Chapter Forty-Seven

"Truth be told, I don't want to do much talking at all." He said and stepped closer to me.

"Th-then..."

"I'd rather fulfill my duty to my wife."

"Ai-Aidan. " I say and blush. "I r-really need to oversee this work."

"Frank can take over for you." He said.

"Fr-Frank?"

"Yes Frank, he's in charge of the servants. He knows what he's doing."

"And I don't?"

"I didn't say that."

"I think I'll stay here." I say and push him back. "It's my first formal event as Queen and it has to be perfect."

"Ari." He said but we were interrupted by Garrett approaching us.

"Your Majesty, there's a situation." Garret said in a serious tone.

"It can wait." Aidan growled.

"I'm afraid it can't." He said and Aidan groaned.

"I'll see you tonight my love." He takes my hand and places a kiss on it. "I'm sure everything will be perfect."

He always has to say the sweetest things, it makes it hard to be mad at him. It's like he was still worried everything might disappear again. I worried if he held in his frustrations it might all boil over at some point.

After I was satisfied with the new furnishings in the ball room and adjacent dining hall, I went into the kitchen to check on things there.

"Y-Your Majesty." Ralph said and bowed when he saw me. Ralph was our head chef and was responsible for the meal arrangements for tonight's feast.

"I-I came to see how preparations for tonight are coming along." I say with a smile.

"Very well Your Majesty. Would you do us the honor of trying the dishes for tonight?" He asked.

"Oh, I-I would love to." I say and walk over to the pots on the stoves.

"W-we will bring the dishes out to you Your Majesty."

"I don't have time for all that. I'll just try a little bit now."

"T-that would be im-improper Y-Your Highness."

"I won't tell anyone if you won't." I said with a smile.

"Oh o-okay um," he cleared his throat then started putting tiny portions on a plate for me. I could tell he was uncomfortable doing that but he seemed pleased with my reaction after eating it.

I decided to go check on the work outside next - some new flowers were going in that matched Cordona's colors to honor the peace treaty. Fresh fertilizer was also going to be laid - the smell was a bit overwhelming but foreign officials seemed to appreciate the gesture.

There were also bushes and trees that needed trimmed, some edging work, and all the stonework had to be cleaned more than usual so it really sparkled in the sun.

The castle itself was surrounded on three sides by mountains but the entrance at the bottom of the hill had a large gate connected to a newly fortified fifteen foot tall stone wall with parapets at the top. (Parapets are spaces in the wall that allow troops to look out when needed but offer concealment and protection during an attack).

I looked down towards the gate and noticed more commotion than usual. I was curious so I started to head that way.

"Your Majesty." Marcus said and blocked my path.

They were so quiet I had gotten used to my guards, Marcus and Nicholas, following me around all day. They normally didn't interfere with anything I did, just made sure I was safe and people kept the appropriate distance.

"What's wrong?" I ask. I looked at both of them but they didn't say anything at first. "Did Aidan ask you to keep me away from the gate?"

"Y-you should stay up here where it's safe Your Majesty." Marcus said.

"What's happening down there?" I asked.

"We're not certain Your Majesty." Marcus said.

"But nothing you need to concern yourself with." Nicholas said with a somewhat nervous smile.

"I'd like to know what's happening." I try to look around them but they're rather large and move to keep my view blocked.

"Knowing what is happening wouldn't change anything. You wouldn't be able to help." Marcus said. He was always the curt and direct one.

"Oh." I say and look down. So they know what's happening and know that I'd be useless. Once again Aidan is dealing with real problems and real stress while I'm dealing with chairs, bushes, and pairing dishes. Was a Queen really so useless she could only keep busy on frivolous things that could be handled by a servant? And it would likely only get worse once I found myself with child.

Nicholas elbowed Marcus and motioned for him to say something else.

"I-I meant not offense Your Majesty. You've done an amazing job refurbing the castle and preparing for this celebration. It looks like a whole new palace." Marcus said.

"Yeah, everyone can't stop talking about how great everything looks and how much they're looking forward to tonight." Nicholas said enthusiastically.

I smiled. "Right, um, l-let's go check on the musicians then. They should be here by now."

It was one tiny issue after the other - I had to pick different songs for the musicians, have the servants change out one of the flowers - they put yellow in them which must Cordonans associate with a rather painful memory from a festival years before the war and would likely be perceived as an insult - the chef decided to add some cilantro to the main dish which most Halifax people associate with the taste of soap (thank you history education for not failing me now), and then my dress wasn't ready until the last possible minute. I almost wasn't dressed in time.

"Frank, where is Aidan?" I ask as I hurry into the main room.

"His majesty has just finished dealing with the disturbance from this morning and is washing up now for the feast." Frank said.

"B-but our guests are in the foyer w-waiting to be greeted." I said and looked towards the two big doors separating the foyer from the main room we were in. I was suddenly very nervous.

"His Majesty has asked that you greet the guests and occupy them until he's able to join." Frank said.

"Oh, ok. I-I can do that..." I took a deep breath and tried to calm my fast-beating heart.

"Is Your Majesty ready?" Frank asked. I nodded and the large doors separating the two rooms were opened and propped up with door stops. I held my head high as I stepped forward and was introduced to the foyer full of men.