Many a marriage has been arranged in days past, and many
will be arranged yet. Though of them, none will be so impactful or move so many
hearts as the arrangement between Princess Jenaine of Orthune and Prince Tireth
of Nalorne. The bards sing of this many a spring to encourage the hearts, and
many a winter to see past the bleakness surrounding. Yet few know what truly
happened, and fewer still can say with certainty what was in each player’s
heart as they moved.
In days long past, the kingdom of Orthune was
beset by their mighty enemy, the kingdom of Mradune, and needed aid. An
alliance was therefore struck between King Uril of Orthune and King Hethid of
Nalorne. They would be allies in war and in peace, from now until a time which
they could not foresee. It would save Orthune from conquest, yet it had a
price.
It was and still is in some places customary to seal an alliance of such importance with a marriage of royal persons. King Uril had but one child, a daughter, therefore a son was provided by King Hethid. It was his second son, Prince Tireth, that he provided for he was noble in heart and strong at arms. King Uril’s daughter, who was the aforementioned Princess Jenaine, was beautiful in form and face, yet was possessed of a will that did not allow such an arrangement regardless of the groom. So she sought a way out.
It was not as if Princess Jenaine hated Prince Tireth. Prince Tireth was the model of a proper member of the court, yet he was not sure if he should make efforts to win her heart as it might only aggravate her. That was his downfall, for Princess Jenaine sought a more passionate courtier, as many a noble lady was enraptured by the ideas of marriage for love and forbidden love. Therefore, she found her own courtier.
A bard was in the royal court at that time by the name of Baelorn. Baelorn was perhaps too old for her, but even if he was born the same day was the princess, he was not for her. He played the gentleman as well as he played the lute, yet was, as the story shall show, a scoundrel of the highest caliber. Yet Princess Jenaine did not know that yet and was instead enraptured by the charming bard.
Baelorn the bard soon suggested they run away together, out of the house of King Uril her father. The princess was most ecstatic at the idea and chose to follow him. They left the castle in the dead of night, but a watchman spotted them and sounded the alarm. Yet those stirred to action did not catch them, but instead were baffled and were then sent to search the countryside and nearby inns.
It was not long before they found the Princess Jenaine, yet Baelorn escaped while she slept. She was mightily betrayed by this act, as Baelorn made no move to try and help her get away. Though some might be angry, she only wept. So she was brought back to her father in tears.
At this, Prince Tireth went out himself to catch Baelorn the bard, to make him answer for his crimes. For the time being, he forbade his servants and all those who had come from Nalorne, either with him or independently, from speaking to King Hethid of the princess’s flight and romance with the bard. They knew not why, but they obeyed for who can deny so adamant a prince as he?
Yet King Hethid came to King Uril’s castle when it was the appointed time for the wedding. He was shocked to find his son was not there, and when the situation was explained to him by King Uril, Nalorne’s king was furious. He declared the marriage off and that the alliance should be broken. Yet in the hour that King Hethid was appointed to leave, Prince Tireth arrived with Baelorn the bard in tow. Prince Tireth insisted to his father that regardless of marriage vows they should aid their fellows in Orthune. The prince’s words cooled the rage of King Hethid, and he agreed, yet this slight would not be forgotten.
Prince Tireth then brought Baelorn the bard to King Uril and Princess Jenaine for judgement, yet he himself could not stay as he was to leave with his father. King Uril asked for his daughter’s counsel in this matter, yet her heart was conflicted about the subject. To let him go for what he gave her or to have him locked up in the darkest dungeon for the rest of his days for that betrayal; these were the extremes of her thought. King Uril therefore decided to brand Baelorn’s right hand with the mark of a criminal and a blackguard, which was done to traitors and murderers before their execution, yet the bard went free. Though his days were unpleasant and short thereafter for no reputable innkeeper would hire him.
So came the war. It was a bloody affair lasting five years, and the deeds therein are sung and told in different tales. Yet what matters is that King Uril was slain in the last battle of the war, for he led from the front as all kings of strength do. Yet he had no son, and in those days it was unheard of in those parts for a woman to inherit her father’s throne. So a regent was assigned until a proper heir could be chosen among the king’s distant relations.
Princess Jenaine had been marked by her sorrow, both of her youthful mistakes and her father’s death, and she would not accept any as her matchmaker. Yet her distant cousins were all of rude sorts, those who did not have responsibilities which kept them from the throne, and so it was that no king could be chosen. Yet if Jenaine married, her husband would be named king regent, and afterwards her son might be known as king. Yet what match was there for her?
Her thoughts then went to Prince Tireth, and she knew that he was the only one of her courtiers which she could trust. Therefore, she went to the King of Nalorne to ask for her son’s hand in marriage. She could not look him in the eye, for she knew of his wrath and that he had contempt for her. She put her hands and face on the ground and asked for Prince Tireth’s hand in marriage, hoping beyond hope that he would say yes.
A gentle hand came across her face and lifted her up. She wept to see Prince Tireth wearing the crown, as while she had not known of this, his father and older brother had both been slain in the war, leaving him to become king. She wept for she knew that he would not accept her, not after her betrayal of him. Yet he took his signet ring from his hand and placed it on her finger, the Oliand or king’s ring, which no monarch could rule without. The gestured made Jenaine weep all the more, yet Tireth dried her cheeks as he would have none other for his queen.
They were wed soon after, and the kingdoms of Orthune and Nalorne were made one: now the kingdom of Arkathorne. King Tireth ruled his dominion justly, and Queen Jenaine cried no more. A blessed reign it was, and a more blessed household it was. And that, for good or ill, is how it ended.
It was and still is in some places customary to seal an alliance of such importance with a marriage of royal persons. King Uril had but one child, a daughter, therefore a son was provided by King Hethid. It was his second son, Prince Tireth, that he provided for he was noble in heart and strong at arms. King Uril’s daughter, who was the aforementioned Princess Jenaine, was beautiful in form and face, yet was possessed of a will that did not allow such an arrangement regardless of the groom. So she sought a way out.
It was not as if Princess Jenaine hated Prince Tireth. Prince Tireth was the model of a proper member of the court, yet he was not sure if he should make efforts to win her heart as it might only aggravate her. That was his downfall, for Princess Jenaine sought a more passionate courtier, as many a noble lady was enraptured by the ideas of marriage for love and forbidden love. Therefore, she found her own courtier.
A bard was in the royal court at that time by the name of Baelorn. Baelorn was perhaps too old for her, but even if he was born the same day was the princess, he was not for her. He played the gentleman as well as he played the lute, yet was, as the story shall show, a scoundrel of the highest caliber. Yet Princess Jenaine did not know that yet and was instead enraptured by the charming bard.
Baelorn the bard soon suggested they run away together, out of the house of King Uril her father. The princess was most ecstatic at the idea and chose to follow him. They left the castle in the dead of night, but a watchman spotted them and sounded the alarm. Yet those stirred to action did not catch them, but instead were baffled and were then sent to search the countryside and nearby inns.
It was not long before they found the Princess Jenaine, yet Baelorn escaped while she slept. She was mightily betrayed by this act, as Baelorn made no move to try and help her get away. Though some might be angry, she only wept. So she was brought back to her father in tears.
At this, Prince Tireth went out himself to catch Baelorn the bard, to make him answer for his crimes. For the time being, he forbade his servants and all those who had come from Nalorne, either with him or independently, from speaking to King Hethid of the princess’s flight and romance with the bard. They knew not why, but they obeyed for who can deny so adamant a prince as he?
Yet King Hethid came to King Uril’s castle when it was the appointed time for the wedding. He was shocked to find his son was not there, and when the situation was explained to him by King Uril, Nalorne’s king was furious. He declared the marriage off and that the alliance should be broken. Yet in the hour that King Hethid was appointed to leave, Prince Tireth arrived with Baelorn the bard in tow. Prince Tireth insisted to his father that regardless of marriage vows they should aid their fellows in Orthune. The prince’s words cooled the rage of King Hethid, and he agreed, yet this slight would not be forgotten.
Prince Tireth then brought Baelorn the bard to King Uril and Princess Jenaine for judgement, yet he himself could not stay as he was to leave with his father. King Uril asked for his daughter’s counsel in this matter, yet her heart was conflicted about the subject. To let him go for what he gave her or to have him locked up in the darkest dungeon for the rest of his days for that betrayal; these were the extremes of her thought. King Uril therefore decided to brand Baelorn’s right hand with the mark of a criminal and a blackguard, which was done to traitors and murderers before their execution, yet the bard went free. Though his days were unpleasant and short thereafter for no reputable innkeeper would hire him.
So came the war. It was a bloody affair lasting five years, and the deeds therein are sung and told in different tales. Yet what matters is that King Uril was slain in the last battle of the war, for he led from the front as all kings of strength do. Yet he had no son, and in those days it was unheard of in those parts for a woman to inherit her father’s throne. So a regent was assigned until a proper heir could be chosen among the king’s distant relations.
Princess Jenaine had been marked by her sorrow, both of her youthful mistakes and her father’s death, and she would not accept any as her matchmaker. Yet her distant cousins were all of rude sorts, those who did not have responsibilities which kept them from the throne, and so it was that no king could be chosen. Yet if Jenaine married, her husband would be named king regent, and afterwards her son might be known as king. Yet what match was there for her?
Her thoughts then went to Prince Tireth, and she knew that he was the only one of her courtiers which she could trust. Therefore, she went to the King of Nalorne to ask for her son’s hand in marriage. She could not look him in the eye, for she knew of his wrath and that he had contempt for her. She put her hands and face on the ground and asked for Prince Tireth’s hand in marriage, hoping beyond hope that he would say yes.
A gentle hand came across her face and lifted her up. She wept to see Prince Tireth wearing the crown, as while she had not known of this, his father and older brother had both been slain in the war, leaving him to become king. She wept for she knew that he would not accept her, not after her betrayal of him. Yet he took his signet ring from his hand and placed it on her finger, the Oliand or king’s ring, which no monarch could rule without. The gestured made Jenaine weep all the more, yet Tireth dried her cheeks as he would have none other for his queen.
They were wed soon after, and the kingdoms of Orthune and Nalorne were made one: now the kingdom of Arkathorne. King Tireth ruled his dominion justly, and Queen Jenaine cried no more. A blessed reign it was, and a more blessed household it was. And that, for good or ill, is how it ended.
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