THE PRINCESS & THE PIRATE

Chapter 11 Preparing to meet the devil...

Reanna quietly sneaked back into her chamber and leaned exhausted against her door.

 When she finally found the energy to push herself away from the support of the heavy oak door she began to make her way across her chamber, but in her tired state, she had accidentally dropped the hem of her cape that had dragged a trail of mud across her chamber floor - clear evidence of her secret outing.

" Dam !" Reanna exclaimed as she turned to survey the mess she had created.

 She had been so careful not to leave any trail as she had snuck back into the castle, she had taken off her muddy boots and carried them along with the hem of her cape up the stairs as she stuck to the shadows to conceal herself from the view of the servants around the castle.  

Looking around her chamber Reanna found a nightgown lying by the foot of her bed and picked it up starting to use it to mop the mud from her floor and as she did so she thought about the events of her day.

Her day had been a never-ending series of stressful and exhausting events. Starting with the arrival of King Sebastian and continuing threw the afternoon once he had finally left her chamber, which he boldly had entered uninvited.  After the events of having to deal with King Sebastian and then the events that happened afterward- Reanna wished she could peel off her muddy and sweat-drenched clothing and curl up into the welcoming embrace of her bed and sleep away her exhaustion and aches of her body. 

Sadly Reanna knew that relaxing wasn't an option, so she forced her tired feet to move as she finished the task of clearing away the last of the evidence on her floor, before she hid away her muddy clothing in its usual secret place and changed into more ladylike garments.  After glancing around her chamber and checking her appearance Reanna was satisfied that all evidence was well concealed so she reluctantly summoned her maid to help her prepare for the banquet- looking at her bed with hopeless yearning as she did so.

" You spent all afternoon sleeping and yet you still yawn?" Edwina remarked as she finished curling the last of Reanna's long defiant strands of hair and gestured for Reanna to stand so she could admire her handy work.

Reanna forced herself not to scowl in response and stood as Edwina demanded. 

" Today has been rather eventful Edwina so do not scold me..." Reanna responded as she smoothed the skirt of her gown and awaited a sharp response from her maid. When the sharp response she expected did not come Reanna lifted her gaze and was amazed at what she saw... Edwina was crying.

" Edwina, do not cry...I  am sorry if my tone upset you... I am tired and I know you scold me because you care..." Reanna said as she took a step towards her maid to comfort her.

" YOU SILLY GIRL!" Edwina said as she swatted Reanna's hand away and took a moment to compose herself before smiling at Reanna with warmth. " I am not crying because of your words, nor tone.." Edwina replied laughing at the thought of Reanna ever hurting her. 

" Then why are you crying?" Reanna asked confused.

" I am an old woman and occasionally my emotions catch up with me and you ...look so beautiful Reanna, your mother ...she would be so proud of you dear," Edwina said with a mixture of pride and sadness as she looked at Reanna's appearance.

" Edwina...." Reanna started 

" Hush, let me speak," Edwina said as she reached out to take Reanna's hand. " You have grown up so fast, it seems only yesterday you were a young girl who would come running through the castle gates covered in mud from getting into mischief..." Edwina said stopping to think fondly of Reanna as a child, whilst Reanna thought of the incident this morning and replied sarcastically to herself " it seems I am still partial to mud."  

" I remember those days too," Reanna replied out loud as she returned her maid's loving gaze.

Edwina patted Reanna's hand before she continued, " now you have grown into such a kind-hearted, graceful and beautiful woman and you do not only your country but your parents proud. You have your father's wisdom and mother's pure heart and beauty, it has been my pleasure to raise you but I wish with all my heart they could be here to tell you how proud they are of you and to see the amazing woman you have become."  

" Oh Edwina...thank you," Reanna replied grabbing her maid into a tight embrace as her tears began to fall allowing her emotions to show, something she could rarely do in her role as a Princess or disguise of the Hood, as both needed to be strong figures to stand up to her brother's tyranny.

" Your welcome dear, I mean every word and it has been my pleasure to serve you and I hope that I can continue to do so starting with guiding you in the next chapter of your life... becoming a bride." Reanna tensed and began to blush at Edwina's words knowing what was coming next. " We need to talk about what married life entails and what happens between a man and his wife on his wedding night...since you are soon to be wed..."

" Edwina, I appreciate your guidance but this is not a talk we need to have right now. I am currently not even engaged...and I am unlikely to receive a proposal if I displease  King Sebastian by being any later to the banquet..." Reanna quickly replied hoping to end the awkward conversation before it even began.

" You are right I suppose.., We shall focus on getting a proposal first, and then we will talk..."  Edwina said hearing the unease in Reanna's voice and seeing her embarrassment evident in her red cheeks, which were now as red as her hair, Edwina couldn't help but smile at Reanna's child-like innocence.

The conversation would be needed eventually Edwina knew, as Reanna was no longer a child but a woman full-grown and that meant that the responsibilities and hardships of womanhood would soon be Reanna's to bear. Edwina, however, decided she would shelter Reanna from those responsibilities and hardships for as long as possible and cherish Reanna's innocence whilst she could.  

So, Edwina took one last look at her charge and then after a few words of encouragement left Reanna to await on her Brother arriving to escort her.

" You are lucky my King," Gabriel said as he finished dressing King Sebastian.

" Yes, I am for many reasons...but which reason are you referring to my friend?" Sebastian chuckled as he admired his appearance vainly in the mirror.

" The Princess, my King, she is a rare beauty and seems to be very meek and obedient so she shall be easy for you to train to your liking," Gabriel said as he handed King Sebastian a cup of expensive wine.

Sebastian smiled at his friend and gratefully took the wine offered.

" She is indeed a beauty, and although she appears as you say, meek and obedient I have a feeling there is more to her than meets the eye," Sebastian replied with a smirk.

Gabriel raised his eyebrow, " Oh, how so my King?"

" Well friend, whilst you were enjoying the delights the village had to offer this afternoon I made a surprise visit to Princess Reanna's chamber..." King Sebastian started to explain before he was interrupted by Gabriel's smirk and lewd gestures. " Hahaa... no Gabriel is was not that kind of visit. I simply wished to leave the Princess a note inside her empty chamber, requesting her company this evening on a walk and I was lucky enough to unexpectedly find her inside her chamber..." Sebastian paused to glance at himself one last time in the mirror.

" A note requesting an evening stroll..how romantic that plan sounds. I hope the Princess was swept away with your romantic gesture and welcomed you warmly into her chamber?" Gabriel said in a tone laced with sarcasm as he winked at Sebastian.

" You know I am not the romantic type Gabriel, although I do have a plan to make the evening memorable and I shall give you your instructions to ensure it goes to plan later..." Sebastian replied smirking cruelly as his gaze turned into one full of lush. " As for the Princesses welcome it was far from warm, which is what made me think there is more to the Princess than meets the eye..."

King Sebastian and Gabriel made their way to the great hall for the banquet, Sebastian telling Gabriel about his discovery of Reanna's fiery side and Gabriel in return delighting Sebastian with sickening details of his visit to the village. Both men finally took their seats and the fearful servant girls filled their cups as Gabriel reminisced about his lustful afternoon activities and King Sebastian fantasied about lustful activities he hoped this evening would bring.