The King's Bride

Chapter 2: The Baker's Daughter

    As the sun rose from the east, a small village began to stir awake. Small shops started up their work, the roads were being filled up with people, and another day had begun. On the south side of village, a cozy cottage and bakery were teeming with life. The scent of fresh bread and goodies came from the busy bakery while the cottage door was opened up  by  a group of children. There were three young boys of twelve years and four little girls of ages four to seven years. One of the brothers went over to the open window of the bakery and spotted an older man bringing freshly baked bread to the window. The baker gave the children a smile and sat the bread at the window. "Good morning, my dear children.", said the baker. The children greeted their old father and took the bread he had made for them. "Thank you, father.", said the first brother as his siblings followed along, thanking their father as well. One bread remained on the tray and the second brother asked his father, " Aren't you going to have your breakfast, father?" The old baker chuckled, " Do not worry, my son. I woke early and already had my fill. That is for Adelina." He produced a basket and placed the bread inside, "If one of you can bring this to her before your chores, that would be very appreciated." The third brother took the basket and handed to the eldest of the little sisters. Then he pointed towards the back of their cottage, " Please go bring Adelina her bread. She'll be at the apple tree, you know how she is." The other children giggled at their brother's comment as their sister left to the back of the cottage. "Alright, children, enough jokes about your sister.", chuckled the baker, " We have work to do." One of the brothers and two of the sisters left into the bakery with their father while the other two took their other little sister to a well to retrieve water. The second of the little sisters looked at her father curiously and asked, "Why does big sister behave so oddly? Does she not like baking?" "Your sister just likes to do what she likes.", said the baker, "It's in her nature." Then he smiled, "I'm glad that she does. Someday she'll be something greater than she is now." The baker placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder , "Adelina is always like that. Besides, why would we want her any differently?" The brother chuckled, "Well maybe she can put some of that uniqueness to good use and help us in the bakery." They all laughed and the baker said, "She'll be here soon, my son." " I wonder what she's up to exactly.", said the brother. He stopped his work and left to the back of the cottage.
    Behind the cottage was a small farm. Chickens were sleeping in their coop,  cows were grazing, and ducklings were swimming in a pond with their mother. The brother looked over and saw his little sister looking up at their apple tree. He walked over, "Has Adelina had her bread yet? We need her in the bakery." " Not yet.", said the little sister. She showed her brother the bread, and the pointed up at the tree,"She's way up there." The brother looked up and sure enough was a young woman. Her reddish brown hair, tied in a lovely braid with a bow, shined in the morning light as her green eyes stared off at the sunrise over the waters of the ocean. She wore a light blue dress with a white apron and had dark brown slipper, her face was fair and her cheeks were a light pink. The brother yelled at her, "Adelina! We have your breakfast! Hurry down!" Adelina snapped out of her gaze and looked down at her siblings. "Oh alright. I'm coming down.", she sighed. She carefully worked her way down from the tree, adding a little jump at the end for style. The little sister clapped at her sister's trick while her brother just rolled his eyes. After Adelina guzzled down her share of breakfast, she hurried to the bakery to see her father. The baker smiled, "I was wondering when you'd come down. For a second, I thought you'd become a bird." Adelina turned slightly red and chuckled at her father's comment. "Well now that you're here," said the baker, "I need you to help me with the selling in town. The little ones are handling the shop today." Adelina nodded quickly and left, coming back a few minutes later with a cart. Together, they loaded freshly made breads and cakes, and then left for the village square.
By the time Adelina and her father entered the village square, the entire village was awake and alive. Merchants and tradesmen were busy at work while the locals made their daily commute. The baker stopped his cart in an open spot and began his morning sales. Adelina, on the other hand, was going through the market stalls with a little basket doing her family's shopping. She bought little things like fruit and trinkets for her siblings and a little bottle of liquid for her father. As she returned back, she noticed people were looking at little papers and whispering to each other. "Father?", she asked as she approached her father, "Father, what is happening?" The baker shrugged, "I haven't the slightest idea. The Royal Announcer is handing out those papers to everyone. He has yet to reach us." Adelina looked around and saw a small man, handing people papers upon papers. He cried out for all to hear, "HEAR YE! HEAR YE! THE HONORABLE, SIR MAVERICK, IS ON HIS WAY WITH NEWS FROM THE KING!" More murmurs and confused looks appeared as this was being said. Adelina looked to her father, "The king?""I wonder what news he apparently wants "Sir Maverick" to announce.", said the baker with a very disdainful tone. A horse rode full speed into the middle of the square, with a horseman on a hay wagon following behind. On the first horse was none other than Sir Maverick. The square fell silent with his arrival and everyone was confused . The baker's eyes widened at the sight of Sir Maverick. "Adelina, get down behind the cart!", he whispered hastily. Adelina gave her father a confused look, "What? Why?"
"Just do as I say child!", he replied as he forced his daughter behind their cart. Sir Maverick got off his horse and cleared his throat. "Listen all and listen well!", he said,  "I bring news from his majesty, King Gerard!" Adelina peaked from behind the cart. Sir Maverick continued, "Our most gracious king has been sad as of late, with reasons that do not concern you. So, he requests all eligible maidens to come with me to the castle at once. There he will pick his bride and she will become the kingdom's new queen!" Many of the young women began to squeal with delight. Sir Maverick grinned, "Please step lightly ladies. Our king awaits." Young women began loading onto the wagon. The baker whispered to his daughter, "Let's get out of here, Adelina. This isn't safe for you." Adelina, still confused, just agreed with her father and began to help her father push the wagon. Sir Maverick looked over at the cart and called for Adelina. "Young lady?", he said, "That includes you." Adelina stopped and looked at Sir Maverick, not very amused. "I'm sorry, Sir Maverick, but regardless if it's the king, I think I'll stay with my family." Sir Maverick glared at Adelina, approaching her and her father. He chuckled at the baker," Ah, Marvin. It's been quite some time since we've last met hasn't it?"  The baker grumbled, "Hello, Maverick." "That's "Sir Maverick" to you, Marvin. Your rudeness seems to have rubbed off on your lovely daughter here.", said Sir Maverick. Adelina turned red at the insult. She stepped forward and pushed Sir Maverick away from her father, "How dare you insult my father?! He is an honorable man with a heart of gold!" All the girls gasped at how Adelina talked to Sir Maverick. Sir Maverick became red in the face, " Now that's uncalled for! Our king will not take lightly to this! I can have your whole family ruined if you don't start obeying me!" "That's enough, Maverick!", yelled the baker. He stared dead into Sir Maverick's eyes, "You can insult me all you want, even arrest me, but the moment you speak ill towards my daughter I won't hesitate to hurt you." Adelina pulled her father back, "Please father don't!" Sir Maverick then had an idea and grinned wickedly. "Alright then, young lady. You have two options. Come with me at once, or you and your  father go to the dungeon for life. It's your choice." Adelina and the baker gasped. The baker looked at Adelina and pleaded, "Don't listen to him, dear. Stay here with your siblings. I'll take the fall for you. Just don't go with this bad man." Adelina looked at her aged father and then at the wagon of women. She sighed and looked at Sir Maverick with fury as tears welded up, "Let's go." Sir Maverick smiled, "I knew you'd see it my way. This way my child." He led her to an open spot on the wagon as the baker rushed over. "Adelina," , he took her hand, " be brave and be careful. I promise I'll come for you." Adelina nodded her head a little, "I will father. I'll be back, I promise!" Sir Maverick and the wagon ride off to the castle at high speed. Adelina wipes her tears as some of the women comforted her. One of the women lift the girl's head and gave a warm smile, "It'll be alright, dear. Hopefully things will turn out ok." Adelina sighed, "Yes. I hope so..."