King Arthur watched Snow step past the guards and tug Ali along up to his tower. Briefly, his eyes met with the armored men. The king shot a threatening stare that said it all. They were not to pursue them for any reason.
He's a fine prince, but he still has a way to go to be a great king, he thought as he turned back towards the banquet hall.
The party was simmering down to only a few remaining guests, each saying their farewells before retiring back to their homes or their castle chambers for the evening. One did not need to hear the clock tower strike to know that it was well late into the evening. By now, the forest bats were well on the prowl beyond the castle walls. Wolves howled at the moon peeking from behind a veil of thick, dark clouds.
How funny is it that everyone sleeps at these hours? Yet now it feels that the world outside is most awake, King Arthur said to himself through his drunken haze.
He rubbed his face, stretching his cheeks as he found his way back to Queen Ophelia's side in a cushioned lounge area. A tired, almost frustrated groan erupted from Arthur's throat as he straightened himself up. "What a night," he spat out, resuming his thunderous, overjoyed attitude towards his wife. He gazed at her. "My love, how wonderfully you danced this evening. It makes me feel ten years younger every time I pair with you on the floor."
"Please, Arthur," she said gently right as she spat out a cherry pit from her lips. "You're too kind...and too drunk." Her final words scraped the air like rust even though her lips were held in an up-tight smile. When there was not much of a response, Ophelia leaned back and yawned, covering her mouth as she did so. "I don't suppose tomorrow there are any plans beyond rehearsal now, are there? A day to relax between all the festivity would be most rewarding to everyone."
"That you are correct. I've already informed the guards and our guests of the archbishop's instructions regarding tomorrow. So long as nothing unexpected occurs then we'll be finished before tea time, maybe even with a free hour for an afternoon hunt!"
"Both would be most welcome," she responded, keeping her eyes on the last of the guests taking their leave. Her eyes fell on Sultan Huran, making his way over towards them with a chalice in his hand. Ophelia continued speaking. "I suppose I shall retire the nursery-maid of her post for the evening. A kiss for our child, and then it's off to bed. Won't you come along, now?"
"As always, you have been the most gracious hosts to my kingdom," Huran spoke sternly as he took his place beside King Arthur.
"Our castle is always open to you and your court, Huran," Arthur said warmly. There was a pause, a shared look between the two kings before Arthur addressed his wife. "I shall follow you momentarily. Just spare old friends a few minutes to reminisce together."
She rolled her eyes as she smiled. "Very well then. Best not to remain awake too late, though. It's well past the magic hour. A new day will arrive soon." Ophelia stood and retired from the hall, leaving Huran and Arthur alone. It felt as though the last echo of joy went with her as the two sat for a moment, each taking a deep breath to relax.
"How long has it been?" Arthur began. "Twenty years? Twenty-five? Very soon, it will all be in motion. Hard to believe, isn't it?"
"Speak for yourself," Huran answered. Frustration erupted from his throat, seemingly soothed after taking a final sip from his cup. "That little speech of yours was for the satisfaction of your court. Nothing has been finalized, yet. I can still call this whole thing off tomorrow if I want."
Arthur shuddered at the thought. His eyes widened, and his hands balled into fists, wrinkling his robe. "You wouldn't dare."
Huran said nothing in response. He only stared at Arthur until the king blinked and shook his head.
"You want me to decide right now, don't you?"
"This should have been decided upon years ago. You can act as though everything has gone by design, but now it's a few days before the wedding."
"Do you truly expect me to give up my son and wait another twenty years for my second son to come of age?"
"And do you expect me to give up my own? Give up the only heir to the throne in my kingdom? How many times do you plan to have the same argument?"
Arthur fell silent. They were at a standstill. Huran's reasoning was for his country. Arthur's was for his selfishness. What's more, he still had another child who could take the throne in Snow's place. Briefly, a dark voice whispered in his ear. "That's right. Think of the little babe in his crib. The one you had for just such an occasion." He shook the intrusive thought from his mind, cursing at himself under his breath.
"I have already watched my first wife be taken by Death. I don't want to watch my son—"
"You accuse me of stealing your son? Would you have not done the same to me and taken my daughter had this arrangement gone as planned years ago?" Huran stood, voice thundering with rage. "It's a miracle we are even here today. Under the traditional law and old rulers, my kingdom would have declared war on yours for your son seducing Ali."
"My Sultan," Arthur began, raising both hands in a signal for peace. "Please, I didn't mean to speak so accusingly."
Huran shook his head with a huff before taking his seat again. "You are not the only king to experience loss and conflict of self and country, Arthur. I have been patient with Snow and even changed the laws of my kingdom to avoid war or executing my own son. I have done what is best for my family as well as for both our nations."
"And if the wedding were to be called off, would you declare war on us? Would you allow all this progress to go to waste?"
"No. Spilling the blood of hundreds of innocent civilians from our homes in acts of self-righteousness and upholding old beliefs would solve nothing."
There was a moment of silence before Huran continued. "You reached out to us when your first wife passed from the crimson plague. In her memory, you wished to rid your nation of any sickness, and in return, you promised my daughter a suitor. In the end, it was our sons who fell in love. Until now, I have been more than accommodating, but no more. You're to tell Snow and your kingdom that he will be returning to Nayzaria with us. In exchange, we will provide you with doctors, chemists, and our archive of all practiced medicine. That is my final say on the matter."
There was a thunderous bang as Arthur slammed his fist on the table, sending old fruit tumbling to the floor. "Absolutely not! I will not trade my son like he is a prized pig!" With a huff and a groan, he uncurled his fist and slumped in his chair as he massaged his forehead. In realizing what he had just said, Arthur took a deep breath to regain himself.
Huran remained silent, snorting at the pitiful display of the king beside him. "Arthur, you've told me how your kingdom was founded long ago more times than I care to remember." He paused to pour two fresh cups of wine from a bottle almost empty. "In a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides King Roll the First wanted to build a kingdom that would never need the aid of any other to stand."
They drank, and then Arthur spoke.