Chapter 9 Meeting With The King

The official courtier left, and a few moments later, Lennox entered the royal throne room with a broad smile.

"At last, Lennox!" he was welcomed by King Cinaed. The wrinkles of the long waiting had disappeared from King's forehead.

"King Cinaed, I understand your agitation, but the journey from Lord Malcolm's castle was a long one. My men and I came directly here, without stopping, not even to sleep at night. We only rested the horses for a couple of hours so that I could be here as soon as possible as you had asked me to."

A relaxed smile crossed King's face. "That makes me doubly pleased, Lennox, and I want you to know that. So, before you tell me everything that happened at dinner in every detail, I guess you're hungry, aren't you?'

Lennox placed his hand on his stomach. "The truth is, that yes, I'm hungry."

"Good, because I have ordered to have food ready for us in the dining room. Let's go before the food gets cold," the King encouraged him.

Lennox straightened his body, taking on a severe expression. "Forgive me, your highness, but what about my men? I can't sit down to eat while they will be waiting for me outside, starving."

The King smiled. "Come and don't worry. They'll already have food laid out for them in some of the smaller dining rooms."

Lennox rubbed his hand through his hair, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Let's go then, and I won't hide from you that I could eat a horse."

The King laughed heartily. "So, what are you waiting for? Let's go."

The dining room was huge. Although Lennox had entered this dining room countless times due to the balls the King had held from time to time, he still couldn't help but admire the magnificent space with the long, narrow, massive wooden table and the giant crystal chandeliers.

The delicious smells of the food led them to the upper edge of the table.

The King sat at the head of the table while Lennox sat to his left.

A servant entered as soon as they were seated, bowing to the King and then serving them food on their plates. When he was done, he retired as quietly as when he appeared, leaving the two men alone.

"Why are you smiling, Lennox?" the King asked him.

Lennox waved his hand vaguely. "Oh, it's nothing. I've been thinking about what I have to tell you about dinner tonight," he lied.

"Very good, now that the servant is gone you may begin."

And so, while they ate, Lennox recounted in every detail all that had happened the night before in Lord Malcolm's castle. The King mostly laughed at Lord Malcolm's sufferings and asked Lennox or made some comment every now and then.

"Did Skye really say that? Ah, she surpass herself this time."

"Did you really make that comment about the beer? Ah, you are insulting," the King teased him and laughed thunderously, holding his flat belly despite the fifty-five winters he has lived through so far.

"I would like being in a corner and watching you," said the King when he recovered from his laughter and continued, "This girl is unpredictable. Can you imagine what I've heard from all the prospective grooms that have been to Malcolm's castle? It's incredible what her mind can come up with."

Lennox's curiosity was peaked, but his pride as the son of the Duke of Cameron would not allow him to stoop so low in the King's esteem by showing curiosity.

"I have noticed," the King continued, looking ahead of him and not at Lennox, as if speaking to himself, as if thinking aloud, "Skye has never insulted any prospective grooms or spoken ill of any of them.

Yes, I've been told about her coldness and sharp words, but I repeat, no one has ever complained to me about insults against them, and I like that about her."

Lennox swallowed his bite. "That honors her and is truly admirable. But honestly, her attitude makes me wonder why she would do this? Is there a girl in Scotland, um... basically in the world, who doesn't want to get married and start a family of her own? Her case is weird and if you allow me to say, absurd."

The King looked at him and shrugged. "It looks like is probably exist and is Skye. What can I say? I do not know either".

"And how are you going to get her to marry Hector?" asked Lennox.

The King sighed. "It is against my will, but as things stand I'm very afraid she'll be forced to do it."

Lennox raised his eyebrows. "Have you thought about how to do this? It seems difficult to me."

The King gave a half smile. "I have figured out the way, and I'm sure one day Skye will thank me for what I'm about to do."

"Interesting," Lennox said.

The King looked at him and smiled. "I can see the wonder in your eyes, but I can't reveal it yet. You'll all know when the right time comes."

Lennox took his eyes away and nailed his cup. He coughed to clear his throat.

The King laughed heartily and patted him amicably on the shoulder.

"Let's talk about something else. I want you to tell me how Malcolm reacted to all of Skye's exploits. How did he react?" he asked, and his face shone with merriment.

Lennox let out a chuckle. "The truth is, he tried very hard to keep his cool, but in the end, he failed. His face changed ten colours as his anger grew greater and greater until he got wild with rage. That's why I had to insult Skye. To appease Lord Malcolm. I didn't want to leave her with his anger boiling over. "

The King snorted. "Yes, Malcolm has always been warm-blooded. He doesn't always manage to keep his cool. You reacted wisely. Well done, Lennox. So, would you like more beer as a reward?" he added.

Lennox nodded his head. "Of course. During summer beer is what I need. And your beer, your highness, is the best I have ever drunk."

The King laughed. "What did you have in mind making that comment about the beer?"

Lennox smiled. "I really don't know. It was an impulse of the moment."

Talking and eating their food, the time passed.

After finishing his food, Lennox took his napkin and wiped his mouth.

"Well, your highness, that's it, I told you everything that happened at dinner."

"Yes, and I'm very pleased that everything turned out well."

"And thankfully, Skye made it easy for me to reject her as a wife; otherwise, I don't know what excuse I could have used."

The King looked at him with a solemn expression on his face. "I'm sure you'd find something. Our clans may be bound by years of friendship, but if you broke your word and married Skye, our families' friendship would be broken with all the consequences that would bring."

Lennox shook his head. "I understand that and Hector would be absolutely right to punish me in any way. Anyway I would never break my word to anyone. But I don't hide from you that under other circumstances, and given that Skye is a beauty, I would do everything to conquer her."

The King raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I agree that the girl is beautiful. I don't blame Hector for being crazy about her."

"Speaking of Hector, have you had any news of him? Do you know when he will be back? It's gone for more than a year. Is it that hard to find a skilled workman?

The last time I heard from him was three months ago or maybe more. He was in Venice then."

"And there, he found the handyman he was looking for in Venice. But weeks passed until that man achieved precisely what my son asked for and found the most suitable material.

I heard from him. He returns within days. It will also depend on what he encounters on the return journey."

Lennox raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really? Has the time finally come for him to return?"

"It seems so," said the King and smiled. "If you want you can stay here in the castle until he comes back so you can meet him."

Lennox thought about it for a moment. "I would like to, but I can't stay. I have to go back. Many jobs are waiting for me, and given that we don't know when exactly he will be back. You could let me know when he comes and I could arrange to come and see him."

"That is a good plan. I will arrange to notify you of his arrival. If you want, you can stay at least for tonight. You must be tired and sleepless. You can leave tomorrow at the first light of day."

"I could do that." Lennox replied and smiled. He raised his cup. "I drink to your health King Cinaed."

The King laughed softly, raising his glass as well. "I wish to find the nice bride you are seeking, Lennox."

The young man smiled widely. "I wish so, too," he replied, and they drank their beer to make their wishes take root.