A wedding pronouncement.

By the following morning word of Lady Amelia’s impending nuptials had already spread throughout the castle. No doubt Welwyn was the cause of such gossip. Already the snivelling little snake had thought to turn what was an arduous duty for Amelia into his own personal boon. She was glad her father was sleeping deeply that morning and she hadn’t had to tell him of her decision. “Arrowthorn mustn’t fall,” he had said. Amelia was just doing as he had told her.

After checking her father in his chambers, Amelia was met by her lady-in-waiting Jacinta as she came back out. The girl took her by the arm and drew her off to a quiet and barely used hallway of the castle.

“Is it true, My Lady?” Jacinta asked when she was certain no one was around.

“Sadly it is,” Amelia confirmed.

“But your cousin is a snake and a worm. You can’t!”

“He is a tick on a hunting dog’s balls and worse!”

Jacinta gasped. She’d never heard her Lady speak in such a way. The serving maiden quickly covered her mouth as she began to giggle. Amelia joined her in laughter.

“I wish there was any other way, truly I do, but it is what I must do. My duty to Arrowthorn comes before all else.”

At the morning council meeting held outside Caiden Arrowthorn’s convalescing bed chambers, Sir Rifkin too looked to Lady Amelia to confirm what he had heard. All it took was a solemn nod from the noble-born daughter to confirm the truth.

Lady Amelia would declare the news publicly for all to hear. “Thank you for coming. As I’m sure you may have heard by now.” Amelia paused to stare balefully at her cousin. “I have taken it upon myself to assure the question of succession of the lands and titles of Arrowthorn. I intend to marry my cousin, Welwyn Arrowthorn, at the earliest convenience.”

There was a general murmur of discussion from amongst the members present but Amelia felt comforted by the growing confidence these people had that they were beginning to trust in her and follow her leadership.

Her father’s steward was the first to speak and offer his blessings. “Congratulations my lady. If we remain free from any new assaults today, I believe we could host your wedding ceremony and a proper feast tomorrow.”

‘I would not have us recklessly squander our resources with an enemy at our throats.”

“Of course, my lady, but a modest supper to celebrate would be appropriate. Our hunters returned last night with a deer. It would do good for morale to prepare this fresh rather than salting and preserving.”

Lady nodded her consent. Her wedding would come within a day.

As luck would have it Amelia was able to break the news to her father that afternoon. While she sat by his bed, Lord Caiden Arrowthorn began to stir, his voice croaky as he spoke his daughter’s name.

Amelia was at her father’s side in an instant. She held a cup of water to her father’s mouth and helped him as he took a long draw of water. She would feed him some of the thin beef stew she’d had prepared for him for just this eventuality once he had drunk his fill.

“Father, I have something to tell you,” Amelia said after he had consumed nearly the full bowl of nourishing broth. “I am marrying my cousin tomorrow. It is what I must do for the family and our continued existence.”

Lord Caiden sighed wistfully. “I had wished a better match for you but our allies have forgotten us during this siege. Arrowthorn mustn’t fall,” he repeated.

Later when her father had eaten and fallen back to sleep Amelia had Jacinta meet her in her own chambers. Since the news of the first breach of the wall and her father’s injury, Amelia had barely spent any time within them. They sat in their customary chairs and Jacinta set about resetting Jacinta’s long braided hair had become frayed and ragged in the days since.

“My Lady, what is it you will wear for your wedding tomorrow? You have many beautiful dresses that would look enchanting. I could have them aired and made fresh for tomorrow.”

“I will wear the same armour I have worn each day. Let my cousin go frocked to his wedding day if he wishes to continue with our role reversals. I will continue fighting and he can be a silken ninny.”

Jacinta nodded proud of how fierce Amelia was. One question was bothering Amelia and it was the reason she had sort her private chambers to speak to Jacinta.

“Jacinta. With my wedding night approaching, you have known a man such as I must?” Amelia asked.

“I have known a kitchen boy, My Lady,” Jacinta admitted.

“Was it painful?”

“There was some discomfort but… I enjoyed it nonetheless.”

“And was there blood?”

“A little, My Lady.”

“In that case, there is something I must ask you to do…”