The High King: Book Two of the 'Riothamus' trilogy by Rosemary Fryth

couldn’t bear that, I must have some feeling for the woman
I am to spend my life with.”
    Maran
grimaced, “Then my hopes and wishes go with you Arantur, for you
will have a hell of a fight with the Council over your choice.”
    Aran nodded
firmly, “I will fight…I will not be swayed in my decision.”
    “Good,” Maran
replied dryly. “I will look forward that that battle. However I
believe you ought to speak to Alissa about this. Make it soon you
are to be crowned at week’s end.”
    Aran walked
over to stare out of the window, “Then I will speak to her this
very night.”
    *
    It was after
dinner, and Andur’s heir paced nervously around the confines of the
royal chambers. It had been too many days since he had time or
opportunity to speak with Alissa, and he felt distinctly unprepared
for this interview with her. He knew within himself that he could
not accept any other woman to share his life, and even had he a
simpler life to offer her he knew that he would have been no less
nervous about asking her. It was a life altering decision she had
to make, and Aran was even now uncertain what her final answer
would be. Aran knew that he would not blame her if she refused him,
for he knew only too well how much his life had changed in the past
week, and even now he was not certain if she still felt affection
or even desire for him. He could only hope that the deep friendship
she professed for him would be the deciding factor in her
decision.
    “Aran?” Her
voice came from the door, “You wanted me? Are you not well?”
    Aran turned,
“Come in, sit down…I need to speak with you about something.”
    She nodded
closing the door. Aran waited until she had selected a chair near
the fire then sat down hurriedly across from her.
    She stared at
him in consternation, “Whatever is the matter? Is something wrong?
Are you ill?”
    He shook his
head, “No…nothing is wrong.”
    He chewed his
bottom lip in frustration at his inability to get the words
out.
    “You know I am
your friend Aran,” she said leaning forward, “There ought not to be
secrets between us.”
    “I know
Alissa,” he answered hurriedly, “I just don’t know how to say this
correctly, and I am certain this is going to come out all wrong,
but…”
    He paused then
plunged in recklessly, “I want you to be my Queen.”
    Alissa sat
back and regarded him candidly, “I am not nobly born Aran, you know
that.”
    He nodded.
    “And the
Council has selected another woman to be your queen.”
    “I know, Maran
has told me.”
    “Yet you would
choose me. Why?”
    Aran looked
up, desperation written clearly in his grey eyes, “Because you are
the one woman I know who supports me, who is my friend and
companion, and who has been a tower of strength to me. I feel
comfortable with you Alissa and we both share Abilities. Another
woman would not understand how the Abilities can rule your
life.”
    She nodded at
that.
    “Besides with
you, I can be myself…there are no false pretensions between us,” he
added quietly.
    “What about
love?” she asked simply.
    Aran gazed at
her helplessly, “I have never been in love before so I don’t know
what love is supposed to feel like. I believe that I love you,” he
said quietly, “All I know is I want to spend my life with you and
the thought of choosing another over you is like poison to my heart
and soul,” he added desperately, heroically.
    Alissa closed
her eyes and sighed, “That is all I need to know.”
    Aran looked at
her anxiously, “I need to know… Will you accept me?”
    She opened her
eyes and gazed at him steadily, “You wonder that I am not surprised
at your offer.”
    He nodded
dumbly.
    “I have long
suspected your regard for me,” Alissa explained simply, “A man’s
regard for a woman is something that all females know.” She smiled
gently at his embarrassment, “I did not think anything would come
of it…especially since your elevation.” She shrugged, “That is why
I have kept