To Love Someone

chapter 2

         
        April woke up, feeling happy. She dressed in a simple,yet elegant day dress and skipped out into the halls but was immediately caught by Phillipa.

"Ladies DO NOT run, my lady."
But even Phillipas sour face couldn't ruin her morning.

"Good morning to you too Phillipa," she said and curtseyed.

"Your father, he wants you and your sister in the throne room,"  she looked April up and down, and she obviously didn't like what she saw because she said, "And you will need to change into a more suitable gown, you are meeting with nobles, not going on a walk," she said and walked away with her chin high up in the air.

April looked down at the gown, and to her,it was perfectly fine and adequate to meet her father. She knocked on her sisters door and a soft voice replied, "come in."
Noelles room was very much like hers, with slight differences.

"Father wants to see us in the throne room," she said and dismissed the handmaiden. She picked up a blue ribbon and wound it through her sister's soft blonde hair.

"What for this time," she asked.

"I'm guessing he wants to show you off to his nobles and oh, maybe the visitors Marge talked about."

"What visitors? I didn't hear about any visitors in the palace."

April leaned down and said,"well, that's because you don't pay attention to palace gossip. Come on let's go, you don't want to keep father waiting."

"Wait, is that what you are wearing?" Noelle asked as she took in April's plain gown.

"Yes, now come along," she said.

                     *********

      

         The nobles, the Lord's and ladies, all stared at Ian as he bowed before the King.

"Your majesty, forgive me if I do not kiss your hand," he said. The King nodded to him, and his eyes strayed to the ladies who sat on either side of the King before focusing back on the king.

"Prince Ian, may I present my daughters," he beckoned on them to come forward. "Princess Noelle," he said as the one with blonde hair and pretty brown eyes curtseyed, "and Princess April," she dipped into a flawless curtsey and stepped back. Her dark blue eyes staring at him curiously.

"This is Prince Ian of Alba," the King said.

      April wondered as she sat what the prince was doing in Mercia. There had been a disagreement between her kingdom and his over land issue. She stared at the prince and was intrigued by what she saw, he had shoulder length black hair, which looked to be darker than hers, and it was in a plait. And his eyes were a wondrous shade of green.  But even as she found him good looking, she would have nothing to do with him, for he was a pagan, and she, a Christian.

Her mind wandered back to what her father was saying, "I have called you all here because, King Owen and I have come to an agreement,and settled our differences and signed a peace treaty," there were murmurs of approval from the crowd.

That explained his presence in the city, the King continued, "Secondly, you are here to witness the engagement between Prince Ian, and my lovely daughter.... Princess April."