Chapter III: The Rivalry in Gloucester

                                    

                                          
One year into Morgan's reign
I've now officially been King for just over one year. Me and Anna have tried, we really do love each other, but it's hard to try to love when everyone expects you to.
Somebody knocks on the door, " Come in", I say as I stand up and fix my hair. Dylan walks in, he bows his head. " Your Royal Majesty, I have word that Harold, Duke of Gloucester, has raised his personal army along our border in the south", Dylan informs me.
" Dylan, I'm sending you as a diplomat, I hope you can get this fixed", I say as I sit back down. " Harold has requested you personally, and as you know, his great-grandfather was the duke of Morgannwg, and the Archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged his claim", Dylan informs me.
" It's a trap", Anna says as she walks in. " They will try to capture you", Anna continues on. " Do we know how many troops they have?", I ask.
" I sent our close friend, Nigel, to live in the Duke's court, and he estimates somewhere between four and 6 thousand men", Dylan informs us. " Get the carriage ready", I say firmly.
Dylan bows his head and walks out. " Are you sure about this M?", Anna asks as she sits down. " Yes, and I want to talk about something", I say as I flip through papers.
" What is it?", Anna asks with a concerned look on her face. " The realm is expecting us to, have a kid, a boy in particular, and I just want to know if there's anything I can do?, I ask.
Anna's cheeks turn red, " Maybe", Anna says with a smirk. " Am I okay?", I ask. Anna lets out a chuckle, " In which field?", Anna asks. I begin to turn red, " In all fields", I say.
" M, you're great. We'll just keep trying", Anna says after grabbing my hand. I love Anna, I know we'll have kids soon, but the realm is expecting a boy.
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" Gloucester Castle", The driver yells. A guard opens the door. I step out of the carriage. " All hail King Morgan of Wales", Guards yell. A huge stone castle stands above me, " Your Royal Majesty, please follow me to meet the Duke", A guard says after bowing.
We walk across the yard and into the castle. Guards bow as we walk up the stairs and into Harold's office. Harold sits in his chair behind his desk. " Please close the door", Harold says. The guard walks out and shuts the door.
Harold stands up, " Your Royal Majesty, thank you for meeting with me. Please take a seat.", Harold says after sitting back down. I sit down, " Let's just cut to the chase, You have been slowly trying to claim my vassal's land", I say firmly.
" You can't prove that", Harold says with a straight face. I pull out a letter from my waistband, " A letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, acknowledging your claim of the Duchy of Morganwgg. How dare you disrespect me in this manner", I yell after throwing the letter on the desk.
" I was blessed by God himself, attacking me is attacking God", I scream. " You come into my realm to yell at me, you disrespect me and I disrespect you", Harold says calmly.
" Now, shall we send our troops home and forget this ever happened?", I ask. " Give me one good reason I should", Harold says snarkly. " Because Me and the Pope are great friends, and I will not hesitate to report you and the Archbishop of Canterbury for abuse of power", I say after standing up.
" I'm sorry your majesty", Harold says with a frustrated face. " I hope our realms can prosper, good day Duke", I say after taking a few steps back. Harold walks up to me, " Your Royal Majesty", Harold says with a bow.
I stick my hand out, Harold bows and kisses it. I open the door and walk down the stairs and into the yard. I get into the carriage. " Back to the abbey", I say as I settle into a sleep.
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" Morgan", a kind gentle voice says. I open my eyes, my mother stands in front of me. " Mother", I say as I get out of the carriage. My mother, Cecilia, was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Lothian. Father met her when he did a Royal tour of Scotland to try to improve relations.
They were just 17 when they met, they married 5 years later. " You saved the realm", Mother says as we walk towards the abbey. " I wouldn't go that far, we could have defended", I say with a smile.
" You saved lives then, maybe even your own", Mother says as we walk inside. I scoff, " Mother, I'll be perfectly fine. You don't have to worry about me", I say as we pause in the entrance.
" I know", Mother says. I hug her, I love my mother, but she worries too much. I know it can be hard to be a King, but I have to.
It's in my blood, I hope me and Anna have a son, but only time will tell