She ran and she ran and when she finally stopped she collapsed against one of the mighty stone pillars holding up the hallways. “He cannot be gone,” she cried aloud. “He cannot be gone!”

“Princess?” asked a cold hard voice, causing Ainslie to look up.

“Can I help you?”

Kallen nodded, “Indeed you can,” he assured with a smirk as he placed a finger to her mouth indicating that she was to listen. He watched as Ainslie straightened up as sounds of swords clashing came to their eyes.

“What is that?” she asked.

“That my dear is the sound of revolution,” he stated and then without warning he seized Ainslie by the arm. “And you along with your entire family will meet the executioner’s block if you do not do one thing for me.”

“And what is that?” asked Ainslie with venom in her voice.

“Marry me.”

“Ugh!” Ainslie exclaimed as she tried to wriggle from his grasp. “I will do no such thing! I will marry no one seeing how my betrothed is dead.”

Kellan’s eyes narrowed. “I thought that you were in love with a peasant.”

“That peasant was really Prince James of Saskia in disguise,” Ainlie spat out. “And he is dead because of that I will have nothing to do with a man ever.”

Kellan laughed. “Oh so you knew,” he stated with a smile. “I thought that the blow to your heart would be hard enough knowing that your peasant was dead, but to find out that you knew that he was really Prince James all along makes this whole endeavour all the more worth while.”

Tears rose once more to Ainslie’s eyes. “You-” she stated in horror. “It was you…you had him killed? You- you monster!”

“Monster?” asked Kellan with a smile. “No. I am ambitious and cunning, cleaver and devious but never a monster, and you shall marry me.”

“No.”

Kellan gripped her arm a little tighter. “Yes.”

Ainslie glared at him. “No.”

“Yes,” Kellan insisted, gripping her arm tighter still.

“No.”

Kellan’s eyes narrowed. “If you do not marry me your family will die.”

Ainslie closed her eyes and wrenched herself out of Kellan’s grasp, her head bowed in submission. She was not to proud to put her own life before that of her family and finally, with no strength in her voice and her shoulders slumped in defeat she nodded. “Alright,” she stated her voice cracking. “I will marry you.”

IOIOIOI

Kellan had arranged for Ainslie and him to be wed the following day on her sixteenth birthday, the entire court was to be in attendance but his loyal soldiers who outnumbered the guests three to one ensured that everyone behaved. Ainslie was having her hair done by her mother, as was the custom in Castillia and Mora, now a mere Lady instead of a Queen was deeply saddened.

“You do not have to do this,”

Ainslie nodded. “I do. Kellan would kill you if I did not.”

“But Prince James.”

Ainslie shook her head gazing down at her ring lovingly. “Prince James and my dear Andrew were one and the same and he was the man found in the meadow. My betrothed is dead….”

But he cannot be dead, her mind added as she broke down into sobs once more. If he was really dead then I would know…my heart would have known.

IOIOIOI

The morning passed all to quickly and soon Ainslie was walking down the aisle towards her future husband, all the while memories of her time with James floating through her mind.

How did I survive? Sir?

I uh- dived after you and pulled you from the river. You are alright, aren’t you?

Yes. Yes I am alright. Thank you for saving me sir….?

Oh, I am Andrew.

And I am Elsabeth. Thank you for saving my life.

A gentleman helps a lady in need.

Well I would not have been in need if you had not frightened me

Of course m’lady, I do apologize.

No need to apologize, you saved my life.

That I did m’lady; you are of Castillian birth?”

Yes, but I seem to be on the wrong side of the river…

Do not fear m’lady. I will ensure that you can get home.

Oh I know that I will get home, there is a bridge further down river. We can cross there.

Ainslie began to walk down the aisle, clinging to the memories as a much needed distraction from the horrors of what should have been the happiest day of her life. She was sixteen and getting married- but not to the man she wished to wed.

You came, I did not think that you would come.

I am never one to back away from a gift of thanks, especially from a woman as beautiful as you.

I am no woman, I am not even sixteen yet.

Really? When is your birthday?

In four days actually, my parents did say that they had this wondrous surprise for me, but they will only tell me on the actual day.

I understand, my own parents have been hinting at a surprise of their own, but I do not trust them. They are all together entirely too cheerful.

Is that a bad thing?

No of course not, but Elsabeth, if your parents are the stoic type, strong and firm like the stone in which your house is built and they then begin to exhibit signs of joyfulness and a tendency to be excited would you not be suspicious.

I suppose…..well, this is it.

Wow, this is a gorgeous meadow.

Breath-taking is it not?

Very,

These are my most favourite flower, I have never understood why…

Well perhaps you were given a gift of them when you were a child,

“And indeed I did,” Ainslie whispered to herself as she played with the ring on her finger coming to stand in front of her husband to be. “He gave them to me…”

“Pardon?” Kellan asked.

Ainslie said nothing and merely cast her eyes to the floor, signalling that the ceremony was to start. But while the minister droned on, she replayed more of her few precious moments with James in her mind.

How old are you?

I am twenty-one now, But I will be twenty-two in a couple of months.

Oh, That must mean that you are married.

No, not yet.

Really? Why ever not?

I guess that I just never found the right girl, at least not yet; but I know that she’s out there…somewhere….So Elsabeth, you must be engaged yourself.

No Andrew, I am not engaged.

Surely you must have suitors,

Men have come calling it is true, But I am waiting for the right man to come along and sweep me off my feet. A prince even.

I do believe I already did that,

You startled me off a cliff into the river, I would not call that sweeping me off my feet…and besides, you are not a prince.”

Well if I was a prince, if I was a prince then you would not be able to marry me anyway/

And why is that?

You are not a princess.

This is true…I suppose that it is a silly dream.

I never said that.

Ainslie was jolted out her thought momentarily when she heard Kallen pledge to love and honour her for the rest of her days. It was then that the minister turned to Ainslie herself. “And do you Ainslie Elsabeth Brywen, Princess of Castillia take Kallen to be your husband?”

Oh. It is late. I must be going…

As must I, may I see you tomorrow?

Of course, Right here in this very spot, after the mid day meal.

Elsabeth, Why are Forget-me-nots your most favourite flower?

“Princess?” asked the minister, concerned that Ainslie wasn’t answering.

They are my most favourite flower because they stand for true love, do not forget me handsome stranger.

I could never forget you….I never will forget you…

Never ever…

“Never ever,” whispered Ainslie as she blinked, regaining focus as the court gasped in shock. “I will never marry Kellen. I do not love him and worst of all it was he who killed Prince James of Saksia, my betrothed.”

“You will marry me,” muttered Kallen. “You will,”

“No.” Ainslie stated loudly. “No I will not.”

Kallen’s eyes narrowed in hatred. “Then you shall be the first to die.”

Then before she or anyone could react, Kallen pulled out a small dagger from his boot and plunged it into Ainslie’s stomach. Pain shot through her as she dropped her bouquet of white-roses to clutch her stomach. She fell to the ground as her world began to darken, though at the reached of her consciousness she could hear someone crying out as though they were horrified at what was happening.

Little did Ainslie know, but while Kallen had tried to have James killed- he had survived and he had quickly gathered as many men as he could and had just stormed the chapel where the wedding was taking place, and he had seen her say no to Kallen and he had seen her get stabbed. “NO! AINSLIE!” he cried out, causing all eyes to look to him.

“Why isn’t it the little prince,” muttered Kallen darkly as he motioned for his soldiers to attack him. “I thought that I had killed you.”

“You tried,” answered James, trying to appear stronger than he actually was. “But you failed.”

Kallen laughed. “I did not fail, I managed to get rid of one of the children of Castillia, the son of Saskia should not be that hard.”

A rush of rage came over James and he attacked the military man who blocked his thrust easily. It was at that moment that James glanced down and saw that Ainslie was still breathing. “She isn’t dead,” he muttered, looking to his opponent, not quite aware that the entire court was taking on Kallen’s soldiers. “You could not kill me and you did not kill her.”

Kallen laughed. “The day is young…” he pulled back and began to go on the offensive. “This little prince thinks that he can save his princess.”

“I can save her,” James assured as he blocked every move the man made.

“There is no way that you can save her boy,” Kallen stated as he continued to fight with the young prince, eventually knocking the prince to the ground. “You are weak and I am strong and now you die.”

But while Kallen was looking at James’s sword which was lying just out of reach, he missed the dagger that the prince had pulled from his belt and had taken the only opening he had to thrust it up and get Kallen through the chest. The military man stumbled and dropped his sword, after which he fell to the ground stone cold dead.

“Lord Kellan is dead!” cried out one of the commanding soliders who had stopped fighting. “Men Lord Kellan is dead!” The cry caught the attention of all the fighting soldiers and courtiers and they all stopped, the only person who moved was James as he made his way to his fallen princess.

Oh my love… he thought, tears rising to his eyes as he held Ainslie. You can not be dead…if you were dead I would know it…

“Come sire,” stated the royal physician who had been called from his chambers. “Let us take the princess to her room, there are medicines that might yet save her.”

IOIOIOI

For two days James kept a constant vigil at Ainslie’s bedside; at first his parents and hers thought that it was quite inappropriate but once they learnt of how he had rescued her from the river, and had vanquished Kallen all on his own, they allowed him to stay. Everyone in both kingdoms awaited the news of the fate of the young princess; some believed that she would live while others thought that she would die. Prince James who had believed that she would wake up was beginning to doubt it as the third day dawned.

“Oh please Ainsle,” he whispered as he sat on the bed watching his love. “Elsabeth my love you must awaken….you must.” James paused and waited for a response, but as always there was none. His shoulders slumped in defeat and he leaned over his betrothed. She looked still as stone and pale as marble, she was close death and no amount of pleading was going to change that. But James held onto his last shred of hope and he was determined to not let his princess go without a fight. And so, he leaned over her carefully and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth.

James then sat back up ready for the worst, but instead he was greeted by a small moan of pain. “Ainslie?” he asked, watching in nervous anticipation as his beloved opened her eyes. “Ainslie?”

She nodded weakly as a smile spread over her face as she recognized James. “Surely I am dreaming,” she whispered as she reached out to touch his cheek. “This cannot be real…is it really you?”

“Yes,” James assured as he gathered his beloved into his arms. “It is I.”

“But you are dead,” she whispered into his shoulder. “You were killed.”

“Kallen tried to have me killed,” James explained. “But it did not succeed.”

Ainslie sighed and smiled into her betrothed shoulder as she held him tight. “I am so glad,” she whispered fiercely. “I thought that I had lost you.”

James shook his head. “You will never loose me princess,” he assured. “Never ever…”

“Never ever,” echoed Ainslie as she looked into the blue eyes of the prince whom she loved more than anything. And as he held her she thanked her lucky stars that he was alive- that they both were alive.

It would take weeks, but Ainslie eventually was healed enough to enjoy her birthday ball and the week after that she and James were wed. Their union brought peace and prosperity to the two kingdoms which were renamed Casa-skilla and together they lived happily ever after for all time.

-The End-