The Voice of the Nightingale

Part V

"How dare you listen in!" Ash shouted at her guard.
He backed up, now afraid.
"I really didn't mean to. I was just trying to check in when you started talking about his Majesty."
"Then you decided to carry on?"
Nicholas bowed, begging forgiveness. Ash couldn't stay angry. If she had heard her Queen talking about what she had, she wouldn't have stopped listening either.
"If you say anything to the King, I will be the one to kill you."
Her guard whimpered. Ash continued through the hallway and to her bedchambers. Nicholas followed. From inside, Ash could hear voices. She opened the door and found her husband sitting on the bed with another woman. The girl yelped and scrambled out. She used the thin sheet to cover her torso. "I see you've already found yourself some other form of entertainment."
"Have you heard of knocking?" Theodor asked. While he did so, the girl quickly slipped her dress over her corset and ran out of the room.
"I don't need to knock, it's my room."
"Well, give me some privacy once in a while."
Then, a servant walked in and looked over what was happening.
"What is it?" Theodor asked.
"Lunch, my King."
The servant left the room and the King got out of his bed. He pulled on a shirt and walked out the room. Ash made no attempt to run after him. She ambled out of the room and headed to where the dinning hall was. It was easy to find : everyone was heading there.
Ash walked in and found her husband already sitting down at the table. Lady Clemente sat at the head, entertaining her guests. She saw the Queen and signalled for her to sit in the seat next to her. The King was opposite Ash's chair.
"Lady Clemente! Nice to talk to you again."
Theodor looked over their exchange in surprise.
"You've met?" He asked.
"Yes, Ash was so kind as to stop at my study and play a game of chess with me. She is very good, trust me."
"Indeed, I quite enjoyed the time we spent."
A man came behind Ash and asked if she wanted any wine. She refused, however, her husband accepted, making sure to fill his cup each time he drained it. Their dinner arrived ; pork pie and spuds. Lucia and Ash continued to talk. It was the first meal in a while that the Queen had enjoyed.
"So, how is your family?" Lucia Clemente asked.
"Good, everyone is good."
"I heard your brother had a promotion recently. Isn't he a Provincial Commander now?"
"Yes, the whole family celebrated."
During Lucia and Ash's talk, the King made drunken conversation with the men of the Clemente family.

Soon, everyone finished their main course and dessert was served. It was a gooseberry tart, Ash's favourite.
"The cooks make nice tarts, don't they." Lucia commented as the Queen took a bite.
"Yes, it's astounding."
Ash finished her tart within minutes. Lady Clemente laughed as her Queen forgot all etiquette.
"You know, you try to act like an adult, but I can tell you're still a child under that little facade."
The Queen didn't disagree. She just ate her tart.

Lunch ended and everyone filed out. Ash wished Lady Clemente goodbye and waited for her husband. Theodor was drunk. Extremely drunk, and it was only early afternoon.
He stumbled to the door and Ash ran to his side. She had no care for her husband, but she couldn't risk him doing something stupid. The Queen allowed the King to lean on her shoulder. She guided him through the corridors and to their room. Nicholas and the other guard had not left with them and were still by the bedchamber's doors. They saw the drunken King and tried to help, but Ash waved them off.
They walked into the room and Ash dumped her husband onto the bed. She couldn't believe him. They would have to skip dinner : Theodor wouldn't be sober by then, and the Queen couldn't go to a meal without her King. It would start rumours, and that was something Ash couldn't afford. If people outside the castle started suspecting that the King was with a woman other than his wife, Ash's Reputation would lower further than it already had. Some people already believed she was unfaithful and didn't need any other material against her from the King.
Ash sat at the vanity and held her head in her hands. Why did she have to marry this man? He was a pathetic excuse for a King. A pathetic excuse for a husband.
A groan sounded from behind and Ash looked to where it came from. Theodor had his hand on his face and seemed to be the source.
"You're up." Ash said.
"Ugh."
He got up and stumbled slightly. Ash turned and looked over her face in the mirror. She could practically feel the wrinkles forming on her skin, life in the castle had been so stressful.
Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind. She struggled around to see her husband was her assailant. She tried to shout but his arm was locked around her neck.
"You are really pretty," he slurred, "You look just like they say you do; like the moon goddess Virgus."
He pressed his lips against her mouth. She struggled and flung her fists into his stomach. He dropped her to the floor and passed out on the bed.
Ugh, Ash thought. She could still feel his kiss on her lips and she was disgusted.
Someone knocked on the door and entered. It was the same servant who had called them to lunch. She looked around the room and saw the King in his bed. "Is the King okay?" The servant asked.
"Yes, he is fine. What is your purpose here?"
"The Lady Clemente has invited you to go riding with her. However, you must be busy so don-"
"I will go. Now, tell Lady Clemente that I will be at the stables."
The servant left and Ash got up. She was grateful to have a chance to leave the room. The King was still passed out on the bed, but he would wake up soon and she couldn't stand being treated like a replacement of his mistresses. Ash left the room and made her way to where she thought the stables were. She had to ask several servants on the way, but made it there eventually.
"Ash, you took a while." Lady Clemente said.
"Got a bit lost, but I made it here eventually, didn't I?"
The Queen's mare stood proudly at the gate. She was not wearing the Bidcambrough crest, but a simple saddle and bridle. It made the Ash smile, as she never wanted to have her horse wear the Bidcambrough crest and much preferred this. She got onto Ivory and spurred her out through the gates to meet Lucia.
"Shall we go?" Lucia asked.
"Yes, let's."