The Queen & Her Knight

Chapter 12

THE KING'S POV

The King and the princess are standing in front of the doors to the ballroom.

"Are you ready, your Highness?" The princess looks up at him.

"What concern is that of yours?"

"I didn't mean-"

He lifts up a hand to stop her. "Let's just do it"

He gives his arm for her to hooks into. She hooks in her arm and looks up at him but he doesn't look back at her. They walk down the long staircase. It feels as if all his energy is sucked out of him. He doesn't feel like a King but more like a man that's walking to the gallows. He takes a deep breath but he can't shake this feeling of sadness and frustration. They reach the bottom of the stares and the President is waiting for them.

"Ciao, King James. We are so pleased to host you in our beautiful country. We hope that you're finding everything to your liking so far?"

"It's a very beautiful country and we feel very much at home, thank you. Your hospitality is something to be proud of"

"I'm very happy to hear that, Your Highness. I've prepared a room for us to discuss the treaty in. Please follow me"

"Please, lead the way"

The President and the King walk into a room where they discuss the treaty in full. The King is very good at what he does and the President signs the treaty with no complications. They give a handshake and then go back to the ballroom.

"I'm very glad we could come to an agreement, King James. Your father was right about you"

The King's eyes lift up in shock.

"Did you know my father?"

"Oh yes, we used to talk many times and he was always very proud of his little boy. He always used to say, "You just watch him, he'll become a better King than I'll ever be"

The King smile. He stares for a long while at the President, as if he recalls his father's words but then he clears his throat and pushes back any emotions that might want to emerge.

"Thank you for the kind words"

"You're most welcome. Now, let's get to the speeches so that we can start with the real reason for being here and that's to have a good time"

They laugh and walk up to the table. The King's eyes search for you and then he sees you. He starts to glow at the sight of you.

(Damn...she's a vision to behold)

The princess then snakes her arm into his and he snaps out of his daze.

"Shall we sit, Sire?"

"No, I have to make my speech. Why don't you have a seat, princess"

He gives her a fake smile that he has practiced so many times before. These last few years have been nothing but emptiness and loneliness, but now that he found you there might be hope in his heart again. He walks up to the pedestal and everyone quiets down.

"Mr. President, colleagues, distinguished guests and friends, may today be the beginning of a long and prosperous friendship for both our countries. We are but-"

Suddenly the King notice Lord Dobson next to you, trying to kiss your hand. His hand turns into a fist, clenching, severely.

(You get the f**k away, you little s**t! Don't you dare to touch her!)

"....uhm...uh...we are but only on the verge of..."

He carries on with his speech but his eyes never leave you. Then Lord Dobson sits the chair miss and falls on your legs.

"...and we shou-"

The King's attention once again reverts back to Lord Dobson and he can't seem to focus on his speech. He starts to tremble out of pure turmoil not being able to come to you.

(f**k! This is the end of you Dobson!!)

LADY WINTER'S POV

You stay clear of Lord Dobson and tries to avoid him at all costs. The night carries on and people start to dance.

Anabel walks to you. "It's almost slaving time..."

"Oh, goodie! I can't wait. Guess we should start looking for our slave driver then"

You and Lady Anabel start to look for the princess. It's not long when you find her standing next to Lady Elizabeth.

"Aahh! There you are! I was almost starting to wonder if you would make it..."

She puts her hand on the side of her mouth and speaks through her teeth in your ear.

"If you didn't make it, there would have been consequences..." She laughs it off and you give her your best fake smile.

"Of course, we're here, your grace"

(Who does she think she is?!)

"I'm so very glad. Now let's just wait for the rest to join us, okay, Ladies?"

"As you wish, your grace"

Anabel bends over to you and speaks in a lowered voice. "I really didn't sign up for this. We're grown woman, she can't treat us like this. We should be able to complain to someone?"

"I agree with you whole heartily"

It's not long when Lord Dobson and Lord Nickleson walk up to the princess. They bow and take her hand to kiss it.

(No!)

They turn to you and Anabel to greet you with the kiss of a hand.

"Miladies"

"Miladies, it's good to see you again" Lord Dobson smiles.

"It's a pleasure, Lords" Lady Anabel nods.

You say nothing because only repulsiveness and hatred would come out of your mouth. Especially when it's in front of the princess.

"Good, now everyone is here. Ladies, these Lords have been without company for quite some time now and they've come to me for help. So, I suggested that my Ladies in waiting keep the best company. Would you please escort these fine gentlemen around the room?"

(What?? No! No! No!)

"Of course, your grace" Anabel takes Lord Nickelson's arm and starts walking. You still want to turn around but you can feel the princess staring at you.

"Lady Winters?" You feel your heart beating faster and harder in your chest. You feel your limbs starting to fail you and you struggle to get yourself to move forward. There isn't one bone in your body that wants you to step closer to Lord Dobson but you know the importance of this. If the princess so much as suspects that you have feelings for her King, you could be thrown into the dungeon. You look at the arm, Lord Dobson is holding for you to accept. You then submit your hand in his arm.

"Lord Dobson..."

THE KING'S POV

The King has finished his speech and he is fuming with rage. He sits back down next to the princess. He tries not to look at you too much so that the princess won't suspect anything but he can't seem to get his eyes off you and Lord Dobson. His entire being is still shaking from rage. The princess puts a hand on his arm and his body tense up.

"Are you okay, Sire...you know people are watching you?"

He put on his fake smile and slowly remove his arm under her hand. Then he speaks softly to her, through his teeth.

"Don't you worry about how I'm acting and start worrying about how you're acting, darling"

He then listens to the rest of the speeches and keeps his eyes fixed on Lord Dobson. After the formalities, he stands up and wants to make his way to your table but is stopped by the President.

"Excellent speech, King James. I've always enjoyed your father's speeches too. Why don't you join me for a cigar in the smoke room?"

"Uhm...I was actually on my w-"

"Oh, come on, I don't get much of a chance to enjoy a good cigar with a King like yourself"

"I.....I....guess it's okay then, but let's keep it brief?"

"Of course, of course"

He walks with the President into the smoke room. They chat and smoke for an hour or two. After several failed attempts to get out, he finally gets out of the room. His eyes search vigorously for you and then his entire being tense up. The sight he sees before him consumes his very being. He wants to run and violently attack Lord Dobson, seeing your hand in his arm.

(What are my eyes seeing before me? Hold on Lady Winters....hold on!)

It takes every restraint that he has left in his body to not make a scene and destroy every fiber of Lord Dobson. Then his eyes see the princess who is smiling and watching Lady Winters.

(What did you do, princess??)

"Lord Walton, may I ask your assistance?"

"Of course, Your Highness. Please, what can I do for you?"

LADY WINTER'S POV

"Isn't it lovely that we could spend some time together?"

"No, Lord Dobson, I have no interest in spending time with you. I'm only doing this because it's required of me to do so"

You try to pull your hand out of his arm but he takes his other hand and covers yours, holding it tight.

"Then I suggest you fulfill your duty the favorable way, don't you think?"

"You disgust me, Lord Dobson. Let go of my hand immediately!"

"I don't think so Lady Winters. I'm enjoying myself tremendously. You've always had a way of just stepping out of my reach. All these years you've avoided me but now is my time, little princess"

Fear overtakes your entire being. You feel a slight tremor trying to control your limbs. You struggle to get enough air in your lungs. You know what could happen to you if you don't play things exactly right with Lord Dobson.

"I...uhm...that's not true, Lord Dobson..."

"Oh but of course it's true, my dear Lad-"

"Forgive me for this interruption, Lord Dobson but the King would like to have a word" Lord Walton shows to the King waiting.

He hesitantly releases your hand and follows Lord Walton. You take a deep breath and start to walk to the closest door you can find. You quickly open the door to what looks like an art gallery. You close the door behind you and stagger to the closest place you can sit on. You sit down and you feel all your energy drain from you. You feel your cheeks are wet and you only now realize, you've been crying.

"Oh, god....what am I going to do? He's too strong for me..."

THE KING'S POV

The King sits in his living room compartment in the empty train.

"Your Highness, here he is as requested"

"Thank you, Lord Walton, you may leave us now"

"Of course, Sire"

He turns and leaves the train. Lord Dobson steps forward and bows before the King.

"Your Highness..." The King stands up, walking closer to Lord Dobson.

"Lord Dobson, you don't know how long I've wanted you to join me for a private little chat. Just you and me..."

CAUTION VIOLENT SCENES!!!!

"Sire, what an honor it is to have a private audience with the King. How can I be of assistance?"

The King walks right passed Lord Dobson and locks the door. He then walks very near Lord Dobson and speaks into his ear.

"Why don't we make ourselves comfortable? Please have a seat take off your jacket. I think I'll take mine off too"

"Please go ahead. That's so kind of you, Sire. I think I'll take you up on your offer. I'll take off my jacket"

The King takes off his jacket and put it on the chair.

"You know what, it's so warm, I think I'll just take off my shirt too. Do you mind?"

"No, of course not, Sire" Then the King removes his shirt and put it on the chair, revealing his undershirt.

"Aahh, now that's much better isn't it?"

"I guess so..."

"Please have a seat, Dobson. Do you mind if I ... you that?"

"Not at all, Sire"

"So....Dobson...are you enjoying our stay here in Italy?"

"Very much, Sire, thank you"

The King walks closer to Lord Dobson's chair. His jaw is clenched.

"Let's just speak frankly, what do you say?"

"I would like that, Sire"

"Good....very good. So how's it going with the ladies?" Lord Dobson jumps in his chair. He tries to stand up but the King puts his hands on the armrests of the chair.

"I...I...don't understand the question, Sire" The King laughs, and then his face turns more serious. He stares into Lord Dobson's face.

"I think you understand very well what I've asked you, how is it going with the ladies and when I mean ladies, I mean, Lady Winters...?"

"Sire, I think that you....you have me confused with someone else"

"Oohhh....yes it must be a mistake from my side. I must have been the one that made the mistake of talking to the wrong guy. You're such an upstanding gentleman of society. Would you be able to forgive me?"

"Not a problem at all, Sire. Now, if that's all"

He stands up and turns around, heading for the door but the King grabs his wrist and starts to squeeze it tight. Lord Dobson quickly falls to his knees as the pain is unbearable. The King keeps on squeezing until he can hear the bone c***k.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

"TELL ME, Lord Dobson do you think that Lady Winters enjoyed it when you showed her how manly you can be???"

"Please, please!!!! Sire!!! Stop!!!"

"Did you stop when Lady Winters asked you to stop, Dobson??"

The King squeezes more and then he hears a snap. He let go of his wrist. The King then bends down to Lord Dobson.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! HELP!!!"

"The great, Lord Dobson, asking for help?? Don't you remember at the gladiator show how you were so in control when you took Lady Winters hand and smiled with full confidence at her...knowing very well, she can't do anything to get you away from her?"

The King pull back and hit him full force with his fist in his face. When he pulls back, Lord Dobson's nose gushes blood on the floor. Lord Dobson grabs his nose in pain.

"f**k! I think you broke my nose!!"

The King stands up and pulls Lord Dobson up by his broken wrist and pushes him against the wall. Dobson cries out in pain.

"I think that you need to keep some things in your pants and stop forcing yourself on ladies, don't you think so, Dobson?"

"Sire, I beg you, I...I never wanted to hurt her..."

"Ooohhhh, you didn't mean for her to get hurt, I'm sorry. How stupid of me!!?? Let's fix your problem, shall we??"

Dobson tries to get away but the King is very strong. He lifts his knee and hit him full force in the stomach. Dobson falls down in pain, crying, and moaning.

"Do you think you understand now the importance of listening to a Lady when she speaks??"

"Please, please Sire!!! It wasn't my idea!! I beg you, it's wasn't my idea!! She made an offer I couldn't resist!!"

"What are you talking about?? Who??"

The King bends down again to his level. He grabs him by his collar and pulls his arm back for another beating.

"Who?? Who made you an offer??"

Lord Dobson throws his hand up in surrender. "The princess..."

The King throws him on the ground and staggers backward into his chair. Everything he thought knew about the princess means nothing at this moment. He knew she didn't care but this is pure evil. The King stands up again and pulls Lord Dobson to his feet.

"Tell me everything!!"

"I don't know much, I swear! All I know is that she...she offered me a few lands in exchange for shaking her up.....Lady Winters a little bit...that's it, I promise, Sire"

The King can't believe what he is hearing. He can't believe how far she is willing to take it. He hit Lord Dobson one more time in the stomach.

"You listen to me you worthless piece of a man. You are to leave the country of Monaco and never to return. Do you understand me?"

"But...but, Sire my lands, my livelihood-"

The King punch him one more time in the face. He falls on the ground completely broken.

"You should have thought about your livelihood when you decided to be lesser than a man. You aren't the worth the ground you walk on. You are lower than the servants that work for you. I degree that henceforth you are to be stripped from your Lordship. Now understand that I and Lady Winters don't ever want to see your disgusting face again and if you so much as breath a word about this to the princess, you most certainly die. I've shown you mercy today, don't test my goodness. Good day, Dobson"

Then the King leaves the compartment and two of the Kingsmen, see to it that Dobson is doing what he was told to do.

LADY WINTER'S POV

You sit on what looks like a table. There aren't many places to sit, in an art gallery but you don't care. All you can think about is, how are you going to get out of the situation with Lord Dobson. You feel completely drained and you don't have any hope left. You know you must do what the princess requires of you but facing Lord Dobson one more time, will surely kill you.

(God...I need you, my King. Now more than ever...)

Someone opens the door of the gallery and your heart starts to race. You hide behind the first pilar you can find. You hold your breath hoping that it's not Lord Dobson looking for you.

"Hello? Lady Winters?" You hear Anabel's voice. You take a deep breath and wipe away your tears.

"Are you here?"

"I'm over here"

You stand in front of a painting, acting as if you're admiring its beauty.

"There you are! I've been looking for you all over. Why did you come here? Weren't you suppose to entertain Lord Dobson?"

"The King wanted an audience with Lord Dobson, so I slipped in here. I just needed a break"

"Oh, Okay. Well, the princess is looking for you, let's go..."