<span style="color: #00BF40">“Hector I have so much to tell you!”</span>Motto spun around half dressed to go quickly to his dear friend and servant.  He hugged the old man and picked him up.<span style="color: #00BF40">“I am burning with love!  I feel so happy it is like a fever!”</span><br/><br/>“Put me down, Sire.”<br/><br/>His King did so and held up his cufflinks with a weak smile.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “I’ve never once put these on by myself, and I am astonished at how troublesome they are.”</span>He stood there beaming while Hector went about his shirt cuffs and other vestments.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “I love her. I love her...I cannot wait five days!!!”</span>Suddenly his hand clamped onto Hector’s shoulder.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“I want every flower in Gilthlore picked and brought to her.”</span><br/><br/>“........Ha ha Sire, your affection is remarkabl-”<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“I command it.”</span><br/><br/>“Sire…….”   Hector was astonished.  King Motto was still a boy at times.  “That’s ridiculous.” He began to laugh.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“It will be so, Hector.  As I have ordered it.”</span>Motto was happy but firm.  He knew it was a large task, but it was important and he wanted to all of Gilthlore to know of his love.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“Go.  See to it right away.  Have them all brought to her on this day.  I must devote some time to my duties this afternoon...I’ve lapsed and it is ...I am a bit overwhelmed but I mustn’t let the council know of it.  This is private Hector, but..you already knew that..  Nevermind it, just go and inform the herald right away.”</span><br/><br/>Hector stood there in shock.  Seeing this, Motto whisked around him and made for the door.<span style="color: #00BF40">“I shall do it myself.”</span><br/><br/>“Sire!  H-half!" Hector came to his senses and rushed to  stop his King.  “Half of Gilthlore’s flowers!  At least leave something beautiful for your people to look upon once their toil is through..Her Ladyship would be saddened to know that she possessed every flower rather than sharing them.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“Very well.  Half.”</span><br/><br/>And so it was.  The Herald lit up with glee upon hearing such news, things like this were his delight.  He and his assistants spread the word quickly and the news was ill received at first.  Merchants and shopkeeps did not wish to put aside their work, farmers shook their heads and sighed, old women and mothers, and children stared.  The King had commanded ...<span style="font-style: italic">what? </span>But then a great ado began and villagers gathered their aprons and blades, baskets and bread.  Happy talk was heard everywhere at the King’s swelling admiration for their Queen.  Children were praised for their hard work and many laughed as they carried their gathered flowers to the carts and royal men.  It was a sight indeed, a path of dropped stems and loosened petals scattered the ground at the castle steps, knights, servants, and guards carried large bouquets into Lady Genevieve’s chamber one after another while maids and kitchen girls worked to fashion the endless piles of colorful flowers into attractive bunches and place them in vases.  After the first hour they ran out of vases and Eleanor was furious.  Every flat surface in Her Ladyship’s chambers was covered with vases and hundreds of small bouquets were laid carefully on top of one another where there was space.  Eleanor fussed over Lady Genevieve’s bed being left alone as well as her little table, but the flowers kept coming.<br/><br/>“ENOUGH!  THERE IS NO MORE ROOM!  PUT THEM IN HIS MAJESTY’S CHAMBERS!”<br/><br/>For hours, flowers were picked, cut, tied, and carried into the castle.  The King’s chamber was filled also and the hall connecting their rooms began to fill up on one side, petals carpeting the echoing corridor and perfume scents filling the air.  All of Gilthlore smiled as they returned to their work and stations; their faces were dirty and their hands were tired, but their hearts were light.  Meanwhile, Motto worked hard in his office to tend to matters with diligence and extra care.  He could not afford to make mistakes and disappoint his father at such a special time as King.  His people needed a good sturdy unwavering Ruler, especially during the week of his wedding to Princess Genevieve.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“My Queen..” </span>He muttered to himself, having stopped his pacing with documents in hand.  He stood in the window’s sunlight and imagined holding her naked little body close to himself  in the royal gardens.  He would have to make certain that none of the guards looked upon her.  Or the servants.    Perhaps he could sneak out in the night with her for such matters?    It was late in the day by the time he had caught up with the most pressing affairs.  His squared his shoulders back against the weariness seeping in and strode towards Lady Genevieve's chambers to visit her.  He would have to apologize for not seeing her sooner.  He had sent a note earlier explaining his absence, but it was too long ago!