Charles then motioned for the guards to bring her to the Kings Dining Room.
The King stopped the guards and said “Be gentle with her.”
The guards quickly made their way to the dungeon. Amelia sat in the cell as they approached. They whispered something into Sir Guillaume’s ear.
“My Lady, the King wishes for you to accompany him.” Sir Guillaume said as he opened the cell door.
Amelia stood up and walked towards the door. Sir Guillaume bowed and reached for her hand. He motioned for her to pass. She followed them to the throne room. As she entered, she looked around. It was a beautiful room. The King quickly stood up. Amelia immediately curtsied.
“Please rise my Lady,” King Erich said.
As she stood he noticed she had shackles.
He pointed at the guards and yelled “SHACKLES? Why does she have shackles? Remove them immediately!”
Amelia bowed her head in gratitude.
Amelia then asked “My King, may I speak?”
The King replied “Yes, of course”
“My liege, why am I here? My kingdom does not have bad blood with yours.” Amelia added.
“Your Kingdom?” King Erich asked.
“Yes, my lord. I am Queen Amelia of Landford” She replied.
King Erich laughed.
“I thought King Thomas was ruler there.” King Erich responded.
“He is my husband but I have been anointed as the monarch, not he.” She added.
King Erich slammed his staff against the floor and yells “Kneel for the Queen of Landford!”
He slowly bowed.
“It has been a total misunderstanding my Queen but a good one in totality.” He said.
“Thomas and I go way back and he owes me plenty. I think I will keep you here with me while you recover from your injuries. If you are so important to Thomas, he will come for you and then we shall fix our differences. If not, I have gained a beautiful Queen for Schillingburg.” He continued.
Amelia did not know what to say.
She stuttered “But my King, pardon my forwardness but I do not belong here.”
King Erich stood up and walked towards her, smiled and said “You do, for now. Do not worry my Queen, you will not find any harm here, on the contrary, you will be treated like the Queen you are.” He began walking towards the Throne room and stopped.
“But of course, escaping will not be an option, it will just make things worse for your dear Thomas.” He said.
The King then motioned to Sir Guillaume.
“My honorable Knight I appoint you the Queen’s guardian.” King Erich commanded.
Sir Guillaume bowed.
“Go prepare a room for the Queen, she will be my guest for a while.” The King told Lady Margaret.
King Erich then motioned for Amelia to follow him and come sit at his feet. Amelia obliged.
“My sweet Amelia, Queen of Landford, we can make a beautiful union, if you think of it. Landford & Schillingburg together again. That sounds do lovely” He said.
“Do not deny it until you have really thought about it, my dear.” He finished.
Amelia just nodded her head.
King Erich stood up and gave her his hand “Come, let us walk the garden, I will show you Schillingburg Castle, it is a beautiful fortress.”
Amelia placed her hand in his and followed. After a short walk, Charles interrupted. “My King, your advisors need to speak with you.”
The King looked over at Amelia and said “Excuse me, we will resume this later.”
He then motioned to Sir Guillaume to take her up to her room.
As King Erich walked with Charles through the hall.
Charles asked “What are you doing? If I may ask, my King.”
The King smiled and replied “She is a beautiful girl, I am thinking of courting her. If I know Thomas, he is a selfish pompous jerk. He will not be coming for her. With her gone, that makes him King. And who does not want to be a King?”
Charles confused said “My liege, she cannot be courted. She is another’s wife”
The King laughed “We will see about that! Remember my fight is not with her, it is with Thomas and what is better than taking away what he loves. I think that hurts more. It is the best punishment.”
Charles laughed “That is very true, my lord.”
The King stops and says “No one should know she is here, do not speak of her to anyone, you hear me? Advise your soldiers also.”
Charles nodded and opened the door to the hall.
Days had turned to weeks, then months, and no news on Amelia. Greyson, David and I turned the whole countryside apart and Amelia had fell off the face of the earth. The idea that she was captive at Schillingburg castle went cold, no one saw her there and no one spoke of her there. Thomas was not well, his heartache had taken a toll on him. He did not sleep much and ate less. David and Elizabeth moved back to Landford Castle because he was in no condition to run a kingdom. He also made my peace with Greyson and anointed him his Advisor.
The search for Amelia became still. No word from anyone. For Thomas, her loss became a terminal illness. Thomas was unable to function. David and Greyson did a wonderful job disguising any lack of rule. The guilt was killing Thomas little by little. But to him, it was an ideal punishment. This way he could feel pain for all he had done wrong.
“My Lord, you must eat, you are looking so frail” Elizabeth said as she handed Thomas soup.
“Just take a few spoons, something is better than nothing”. She added.
“I have no appetite, my dear Elizabeth, but I thank you for your concern.” He replied.
Thomas spent his days riding back and forth looking for her and at night looking out his window. As if she would appear suddenly. It had become an obsession. He vowed not to rest until she returned home. Everyone became very concerned with Thomas. Things were looking grim for him.
“My liege, you must gain your strength back, so when Amelia returns you will be well for her.” Greyson affirmed.
“Will she ever return? It is my fault she is gone. I was severe with her.” Thomas exclaimed.
“Her love for you is deep, I know wherever she is at, you are in her thoughts.” Greyson responded.
“I will visit Schillingburg again in the morning. Charles cannot hide from me forever. Someone is bound to slip up and say something” Greyson confirmed.
Thomas knew Greyson was just speaking to lift his spirits, it has been so long and no one has said a word, why would they now?
In Schillingburg, King Erich’s wishes were finally coming true. He had almost convinced Amelia that Thomas had forgotten her. She slowly but surely was opening up to him. She loved Thomas but the thought that he had never looked for her, hurt her deeply and she was unable to forgive him.
“My Queen, are you awake?” King Erich said through the door of her room.
Amelia slowly opened the door.
“I am, my lord, did you need something?” Amelia answered.
“I have gotten you a beautiful new dress, today we will take a trip into Schillingburg.” He replied.
“Lady Margaret will help you dress” he added.
Amelia bowed her head in agreement.
Charles was not happy with this decision.
Charles walks up to the King and says “Do you think it is a sound idea to take her into town?”
The King nodded and replied “Of course. Thomas or his brother David do not come to Schillingburg and no one knows who she is. I want to take her on a carriage ride through St. Vangaltier, I will keep her window shadowed.”
Charles shook his head in disagreement and walked away.