To Amelia’s knowledge, she thought Thomas knew where she was and did not care. She was grateful to King Erich but did not feel love for him.
“My King, I am not ready for love today but I can love and perhaps one day love will grow.” She replied.
King Erich smiled and responded “I shall wait then. My heart now beats for you Amelia.”
Amelia smiled nervously.
Shyanne remained confused about her sighting of Amelia with King Erich.
Why was she in Schillingburg? She kept asking herself.
She entered the bakery. While shopping she stopped to talk to the baker.
“The King visiting your bakery, Timothy? That is so wonderful.”
Timothy smiled and replied “Oh yes Shyanne, no one can resist my delicious scones, you know that and he also ordered a special pastry for his future wife.”
Shyanne smiled and asked “Future Wife? He has a lady in waiting?”
Timothy responded “Oh yes, The King plans to marry in the spring to a Lady Amelia, not sure where she is from but he said he will soon introduce her to the kingdom.”
Shyanne’s heart stopped.
“Oh my, that was Amelia”, she thought to herself. “But what was going on, were Landford and Schillingburg joining monarchs?
What happened to Thomas?” She asked herself.
“Dear Timothy, do you have any deliveries to Landford Castle in the next few days?” Shyanne asked.
“Hmm let me see,” Timothy said as he looked through his books.
“Ahh yes, tomorrow to be exact.” He added.
“May I ask you a huge favor?” Shyanne asked.
“Of course, what it is my sweet Shyanne?” Timothy responded.
“Can I accompany your driver to Landford, I need to deliver a new dress to their Queen and the next carriage going there is in 3 weeks.” She said.
Timothy smiled and said “Of course you can Shyanne, James will be leaving in the morn, 9 sharp. I will let him know you will accompany him.”
Shyanne smiled and thanked him. As she walked home she thought what can she wrap to look like a dress and will King Thomas allow her on the grounds. She had been banished. Shyanne could not sleep. So many questions kept replaying in her thoughts. She needed answers. Morning came fast. Shyanne wrapped an old dress in paper and made her way to the bakery.
Being uneasy Shyanne left her home early arrived earlier than the driver.
Timothy smiled as he unloaded his flour and said “Anxious to get going, ay Shyanne”.
She smiled and nodded. “Oh yes my sweet man”. She added.
The ride to Landford Castle was shorter than she remembered.
Shyanne was all nerves.
She had been escorted from Landford castle, together with Greyson by King Thomas’ soldiers.
So returning could mean disrespect to your King and she knew Thomas would not have that.
Upon entering the grounds, she remembered how she raised Amelia there. So many happy years with her little girl.
In the distance, she saw David tending to some horses. She asked the driver to stop. The grounds looked so vast than she remembered.
She slowly walked over. David was so happy and surprised to see her.
“Shyanne?” David shouted.
She bowed and replied “Yes my lord David, how are you?”
David hugged her and asked “I’m good, my dear woman. How are you?”
She smiled and asked “I’m good also. Is Amelia here, I need to speak with her?”
David lowered his eyes and said “My dear Shaynne, Amelia is gone, not dead, I hope but she is not here, missing is what I am trying to say.”
Shyanne confused replied “Missing? How?
David began to fill her in as they walked towards the castle.
“But Amelia is not missing or dead Lord David!”
Shyanne said.
“What do you mean, Shyanne?” David replied.
“I saw Amelia, in Schillingburg. She was with the King. Rumored to be marrying the King this spring. My heart aches to ask but did Thomas die in battle?” Shyanne added.
David laughed and replied “Not at all, he is very alive and still up to no good but you say you saw Amelia, did she speak with you?”
Shyanne nodded and continued “No, I saw her in the Royal carriage but she recognized me and smiled. I know my child, I tell you, it was her.”
David grabbed her arm and escorted her to the castle.
“Where is King Thomas? I must see him.” She stated to the first officer.
“Thomas is very ill, ever since Amelia disappeared, he has had a turn for the worse,” David murmured.
“But Amelia is alive, I have seen her. He needs to know, it will refresh him!” Shyanne spoke aloud as she walked towards the castle.
At the door, the guards stopped her.
She yelled past them “King Thomas, I have news from Amelia! Please let me speak, my lord.”
David motioned for the soldiers to let her in. She ran into the throne room, to her surprise Thomas sat at the throne looking frail, thin, sickly. She dropped to her knees.
“My King, pardon the interruption but I need answers.” She said.
“Answers to what, Shyanne? Why are you here?” Thomas replied.
“Yesterday I saw Queen Amelia in Schillingburg, with King Erich, why is she going to wed him when you are still alive?” She stated.
With a sudden surge of energy, Thomas stood up and weakly said “Amelia is alive?”
With that same sudden surge, he fell to his knees. David and Shyanne ran towards him.
“Thomas, Thomas” David said as Shyanne fanned air onto his face.
At that moment Greyson entered the room and yelled “My King are you well? Nurse, Nurse”.
They moved him to his quarters so he can rest.
“I knew she was in Schillingburg, I told you my liege.” Greyson whispered.
Thomas was in shock. He felt cold surges rush through his body and could not speak. His body began to tremble as if he were having some kind of attack. He took a deep breath to control himself. His heart and mind could not comprehend the words he had just heard.
“Shyanne, You say she will wed their King? King Erich?” Thomas asked.
“Yes or that is what is rumored. I saw her, she was not wearing a crown, well she was, but a small one. She looked directly at me and I her. I know my child, my liege, I raised her. It was her” Shyanne rambled on.
Thomas felt all the weight fall off my shoulders but his heart fell also. The thought that she loved another was incomprehensible but a reality that he had caused.
“Are you positively sure?” David interjected.
“Positive, my lord David” Shyanne affirmed.
“How can I get to her, I must speak with her.” David exclaimed.
“She had an extreme amount of guards around her.” Shyanne confirmed.
“There is no way you are going to get permission to enter Schillingburg castle, especially to speak with Amelia. King Erich must have his soldiers prepared in that case.” Greyson said.
“Then I shall fight my way in, Greyson. That is my sister and she is being held beyond her will.” David exclaimed.
“If she is going to marry the King, that is not being held prisoner, David?” Thomas added.
Shyanne looked sad.