Forbidden Love

Every night I ask my mother to tell me the story of how her and my father got together, and every night she would tell me how my father, Prince Joy swept her off her feet with his sweet words, and gentle actions. They first met at 16, and after several years, of cross encounters realized they were head over heels for each other. My grandmother Mary-Ann despised my mother, and her mother, no real reason other than their status. My mother's mom lost her husband, my grandfather in the war of 19. She remained unmarried and only a few years later, according to my mom, died of a broken heart, my mom was 15 at the time, and broken. My mother tells me, how she was sent to live with her grandmama in Wells, VA after the funeral. She knew nobody, felt like nobody, and soon she would fall into a deep sadness.

One day her grandmama was in a rushed panic, frantically looking for her fine needles. Grandmama was a seamstress and had a way of attracting all kinds of people to her home for help. This particular day was so special because, it was the Queen who made her way down her high-top hill, through the gates of the city, straight down and around the bend to my grandmama's.

"OH! Darling, I thank you for seeing me on such short notice!" The Queen stated sweetly as she was welcomed in. I rushed to pull her seat out, but she raised a hand, and I paused. She gave me a warm smile and ushered for her guards to clear the area for her. Quickly they dusted off the table and chairs and threw on a royal tablecloth and chair cover. The Queen took a slow, yet powerful stride toward the table and chair, and graciously sat. I darted for the tea that began to scream from the kitchen. Grandmama came back in with composure and her polished needles. She gleamed at the Queen as she spoke.

"What brings you in today, my Queen?"

"Oh! Darling, can't I just visit an old friend?" The Queen gave a quivering smile as she stared up at my Grandmama raising a hand to show off the area, that needs work on her sleeve. Grandmama got to work immediately, and the Queen was encouraged to speak more. As the Queen vented about her duties, the help and the tasks she has since her husband, and King were sick. Just then, I walked up with her tea, bowed as I lowered her teacup. She thanked me and finally asked my Grandmama who I was.

Grandmama looked up at me and smiled proudly. She reached for me to come to her. "This is my granddaughter, Amaria."

"OH AMARIA! What a lovely name! I didn't know Cauleen had a daughter! Where is she now?" The smile on grandmama's face turned sour, her head went to the floor, and she struggled to find the words to say, so I spoke up instead." "My mother passed, as did my father." The Queen clutched her pearls and apologized. She stood up and her guards rushed to all sides of her. She helped to raise my Grandmama's head and gave an old friend a hug. She invited us to her castle-like palace and did not leave until yes became the answer. "It is settled! I will see you both at tomorrow's dinner." She gleamed, and just like that she bid us both farewell.

The night of the Queens dinner, grandmama had given me a gorgeous yellow gown and pulled out beautiful jewels, just for me. I was in such awe, twirling in front the mirror, practicing my bow. I hugged my grandmama so tight; it had been a long while since I smiled genuinely. "You look more like your mother than ever!" Grandmama commented happily. "Have you ever been invited to dinner by the Queen before?" I asked. She joined me in the mirror, still smiling. Yes, before she was Queen, Mary-Ann was a good friend of mine. Before I could ask many more questions she interjected; "That's a story for another day. Today we eat and enjoy a good night."

We arrived and were greeted as if we were royalty ourselves. The King didn't join us, but his son, Prince Joy did, and I was captivated by his golden curls, I nearly drowned in his blue eyes, and the soulful laugh, I never heard such joy come from a person before. He noticed me and my grandmama and quickly came to say hello.

"Ms. Nightengale, always a pleasure to see you!" He spoke in such a clear stunning tone, and oh the smile that must've been given by God himself. He greeted my grandmama with such a royal welcome before turning to me. "You must be.." "Amaria" I blurted out nervously. He gave a sly smile and reached for my hand and planted a soft kiss on it. I melted but played it cool. "Come, let's have you all seated." He gave a gesture of the hands, and the help came out with food and drinks, while others walked us to the table and sat us in our assigned seats for the night.

The night was great, towards the end, Prince Joy asked if he could give me a mini tour of the palace. His mother, the Queen obliged.

"So, tell me Amaria, do you believe in love?" My cheeks flushed pink, then burned red. He laughed at my reaction to his question. "Well..? he waited. "No, actually...I can't say that I do." He looked at me intrigued by my response. "And why not?" He interrogated. "Well, because what is love? Is it a feeling, or an action, or both? Does it last forever or does it die, ever fleeting us as we chase it? Is it even a real a thing?" He grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes. He stared as if he were searching for something. "I believe love is real, I've felt it, experienced it, and I'd like to experience it again, wouldn't you?" My dad is sick, you know, and no matter how many good doctors we find, they all conclude the same things. My mom thinks that our love will heal him, I hate that actually, because when he dies, which will happen inevitably, she will lose her faith in true love. I hope that she doesn't but..." He paused and looked at me again. For the first time, I felt so seen in how I feel, although he has his parents, he feels so deeply, I know he will be a great King someday. His eyes meet mine again and he smiles. "Do you read?" He asks curiously. I scoff, slightly insulted. "OF COURSE!" He grabs my hand and leads me down a long corridor, pushes open a door and there are thousands of thousands of books. My eyes twinkle and almost tear up from amazement. "My favorite book on love is actually a book full of poetry." He smiles. "Have you read Have you met her?" It's a collection of love stories written all across the times. It's really beautiful, here." He handed me the book and it looks like it gets read so often. There are folded pages, underline words and little foot notes. I smile and clutch the book to my heart. "Thank you." I whisper happily. We walk and talk as we head back towards the dining area; Prince Joy bids me goodbye and my Grandmama meets us at the door.

2 months later the Queen sends out a decree, the King is dead, and a ceremony to welcome the new King, Prince Joy will be happening, as well as the ceremony of wives. Where royal families from across the world will come to present their lovely daughters to the prince. Amaria got word and asked her grandmama to let her go. "Honeybee, that ceremony is for the royals of the world, not us common folk. I didn't know you were that interested in Prince Joy" She gave a reassuring smile that didn't reassure Amaria. "I'M NOT! I just wanted to see what the hype was about is all and to see who gets picked to be the wife."

The day of the King's final goodbye, there was music, speeches, feasts, stories of the old King, and laughter. Except from the Queen. "Your majesty?" Amaria bowed as she approached the Queen's throne. "OH! Amaria darling, it's good to see such a light today." She smiled weakly. "Come, walk with me." The Queen and Amaria walked and talked about the life of a Queen and the forgotten dreams that follows with being Queen. "My biggest regret will always be thinking my love would be enough to heal my King. Love, tuh! Love is what got us here, and Amaria, in order to save future heart aches, I think I know what I have to do...forbid love, weddings, ceremonies, forbid it all." Her words were so cold, and lifeless, as were her face. Amaria wanted to object, but didn't know what words to say, on top of feeling the same way, ever since her parents left. "I'm so sorry your majesty, love should be the answer, it's always shattering when it isn't." Amaria regretted saying it out loud because the Queen's response was; "Precisely! It is settled." With a quick turn and speedy steps, the Queen rushed back to everyone with an announcement. "Thank you for gathering to celebrate and send off a great King. He was fair and just and truly kind. I loved him...LOVE him so much. I know that my son, the future king was looking forward to the ceremony of wives, and finding a wife, but in order to preserve this love as of today, I AM FORBIDDING ANYONE FROM FALLING IN LOVE! There will not be any more weddings or ceremonies or discussions of love out loud! If there is, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!!" Shocking whispers filled the space. Prince Joy's face expressed great disappointment and disproval.

"How could you mom?" Prince Joy confronted. "Oh, my son! This is for you, to protect your heart. Someday you'll thank me."

Several years had passed under the rule of Queen Mary-Ann and her loveless agenda. *Rapid loud knocking*

Amaria peaks through the door and sees a man in a hooded cloak. "Whose there!?" She calls out but the knocking just persists. She grabs a pan and goes to open the door, to her surprise it is King Joy. "Sire." She bows quickly and opens the door wider so he can enter. "You are traveling without your royal guards?" Amaria questioned

He remains quiet, as he takes a seat. "Uhh...would you like some tea, my King?" Still quiet, he just scans the seamstress shop with his eyes. Amaria just standing waiting for him to talk, starts toward the kitchen. "Wait!" He finally spoke. "Sit, please." She does. Awkward silence fills the room. "Your grandmama was the best seamstress in all the area. I miss her. I'm sorry about her passing." Tears immediately formed and fell from Amaria's face.

"I...I miss her every day. But do you know how hard it is, how hard it was to send her off and NOT tell her that I love her?!" "I will never forgive your mother for taking that goodbye from me, Queen or not. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to bed."

"I remember years ago someone telling me that they didn't believe in love, because of their loss. I..I'm sorry, but my mother was grieving, she was hurt, and she stopped believing in love, stopped believing it was the answer to all, she became a broken woman. Although, I do not agree, I understand. I came here to share my deepest apology and love for your grandmama."

Amaria avoided looking into his eyes because she knew, she would be hooked in like she had been all those years ago, when they first met.

"I appreciate that, your highness. If you don't mind, I'd like to rest before morning." The king rose from his seat and started toward the door but stopped. The book he had given Amaria all those years ago, was staring him in the face. He approached the mantle where the book lay. Picked it up and turned to Amaria with a small grin. "For someone who doesn't believe in love, I am thoroughly surprised that you kept this book." She gave a quick smile and stated, "When I was 16 a fine young man full of loving thoughts gave me that book, and it gave me a lot of hope, hope that got me through a lot of hurtful moments in life. A few months later, a heartbroken women shattered that hope by banishing love all together, and her loving son grew bitter and sour, and remained that way." She now stood at the door entrance. "That book is a reminder of hope, probably the last book to stand against all the royal guards and the flames that burned all literature filled with love. You can take it if you want." He tapped the book, but left it where it lay, and left.