As You Wish
Chapter Four
"Your tirades are annoying me son." The large man huffed as he paced back and forth across the library, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.
"You are the future King and running off the way that you do without any of your guards is plum stupidity. The next time you pull a stunt like that i'll......"
"You'll what Father? Lock me in the tower? Or no, perhaps you will just place me in the dungeon and leave me there till I learn my lesson."
The young man spoke, picking at his nails while stirring in his chair from boredom.
"I say dungeon."
"Shut up Justin." the men yelled in unison as the curly haired man strode into the room plopping down into the red velvet plush chair listening to the conversation.
"Your future bride...."
"I have no future bride father." the young man fussed, cutting off his fathers words and rolled his eyes as the man stopped his pacing in front of him, folding his arms across his thick chest.
"It has been arranged for sometime now that you will marry the daughter of the King of France, and like it or not son, you WILL marry her in two weeks time. This union will help our Country out."
Raising his hands in front of him and placing them in prayer fashion, Joshua lifted his bright blue eyes to his father and smirked at the man becoming more agitated as he spoke.
"I do not see how my unhappily arranged marriage is going to help you out at all father. The king of France is a suborn cold hearted mule not willing to side with anyone, and the fact that he would turn his own daughter over to a country he despises the most should do nothing but concern you, not make you happy. The man is up to no good and you are a fool not seeing that."
"Arranged marriages are done for reasons son." the King bellowed, "And along with that marriage comes other agreements. In due time you will come to respect her, maybe even love her. What ever the case you will at least make her happy happy."
He finished, taking a seat behind the large oak desk in one of his many thrones in the castle as Joshua stood from his chair taking up the pacing his father had abandoned.
"I have yet to see an arranged marriage that turned into happiness, especially one in this palace."
"Stop provoking your father Joshua. The vein in his temple is begining to throb."
Joshua smiled placing his arms around his mother with a hug and kissed her cheek looking down to her with a sigh.
"I do not provoke him mother, I am merely educating the man on his ignorance."
Queen Danielle smiled as Justin stood from his chair taking her hand into his as Joshua released her, and placed a kiss on it as he bowed before her.
"Good morning Queen, it is but a lovely day for a ride out today. Perhaps you would me see that the stable hands prepare your wagon for a journey?"
Joshua shook his head and rolled his eyes at his childhood friends actions and began his pacing once again.
"Stop with your sucking up Sir Justin. Perhaps you could take a journey yourself that would hopefully get you lost along the way." the King smiled, peering over his glasses as he spoke.
"My darling husband, you seem to be quite irritable this morning. What has brought about this behavior in you on the eve of our festivities?"
Danielle asked, leaning against the heavy desk to peek down at the papers her husband was looking over.
"I do apologize dear, but I have received word that the palace in Hampshire has once again been raided by the Larks, and they are requesting the Knights of the Round Table for help. With the dismissal of three noblemen I am afraid Joshua, Sir Justin, and Sir Joseph would be in too much danger. We were to pick four new men during the festivities for Joshua, but by then I am afraid it will be too late, for the Larks will take over on their next raid, and we shall soon be their next target."
the King sighed, laying his forehead to rest in the palm of his hands.
"Forgive me sir."
Justin spoke, hurrying to stand in front of the king, "But the three of us could take them down on our own. We are the best, if I should say so myself, and just the mention of our names sends those away in fear."
"Nonsense!"
The man yelled, rising to his feet.
"I will not allow my son to go into battle with so few men to protect him. Princess Francesca will arrive at dawn and we shall allow time to spend with her and her family so that Joshua can meet his bride. At dusk fall we shall gather the chosen for a test and Joshua will chose four new men so that after the wedding the knights can journey to Hampshire. Till then I will send notice to their palace that I will send over the best of our guards to protect them."
"But sir...."
"No more Justin. If you wish to keep your place as a nobleman then you will abide to my rules. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Justin mumbled in anger as the King exited the library, his wife close behind him, and turned to Joshua kicking the desk in anger.
"We could pull off that mission Joshua with no trouble. You know this as well as I. Together the three of us are the best and I know of one of the men chosen to be in the line up. He was supposed to have been chosen as a child when I myself was picked for your line up, but the boys grandfather was a dear friend to your grandfather. The family paid for him not to be picked. He is greatly qualified, he will be one of the best, chose him now Joshua and let us take this mission."
Joshua folded his arms across his chest, smirking at his friend he had known for so long, and nodded his head, mocking the man.
"The best we are Justin, so I say let us gather Joseph and this man you speak of and rush out tonight to storm a castle and slay the Larks to claim victory." he bellowed, ending by raising his finger into the air and bending over in laughter as Justins head bobbed excitedly, unaware of Joshuas teasing.
"You....you are too funny my friend. My father would have our heads before we could make it but a mile away. The man is determined for me to marry this girl and he will keep me under lock and key to assure that it happens."
"But Joshua, our dreams since we were just small boys was to take down the Larks and beat those hideous vikings for good."
Justin stated, moving closer to Joshua as he dropped his voice to a whisper, keeping the palace guards from hearing.
"For generations your family has tried to put an end to them, always falling one step behind. If we could could but take them down, then perhaps your father would see you as something more than just a foolish man and maybe, just maybe, you could put an end to this marriage nonsense."
"How so?"
Joshua questioned, rubbing at his chin as his curiosity peeked.
"By winning respect from palaces miles around and your father would no longer need the support of France to pull us from this financial slump. Those around would be willing to help us out and us them in return."
Justin smiled in satisfaction as he watched his friend thinking over his words.
"This man you speak of...you know him well?"
"I know that becoming a knight has always been his dream, and with just an ok the man will be ready to travel at any moment. He is quick with a sword and damn good on horseback."
Joshua turned his back to Justin, walking away a short distance as he thought over his friends words and turned back to him suddenly, with a smile upon his face.
"Go collect him and meet me at the rivers edge at nightfall. I shall get word to Joseph and gather our things to meet you there."
Justin nodded, excitement boiling inside him, and turned on his heels to exit the room, stopping abruptly and turning in his tracks as Joshua called out his name.
"You better be right about this, for you are putting us into much jeopardy leaving out tonight. If you are wrong, then I myself will lock you in the dungeon."
With a roll of his eyes, Justin turned once again leaving the room in search of the once young child he remembered from so long ago.
