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Cold surged into the room, racing around him and embracing him. Wenlock shuddered as a girl appeared from the corner laughing.
“Cold, Wenlock?” she chuckled.
Resisting the urge to shout a string of profanities at her, he gritted his teeth and muttered, “Yes.”
“Poor little, Wenlock. Freezing to death in a barn,” the voice of another girl taunted as she turned the corner.
“It’s funny how the bad things you do catch up with you, isn’t it?” the first girl spoke again.
“Did you really think you could take us hostage, marry us, and then turn us into your troll servants when you were bored of us without any consequences?” a third girl asked as she entered the barn.
“Well, you can’t blame me for being hopeful,” he spat.
“Now, now, Wenlock, no need to throw a tantrum.”
Knowing that he was going to get nowhere with his anger, he instead tried to appeal to their better nature. “I know I was wrong. I can see that now. But please, can’t you give me a second chance? You’ve put me through enough. This past year has been hell for me. I’ve learned my lesson. I can do better. Please. Give me a chance to be good.”
The girls all stopped laughing, eyes wide at how genuine the man who had once enslaved them sounded. Wenlock stared directly into the eyes of each of the girls, with tears pooling in his eyes. That was when he made the decision to make them feel even more guilty. His eyes were locked onto them as he lowered himself to the floor, kneeling at the feet of his ex-wives.
“What are you–”
The woman was cut off by Wenlock letting out loud wailing sounds as tears streamed down his face. To lay it on thick, he cried, “I’m sorry,” over and over.
“Get up,” one of the girls shouted.
Wenlock stumbled back to stand on his feet and spoke in a low whisper, “I’m sorry.”
“Look, you can’t expect us to prerogative you just like that, but I do understand that it is possible for people to change. Here’s the deal, if you can show us that we can trust you, we will give you more and more freedom until we eventually free you back into the world.”
“Deal.”
And that was the beginning of the worst three months of Wenlock’s life. He was forced to become friends with the three girls, all of whom he found extremely irritating. He attended boring events with them. He even visited Annika and Brietta to apologise for everything he put them through. But the worst part of it all was that Wenlock was forced to hide this loathing for all of the people that surrounded him and instead had to show them kindness . It was his worst nightmare come true.
All the while he was struggling with keeping up the facade of a new-and-improved Wenlock, he was planning his escape. He needed the ultimate good deed for them to truly trust him. Fortunately, this seemed to fall right into his lap. Annika was pregnant. There were plenty of people who were enemies of the Kingdom that could be blamed for the disappearance of the pregnant princess. It was too perfect. All he had to do was find someone willing to kidnap her and hold her hostage until Wenlock heroically found her and returned her home safely.
He spent every moment he could in town searching for travellers who would be willing to when he saw him. A man lugging around one of the noble men’s bags. His face was frozen in an expression of loathing and hatred towards the man who worked for him – no doubt he was underpaid and overworked. The perfect target for his plan. Wenlock bided his time watching the man until one day he saw him without his employer.
“Excuse me, sir. Do you mind if I take a moment of your time?” Wenlock enquired in a polite manner.
“Err.” The man paused, gazing around, no doubt looking for his employer. “As long as you hurry.”
I’ve got a job I want to offer you. Now, I know you may be reluctant to take it, and I should tell you that it isn’t a job for the faint of heart. What I want you to do will go against all of your morals. It will break some of the most important laws in the Kingdom. You’ll be rewarded heavily for this of course, but you will only gain from the job once it has been completed and I have done what I intend to do.”
The man took a few moments to think about it before replying, “I’m listening.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“No.”
“I’m Wenlock.” The man responded with a gasp, making Wenlock let out a shrill laugh. “You’ve heard of me then? That’s good. You see, I’ve been held hostage by my ex-wives for almost a year and a half now. For the past few months I have been gaining their trust so they set me free, but to gain my freedom I need something big. Could you imagine how joyful the Kingdom will be when I return the pregnant princess after she has been missing? Surely that would ensure my freedom.”
“Princess Annika is missing?”
“Not yet she isn’t. That’s where you come in. You will be in charge of kidnapping her. Ensure she doesn’t see your face or hear your voice – she mustn’t learn of either of our involvements if this is to be a success. After a few days of her being held hostage, I will find her and return her home.”
“That’s utterly insane.”
“Are you up for it?”
With a sharp intake of breath, the man croaked out a strained, “Yes.”
“Good. The princess goes for a nightly walk around the palace gardens at 6 o’clock, that’s when you need to get her. Approach from behind and throw a bag over her head. When she tries to remove it, grab her wrists and tie them up. You’ll lead her to a cave a few miles southwest from here, are you familiar with it?”
“I think.”
“Good. Now, you keep her there for three days. Look after her. Then, on the fourth day, run as far away from the cave as you can. I’ll find Annika and return her to the palace. When I get rewarded with my freedom, I’ll return to my old palace with you accompanying me. I’ll reward you with some of my treasures and then I never want to see you again. Do you understand the plan?”
“Yes. When do we start?”
“Tonight.”
“What?”
“I want you to get the princess tonight.”
***
The stone path winded its way through the verdant grass, making an elegant pattern around the palace gardens. Vibrating the ground of the town, the clock tower chimed to signify it was 6 o’clock. In an elegant manner, the doors to the palace swung open, revealing Princess Annika. She glided down the stairs and started her nightly walk around the garden. To her, it was a normal night, but around the back of the palace waited the man.
When she reached the area he was waiting, she continued her calm strides. Silently, he approached from behind – bag in hand – ready to take her. With a swift and aggressive movement, he threw the bag over her head and pulled her toward him. She let out a panicked screech and – just like Wenlock predicted – raised her hands to remove the bag. The man grasped her hands and tied them together tightly. He began to lead her off of the gardens in a hurried manner, with the princess screaming for help all the way.
With difficulty, he finally reached the cave. Wenlock had already been there and fitted chains that would hold the princess, so the man chained her up. He spent the next few hours sitting in silence, waiting for someone to arrest him. No one came.
The next day, Wenlock came to deliver food for the princess, being careful that she didn’t see or hear him. The man gave the food to Annika as she cried and begged for him to free her. In response, he told her that he did not intend to harm her – this calmed her down.
For the last two days of her capture, the princess seemed to lose her hope of being saved and so stopped begging the man.
It was hard for him to sit and watch as the princess, who had never done a single wrong deed in her life, lost her will to live. He had never done anything like this before; in fact, he had never committed a single crime before – not even a petty one. All in all, he had been an honest, hardworking man for his entire life. When Wenlock first offered him the deal, he was sure that he was going to decline; greed pushed him forward and insisted he take the deal. At night, he would tell himself that it wasn’t greed, it was to give him a better life, but deep down he knew this to be a lie.
On the fourth day, he provided the princess with her food and ran – far and fast – away from the cave.
Wenlock arrived around noon, shouting, “Princess? Princess Annika?” He was responded by the muffled screams of the princess, and so he ran into the gave and let out a sigh of relief. “I thought you dead, Princess.”
He removed the tape that the man had used to keep her quiet. “Wenlock? I’m so happy that you found me!” She smiled widely until doubt flashed across her face. “You are here to save me, right?”
“Of course, Princess. I have been helping search for you for days. Why else would I be searching around caves?” he reassured her.
“You’re right. I just – I – you –” She paused to catch her breath. “I didn’t think you, out of all people, would be the one to save me.”
“I’m turning over a new leaf, remember.”
He used a rock from the cave to break the chains away from the wall, freeing the princess. She stood up and almost fell – she had been weakened by the capture.
“Here, let me help,” he said whilst he slid his hand around her waist. “Put your hand around my shoulder, it’ll help your balance.”
With reluctance, she did as he said and they began their trek back down the cliffs.
The journey consisted of small talk, with Wenlock making a few jokes to try and make Annika feel better – it seemed to work.
When they finally reached the town, Wenlock lowered the princess onto a bench and ran to the nearest royal guard.
“Sir, sir, the princess, I’ve found her.”
“Where is she?” the guard asked in a rude tone.
“Follow me!” Wenlock ran off in the direction of the bench.
The guard gasped when he saw the princess. “Your highness, are you alright?”
“Not really, but I’ll be fine as soon as I can get home.”
“I’ll inform the palace right away.” The guard turned to leave and then hesitated. “Will you be ok with him?” The guard shot Wenlock a filthy look.
“Of course. He was the one who saved me.” The guard responded to this with a look of shock before turning to leave hurriedly.
“Wenlock?” Annika’s voice cut through the silence left behind by the guard. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“You’re welcome, Princess, it was no trouble really.”
“There is no way I could ever repay you.” Wenlock thought about how there was one way he could be rewarded.
“No need, Princess. My reward is your safety.”
“Wenlock, there must be something you want?” The Princess pondered for a moment, considering her options before seemingly stumbling upon a piece of knowledge she had neglected to consider. “You have been a prisoner for a long time now. Over time, you have proven again and again that you are worthy of being freed. I’ve made up my mind about your reward; as my first royal declaration when I return, I will grant you your well-earned freedom.”
With too much enthusiasm, he gasped, “Princess, I cannot express my gratitude for your extraordinarily kind action. Before I begin to celebrate my newly-given freedom, I must ask, are you certain you trust me enough to free me?”
“Why of course. How could I distrust the very man who saved my life?” With that, Wenlock hugged the Princess tightly. “Oh, ok then.”
“Thank you, your majesty,” he spoke as he let go of her.
“Your ex-wives may be disappointed,” she chuckled before continuing, “You have earned this; after all, you have been putting in the effort to become a better person”
“You have no idea.” He smiled too widely.
***
For three years after being freed, Wenlock bided his time, slowly gaining his power back. He created a master plan of how he intended to take over the whole kingdom. No one would suspect a thing, especially not now that he was a regular visitor to the palace as Princess Annika’s best friend. It was almost time to enact his plan because his power had finally surpassed that of what it was prior to Annika, but he needed to test it first. He needed a test kingdom to take over and so he travelled to Dulcinea.
He realised that it was rather easy to gain access to a palace if there was no perceived threat and so had gotten in on his first day in the kingdom. What he did not expect – however – was what he found in the dungeons.
“I’d get out of here now if I were you,” a shrill voice said through the darkness.
“What? Who’s there?” Wenlock asked, afraid he had been caught.
“Come to the third cell, deary.” He did as the voice asked and approached the cell. At first, he couldn’t see anything because it was so dark, but when he used his powers to light the candle, he lay his eyes on the most beautiful man he had ever seen. With long, white hair tied into a ponytail and gorgeous, almost orange eyes, Wenlock was stunned. “You look like you’re up to something wicked.”
“I am,” he replied when he gained his voice back. “I’m trying to practice taking over a kingdom.”
“Don’t bother. At least not with this one. Been there. Done that. Wouldn’t recommend.”
“You’ve tried to take over this kingdom?”
“Yes, about a year and a half ago now. I was so close, but then that nitwit Anneliese had something unexpected up her sleeve.”
“I’m not like you. I’m powerful.”
“Oh yes, I can see that. You can light a candle with your mind, I’m amazed.”
Wenlock glared at the man. “I will take over the kingdom I want.”
“I hope you do, at least then one of our kind wins.”
“Our kind?”
“Villains deary. Villains. That’s what you are, aren’t you? After all, no hero dresses that fabulously.”
“Yes.”
“Well, off you go then, you have a kingdom to take.”
Wenlock was about to leave when suddenly his plan shifted. “No. You will come with me.”
“Me? Whatever for?”
“You want to win? I can give you a kingdom.”
“You would do that for me?”
“Of course.”
“Well come on then, break me out, darling.”
***
It was an odd occurrence, indeed. An unexpected event, to say the least. And yet here it was, he was in love. He couldn’t believe it himself. It was impossible. He was wicked. He was evil. Rotten to the core. But when it came to Preminger, he couldn’t help but feel things he had never felt before.
Ever since Preminger came back with him, the two had been bonding, preparing for the kingdom takeover. Eventually, the time they spent together turned into something else. One night, they found themselves kissing each other passionately. The next morning, they awoke naked, side by side. That was when Wenlock knew he was in love.
He had had three wives and yet none of them had ever made him feel so happy. After all, he had gotten bored with each of them, hence the need for so many. This time he knew he was never going to get bored of Preminger. But he was afraid to tell him that he wanted more than just casual. He wanted something real.
“Darling,” Preminger called from the other room. “Come here will you?”
“Is everything ok?” Wenlock asked, concerned for his lover.
“Of course, dear, I just wanted a word with you.”
“Go on.”
“This kingdom takeover, whilst I am excited to become King, it would be nice to do this properly, you know?”
“I don’t think you’re going to be able to marry into this family.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“I want to marry you. I want to be your husband when I become King. We would rule side by side.”
Wenlock gasped. Here was everything he ever wanted being offered to him and yet he couldn’t help but fear it was not all that it seemed. “Do you love me? Or do you just want to be joint rulers?”
“I am in love with you.” And with that Wenlock lifted Preminger off of his feet and walked him to the bedroom.
***
“Calm down you nitwit,” Preminger whispered.
“I’ll try,” Wenlock said through deep breaths.
“Do you, Wenlock, take Preminger to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“And do you, Preminger, take Wenlock to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do, darling.”
“You may now kiss.”
Wenlock’s lips met Preminger’s in a careful but sweet kiss before separating as the crowd cheered.
“I hope you’re ready for the honeymoon,” Preminger whispered, teasing Wenlock, causing him to blush a bright shade of red.
***
Today was the day. Wenlock, with his husband, would finally take over the kingdom that wronged him all those years ago. He stood outside the palace holding Preminger’s hand tightly, waiting for the right moment to launch the attack. Just as he was about to curse the castle, Aidan ran out to the two of them.
“I have brilliant news to share with you. Quick, come in.”
The two followed, reluctantly but still intrigued as to what could possibly be so important that Aidan would be the one to greet them.
“Wenlock, Preminger,” Annika greeted them warmly before continuing, “Brietta has made the decision that she has finally forgiven you. To reward you for showing true change, we want you to work for us at the palace. Both of you. You can be the palace ambassadors.”
“What?” Wenlock asked, confused as to why he would be rewarded with such an honour.
“You get your own palace too. The one in the wood? That’s now yours. Well, only if you take the job. You’ll have staff there working for you.”
“But Princess–”
“No, Wenlock, I won’t hear it. You are one of my closest friends and I’m not about to let you throw away this opportunity.”
“I don’t deserve it. See, I’ve been lying. All these years. I planned to take over the kingdom. That’s what I came to do today.”
“Wenlock!” Preminger shrieked, scared that the two would be arrested.
“But what about now?”
“Huh?”
“Do you still wish to take over the kingdom now you have this job?”
“No.”
“And you, Preminger?”
“No.”
“Then that settles it. The two of you shall commence your royal duties tomorrow. Good day.”
***
The two left the castle in silence. It was over an hour before Wenlock broke the silence.
“This is all because of you.”
“What?”
“Ever since you came into my life, it’s been better than ever. You bring joy and happiness into people’s lives.”
“Yeah, I think the people of Dulcinea would disagree with you there.”
“That’s in the past. Don’t you see? We’ve been forgiven. Completely! And rewarded handsomely too. Do you know that the role of royal ambassador gets rewarded with lord titles? Lord Preminger and Lord Wenlock. Doesn’t that sound marvelous?”
“It does.” Preminger smiled with real joy.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“You know, I’ve had three wives, all of whom drained the happiness out of me. You are my first husband, and you’ve done the opposite. Guess I was stealing the wrong people all along.”
The two chuckled and strolled off into their new bliss.