Ronald the royal soldier

I've been riding for two days straight. I am not able to narrate with mere words The feeling of being in my place. It is agonizing. Every second that passes I am forced to use forces that I was not even aware of. But I need to continue. Not because it is an order from the king or because it is my duty. But why in my hands do I have a seed, small and delicate. Which can be a big and beautiful tree that will guide us all! I have the hope and the future in my hands and I cannot let it die.

I can feel the suffering of my faithful companion. His trotting has been going slower, and I can feel his breathing faster and faster. He can't take much more, even though I sacrificed half of my supplies just for him. The little madam in my lap no longer laments his swing, and that only worries me more. I am far from being an example of a good mother.

For the last time, I swear, I lightly press my partner's belly, we must be faster. Even tired, more exhausted than I would ever dream to be, he hears my command and accelerates.

As a blessing from God, as soon as we passed the hill we saw the solid walls of the radiant capital, home.

My body and mind tense for forty-two exhausting hours, it falters. I grab the reins again. Not yet, just a little more, I have to take it. The effect seems more positive to my friend. He runs like never, the walls certainly remind him of shelter and fresh straw. Even though his breathing is forced, and I can feel his muscles waver, he runs to the city gates.

Arriving at the gates, the guards aimed their weapons at me.

I am not offended, they are good men.

It is a natural reaction, in times of war that are their duties.

— Identify yourself, or we will act violently! —Says one with his spear at my neck. I'm still riding my horse I lift one of my arms, with the other I hold the princess. Never has a baby looked so heavy. Showing that I am no danger, I answer calmly, no. Honestly, I don't have the energy to be afraid.

— Ronald, 15th knight of the royal guard. I return unexpectedly, but I have a message from your Majesty. —I hope he'll let me in soon, it's torture to just keep my arm high. I hope my legs still have the strength to come down safely.

— Do you have proof that you really are who you claim to be? —That was what I feared.

— I have the king's seal, but I need you to take care of this child first. —The guard looks at the malnourished baby in my arm.

— Okay, the baby comes in, but you stay until you show the seal. —At least one of us will be able to be treated.

 I got off my buddy's back with the princess in my arms.

Loyal how he is, he just neighs softly in relief. One day my friend, you will be repaid.

The grass was wet and slippery, adding to the fact that all of my muscles are giving random spasms, it seems very dangerous to keep the princess in my arms any longer.

The guards noticed that I was about to collapse and quickly took the baby out of my arms.

Well, what a weight removed from my shoulders, it felt like I was handling eggs the entire trip. Now can I relax a little? Oops, a little too much.

I fall to my knees in the muddy grass.

Dirty, but mission accomplished.

— The seal, please. —Oh! Sad life, the soul of a kind being will never be at peace for long.

I get up again and walk over to my faithful companion. The horse, named white. That seems too afraid of having to be ridden again, he is running from me.

I look at his fearful face, an intelligent animal indeed, but sometimes too clever.

— Come on boy, I'm just going to get a little something in your cell, then you go straight to the stable ok? —I say while trying to approach him again.

He is still unconvinced and takes another trot back.

I sighed, then took a deep breath, and with my last strength, I jump over the horse's cell.

He does not dare to bring me down, he is aware of the damage he could cause. He just snorted in resignation and stay quiet waiting for new orders.

I finally take the so-called seal, or at least part of it, out of the bag on the horse's back. It had split in two.

I saw the broken seal to the guard asking for mercy.

The guard hesitates a little but ends up smiling and saying.

— Don't worry, no horse would be as smart as yours besides those of the royal guard. Come in, we will immediately prepare a room for your excellence.

— By the grace of our king, thank you, I could not stand another hour standing.—He is the kindest guard I've ever met.

— Them I am the one who will have to apologize. The strategists are demanding a report about the obligatory battlefield from anyone who returns from there. —I take that back

Abandoning my last hopes of seeing a bed in the next few hours I start walking with my companion animal towards the gates.

The heavy wooden and steel gates were loudly opened at the command of the guard.

Inside you could see tents and people of all kinds. Soldiers, farmers, blacksmiths, and even squires ran from here to contribute to the war.

The gatekeeper directs him through the crowd. Horses neighed, the smell of soot covers the air, adults shout to the children the atmosphere seemed so tense that even a knife could cut it.

This is the time of war. The guard stops in front of a white cabin with the coat of arms of Castile.

— We will take care of your horse from now on, as the child, what measures should we take? —The word child brought me back to consciousness.

— Ah! The child, of course! She was found in the war zone, she is malnourished and the trip must have worn her out a lot. Take it to the midwives they will know what to do and be sure to treat her with respect, ordinary she is not, but I cannot give more information.

— Understanding your excellence, we will treat you as our own daughter. —After confirming that the child was in good hands I enter the hut.

There were finds only the scribe, an old gentleman dressed in light clothes, sitting on a table surrounded by parchments and books.

— Name, position, date, occurrence, and level of urgency, please.

He says without even taking his eyes off the paper in his hands.

I'm already used to the conduct of the military, I stand at attention and begin the long speech:

— Ronald, son of the 1th general, 15th knight of the royal guard. I return on orders of extreme urgency given by your majesty. In the middle of the battlefield at this very hour about two days ago, we were patrolling the borders when we arrived at a village with no name. His majesty showed pity and let the residents disband before we went any further. In this same village, a girl was found who is currently under the care of our midwives. If my memory serves me, his majesty's decree was as follows:

— Dear soldiers, I have concluded. Misfortune fell on this girl, but fate decided to give her a second chance. As you know, our kingdom does not have a queen, so there is no way to continue the royal line. There is only one way to get an heiress princess. And today we fall on the grace of God. He announced that as of today she will be called Harika. I will take her on my wings and hope that she will become a beautiful woman. I present to you the new Princess of Castile Harika first of Castile.

At the end of the speech the old man finally takes his eyes off the paper and examined who was in front of him in amazement while saying:

— It is better that memory has not really failed you Mr. Ronald son of the general because his words will be marked in history. We finally have a woman in the royal family to pass on the noble blood to the next generation. —The old man turns his gaze to the desk as he prepares to write the newly dictated speech and says:

— I know you must be tired of the long journey, but as a soldier, you still have to fill out the forms of the current situation on the front lines. As soon as the strategists receive them, we will be closer to victory. — Concluded the elder, handing an extensive pile of papers to the exhausted me.

I stare at the pile of papers in my hands for a while before finally sitting in a chair next to the elder. Unfortunately, my legs still stiff from the trip do not support the movement. I fall to the ground and drops one of the ink cartridges on the documents I was supposed to fill out.

The old man looks extremely irritated at the fallen me who moaned in pain and finally decides:

— Well because of your circumstances, I think we can delay the delivery of the report a little more, go rest before it breaks anything else.

I slowly get up while still suffering from the cramp and leave the hut with a final thanks to the elder.

The guard who would escort me there was still waiting outside.

— Are you finished? —He questioned me to show respect.

— Unfortunately, I assume that I am unable to start or finish anything now, could you take me to my accommodations? I interrogated him rushing, I think I will pass out at any moment.

— Of course, follow me. —replied the guard who was already heading in another direction.

Before I could follow him, my vision darkened, and I lost control of my body just hearing the crash against the ground.

It was a dreamless sleep, but the mere fact of being asleep relaxed and refreshed my mind and soul so that I almost returned to my normal state.

I wake up in a soft bed, my body was clean from the heavy armor I had worn in the last few days.

The morning sun hit his face and slowly brought me back to my senses.

First, there was hunger and thirst.

My body was rested, but not recovered.

My throat in particular was dry and pasty.

I quickly go up searching for water, the sudden movement after a long period of sleep has created pain in almost all of my muscles.

I screamed and kicked for a while until my body got used to moving again.

Upon returning to sanity I realize that I was not the only one crying in the room.

I look for the source of the sound and finds a crying little red princess wrapped in new clothes nestled beside me. I had probably woken her up when got up, but why was she here?

Taking a closer look at my surroundings, I'm in a room with rich walls in red and yellow colors full of details. Furniture was robust but made of expensive wood, carpets told embroidered stories, even the doors and windows were made of noble wood. There was no doubt, this was the princess's new room and Prince Arthur V's old room when he was a baby.

Before I had time to make any assumptions about my current situation, two servants in their typical flag-colored uniforms enter the room.

They don't even look at the disoriented me, they go straight towards the princess.

They review your entire body and start feeding it. Only when the little one stops crying the midwives pay attention to me.

— I know that you are confused by your excellence, but the princess refused to sleep away from you and due to her conditions. We had to carry you to your highness's room so that she finally fell asleep. — explained one of the maids.

I felt at first immense pride, then shame, and then came the headache and hunger. In the end, my face is red and with a tired expression, but a huge smile of pride.

A third maid enters the room and hands him an iron tray served with bread and apples. Even simple, it seems much better than the small portion of old salt beef jerky I had been eating.

Because I was too busy enjoying breakfast in bed, I just notice later a boy hiding behind the third maid's dress.

— Welcome back! I hope you had a good reception. Come on Arthur, don't be rude and greet him. You already know Ronald! —

I freeze. How didn't I recognize Melinda and the little prince!? My gods, I can't look like this in front of one of the bravest women I know. I try to get out from under the blankets and make a hurried reference, but I stop halfway because of the cramps. I sit back on the bed and I realize that I'm only wearing faded red overalls. I blush and give Moli an embarrassed look, only to discover that she is laughing at my poor situation.

— You don't need to show respect anymore, as the godfather of the new princess. —I contemplate the void for a while trying to digest the information and deal with the pain in his legs and arms simultaneously.

So far, I did not stop to reflect on how my current situation would be reflected in my status. Naturally, I knew it was a great honor and a position of great responsibility, but there were prizes too!

I would live in the castle and abandon the old barracks! Be better paid and would get better clothes. Be promoted from a simple captain of a few lands to a chief general just as Moli was a chief servant. Be the general of all royal guards and would only take orders from the marshal and the knight king! Unfortunately, this also meant being removed from the royal knights and the fronts of battles where my friends are. Perhaps never taking my feet off the capital again to be able to see them. Even my family would have to travel a lot to visit me. One thing is certain, from the moment I received the princess in my arms, my life was turned upside down.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the boy who before behind the maid, now climbed my aching legs while asking the name of his little new sister.

He had grown a lot since I had gone. He always is.

— Harika, Harika first. —I answer.

The boy's eyes shine as he jumps from my lap to the direction where the maid who was treating the little girl was.

— So small … — Says the prince, holding his hands together to touch the newborn baby.

He watches her for some time until she suddenly starts singing in a low, slow voice in a tone that only a child her age could sing. All the servants and I were silent listening to the melody.

The end was:

” Sleep,

Little Princess.”

Ironically, it was the little prince himself who fell to the ground beside the princess. But he had to admit, his little girl's face was very peaceful while he slept.

Melinda slowly takes Prince off my lap and snuggles him in her arms.

I start to sympathize with the boy. He was very different from the little prince that I had to chase when he ran away from the castle or the one I caught skipping training.

A pile of sheets of parchment that falls sharply on my lap pulls me out of my reverie.

— Do not think it will be easy Mr. Ronald, you still have much to do before you even think about going back to sleep. There are the forms that you must write to the strategists in addition to the basic protocols to officially become a general. As soon as you finish filling them, head towards the main hall, your basic baby and child care training begins today. Says Moli with a sarcastic smile like a war veteran looking at the new cadet.

I ignore Melinda's expression and examine the scrolls, they were certainly about five times heavier than when I picked them up from the barracks.

I take a deep breath, it was time to start a long journey.