The King bathed and changed into some fresh clothes. He slumped onto a couch, exhausted.
Walter entered. "Are you feeling well, Your Majesty?"
"Oh yes, just weary from travel. That drink will help!"
"Oh yes, just weary from travel. That drink will help!"
"If I may, Your Majesty, I should like to review a few things with you concerning the events of the week to come. Of course, if you are feeling tired this could wait until tomorrow."
"Certainly. I should like to hear now. Please, sit."
"Certainly. I should like to hear now. Please, sit."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Walter retrieved some documents and sat opposite the King. "I will serve as your acting Chancellor until such time as a suitable permanent candidate can be appointed. I will manage your schedule and all of your correspondence."
"That sounds fine, Walter. I am confident you will do a most suitable job. What's first on the agenda?"
"You will want to call a meeting of your Advisory Council. All members have been summoned to Eldem, and I am in the process of organizing a full day of sessions for you. Due to your father's illness, it has been some time since such a meeting has occurred."
"That sounds fine, Walter. I am confident you will do a most suitable job. What's first on the agenda?"
"You will want to call a meeting of your Advisory Council. All members have been summoned to Eldem, and I am in the process of organizing a full day of sessions for you. Due to your father's illness, it has been some time since such a meeting has occurred."
"Tell me, Walter. Does Marcus Urlaur still sit on the council?"
"He does, Your Majesty."
King Eric nodded, pensively.
"He does, Your Majesty."
King Eric nodded, pensively.
"We are also planning a celebratory banquet in your honor. It will be attended by all of the Lords and their families here at court. I can suggest a list of appropriate guests to be seated at your high table."
King Eric yawned. "Of course. I trust your judgement better than mine in such affairs! Please, do as you see fit. If that's all, I am feeling famished!"
King Eric yawned. "Of course. I trust your judgement better than mine in such affairs! Please, do as you see fit. If that's all, I am feeling famished!"
"Certainly, Your Majesty. I have just one more item..."
"Yes? Go on."
"There is a special guest arriving later in the week. A Princess from a foreign land."
"Yes? Go on."
"There is a special guest arriving later in the week. A Princess from a foreign land."
"Why would anyone send a Princess in place of an Ambassador?" Realization spread across his face, and King Eric rolled his eyes. "Well, I can think of one reason. Tell me, where is she from?"
"She is a Princess of Avalon, Your Majesty."
"She is a Princess of Avalon, Your Majesty."
King Eric laughed out loud. "I'm sure! A 'Princess,' did you say? Tell me, who put you up to this, Walter? Don't worry, I enjoy a good joke!"
Walter was speechless. "Ah, erm..." He ruffled through his papers.
Walter was speechless. "Ah, erm..." He ruffled through his papers.
Walter's expression was pained. "I'm afraid it is no joke, Your Majesty. It appears that your father, gods rest him, made some arrangements before his death. Arrangements we assumed you were privy to. It is he who arranged for her to be brought to Eldem upon your succession as King."
"My father...?"
Walter continued with difficulty. "With the intention that she should fulfill the terms of her betrothal...to you."
"My father...?"
Walter continued with difficulty. "With the intention that she should fulfill the terms of her betrothal...to you."
The King stood. "Betrothal? That's preposterous! Certainly not to some heathen priestess from the middle of the sea. Explain this madness, Walter. I am no longer amused."
"I do apologize for taking Your Majesty by surprise with this news. Only recently did I discover that your father had not told you of these plans. I have here all of his personal writings, and instructions he gave to Marion and I."
"I do apologize for taking Your Majesty by surprise with this news. Only recently did I discover that your father had not told you of these plans. I have here all of his personal writings, and instructions he gave to Marion and I."
King Eric took them with a scowl and began to peruse the journal warily. After several minutes, he sat back with a deep sigh. "I can see that all is as you have said, Walter, although I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see his own handwriting myself! You were right to obey my father in all he asked of you, but you must see what's going on here."
"Your Majesty?"
King Eric shook his head. "It is a troubling thing. I hadn't realized that his mind had reached such a state in the end..."
"Your Majesty?"
King Eric shook his head. "It is a troubling thing. I hadn't realized that his mind had reached such a state in the end..."
Walter interjected. "On the contrary, Your Majesty! Your father's wits never left him!"
King Eric looked at him sadly. "I believe that he appeared that way to you, Walter, but these plans...these are not the ideas of a lucid ruler. And you are familiar with our history here."
"Your Majesty, if I may..."
King Eric looked at him sadly. "I believe that he appeared that way to you, Walter, but these plans...these are not the ideas of a lucid ruler. And you are familiar with our history here."
"Your Majesty, if I may..."
"Please, Walter." King Eric stopped him. "It's difficult for me too, but we must face facts head on, not hide from them because they are challenging or troublesome. When is the Lady due to arrive?"
"The day after tomorrow, Your Majesty."
The King nodded. "Very well. I shall sup with her, and explain what has happened myself. That is the least I can do."
Walter was defeated. "As you say, Your Majesty."
"The day after tomorrow, Your Majesty."
The King nodded. "Very well. I shall sup with her, and explain what has happened myself. That is the least I can do."
Walter was defeated. "As you say, Your Majesty."
Walter bowed and turned to take his leave.
"Oh and Walter."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"We must speak of this to no one. Instruct Marion to do the same. There's no reason to taint my father's memory or cause a scandal. We must help this Lady of Avalon save face as well."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Oh and Walter."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"We must speak of this to no one. Instruct Marion to do the same. There's no reason to taint my father's memory or cause a scandal. We must help this Lady of Avalon save face as well."
"Of course, Your Majesty."