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BUTTERFLY

  by Sandra Pavlic

  Translation from Slovenian language (original: Butterfly by Sandra Pavlič)

  Copyright 2015 Sandra Pavlic

  SAD BRIDE

  It was autumn already. Everyone in the castle was preparing for the war. Knights were training in castle’s woods while the king was making sure his queen and his daughters were having the best last day.

  “Are you sure this I for the best?” Asked queen Dru.

  “Yes. Almost. We are not ready for their army.” said king Ferdinand.

  “Yes, it is true. William’s army is quite strong. So send this letter already.”

  “Yes dear,” agreed the king.

  He called his loyal servant who sometimes had to be the postman. The king put the letter to his arms and asked him to take it to William and he must give it to him personally. Jack did that. He took a horse and went on his way.

  “The king is giving you this letter. You have to write back in five days,” said Jack.

  “OK. Thank you Jack.” thanked William. Jack took his horse and went back t the caste.

  William opened the letter. It did not contain more than 3 sentences.

  “I have a daughter Jane. You have a son, but I can’t remember his name. I want a wedding. Best regards, Ferdinand.”

  William thought for a while and then called his oldest son Rake.

  “Son. We found you a wife.” said his father.

  “Already? But I am only 20 years old.” Rake did not approve.

  “I know. But your wife, as far as I know, only has 18.”

  “Why do we have to merry then? Who will I merry?” asked Rake.

  “With my enemy.”

  “You want me to merry with Ferdinand’s daughter? Why?”

  “I want to rule his kingdom and he wants to rule mine, but his army is too week, so he decided we will join kingdom Butterfly and Ferlan.”

  “Ok, so you will both expand. I still don’t understand why I have to merry. Aren’t there any other arrangements?”

  “Oh, son. I told you so many things, but not all, I guess. Well, the only arrangement there is, is a marriage. You will have to get married sooner or later.”

  “Yes I know. But you never told me you will force me into it.”

  “You are right. Why would I force you, you have a 14 year old brother, so maybe he can get married in a week.” was angry William.

  “Well, you can’t force him.” agreed his son.

  “Yes. This came in between but I can’t help it. Would you rather live in Ferland or would you rather still live in kingdom Butterfly?”

  “Butterfly, of course.”

  “So you see. The only solution is the wedding. I’m sorry, I have made up my mind and it will not be any different.”

  “All right. Will I at least meet her before?

  “No.”

  Rake left angrily, slammed the door and went to his room.

  Ferdinand did not tell Jane she will get married soon. He thought he would wait until the last day, because anything can happen in a week. Jane is still too young for him, so the king would not give her up. Dru thought what dress Jane will wear because she has three in her closet: one from her grandmother, one from her husband’s grandmother and one she doesn’t remember where she got it. While she was looking at dresses and deciding what her daughter should wear, she thought if this is actually right not wrong. Either way, only Ferdinand can make a difference. But finally kingdom Ferland and Butterfly will be joined.

  They were preparing for the wedding in both castles, somewhere loudly and somewhere quietly. In kingdom Butterfly everyone was getting ready for their new princess. They decided to prepare stools in the biggest hall and prepare a stage. A big week passed by. Everyone was ready in the hall, the only one missing was a bride.

  “Dad, I am not going inside.” said Jane.

  “Of course you are,” said her father.

  “No I am not. Why should I? It will only benefit you.”

  “Yes, and that is why you will get married.”

  “No, I will not!”

  Everyone stepped outside the carriage only Jane stayed in.

  “Out Jane,” said Ferdinand.

  “I said not.”

  “Come on honey,” said Dru.

  “I will not.” Jane started crying.

  “Let’s go inside the castle. Jane will go later,” said Ferdinand and they left.

  “Good afternoon. Where is Jane?” greet William.

  “She won’t go outside the carriage,” explained Ferdinand.

  “Are you sure she is inside?”

  “Yes I am. She just doesn’t want to get married, that’s all.”

  “Don’t worry. I had problems with Rake too.”

  “I believe you.”

  “I think this is a start of good friendship, do you agree Ferdinand?” was nice William.

  “Yes. Let’s forget our past.” agreed Ferdinand.

  William left to his son.

  “She won’t go outside of carried.” he said to him.

  “So I don’t have to merry?” asked Rake.

  “Actually, you do. Now you have to prove to her you will be a god husband by going to her and convince her to get married to you.” said William.

  “OK, I am going,” was not happy Rake.

  Rake left, stepped to the carriage and for a while just watched the sad crying woman inside it. Then he opened the door of carriage.

  “I said I won’t. I will go back if that is OK or not for you father!” shouted Jane without looking who it was. She just thought it was her dad. Because there was no answered she raised her look. In front of her was a young boy modernly dressed for a wedding.

  “What?” asked Jane still crying.

  “I am just looking and wondering how can this beautiful woman cry right before she will step into a loving marriage.” was nice Rake.

  “It easy. I am scared. I’ve been scared my whole life that I will have to merry a prince.”

  “May I ask why? There are a lot of girl who would want to be in this positions. You have this right, but you don’t want to use it?”

  “Not that I don’t want to. I don’t deserve it. You know… Oh, never mind. Are you this Rake…?”

  “Yes, that is me. First calm down a bit and then go inside the castle with me. Everyone is waiting for us.”

  “OK.”

  She was till the most sad bride in the world, but she can’t help herself. Something was bothering her but she couldn’t tell no one about it. The only person who would know this was her mother. She was slowly going into the hall where she was cheered by the crowd. She had at least one thing to smile about. They were married in an hour but none of them felt any different. The party took all night and everyone admired the lovely and sad bride. Rake suddenly pulled her from the crowd and nicely asked: “What is wrong? Why do you feel so sad all day?”

  “Well, the truth is…. Girls are suppose to be a virgin when they are married, right?

  “Yes, so?”

  “Well, I am not. I slept with someone a year ago. I was certain I won’t get married, at least not to a prince.”

  “Hm ,so I married a sinner.” kindly laughed Rake.

  “Yes. So if you don’t want to see me anymore just say. I will gladly realize it.”

  “Ha, ha.” laughed Rake. “No one knew about these wedding anyway. I was supposed to get married with a Spanish princess. I am not sure for you, but you were not meant to be in this family.”

  “But you see, not I am.”

  The prince left to some guests and the sad bride felt a little better after talking to him. Now she felt a lot better for telling someone her secret.

  The queen

  Everyone is Spanish kingdom found out there was n
ot going to be a wedding between their daughter and Rake.

  “I have to do something. I thought I will be important on their territory. I guess I was wrong.” was not happy about it the Spanish king.

  “We can’t change anything. Or….” thought the queen. “Don’t they have another younger son?”

  “Hm, yes they do. How old is he?”

  “14 I think.”

  “And what we can do with a 14 year old? Tell me.” the king was still angry.

  “Well, I don’t know yet.”

  “You see.”

  King was furious so he left to get some fresh air, although he didn’t know what he can do outside. His daughter Maria approached.

  “What is wrong father?”

  “Nothing, never mind, sugar.”

  Maria did not know about the wedding. She didn’t know she was supposed to get married either.

  “Revenge, that’s it! Juan” he shouted for his knight.

  “Yes sear.” asked Juan.

  “Go to England. Find the kingdom Butterfly and burn 1 hectare of their forest. That will teach William a lesson.” he order the knight.

  “Yes sir. When do I leave?”

  “What are you asking? Go right away!”

  “OK.”

  Juan left to his men and told them what he was ordered. Late at night the man took off to England. They were going through the Channel until the start of Butterfly kingdom. William and his wife Susan decided to go for a walk through their forest.

  “So the sad bride is not so sad anymore?” asked the queen.

  “Yes, that is right. They make a great couple, don’t they?”

  “Yes and I think they hit it off soon.”

  “As it is right.”

  They were talking about Ferdinand and about the Spanish king. William should write a letter to him to tell hin personally that their son is no longer marrying t princess Maria. Suddenly they heard a