forum Royal Dilemma (o/o Closed)

Started March 04, 2022 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Thomas let himself smile a little as he heard her soft laugh and spurred his horse to walk beside hers.

Eleanor noted his action and slowed her horse down to match his pace. A few seconds of silence passed between them before the queen was sure they were out of earshot from any other guards. "I love riding," she said quietly. "It's been my favorite thing to do since I arrived here."

Thomas nodded slightly, keeping up the posture of a guard, but he was smiling a little more. “It is very nice.” he agreed softly. “I haven't been riding as much as I would like but I do enjoy it when I get the chance.”

Eleanor nodded and directed her gaze up to the castle's ramparts. "I feel as though I'm caged here," she mumbled. "Riding has been the only thing that has made me feel free." The queen cast a look over her shoulder and offered a small smile. "Until I met you, I suppose."

Thomas did his best to fight back the blush her words brought to his face, nodding a little. “I… You are not the only one who has felt trapped here.” he assured her in a whisper. “But I'm glad that you have found some relief from that with me.”

Eleanor tried not to smile too much. The guards on their posts always watched her like a hawk during her rides. It was like they suspected if, given the chance, she would run. But instead, she sat up straighter in her saddle and nodded subtly. "And I hope, if I may be able, I can provide the same relief to you, Thomas."

Thomas manages to keep his face from giving away anything to the other guards but his eyes sparkle with warmth as he looks at Eleanor. “You have.” he assured as he brings his horse closer in step with hers.

The queen dipped her head ever so slightly and studied his face in the daylight. “I’m glad,” she replied, cutting herself off while another guard on a horse came around the bend heading towards them.

He came riding at the pair rather aggressively, causing Eleanor’s horse to startle and rear up slightly. She gasped quietly and tightened her grip on the reins, so she didn’t fall off. What a sight that would be, she thought while her horse settled down. A queen, face-first on the ground because she couldn't control her own horse.

She patted the brown mane and breathed a quiet sigh of relief that she hadn’t embarrassed herself before looking at the guard who was now stopped in front of them.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, trying to sound as royal as she possibly could.

(I know I kind of threw this in, but would you want to be the other guard?)

(it's ok. I can do that.)

As Eleanor’s horse reacted, Thomas was just as quick to help grab the reins to keep it steady. But he let go once the Queen had it under control. The other guard was actually Thomas’s captain and a personal favorite of the King. Which unfortunately meant that Thomas couldn't do anything.

“The King wants to see you.” the captain said simply.

(Ahhh, stop that’s literally perfect! You’re the best! :))

Eleanor shot a brief look of gratitude toward Thomas before turning her attention toward the guard. His words stilled her instantly and sent cold sparks through her body.

“What for?” she asked, trying to look unfazed by the simple request.

(😊 Glad you like!)

The captain narrowed his eyes slightly at Eleanor’s question. “I don't ask questions of my King. And neither should you.” he answered almost coldly before turning to Thomas. “See to it that she does what His Majesty asks.” he ordered, riding off without waiting for a response from the soldier.

Thomas didn't move until after the captain was out of earshot. “I'm sorry, Eleanor.” he sighed.

Eleanor did her best not to flinch at his tone. Some queen she was, allowing herself to be talked to that way.

“But I’m his…” she began to say, but the retreating hoofbeats of the captain’s horse drowned out her words. “Wife,” she finished, quietly and mostly to herself.

She tried to keep the desperation out of her voice, but it shone through in her eyes when she looked over at her guard. “What could he possibly want with me now?”

Thomas sighed and shook his head. “I don't know.” he admitted softly, apologeticly, unsure if he actually wanted to know. He managed to meet her gaze though it felt like a stab in his heart. “I… I'm so sorry.”

Eleanor shook her head slowly. “No, I… it’s not your fault. This is…” She closed her eyes and steeled herself for the ride back. “We should get going,” she murmured. “Wouldn’t want to keep His Majesty waiting.” As the words passed her lips, she shivered slightly.

Thomas nodded regretfully and turned his horse back towards the stables. He wanted to say something but his words kept failing him. He was a bit irked with how his captain treated the Queen. But he was also fairly worried about what the King could want with Eleanor.

(Okay, I’ll ask… do you have any ideas for why he’s summoning her? Because I don’t have shit right now XD)

Eleanor kept her chin high – as high as she could, at least – while they rode back. Maybe if she pretended to have confidence… no, that was pointless. The captain was one of the highest-ranking officers in the king’s royal guard, and she’d experienced the way he treated her on multiple occasions before today. The guardsmen all acted like she was some incompetent child plucked off the streets. And the worst part was it felt like there was nothing she could do to change their minds.

(😬 actually no… I don't really have any ideas. It just seems like the only reason why a guard would do something like that. Otherwise, I get the impression that they would stay away from her.)

Thomas watched her out of the corner of his eye as they rode. “Maybe he just needs you to stand by his side to greet some guests.” he suggested hopefully though his tone was still remorseful.

(No, that definitely makes sense. Okay, so I came up with some ideas… I'm interested to hear which one you think will be the most interesting… (1) something about having to produce an heir to the throne, (2) Thomas's idea of just having to greet guests, like a foreign royal dignitary or something, (3) going outside of the castle on a parade or something, just to show her off and make sure he has the support of his people, (4) the country is looking to go to war, and they have a meeting about it that, for some reason, she's pulled into.)

Eleanor nodded slowly. "I hope so," she muttered, noting the tone of his voice. Though she appreciated it, she also wasn't looking to be pitied. She mustered a queenly appearance while they rode back until the stable was in sight.

(I like all of them but maybe for right now… What about a combination of 2 and 3? A parade to welcome some foreign dignitaries.)

Thomas managed a brief small smile but didn't say anything more. Once they arrived at the stables, he dismounted first and handed his reigns to the stable boy. “My Queen?” he offered as he stood beside her and her horse to help her down.

(Yes, I like it! :))

Eleanor looked down at him a moment before reaching toward him to slide her hand into hers. It wasn’t the first time that they’d “held hands,” but for some reason, this time felt more electric to her.

“Thank you,” she said quietly once she had dismounted. “Let’s go.”

Thomas had to focus on controlling his breathing as her hand touched his. He nodded gratefully in reply and moved his other hand away from her side. But he continued to hold her hand to escort her back to the king.

Eleanor was expecting to find the king in the dining hall, or perhaps his own room. She was not expecting to run into him barreling through the hallway with footmen and maids flanking him with his every step.

“Eleanor? What are you wearing?” He asked, giving her a once-over.

“I went out for a ride—” she began, but he cut her off.

“You need to go. Now. Get changed. Something more… appropriate. The delegates are coming today.”

She blinked, wondering which delegates. He treated her like she was stupid when he’d never even told her they were hosting delegates in the first place. “Alright—” she started and was cut off again.

“You there!” the King said, pointing towards a maid with mousy hair and dark blue eyes. “Where’s the queen’s head maid?”

“She’s d-down in the washroom, I believe,” the woman said, eyes wide. She was obviously not expecting to be called on.

“Go to your room and wait for your maids,” the king ordered his wife. “They’ll get you ready. The simplest things, Eleanor…” With that, he was off again, leaving a trail of servants hurrying in his wake.

Thomas quickly bowed as the king came rushing to meet Eleanor and tried not to react to their conversation. While he didn't like the way the king spoke to her, he was immensely relieved when he heard the reason for this sudden discussion.

Once the king and the crowd of servants were gone, he let out a deep breath of relief. “Well, I'm glad that's all it is.” he smiled softly. As a guard he didn't get told many things either.

Eleanor nodded, still a bit disturbed by the way he had spoken to her. “Yes… I suppose you’re right,” she muttered. With that, she turned down the hall the king had just come from and headed toward her rooms. Words threatened to spill out of her, but she didn’t dare until she and Thomas had privacy. But it wasn’t hard to tell she was beginning to get fed up with the way she was being treated around the palace.

Thomas was surprised that he could tell how she felt after knowing her for such a short time. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they walked back to her room.

Eleanor looked over at him with a soft smile on her lips. “Thank you,” she whispered, squeezing his hand back playfully but also in solidarity. Whatever came, they would face it together.

Thomas gave a small gentle smile and nodded slightly in reply. “Shall I wait in the hall for your maids to arrive, or would you like to talk before they do?” he asked softly.

Eleanor considered the options before coming to a decision. “I’d like to talk to you,” she said quietly, looking at him with a raw softness in her eyes.

“I had a feeling.” he chuckled softly, running his thumb across her knuckles before opening the door for her. He would follow and close the door behind them since that same feeling told him it would be better if no one else heard them.

Eleanor bit the inside of her lip to avoid gasping at the brief feeling. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she crossed the threshold into her room. Hearing the door close behind Thomas, she turned and let herself fall against his chest. “I’m so tired of this,” she whispered painfully.