Chapter 4 Discovered

I

Above the trees, the sun shone, drawing leafy patterns on the grassy floor. Having finished laundry, the girls sang their way home.

"Am, why don't you sing Lenore?" Brihm's tone was cheerful, clapping to her own request.

"Yes. It's my favorite song ever! Come on Am, sing it for me! Please!" Maeh joined Brihm, both of them pleading like children begged for sweets.

"Ok. I will sing it. It's my fave too." Am smiled.

"Great! Sing it as if you were singing for Maik." Maeh said.

Maeh's joke immediately infuriated Amalthea. "I don't want to sing anymore! I'm just getting enough of these comment about Maik and me! Look, it's not funny Maeh. A girl can't have a best boyfriend? Plus it's your brother."

"But that's not a thing, why it should matter? He is so cute anybody could like him," Thai added, cheeks flushed placing her hands crossed on her chest.

Am just walked walked away ignoring the girls.

"Right, now she is mad and she won't sing for us anymore! Great job, Maeh." Luanne fussed over.

Standing in the middle of the road bearing a what-did-I-do expression on her face, Maeh shrugged. Guessed it was better to apologize, knowing Sm's temper. "Alright Am, I'm sorry! I won't say jokes about Maik and you, I promise." She picked up her basket and ran to catch up the girls.

"Fine, but this is the last time I tell you silly girl. I don't like... well, I must admit your brother is a handsome young man, but I don't like him the way you think, or maybe, wish me to do so. He is my best friend, and that's it!"

"See, you cannot blame me for wanting you to be part of my family. That would be awesome! Am, you know that he likes you so much. Everybody knows that he woos you."

"Let's leave it there... Do you want me to sing or not?" Am crossed her arms.

All the girls choired a "yes" finding a place to sit by the road when she began to sing.

'Fairies once told a story
of the greatest love of all.
in a kingdom filled with glory,
lived a maiden named Lenore.

Maiden walked along the sea shore
prince rode elegant his mare,
when he saw pretty Lenore.
Oh, Lenore, lovely and fair.

Prince and Maiden fell in Love
in the most beautiful summer.
The sun shone high above...
being the witness of the lovers.

Prince took Lenore to Castle
where he proved his love was fair.
King approved in all his wisdom
Prince's wedding with the girl.

Fairies once told a story
Of the greatest love of all.
In a kingdom filled with glory,
Lived a maiden named Lenore.'

II

Short from there, the royal coaches hauled by horses approached, magnificent display of flags, horses, swords and armors, of red, silver, gold, and black. Amidst and flanked by the Black Armada soldiers, the king's carriage came.

The chivalry stopped to the captain's command. After two days traveling, men decided to rest by the road. King Ataro, himself wanted to deliver the invitations for the royal ball in honor of his son's birthday, heading now southward to the nearby kingdoms. Every year, the monarch held a great feast in the name of the only heir to the throne of Abhain.

Tying his chestnut colored hair back in a low tail, the man, too young to be a ruler, marked in his mid-forties, climbed down the chariot. Holding a  cup of wine, he joined his men and laughed to their jokes in the most casual manner. The breeze carried a sweet humming, loud enough to be heard by the king, who shushed the men. "Do you hear that?"

Over reacting, the captain unleashed his sword and moved in front of King Ataro, sword in hand. He blocked the king with his body. "What is it your Majesty? Quiet everybody!"

"Captain Von Friedd, please! Shush! Can you hear that? It sounds like a song... coming from the woods." The king moved towards the voices came from.

"Yes, your majesty, I can hear it," one of the soldiers answered... it's like girls singing.

The captain heard the song like the rest of the men. "It comes from behind those bushes... look, from that path."

"Who's singing... sounds like unreal! What a beautiful voice!" Like hypnotized, curious to find out who was singing, the king, followed closely by his men, took the road into the woods.

"It could be witches... unleash your swords soldiers", in a low voice, Von Friedd ordered his men.

It was in that precise moment, the girls appeared from behind the bushes. Scared, they screamed to the men in arms, throwing the baskets on the floor.

"Wait? Vlad? Vlad you scared me to hell! What are you doing here? You are not supposed to be with the... Oh God, it's the king!" Luanne slapped his soldier boyfriend when she found out it was him. But when they realized King Ataro was there too, she curtsied, follows by the rest of the group.

"Soldier, do you know this girl?", asked the king, eyes fixed on the ladies.

"Yes, your Majesty. She is my fiancée, Luanne."

"Is she the one who was singing then?" Asked the King.

Voice shaking, Luanne responded, "Oh, no my King. I'm not the one you heard singing. It was my friend."

Ladies, arise. It's fine though", in the most fatherly tone, the monarch addressed while walking towards the red-head. "What's your name my dear?"

"Amalthea, your Majesty." Am answered shyly, giving a timid smile to the king.

"Amalthea, umhu? That name sounds familiar to me... I don't know... and your eyes... Who is your father?" Puzzled by some forgotten memory, The king studied Am's features.

"I live by the River's Village. My father was Anibal de Albis, your highness."

The king's jaw dropped to hear the name of the man he esteemed so much. Beaming a wide smile on his face, the man embraced the girl. "Oh my Lord, look at you! You have grown to become a beautiful young lady, Amalthea. God knows how beloved was your father by my family and the court. The wisest man on this kingdom and so respectable. You don't know how much the Queen and I grieved your father... You look just like your father my dear. And sweet, you sing like the angels!"

Getting emotional herself, Am processed the
king's words. Standing by her, the maidens smiled to all the things the king told Am about her father.

"I recall a thousand times I asked your father to come to live with us in the castle, but he always refused. He said he loved his life without titles of nobility and formalities, that being so wealthy just brought disgrace to him while the invasion of Spain. I often thought, perhaps behind the walls he would have not been happy, but at least he would still alive."

"That my mom says... but he was stubborn."

"He was, but a great man. Don't forget that... but tell me a little more about you, my lovely Amalthea de Albis, are you happy in the village? You have a great group of pretty ladies as friends." The King as Amalthea.

"Oh yes I am. I miss my father immensely, still and though I can not change the past, my present is filled with beautiful and kind people", the young lady replied.

"Your father taught you right. You're a wise little woman."

"You honor me with your words, your majesty." The red haired replied.

The king smiled and kissed Am's forehead."Well, it's been a great pleasure meeting you all, but it is time to go. It is a long journey ahead."

Bidding goodbye, the girls waved hands with enthusiasm to the departing entourage. Getting to meet King Ataro so casually was something worth of telling everyone. So the maidens hurried their pace towards the village. Night around d the bonfire promised a very entertaining talk late that day.