Page 68 of Enamored
“I’m not aspiring to be king,” Maxim stated quietly. “I have no wish for it.”
If I’d ever believed Maxim was using me to gain power and become king, I could safely set those thoughts from my mind. He was fighting an internal battle to free himself from his father’s control. Though he might have made some mistakes, ultimately, he was the kind of man who wanted to do what was right.
“I know your heart, Maxim. And you are a noble and good man.”
“The darkness within me battles with the light. Light might have won the battle this time, but what about the next?”
“Holy Scripture says that the light shines in the darkness, but darkness does not overcome it.” The simple fact that Maxim wanted to fight the darkness meant he was already on the path to victory.
He was still in his wet clothing and needed to get warm and dry. I started to peel away one of my blankets to wrap around him, but he wound it back more tightly than before.
I could think of no one more worthy than Maxim. He was kind and tender, and yet he challenged and tested and refined me like no one else.
My love for him swelled in my chest, bringing an ache to my throat. I didn’t want to marry any other man, not when I was so thoroughly in love with Maxim. In fact, I couldn’t bear the possibility of spending my life with anyone but him. “I must choose a husband, and I choose you.”
He held himself rigid before dropping his head and letting his shoulders slump. “The law forbids a royal princess or prince from marrying a commoner.”
“The missives to the chieftains will bring about a change in the law.”
“We don’t know for certain. And we don’t know what Rasmus is capable of doing once he hears of my disobedience. I suspect he will accuse me of treachery, turn the court against me, and hunt me down.”
I shuddered. While my limbs and body had warmed up because of Maxim’s efforts, I was suddenly cold again at the prospect of the danger Maxim would face. “All the more reason for us to get married. As my husband, what can Rasmus do to you?”
“Rasmus is clever and conniving. If he wants to destroy me, he’ll find a way, whether I’m your husband or not.”
“You are more intelligent than him. And you have me. Together, we shall come up with a plan to destroy him first.”
Maxim’s head was still bent, his jaw rigid. “Until we discover a way to thwart him, I’ll have to live in hiding, always in danger. I cannot put you through that.”
He hadn’t spoken of his love to me again in words, but his kiss had contained his ardor. It left me with no doubt of his love, that what he felt for me was real and true. Now it was because of his love that he wanted to shield me from the threats and danger Rasmus would perpetrate. I admired his desire, but I had no intention of giving in.
“If you let your fear determine your steps, you will always falter.” It was a wise old saying we’d learned together, and never was it truer than now. “We cannot let fear of Rasmus guide our path. If we do so, we give him the victory.”
The lapping of the river against the stone ledge filled the silence, along with a trickling from somewhere deeper in the cavern, likely a spring of fresh water that fed into the river.
The air inside the cave was dank and musty, but Maxim had saved us. He’d brought us to this shelter just in time, keeping King Canute’s forces from noticing our escape. We would have to remain hidden in the cavern for a day or two, or perhaps more, until the Swainian forces withdrew from the area.
In the meantime, we were safe with supplies.
“What if we’re not so fortunate the next time?” Maxim clearly sensed the direction of my thoughts.
“I have lived for too many years apart from you. And I would spend the rest of my days by your side, no matter how long that might be.”
Finally, he lifted his head. The darkness was too pervasive to see his features clearly, and it would be some time before we could safely light a fire. Even so, I sensed his tender gaze upon me. He reached out as though he intended to caress my face, glanced at Halvard brushing one of the horses only a foot away, then dropped his hand.
“I want to spend the rest of my days by your side too,” he whispered. “I can think of no greater joy than that. But I also don’t want you to regret your choice. If the marriage law isn’t changed, you will forfeit your right to become the next queen.”
“’Tis a risk I am willing to take.”
“If Rasmus deceives the country by giving the secret of freeing the sword to another, he’ll advocate for his choice to become king and the country won’t accept me, perhaps not even you.”
“We shall find a way to expose his duplicity.”
Maxim nodded, but sadly. “I fear our union may create more conflict for the throne, especially between those who will support Rasmus’s candidate and those who will remain faithful to the House of Oldenberg.”
“We will do all we can to work toward peace.” While I still had much to learn, my trials were teaching me that I was stronger and could accomplish more than I’d allowed myself. “However, you must not forget: I am technically no longer the first in the line of succession.”
Maxim hesitated. “Elisbet will learn to accept her heritage. But if we never find proof of her bloodline and connection to the royal family, you may yet be the closest heir to the throne.”
