Renaissance Love Story

A bell\'s ominous tolling echoed through the misty night. Fog swirled about, carried gently on night breezes. A large, dark castle loomed up out of the mist. A lonely torch glowed in an inner window deep within the castle. Occasionally, a small, dark figure would move by the window and peer out.

\"My lady Kim, please rest. Artemis would be most displeased to hear of his Lady taking ill due to her own foolishness.\" A voice spoke in the lit room.

Princess Kimberly stood by her window, wondering where her soon to be husband was. He had been due to arrive earlier that day, and had failed to show. Her deep emerald eyes were red from crying. Her pale ivory skin looked even paler, her face showed deep concern. Her waist length red hair, though, was the only feature about her that didn't mirror her worry.

Kimberly sighed. She knew Andre was right, but she couldn\'t help but to worry about Artemis\'s delay in returning. Her wedding was in less than two days, and her suitor has failed to show. Kim turned to look at Andre. He crossed the room in a few quick strides and caught her before she collapsed. She sobbed against his shoulder.

"Kim, please, don't fret. His entourage may have been delayed slightly. They should be here by first light. Rest now Kim." He led her to her bed and helped her into it. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Andre watched the sleeping princess wishing she knew his secret. He wished HE were the prince to take her hand in marriage, not his long lost younger brother.

Earlier that day, Andre learned that Mordikai, King Marmot's mage, had killed Artemis. It enraged him to know that the truth was being kept from Kim. Soon he was to journey back to his homeland, to reclaim his birthright, and then he'd win Kim. He looked at the sleeping princess once more. He leaned down and tenderly kissed her forehead, then extinguished the torch.

"Goodnight, my love..." Kim murmured in her sleep just as Andre opened the door.

Just two weeks before, Kimberly had sat in the throne room watching every Noble from every corner of the country parade his son in hopes she would choose HIM as her Prince. King Pax, Her father had set up standards for each suitor. None had lived up to her standards. First, there was Lord Fairbarin and his son Daniel. Kim sighed as the ungainly young man proved how disastrous a union would be if she had chosen him. First, Daniel had tripped over some unseen obstacle in the throne room entrance. The guardsmen guided the couple away before the father could tell of his son's achievements. Then finally, after a parade of rejects, there was King Marmot, and his son Artemis. Artemis caught Kim's attention suddenly. He was strikingly handsome. Even more so, he bore a striking resemblance to Andre. He looked to be slightly younger. His brown hair hit just below the shoulders. His deep emerald eyes held the same fire Andre's did. He had an air and grace to him that made him almost glide into the room. Kim couldn't even take her eyes off him as his father spoke of how \"great\" his son was.

\"My lord, I must object,\" The wizened voice of Pax\'s magician, Therious, spoke up. \"For reasons I cannot say now, this charade must not carried out one moment longer.\"

Kim then looked up, startled. She noticed a funny looking man at King Marmot\'s side. He looked at her straight on, and she felt a funny chill race down her spine. Something was wrong here, very wrong. She stood and turned to face her father.

\"I decided that none of these suitors fit the standards fixed for me, Father. I am sorry.\" Kim fled the throne room in tears.

Kim raced to her room and sat on her bed crying. She had thought Artemis was so right for her. Therious, the crazy old relic, who had served as her grandfather's magician, had been kept around for her father's reign. Usually she trusted his advice, but not this time. Not this time at all. Then she remembered the odd man at King Marmot\'s side. Who was he? Was he a magician too?

There was a soft tap on her chamber door. She sighed and went to open the door. It was Therious.

\"I am deeply sorry, my lady, but I had to speak up. Marmot\'s King sent his magician to lure you into a trap...\"

\"I don't understand what you mean. Artemis couldn't have been bait for any trap. He is too suave, too handsome.\" She started to close the door on Therious.

He put his hand up. \"My lady, you can proceed with the arrangements your father is making for you,\" He reached up and touched her cheek. \"But I think it unwise.\"

\"He\'s going to force me to marry?\" Kim\'s voice faltered. The old man nodded and walked away. Kim shut the door in disbelief.

The word went throughout the land that a suitor had been chosen for Kim and a Royal wedding was being planned. Dresses were brought in, tested and rejected. Girls from the kingdom came to see if they were suitable to be in the wedding party.

For the duration of the three weeks, Kimberly\'s life was in a total uproar. She now seemed to never have a moment's peace. Her guard, Andre, became her only confidant. There was a mystique about him that made her wish he were a prince. A prince who would whisk her away from all the chaos that was going on.

One starry night, out in Kimberly's rose garden, she sat watching the Heavens sparkle and shine. She had been crying most of the day because today of all days, things seemed to go wrong. Therious had foretold that Kim's life was soon going to take an unexpected and unpleasant turn. He hadn't mentioned his suspicions of Artemis's or Marmot's intent.

One peaceful spring day, three days before the wedding, Kim sat in the castle's rose garden. She thought about how her life was going to change. She wondered how married life would be. How would the court treat her new husband? He was supposed to be riding in that evening for the all kingdom feast to celebrate the coming wedding. Earlier that day, her father sent out an envoy to welcome Artemis. The envoy included Therious. Suddenly shouts filled the courtyard. The envoy had returned. Kim leapt to her feet and ran in the direction of the shouts.

When she got to the gates, Artemis was nowhere to be seen. She saw Therious dismount and walk toward her with a rather strange expression on his face.

\"My lady, Young Artemis declined the envoy. However, he was following close behind us.\" Therious walked away slowly.

Earlier in the day, her wedding dress arrived. It was a magnificent creation. Pure white silk, one hundred and fifty tiny pearl buttons closed the back. Kim could hardly wait to try it on. The royal tailor beamed as she eyed it.

"My lady, methinks you would like to try on the gown? Let me fetch a lady servant."

With that, he swept from the room. He returned a few moments later with Katie, her mother's hand maiden and Andre. Katie helped her out of her gown and into the delicate silken gown. Another servant appeared at the door.

"Katie, her Royal Highness needs you this moment!"

Katie swept from the room in a hurry, leaving a very sheepish looking Andre standing in the door. The pearl buttons lay open, exposing Kim's back, from hip to neck. Andre swept in, and began buttoning the buttons. A fierce blush crept over Kim's face. Her face was against the wall, hiding it from Andre. Each delicate sweep of his fingers sent a new wave of chills up her spine. Her breathing became more ragged as Andre's fingers reached the neckline of the dress.

"All finished, my lady." Andre could barely speak as Kim turned around. She was heartbreakingly beautiful. Her rich red hair and porcelain skin were deeply accented by the creamy silk dress. Her deep emerald eyes sparkled with undisguised passion as she looked at Andre. His heart pounded in his chest. Kim looked into Andre's eyes and threw her arms around his neck.

"Oh, Andre! This whole wedding mess has my life upturned. I don't want to marry Artemis, but I do, in a way, want to marry him. Oh! How can I marry him when my heart belongs elsewhere?"

"Kim, you know you must do what you father says. I know you don't want to marry Artemis, but you may have to. Kim¼" The last of what he was going to say was cut off abruptly as Kim kissed him. Andre wrapped his arms around the princess, and kissed her back, knowing full well it would be his head if they were caught. Footsteps in the hallway broke them apart, breathlessly. It was Katie, holding a deep emerald gown. Her eyes sparkled at the looks on their faces.

"Oh! Don't mind me, Princess. I keep secretes well. Shoo! Andre, how can the young lady dress with you around?" Amusement sparkled in the old maid's eyes. Andre bowed to the princess and left the room.

" My lady, I know how you feel about him. It's only a matter of time before we find out about Artemis. You may end up having your heart's desire. Long ago, a prince had been betrothed to you, though you both were only babes in arms. Sadly he disappeared, but his Kingdom has located him, and they were quite displeased to hear you were to be married off to another man."

Kim wondered what Katie was talking about, then she remembered overhearing her father talking to one of the guards, and she couldn't make out his voice

That night, Kim sat alone at the feast while the court gaily congregated around her. Several suspicious glances had fallen upon the empty chair. Several hours had gone bnce nce the envoy had returned. Kimberly felt betrayed by Artemis and his whole kingdom. It just wouldn't do for a suitor to not show for his own wedding feast, nor to decline the royal envoy.

\"Are you alright, precious?\" Pax had a wonderful sense of how to cheer his daughter however; tonight it just didn't work. \"Therious decided to take another envoy out and look for Artemis.\"


Nodding, Kim rose from the table, nodded at her guard, then left the revelers to their party. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She know that Therious had disapproved of Artemis, but that didn\'t stop her father from choosing him after she failed to choose a suitor of her own. Now he had the whole kingdom in a precarious position after betrothing her to some unknown kingdom. Who knew what would happen?

Kim reached her room and Andre opened the door for her. She entered as he went about lighting the torches. Kim sat on her bed. What was to happen now? No eligible suitor chosen had ever shown up. For a few hours Kim sat on her bed and cried. Andre tried to comfort her by telling her that Artemis would surely show up sometime in the night.


Kim got up and went to the window. The party was over. People were leaving. A fog was beginning to creep over the castle walls, filling the courtyard with mist. The mist swirled around the departing revelers. Kim sighed. She left the window and went to the wardrobe. Andre took the cue to leave the room, closing the door softly nd hnd him. Kim pulled out her dressing gown. A flash of pure white silk caught her eye. Her wedding gown! Now it was useless. A new wave of tears engulfed her and she sobbed quietly. Her whole life, turned upside down, had taken a whole new devastating turn. First Katie was speaking of the possibility that Artemis would never show and she may marry her hearts desire¼something was terribly afoul, but what was it?

Kim finished dressing for bed and lay down. She called for Andre to come back in. He came in and began to extinguish the lights.

\"Leave at least one torch lit, please.\" Kim requested. She got up and began to pace.

She walked about her room, looking out the window every so often. It was so foggy out; it was hard to see much of anything. The tower bell began the ominous midnight tolling. Andre began to plead with Kim that she should rest. The cold dampness of night had begun to seep into the walls.

\"Please, my lady, rest. If Artemis comes, you want to be rested. Your wedding is too close to take ill now.\"

An envelope appeared on a table close to Kim. Therious! He had sent her a message. She opened it and began to read.


\"My Dearest Kim, You will have to pardon the lateness of my news, but I fear Artemis will be unable to fulfill his obligation as suitor. He is dead. I fear I am responsible for this. Your faithful servant, Therious.\"

Kim suddenly raced her her room with Andre in close pursuit. She collided with guards, and hastily made apologies. She came to her father's room and opened the door. He was standing at the door, as if he was about to leave.

\"I take it you also got the note from Therious. I am deeply sorry.\" Pax embraced his daughter, then allowed her to return to her room.

Andre helped Kim to her room. He sat on the edge of her bed; his sword glinted in the moonlight. He asked Kim if she would like to hear a story. She nodded and he began. " When I was a child of three. A child was kidnapped. The mother of the son was heartbroken, wondering who would take her son. He was taken to a far land, never to be heard from since. When I was six, the same man kidnapped me, on a night just like this. I was trained to be Paige under Lord Pax, your father...\" Andre paused in his story and noticed the princess was soundly sleeping. He extinguished the sole torch and left the room.

Kim awoke the next morning with a start. Andre was nowhere to be seen. He usually was outside her door when she would awaken. She soon found out from her mother that Andre had traveled to his homeland to accompany a suitor that would ask her hand in marriage. Kim was distressed. She didn't want just any suitor; she wanted Andre.


Kim fled back to her room in a fresh wave of tears. It just wasn't fair! Andre knew her secrets and her desires, why should she marry someone else. She loved him. She sat on her bed as her tears began to dry. Katie's story and the one Andre had started to match! She was six when Andre had arrived. As children, they had played together, when Andre's duties were done. She remembered the reckless promise he'd made when he became a knight. He'd find some way to marry her.


Queen Ambrina knocked softly on her daughter's door. She knew Andre had left late the night before. Kim had to be told. Kim knew that Andre had left to accompany a suitor from another kingdom for selection, Kim just didn't know that Andre was the suitor. Ambrina felt that Kim shouldn't know that just yet.

"Come" Ambrina entered her daughter's suite.

" Kimberly, you know that Andre left late last night to accompany another suitor back. He traveled to King Ambrius's lands to meet up with their entourage. Andre had some business to speak with the King about concerning Artemis's death. It seems that Artemis was Andre's younger brother."

Kim's face took on an ashen hue. She sat down hard on her bed and shook her head. This was absolutely too sudden. Andre was Artemis's brother? That definitely explained the similarities between them. Kim looked at her mother with tears shining in her eyes.

"Then Katie was right? " She whispered to her self. "My heart's desire."

Meanwhile, in another kingdom, far away, Andre was talking with his father, King Ambrius.

"Father, as far as I can tell, Artemis was my brother. He was slain for reasons unknown. Now, I feel it is my responsibility to marry Pax's daughter, Kimberly. She somehow knows my true identity. Father, how could she know. The night I left, I told her the story how I was After talking with his father, Andre went out to the royal stables to think. He thought mostly about Kim. He wondered how she was doing in his absence. Kim couldn't deal well with separation, and this must be killing her. Within the week, he'd be traveling back to Pax's kingdom to take Kim's hand in marriage. He knew she'd been wishing that he would be the one to marry her. There was nothing he could do to help her. He hadn't received word that his father was searching for him. It wasn't till after Artemis's death that he found that out. Kidnapped by Lord Marmot's army and taken to Pax's kingdom to be a page."

As Kim descended the stairs leading to the Throne Room, her soft violet dress rustled quietly. Her mother met her at the steps with an Amethyst coronet and placed it on her head. Kim blinked in confusion. She had not worn her cornet, not this one, for the others.

As Queen Ambrina and her daughter entered the Throne Room, Kim noticed a striking young man in splendid regalia. Who was he? As Kim drew close to her father, she curtsied and kissed his rings, then turned to the visiting royalty. To King Ambrius\'s right was Andre, smiling shyly. A thought struck her so suddenly she gasped-Andre a prince to whisk her away from the chaos...a prince.

Kimberly took her seat and her father spoke:

\"King Ambrius, Queen Ameliah, Welcome to my kingdom. I hope my daughter finds you son to fit her standards. Prince Andre, I am deeply sorry for the misery Lord Marmot's kingdom has placed on your family. I am aware you younger brother, Artemis was slaughtered by Mordikai. I am now aware of you stature of a Prince and do hope to make amends to you and your family by offering Kimberly's hand in marriage.\"

Kim's eyes bugged at the thought. Andre her husband, her guidance and guardian for all her life...

\"Oh Father!\" She leaped up and hugged her father tightly, then turned to the waiting crowd in the chamber. \"I hchoschosen Andre, son of Ambrius and Ameliah, Lord of Arinus, to be my King, and Husband.\"

A roar sounded in approval and once again the wedding date was set. Spring birds chirped throughout the gardens as if heralding the news to the animals. Girls were selected by Kimberly to act as her maidens in the Wedding.

Finally on a sweet summer morning, in the castles chapel, Kim and Andre said their vows. As an honor, Andre carried the sword he had used when he was Kim's guard. She now noticed the amethysts in the hilt and scabbard.

This time as the Royal Carriage carried her and Andre from the castle...she remembered her wish.... She remembered Andre's story...she sighed as she looked in his eyes. He had been Prince the whole time...and they lived happily ever after.