She did marry the prince, who eventually became the king. But she did not do it for the normal reasons. Not for power. Not for riches. Not even for love. She married the future king for two reasons really. For honor. She was nothing if not a dutiful princess and daughter. And she married for curiosity.

“Curiosity?” you might ask.

Indeed. Curiosity. But perhaps we should start a little closer to the beginning.

---

The monarchy was in trouble. The king had come up against some smaller fiefdoms that had banded together. They were causing him troubles with their visions of glory. Even though he had always been a good king to his subjects and benefactor to those in the surrounding areas.

The trouble was not his own subjects. Good King Darius was beloved. His kingdom had been peaceful. For many generations, in fact.

King Darius had been named after Darius the Mede. And like the Mede, he had his own Daniel. But his wise man’s name was Horace.

Horace was thoughtful. He was wise. But above all, he was loyal. He had advised the king in his affairs for many years. As he had advised the king’s father and grandfather. Yes, Horace might have been long in tooth and grey of hair, but he was still sharp. And he had information from far and wide.

Horace had heard the rumblings. The fiefdoms around King Darius had started rattling their sabers. But they mistook the king’s peace and prosperity as weakness. Still, there were more and more fiefdoms around their peaceful kingdom who were looking to grab lands or make war just for the sake of making war. Horace thought he knew why.

Horace bowed before the king. “O King Darius, live forever.”

The king smiled. “Horace, how many times must I tell you that you need not address me that way. It is a remnant of times past. Time passed long ago.”

Horace smiled back. “Yes, o king. But those times and those rituals had their place. And in my place as your advisor, I do well to remember that you are my king. My liege.”

“Very well.” The king sighed. “It is no use arguing with a wise man such as yourself. A man who looks forty, but who I know is at least twice that age.”

“You flatter me, Sire.”

The king narrowed his eyes and grinned a mischievous grin. “But you still won’t tell me how old you are.”

“No.”

“Very well.” The king sat up straighter on his throne. “Well, then. What say you?”

Horace frowned and furrowed his brow. “The fiefdoms are following the lead of Lord Lucius, my lord.”

“Lucius.”

“He seems to think that if he gets enough smaller fiefdoms to follow him that he can be king in your stead. He thinks that he has the wherewithal to not only defeat you, but to rule this peaceful realm. Even to rule greater lands than these.”

“And what say you, o wise counselor?”

Horace continued to frown. “You must forge an alliance.”

“An alliance?” King Darius’s eyes grew wide. “An alliance with Lucius?”

Horace laughed. “No, Sire. Not in a thousand lifetimes would I recommend such a course of action.” He furrowed his brow once again, but did not turn his smile into a frown as before. “No. I suggest an alliance with a farther neighbor. An alliance with another worthy kingdom.”

“With Gerard?”

Horace nodded.

“But… But… How have you hit upon such a strange notion?”

Horace grinned. “You know o king.”

The king stood. He frowned and stomped his foot. “I forbid it.”

“He was a young man then. Probably still a boy in mind if not in body. It was youthful pride and maybe his father, King Gerard, put him up to it. But Prince Leo was not really ready for marriage then. He has since proven himself loyal and true. Brave and steady. Honorable above all else. And he knows that Lucius is cunning and deceitful. Lucius has approached King Gerard to make an alliance through marriage, but the prince has rejected any and all advances on that front. He sees right through Lucius and the rabble he tries to lead.”

The king stammered. “But… But… But Gwendolyn. My daughter. My princess. Gwendolyn.”

“She is ready to do her duty my liege.”

“But Gwendolyn.”

Horace lowered his voice. “We could always ask her, my lord.”

The king’s eyes grew wide. He shouted, “Gwendolyn!”

She came from somewhere on the king’s left. Her head was down. But Horace could see that she was trying not to smile.

“How much have you heard child?”

Gwendolyn frowned and stomped her foot. So much like her father, Horace thought.

“I keep telling you father, that I am not a child. I am a woman.”

“Women do not eavesdrop,” Horace said without any hint of emotion.

Gwendolyn smiled. “They do if they’re training to be spies.”

Horace smiled back, “And who, pray tell, are you training to be a spy for?”

“You, o wise and wonderful counselor. You, Horace. Long of tooth and grey of hair. You and good King Darius, my father.”

“Nobody asked you to be a spy.” The king frowned.

Gwendolyn lowered her eyes. “I know father.” She looked into the king’s eyes. “I am just letting you know that whatever duty you want me to perform, I am ready. To be a spy. To be a peace offering. To be the unbreakable bond between two allies. I am here for you and for the kingdom.” She kneeled before her father.

King Darius glowered. He shook his head. He paced in front of his throne. He stopped and looked directly at Horace, then down at his still kneeling daughter. “Will he be good to her?”

“I believe the prince has shown great character.”

The king looked at his trusted counselor and raised an eyebrow.

“Since the incident, your Majesty.” Horace smiled.

King Darius smiled. Gwendolyn looked up at her father and gave him a glimpse of a start of a smile. A smile, Horace was sure, that was ready to be wiped away at the slightest displeasure of the king. The king directed his gaze to Horace again. His eyes bored through his counselor.

“Will he love her?”

Horace pursed his lips. “Love is a choice, Sire. And I believe young Prince Leo has chosen to love your daughter. You could see it when he jousted with your most seasoned knight. He would not have given up the sword fight either had you not stopped it. Even if it had been mortal combat. He has chosen, Sire.” Horace looked at Princess Gwendolyn who was looking back at him. “And I believe he has chosen wisely.” He looked at the king again. “I have heard that many a princess has tried to turn Prince Leo’s head, but he rebuffs them all. And when Lucius offered his daughter, Prince Leo was diplomatic but refused.”

Horace reached out to the princess and she stood. He looked from father to daughter. “Will they have romantic love? Love that will be written about for years to come? I do not know. What I do know is that romance comes after the choice to love. At least true romance. Romance that grows with the love. That grows with the choice.”

King Darius slumped down on his throne. His face was drawn and haggard. He looked at Horace who was stone-faced. Then, he turned his gaze to his daughter. “And what say you, daughter?”

Princess Gwendolyn looked at Horace, then at her father. She knelt down again and grabbed his hands. Father and daughter shared a moment of silence holding hands.

“I say, ‘Yes.’ I will marry Prince Leo. For duty. For honor. For the hope of that romantic love. And for curiosity.”

King Darius looked at his counselor, who shrugged. Gwendolyn smiled as she looked from the man she considered her greatest friend to her father. She smiled. “I am curious if grey-haired wise Horace is right about love. I am curious if Prince Leo truly made a choice to love me those several years ago. I am curious if poets and song writers will write about our love for years to come. Just as they have written about your love for my mother. Just as you yourself have written about your love, which will never cease though she died these several years ago. I am curious if ours will be just a joining of kingdoms or a joining of souls.” Gwendolyn smiled. “I marry for honor and for curiosity, o King. May you live forever.”

The three smiled. King Darius laughed. “Dear daughter. You have spent too much time with Horace or with eavesdropping. Either way, know this. I will be happy to rest with your mother once I know that you and your prince have made your choice to love one another.” He winked. “Although, once I know that, I will be happier to stay around when I hear of a grandchild. Or two or three.”

King Darius nodded at Horace.

Horace called out, and a knight and his page appeared. “Go at once to King Gerard.” He looked at King Darius. “We are to have a joining of kingdoms.” He looked at Gwendolyn. “And we will have a joining of souls in holy matrimony. A much more important union than mere kingdoms.”

Gwendolyn smiled. She was ready for love. Love for king and curiosity.