Andrew of Lea

Andy entered the ballroom and saw Princess Emberlyn hurrying over to her parents. King Jareth waved for the minstrels to stop playing and everyone in the room turned to the royal family. Andy joined his fellow knights by the throne.

King Jareth lowered his hand and cleared his throat, "my friends, loyal subjects, and my treasured guests. tonight marks the eighteenth year that my beloved wife and myself were blessed with the birth of our daughter and Lea was blessed with an heiress to the throne, Princess Emberlyn".

Everyone in the room roared with applause and Princess Emberlyn smiled brightly.n

King Jareth continued with his speech, "As future queen of Lea, my daughter must have a king to rule beside her. That is why I have invited the sons of our neighboring kingdoms in the hopes that my daughter will choose one as her husband and the next king of Lea when my reign ends."

A small murmur flowed through the room. The princes looked anxious. Andy stole a glance at the princess and felt a sharp pang of heartbreak. Prince Peter stood up straight, looking hopeful.

King Jareth had Queen Josla join beside him, "The majority will be picked by my daughter, but there is one prince I choose as a possible choice for her. That is Prince Pierre of Frell. Son of Queen Isolde and the late King Rolfe".

Prince Peter smiled and stepped forward. Everyone clapped again and King Jareth grinned proudly. Princess Emberlyn clapped also but she was secretly sad and horrified. She didn't see Prince Peter as husband material or king material but somehow her father did. Unfortunately, out of all the princes that her parents had invited, she had only chosen two. Prince Erik of Opal Island and Prince Henrik of Burgon. A grand total of three princes.

King Jareth turned to Princess Emberlyn, "So now, my dearest daughter will pick among you now".

The princess smiled and nodded at her father. She turned to the guests and took in a deep breath. She said the first name, "Prince Erik of Opal Island".

The island Prince stepped forward and smiled warmly at the princess. Then she named the second prince, "Prince Henrik of Burgon".

A regal dressed prince stepped forward and stood next to Prince Erik. Prince Peter narrowed his eyes at the others secretly.

Princess Emberlyn gazed at her suitors. Granted, Erik and Henrik would make good husbands and good kings. But she wasn't in love with either one of them. Prince Peter? Well, he will be a terrible husband and she was afraid what he would do if he was king of Lea.
Lea.

Then she looked over at Andy with the other knights. The love of her life who loves her.

Royal rules said that a princess should marry a prince. That was what her mother had done. But she knew she would never feel for the others like she did when Andy finally kissed her. She lost herself into that kiss. It was more than she ever dreamed. His soft lips made her melt and her and his touch gave her pleasurable shivers.

But he was a knight. Not a prince.

But she remembered that her mother telling her that marrying her father was the best thing that ever happened to her. Because she loves him.

Princesses should marry princes, but they should marry for love.

Feeling confident and afraid at the same time, Princess Emberlyn of Lea spoke the following words, "Sir Andrew of Lea".

Andy was shocked, as well as everyone else in the room. King Jareth stared at his daughter in disbelief, as did Prince Peter.

Princess Emberlyn spoke again, "I am aware that he is not a prince, but my heart and soul would not take anyone else if not him".

Queen Josla smiled at this.

Then a voice spoke loudly, "The princess shall marry none of them".

Everyone turned to see who the voice belonged to and what they saw cause a bigger shock.

For the voice belonged to Lord Lukan, the vampire of the Dark Elms, "She is mine".

Notes

Here's the next chapter as promised! I hope you like it!