A Wolf in King Arturius's Court (WIP)
I like you guys more because you all read stories here so this is all of this that I got. I would like to say that this part of the story is about 60% of it as I have about 5 scenes left though I might just cut it to three-ish and use the other scenes for the beginning of the next part. If you see anything that doesn't make sense or you just think is horrible tell me because I would like to make it better. I still don't like the letter but I don't know if I'm paranoid or not.
Dearest Elisabeth,
_ I write to you now as mother scorns out the window of the carriage at the capital and its inhabitants. She remarks that "at least up north we know how to keep our streets clean of vagrants." I have no idea to what she is talking about, I look out the window and I see people who are only trying to live their lives as best as they can. I still don't understand why we had to make this journey from our homeland hundreds of kilometers to here. Mother is a strong woman and surely should could take care of the County on her own. I will miss its forests and people the most._
Your greatest friend,
Friedrich
(Mother insists that I start putting IV after my name but I think it is foolish because I am the only Friedrich who would be writing as I am your one and true. I may be twelve now but I intend to make you my countess Elisabeth. I wish all the love my twelve year old heart can give from my Majesty's court.)
A Wolf in King Arturius's Court
Lord-Captain William Feusier had for a long time now served as the Commandant of the House Guard for His Majesty Arturius VII, King of the United Archaian Commonwealth and Dominions. He loved thinking about it as being Commandant of the Royal House was pretty important considering the territory that House controlled. The Centurion Guard like to brag that they were the ones who protected the King but it was he, William Feusier, that guarded every member of House Gaius, the most powerful House in the Kingdom.
He considered himself a strong man from a strong family with strong ties to the Royal House. House Feusier had long served the Gaians and William was now their favorite son achieving a position so close to Major Domo, the most treasure Royal Appointment in all of the Kingdom. Poor dear sweet Octavian Vespius was reaching the end of long fulfilling career and the King would need a replacement, and who better than someone so close and familiar with the inner workings of the Palace than himself?
The Palace staff was in a frantic mood on this early summer morning scurrying about with things to do. He had caught several maids gossiping in the lower courtyards which isn't proper and had to scold them. He knew what they were all in a fuss about as a Countess from the northern lands and her son were coming to stay in the house of their liege. Upon hearing the death of the boy's father, the King had invoked his duty and right as liege lord to bring them here to palace for their safety and it was his job, as Commandant of the House Guard, to ensure that the safety here in the lands of his Majesty's House, was best.
There was some trouble with the Madurians of House Ustermar who always like to cause trouble ever since they lost their claims to the throne. Every couple of decades they would make some outlandish claims and drudge up an army to try and settle this dispute they had with House Gaius. After their last defeat about a hundred years ago it was made illegal to have internal military disputes inside the Kingdom. That had been at the beginning of His Majesty's Father's reign. The damn Madurians didn't even wait for the late King's body to cool before they marched on the Capital! Rest assured he wouldn't let them disrupt the peace of these palace grounds while his Lord's guests were here.
" The carriage you are expecting approaches my lord" states a page that ran up from the Forward Yard interrupting the Captain's train of thought.
"Yes. Yes! Run out the guard and open the gate for His Majesty's guests. I will not be shamed by something happening to them so close to the palace."
"At once my lord" he replied before saluting and running off to tell them of his commands. Feusier quickened his pace to make sure he was there when they arrived so that he could greet them as the king had instructed him to do.
It wasn't a long walk from the Canal Lawns to reach the Forward Yard and when he got there the carriage had just pulled through the gate onto the main driveway that looped in front of the Grand Entrance with its new marble stairs. Feusier quickly checked himself to make sure his dark green uniform, one of two, he was wearing was straight, his black shoes were un-scuffed (they were his nicer pair), and that his hair curls felt right and that his sideburns and mustache were groomed (not that he would be able to do anything about it). The other day he had caught a grey hair peeking out of dark brown hair which only could mean that he was getting wiser!
The carriage halted and servants in their dark green uniforms opened the carriage door while younger similarly dressed servants retrieved luggage from the back of the carriage. From inside the main compartment came a silver colored wolf in a large yellow dress topped with a yellow matching bonnet stepped out. Following her was a smaller, darker, more grayish colored wolf dressed in a dark blue suit and trousers.
"I am the Countess Louise von Dessau and this is my son the heir-apparent Friedrich von Dresden."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Countess and your son" he said bowing. "I am Lord William Feusier, Commandant of the House Guard. His Majesty has entrusted me into your service. I do apologize for the condition that the palace grounds are in for at the moment we are currently going through the fourth major renovation of the Palace so that we don't get surpassed by the new palaces the Humans of the Western Kingdoms are building these days."
"Yes how foolish of a venture of them. It is the opinion of most of my confidants that they should spend that money on their armies and not wasting it on turning deserts green if they wish to compete with the honor of His Majesty."
"Well said Countess."
"What renovations are you making to the palace Lord Feusier?" The Commandant look at the boy shocked at how assertive he had sounded as most kids his ages weren't very outspoken.
"During a yearly inspection there were several faults discovered growing in the walls so the King made the decision that it would be best to just replace and redesign everything instead of the usual repair. The walls except for the more historical Forum wall are going to be replaced with iron fencing and the landscaping is all being redone. The outside of the Palace is also going to be resurfaced."
"I find that a Palace is not only a symbol of a King anymore these days but also of its people and the people need to admire their prestige."
"I agree your lordship. Now if you will please follow me, the King wished to meet with you as soon as you arrived. Don't worry the stewards will handle your bags, Her Majesty has personally seen to your apartment." The good Captain led them up marble stairs into the Palace. "What we have here my lords is the Hundred Hall added to the palace after the assassination of King Tiberius III in five-twenty five. It is called that because one hundred Centurions tirelessly guard the hall at all times and make sure that no would-be assassin makes it to the throne room which at those times were in the front of the palace open to everyone."
"Has that been effective Lord Feusier?"
"It has been found that having two hundred well trained deadly eyes watching you when you have a sinister intent is a bit unnerving and people tend to give away their intensions."
"That handles the loons but what about experienced trained assassins that aren't unnerved by your security."
"Very good question your lordship. Well while it would be suicide to attack head on that you must be crazy or ambitious, and those who are ambitious can make it through this but then they must deal with the throne room guard and the king himself who is a formidable swordsmen and fighter. He did very much so enjoy boxing in his youth."
"I did hear some of his exploits back in Dessau as they were the talk of my father's court when it came time for the King to take the throne."
"Here we are my lords, the Grand Doors of Justinian. Carved from a single tree they stand at twenty meters in height and six meter wide with a two decameter thickness."
"They are beautiful" Friedrich stated in awe. The Captain had not lied about their stature. They were arched at the top and the faces of the door were chambered with panels of intricate designs that told of great moments in the history of the Kingdom. If Friedrich remembered correctly from his tutors, Justinian Gaius Sadow succeeded Lucius Flavius Sadow bringing the crown back into Gaian hands and moved the Capital from Akadium in Germania Minor here to Sadowium where the Tiberius River forks into the Shydow River. The door spun a very good picture of Justinian and his exploits. At the crown of the door was a large bust of Adaka the Great molded into the wall and it faced as though he was peering down which at one time would have been the Front Courtyard now this long hallway.
"Yes they are, it is not polite to keep the King waiting so let us hurry on in." He gestured to the two guards who stood at either door. They tapped their halberds thrice on the tile which made a distinct noise and a smaller man sized door opened in the right door. "Please follow me my Lords."
"Of course Lord Feusier, lead on" the Lady Louise said following the slightly smaller man through the secret door. Once inside they stopped and waited for the court to acknowledge their presence. Friedrich took the time to study the throne room in detail. It was a circular room with a vaulted ceiling. The young lad suspected that this had once been a pure rotunda but it was hard to tell from outside as where the dome would have been there was now a large gold colored onion dome sitting on top of it as it was a gift from the Muscovich Csar.
The rotunda was decorated with green, gold, and various pictograph tiles on the floor while the ceiling was paneled in gold leaf. It was lined with grand marble columns that held up what was a second floor that hosted balconies for various courtiers. In the shadows of those balconies were more Centurions. Above the balconies were great arched windows that illuminated the room but he believed that at night the room was lighted by new artificial means as Arturius being the king of curiosity (as the papers sometime labeled him) had been the king to have the palace wired for electricity were it previously was all gas.
"Presenting to His Majesty the King, The Lady Louise, Countess of Dessau and The Lord Friedrich, Count-heir of Dresden." Friedrich knew that was his cue and he put his best noble walk on as he strode up with his mother across the tile work over to the throne, the great Lion Throne, to speak with their Liege, the King of close to half the world. Mounted behind him was the Royal Crest and on one side was Flag of the Royal National Forces and the other was the Flag of the Senate, the voice of the people.
The King himself was an older person with great dignity still left within him. He was an imposing person on that throne dressed in his Royal best to receive petitioners. On his head was the Dominion Crown which symbolized his authority over all the lands of the Kingdom and to the left of the throne was his sword and in his left hand was the scepter which represented Justice. This King knew that he just as much an actor as a Ruler.
"It is good to see you again Countess, I was deeply saddened when I heard of your father's death" the King spoke in a deep and resonating voice.
Curtsying she answers "thank you so very much your Majesty, your sympathy means much to me. I do believe that you haven't met my son Friedrich." Friedrich bows before his Liege. "I hope that we weren't interrupting your court your Highness."
"No no, it is always a pleasure to have one of my vassals at court. Today is the Sabbath and most of the petitioners are at services. I make sure that my service is early in the morning so that I can receive foreign heads or men from far off such as these minor noblemen from the East for as men in the East have their Sabbath is tomorrow. Now come up here lad so that I can get a good look at you." Friedrich nodded his head and stepped closer to the king. "You seem like a fit lad, very good. I wouldn't want someone unfit take your father's place. He was a very progressive person your father was yes. There were great things at work in his heart and I want you to swear to me that you promise that you can fill his shoes."
"I swear to you my liege that I would never let anything stand in my way of accomplishing the goals my father so ambitiously set out to accomplish. I know my father was a progressive man who strived to see that each man got what he deserved as a man. He believed that Armend had graced all men with basic rights and that it is our job as governors to ensure the rights of the governed."
"That my lad is a good start, now off you go, I believe you have a busy day and I would hate to keep you and your mother for too long. My wife would never let me keep that down, we will have plenty of time to talk later." Friedrich bowed again and slowly backed away for he knew it was an insult to show your back to the King. "Oh, Lady Louise, you needn't worry about your sons throne. I have a placed a Royal Interdict upon those lands and any who moves against you will meet the wrath of the Lion and the Wolf."
"Thank you so very much. Good day to you my lord" said his mother. The King replied by nodding and gesturing for the nearest Eastern man to give his petition. Captain Feusier led them out through a door behind and to the right of the throne. As they left Friedrich heard something disturbing.
"You cannot ignore the Lansites anymore your majesty, they've gained strength and the violence is escalating. The Knights of the Argent Cross can't deal with this problem, maybe fifty years ago we could of, but not now." That was all he heard before the door closed behind him.
"This my lords is the South Hall and it houses all four hundred apartments for the guest and servants for his Majesty. It goes from two floors in the west to four in the east. On the other side is the East Hall which houses new offices for the Royal Physicians, the Opera House, which serves for special functions of state and private uses as we know that the Royal Opera on the far side of the Forum is the King's favorite. Then we have the North Hall which houses the Ball room, the main chapel, the Royal Suites, His Majesty's office, and His Majesty's Government. Any questions?"
"We will be restricted to the South Hall?"
"Friedrich, I don't think that is prudent."
"It is alright my lady, he is a young boy and they need space to run. His Majesty has seen to it that you have full access to both the South and East Halls and all the Courtyards that surround them. To go to the North you must work there or have an invitation and the Throne room is for Petitioners and sessions of Court only."
"What about War?"
"Friedrich where are your manners!"
"Please excuse me my lady if I indulge the young lord, it is a good question. War is handled from Fort Tiberius which is off limits to anyone who does not work there or is not the King. Before you ask the Royal Cathedral which sits on the palace grounds in Cathedral Square is open to the public but other than Sabbath we ask that you use one of the Chapels here in the Palace for your religious needs."
"Thank you Lord Feusier, you are a most gracious guide to the Palace and my curiosity is sated, for now."
"Thank you young lord. Her Highness has prepared an apartment on the third floor for you. It would be best to take this stair case over here to the right. It can take a while to find your way around, if either of you get lost all you need to do is ask one of the guards and they will give you directions." He gestured to two men in dark green uniforms at the bottom of the stair case on either side. They were armed with rifles and stood rigidly at attention. Friedrich took the time to scan for anyone else, but other than the guards, the halls were empty.
The stairs were eloquent and made of a fine dark wood, most likely from the Eywen Tree that was once very common in the region. There was a finely woven green and gold rug with simple embroidery. On the walls of the staircase, Friedrich noticed were pictures of great moments in Archaian history. In one picture was Saint Adrian of Germania Minor defending Teutonic children from ruthless Pagan Rebels. Then right after him was a picture of Saint Leon Fidelis who led the Second Crusade and converting the last of the Teutonic Mountains. Behind him in the picture was Saint Benedictus, who founded many monasteries in the Teutonic mountains, and Saint Greggorius who led the First Crusade which caused the disruption of the crown but brought the Archaians to the True Religion. After that there were just some people who could have been senators. To be honest, Friedrich had trouble telling Archaian's apart with those colorless eyes of theirs. He only knew the Saints because the Bishop of Dresden had made sure that he knew them by heart.