Love me, King Robart

Where ever one looked, Nordmar is covered in snow. Up, in the vast mountains that formed the Kingdom of Nordmar, it is always cold. The peaks of the mountains are so tall that one can think they reach the sky. Big forests of winter oaks cover the big plateaus of the Nordmar mountains. And in this forest live bison, winter wolves, polar bears, rabbits, woolly rhinos, and other creatures.

Scattered across all the land are villages inhabited by men that are called by the other Kingdoms barbarians. Tall and strong, the Nordmanders were born to dominate the cold land they live in. But the strongest of all the barbarians is King Robart.

After a long absence from the Kingdom, due to a war that lasted for twelve years with the Kingdom of Myrthana, King Robart returns home. But he doesn’t return alone; he returns with Princess Ayla, the daughter of King Amul, former king of Myrthana. His new wife.

After long days of traveling, King Robart finally arrives at his Castle with his bride. Paladins and knights accompanied him on the journey from the Kingdom of Myrthana to Nordmar. He was excited to be home after a long absence.

Built on a big plateau, the Castle of Nordmar is the biggest and the oldest structure built in Normand. The second biggest structure is the Monastery of the Fire Mages.

The carriage that has been the home of Ayla for the last three weeks or so finally stops in front of the Nordmar Castel. She has never felt so tired in her life, and all she did was sit in the carriage while the man did all the hard work. And the cold. Ayla never felt so cold in her life. Her homeland is nothing like Nordmar. Myrthana is a green land where it rarely snowed. In fact, as much as Ayla tried to think, she never remembered a day in which she saw snow. And now, all she saw was snow, snow, and more snow. She missed the warm Sun and the smell of flowers. But she will never see those again because this was her new home now, as her father married her with the King of the barbarians. Ayla never wanted to marry King Robart, but as a woman, she had no rights. Women were men’s properties, and now she belonged to her husband. Whatever he said, Ayla had to do. Many times, she wished she was born a man instead of a woman. But Innos, the God of Fire, had other plans for her.

While Ayla waited in the carriage for King Robart, she shivered with cold. She had thick furs around her body, but it did not help her, and the cold seemed to make its way in her bones.

The door to the carriage opened, and King Robart climbed in, closing the door behind him. But already more cold entered, and Ayla started shivering hard.

Robart sat next to Ayla and covered her with his warm cape, pulling her next to his body. But he was wearing his armor, and this did not help Ayla, but his warm cape provided her some warmth.

“We are home. I know this journey was long for you, as you are not used to traveling. I already gave the order to the servants to prepare our room so you can rest.”

Ayla looked up at the man that is her husband. His grey eyes were cold, while his long black hair was braided in a barbarian way. Robart’s shoulders were twice as large as those of a man from Myrthana. And he was tall too, around 6’6 ft. A three-week beard covers his face, but she could distinguish his features perfectly. Despite everything, he was a very handsome man. Anyone could tell he was a King.

Even if he looked like a cruel man, Robart didn’t treat her cruelly during their journey. He made sure she was well feed and had warm blankets. But this didn’t erase the fact that her father attacked his Kingdom when he was very young. Many lives have been lost because of his father’s greed. And now, she was going to pay the price because Ayla was sure Robart would harm her. He never once looked at her with warm eyes. Whenever he looked at her, his eyes were cold, like a block of ice. And he never smiled.

During their journey, Robart rarely spent time with her in the carriage, and when he did, he rarely spoke to her. She didn’t know what to make of him.

“Thank you,” Ayla said in a low voice.

Robart looked into Ayla’s blue eyes. Her black hair reached her waist and was braided in an intricate style, typical of Myrthana women.

He didn’t want to marry Ayla. In fact, he hated the idea, but then Robart thought that the innocent Princess of Myrthana was a good trade for all the suffering her father brought to him and his Kingdom. King Robart married Princess Ayla not only for peace between the two kingdoms but also for his own personal reason.

And she was still innocent, but that will change soon. Even if Ayla is his bride, they are yet to consummate their union. Right after the marriage ceremony, they had to leave. Now that they got home, he will spend as much time in bed as possible.

Robart did not love Ayla, but he didn’t need love to bed her and to have children. And he wanted an heir. Another war could start at any moment, and if he died without sired at least a son, what would happen to his Kingdom? Clans would fight against each other and could invade Nordmar at that moment and enslave his people. He would have to make sure that Ayla got pregnant, and soon.

Robart was only fourteen when the war started. His father died when he was ten and his mother when he was twelve, forcing him to become King at a very young age. And now, at the age of twenty-six, he finally returns home.

“Let’s get you inside. Don’t worry, one day, you will get used to the cold.”

Ayla doubted that one day she would get used to the cold. She already disliked Nordmar, but she kept quiet.

She followed her husband outside the carriage. Under her thick, fur boots, the snow made strange sounds that Ayla never heard before. She took a moment to look at the Castel. A gasp escaped her lips because she has never seen a Castle this big. Built from a combination of wood and stone, with nine big towers, the Castle was a sight to behold.

While Ayla kept staring at the Castle, snow started falling from the sky. Ayla found this beautiful and smiled, extending a gloved hand to catch some snowflakes, but they melted right away.

Robart looked at Ayla as she stood in the middle of the courtyard, her hair shinning from all the snowflakes that kept falling on it. He frowned because he did not like to wait. And he did not want her to get sick. What use does a sick wife have? Myrthana women are not strong as Nordmar women. If she gets sick, how will she have the strength to carry a child? Or to give birth?

“I don’t like to wait. I said to get inside. It is cold outside, and I don’t want you to get sick,” Robart said with anger in his voice.

“I am sorry. It won’t happen again,” she said and bowed her head.

Once inside Castle, all the cold disappeared. She did not expect the interior to be so warm. She wanted to ask, but women could not talk without permission, so she swallowed her question.

Servants came to salute the King and the Queen, and Robart nodded at them. After that his he focused on Ayla.

“This is your new home now,” Robart said.

“Yes, my King. I like it; it’s warm inside.”

“King Robart.”

“What?” Ayla asked in a shocked voice.

“I am not your King. I am King Robart, your husband, and you shall address me as such,” he said with anger.

“Yes, King Robart.”

“Let me show you our room,” Robart said and took Ayla’s hand into his and lead her up the stairs.

Ayla nodded and followed him. She still couldn’t believe she is married. She didn’t know anything about this. Her only hope is that Robart will be patient with her.