The Lord’s Desire

”Close your eyes, Melrose. ”

So she did, but found no comfort. Instead, she felt as though she was being sucked by an endless darkness, drawing her to the unknown.

She opened her eyes with the hopes to see a glimpse of light, but all she had seen was nothing but darkness. And she knew no matter how spirited she was, she could never rule anything without light. Darkness was her nemesis.

”Close your eyes, ” spoke a voice from nowhere.

”I said close your eyes! ”

”Close your eyes or I will kill you! ”

”Do as you are told! ”

Melrose felt suffocated. She couldn move as if she was tied.

Then she heard the clanking of chains being dragged. A faint light showed in the distance, enough for her to see a hand holding the chains. But just as she was about to see who the person was…

”Wake up, My Lady! ”

Melrose woke up with Felicity shaking her shoulders. Droplets of sweat trickled down her forehead as she rose from bed. She could see the faint sign of the dawn from the windows and was relieved. She didn know how to go back to sleep after such a nightmare.

”I heard you shouting so I came to see. Are you alright, My Lady? ”

Melrose nodded with absence of mind. It had been a month since she had the same nightmare and now it suddenly returned. For a reason she didn know, that certain dream had been haunting her. She never told anyone about it, even Arianne, as she believed it was something that could happen for a person who found reading fictional books an interesting way to kill boredom.

But she was unsure. Was dreaming about the same thing often normal? It was reasonable if it was all about what she had always dreamt of happening. But in her case, to be in the middle of an unknown place surrounded by darkness with those weird sounds of clanking chains was the last place shed want herself to be.

Knowing she had no hopes to find the answer anywhere, she shrugged it off and pulled herself up. It was a day after the ball and she had to attend the annual equestrian match the King would take part of.

For this occasion, Melrose had her hair tied up and wore a light blue dress. Every time she felt bad, she had this habit of giving more time in dressing up as she didn want people to see any flaw and assume that there was something wrong with her. It was also her way of telling herself that there was nothing she couldn manage so shed better stop feeling bad for something not even real.

After her lonely breakfast, she went to the coach waiting outside. She usually dined alone as Lord Lewis seemed to be busier than anyone else in their town as he took a fancy of leaving the house at the crack of dawn. For Melrose, it was normal. Her father was a member of the royal council and these past months the King had been entrusting him with a lot of work and he was very passionate when it came to palace affairs.

The equestrian match would not take place at the palace, rather in the clearing near the outskirts of the city and everyone was welcome to watch. When she arrived, the King was already all geared up in his equestrian attire, preparing his white horse.

”Your Majesty, Lady Lewis is here, ” his butler, William, informed him.

The King stopped what he was doing and let the servants handle it before he went to her.

”Your Majesty, ” she curtsied. ”Am I disturbing you? ”

”No, of course not. ” His lips curved up for a gentle smile.

One thing about the King that softened the hearts of the people was his ever-gentle demeanor. It was like his smile was enough to lighten a world. He had this light personality that would make you feel good whenever you were around him. He had the power to influence others with his air, his attribute she liked the most.

”Are you having a problem with Quinn? ” Quinn was the name of his white horse. It was a gift from his mother during his coronation six years ago, the same month the late Queen passed away.

”No, but he is getting older and I think I will just let him be at his pace. I will not push him too much. ”

”Quinn still looked strong though. I believe you can still ace this match like you have always done, Your Majesty. ”

”We can be sure. Lord Knight will also join. I believe he will be a tough opponent. ”

Talking about Lord Knight, the man suddenly appeared in Melroses sight in the distance. He was mounting his black horse, geared up in a black riding jacket, white jodhpurs, and black long boots.

He seemed to be a man who took everything seriously so the King must be right to think that he will be a tough opponent. His black horse also seemed like a horse bred to fight. Of course why would a man like him pick a weak ally.

Though the King won mind a lose for sure. It was just a friendly game, after all. There was nothing to lose.

When the match was about to start, Melrose left the King to not further interrupt his preparation. Arianne came and both of them found seats along with the audience. Melrose had always watched the annual equestrian match for the past years for the entertainment it could offer. Lord Lewis only indulged her at first to watch the King and interact with him but she eventually found it entertaining.

”Who do you think will win this year? ” Arianne asked.

She couldn guess. ”The contenders were the same as last year except for one. ”

”Oh, right. ” Arianne nodded. ”Lord Knight will also participate and he looked like a true knight in that black horse. You know what, I am starting to believe that mysterious men with a little darkness in their air seems to be more attractive. I mean, look at Lord Knight. I think he is more attractive than the King. ”

”I don see it that way. They are equally attractive, I believe. ” Melrose looked at the King then to Lord Knight. For her, although they were equally good-looking in her eyes, they were in stark contrast with each other. Like black and white. Darkness and light. And weren ladies always preferred a man with a gentle nature than a man whose demeanor was marked with rigidness?

”Maybe they are. But since the King was already out of the market, Id be a little biased. ” Arianne grinned.

The next moments, the place was filled with crowd cheering when the match started. The first phase was simple and everyone seemed to know what they were getting in. His Majesty maneuvered Quinn effortlessly, but Lord Knights way of handling his horse was also flawless.

The first round hadn determined who had the upper hand yet but Melrose believed it was the King, Sir Lucas – a famous heir of a wealthy clan, and Lord Knight, who were leading the match. The Kings hobby was equestrian and had been training Quinn as his pastime. And Sir Lucas, one of the finest gentlemen in his generation, came from a family whose business was to breed horses so he must have known the best way to handle them.

Lord Knight on the other hand had a vague background so she couldn tell his skills based on his past engagements. But judging his stance and fluid moves, it seemed like he knew well what he was doing. His horse also looked trained and strong.

The second round ended, and as Melrose presumed, the three gentlemen were left and the rest were eliminated for the third and the final round. The hurdles this time were more complex and the crowd were cheering different names. Of course, Melrose was on the Kings side, but now she was having a hard time determining the better rider between His Majesty and Lord Knight. Sir Lucas was eliminated after falling from his mount, leaving the two in the competition.

So far, Lord Knights stunts remained flawless and his horse still looked ready for another match. The Kings skill in handling Quinn was magisterial, however Quinn seemed to be having a little hard time in the last few hurdles.

At the end, after the scores were finalized, Lord Knight was announced as the winner. Some were disappointed by His Majestys first fail ever since he started joining the equestrian match, but some were also glad that Lord Knight won.

Melrose already had a feeling of Lord Knights success at the middle of the final round as he seemed to have a deeper understanding about horses. It was like his horse knew what his master wanted him to do. The King and Quinn were synchronized, but Lord Knight and his horse seemed to move as one as if they could read each others minds.

Melrose went to the King afterwards. The King was sport and didn take his failure to heart. She already expected that. He was the kindest man she had known and sometimes she felt he was too good to be true.

”You and Quinn did well, Your Majesty. ”

”Yes. I am proud of what Quinn has achieved despite his weaker state. ”

Melrose caressed Quinns back with her palm. Like his master, Quinn was as gentle as he looked. She also like his color in particular. White.

”There is a banquet prepared in the palace as I invited all the gentlemen who participated in this years match. Do you have some time to spare? ”

Melrose smiled. ”Of course, Your Majesty. ”

She rode with him in the Kings carriage. His Majesty was indeed generous. She thought he prepared a simple banquet but when they arrived in the palace, she realized it was like a royal feast.

She had this feeling that she wasn supposed to be there though. She was the only woman present at the long table. But then she was already there beside the King so she couldn just leave.

”I didn know Lord Knight was that good at horses! ” Lord Bentley laughed as he took a glass of wine.

”A very fine gentleman indeed, ” an older man agreed.

”Speaking about Lord Knight, why is he still not here? ”

Melrose noticed the empty seat across from her. The King was at the head of the table, she was on his right, so the man to sit on his left must be Lord Knight.

”My apologies, gentlemen, ” spoke a cool baritone voice.

Before Melrose could turn her head, someones wide chest blocked her sight. Her gaze went up in an instant and became aware of Lord Knights presence across from her.

Lord Knight caught a glimpse of her like it was his instinct to look at what was in front of him.

”Congratulations, Lord Knight, ” Melrose said gently. The man was intimidating but if she was to be the Kings wife, she should start getting used to the lords domineering presence as he was the Kings relative and they would most likely meet under certain occasions.

”Thank you, Lady Lewis, ” he replied coldly, his gaze piercing through her as if he heard something unpleasant. Or maybe it was normal for him to gaze like that?