The Almost Queen by Laura Greenwood

Author:Laura Greenwood [Greenwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Drowlgon Press

9

Gwen

Birdsong fills the air as sunlight streams through the trees and illuminates the woods. There's something romantic about them, though I'm well aware of how sinister they can become at night. Perhaps a midday walk with Lancelot here would be nice sometime soon.

I reach up and touch the pendant, something I've been doing far more than I should in the few days since Lancelot gave it to me. I can't believe he bought it. He must have had it for months without saying a word or giving it to me, even if he hasn't said as much. I recognised it as soon as he placed it in my hand.

The funny thing is that when I saw it on the market stall, I thought of him instantly. Of how it would feel to be given a tree of life by him. And now I know.

"Will you stop grinning like a lovesick fool?" Dindrane asks, her tone light, but with a hint of seriousness beneath it.

"I am a lovesick fool," I counter as I pull my dress away from a sharp twig. Hopefully, I won't rip it while being out here. While I'm perfectly capable of sewing, it's not something I enjoy doing, and I'd rather avoid it if I can.

She rolls her eyes. "And you were before too, but you didn't act like this."

I shrug. "I'm allowed to be now."

"Hmm. We're going to have to do something about that or we're never going to pass this class."

"What are we even doing?" Guilt floods through me as I realise I didn't pay any attention to what the aim of the lesson was when we were sent into the woods.

"Oh, Gwen. Love really is making you a fool."

"Sorry," I mutter, staring down at the ground and the golden leaves strewn about. Autumn is just beginning, meaning there's green and gold everywhere, making the whole place even more beautiful.

"We're supposed to be trying to find some edible berries," she tells me.

"How are we supposed to know which are which? The poisoned ones look the same." Which is all I know about berries in the woods. And that I shouldn't eat them just in case I got the type wrong.

"By checking the book." She points to the open tome lying on the ground a few feet away from us.

"Oh." Hmm, maybe she's on to something. I'm not normally so distracted. I need to pull my act together, or I'm going to start getting into trouble. And, with the annulment not yet finalised, I don't want word of what's going on between Lancelot and me to get back to my parents.

Somehow, I don't think they'll approve of a future knight over the Prince who will be King. They can only find out about this after everything is done and dusted. I hate lying to them, even if it is through omission, but it's for the best. Especially considering their views on my romantic life include betrothals without my consent.

"Or just ask me for now. It's not like you'll go into the woods without Lancelot, I'm sure he knows this stuff," she assures me.

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