Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 163: Looking at the same direction

COURTYARD OF THE ORLEANS

Central open air courtyard brings the fresh breeze of spring. Harald took a deep breath as he smells the fresh air.

He enjoyed these small moments as he walked to her. As he come closer to her, he could see her from a distance, patiently waiting for him.

He takes a deep hard breath stopped and check his appearance a bit and then he began walking to her.

He then approached her. She only smiles and said teasingly

'You are late, my lord' the woman said, with a gentle smile. Herald took a look at the woman who is his betrothed.

She is pale, in a good way, her eyes are large and full of curiosity while her cheeks are rosy. She looks petite and cute.

Her eyes are blue and her hair is slightly red no doubt from her mother side of the family with long straight silky hair that reaches just above her hips.

Fire and Ice. The red hair contrasted nicely with her blue piercing eyes.

Harald bowed slightly when he sees her. She noticed him bowing and she bowed too. A noble lady of high upbringing would of course have all the education of a simple etiquette

Harald then started to speak up

'I was being held up by your father.'

'Father?' she said like she is calculating something. She then looks to her left and gestures to her handmaiden.

'Yes.' he replies as her handmaiden approached him and guides him to his seat

'Please sit down my lord'

'It is fine' Harald reply. The lady stands marveling the garden, like her behavior before did not demand any explanation

'Fiona, you can go' the lady said. She nodded and without a word she went out from the courtyard. Then there was this awkward silence between him and her.

She then takes a look at him. There is this smile on her face and this glint in her yes that looks like she is judging him.

'So. It seems you will be my husband' Harald had no response for that other than nodding his head

Then after he recover his wit, he replies back as gently and polite as possible.

'And it seems you will be my wife.' She chuckles. She approached him and look at him closer than before.

It was an amused look that unsettled Harald. Then Harald ask the question he had been meaning to ask since the moment he heard that she wanted to meet him

'Why?' he asks

'Why what?' she asks back

'Why meet me?' She chuckles a bit and then she answers.

'I prefer to look the man I'm about to marry and see if he is worthy of having me' Harald had a smile on his face.

Then he asks

'And now?' he asks

'Now what?' she asked back

'Now that you have looked?' She was silence for a moment before she said with a smile

'You have quite the feature' she said smiling and turns back her gaze to the gardens. It was a vague answer

Harald did not know how to make of that answer. So he asked.

'So, is that a compliment? Or an insult?' The lady clearly finds this conversation to her liking.

'What do you think it is?' she asks back

'I will take it as a compliment' Harald decided

'As you should, my lord.' She replies

Harald then look at her back figure. She was just there standing still and for a moment all he can hear is the sound of the wind and the chirping of the birds that fly around the garden while Emilia just look in the distance, not talking about anything.

'So, is that all?' he asks after the moment passed. She didn't seem like she wants to talk. She then suddenly sighed.

'Do you know why we are getting married?' she asked. Harald know the answer to that question. But he hesitated to answer it because the answer is cruel.

She did not need to know that her father is trying to gain power in the Court so instead he said

'It is because our families are close and your father is convinced that I would treat you right.' she turned around and looked at him with a wry smile.

'A gentleman' she said, like she was assessing him with her blue piercing eyes.

Then she shakes her head and said with a tired tone of voice

'There is no need to speak lies on my behalf, my good lord. I know of my father ambition for the vain title of the King'

Then she sighed again

'I never understand the obsession that title has over men. They fight for it, suffer for it and die for it.'

The wind of spring blows and she look at the flying birds on the clouds and she said

'I often times wondered if the Life of a farmer is peaceful than a King. People who seek to become King have to endure sacrifice, heartache, plots and intrigue yet even after all that, they covet the position even more. It is men quest for ruination that always amazes me to no end' she said and she smiled at him, scanning him once again.

Then she asks him a question

'And you, my lord? Do you too seek the same?'

Harald was shocked of course of hearing this from his betrothed. Woman rarely interfere in the matters of politics and the fact that she knew all of this is unsettling.

Harald know that many ladies know that their marriage is being used as alliance marriage but not all daughters of a lord is obliged to comply.

After all, a happy marriage means a happy family so usually the ladies will tell their lord father who they are fond of and if their father agrees, then they will get married.

Forcing a girl to marry other men is frowned upon by the Church after all, but that doesn't mean it does not happen. And this girl in front of him doesn't seem like she can be forced. Which means she is doing this for her house.

Harald then understand that the woman in front of her is not some nave little girl that he could console by lying. Since that is the case, it is better to be truthful.

He shakes his head and then he sighed. He then said to her

'So, you knew'

'Yes. I knew.' She replied matter of fact

'Then the reason- 'he was about to say something when she cut him off.

'The reason I want to meet you is because I need to see the man that father has chosen for me'

She then snickered a bit as she continues

'He takes you in not because he wants to expand his influence but only to honour his friend. It is the only time my father has made such move that will not benefit him.'

'Is that so?' Harald said and he remember Lord Jean plan for his offspring. She shakes her head and then said

'I do not mean to offend you my lord. I just...we are getting married. At least I would like us to have an amiable relationship. Perhaps, if we get to know each other. we might even fell in love.'

Harald nodded

'Like you saidthis is a political marriage.' he said with a slightly bitter expression. She smiles wryly and then she added

'Yes, it is. But a marriage not started with love in the beginning doesn't mean that it has to be that way forever' she said with a smile.

They look at each other. He smiles. And she smiles. And they both nodded.

'You are right. It seems I have been deal with a card. Better make use of it' he said honestly to her

'That is what I'm talking about.' She said chuckling

So he got up from his seat, approached her and instead of looking at her he looks at the very same direction she is looking.

And if his eyes did not mistake him he could see a hint of smile traced around her lips. They just stand there looking at the same direction without saying anything and he know it. that his journey is just beginning.

****************************************************************************

The beginning of the mass release. Hope you give the story some love. I stay up all night editing all this mass release....huhuhu. Anyway, after the mass release I might be seeing you all on the fifth fo February for Age of Heroes and a little later for the other stories.

Hope you all still enjoy the story. Don't forget to vote and leave some comments. I woudl be glad if I see some words of encouragement