Harlequin Heartbreak-A Sample Short Story

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Will you stay by my side?

Or will you fade like the tide?

            Dawn arrived, sunlight sprinkling through the window. Shirley’s eyes fluttered open and she smiled at the sleeping figure beside her. It had been a year since Thomas’s father had died, and he became King, promptly abolishing the feudal system of the Allodra Kingdom. Moments after, before the land even had time to figure out what that meant, he’d pulled her-his long time friend and the Court Jester-to the side, dropped on one knee and proposed to her. They had yet to announce the engagement.

            Since then she’d become his Champion, as they traveled together with Cedric. He was like a brother to Shirley, and Champion to the public eye. To hide her identity she wore full armor. The three of them had been traveling across the land as Thomas introduced himself to all of the nearby rulers. The most difficult aspect of the trip was that many of them still lived by feudal systems. To them, Shirley was simply a servant, the King’s Fool.

            They were in such a land, Bevel, that morning. It hadn’t been a pleasant visit, and Shirley knew Thomas was fairly unhappy. He would be going on a boar hunt with the King, Prince, and Princess that afternoon. Cedric would join them, so no one would question the absence of the King’s Champion. In reality, Shirley would be following the hunting party to be sure of no threats that might follow.

“Why are you smiling…?”

            Shirley beamed as Thomas brushed hair away from her face. His eyes were full of love for her.

“While the man I love has a horrible day ahead, I will be able to cheer him up when he returns.”
“Is that so?” A knock on the door interrupted them.
“If you’re late to breakfast,” Cedric’s voice spoke, “They’ll come looking. If Shirley is in there, it’d be difficult to explain why you’re all naked with your fool!”

-

            Shirley’s advance through the forest was interrupted when she found herself bent over a stump retching. She’d barely looked up as the Crown Prince Ward rode through the brush. From their arrival there had been something in his eyes Shirley didn’t like. It seemed he’d forgotten about the boar in favor of new prey. In better shape she’d have been able to fight him off.

Shirley was able to keep him at bay until Thomas rode into the clearing and pulled him off. They wrestled on the ground as she scrambled up. Ward’s hands were around Thomas’s neck and she reacted to protect her king. There she stood in the noonday sun holding a blood soaked knife. Ward was dead and Thomas had managed to get him off.
“What have I done?” Shirley whispered as Thomas rushed to her side.

“You did it to save me.” He whispered, holding her face in his hands and kissed her. “I’ll do what I have to protect you.”

-

            The announcement was at Dusk. Cedric was at Shirley’s side, squeezing her hand tightly. The King of Bevel was standing on his balcony to the mass of people in the courtyard. Most of them were lords and ladies, except for Shirley and her surrogate brother. He was bemoaning the loss of his son who had tragically perished during the hunt, kissed by an assassin in the woods.
“But there is light in this dark time,” He proclaimed, “A union of this land and Allondra, of our Princess Sarah and King Thomas!”

            Thomas didn’t meet Shirley’s eyes, but she knew it wasn’t a choice. In order to avoid telling them that she’d killed their prince, he’d made up a story about an assassin. It was suspicious, so the only way to avoid war was either exposure or an arranged marriage to keep the peace. Even though Ward had been trying to assault, even violate, Shirley, she was a peasant in Bevel and her life would be forfeit for killing their Crown Prince. The only way for Shirley to live was for Thomas to surrender his freedom to be with her.

            Shirley felt nauseous as her hand rested on her belly. The good news she’d intended to surprise Thomas with, to make the day better for him, instead weighed heavy on her heart, an impossible dream.

As we stand in the rubble of what used to be,

I can't help but wonder if you'll stay with me.