The Writers' Circle

'Hugo Forswaithe, son of Brakness Forswaithe, I declare you the new King of The Islands of the Green Witch. On the 31st of the seventh month, Juieet, you will be coroneted. We declare you our new King,' boomed the Priest. 
   
'But Hugo can't rule a Kingdom! He's only a boy! Hugo's mother protested.
    
Hugo leaned back in his seat. A debate. Just what he liked.
   
'He is 21.' 
   
'He's only 19 for God's sake!'
   
The audience and jury gasped. Nobody had cursed the God on the Islands of the Green Witch before. 'I.I.'
   'You have not been true to your faith! We follow the Green Witch, founder of our Islands, not this so called God of yours.'
   
'An honest slip of the tongue-'
   
'No. I do not want another word. You will be silent for the rest of this meeting.' the Priest said. 'But before that, Hugo! I call you to the stand.'
   
'What.?' he had never been called to the stand before. 'I. um-'
   
'Spit it out boy!'
   
'I don't know what to say. And how dare you treat my mother like that! She was once a Queen.'
   
'Respecting our traditions, Prince, only your father was King. Going along with our religion, the wife or husband of the King or Queen would only be addressed as Lady or Sir, never King or Queen. So technically. it doesn't matter.'
   
Hugo looked confused.
   
'Do you need me to spell it out for you, boy-?'
   
'Boy? You will address me correctly as your Prince and future King according to this conversation. Case closed.'
   
'But-'
   
'I said, case closed,' spat out Hugo through gritted teeth.
   
'Yes, Your Highness.'
   
'Hugo.' Lady Forswaithe called her son. 
   
'What?' Hugo replied with a sigh.
   
'Thank you.' Lady Forswaithe smiled, 'and there is one more issue we didn't talk about in the meeting.' she bit he lip.
   
'I have Lightening waiting for me in the stables.'
   
'He can wait, and don't you be so snotty to me, mister. You might be a future King but I'm still your mother.' Hugo tapped his foot. Lady Forswaithe rolled her eyes at his impatient attitude. 'Come with me.'
   
Lady Forswaithe led her son into a tight space.
   
'A broom cupboard?' queried Hugo.
   
'Shut-up, I'm only your mother. Take a seat.' Mother and son sat down on the two small stools squashed into the broom cupboard. 'Now, to become King, there is a very important law. Father Nichols didn't get to the part that you are not eligible to be King.'
   
'What?'
   
'Ssh. Keep your voice down.'
   
'But, I don't exactly want to be King but I have to, but now I know I can't. Why?'
   
'I'm getting to that part.' Hugo bit his lip. 'To become Queen you don't have to marry or anything, but for all males.'
   
'Oh my Go-'
   
'Don't make that mistake.'
   
'So. it's on, I have to marry to become a rightful King.'
   
'Yes.' Lady Forswaithe looked doubtful. Her son had no particular charm with the ladies. 'You have to marry.'
   
'Is there some sort of deadline I have to be married till they take the throne away from me?'
   
'Well, after the deadline, your cousin Boris will take the throne.'
   
'But what's the deadline date?'
   
'You have four weeks.'
   
Hugo could almost cry out loud. 'That means an arranged marriage.'
   
'Yes. An arranged marriage.' echoed Lady Forswaithe. 'As you know, your older Uncle Wellers was King for four years before your father, and whilst he was King we were already married. When Wellers died and passed the throne onto your father, it was legal that father could take the throne. That's why nobody's ever mentioned it to you before.'
   
They sat in silence for a few moments.
   
'Are you up to it?'
   
'Um-' just as Hugo was about to reply, the cook opened the door to the broom cupboard.
   
'Oh, My Lady, Your Highnesses. I am so sorry I barged in on you like that. I. I had no idea.' Cook trailed off.
   
'It's alright Mrs Bartholomew, we were just discussing something.'
   
'I'll just leave.' Mrs Bartholomew was about to tottle off when Lady Forswaithe said:
   
'No. It's OK. We were just leaving.' As they departed the broom cupboard, Lady Forswaithe said to Hugo:
   
'We'll talk about this later. My chambers at five.' 
   
Hugo walked off to the stables to collect Lightening. He told the horse about his problems. 'Do you think I should accept the crown and marry in four weeks, Lightening?'
   
The horse neighed.
   
'Well, we all have our opinions, Lightening.' Hugo mounted and let Lightening lead the way into the woods.