Speak To Her

Your wife dresses you and kisses you gently on the forehead as you exit your chamber. You ask your guard where you might find your daughter and they tell you she is in the Garden with the other children.

You walk briskly through the palace thinking of what your wife has asked of you. An anger gnaws at you. Your child has disobediently fallen in love with a commoner. It hopelessly wells up inside you so quickly that you make up your mind to kill the soldier. Then you see them.

Your eldest son being tutored by this very soldier. The two are in the garden working on sword play. You are reminded of yourself. You were nothing but a soldier of the former king, and you aspired to such greatness. Why not this soldier. You step into the garden and the laughter of today’s lesson fades as your daughter awaits her impending punishment.

“Daughter.”

“Father?”

“I know.”

“Know what, father?”

“I know of you and… this … soldier.”

“My liege, blame me, it is not your daughter’s fault,” The brave young man intervenes, but you brush him aside.

“My daughter is a princess no doubt she could have resisted you.” You pause for effect, “If you were not worthy.”

“Father?”

“That’s right child, the two of you have my blessing.”

“Thank you!” She shouts and hugs you around the neck like she had done in her youth.

“Enough of this. My subjects will think me a kind man.” Your daughter is lifted into the soldier’s arms and the two kiss passionately. In the corner of your eye you see your wife standing by smiling proudly at you and the young couple.