Missing Son

An Excerpt

"Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated." ~Lamartine

            The day that Princess Jaleesa was born a bright light began to shine on the tiny Kingdom of Triad. After so many years the King and Queen finally had produced an heir, even if it was not the male whom everyone was hoping for. Nevertheless, the kingdom rejoiced and embraced their new Princess with open arms. With long, raven hair and deep green eyes, it was apparent at a very young age that Jaleesa was going to be the woman that every man wanted to marry. Her looks matched her personality; she was selfless, giving, and always looking out for ways to make the people of the Kingdom happier. She was their pride and joy, and they loved her more than anything. When Jaleesa was seven years old, her mother gave birth to a second child, a boy and proper heir, named Alastair. The people of the kingdom were overjoyed, but no one was happier than his older sister. From the moment he was born, she watched over him every possible moment. Despite how much her parents tried, it was difficult for them to pull her away from the baby's crib.

            It was only a day before Alastair's first birthday when he was kidnaped from the palace. No one was entirely sure how the intruder managed to get into the palace and away without being seen by any the guards. Many suspected some form of witchcraft, but the truth remained the same; the baby boy was gone. When no ransom was demanded, the King and Queen made the emotional announcement that the little boy was most likely dead. The entire kingdom mourned the loss of their prince, but no one mourned more deeply than Princess Jaleesa. She constantly pondered why someone would want to take her little brother, if he was ever coming back, and why nobody could find any trace of him. There was nothing harder for the King and Queen than having to explain to the eight year old girl that the little brother that she loved so much was gone. Her inquiries as to why were only met with blank stares.

            For sixteen years, Princess Jaleesa wondered what had happened to her little brother that fateful day. For sixteen years she questioned herself relentlessly, yet her inquiries went unanswered. Was he alive? Was he dead? Had he suffered? No one could give her the answer she was looking for. Despite her emotional exhaustion over her brother, the princess grew up and became even more of a beauty. The people of the kingdom whispered among themselves that she would make the most amazing queen they had ever seen, but it seemed that she wanted nothing to do with any of her suitors. She regularly turned away dukes and princes with the flick of her wrist. Since she was their beloved only daughter, the King and Queen let her do as she wished. At the tender age of twenty-four, Princess Jaleesa was no closer to getting married than she was when the first suitor was placed before her at eighteen.

            It was a beautiful day outside and the Jaleesa wanted nothing more than to spend it alone in the garden. Her parents, however, insisted that someone watch her at all times. She did not blame them for the increased security, she was at an age that anything could happen and, after the tragedy with their son, they always feared the worst for their daughter. When finally given a choice as to whom she would spend her afternoon with, she chose Tristan, a stable boy who she grew up with. Hardly a boy anymore, Tristan was twenty-three years old, and the only company she could stand to keep for any length of time.

            "Princess," a deep voice said. She smiled to herself and turned around. There, standing a few feet behind her, was Tristan. After many years of hard work in the stables and around the garden, he had grown from a skinny, famished-looking boy to a tall, well built man. His hair was a deep, dark brown and his eyes an exceptional and beautiful gray that was so rare amongst their people. The King had found him outside the borders of the kingdom at the tender age of five. Nobody in the kingdom, including Tristan himself, was entirely sure where he came from. His unique eyes, however, made for plenty of speculation amongst the people that did not trust him. Jaleesa, however, did not care for any of that nonsense. After so many years she had grown to trust him completely.

            "How many times do I have to tell you, Tristan? Call me Jaleesa," she corrected, and shook her head at him.

            "My apologies," he replied and bowed apologetically toward her. He was always a perfect gentlemen despite how many chances he'd had to take advantage of her. The Princess often had to remind herself that despite how close she was to him and how safe she felt with him, despite how much his smile warmed the cold regions of her heart, Tristan was simply a stable boy and falling for him would be wrong in many ways.

            Above them, the King watched his daughter carefully from a window. His heart was heavy as he watched her smile with Tristan. That boy seemed to be the only one who could break down the guarded walls she held now and make her smile a real, genuine smile. Despite how improper the union would be, the King could not help but think about the possibility of Tristan marrying the Princess. Ever since she was a child, it was clear that Jaleesa felt a connection with the common people of her kingdom. It would not be a big surprise to anyone if she ended up marrying a common-person.

            "Are you really going sit back and let that disgusting boy hang around your daughter?" a scolding voice behind him asked. The King recognized the voice instantly and reflexively tensed his shoulders slightly. Turning around he faced Duke Drias, a man with a well-known reputation for stepping outside his boundaries and ordering others around. The Duke always seemed to linger suspiciously whenever Jaleesa was out and about.

            "I wish for someone to be around her at all times. If Tristan is the only company she will keep them I will allow it," the older man replied. They both watched as Jaleesa took Tristan's arm and dragged him out of sight.

            "She will soon be twenty-five, she must marry soon or else it will far too late for this kingdom," the Duke said evenly.

            "I will not make my daughter marry against her will," the King replied. The two had had this discussion before and it always ended the same way.

            "Do you want some rebels to decide that your family is unfit to rule this kingdom? A sole female heir is weak! You need a male to truly fend off those who crave your crown," he said suggestively.

            "To speak of something like that would be treason. Are you admitting to something, Drias?" the King asked.

            "Of course not, sire. I'm talking about your enemies of course," the Duke replied with an amused tone about him.

            "My enemies might be closer than many think," the King said.

            "Indeed, they might be. Perhaps you should watch where you step, sire; you never know who might be watching for you to falter." With those words, Drias turned and marched confidently from the room. The King could only stare out the window, knowing that his enemies were closer than he ever wanted to admit. Silently, he hoped for his daughter's safety in the coming times. Things were only going to get worse as the rebels breathed down his neck, waiting for the moment when his heartbeat would stop.

            In the garden Jaleesa pulled Tristan along excitedly, ignoring the fact that he seemed hesitant about following her. He was dragging his feet and it annoyed her that he was not willing to follow. The maze was the first thing the couple saw as the protruded through the edge of the main gardens. Jaleesa smiled to herself as she kept a firm grasp on Tristan's hand and continued to pull him along toward the maze.

            "Princess, where are we going?" he asked. Jaleesa turned to face him and smiled slyly.

            "We're just going for a little walk," she replied. With that, she released his hand and raced into the maze. She looked over her shoulder and saw a confused Tristan start to follow her slowly. She rounded a few corners but continued to watch as he carefully followed her path through the maze.

            "Princess? Princess, where are you? I'm supposed to stay with you," he called out. She ducked behind a corner and waited for him. As he came closer Jaleesa grabbed his arm and pulled him in close. His gray eyes were closer than they had ever been and they made her weak in the knees. She could feel the heat from his body and it made every nerve in her body feel like it was on fire. In the back of her mind, a small voice told her that they could not stay this close, that she should release him and ignore her heart's desires. "Your Highness," he whispered. Jaleesa gently placed her free hand over his mouth to silence him.

            "This is what my heart wants," she heard herself say. "And for the last time; call me Jaleesa." She took her hand away and stared at those lips that she had wanted to kiss since she was a teenager.

            "This can't happen, it would be a betrayal of your father's trust," Tristan said in a low voice.

            "Then no one will know," she replied simply. With that she stood up on her toes and kissed him gently on the lips, but was disappointed when he moved away. "Tristan, why do you move away from me?"

            "Your father took me in when the rest of this Dukery thought I should be put to death. He let me live in this palace and grow up with you, despite the fact that I not from this Dukery. When your brother vanished, he made me promise to always look after you, and I cannot break my promise to him." He took a step back and bowed slightly to the princess. "Please forgive me, your Highness." Never before had the words "your highness" hurt Jaleesa much as they did at that moment. She fell back against the walls of ivy, felt her stomach twisting into a tight knot, and felt as though her chest was about to cave in. "I will not deny," he said without standing up straight, "that I have wanted you to look at me with those eyes for almost a lifetime. And to see that look in your eyes, even for a moment, is enough to make this simple stable boy die happy."

            "Then grant me one request." Jaleesa found her voice surprisingly sturdy despite the words he had just uttered.

            "Anything for you, Princess," Tristan said as he dropped down to his knees. "I am at your beck and call."

            "Your Princess will not tempt you again, if you grant her but one kiss." Tristan looked up and simply stared at her with his uniquely breathtaking gray eyes.

            "Your highness, that would be--"

            "You said you would do anything," she interrupted. "You said that you are at my beck and call, and that is my only request. Now stand," she demanded, and watched as he stood up slowly. "One kiss and this will be the last time I tempt you. I will honor your promise and debt to my father." He nodded gently and stepped close to her once more. He touched her cheeks with his work-hardened hands and slowly leaned in to kiss her. His lips were soft and warm, just as she thought they would be, and he kissed her with every bit of emotion that she hoped he would. This was something he wanted just as much as she did. Placing her arms around his strong neck, she kept him close, and opened her mouth willingly as they kissed. She savored the moment and daydreamed about having him even closer, but he suddenly pulled away and left both of them breathless. They stood, still embraced, in complete silence. The deed was done. Each of them knew that once would never be enough, yet that it was all they would ever have. They carefully backed away from each other while they each searched for the right words to say.

            What the couple did not realize was that a dark character had been watching their every move from the shadows. The man smiled knowingly before vanishing. He rushed silently through the gardens until he found Duke Drias, his master, leaving the palace. "Sire, sire, I have something I must tell you." Drias looked down at his servant. Drias knew that Luke was fiercely loyal, even to the point of death, and that was why Drias chose him to spy on the princess.

            "What did you see?" he asked, folding his arms as he secretly hoped for some quality blackmail material.

            "My lord, the princess kissed that stable boy," Luke replied. He kept his head bowed as though he was not fit to look upon the face of his master. A sly smile crept upon the Duke's face. This was exactly the information that he needed to execute the plan that he had spent so many years working preparing.

            "Nicely done my boy, now follow the stable boy, make sure he doesn't go running off anytime soon," Drias replied. He turned his back on his servant and began to walk away.

            Luke lifted his head to see his master walking away from him. "Sire, what if he tries to leave?" Luke asked quickly.

            The Duke raised a fist above his head to show his control. "Then you stop him, Luke, by any means necessary." He turned to face his servant and said in a cunning voice, "Not that I want foreigners in my kingdom. The boy is too suspicious to leave at such a time; he might know something he shouldn’t." Luke winced slightly and looked down at the ground. In a lowered voice he advised,

            "My lord, perhaps you should not use such words, some might consider it treason."

            The Duke merely laughed and said, "It will be treason for anyone to speak against me soon, you shall see, my boy. Now run along before I get bored with you." Drias turned and once more began to walk away from the palace. Luke hesitated slightly before he stood up to watch his master leave. He found himself worrying about the words that he spoke and what kind of implications they could possibly hold. He quickly turned toward the garden and rushed off to follow the stable boy that was stealing the heart of the kingdom's beloved princess.