It had been nearly three weeks since the last time Maude had seen Jaspar. But finally, Helena had arrived and given her news that he wanted to have lunch with her. She’d nearly jumped for joy the moment the words came out of Helena’s mouth. Maude knew that he probably wouldn’t have much time to spend with her, so she’d rushed around, Helena helping her get ready as quickly as she could. After twenty excruciatingly long minutes, Helena had escorted her to the dining room.
Jaspar smiled at her as she sat down next to him. Helena shut the doors while exiting, and Maude felt like she and Jaspar were the only two people in the world.
“It’s been so long,” she murmured.
“I know,” he said. “And we only have so much time. Sorry about that.” He looked wistful.
Maude’s heart panged. I wish he hadn’t reminded me, she thought.
“How is it all going?” she asked. “Were you able to turn the war around?”
Jaspar nodded. “At least for now,” he said. “Your strategies, with a couple of modifications, have worked like a charm. The only thing is that we are quickly running out of shields, so we know this isn’t a strategy that can last forever.”
Maude pursed her lips and nodded. “I’m sure the blacksmiths are doing everything they can, too.”
Jaspar nodded. “We would probably need about twenty more blacksmiths to keep up with the shield demand,” he said. He shook his head. “They’ve been deploying the hiding tactics you suggested when they are going into another battle without structurally sound shields, and it’s worked pretty well so far, but we are certain that it is only a matter of time before the empire changes their strategy again.”
Maude nodded. “They are certain to, especially if my suggestions are working.”
“Those suggestions have already bought us more time than the king thought we’d be able to come up with in that meeting.” Jaspar said with a sad smile. “He asked me to tell you thank you, and that he trusts you now.”
Maude smiled back at Jaspar. “I’m glad it helped,” she said.
If only I could stop this war entirely with a couple of strategies, she thought. Then none of us would have to suffer in the first place.
“We aren’t quite as ahead as we were before the thunder tubes,” Jaspar said. “BUt we’ve at least regained some of the ground the empire had gained, and bought the Wrights more time to figure out how the thunder tubes work.”
Maude nodded. “How is that coming?” she asked.
Jaspar shook his head. “After our meeting, they made some initial headway, but they quickly faltered. They are struggling to decompose a powder that is used in the devices. They are fairly confident that the powder is what allows the iron balls to fly so far.”
Maude widened her eyes. “That’s terrifying,” she said.
Jaspar nodded curtly. “Imagine it being the last thing you ever see.”
Maude shivered, taking a bite out of her steak. “I feel terribly for those who lost their lives that way. At least on the other end of a sword, you get to see who bested you.”
“Mmm,” Jaspar agreed. “And just so you’re aware, if the Wright family cannot figure out how the device works before the empire shifts their strategy again, the king will likely have another session that you’ll most likely be asked to join again.”
Maude nodded, wiping her face with her napkin. “More than happy to help if I can,” she said. “I’ll continue reading strategy manuals and brainstorm,” she smiled a little. “Whenever you’re not around, that’s what I’m typically doing.”
“Thank you,” he said, looking down at his fork and fiddling with it. “We really appreciate it.”
“Gladly,” Maude replied.
“Are you enjoying your new found freedom?” Jaspar asked. He was referring to the fact that since the strategy session, the king had decided that he trusted Maude more than he had before, so she was free from Jakob watching her all the time. It had honestly saddened her in some ways. She’d gotten so used to having him around, that to turn and not see him any more had made her feel a bit lonely.
“I’m trying,” she replied with a wry smile. “After so long, it feels strange to find myself completely alone in areas that were more public than my room.”
Jaspar smiled and nodded. “Well, I hope you get used to it,” he said.
Their meal was nearly over, and it was no longer as delicious as it had been only a few months prior. It was clear that the war had begun to really take a toll on the kingdom. Noticing it made Maude’s stomach roll around in her guts, her lunch threatening to be in the air once more.
Suddenly, Helena burst in. “My apologies, your grace,” she said. “We’ve just received some news and I figured you’d want to know right away.” Her voice sounded as though she was a bit choked up.
“That’s fine,” he replied, gesturing for her to come over to the table. “What’s the news?” he asked.
Standing in the door was Jakob, looking more torn up than Helena was.
Maude's heart sunk in her chest. No… she thought. Oh, no. Please no.
Helena handed Jaspar a letter. It was already opened, with the slip of paper that had been inside sitting on the envelope. Maude saw his eyes moving as he read the contents, and watched as his face paled.
Oh god, no, Maude thought.
“What is it?” she asked, pretending she couldn’t see the looks on Helena’s and Jaspar’s faces.
“Jakob has been called to fight in the war,” Jaspar murmured softly.
Maude felt like her heart was simultaneously jumping that it wasn’t Jaspar who had been called to war, and sinking at Helena’s plight of not knowing what the future would hold for her and Jakob.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Helena started sobbing, falling on her knees next to Maude. Even Maude was feeling a bit choked up. She started patting Helena’s back, in a vain attempt to comfort her.
Why now? Maude wondered. Now is the riskiest time of the war.
“Was anyone else called into service?” Jaspar asked, swallowing hard, while looking over at Jakob.
Jakob nodded and started walking further into the room. “Several others were as well,” he said.
Jaspar nodded. Maude could tell that he was trying to control whatever feelings might be rushing through him at that moment. “I see,” he replied.
Maude swallowed hard, tears starting to fall from her own eyes. Is this the beginning of the end?
~
They had rushed to put together a small wedding for Helena. The conscription note had only given Jakob a week before he had to report for duty. Jaspar had immediately called on the best party planner he knew, none other than Cristyne Zellers herself.
Helena had tried to insist that it was all too much, and that she and Jakob just needed a small gathering and nothing fancy. Just enough for them to properly say they were husband and wife, Helena had insisted, despite insisting that it was unnecessary.
As Maude attempted to put Helena’s hair into a messy bun while Cristyne did her makeup, she could tell that Helena was grateful for everyone going all out, as much as they could for her.
“Stop crying, Helena,” Cristyne demanded in her soft voice. “This is the fifth time I’m having to redo your face.” For as level-headed and soft as Cristyne could be, she definitely sounded annoyed.
Helena’s dress was plain and white. It had been fairly inexpensive, not because Jaspar had held back the money for their wedding, but because it was the only one that would be ready in time that fit Helena. It had short sleeves, and was sleek, something Maude doubted Helena would have chosen without the circumstances she was in.
“There we go,” Maude said, finishing the bun. She had been practicing for days on how to braid. Her fingers had gotten sore and tired, but she’d wanted to help out somehow.
“Fantastic work,” Cristyne said, pausing to take a quick peek. “Now if our bride could hold back her tears for thirty minutes, we’d be ready to go,” she said.
“Sorry,” Helena said with a sniffle. “You guys did not need to do all of this for me,” she said, protesting for what was surely the thousandth time.
“Of course we didn’t,” Maude said. “We did it because we care about you and Jakob.”
Helena sniffled hard. Cristyne grimaced. “Hold those tears back!” she insisted. Helena nodded in response. In the mirror, in front of her, Maude could see the tears glistening in Helena’s eyes.
Cristyne did a couple more things to Helena’s cheeks and lips and then stood up, clapping her hands together. “There we go!” she exclaimed. “I think we are ready, finally.”
In the mirror, Maude saw Helena’s bottom lip tremble. Maude’s heart ached. I wish there was more I could do for her, she thought. But I know this whole situation is something I don’t have control over…I don’t know how to even ease the pain of her loved one leaving. Maude felt as though there was lead weight in every inch of her body. Helena is stronger than I am, she thought.
“Come,” Maude said, offering a hand to Helena. “Your husband-to-be is waiting.”
Helena sniffed and and nodded, grabbing Maude’s hand. The tears in her eyes had yet to spill over, but they were threatening to.
Cristyne and Maude escorted Helena to the entrance of the chapel that Jaspar had rented out for the couple. “Two of the most important people among my staff are getting married,” Jaspar had said, trying to justify his purchase to the pair. “Of course I can rent out a space for you two to get married.”
Maude and Cristyne had done their best to decorate it the same way a wedding hall would be decorated if they hadn’t been under such a time crunch. Cristyne hadn’t been all that satisfied with Maude’s efforts, but she’d done her best nonetheless.
I still can’t wait for Helena to see it, she thought.
On the other side of the doors, Maude heard the pianist Jaspar had hired playing the wedding march. Helena’s shoulders started shaking.
“Helena!” Cristyne exclaimed in a voice Maude would have never expected Cristyne to have…it honestly sounded more like Melissa’s tone of voice.
Helena looked up at Cristyne, with a couple of tears running trails through her makeup. Cristyne dotted them away with a makeup soiled handkerchief. “At least let the groom have the opportunity to see his beautiful bride with all of her makeup,” Cristyne murmured, switching back to her soft voice and rubbing the makeup to cover the streaks.
Helena nodded again, and Maude opened the doors to the chapel.
The sea glass that Cristyne had purchased twinkled in the light while hanging from the support beams on the ceiling. Maude heard Helena gasp softly. The pews were lined with bouquets of white roses, and white flower petals lined the velvety blue carpet Maude and Cristyne had rolled out for Helena to walk down.
“It’s beautiful,” Helena murmured. “Thank you ladies both so much.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Cristyne said with a warm smile. “Anything for someone my cousin cherishes so much.”
Maude could tell that Helena was starting to get choked up over Cristyne’s words, so she gently pushed Helena forward towards the chapel. “Your future husband awaits,” she said with a warm smile.
Helena smiled back at her, and with a sharp nod, began walking herself down the aisle. I wonder if she misses her father…he should have been here for her…even though he passed so long ago…
Cristyne tapped Maude on the shoulder and covered her mouth to whisper. “Did something happen between you and Helena?” she asked. “Earlier she told me that she was grateful that you were able to put aside whatever happened between the two of you for her wedding day.”
Maude grimaced, thinking back to Helena’s admiration of her in their garden stroll. “She just thinks too highly of me and it makes me uncomfortable,” Maude admitted.
Cristyne shook her head. “That’s not something you get to control,” she scolded Maude. “And trying to do so has damaged your relationship with her.” Cristyne sighed at her. “At least you were willing to put it aside for today.”
Maude’s mouth tasted sour. “What would you know?” she asked, turning away sharply and following Helena’s retreating backside into the room.
“What the…?” Maude hear Cristyne murmur to herself, sounding taken aback from Maude’s response.
Maude snuck over to where Jaspar was standing in the chapel. She noticed almost immediately that his jaw was clenched. Is he holding back his emotions? She wondered.
She reached her hand for his and then squeezed it tightly. “I promised to throw them a better wedding when he returns,” Jaspar murmured softly.
Maude felt her heart ache. There were words hanging in the air between them. “If he returns.” Neither of them could say it outloud, as it was something they did not want to acknowledge. A lump started to grow in Maude’s throat.
The emperor is evil, she thought. He’s interrupting and destroying people’s lives for his own gain.
Helena was now standing in front of Jakob at the altar. Maude could see that she had tears streaming from her eyes again, but now she was also wearing a bright smile on her face. Jakob smiled at her back.
“We are gathered together today to join Helena Marmel and Jakob Gunther in the start of their journey as a married couple,” the priest said.
Will something similar happen with Jaspar and I? Maude wondered. She glanced over at the man next to her. Will we be getting married before we have to separate? Tears stung her eyes, as she thought about their own upcoming futures. She looked at the floor, doing her best to hold back her tears. We don’t even know how much time we have left, she thought. Just like Helena and Jakob didn’t either. Will I be able to love Jaspar the same way that Helena loved Jakob…wholeheartedly..until the end?
She wasn’t sure. Just another reason why Helena is stronger than me, she thought.
She looked up at Jaspar’s face and noticed he was also looking up at the couple at the altar, looking wistful. Is he thinking about the same things I am? She couldn’t help but wonder.
“What are you thinking about?” Maude whispered.
“A mixture of things,” he replied softly back. “I’m so grateful that two people I’ve cared about for so long were brought together in love because of you, and the war,” he sighed and shook his head. “But at the same time, I wish their wedding wasn’t occurring under these circumstances.”
Maude nodded at him, feeling a vice grip around her heart tightening.
“At the same time that they met because of the war, I wish they weren’t having a wedding because of the war,” Jaspar finished, looking down.
At the altar, the priest said, “Jakob Gunther, you may now kiss your bride.” Jakob gently leaned down and kissed Helena.
Maude shivered a little. Whatever Jakob’s fate was going to be on the battlefield, Helena was now his wife. Come what may, Helena would be affected one way or the other.