Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
The king turned around as he heard the door to his chambers open. His beautiful wife comes in radiating a smile that he has not seen grace her face for some time. She walks graciously to him as she takes his hands in her own before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. She releases his hands walking over to their bed. The king's gaze following the cheerful queen. He softly chuckles walking over to the bed before taking off his robe. 
                          
"Do tell, what has my queen so happy?"
                          
The queen has pure happiness pulsating off of her. She looks to her love who has a small smile of his own. She grins thinking about her son and how his actions spoke volumes in regards to the young maiden. 
                          
"Our son..."
                          
The king thinks of how his son mind has been elsewhere lately. He has not been focusing on his duties as prince. His thoughts are brought back by a soft palm to his cheek. His love looking to his eyes with amusement. 
                          
"My dear, did you hear me?"
                          
The king shakes his head regretful. His wife tilts his head up with her hand still holding his cheek. Her smile still intact.
                          
"He has found his queen."
                          
The king snaps his eyes to hers as his body tenses unsure he heard her correctly. She gently nods her head confirming his thoughts. He exhales slowly realizing the repercussions of this. 
                          
"My dear, we just invited the princess from Darion here. She is due to arrive in a weeks time." 
                          
The queen's face morphs from the happy glow to a look of concentration. Her face then relaxes looking to her husband. She lays back against the pillow and her husband follows suit.
                          
"We have to let him choose but I am telling you, the princess's voyage will be in vein."
                          
"And who has captured his heart?" 
                          
"She's a fair beauty named Artemis." 
                          
"Artemis? That is unique... What family is she with?" 
                          
The queen just shrugs as she plays with her husband's hand. The silence envelops them as the king relishes in her gentle touch. 
                          
"I am warning you my king, Do not interfere. I have a great feeling about her." 
                          
"How has she bewitched you so quickly my wife?" 
                          
"It's not me she has entranced..." 
                          
"Was she here this evening?" 
                          
"Of sorts.." 
                          
The queen answers vaguely fearful of his reaction if he learns where she currently is at. The king raises an eyebrow but doesn't get an answer rather soft lips pressed to his own. Thoughts of the young maiden lost as his mind focused solely on his queen.
                          
The evening envelops the castle as one continues to remain awake. Caspian glances away from Artemis to walk over to the couch in his chambers. He pulls up the blanket up further covering the young boy who is snoring cuddling his wolf. Tesara opens one eye to see what the prince is doing. Caspian gently strokes her head lulling her back to sleep. He walks back over and looks down at the siren laying in his bed. His eyes memorizing each of her features as if she will dissipate into the night. He leans down kissing her forehead gently before slouching back into the chair. Taking her hand that is now intricately covered in black ink into his own as he inspects it closely.
                          
He looks to her face while taking her palm placing it to his cheek. He sighs feeling her warmth seep into him. A weight rest on his legs making him look down to his lap. Vatalanie's eyes study him as she rest her head upon his legs. He rubs her head like he did Tesara and looks to his beloved.