Fate War: Alliance (26 page)

“My father’s children,” he finally rasped.

****

The sounds of fiddles, flutes and drums filtered through the barn walls. The dance had started without them. Sam sat in the shadowed stall opposite him, head tucked between drawn up knees, where her hands rested.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. In the dim light cast by the overhead lantern, he could see her rhythmic toe tapping. “I’m so sorry.”

He wanted to be beside her, hold her, but she wouldn’t let him touch her and Sprocket was acting confused at his presence as well. He decided to start talking instead.

“After Morgan died, I did some very irresponsible things. I think I was trying to drown my guilt with alcohol…and other things.” Cole snuck a peek at her, but she didn’t indicate hearing him. “One night in a drunken stupor I went to confront my father, blame him for Morgan’s death. He wasn’t there, and I convinced one of his aids to tell me where he was. I was going to the manor, but recognized his horse when I went through town. Right over there at that house.” He tossed a handful of hay in the general direction of Hope’s home.

“I went to the tavern, had a few more drinks and found out everything I needed to know. No mention of royal involvement of course. The woman, Savannah, lived there with her bastard daughter. That would be Hope. I came through town a year or so later and saw Hope working at the blacksmiths. I’m not sure how that scrawny girl talked her way into that job,” Cole chuckled.

“Seems Savannah had another child and was doing poorly so Hope had to work. No one knew who I was at that point. I hadn’t kept myself very well. I had a full beard believe it or not.” Cole chuckled, but Sam remained morose so he continued.

“One thing led to another and I was helping them out around the house. Savannah was the town’s herbalist, taught by her mother. Over the months, I found out I really liked learning about medicinal plants. I decided to go to the University for medical training. I didn’t really take to the authority of the professors. I learned a lot but didn’t finish. I came back and took up residence at the manor so I could visit Sagewood more; learn from Savannah, this time as myself.” Sam was sitting up now, but still wouldn’t look at him. “Do you want to hear more?”

She nodded and peeled a piece of hay into smaller and smaller strands. Cole dared to crawl across the space, wincing at dull pain. She let him sit next to her without complaint. He picked up his own blade of straw to strip.

“I got tired of watching Hope and Savannah eek by. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t just. I went to confront my father. He made it very clear that their existence was never to be revealed. It was a threat to the kingdom. What he meant was a threat to his reign.”

A sudden revelation constricted Cole’s chest. “I could have exposed him. It’s not like half the nobles don’t have illegitimate children, but public knowledge of it? I could have taken the throne then and there. Set Savannah up for life.” They sat in silence as Cole battled his past. Finally, he cleared his throat. “My mother found out, overheard. I guess I killed her too, because she just withered away after that, dead in a few years. My father went back to visiting Savannah after her death. Savannah died five years ago giving birth to Charlotte. Hope raised those children, though she was a child herself. It was a cruel world for her on her own. I did my best to help without bringing too much attention to them.”

Cole wrapped his arm around Sam’s shoulders and she buried her face in his chest. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed.

“No. I should have told you sooner and – “

“When?” she asked, leaning back to search his face. “When exactly in the past weeks would it have been a good time to have this conversation?”

He could think of a few but wasn’t about to contradict her now. Besides, Sprocket was still stalking him which meant Sam was still upset with him, too. He tucked her against him again and intertwined his free hand with hers.

“Listen. It doesn’t matter. It was a misunderstanding. What matters is, I want you to know I don’t want to be like them. Not like my father, not like your mother. I don’t care what our people are supposed to turn a blind eye to; I made a vow to you. And even though it just started out as honoring a vow, it’s so much more now.”

Cole placed a finger under Sam’s chin and made her look at him. She had to see him tell the truth. “You are the most extraordinary woman. I need you and want you with me every second of the day. I don’t know. Somehow you make me better. You make me see how selfish I’ve been; make me
want
to be a good king. I love you.”

“You love me?” She looked as if he just said he hated her. His admission seemed to have hurt her.

“Yes, I love you. Don’t you want me to love you?”

“Yes, but you wouldn’t say it.”

“I say it all the time,” he said in shock.

“Never,” she said firmly, then pointed to her head. “Eidetic memory?”

That was it. She needed a memory, a solid memory to hold on to when she doubted his love.

“Sam, come dance with me.”

“No, I – “

“Please, Sam. Please do this for me,” he begged.

She nodded her head and secured Sprocket. Cole helped her to her feet and they followed the sounds of music and merriment to the town square. Lanterns hung on lines stretched across the street and people milled about, the smell of ale strong amongst them. When they were spotted approaching, a cheer went up, but Cole only nodded politely at those who bowed to them in acknowledgement. His heart pounded as he wiped the nervous sweat from his upper lip.

Sam and Cole reached the brightest lit area where couples twirled to a high stepping beat. He pulled Sam close to him, and they entered the fray. It was a simple but fast dance that they both settled into quickly. He tried to encourage her by attempting a smile of his own, but he couldn’t seem to supply one.

The music ended, and the dancers congratulated each other. Cole wiped his sweaty palms on his breeches then pulled Sam to the center of the dance square. It was now or now.

“Friends! Friends! Can I have your attention please?” he called over the crowd. They were quick to quiet and focus on him, a luxury of being royal. Sam held his one hand with both of hers and tried to hide behind him. “Thank you,” he said when he had the full attention of those gathered. He spoke loudly and clearly so those further back could hear. All eyes were focused on the Prince and Princess.

“We missed you all at our wedding.” There was a ripple of laughter through the crowd. They hadn’t been invited. “I’ll be the first to admit you didn’t miss much.” He felt Sam’s hands tighten on his. “But I would like to make it up to you. You see, though the wedding was rife with formality, it lacked in reality. I want you all to know, that your Princess, Princess Samantha, has captured my heart.” There were awes from the women and knowing chuckles from the men. “She is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, and I love her.”

He turned to Sam, heart pounding, then lowered himself to one knee. Taking both her hands in his, he lowered his voice. He spoke only to Sam, and her eyes widened in shock over his rash actions. “Sam. Will you marry me?”

Her mouth worked to find the right words, but she finally whispered, “We’re already married.”

He whispered back, “I know, but now I’m giving you a choice to say yes.” She looked at him as one might a mad scientist for a moment before a smile touched the corners of her mouth.

“Yes,” she giggled and the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Here, try this,” Hope said, handing over what appeared to be a simple white underdress. Cole had only proposed last night, but they were both determined to marry again today. Hope had volunteered to help her get ready, but Sam struggled to find footing with the woman.

“And this.” Her half-sister-in-law held up a shortened blue corset. “Married in blue, you’ll always be true!” Hope raised her eyebrows expectantly, then shoved the device into Sam’s hands, then a pair of bloomers.

“I don’t need a corset.” Sam tried to be bold, but her statement came out more in a whisper.

“Of course you don’t. It’ll be pretty though. Wear it on the outside as an accessory, break up the white.” Hope laughed, railroading through her objections and turning to rummage through a drawer in the only dresser of Hope’s small cabin. “How old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Ha! Me too.”

Hope didn’t look the same age as Sam. She looked more weathered, wizened somehow.

“I only have a comb and this hat.” Hope held up a plain ivory bone hair comb and a small black feathery circle. “This is for funerals.” She grimaced and tossed the hat on top of the dresser. “Are you sure you don’t want to go shopping?” Hope asked, and she started dividing and twisting one side Sam’s hair into the comb. “I don’t have much, and what I do have is not suitable for a princess. Oh! I like that.”

Hope grabbed a hand mirror off of the dresser top and held it up for Sam to see herself. The comb pulled up one side of Sam’s short hair, the other side swooping over to almost cover the opposite eye.

Sam had never had friends. Even in the finishing school, other girls stayed clear of her. She envied the giggles and time shared by them while trying on one another’s clothes and fixing their hair.

“Are you okay? You’re not talking much.”

Sam looked past the mirror to Hope, who quirked one eyebrow in question, just like Cole.

“You do want to marry him?” Hope’s eyebrow traveled higher. “Again. Because he’s a good man, Princess. He deserves…” she trailed off, seeming to finally realize who she was talking too by the chagrin plastered across her face. She didn’t apologize though.

“Call me Sam. And, yes. I do want to marry him…again.”

Both women laughed and Sam began to change as Hope searched for less clunky shoes.

“I know we started off a bit awkward,” Hope said over her shoulder. Sam’s cheeks flushed. That was an understatement. “I was hoping you would allow Cole to continue his visits with the children. They love their brother.”

“Of course,” Sam replied, buttoning up the bodice of the dress.

“And I was hoping we could be friends as well. I know that it might be looked down upon but – “

“Yes.”

“Good.” Hope stood and handed Sam a pair of low heeled black shoes. Sam wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

“I think I’d rather go barefoot.”

They laughed again, and Hope toyed with the corset. She arranged it with the ties in front. Sam could barely feel it when she was done. Looking in the full length mirror, she saw Hope was right. The simple white, off the shoulder dress needed the corset just under her bust to add contrast and form. Sam ran her fingers along the line of ruffles at the straight neckline. Though no cleavage showed, it seemed much more revealing than her first wedding dress, her shoulders being bare. The dress came to mid-calf and Sam twisted to appraise the swish of the fabric. She felt light, unencumbered, and beautiful. Hope applauded in agreement. This would do.

****

For Sam and Cole’s second wedding, the grand throne room was replaced by their meadow, the first place Cole said he knew he could love her. Instead of a blaring organ, they were serenaded by the buzzing of bees and chirping birds. A soft summer breeze whispered its approval of Sam’s simple, flowing white dress, gold brooch, and crown of daisies. Instead of a priest, Nana, Zeb, and Cole’s half siblings, including her new friend Hope, presided over the ceremony. Even Freedom and Octavious were on hand for the exchange of vows, which didn’t include “I do”.

“I choose you,” Cole vowed, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Sam studied each of the lines, never wanting to forget any detail of this moment.

“I choose you,” she responded, and he kissed her. It wasn’t so much passion that built inside Sam, but a sense of rightness, belonging and acceptance.

“Ewww.” Christopher whined from behind them, and the kiss broke with the couple laughing. Nana sobbed next to Zeb who shifted his weight from foot to foot and stared at the tree tops.

Sam looked back into the depths of Cole’s sea blue eyes and felt that feeling. The one she thought she would feel. The moment was… Perfect.

****

The small of Sam’s back felt like it was made for Cole’s hand to rest on. He pressed there harder closing the gap between their bodies, walking her backward toward their bed, taking his time. They had time. He slid his lips from hers across her jaw to her ear, and teased the lobe with a gentle nibble, delighting in the responding sigh.

“Same rules,” he whispered, “If you say stop…”

Sam nodded. They came to a halt when the back of her legs met the edge of the bed. He studied her face. Trust and longing resided there, and he traced the constellation of beauty marks along her jaw with his thumb. Cole trailed kisses back to her lips, and gathered the front of her dress higher. He found the drawstring of her bloomers and pulled. The swish of the fabric falling and pooling to the ground caused a ripple of anticipation, and he had to stop kissing his bride to try and regain some control.

Resting his forehead on hers for a moment and he smelled the daisies that were in her hair from earlier. He trailed his fingertips along her hips to her stomach, enjoying the quiver of response it incited in her. Following the same path back down, he cupped her hips, and pulled her to him. The smooth, flawless skin under his hands caused a momentary flash back to their Verification, and the damage that should have been there from the chastity belt.