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Firewalk with Me (Madam Mim x EvelynWillows)

Althea was in her under-shift and stockings when Apollo came barrelling around the corner, nails clacking on the stone floor. Kneeling down she allowed herself to be knocked over by the overgrown pup, laughing. She sat up as he rolled over and sprang to his feet again, a lopsided grin on his face with his tongue lolling out. With another laugh, Althea scratched him vigorously all over and hugged him around the neck.

"Oooh who's a good boy, Apollo? Who was such a good boy on the long walk?" she cooed, rubbing his ears. "You're such a good dog, Apollo! Yeah boy, aww that feels good, doesn't it?" His head leaned heavily against her hand and he closed his eyes as she scratched behind his ears. "And you look so handsome with your fur all clean! What a puppy fit for a princess, huh boy? Mmm...welcome home, Apollo. I'll make sure Jacques gives you a nice patch of garden to dig up with lots of rabbits to chase." Sometimes Althea was unsure if Apollo was really quite the hunter he pretended to be; he never did catch those rabbits, and sometimes she was almost certain it was on purpose.

The princess stood and quickly changed into her night shift, beckoning Apollo up onto the bed ("just for tonight, I mean it!"). After the long day with Jacques being dead, becoming a princess, the party, Jacques being alive again but not wanting her, wanting her again, and all the things in between Althea was exhausted. She fell asleep quickly with her arm around Apollo's neck and her face snuggled in his fur.

The next day she awoke to breakfast and tea in bed, something they hadn't often.had even at Highchester. Apollo was taken to be let out to go to the bathroom and Althea smiled at the kind Lady Roberta.

"I didn't know I needed an invitation from my own betrothed to join him for tea," she remarked with a laugh, setting down the elegantly written invitation. "Though I suppose in a castle this big we could go for days without--oh my!"

She stood, throwing a silk dressing gown on to avoid any sort of impropriety, and looked for a spot to set the gifts down. She helped the servant arrange the gifts neatly on the writing desk and thanked him before sending him away. She had no idea what she was going to do with all of the God-knew wrapped up in pretty paper. Knowing formal occasions during which one got gifts from people one didn't know, it was probably a bunch of largely useless nonsense.

"Well, I'll need your help with the return gifts," Althea said after a moment's thought, "but I don't see why I shouldn't write my own letters. Do you?"
 
Lady Roberta raised and eyebrow and smiled. "There's no reason for you not to, princess. It's just a lot of letter writing. And, I'm sorry to say, King Alastair is always so busy that it's imperative that you make an appointment to see him if you need an audience prior to your marriage. Even his children must rally for his time."

She helped Althea sort through the gifts that had already arrived. There was gold-gilded statuary depicting fantastical creatures such as pegasus, mermaids, and fairies. Some where jewelry that radiated a soft light from their jewels. Others were elaborate candleabras, gem-encrusted drinking vessels, silk embroidered with elaborate scenes, meant to drape on the wall or over a bed, and exquisite soaps made from the most fragrant flowers and herbs Althea had ever smelled. "Of course our Protectorates scan your gifts to make sure no harmful enchantments are upon them. You can rest assured, my princess, that the king will spare no expense in assuring your continued safety."

She poured them both warm minty teas with orange essence in them. "He did love Queen Annabelle dearly, my princess. I believe that, given time, you and he could find the same level of love." Lady Roberta took a sip of tea. "It seems like your brother has made an impression on the court already, my dear. It's possible that this spring might even see a double wedding if things continue to progress this well."
 
"Well, if I let everyone do everything for me I'll be bored, and bored is probably one of the worst things to be, out of things one can be," Althea stated with a somewhat cheeky smile. "Besides, what a terrible epitaph that would make, wouldn't it? Here lies Althea, beloved queen. She was bored." She chuckled and shook her head. "I like to do a good many things for myself. Having someone else write your thank-you letters for you has always seemed disingenuous to me, and I hate people who are like that. Makes them very difficult to trust."

When Roberta talked about enchantments, Althea took a step away from the stack of presents. They were all very lovely, but she hadn't even thought about enchantments. She eyed them suspiciously, as though one of them might jump up and curse her at any moment.

"Yes...yes of course," she said slowly, still eyeing the gifts. "I suppose it would be wise not to touch them until they'be been deemed safe, hmm?" When Roberta talked of a double-marriage, Althea snorted. "Lady Roberta, I'm afraid I've brought a burden on this castle and my brother must be sent away at once. I assure you, he's no closer to marriage than I am to marrying Apollo." The princess looked down as the dog came trotting back in, looking much happier and damper, though one of the grooms had managed to get him mostly dry out in the stables before letting him back in.

"Speaking of Apollo," Althea said slowly, watching her faithful dog curl up by the fire for a mid-morning nap. "My lady, you never told me what a familiar is. Do you think Apollo could be my familiar?"
 
"Ah, yes. A familiar. Well, Alastair told me that your people don't believe in magic, but over here everyone with a drop of nobility in their veins has a bit of magic. Some of them also have an animal friend who helps them to direct their powers, hm? For instance; a hunter who can see through his falcon's eyes, or a woman who's cats can tell her what other people are whispering in the dark. They're...helpers. People used to kill off other's familiars as a way of hurting them and reducing their powers too; a person has to give a bit of their life to their familiar. If you lose too many of them you can actually die."

She sighed. "It always seems too risky to meld my life with an animal, but Apollo sure would fit the bill as your protector." She reached down and scratched Apollo's ear. "I heard that Duke Highchester, your esteemed father, has asked that Sir Edward remain here as his voice until he can make it to the wedding. I had heard that you and your brother are very close, your highness. Why would you want to send him away?"
 
Althea raised her eyebrows at Lady Roberta's explaination of familiars. "Well, if being my familiar puts him in danger, I think I'd rather not..." she said, watching the lady-in-waiting pet her dog. "He's a very loyal protector and friend. A very good dog. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost him, especially if it were my fault." She cleared her throat delicately. "We er...we do believe in magic, but I was raised to believe it was unholy and unnatural. Given several situations, however, my mind has slowly begun to change about that."

The princess had to take a few moments to weave her way around questions about her brother. Finally she spoke. "Sometimes you hold so tightly to someone that you don't realize how far apart you truly are," she began slowly. "My brother is...changed, to my eyes anyway, since the war and we are not as we once were. What I said, Lady Roberta, was I suppose just a joke in poor taste. All I meant was that Edward enjoys spending time with the young ladies he meets, but is quite far from being the marrying kind."
 
Lady Roberta nodded knowingly. "Well, we'll be sure to keep that in mind regarding your brother then, shall we?" She smiled. "Don't worry, young princess. We'll both keep our eyes open."

The morning went quickly; tailors were brought in to measure Althea, and before she knew it the lunch hour was upon them. A squire was sent to tend to Apollo and talk him for a walk on the grounds, and pleasantly enough, Sir Edward was nowhere to be seen. It was almost like he was gone from the castle completely.

The sun shone bright on the cold snow. In the middle of the garden was an old greenhouse; a place to keep the flowers growing that graced the castle in the middle of the winter cold. Small lamps were suspended from the ceiling and a fountain in the middle of the structure added a light melody to the setting. A few servants were busy setting the table still, and a few cages of exotic song birds were being tended by their keepers.
 
Althea smiled at the kind noblewoman and nodded. "Yes, of course," she agreed.

Tailors and seamstresses came in by the dozens. They measured every measurement Althea could think of and several she hadn't. Even Tess hadn't been this diligent in tailoring her clothes to fit. At one point the poor squire came back, soaking wet with Apollo in tow. The dog looked very pleased with himself at his roll in the snow.

Althea was quite hungry by the time she was led down to the greenhouse. She was quietly grateful that Edward hadn't come to try and find her yet, nor was he in the greenhouse waiting for her. The little oasis in the snow was incredible. Althea's mouth dropped open slightly when she saw the lush foliage and exotic, colorful birds. She stood back, waiting for the servants to finish settling the table.

"This is incredible," the princess murmured to Lady Roberta. "I didn't know His Majesty loved the outdoors so much."
 
"There are many things you don't know about me," King Alastair said as he came around a dense stand of ferns, taller than a man. He smiled at Lady Roberta. "Cousin, how are you this night?"

The lady smiled and curtsied. "Well, my lord." She looked over at Althea and wished her a peaceful night before retiring.

"And how are you?" The king asked Lady Althea. "Have you found your accommodations acceptable? We can move you closer to your brother if you'd feel safer closer to him." The king offered her his arm to take as they walked through the greenhouse. "I always found that family were indispensable. They are sometimes the difference between viewing something as a good thing or a horrible event."

He led them past a soft fountain, small streams, and then back to where an intimate table for two had been set. "I hope you don't mind eating in here. It's one of my favorite places."
 
Althea jumped as the king revealed himself, then smiled and took his arm. "I'm well, my lord," she said with a pleasant smile. "Thank you for the offer, but after a month in such close quarters I believe my brother and I have seen quite enough of each other for a while."

Althea chuckled nervously as her heart fluttered about. It really only now hit her that this was the king! She felt like she should curtsey more or something.

"Not at all, sire," she assured him. "I feel it may become one of my favorite places, too. I ah...I confess I've never been one much for indoors. I trust your morning was pleasant?"
 
King Alastair smiled as he pulled a chair out for her at the small metal table. Near them was a buffet with a few platters and bowls of food on it, and a pot of warm hot chocolate. "My morning was spent hearing certain land lords insist that they needed to raise the rent on the farmers in the middle of winter to supplement their own wood bills, and trying to sort through petitions in which both parties believed that they were in the right. It was mundane, irritable, but ultimately necessary that I endure such things for the kingdom, though I'm certain that if certain offspring of mine would decide to grow up I could delegate such tasks to them."

He waited while a servant poured warm cups of chocolate for them and served roasted duck, sliced red potatoes, and steamed breads stuffed with sweet meats to the king and his betrothed. It was, for all intents, a simple meal for royalty. The king waited for the servant to be done, then thanked the servant by name and dismissed the others. Soon they were the only ones in the greenhouse.

"I know that this is not your choice to marry me Althea." King Alastair looked intently at her from across the table. "And I also realize that it takes great courage and dedication to act with such poise in such a difficult position. I feel that we should be honest with each other, my dear, at least when we are in private. You deserve to know that I do not want you to feel like I am a stranger to you."
 
Althea smiled a little when the king made a sideways comment about the delegation of tasks. "I take it you mean your son," she said quietly. "He seems grown to me...although I realize I'm younger than even your youngest children. Perhaps if you showed him more that you trust him with such tasks, he would show you more willingness to step up to them?"

Althea looked around to make sure they were alone. This was a very intimate conversation indeed. She chewed the wonderfully-cooked duck, as though chewing over how best to answer him.

"I don't want to feel like a stranger to you either," she said at last, looking up from her food. Her heart thundered in her chest. "In the interest of honesty, sire..." She took a deep breath. "In the interest of honesty, my heart belongs to another. I understand such a thing is very ill-advised, given the circumstances, but I feel it's natural to a woman of my age. However, this does not impair my judgement concerning matters of state nor in being a queen or a wife. You have my assurance, your majesty, that my feelings will not affect my judgement nor will they interfere with my duties to you as a wife and queen." Althea waited for the blow, for the explosion, wanting to close her eyes so she wouldn't see it coming but unable to; she had to keep looking the king in the eye or risk seeming insincere.
 
"Yes, I heard that you had a special boy," King Alastair said as he calmly cut a small piece of duck breast and put it into his mouth. He, too, used chewing as a way to stall while he analyzed what he would say. Once he was done masticating and swallowed he nodded. "By all accounts that affair ended when he boasted falsely of taking your virginity. Your champion saw to that I am told. So the question that your future husband is asking, dear Althea, is who is this other man you now love, and if you understand what your position as the queen will dictate you do, or do not do?"

He took a sip of the warm chocolate and watched his future bride across the table. The king reached across the table and laid a rough hand on her soft one. "You are correct my dear in the assumption that you are younger than my own children. Many would find it strange that I would care to court a bride as young as yourself, and from the very bosom of my greatest enemy as well. If you would trust me and be faithful to my plans, though you know them not, I promise you that in the end you will find yourself very well rewarded, my dear. I don't know if you can do this or not, but I'd like to give you the chance to try."
 
Althea blushed as the king put the emphasis on the word boy. Did he just see her as a little girl, too? She chewed her lip nervously as he told her what he knew of her and Sir Rupert.

"In retrospect, my lord, Sir Rupert seems to have just been filler," she said quietly, surprised that the king wasn't angry--or didn't seem to be--at her confession. "But yes, he did make that false claim and my champion did defeat him in a duel for my honor. Please Your Majesty, forgive me but I would rather not mention him by name at the very least for his protection and my own. We seem quite alone, but one never knows who's listening. I suppose that's especially true for magic."

The princess took a few more bites, contemplating how best to answer the king's next question. "As for what this entails for me as queen, I understand that indiscretions are very ill-advised. I understand that I am expected to produce an heir and to learn how to rule fairly and justly. My true affections are not to be made known outside of your confidence." Althea intentionally left out anything resembling a promise to stay faithful to the king.

"My lord, trust comes with time," Althea said once he had asked her to trust in him. "But I would like to trust you. I will try very hard. However, it would be easier for me to trust if I knew at least part of this plan of yours."
 
The king smiled and dropped his gaze for a moment. "Ah...Annabelle would have found you delightful, my dear." He looked back up at his betrothed and took a small bite of bread as he considered her diplomacy and intelligence. "This greenhouse is a favorite of mine, dear Althea, because it is enchanted, you see, against such magical intrusions. Unless someone were inside these walls they could not hear our conversation, and I can assure you that there are no invisible ears in here."

He leaned back in his chair and rested an arm across the backrest as he looked across the table at the young woman before him. Alastair had his white hair cropped short, perhaps to allow more comfort underneath his helmet. Indeed, he had been at the battles along with Althea's brother and Jacques. He was an older man, but still fit, and his blue eyes sparkled with humor and an easy nature at her. "I'm pleased to see that you are not as hateful of magic as your predecessors. It would be disappointing to think that men died for seven years and magic and gods were still a topic to die over."

"I know that you'll be relieved to hear that I don't require a heir. I have them. I'd enjoy another child or two, but you don't need to believe that your status here requires producing a son, as if you were a mere broodmare." He took a bite and watched for Althea's reaction before continuing.

"You are the daughter of a man who would see me burned at the stake for being a heretic and a magician, Althea. Believe me when I say that it takes far greater faith for me to trust you than for you to trust me. However, I will tell you a little bit about what I am considering. You, my dear, have long been a clever girl. Reports about you say that you have learned to ride and even to fight, alongside your lessons in Latin and numbers. Your tutor brags about how sharp you are in your studies of botany and how you seem to learn new concepts quickly and thoroughly. In short, you would have been the perfect son for a king." He smiled. "Of course, we can all attest to the fact that you are not a son."

King Alastair smiled and sipped at the warm chocolate. "I want to marry a young woman who I can teach, Althea. Someone who will learn how to run the kingdom and protect the people in it so that when I die, she can take my son as her husband and rule."

He nodded. "It's been done before. My boy has never been taught to think as a ruler. He's a fine commander of men and he does well on the battlefield, but he does not think the way a king should. It's partially my fault, I know. I allowed his upbringing to persist even when I realized what was happening. But now I see a solution in you. I want him to be well-equipped when I die, Althea, and I want you to promise me that no matter what your heart wants you will respect my wishes in this. I need to know that you will do as I ask when I'm gone."
 
Althea smiled gently, but shifted a little uncomfortably. "Still, my lord, I.would rather not speak his name aloud. It does no harm to you, and is very painful for me." She took a deep breath and tried to get away from the topic. "But no, my lord, I bear no ill will against magic which does no harm. I was raised to treat it with mistrust and suspicion, but recent events have rather opened my mind. You are not at all how I was told, either."

The Princess visibly relaxed when told she wasn't to be used for breeding purposes. She blushed appropriately as he complimented her on her cleverness and looked down at her plate. She smiled when told she still wasn't a son. "No sire; last time I checked, I was still very much a daughter. Well, to you a bride I suppose."

When he announced that she was to marry his son when he was gone, however, she choked on the hot chocolate. Wiping her mouth and chin quickly, she stared wide-eyed at the king as he went on. But she was supposed to marry Jacques! She had seen it!

"My Lord, I...that's incest!" Suddenly remembering who she was speaking to, Althea cleared her throat and sat up straighter, working hard to control her tone. "Many would consider it incest, sire," she continued in a much calmer tone. "The High Council would never sanction that, would they? And...your highness..." Althea figited, wondering whether to reveal what she had seen. But the king himself was a great magician, everyone said so...surely he wouldn't cast her out for a gift she hadn't asked for?

"Sire, I have seen things," Althea said calmly. "At first I thought it was the work of Inklings, but I know in my heart that it isn't. I have seen pieces of the future of this kingdom. I couldn't in good conscience make this promise because...well, because I haven't seen Prince Owen at all."
 
"Are you a sighted one?" King Alastair asked, leaning forward. "Have you seen Owen's death, Althea? I would like to know if you have." His eyes grew troubled as he studied her. "There is no incest here. You'd be marrying my son, not yours. It would be no less legal or moral than your marriage to me."

He seemed to be considering something but then he took a sip from his cup and drew in a deep breath. "No, not Prince Owen though he would be a fine choice for you if you don't mind seriousness. You need to marry my eldest son. Prince Duncan. I've allowed him to be hidden away in sorts since he was nearly killed as an infant. Almost everyone thinks he is dead, and for all intents and purposes he is." He sat back, looking at Althea. "I have hid him so well, in fact, that it will be difficult to prove his birthright. I need proof, Althea, and that can only come as a confession from the man who tried to kill him."

King Alastair pushed his plate away from himself as if he no longer had an appetite.
 
Althea shook her head, wishing she hadn't said anything about it. She didn't want to grieve a father before anything had come to pass.

"I've not seen his death, my lord...but neither have I seen his presence, at least not in my future." She searched for some sort of comfort for him. "It may just be that every time I have seen, he's been away from the castle. Or, if the worst is to befall him the future can always change, my lord." She smiled briefly. "I've seen it happen, to have hope where there once was none. Please, my lord, don't despair at what hasn't come to pass; it was never my intention to cause you grief."

Althea rose her eyebrows as the king explained. She, too had stopped eating. She blinked a few times, wondering if he meant her to turn spy.

"Lord Perigod, you mean." It wasn't a question. "My lord, J---my champion's brother and sister-in-law have a standing invitation to visit me here. They're very pleasant people. I could invite his parents along too, if you'd like. If that's what you mean for me to do." She didn't like the idea of marrying someone who wasn't Jacques, but if she didn't have a choice in the matter she would rather her husband have a legitimate claim to the throne she was being groomed to protect.
 
"Jacques. You are referring, of course, to Sir Jacques' brother and sister-in-law. That would work; perhaps after the wedding then. No doubt they are no the miles-long guest list for our wedding but that will not be the time to expose him. He'll be more inclined to take care in his words at such a large event."

"I am sorry, Althea, about the fiasco with your champion. That is typical of that damned Perigod. He always wanted to rule. Even now I'd be surprised if he doesn't covet the High Duke position your father has. There is talk of dividing the kingdom, you know; of making your father a king in his own respects. But truly, I'm sorry you had to lose your champion like that. Perhaps you will find another to take his place once you've a chance to assess the knights of our kingdom."

"Tell me, Althea. Do you have any hopes of your own? Is there anything you aspire to that I can help you achieve? Music? Marksmanship? Or perhaps you enjoy your gardening?"
 
"Perhaps we could invite them to stay after the wedding?" Althea suggested. "Or before? Although, I suppose my succession to the throne ought to be solidified first." She didn't like the thought of fooling Jacques' brother and sister-in-law just to get to his wholly unpleasant parents, but it eased her conscience a little in regards to her plans with her love.

The princess became visibly upset at the mention of her champion. Of course she knew now he was alive, but she dug into the part of herself that half-believed that part of last night to be a dream and her lover was truly gone forever. She had to take a moment to compose herself.

"Forgive me but dividing the kingdoms is a terrible idea, my lord," she began. "We only just reunited them and my father can be a bit of a tyrant as he is with the high duchy. Giving him an entire kingdom would only mean war, and my brother is no better." She shook her head and bit her lip at the idea of a new champion. "Jacques had been my dearest friend since I can remember, sire; no champion could take his place, and I feel it would be an insult to his memory to try."

Once the topic turned to her hobbies she cleared her throat and forced a smile. It was a bit easier to stay dry-eyed now. "I enjoy reading, my lord," she answered truthfully. "If there's room in one of the towers somewhere, I'd like to have a study if I could for my books. I don't need a whole library, but in Highchester I had a room for such a thing where I spent nearly all of my time in the winter. But apart from perhaps archery I fear there wouldn't be much you could help me with, at least if you hold the same values as everyone else." She rolled her eyes. "I'm afraid you didn't pick the most lady-like of queens; I've always felt an actress only playing the part of a lady. I'm a fair huntress, but nobody is willing to teach me how to box. I ah...was always quite the tomboy, though against my will I was moulded into a lady. As a child I would wrestle with Jacques and by the time he was old enough to teach me how to fight...well, even pretending to take a swing at the king's intended would have been instant imprisonment if anyone saw, no matter what I said." She smiled sheepishly and shifted in her chair. "I do enjoy gardening, but Apollo more enjoys digging up what I plant." She smiled and shook her head.

"What do you enjoy, my lord?" Althea asked politely, genuinely interested. He didn't seem.a typical old man.
 
King Alastair chuckled. "Dividing the kingdom is certainly not my idea, dear one. I'd prefer a single kingdom under my 'tyrannical' rule." He smiled at the self-jibe. "I want one empire, my dear. One land and one law, but I also want to be able to exist without fear of the gallows or the fire."

He listened to her tell him of her hobbies, and mentioned that she was welcome to use his library at any time. If she preferred her own space, though, he could arrange that. He laced his fingers before him on the table and leaned on his elbows when she spoke of being unconventional. "Annabelle was a remarkable lady. She shot better than most hunters, and she was a fine swordswoman. But what she did that was remarkable was she mastered the art of Juko-kai. Have you heard of it, my dear?"

Alastair watched her with a secretive smile on his face. He was glad to hear of her long-standing friendship with Jacques. The boy had been born Prince Duncan Alexander of Ellington. He had nearly died when his mother's caravan was attacked, but then for some strange reason Duke Perigod had taken the child and played him off as his own boy, Jacques. And the real Jacques had been rechristened Johannes and been named a year younger. Alastair found out about it only when he met Sir Jacques on the battlefield and realized how similar he was to his younger brother, Owen. A quick mental probe by the experienced king had pulled out infantile memories that confirmed the knight's true identity.

"Juko-kai is a very interesting fighting style, one well-suited to the warrior who fights more with her mind than her strength. I was considering having my newest recruits learn it. Perhaps you'd like to join them? Olivia will be one of the teachers."

He hoped that they two girls would hit it off. "And before we go much further, my dear, because I value loyalty and truthfulness, I want you to know that I know." He looked sternly at her. "So, I want to hear it from your own lips, Althea. Let there be no secrets that divide us."
 
Althea shook her head. "There are plenty here in the north who remain true to the old ways, my lord, and many who would die for you. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Dividing the kingdom would be more detrimental to your rule than fighting to keep it together." She sighed. "My father has spread a lot of propoganda about you and magic users which I'll work to dispel."

Her lips twitched into a slight frown when the king mentioned a strangely named fighting style. "Juko-kai? No sire, I've never heard of it. But if you don't mind I would like to learn. I'm glad you don't hold the views of most others that a woman should be dainty and reserved above all else." She rolled her eyes. "This means to most that she should also be helpless; a belief I've never held."

The princess's heart stopped when the king said that he knew. Knew what? About her and Jacques? That he was alive? Or about Edward? Maybe all of it. Or maybe it was a trick to make her tell on herself. Sighing, she looked down at her lap, trying to think of the revelation which would be least harmful.

"My lord, I..." She looked up at him, knowing she needed to meet his gaze for this but not wanting to. "I'm in love with Jacques dePerigod, my lord. I always have been, since childhood, and always will be. It's not something I can help, and he's encouraged me many times to try and learn to love you. He holds you in very high regard, you know." Althea's voice shook slightly, but she admittedly felt better after telling him.
 
King Alastair nodded. His face remained neutral as he thought over her revelation. "Your champion Sir Jacques died in that fire in Perigod. I know he was a very loyal man. He was a good man in many ways, integral to the end of the Seven Years' War." He fidgeted with the napkin near his plate as he talked. "I think it would be fitting for us to arrange a memorial service for him, and to put Jacques dePerigod to rest for good." He watched Althea very closely as he explained his thoughts to her.

"Perhaps you could work with the masons and create a fitting monument? I doubt there will be anything of the sort in Perigod to mark his passing. The reports are that the Duke was never very close to his eldest son. He always preferred the second one." He looked up and smiled at Althea. "That's what we'll do, my dear. After our wedding we'll arrange for a memorial service; invited Lord Johannes and his wife, and Jacques' parents as well. We'll give your champion a proper send off."

He smiled softly. "Only, you and I know the truth, do we not? And that will be a secret we keep tightly locked up until it needs not be a secret any longer."
 
Althea looked down at her lap as the king explained his plan. She supposed Jacques would have to be dead from now on, forever more Alexander the gardener. The thought made her sad, though she didn't know why; it wasn't like he was really dead. Still, a world deprived of the identity of Sir Jacques dePerigod was less bright. She chewed her lip and blinked the tears out of her eyes before looking up.

"That's very thoughtful and generous of you, my lord," she said softly. "Thank you. Although his son's memorial would be an ironic and very public place for his father's confession, I would rather you get it at some other time. If it's all the same to you, sire."

The princess blinked when he gave a sly mention of knowing the truth. Already it seemed they were mired in a web, a game of hide and seek, where she didn't know what he already knew. "Which truth, my lord?" Althea asked after carefully considering how to phrase her question.
 
King Alastair smiled at Althea and folded his napkin before laying it on the plate. "It's late. Let us continue tomorrow, my dear. Perhaps you will again humor me with lunch here. I find it is my favorite place in the middle of winter. Now, though, with our marriage only a few weeks away I find that the list of duties I have has stretched quite far."

"I will have Olivia contact you about your training with her. Otherwise feel free to roam the castle. Every place is open to you, Althea, with the exception of the fourth floor on the west wing. Of course, if you ever wish to sit in on the audience hall and listen to the functioning aspects of this kingdom you are more than welcome to do so. Perhaps it would give us something to discuss during lunch the next day." He stood, effectively ending their date for the moment.

"It was a pleasure my dear. I think this will work well." With that he pulled on his gloves and began to leave the greenhouse, failing to answer Althea's question regarding truth. Perhaps failing was the wrong word. He purposely neglected to answer her question.
 
Althea was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. She stood when the king did and pulled on her winter cloak to shield herself from the cold.

"If there's anything I can do to help, my lord, please let me know," she offered humbly. "I have a difficult time tolerating idleness and would be grateful for the occupation. And I would love to join you again tomorrow."

The princess noticed that the king had intentionally avoided her question. She wanted to ask also what was in the west wing on the fourth floor. But that would have to wait until tomorrow. A burning curiosity gripped her, wanting to investigate for herself, but that would be a very poor way indeed to start off with the king. Perhaps she could have Dom Pierre look into it for her.

Outside, Apollo was waiting patiently in the snow for his mistress. Furrows in the clean white sheet betrayed where he had frollicked and rolled, and now he stood dusted a fine white, grinning with his tongue lolling out as though proud of himself.

"Apollo!" Althea scolded playfully. "You were just all nice and dry!" She rubbed his head vigorously and started to trudged through the snow back to the castle. "C'mon, boy! Let's get warm."
 
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