"When Daffodils Begin to Peer"

Chapter Three

I can stand up for myself, I didn't need to be carried, I could've fed myself, I'm not some delicate flower and I if they could give me the chance, I would be able to be as strong and leading as my brothers.  They have conditioned my mind and body to be like this, but had they pushed me like they did my brothers... I wouldn't be forced to marry after barely reaching my sixteenth year, I have no future anymore, that's my legacy, to be the arm candy of some man, some ruler... to never understand, to never reach my full potential, it makes me want to scream... and cry.  Which is just as frustrating, because who is ever taken seriously as they  sniffle, hiccup, and cry their eyes out?! 

"Georgie, my dearest little brother, why can I no longer see your smiling face?" He paused waiting for me to respond or look up at him, when I did neither of those things he walked across the room, grabbing books at random, and dragged a heavy oak chair from one of the desks.  He set the chair down a few large paces away from me, and sat down, opening one of the books. 

"Come here.  Now please," Henry commanded, not looking up as he was still quickly flipping through the book. 

What was he up to? I thought incredulously.  Still, I shuffled over warily, standing to the side of the chair.  Out of nowhere I am grasped around the waist, and pulled to be sitting on Henry's lap, he swings my legs to the side; underneath the armrest and above the chair, so I can't get away as easily.  Henry sets the book on top of my lap so we can both see it, one of his arms is laying on top of my thighs holding the book, and the other one vertically on my spine, so his hand can hold the back of my head, he gently turns it so I'm looking directly into his eyes which are only six inches away from my own. 

I honestly don't understand how everyone can easily flip me around, and carry me in these heavy clothes, because they completely weigh me down.  But I can still do things on my own, I don't need to be carried or babied, mind you.  But then again I don't weigh ninety pounds soaking wet, so under a hundred pounds must be nothing for my knights or for my brothers, seeing as they have been trained for endurance and brute force.  I know for a fact that they can all carry three or four 75 pound flour sacks at a time for a considerable amount of time - they held a contest once for entertainment and for training, I of course, wasn't allowed to participate or even approach the flour sacks, heaven forbid that I even get dirty. 

Henry's intense glare hardens, "What is going through your poor mind George?  What on this fair planet could cause such suffering to cross your graceful features?" 

"I-I-I... shall not make it known ... for I am working to ... to"  I gesticulated helplessly, my head still being held in place by Henry and my movements restricted.  I couldn't get off of his lap, which was made even more obvious because Sir John and Sir Anthony had wandered over to the sides of the chair where I was held, and they placed their hands on my legs or crown of my head, depending on what side that they stood. 

All of men around me sigh, and I visibly crumble, then Henry shuffles the book and draws my attention to it.  It was a large history volume that covered information from all of the surrounding kingdoms and kingdoms from far away.  I freeze, realizing that we were going to start the courtship ritual studying now. 

Sir John, who was standing by my head leans down to reassuringly murmur into my ear with a soft coo, "Listen to me, my dear and fragile prince, you needn't not say what's on your mind.  We need you to cooperate with us... and that is an order George, I'm ashamed to say it though my prince." 

Henry nods solemnly, and so did Sir Anthony, apparently Sir John wasn't as quiet as I had believed.  The affectionate tones and looks made me feel soft and apologetic.  I start to form a coherent response and apologize, but all of emphasized care, kindness, and affection being aimed directly at me was making my head spin and I was extremely tired. 

"T-t-thank you all so kindly..."

"Your thanks are not needed dearest baby brother, you never get to apologize for trying to explain how you feel, though I shall have you actually do that at a later time," Henry informed me, his voice also a gentle murmuring coo. 

I felt extremely young and I genuinely thought that they were condescending, but said not, why should I push away the people who truly care for me, I know that they have to be nice to me because of my father's orders or because Henry's my eldest brother, but they didn't have to comfort me.  I shall merely have to find a way to articulate what I think and feel in a different manner.  I nod at my brother and then he releases the hold on my neck and on the back of my head, so I am no longer forced to look into his eyes. 

We all begin to study the rituals, and once we finish the lesson for today they teach me the simple dance steps of the opening waltz.  We continue where I left off, and it occurs to me that I have always been taught the following steps, and not the leading ones.  Which makes me wonder how I didn't always know that I would be the obedient arm candy for someone else for the rest of my life. 

By the time that Henry releases me from the studying room, I'm exhausted and do not complain at all when Sir Anthony gracefully picks me up in a similar manner that Sir John did, in fact I'd reckon that all they did was switch places, as if they had this planned.  Sir John didn't make funny faces like Sir Anthony did, instead he reached forward and gently dragged his fingers vertically down my face to close my eyelids for me, "Sleep my dearest prince."

I, once again, didn't complain or go against his words, it was not long before I fell asleep listening to their even breathing and Sir Anthony's heart beat.

--- Author's Note ---

Sorry that this chapter is not as long as the others, but I had to end this one here because the next chapter will be written in third person, and I felt that it would make much more sense to start a new chapter that way versus changing in the middle of one. And it helps make sure that the chapters don't drag on forever and makes sure that I don't get lost in the details of certain things, rather than driving the plot forward, etc, etc.

Thanks for reading!!!

--- @trying-to-get-there ---