Queen Raeanne

I walk down the hallway arm in arm with the King of Spain, hoping my mother is not right about me making a terrible mistake. Her words ring through my head over and over.

"Think about your brother, dear. Think about his future."

By me sending out a few men to greet the English as they dock on our shore, I could be leading my people in to a drawn out war we can not afford to fight.

I hope they only bring a message for me. This country is not fit to fight in a war. We hardly have any troops. We would never last against the English.

Shouting echoes through the hallway as heavy rushed footsteps come running towards me. A moment of pure panic fills me as I remember the attack on my wedding day. Has another group of assassins come to finish what they started not too long ago?

A boy comes running. A boy whom I have treated like a brother since his birth nearly eight years ago. Mother took him in when he was left on our doorstep. He is the closest thing I have to a sibling - though he holds no claim to the throne.

"Henry," I grab on to his shoulders as I kneel on the floor in front of him. "What is it? Calm down child, what is the matter?" I run my fingers through his hair to calm him of his panic.

"English men- they- I saw them-" he tries to get his heavy breathing under control. "They-"

"Take a deep breath, Henry, child. It is okay." I smile, hoping my appearance of calmness will ease him.

"They bring news of the English King's death. They say The Queen wants to make a treaty with you. To end the strain on you both." He explains after regaining total control of his breathing.

I look up at the king. "What shall we do?"

"We wait for their arrival at the castle and hear what they have to say. Then we take the time to think about their offer. Perhaps overnight?" He suggests.

"What if they do not give us that much time?" I question his methods.

"If the Queen really wants this treaty made, she will give us all the time we need to decide." He assures me.

"Have they landed yet?" I ask, wondering how he got this information.

He shakes his head, assured they are still on the ships. "I got a letter this morning from a man I didn't know. He said he was English. He told me to give this to you." He holds a piece of paper out to me.

"Henry, child, your hands." I look up at the king.

"It is poison. Drop it son. Drop the paper." Henry does as he is told by The King. "Come, lets wash your hands now. Do not touch that Raeanne." He instructs me.

"Guards." I call. "A poison lined letter sent for me. The child, Henry brought it to me. A man approached him earlier this morning. After The King returns with him, you are to take him to the physician to get checked and then to the kitchen and fix him up with some food. After he is calm, question him about this man. I want him in the dungeon for questions as to why he would send a child with poison."

The guards take their orders and wait for The King to return with the child.

"Make sure he is safe and taken care of." I watch as they take poor Henry away to get checked by the physician.

The King continues walking with me towards our original destination. We walk out on to the balcony and watch English troops unload from the ships. "Something is wrong with Henry's story. How could the English man give him a letter if they have not even landed yet?" I question out loud.

"Perhaps Henry is mistaken?"

I shrug. "He seemed assured the man told him he was English." I shake my head. Something does not add up about this. I will have to look in to it further, at a later time today when things have settled down a bit. "I am terribly worried this is not going to work."

"We have to hope this will work. For the sake of this country. Do you have troops ready just in case?" The King asks.

I shake my head. "Estonia is very short in troops."

"I would offer my me but getting Spain's troops over here on such short notice, would take a few days time at minimum." He sighs. "And by then, there may not be an Estonia to save."

"Oh! Look!" I grab his arm and point over to the shore. "They are walking peacefully next to my men. They are not here for a fight. Henry was right. You were right!"

"Our hoping worked." He sighs, a relieved laugh escaping his lips.

I jump up in excitement and happiness, smashing my lips in to the King's without warning.

"My deepest apologies. I did not mean-" I search for an excuse.

"Rae, my love, do not be sorry. That means you are comfortable with me and our marriage. We can progress from this point on."

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