3 Chapter Three: Let’s break her neck

Chapter Three: Let's break her neck

When Princess Jamie entered the King's court, King Jared was alone. He was looking out of the window. From where he stood most of Namura kingdom could be seen, from the arena where tournament of knights and other competitive battle were held to the market just a little distance from there.

Jamie wondered why her father was worried and uneasy. She wanted to walk faster to get to the window but the dress, her maid made her wear was very inconvenient and wasn't made for walking.

"Father, you sent for me" her little voice seemed to bring back the king from the edge of his chaotic mind.

King Jared looked at his youngest daughter and at age nineteen; the girl had no patience for anything Lady like. When she walked, it looked like she was in a hurry to get somewhere and elegance wasn't going to get her there. In the dark, she could be mistaken for a young lad.

Her face was a little bruised and she didn't bother to use any feminine products like Arabella to conceal her flaws. She was plain Jamie and nothing like the exquisite Arabella, the first princess whose beauty was turned into a song throughout the seven kingdoms and beyond.

Unlike Arabella, Princess Jamie had black hair and green eyes that seemed to stare right through a person to their deepest secret.

By the way she pulled the dress she wore on interval, king Jared knew it was bothersome and wholly unreasonable if Princess Jamie's opinion was asked.

She had no jewelry on her bare neck. Apart from the royal bracelet she wore, she had no other ornament on her.

King Jared knew it was a bad idea even before he spoke but if he had any hope of preventing a blood bath, this was it.

"Have you been fighting again, Jamie?"

"Don't worry papa, no one saw me? I wore a veil and I was in the forest anyway" Jamie made a mental note to ask Ursla to burn the bothersome dress.

"We will debate about your unusual extracurricular activities later. For now, we have pressing matters"

The door opened a young lad entered dressed in brown tunic and pants. He had a lighter shade of golden hair than King Jared. He was conventionally handsome with his green eyes, facial shrubs and chiseled jaw line. He was almost same height as the king.

"My knight just informed me that Arabella ran away from Aradale and now her husband wants to burn the kingdom to the ground?" The young lad was King Jared's son, crown prince Elliott of Namura. He was six years older than Jamie and two years older than Arabella.

"What?" Princess Jamie yelled in an unladylike manner.

King Jared shook his head, he wondered whether his younger daughter paid any attention to the lesson she was thought as a child about decorum and habits expected of a king's daughter. Knowing Jamie, she probably didn't.

"I was about to break the news to your sister as gently as possible" King Jared glared at his son who had been away on a tournament in another kingdom.

"Father, even when Jamie gets to the King's court I am sure she would prefer blunt honesty" Crown prince Elliott said to his father.

"I am here, Elle"

Elliott stopped and looked at her in surprised.

"You are wearing a dress!" Elliott said in surprise while Jamie made a funny face at him to spite him.

"This is a nightmare, Father. Bella, the quiet dutiful sister is on the run and Jamie, is well.... wearing a dress!!!"

"Sit down, both of you!" King Jared had no patience for the siblings' quips and jabs.

"What are we going to do, Father?" Elliott asked.

"Is Bella alright, Papa?" Jamie asked instead.

"No, your sister is not going to be alright. Her husband wants her head delivered to him or he would reduce Namura to a pile of ashes" King Jared said in a grave voice.

"That is two terrible choices-"

"Don't interrupt me, Jamie"

"Sorry, Father"

"I have been thinking and I did not come about this decision with ease. To save your sister and Namura, you have to take Arabella position as wife to the king of Aradale, Jamie"

"What! No! I am not meant to be someone's wife. I am going to be Queen after you, Father. And if I marry, I have to renounce my rights to the throne" Jamie fumed in anger.

"Huh...I am going to be king after Father, not you Jamie" Elliott said with a puzzled expression.

"Oh come on! Everyone knows you are going to break your neck the first time you have to go to war as a king, Elliott. Ask papa, he thinks so too"

"Well, how about I break your neck right this second!" Elliott went for Jamie's neck but the king stopped him by punching him right in the face.

"Leave your sister alone! I guess if Jamie doesn't want to marry King of Aradale. We have to go to war then"

"We are going to lose, father. How about we just tie Jamie up in the middle of the night and ship her to Aradale" Elliott suggested while holding the side of his face King Jared punched.

"Father, would never do that to me, right father?"

"Right. You may return to your chambers or in your case, Jamie… the forest. I have a war to plan"

Immediately, Princess Jamie left the king's court, crown prince Elliot looked at his father like he had gone mad. He stood up and paced. Elliot was an accomplished warrior just like his father. After all, he was just declared champion in the tournament he took part in, in the next kingdom. The young Queen Elise who now ruled the kingdom of Narva since her father king Judd took ill and died few months ago was very appreciative. She spent the night showing how appreciative she was. As Queen, she was allowed to take as many men to her bed if she had no plan to marry.

"Father, we are going to lose"

"I know, crown prince. I know"