And just in case you might have missed something, this tale can be read from the beginning at "Schwan" in the sidebar at the right.
7 News from Home
When Rolf came that morning, Fredrik was waiting for him. He wasted no time.
"I need you to do something for me," he said.
"Thank you, and I hope you slept well also, Your Majesty," Rolf laughed.
Fredrik was embarrassed. He hadn't realized how abrupt he'd been. Then, he laughed at himself.
"And what's so important so early this morning?" Rolf asked with amusement.
"Rolf, there is this girl..." he began, but stopped when he saw the look Rolf was giving him.
"No… I didn't sleep with her... Well I did... But I didn't…"
"You sound confused about it, don't you remember?"
"No… I mean yes, I remember. She spent the night here with me. I want to know more about her. Her name is Elise, and I believe she works in the castle kitchens."
"I thought you gave that up, after Paris."
"You know I did. This is different."
Rolf could see that he was serious.
"You know you are King Fredrik now, Your Majesty."
Fredrik walked over to the window, and looked out.
"I know that Rolf." Then after a long pause he added, "You're a lucky man, Rolf. And you don't even realize it."
✠
Rolf puzzled over Fredrik's words as he crossed the courtyard to where the main kitchens were. Fredrik would be occupied most of the day with the Duke and his daughters. The rumor in castle was, that he was to marry one of them. Rolf had had a glimpse of them. Neither was bad looking. In that respect, a man might do worse.
But now his job was to find this "Elise". And Fredrik had made it clear that she was not to know who he was.
The kitchen area was crowded, smokey, and filled with activity. In addition to the Duke and his guests, the rest of the castle must be fed. Rolf knew he was out of place the moment he entered. When he finally asked about Elise, a man pointed across the room to a young woman chopping cabbages. She had not noticed him.
As he started in her direction, he was blocked by an older woman who glared fiercely up into his face.
"Leave her alone," she hissed. "I suppose now you'll all want her!"
Rolf was taken aback at this, and protested -
"No... No... You don't understand."
"I understand all right. Leave her alone. Let her be happy; at least for today."
"But, King Fredrik..."
"King Fredrik!" she sneered. "She thinks he's in love with her! She doesn't even know who he is!"
Rolf decided to take a chance.
"But, he is."
Anna gave him a funny look.
"Who are you, and what do you know about it?"
"Can we talk?"
Anna glanced over at the head cook. He was busy. She led Rolf to a side door that opened out into a small herb garden.
As Rolf talked with Anna, he could see Elise though the half opened door. She had a slight smile, and a faraway look to her.
"She's not usually like that," Anna told him. "The cook is hard on her." Then she added, "But even he is leaving her alone today."
"King Fredrik sent me to find out who she is, and whatever else I can."
"Why does he care? He is to marry Lady Juliet."
"He has never said that."
"How do you know what this King says?" she asked scornfully.
"I've known Fredrik since childhood, we're like brothers."
Anna gave him a skeptical look. But he seemed in earnest. And she did remember a story she had heard somewhere, a long time ago, where a Midmontian Queen, had begun life as a village girl.
"Is it true that your Queen was a commoner?"
"That was Fredrik's grandmother."
Anna gave a long sigh. What if it were true?
“Alright. What do you want to know?"
✠
Fredrik spent the morning with the Duke and his two daughters, Juliet the oldest, and her younger sister, Marianne. The two Women were on their best behavior, and the conversation was polite. But Fredrik's mind was somewhere else. Eventually, the Duke excused himself, claiming some business with the Archbishop.
The ladies insisted on taking Fredrik for a tour of the castle. They started at the highest tower, and worked their way down from there. The fortress rose on a rocky spur of the last mountain at the mouth of the valley. The town below was walled, and just outside it's walls, was the river.
St. Petersbridge took it's name from the old Roman bridge which spanned the river here. The smaller river flowing from Midmont, met the larger, navigable, Black River here. Crossing the bridge was the old trading road, which wound it's way south and up the mountains to Midmont. In the other direction it was the main route into the Archbishop's realm.
Fredrik looked out over the river wharfs, and the fertile fields beyond. Then he turned his gaze to the narrow valley that led to Midmont, and home. He missed it already.
They walked the battlements and saw the armory and family apartments. Fredrik made a point of memorizing the lay out of the castle. Eventually they made their way down to the dungeon. It appeared to be well used. Then came the stables, and finally a quick peek into the kitchens.
And there he saw her. Elise was working hard at some task. Fredrik wanted to linger and watch, but didn't dare. He was relieved that she never looked up. But Anna had seen him. He had no idea who she was, but when he saw her staring at him, he hastily stepped back outside.
But Anna had seen him with Juliet and Marianne. She had no doubt who he was. And she had also seen how his eyes had lingered on Elise. Perhaps Rolf was right. Perhaps there was something there.
As they crossed the courtyard to the castle, Fredrik's thoughts were elsewhere. And this was obvious to the two sisters.
"What can be on his mind?" Juliet said to her sister.
"It must be some weighty affair of state," she replied with a giggle.
This brought Fredrik out of his reverie.
"No, no, I was just thinking of something,"
They were walking on both sides of him now. Each had an arm.
"Something, or… someone?" It was Juliet teasing him. Then she said to her sister, "You know how men are."
"Is she pretty?" This time it was Marianne.
Fredrik certainly didn't want to talk about Elise with them. But he was surprised at how close they were to the truth. Then he noticed Rolf standing with Friar John in the courtyard. They motioned for him to join them.
Fredrik excused himself. Ladies Juliet and Marianne made their way into the castle, laughing at his discomfort- Juliet tossing a teasing smile back toward him.
✠
Fredrik led Rolf and the monk to his room in the tower, and closed the door.
"Princess Lillian has sent a messenger to Friar John at the abby," Rolf explained to him.
Then the monk told Fredrik what he had learned from the Ranger.
"Poisoned.." Fredrik said thoughtfully. "And The Duke was behind it?"
"That's what we believe. Lillian was having Slythain arrested when he left."
"I never did trust that bastard."
"There's more," the monk told him. "The Ranger encountered a Morlanian on the road, and also a courier from the Duke's spies in Waterton."
"And?"
"He killed them both."
"Good. I'll want to thank this man personally."
Fredrik thought for a moment.
"Can we assume that the Duke knows nothing of this?"
When Rolf shrugged, Fredrik added, "We may be in danger when he learns of it."
Then he told Rolf;
"Have everyone prepared to leave on a moment's notice."
Rolf nodded and opened the door to leave. But Fredrik stopped the monk.
"Friar John, I have something to talk with you about."
Then Rolf left, closing the door behind him.
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