me, as well. I looked at my father and took a deep breath.

"As you wish, father. I accept your proposal." I answered. He smiled humorlessly.

"You have not even heard the rest of it, son." He laughed. "If, by your eighteenth birthday, you do not find a suitable wife to become queen after your mother and I have stepped down, you will marry the princess. She and her father have agreed to this as well." He said. My birthday was only two weeks away. I nodded slowly.