The King's Bride

Chapter 1: A King With No Queen

"Your Majesty, you've been here for hours now. What is troubling you so?"

An old servant entered a large room where a young king was sitting on a fancy throne. The walls were decorated by beautiful tapestries that glistened with gold thread lacing their edges, a long soft carpet covered the ground reaching from the throne to the entrance, and candle holders were lit with many candles giving the room a golden glow. On the throne, the king looked over to the old servant carrying a silver tray and glanced over to an empty throne beside him. He sighed, and gestures to the empty seat, "Oh Bertram, my old friend, take a look at this lonely seat. Take a look at this empty room." Bertram looked around very confused. The king shook his head and sighed, "This room, though it shines its gold and beauty, is lacking life. This throne is lacking life, as well as I." As he stood up, the gentleman began to rant. "What is a king without someone to share his kingdom with? My father certainly had someone to share it with, and his father before him. So why shouldn't I?" He paced around the room, "I do not wish to be a lonely king. My father made sure he had someone by his side. Someone who he truly loved and would be his other. My mother filled that role until the end of her days and she was beloved by all who knew her. So now that I am king, I must find myself a queen," the king stopped in his tracks, " but with no princesses available, or even noblewomen, what am I to do?" "I'm afraid I wouldn't know the answer, your majesty.", said Bertram with a gentle fatherly tone, "I am only a servant." The king sighed and took off the crown from his head. He began to gaze into the purple stone on his crown with sad eyes. Bertram , instantly setting down the silver tray, came up to the king and placed his aged hand on his shoulder. "If you father and mother were still here with us, your majesty," he said, "I bet they'd tell you to find someone who you love and trust. Just as they had found each other all those years ago." The door to the throne opened up and there stood a large, well built man with a trimmed beard. His armor uniform was dark and face, while decent looking, was intimidating to look at. Bertram looked up and immediately took his hand off the king's shoulder. The soldier entered the room, "Forgive my intrusion, your majesty, but I couldn't help but over hear your little discussion." "Do not worry, Sir Maverick, you didn't intrude. In fact, I'm glad you're here.", said the king. He points to the empty throne next to his own, "We were discussing the matters of getting a queen to rule by my side." Sir Maverick scratched his chin, "A queen you say? That certainly is a dilemma." "Precisely, Sir Maverick.", replied to king, "This kingdom needs a queen. Someone who can be my other, someone I truly love, and someone who will uphold the title of 'Queen' with the same grace and wisdom as my mother did." The king placed the crown back onto his head and returned to his throne. "Sir Maverick, I want you to help me find a queen. As my trusted right hand man, I have full faith that you will find the perfect girl. This may be difficult, being that there are no available princesses or noblewomen." Sir Maverick grinned, " Oh that will not be an issue, your majesty." He gestured over to Bertram, "Bertram and I will go to the village in the morning and announce to the people that our glorious leader, King Gerard, will be taking a lucky gal to become his bride. After all, who wouldn't want to become your queen?" King Gerard smiled with excitement, "Excellent. Tomorrow, you will bring one girl to me to approve, and hopefully we will find our queen." "I promise you, your majesty, I will find your queen even if I have to watch all four corners of your kingdom. You have my word.", said Sir Maverick. He bowed before the king and then turned towards the door, leaving the king and Bertram to themselves. Out of sight, Sir Maverick grinned and looked out of a window in the hallway, looking over at the neighboring village. "Oh Gerard.", he said to himself, "So hopeful about love." He looked over at a portrait behind him. The portrait was of a small boy with two people; a man with a crown and a beautiful woman beside him. Sir Maverick chuckled maliciously, "Love only gets you so far. Now he wants a bride, so he'll get one MY WAY."