Chapter 3

How it started in Camelorn…

Octavius van Camele before he became King Phillip IV rode on his majestic black horse with his brother and best friend, Angus van Camele, riding by his side on an equally majestic steed.

"Do you think she will be there?" Octavius asked, his brow laced with worry.

"We will never know until we get there," Angus replied, laughter in his voice. His brother was definitely in love with the young Intavian princess, Emilia. His eyes shone like stars whenever her name was mentioned and his arms failed to work every time she came near.  Even now his elder brother rode his horse with fury in his haste to meet with his one true love. His coat of fur billowed behind him and his breath came out in vapors as he rode hard in the harsh winter towards the Summer Palace.

The guards at the tower looked down, sighted the coat of arms on the saddle of the horses, and gave the signal to open the gates. Octavius and Angus rode into the bailey and dismounted, the stable hands ran over to collect the horses for brushing.

"Where is the housekeeper?" Octavius asked.

"In the kitchen, my lord"

He started walking in long strides and Angus, 15, three years his junior tagged along. He resisted the urge to laugh at his brother's eagerness. Hours of tutoring by Garius the boys tutor had fallen on deaf ears. Garius said a prince never should act like a dandy in the presence of a wench, a prince was never to show too much eagerness when planning a tryst with either a lady of blue blood or one of lose virtues and so many other lessons about what a prince should and should not be found doing. Princesses and daughters of nobles had governesses, the boys had Garius.

"Milord!" Millie the old housekeeper exclaimed when she caught sight of the crown prince and his brother in her kitchen.

Octavius held up his hand "Don't worry, Millie, there's no problem. I understand Princess Emilia is waiting in one of the rooms."

Millie relaxed and smiled "Yes, milord but she isn't in any of the rooms. Princess Emilia insisted on staying in the apple garden" she ran critical eyes over him, she had been in service of the royal household even before the boys were born "You look like the wind ran you over milord, you might want to straighten your appearance before meeting a lady gentle as Princess Emilia"

Octavius hurriedly smoothed his hair back and briskly walked out of the kitchen "The apple garden?" he did not wait for a reply.

Angus laughed and took a stool from beside the sink, picking a fresh loaf of Millie's bread "Good luck brother! He wouldn't let us stop for even a jar of water. While he chases the lady I'll fill my stomach with Millie's sumptuous food," he said with a wink at the old woman.

Millie laughed "Milord is flirting with an old woman. And the bread is for sale in the small village by the sea"

Octavius rounded the curve of the long passage and came to the entrance of the apple garden with its dried-up trees. The winter was harsh and the ground was dry so the leaves had turned brown and fallen to the grown and among the twists of brown and gray stood the most beautiful sight.

Princess Emilia Ing Avia.

She was moving amid the trees with her light blue gown of silk rustling with the leaves she dragged as she walked. Her hair was undone the way he liked it. Golden blonde hair stopped below her waist. He always loved to run his fingers through it whenever they met at times like this and she loved to lay her head on his chest and listen to his deep voice rumbling beneath her ear.

"Emilia"

She turned around for she had been standing with her back to him. Her face lit up and a beautiful smile broke through her perfect face.

"You received my message"

"And came as soon as I could"

She laughed and half ran to him "Your hair is messed up, you must have ridden hard"

He put his hands around her and held her body close to himself "I did, my love" he kissed her hair "Is it true?"

She nodded "Yes, it is Octavius, I am carrying your child"

"Our child"

She smiled against his chest. He released her and walked backward until his back came in contact with the gravel wall of the garden, drawing her to sit on the floor with him, pulling her close so she could rest on his chest while he leaned back and rested his head on the hard wall. He rubbed the arm she rested across his stomach and entwined his fingers with hers.

"Does your father know about this?"

"Only my maid does and she can keep a secret. I'm afraid to tell my mother." She looked up at him "I love you Octavius but if my parents disagree there is nothing I can do about it"

Octavius sighed "I am worried about my father too. But if they don't agree will you run away with me?"

Emilia didn't hesitate with her nod. Octavius smiled, he loved her just as much as she loved him, and knowing that made everything much better. He was the crown prince but he was also going to be a father soon and if he had to abdicate his position as next in line to the Camelorn throne to be with his love and his child, he was ready to do it without hesitation.

The memory of how they had met came to him. His father had thrown a feast for his 65th birthday and had sent invites carelessly for he was in a joyous mood. Emilia's father had gotten an invite even though the two kings barely knew each other but king Festus of Intavia had been indisposed and had instead sent his Advisor and his daughter, Emilia, and her maid to attend the feast. Octavius had taken one look at Emilia at the receiving line and knew he had found a bride. She had gazed at him shyly, colors peppering her cheeks as he had bent to kiss her hand, her hand had trembled daintily beneath his and he knew she felt what he felt too. When no one was looking he had gotten a goblet of wine and a platter of grapes went to her and struck a conversation with her. She was the sweetest person he had ever met and when he had asked if he could see her again she had shyly told him he could come calling on her at the inn she was staying in.

Octavius remembered walking in the shadows of midnight to the inn that wasn't very far from the palace. It was an inn he knew very well, dignitaries from other kingdoms stayed there when invited to discuss politics with his father. He had stealthily walked past a sleeping inn-keeper up to the room Emilia had described for him and knocked. Emilia herself had answered the door wearing a coat of thick black fur with a cowl. She had smiled at him before slipping out.

"My maid is fine with this but my father will kill me if he finds out I am sneaking out with a man," she had said.

"Mine too, hopefully, they don't find us otherwise they will have to marry us off to each other,"

Emilia had smiled at his not-so-veiled attempt at baring his heart and feelings to her "That would not be so bad," she had replied softly. "I have only a little time with you before my maid calls for me, she's good but only as long as she doesn't get into trouble"

Octavius had offered her his arm "Then let's make the most out of it."

He had intended to take her into the castle to the pond through the servants' passage but as they walked under the star-dusted sky arm in arm Octavius found for the first time that he was short for words. Instead of engaging in small talk like he had wanted to, he found himself stealing glances at Emilia, catching her eyes because she also could not keep her eyes off him. And when the time came to say goodbye they had shared their first kiss. It was awkward, and a new experience for them both. Of course, Octavius had kissed many young maids before but never had he kissed anyone he was strangely in love with. And when it was time to drop Emilia off at her room Octavius found it hard to let her go and she too stood by the door watching him watch her until her maid cleared her throat from within. Her maid had come over to close the door after letting her say a quiet goodnight to Octavius.

From that night on they had done everything to communicate with one another and since a second son was not as important as the first, Angus had sometimes been the messenger between the both of them, bearing lengthy love letters from Emilia to Octavius and back. Any chance Octavius got he arranged trysts with Emilia mostly at the Summer Palace and when the Summer Palace was occupied by the royal household-they met at inns in small villages in Intavia and Emilia looked forward to those meetings because she got to see the honest love Octavius had for only her in his clear blue eyes, she got to feel his strong arms around her reassuring her of his love and when she had given herself to him she had felt no shame because she knew he was honest and loyal and that theirs was a love that would last forever.

"Are you still here?"

Octavius looked down at the only woman that meant everything to him. She was resting her head against his chest but she had turned her head up to look at him, she was so beautiful. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her nose before rubbing his nose against hers. "I will always be here"

They sat down in the garden till the sunset and Angus had to remind them to come into the kitchen to eat the meal Millie had prepared.