His Highness Prince Vincent

Story: His Highness Prince Vincent

Chapter 6 The Listening to the Music of Norway

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

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Mature Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

Denmark's prince and the American Ambassador go to Norway to visit Vincent's wife and they get along marvelously. They begin to make plans for the future.

The Listening to the Music of Norway

Harald turned out to be a very nice guy! He was somewhat reserved, but it was clear he loved Angelica. He was charming! He had this boyish smile and this way about himself that wasn't aggressive. He was adorable! Yes, I had Vincent and there was no way in Hell I would give him up. We worked too hard to get where we were. I'm just saying I can see the attraction. He didn't look old enough to shave! My Indian cousin did like nearly all Indians in America. They plucked the hairs out!! Ouch. You had to keep up with, though. When a hair begins to emerge, yank it out! Many didn't think Indian men could even grow breads. They all had skin on their faces that said they weren't just clean shaven, but no hairs grew there. Ever. I wasn't Indian or brave enough to do that! Pain is because there is something wrong! It was far easier to use a blade and have no pain, unless you cut yourself. When I did that, I didn't really feel pain at first. It was the blood that told me I cut myself. Boy, those little knicks would just keep bleeding. It seemed to take forever for the bleeding to stop. Harald was blond and so was his beard, if he had one. My father was hairy. He had a hairy chest, eyebrows, legs, his arms... He trimmed the eyebrows and shaved his face. Mom didn't care for Dad when...like on the cattle drives where he wouldn't shave every day. He would have to shave before coming home. If he had a meeting or was going to party or something, he'd shave again that day. That was happening more with me as the years passed. Dad taught me to shave at thirteen! He didn't like those little hairs on my upper lip that had begun to grow.

"Grow a beard if you want," Dad said. "It's your face, but kiss your mother first, because if you have one, she won't let you kiss her again if you don't shave."

He didn't tell me about the itch. After a couple of days, it would itch like crazy! If I let it go on a few more days, my beard would soften, and the itch would go away. Then you had other problems, such as when eating. No. I decided no beard or moustache for me.

Harald Dahl didn't look as if he ever had shaved. If I hadn't known he was the age he was, I would have guessed he was about fifteen. Damn him. Like I also said, he was thin. His service kept him trim.

"Do you eat?" I asked.

Harald looked puzzled, but nodded, "I do. Why?"

"Apparently, it's not enough!" I waved at him, "You have room to spare. You need to eat more."

Harald smiled his crooked smile and chuckled, "I try! I'll eat until I can't eat anymore, and it doesn't help."

I looked at Vincent, "I should get Mom to send one of the steers..." I looked at Harald, "or two!"

"My father was in his early twenties when he stopped growing tall," Harald held one hand up. "Then he began to bulk up. I'm almost there."

As we talked, Harald was relaxing and realized we were not mad or upset about him and Angelica. Vincent and I were speaking to him as a friend. I joked when Angelica said we were bizarre. We were bizarre. Harald just needed to adjust his mind to the situation. Who else knew about Harald and Angelica? Angelica's worry that we were her mother didn't really tell us anything, but Harald had not really tried to hide. He was getting his coat on to leave. Did Queen Martha know and disapprove? Was she simply worried about exposure?

Harald loved a real princess. That princess had married a real prince who fathered the child she was carrying. Together they would become king and queen of Denmark. The prince wasn't even bothered with Harald in the princess' life. In fact, he was encouraging Harald to stay in the princess' life and be another parent to the child! Also, Harald was being encouraged by a man, who was in a diplomatic office from the United States of America and a cowboy who had been and will continue to be romantically involved with the prince and would also be a parent to the child!! I say again, what's bizarre about that!? The fact that he wasn't repulsed spoke positively to me about Harald. It could be like many in this part of the world and didn't pry. Those like Vincent and me have been around for eons! So, nothing new.

Vincent pointed at me, "You may know, but David and I met in school in London and were roommates. How did you two meet?"

Damn it again! He turned pink as he blushed! He pointed at Angelica, "She rescued me." He said bashfully. "I had just enlisted. I was still seventeen. She was fourteen and accompanied her father where we drilled and trained."

Angelica shrugged as she smiled at Vincent and me, "I didn't know how they prepared our militia to become soldiers." She looked at Harald. "Personally, I still think how they do it is barbaric."

Harald rolled his eyes at a subject they had talked about many times before, "It's called discipline, Angel." He said casually.

"Training to fight, I understand," she said. "What he was doing to you was just to torture!" She looked at Vincent and me. "Harald was being forced to run in place, then do push-ups, then run in place again over and over. He was covered in sweat and about to collapse! And it wasn't for all of the troops, just him!"

Harald nodded and said patiently, "Yes, Angel. One more time, it was discipline. I didn't obey orders!"

"So, he tormented you until you drop from exhaustion?" Angelica asked.

I smiled at the ease they had with each other. "Did you learn your lesson?" I asked Harald.

"Ja, for helvete!" Harald said quickly in Norwegian for Hell yes. "I never disobeyed again!" He laughed.

"How did Angelica rescue you?" Vincent was also smiling.

Angelica looked proud as she said, "I told that sadist to stop! I asked for Harald's name and told the sadist I would check to see if Harald suffered retaliation from what I made the sadist do."

"And she did!" Harald grinned. "She came to the barracks that very night and asked for me." He chuckled, "Then the next night and the next night."

"Every night!?" I gaped. "You were in school! In Switzerland!"

"Not the whole year!" Angelica laughed. "This was on Summer Break!" She shrugged, "I would get homesick!"

"Every night!" I insisted.

"Only the first week," Harald admitted. "Then twice a week. I became known as the Princess' Pet Soldier with the other guys." He shrugged, "I was transferred to the Palace Guards and have been here ever since."

I held my hand up to stop the conversation, "Okay, that's a sweet story, but you couldn't keep something like this to yourselves." I pointed at Vincent and myself, "Believe me, we tried!"

Vincent chuckled, "Well, not that closely."

"I didn't know your mother knew the whole time until after you married Angelica!" I shot back looking at Vincent. "You told your father!"

"And you know why I told Dad!" Vincent retorted testily.

It wasn't my place to tell that Vincent used what we learned about his father in the Paris underground or how Vincent used that knowledge to blackmail his father into allowing Vincent to go with me to Wyoming. "Yes!" I said. I looked at Angelica, "But someone had to notice Harald going and coming to your room! How did you get away with going to see Harald in the Barracks? You were fourteen!?"

Angelica's eyebrows waggled up and down, "I would sneak out." She shrugged and then shook her head, "I'm not a prisoner! I came and went as I liked in Oslo. As long as I was home to have dinner with the family, no one watched me too strictly." Then she got a devious look and said, "It was great being a little sister. Bjarke showed Eirik and showed me a secret way out of the palace! Of course, they didn't know they were showing me. I sort of followed them." She laughed lightly.

Vincent's eyes grew in shock, "That was very dangerous! You could have gotten into trouble or even killed!"

Angelica grinned at Vincent, "That never happened."

"Vinnie," I nodded and waved at Angelica. "She's here, alive, and well and carrying your baby. It's too late to worry now about her safety back then!"

Vincent pointed his finger at Angelica and Harald, "Don't even think about using that name with me!" He thrusted that finger at each of them to be sure the firmness of his meaning was understood by both.

Angelica laughed and Harald raised their hands in surrender but was smiling.

"I use it to goad him on," I said in a loud whisper.

Angelica nodded, "I remember you used it at the table the night we met." She chuckled, "Queen Maregete was furious!" She leaned toward Harald, "I half expected her to order David's head to be cut off!"

Vincent shook his head, "No, she wouldn't dare if she wanted me to be king. Dad wouldn't let her, either." He put his arm around my shoulder, "They love him now." Vincent's arm moved as he put my head in a loose chokehold. "I can't get him to stop."

I grinned, "You saw Vincent's face. That's why I do it."

Harald chuckled, "King Olav and Queen Martha know about us, but are hoping she will grow out of it."

I nodded, "A schoolgirl crush?"

"That's right," Angelica said. "But it isn't."

"Being a guard at the palace I can walk the halls more freely," Harald said.

"Lucky for you," I said.

"It wasn't luck," Angelica smiled. "It was Daddy. He thought my seeing him more would help me get over this crush."

"Which didn't work!" Vincent stated the obvious.

"No, it didn't. I told Daddy my feelings for him were real," Angelica said.

"They know," Harald said. "They don't like it, so I make myself scarce when they come around."

"You did your duty just as I did," Vincent stated to Angelica. "They aren't still objecting?"

"They're not happy about it," Harald said. "I don't want to push my luck."

They were certainly committed to this, but they had a headache Vincent, and I didn't. She could get pregnant! Even with the latest in birth control using condoms, a diaphragm (which was also called a womb veil) and the sponge...those weren't one hundred percent effective. Neither Vincent nor I would get pregnant no matter how many times we made love. With Vincent's virility proven with the speed Angelica conceived, the one to get pregnant would be me. It was even made worse in many countries as contraceptives were banned or even against the law! Many of the lower classes had the poor women taking drastic chances to end their pregnancies like getting someone to beat them in the abdomen or using things like knives or metal coat hangers to stop another life from coming where everybody in the family suffers if it did. Many of these women die because they didn't know what to do or how. Wherever you are on the abortion issue, doesn't it make more sense to stop the pregnancy from happening in the first place rather than having to choose to abort or not? I didn't even ask if Harald and Angelica were physically intimate. That was just human nature they would be. I didn't even have to ask if Angelica was carrying Vincent's baby or Harald's. The timing was proof. Did Angelica break her promise and have sex with Harald even the night before the wedding? Not with everything at stake, she wouldn't. Anyway, who cares? Even if it were Harald's child, Vincent's claiming the baby would make the child Vincent's! Other than being really angry at them for breaking a promise we all made...I don't believe Angelica would do that. She wasn't that foolish. Angelica was about midway in her pregnancy, so in a few more months we'd see. Harald and Angelica were both blondes, but even if the child had blond hair, it could get that from Vincent's father.

Angelica was not suffering much with this pregnancy. The assessment King Olav gave his daughter was true. She looked very healthy!

Vincent nodded, "Well, I'm hungry." He thumbed over his shoulder at the door. "We'll get some breakfast. Are you coming or can we bring you something?"

"No," Angelica smiled, "We already had our breakfast." She waved at a rolling cart with dishes, glasses, and leftover toast they didn't get to.

Harald was putting the coat of his uniform on and began buttoning it, "I have to report for duty, Your High..."

"Harald," Vincent interrupted and grinned, "We can dismiss the formalities. We're raising the same child. Call me Vincent," he reached out to shake Harald's hand, but pointed with his left index finger, "Not Vinnie!" He said firmly. "Got it?"

Harald chuckled, shook Vincent's hand and nodded, "I got it, Vincent."

Angelica laughed, "There is no magic in a name."

"On that," I said to her. "I disagree. When I use that name, you've seen the transformation that takes place with Vincent. The name is magic!"

Vincent ignored what I said, "We're more than friends. We're family."

"What title do we give the True Love of Your Wife," I asked. "Or what does she use with the True Love of Her Husband?"

Vincent rolled his eyes at that and then looked at me in irritation. That was just for effect which both Harald and Angelica laughed at.

"It will probably be French," I speculated. "Other than using the masculine and feminine for of the title...it has to be French. They have all those great titles! We need to ask next time we're in Paris!"

Vincent turned to the door, "I need coffee. Let's go."

"You still need to come back for the lesson on nappy training." Angelica smiled.

"Oh, yes," I said following Vincent. "How to not stick the baby with the pins."

Vincent opened the door. Turning to Harald and Angelica. "See you soon!"

In the corridor, I quickly caught up with Vincent. There was something I needed to clear up. Just to be sure.

"Vincent," I began as I took his arm and turned him so I could see his face. "You know, I would do anything for you." I saw his eyes grow in surprise. "Anything."

"Yes!" Vincent nodded, "I know that! Just as I would for you."

"You know I tease you," I said. "Like calling you Vinnie."

Vincent's face had a huge smile and he laughed, "Yes! I've known that a long time. Why are you bringing it up now?"

"Because" I said loud. "I worry that it might," I raised a finger, "it might actually bother you."

Now Vincent did laugh heartily, "Oh, David!" He grabbed me in a hug. "That was made clear years ago!" Now he was holding a finger up, "Here's why." He smiled. "In the very beginning, it did bother me. You hardly ever use it with just me." He nodded, "You use it, but you have to have an audience!" He threw his arms out, "Hell, you did it in front of Bendt and Nakia when you were drunk!" He leaned in and pointed that finger again, "People hear it and see my reaction just like Angelica and Harald! They always smile and even laugh."

I grinned, "So, you're okay with it?"

"When you use it, yes," Vincent nodded. Then his eyebrows came together. "Only you!" He chuckled. "Angelica was right. When you used the name at the table and my mother blew up...that was priceless!!"

"I just wanted to be sure," I said grinning.

"Let's go eat," Vincent said throwing his arm over my shoulder. "I could really do with a cup of coffee."

This was the residential portion of the palace. There were people moving about to clean rooms and straighten up. We had not done anything, but what would they see? Two good friends going to get breakfast. Simple.

The palace didn't close, but we were a bit late. In Norway they knew to have a hearty breakfast. How else could Vikings row those little boats? I loved these children of Vikings! I loved Vikings!

They served us this open face sandwich on toasted bread! On the toast was this pile of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. I ate it all, but Vincent got a second serving. There were two kinds of cheese blocks and crackers. One was a brown cheese or Brunost, and a yellow cheese called Jarlesberg. I have no idea why that one cheese was brown, but I really like the Jarlesberg with its nutty flavor.

Learning to put a nappy, or diaper on did draw some blood. Mine. Even with a doll, it was tricky! And those pins!! Even out in the Wyoming Territory we knew the safety pin when it came out. My mother did what the Pohogwe did. She wrapped me snuggly in a cloth and carried me around. Not that I remember, but I was potty trained early like all Pohogwe babies were. There was a time to eat and drink, and a time to go to the bathroom. The schedule was the training even if I wasn't able to sit up yet. The safety pin was an inch or two long with the sharp pointy end tucked away for safety. The ones we were to use on the baby were enormous! That wasn't an exaggeration. They had to be. A thick cloth diaper had to be folded over and the two edges were pinned together. That was a lot of cloth! Of course, you put your fingers over the baby's skin under the diaper. If anyone got stuck by the pin, you would! Self-sacrifice was part of being a parent. I stabbed my fingers three times! You had to learn to be careful. Angelica did it just fine. The woman who was to be nanny to help Angelica had taught Angelica. Angelica taught us! Except for the blood, I did better than Vincent. He didn't stick himself, but the diaper wasn't secure. Thinking he'd done a fine job, he picked up the doll and the nappy fell right off. The pins were in the diaper, but it was too loose.

Vincent grimaced after he tried to do it again and it was still too loose, "You keep the baby until it's potty trained. I can't do this!"

Angelica wasn't worried, "Oh, come now. Think of all the generations of fathers before you that learned and did it. Didn't your father do it?"

Vincent shrugged, "I don't know. I can't remember that far back."

"Did they do it with Annabelle?" I asked.

"Probably," he smiled. "Mom insisted she be the mother. Dad might have, but they had staff."

Angelica nodded, "Which I will only use if I have to be somewhere without the baby. There is the new rubber pants to slip on the baby to prevent leaks." She had up something small and pink! "And these!" She handed it to Vincent.

"What's this for?" Vincent asked turning it over in his hands.

"To protect the baby!" Angelica said happily, "I'll show you." She took one of the big pins, put the little rubber thing on the tip of her pinky and pulled the sides down over her finger, placed her finger on the safety part of the pin and reversed what she'd done. The pink now covered the safety part of the pin! "See? As the baby grows and get a lot more mobile, moving its arms and feet, it can cut the baby, but not with this!"

I smiled as I looked at it, "That's clever! A safety pin with a safety cover!" I marveled and Angelica nodded.

Vincent took the pin, "It's pink."

Angelica turned and pointed behind her, "There are blue ones, too."

Who assigned certain colors to certain genders!? Pink for girls and blue for boys? I liked red. Diapering wasn't the only thing. She told us about feeding the baby. She brought out a glass bottle and lid with a rubber tip that looked like a female human nipple.

"I thought you were going to do that!" Vincent said in a near panic.

Angelica laughed, "I will, but you can help me." She smiled bigger as Vincent's eyes grew. "With the mechanics of feeding," Angelica shook her head. "I provide the milk."

"Sure," I nodded. "Of course, you could hire a wet nurse."

Angelica shrugged but shook her head, "I would rather not unless I have to." She looked at Vincent. "Feeding a baby is a special time to bond with a baby. I would prefer that bonding be with you." She looked at me. "And you and Harald. You will fall in love with the baby and the baby will love and trust you."

"Okay," Vincent nodded. "How are you going to get what's in there," he pointed at Angelica and then to the bottle, "in here?" He looked at me. "Can a woman be milked!?"

Angelica frowned, "I'm not a cow! But yes, that's essentially what will be done. I have a pump I can use."

"A pump!?" Vincent blurted. "How does that work?"

With a devious smile and look in her eyes, "I can show you!"

"No!!" Vincent said quickly. "That isn't necessary." He looked as if he would cover his eyes if she showed a breast.

Even I laughed. I couldn't imagine the wedding night. The days when there had to be witnesses to the king's and queen's first consummation were in the past. I think if Vincent had an audience, Angelica wouldn't be pregnant now. It was possible that Vincent never saw her breasts! He didn't have to touch them or anything else but put his erection in and do the job. Never turning on the lights or even looking. He got the job done! He confessed he felt a little sick to his stomach doing it. He might tell me, but I'd never ask him.

"Speaking of cows," I said brightly feeling so much better now. "The Pohogwe use a diluted cow's milk to supplement." I shrugged, "When the baby needs more than the mother has." I explained. "We had plenty of cows at the ranch. Goat's milk will work too, but not as well with a newborn."

Angelica nodded quickly and waved at me with a look that said "see".

There was a lot of ground to cover. It took most of the day! Queen Martha did visit a little while. Vincent was still trying to fit the diaper properly. Queen Martha was pleased that Vincent was trying to learn and even gave some good advice such as what to use to help with the rash a baby can get for being wet so often.

"Having two sons," she smiled. "Even with those protective rubber pants, if it's a boy, if the nappy isn't snug you'll have a mess." She took a diaper and put it under the doll, but in the front of the diaper she folded it down. "You fold it so his..." she paused a second, "liten penis," she said in Norwegian for little penis, "between these folds. It saved a lot of dresses I wore because of it."

Logical. It was perfectly logical.

All three of us went down for dinner with the family. It was more relaxed tonight. Queen Martha told how Vincent was learning to be a good father which made King Olav very happy to hear.

We stayed so long Harald returned from his shift.

"Okay, Vinnie," I said for which I got a soft growl from Vincent. "Time to go."

This was the best time for them. Assuming Harald had no problem being intimate with a pregnant woman. She was in no danger of getting pregnant again! Angelica would have no problem setting him straight about that!

Harald and Angelica were smiling again at Vincent and me.

"Yes," Vincent stood. "We should go." He shook Harald's hand. "We'll see you tomorrow."

This was going to work!!

I was starting to really like being in Norway and some Norwegians. Back in the room we used I was thinking.

"Can't you take a break from all that thinking you do?" Vincent asked closing the door behind us.

Turning to him, I smirked. "I can't help it!" I tapped my forehead, "I've got a lot to think about."

Vincent nodded and came over and put his arms around me, "Okay, just don't burn your brain out." He kissed my forehead and then he moved his head back a little, "By the way, what language do you think in?"

"What?" I asked and then thought about the question. "I don't know...my thoughts are usually about something particular."

"Okay," Vincent chuckled. "What language do you dream in? Mine are in Danish and English."

"I...never..." I began, "thought about it. They usually fade as soon as I wake up."

Vincent leaned in kissing me, "None that you remember?"

I grinned, "I remember some of them with you in them."

"And you don't remember what language?"

I chuckled as my arms came around him, "The parts I do remember...we didn't do much talking."

Vincent nodded, "Oh? What were we doing?" He had a knowing smile.

"I'll show you," I looked around the bright room. "You're not worried about peepholes?"

"No," Vincent said, but then stopped as he was thinking. "But let's not take any unnecessary risks." He reached backward and locked the door and the cut the power to the lights. "Just in case." He laughed lightly, "If you need to get up, turn a light on. Don't hurt yourself."

I remembered Marco from Wentworth Academy. The wealthy son of this Italian Merchant? I remember his love of girls. He was a nice enough guy, but he left a long line of brokenhearted women behind. He really only had one requirement, they had to be pretty. He didn't care how smart they were. He was charming and once he got what he was after, he was on to the next conquest. He loved the game. He never got to know these girls. Many of those guys in the underground in Paris would say that kind of relationship wasn't possible. Maybe, but you could. It takes work. Vincent and I spent a long time working on our relationship and got to know each other.

The novelty of sex was gone. I don't mean we didn't have anything to learn, we made discoveries all through the years such as a longer caress or after a certain level of arousal a certain touch made was good explosive. Now, one knew the other and what to do to please. That familiarity was comforting and made love making even sweeter. I was in love with Vincent, I liked Vincent and we loved our lives together as friends.

As that wonderful afterglow gave us both that comfort. We settled down for sleep.

"What were you thinking about earlier," Vincent asked me.

I hadn't told him. I chuckled, "Okey. As far as secret affairs of the heart, we have it much easier than Angelica and Harald."

"Because?"

"It's sad to say," I began. "We're both men. We have more freedom to go and come as needed."

"Are we looking at the same equation?" Vincent asked, "We can't be, because if we are, how do you explain how we reach totally different conclusions?"

It was dark, so we really couldn't see each other's' expressions. "A math analogy?"

"Yes!" Vincent defended, "Situation by circumstance. It doesn't add up."

"Perhaps you're not seeing the variables I am," I said. "And maybe you just can't do the math!"

"I think Angelica and Harald have it easier," Vincent said. "They are more of a traditional couple..."

"Except for the whole royal duty and class issue," I pushed, interrupting.

"They are not like that!" Vincent said louder, "King Olav even put Harald on duty at the palace so they can see each other!"

"Because he was hoping his daughter's crush would die like most teenage girls!" I said as loud, "He knows if he and Queen Martha objected and told Angelica not to see Harald, that would make it sweeter!"

"What!?"

I laughed, "The Forbidden Fruit can be so tempting!"

"That tactic didn't work," Vincent said. "Did it?"

"That's obvious," I shot back. "Here I am, with you in Oslo. I can go with you when you have to go somewhere..."

"Unless your job demands that you stay or are sent somewhere else!" Vincent argued.

"And that will happen," I nodded. "My job is to represent the United States here in Denmark and Norway..."

"So far!"

"Even if and when Finland and Sweden accept me," I chuckled, "Even Iceland, if I can practice their language. They were all under Danish control once. You are all Vikings so the same root language!" I shrugged. "I'm not rushing Uncle Fred into retirement!" Using his father's nickname, I had chosen to use, made Vincent chuckle. I went on, "He needs to stay on that throne a few more decades! Most of the diplomacy negotiations for Denmark will be handled by the king of Denmark! One day that will be you!" I hated that I couldn't see his face in the dark, so I turned the bedside lamp on making Vincent wince and shielded his eyes, "He may have you sitting with him to learn, but..." I sat up and raised the finger to point out my question, "Angelica will remain here until she gives birth and visit Copenhagen to show the people their next heir prince or new princess."

"Yeah," Vincent agreed.

"Angelica will be the Queen of Denmark!" I said as I thought. "She'll have to live there!"

"She can come back to Oslo!" Vincent argued.

I nodded, "To visit! Yes, but that little prince or princess is from Denmark!"

Vincent's voice lowered to just above a growl, "You're telling me things we already know."

"Where's Harald going to be?" I asked. "If he's in palace guard and she's in Denmark..."

Vincent blew a frustrated breath, "I don't know! It will be a while yet." Then he sat up, "Well, there went that nice comfortable feeling after sex gives."

I looked at him sadly and said in mocking sympathetic voice, "Aw, and you can never have another one. What a shame!"

"That's not the point!" He pointed an unknown in the darkness. "I wanted that one. I was enjoying it."

"I'll feel sorry later," I said and shoved him lightly. "This is kind of important!"

"We can't solve it now!" Vincent nearly shouted.

"Hey," I pointed at him. "I was fine enjoying the feeling, too." I smiled and dramatically said, "But nooo! You had to know what I was thinking about." I shrugged, "I'm just telling you what you wanted to know."

Vincent nodded, "It's my fault."

"Yes," I answered simply. "It is. You know how I get when I work out a problem in my head."

"Sorry I asked," Vincent muttered pulling the cover up and plopped back down and rolled away from me.

Of course, I couldn't let him get away, "Well, Harald could come, too." I lay over Vincent's back. "Angelica will live in Denmark and guarded by the palace guards of Denmark. We can't assume Harald would become a Danish Citizen. Why would he? He's Norwegian!" I said right above Vincent's ear. "He'll need a position. A title. Did you know Mistresses did get a title in some kingdoms? Like I said before, the mistress and queen often lived in the same palace! I read a couple of them were friends with the queen!" I propped on my elbow, but still talked to Vincent. "I don't believe Harald would like to be known as the Queen Angelica's consort. I'm the future king's consort, but if that were known there could be deaths..." In spite of the fact that I was annoying the Hell out of him, he was smiling. It was all in the delivery. I knew how to do it and was always funny. "King Olav could appoint him as her personal guard, but Uncle Fred and Aunt Maregete wouldn't like that." Then I sat up suddenly, "Hey! I could hire him!! He could keep his Norwegian Citizenship and be my liaison to Norway!" I frowned, "No, wait, that wouldn't work..."

Vincent suddenly rolled back over me and wrestled me for my right arm and pulling my right in front of him and his body held my arm down and body back. He began pulling harder on my right index finger and I felt him try to pull the Ring of Trust off harder, but the ring stayed put. "Damn!" He glanced at me, "Did you glue it on?" He growled and pulled again.

I wasn't worried. If he really wanted to, he could have pulled it off. He could do some serious harm to me. Then again, I could do serious harm to him! "Ow!" I said as he tried to take it off. I felt it, but it didn't really hurt. I slapped his back with my one free hand, "Let go, ya stupid Viking!! You just told me I was to wear it all my life! You should kill me first, that make what you said honest. My life would end first, then remove the ring!"

Vincent looked at me, "That's a very good idea!" He grinned and tackled me flat on my back on the bed we were already in as Vincent lay over me, again pinning me down. We play wrestled for years, but the problem was neither of us minded being pinned down and offered little resistance against the other. "Why do I love you?" He smiled and leaned down and kissed me. "You can be such a pain in my ass."

I grinned, "You love me because I can be a pain in your ass!" I pointed out.

"No one else would dare!"

"That wasn't meant for when I make love to you, was it?" I asked.

"No," Vincent smiled. "Any pain and soreness stopped after the first few times. Now, it feels really good." Then he nodded a shrug, "Well, it did a little again when we got back together..."

"Preventative medicine! We need to keep it up now," I said. "I was sore for three days." I put my arms around him. "We can try to get the afterglow back."

"You're ready to go again!?" Vincent asked amazed. "We just finished!"

I shrugged, "It's kind of fun trying."

We got the afterglow back.

I loved Norway now. The pleasant people in Norway caused that to happen. I needed to go to Sweden and Finland. I'm sure I'd love them, too. Iceland would be a trip. It was farther north of Scotland or Ireland. From Copenhagen it was a little more than 1,500 miles! It really only had one big city that was their capitol. Reykjavik or "The Bay of Smokes." There were other smaller communities around the island country. Almost all were fishing villages. I read that only a small portion of land could be planted and grow crops. Yes, it was cold in the winter as they were just below the Artic Circle. I mean it just touched the Artic Circle. Mountains were there and Iceland was volcanic. There were many geysers that spewed hot gases and those vents heated homes and buildings. There were glaciers. About a thousand years ago, those Vikings I am so fond of came and settled Iceland. Due to this isolation...well, they weren't totally isolated, but traded a lot with Norway. These Vikings that settled in Iceland might have come from Norway! Their language changed but was not as influenced by Great Britain or Europe. That underwater current and that gusty air current that got the Dannebrog II back so quickly pushed warm air and water to Great Britain and also the air and water went to Iceland!

Yes, I love this world. The Shoshone, as with most Indians, believes we came from this world. She is our Mother! Be it a deity or nature, we are all connected to this world and all life here with each other and even down to the blades of grass. We should think the world is beautiful.

I wanted to see Iceland, but I needed to go for the purpose of the visit!

Vincent closed the trunk he had put his clothes in and latched it. He looked at me as I was pulling the spread down. His eyebrows came together in confusion.

"You're making the bed?" He asked.

I did always make up beds I used. There were people employed to do that, I know, but that didn't mean they had to do everything! I grinned at Vincent and shook my head, "No, I'm getting the bed ready for the next guest to stay here."

His frown grew, "That could be days or even weeks away!"

"It could be!" I agreed. I waved at the sheet I uncovered, "These sheets need to be changed to clean ones for a new guest. Even if they use these same sheets, they need to cleaned before used again." I took a big pillow and pulled the cloth that the pillow was in off. "The linens will be removed and set aside so whomever can just pick them up and take them..." I waved my hand to indicate out of the room and in the palace, "wherever it is they do laundry." I returned to work again, "Dad taught me a lot about ranching." I nodded and then stopped at looked at Vincent and pointed at him, "But Mom, with the stagecoach coming at the least once a week, sometime two or three times a week, she would have guests for the night." I looked at Vincent, "You knew that, right?"

Vincent nodded and asked incredibly, "She did everybody's laundry!?"

"What?" I shook my head, "No, of course, not." Then I stopped as I thought. "Well, kind of." I held my hands up. "I helped her, grandma helped...and when," I held a finger up. "I didn't say if. When the hired hands needed their clothes washed, Dad knew that he would take three or four of the guys to help her." I threw my arms out to show it was inevitable, "They should! It's their laundry! That was only on Tuesday and Friday. She washed all their bedlinens..."

"Damn!" Vincent's eyes widened, "How did she find time to do anything else?"

"Why do you think I made that washing tub where the agitator is was powered by the waterwheel?" I asked with a shrug. "If necessary, she would hire from the Pohogwe! She couldn't have done it alone. With Grandma and even Cookie when he was able..."

"Cookie!?" Vincent asked startled, "That really old, old man!?"

"He helped!" I defended Cookie, "Grandma would iron, and Cookie folded!"

"Wait," Vincent said as he thought. "Your mother charged the passengers on the stagecoach to stay and eat?"

"No! She charged the stagecoach's company!" I said as a mean grin came on my face. "Mom was a businesswoman! She could be ruthless!" I went on, "The passengers already paid to travel, why should they pay additional charges?" The chuckle came out as I remembered. "Most companies didn't hesitate to pay Mom." I shrugged, "It wasn't that we needed the money, but services were rendered, and payment was obligatory. It was the principle! A man that owned and ran one company died. His son inherited the business, but he refused to pay." I laughed, "I was twelve that year. As nice as my mother is...a child would be allowed in, with the parent. The child would be fed, not the parent. Mom explained why to the adults. All of it. The mother or whatever had to watch the child eat, but the adult went hungry! Any sleeping was done in the carriage."

"That worked?" Vincent smiled.

"It took a little more than a year!" I nodded. "The original owner paid what was fair. You get a few angry complaints, especially from the husbands of those mothers, yes. It worked. That son was losing money as no one wanted his stagecoach! His rival offered competition and Mom got the money. Even the missed payments."

"Damn!"

"Hell, yeah!" I nodded. "The son assuming Mom would be simple to ignore because she is a woman!! She taught him! Damn, for sure!" I said proudly. "She never forgets a face." I pointed again. "She kept a list of bad guests in her head. She told me to make sure I stayed off the bad guest list and make myself welcomed every time!"

Vincent smiled at me and waved at the bed as he came on the other side of the bed, "Well, don't just stand there yammering. Let's do this!"

"Yammering?" I grinned, "Where did you learn that?"

"Less," Vincent said. "Lester? One of the ranch hands you had there for years! It was a word he used almost all the time every day! If he wanted to get things done, that was the word he used." Vincent then went into an accent that had Less' country twang, "Come on, Ladies. Instead of yammerin', let's get `er done! I'm hongry!"

He even sounded like Lester. I smiled at Vincent.

Someone knocked on our door. In the couple of days we'd been here, no one had done that. Then again, we weren't in the room during the day.

I was closer, so I answered the door for Harald. Alone. He was again in uniform. "Hi, Harald!"

Unlike Vincent or me, Harald didn't have the bold personality we did. His smile was on his face, but his eyes looked ready to be lowered any time. He raised his right hand and waved, "Hello, David."

"Well don't just stand in the hall!" Vincent said waving Harald in. "You're always welcome. Come in!" He came around the bed, "Hello, Harald!"

Harald let out a small chuckle and came in, "Hello," then he added, "Vincent." Vincent's name was used so he could get used to using it. It was easy to see what Angelica found charming about Harald.

"You were shy as a child," I said to him.

Harald's eyes widened, "Oh, yes. I was very shy." He shrugged, "But I work on it now. I'm still shy."

"What's it like? Being shy?" Vincent asked with a smile. "He's never been shy!"

I turned to Vincent, "And when were you!? You had to look it up in a dictionary to know what the word means!"

Harald laughed, "I go on duty in a few minutes." He explained and waved toward the door to the palace. "You leave this morning."

"We do," I nodded. "We have to."

"A command appearance by Queen Maregete," Vincent explained.

Harald was relaxing more, "I just wanted to say; I enjoyed meeting both of you. Have a safe journey back and I look forward to seeing you again." Harald held his hand out for us to shake.

I shook my head, "No. No shaking hands." I said seriously. I watched Harald's face looked worried a second. "Shaking hands is what friends do..."

"And we aren't friends," Vincent added also seriously. Then he smiled grandly at Harald and grabbed Harald into a tight hug. "We are way passed friends."

"We're family!" I said and hugged them both together.

We went to Angelica's room and then escorted her downstairs where we had breakfast with King Olav and Queen Martha.

"I hope you had a good visit," King Olav said as we dined. It was a question he didn't address to anyone specifically. He looked up at Vincent and me.

Vincent looked at me quickly and then said, "Yes! Angelica is well taken care of and healthy. I got some good instructions on taking care of the baby."

King Olav nodded, "And you, David?"

"Me?" I asked.

Olav smiled and laughed lightly, "You are the American Ambassador for Norway. What is your impression of Norway?"

"I will be honest," I said seriously. "I want to know more. So far, I have loved everything about Norway. It has been more than just the landscape, which I am so much looking forward to seeing more so I can hear the music of Norway." I smiled, "There are so many wonderful people that is Norway and I fell in love with that part of Norway."

"Hear the music?" Angelica asked.

"Yes," I nodded. "The world has a song it has been singing nonstop from the beginning." I smiled, "And each part of the world has it's own song." I chuckled, but from a memory. "My grandmother taught me to hear it." I looked at her, "Every season and every moment adds and changes the song. This is very much the Pohogwe, but...it's not music you hear with your ears. You listen with your soul. Everything from a gentle wind that blows dandelion seeds, the rain, the roar of water in a waterfall, to the majestic sounds of mountains," I pointed at King Olav, "Norway has some very majestic mountains. Even snow falling has a sound. It's very peaceful." I shrugged. "It can also be chaotic and frenzied with storms or even volcanos that erupt, but mostly it's peaceful. We relax and even sleep better when it rains as the Earth sings to us. The people add to the song. It can be so beautiful." I looked at Vincent. "I'm sorry. It's easy to get carried away. I hate to leave." I grinned at them, "We'll be back."

"That," Queen Martha said quietly, "was just beautiful!"

Angelica smiled, "I wish I could listen that way."

Vincent smiled, "He's teaching me." He looked at Angelica, "He'll be around a long time. It's very calming. I know he'll teach you."

King Olav was smiling even more, "He can teach all of us. I'm looking forward to getting more acquainted."

Angelica began to pull Vincent away, and turned to me, "You, too." In a private area, she stopped us and took each of our hands in hers. "When you two came to Oslo, I didn't know how to feel about either of you." She squeezed Vincent's hand, "The male psyche is hard to understand. You will be king, but that night we met, you pretty much said you hoped I had someone in my life meaning it wouldn't be you. Then you had the minister take the promises to love, honor and obey out of the vows and you didn't make either of us swear not to be unfaithful...I had hope. Many kings cheat on their wives, but the wives are expected to remain faithful to the king." She shrugged, "But not you." She smiled at me, "And you! I know you love Vincent. At a very low point in your life, losing your father that you love so dearly and watching Vincent marry me? I did not expect we would become such good friends!" She shook her head, "And both of you accepted Harald and want us all to be in the baby's life..." she rubbed the swell at her abdomen with affection, "That is a miracle." She hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. "We are good friends. I love you." Then she hugged Vincent and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you, Vincent." She smiled again at me, "And you charmed my mother with the music of the world talk."

"It isn't just talk," I smiled. "It's very real. Norway has a beautiful song and I want to hear more."

"I look forward to getting to know Harald, too." Vincent said and then nudged me forward slightly, "He just needs to get used to David's warped sense of humor."

"My warped sense of humor!?" I blurted to Vincent and turned to Angelica, "Vinnie here had Harald so worried with the whole "we're not friends" stuff when Vinnie refused to shake hands with Harald!"

"You wouldn't shake his hand!" Vincent corrected and smiled. "I hugged him and said we were family!" Angelica was laughing.

"Those horns on the side of the helmet must clog your ears," I grumbled. "I told Harald we were family."

"Okay!" Vincent shot back, "Technically, you're right. I said we were more than friends." Vincent pointed his thumb at me. "He said we were family." He reached over and knocked gently on my head, "Get this in your head! How many times do I have to say it? Vikings didn't have the horns!"

Angelica now laughed harder and hugged us both again. "Take care of each other."

This whole system stunk! Two royal families who presented to the people one image of life in the palace, while really living an entirely different life in reality! They didn't tell anyone! They knew about Harald. They knew about Vincent and me! They did! That explained why King Olav was so happy that we both were getting along with Angelica! We cared about her. Queen Martha saw Vincent learning to put nappies on a doll! He wanted to care for the baby. He wanted the baby. The illusion would last another generation! But it all smelled like horse manure!

It was pretty damned cold outside of the castle. I knew it was colder than the night we got here. The sleigh we took to the palace was an open sleigh. This one was enclosed, but ornate! When the ground is covered with snow for months at a time, these clever Vikings found a way to get around comfortably. We told Angelica and Queen Martha good-bye, King Olav was going to ride with us to the dock, but Vincent insisted it wasn't necessary. Now you understand the sleigh! The king couldn't ride in a plain sleigh. And get this! When we got in, the inside was warm!! Not just because we were out of the wind, it was warm in the sleigh! It came from the floor!! Heat rises. When your feet are cold, it is almost impossible to get warm. Vincent felt the rug at our feet and then pulled it back. The floor was metal with tiny holes all across it, but the holes weren't big enough to get your pinky in. A red glow was a few inches below the floor. There were pieces of coal were burning.

My eyes widened, "How do they keep this from setting fire to the sleigh?" I asked amazed.

"I have no idea!" Vincent chuckled and put the rug back. "I got an answer to my own question this morning."

"What question?"

"Why I love you," Vincent answered with a smile. "You're so positive! You love everybody!!"

"There are some..."

"Did you ever hate my mother?" Vincent asked.

"No!!" I said quickly.

"She sure hated you!" Vincent chuckled.

"She was just scared," I shook my head. "She was a mother and worried about you. I've begun to love her now."

"Frank Dupont?" Vincent asked.

I know my lip curled remembering the guy from Wentworth Academy that played that almost deadly "joke" on Vincent. The voyage back to Copenhagen wasn't eventful. There was no big hurry, and we were both very relaxed. At least for me. I was more relaxed than when we had going to Oslo. I now knew Angelica and liked her. She had shown herself to be intelligent and willing to do what had to be done to fulfill her duty helped me to stop worrying.

It was too cold on the deck, so we were in the passenger cabin to get out of the cold and damp wind. The cabin was heated by another iron stove. Coal was much easier to carry and burned longer than wood and it warmed things up just fine. The iron stove also didn't take up as much room.

"This was a good trip," Vincent said out of the blue.

I grinned at him, "It was." I nodded. "What made it good for you?"

Vincent gave a shrug and nod, "I was a little worried how she would feel about meeting you." He said simply. "She is my wife. I know she knew there was someone else for me. I think she suspected it was with you, but my introducing you to her and telling her it was you..." he smiled, "I wasn't sure how she would react at the realization if she competed with a man."

"Competition?" I asked.

Vincent nodded, "There is no competition. You are it for me. I love you!"

I admit it. I knew it, but it was nice to hear. The warm surge of emotion swept from my heart throughout my body. We were used to it, but we were the only passengers. There were no crewmen here now, so I kissed him. "I feel the same for you. I love you." I grinned at Vincent, "My grandmother was wrong."

Vincent's eyebrows rose, "She was? About what? Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm not two spirited," I said simply. "I'm have just one."

Vincent looked confused, "But I thought..." he let the sentence die as his mind searched what I had told him for an explanation. He finally asked, "Huh?"

I chuckled, "I'm a man, but I don't desire anyone but you!" I touched his chest over his heart. "I'm singularly spirited. God, the spirits, or just nature created us for each other. I don't desire anyone else male or female. Just you."

Vincent smiled at that, "I think so, too." He looked out the glass window, "Can we make this tub go any faster? I want to get home. Now!"

We did make it back and we returned to Aunt Benedikte's house. It was passed lunchtime, so we got some sandwiches and took our drinks up to my room. We shared it much of the time, but it was called my room. Vincent had a room in the Christiansborg Palace.

"I think all this secrecy stuff should be phased out," I said during lunch.

Vincent's eyes grew and he looked at me, "What!?" He asked in shock.

"We started to do that just before we left," I explained. "Everyone in the family knows. Annabelle knew about your father and Mister Christian at ten years old!"

"Oh," Vincent sighed in relief. "You didn't mean with everyone." He waved out of the windows we ate in front that looked over Copenhagen.

I gave him a smirk, "Yes, Vinnie. You and I should march hand in hand before the whole world. Right behind Uncle Fred and Mr. Christian!" I shook a finger at him, "That was insulting." I grinned. "For a second or two, you thought I was stupid."

He couldn't look at me, but grinned, "I never thought you were stupid." He looked at me, "For a second, I thought you'd lost you mind, but I never thought you were stupid."

I nodded, "Oh, and that should make me feel better?" I asked. "I'm crazy, but not stupid."

Vincent chuckled, "With all directions your mind goes, I wanted to be sure."

"It will be a long time before we can be that free," I said. "With Angelica here...and Harald here somewhere, we need to be open and honest with each other." I shrugged, "You family knows about you and me. We need to be honest and tell them we know about Angelica and Harald; and we don't care! We like them both!"

Vincent nodded, "Sure, we can start tonight." He smiled. "I thought about how we can increase the number of heirs."

Now, my eyes widened, "You would have sex again with Angelica?"

"No!" Vincent said positively disgusted, "I mean without my having sex with her at all!! Even in ten years!" He waved at his sandwich and shook his finger at me, "I'm eating! Don't make me sick."

"It couldn't have been that bad," I said.

Vincent's eyes grew, "Okay." Vincent said. "Next time, you do it. It will be our secret that one of our heirs is also part American Cowboy and an Indian." He saw the corner of my mouth curl up. "See!?" He did an imitation of me, "It couldn't have been that bad." He raised his arms in helpless surrender, "It is when it's not the right one!" He waved me off. "Don't distract me."

"Sorry," I smiled.

Vincent went on as if I never derailed his train of thought, "A doctor was demonstrating the technique using a glass tube with a long needle..." He looked at me, "Suppose, instead of medication, sperm was inserted into Angelica?"

"Surely, you don't mean sticking a needle in her!"

"No!" He said almost in the same tone of voice as the first time. "Take the needle off and put it..." he did the motion of insertion, "You know...in her..." he couldn't say it!

It was a good idea! I couldn't just let him off, though, "It's okay, Vinnie. We're adults now. Say it," I chuckled. "Her vagina."

"I know what it is!" He said quickly and loud with annoyance. "Our dicks are basically the same as those glass syringes. We insert sperm in to make a baby with our dicks."

I thought about what he said, "Huh, I'm not smart. I didn't even think about that possibility."

Vincent waved that off, too, "It was kind of the last minute, and you had a lot on your mind." He smiled at me. "I know you would have otherwise."

"Another thought from what we discussed that night in bed in Oslo," I grinned, "Remember when you asked what I was thinking about?"

"How can I forget?"

"What about a family for Harald?" I asked. "Does he give up ever having a son or daughter of his own?"

Vincent sat back, "I hadn't thought about that."

"He is watching the woman he loves have a child with you," I said. "Her first child is not his, but yours! For Denmark and Norway! When can she have his child?" Then I raised my finger, "I pray it won't, but...what if Angelica does fall out of love with Harald? God forbid, Harald falls out of love with Angelica! Is he trapped?"

Vincent's eyes kept growing as he was more and more surprised, "I don't know!"

"I don't think either of them will," I said. "King Olav's and Queen Martha's plan may have worked against itself. What if..."

Vincent raised both hands and said firmly, "Stop!!" He got up and moved his chair next to mine, "You are not stupid, but I think sometimes you are too smart! You'll drive yourself into madness with all of these what ifs." He put a hand on both sides of my face. "Babe, all you have said could happen. Yes. Will it happen? No one knows." He sneered, "All I was thinking about was how Angelica and I could continue the royal line," He shrugged. "Could they split up? Sure. We could, too!" He saw me about to protest and put that finger on my lips and said calmly, "No, it could happen. That doesn't mean it will happen." He nodded and smiled. "There is a lot we still need to discuss. Harald's and Angelica's future family is one I hadn't considered, but you have." He put his forehead against mine. "We'll talk about it. We have time." He kissed me gently. "You're right. We talk about it. All of the family will talk about it."

"Before we stick anything in anybody," I smiled. "We should ask Angelica how she'd feel about it."

"Yeah," Vincent nodded with a grimace. "How do you start a conversation like this?" He did a voice at first, I didn't know who he imitated, but it was almost like that man that had escorted Vincent to Wentworth. He didn't think Vincent should associate with just myself and my father. "Excuse me, Your Highness. Would you be so kind as to insert this between your legs?"

Yep, that was Georg! "Hey! Whatever happened to Georg?" I asked. "I saw him that week and I haven't seen him since. Is he okay?"

Vincent grinned, "He's alive!" Then he stopped, "I think."

"He wasn't Danish, was he?" I said and asked for conformation. Were there men from Denmark named George? Or Georg? The pronunciation of the name was different. Instead of "jorge," with the harder je, his was "gay org." That was not Danish.

"No!" Vincent chuckled, "He was Prussian! He fled Prussia when things there started to go sour. Prussia, Germany, Hungary-Austria were in turmoil." He shook his head, "None of my cousins there got along."

"You have cousins there," I said to be clear.

"Sure!" Vincent nodded, "I told you, we're all related. Cousin Vickie in England's eldest daughter, also named Victoria Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, was married to Emperor Frederick III of Prussia!"

"Another Fred and another Victoria," I commented with a frown.

"My mother insisted on not following tradition with me or Annabelle," he grinned. "It was a letter sent by the Empress that got Georg hired in Copenhagen. He did something he shouldn't have. He offended Queen Maregete and she sent him to the failing colony in the Danish Antilles."

I nodded, "The plantations collapsed because slavery was abolished."

Vincent smiled, "Right. Those plantations depended heavily on slave labor and the economy collapsed after 1850. Georg was sent to help." He shrugged. "The sugar production of the Danish plantations."

"I knew your mother was dangerous," I muttered.

Vincent chuckled, "You don't want to piss her off. You had me in your corner and then Dad. She couldn't go against Dad or me. That would certainly made me abdicate. Immediately." He grinned. "What if we get it worked out so they can both be happy? It's a tough situation," He nodded. "Harald, like you, he knew what was going to happen before he got in it. Now, I don't ever want you to leave, and I will do whatever I can to not give you a reason to."

Running my fingers in his hair, I took a breath, "I won't give you a reason to make me leave. Ever." I kissed Vincent and chuckled. "I just knew Georg wasn't a Viking!"

We dressed and went Amalienborg Palace where the three remaining Danish Royals lived and where all of them ate meals together. Don't think for one moment I failed to understand what it meant having them include me. I was eating with them in the private dining room used just for family. The servants, guards and political leaders all knew about the Ring of Trust. That gave a status I didn't truly understand at first. Not only did I get free access to Vincent, King Fredrick, Queen Maregete and Princess Annabelle anytime. I had the privilege no other Human Being on the Earth had. They might even be family to them, or a noble house, political office member...I had unquestioned access to any of them. The feeling of entitlement was overwhelming for me. No one asked "why" I was eating as a member of the immediate family. Remember, even Queen Victoria allowed me to speak when Frank Dupont was caught after his dirty trick against Vincent back at Wentworth.

It was still a bit unnerving when I was greeted so warmly by Queen Maregete. Having just heard what she did to Georg, I would make sure I never did anything to turn her against me. I was more afraid of her than King Fredrick! He could be scary like facing a hungry and angry tiger, but she would strike like a deadly snake! She was a mother Grizzly Bear in defense of her cubs.

"Hello," Queen Maregete said smiling at Vincent and me. "Welcome home!" She hugged Vincent and me!

Then King Fredrick came up, "I trust it was a pleasant and productive trip." He hugged us both, too. Yes, I belonged here because of my preference for hugs.

Vincent nodded and smiled, "It was both and very good."

Annabelle looked at me, "Did Angelica treat you nicely?"

"She was very nice," I grinned. "I like her very much." I hugged Annabelle. She was the kid sister I hadn't gotten until Copenhagen. "We're good friends now."

"Really?" Annabelle smiled as she marveled. She pointed at her brother and me, "She knows about you two?"

"Yes," Vincent chuckled. "Just like we know about her and Harald!"

"Harald?" Queen Maregete repeated, "Who is Harald?"

"Harald is the man Angelica loves," Vincent replied and pointed at me. "We like him, too."

"Not as much as Angelica," I laughed. "But we like him very much."

"I think they make a nice couple," Vincent added.

I nodded, "He's working on his shyness, and he's done well!" Then I grumbled, "I still say he should eat more."

Vincent laughed and bumped me lightly, "He told you." Vincent rolled his eyes, "He's a work in progress." He grinned at his parents. "He explained that the men in his family have one more growth spurt in their early twenties. They stop growing taller and start growing out and grow bulk." Vincent shrugged. "He should begin to soon," he looked at me. "Don't you think? Maybe we can find you a cow and you can bulk him up teaching him to rope and take it down."

"Those things I saw here!?" I balked. "They have no spirit. They're too timid!"

"Wait!" King Fredrick said in disbelief, "You met and like your wife's consort!?"

Vincent nodded, "As I introduced mine." Vincent put an arm around my waist.

This was a world they did not go willingly into often. I bowed to them both, "Your Majesties, we decided to be totally honest with Angelica and Harald. We were hoping we can do it here." I had used their titles on purpose letting them know I never forgot who they were. I was pleading they would agree. "Please."

Annabelle smiled, "It's about damned time."

The queen looked at her daughter and frowned at Annabelle's...non-princess like behavior. I mentally shrugged, Annabelle was her mother's daughter. "If you can and feel it safe." I said.

"There should be cautions as you said," Vincent agreed. "While the baby is small, that will be fine. When the baby starts talking...I understand," he waved at Annabelle, "But she's not a child." He looked at his sister, "She's always had trouble controlling her mouth," he grinned at her and she stuck her tongue out at him. Typical siblings. "She figured it out at ten!"

King Fredrick nodded, "We just didn't." He shrugged.

"The unspoken rule," Vincent nodded.

"Which bothers me!" I said to Vincent and King Fredrick, "How the Hell does an unspoken rule get passed down!? It's unspoken!!" I asked helplessly. "Yet everyone knows it and follows those rules! It has to be spoken sometime! And you!" I pointed at the king and queen, "How do you just accept things that might be seen as wrong? Not you, but us!"

King Fredrick rolled his eyes, but smiled, "And Christian and me."

The queen even smiled, "Things are getting better, but for a long time many people in Denmark were not that well educated and hold on to some old superstitions and beliefs."

"Beliefs like witches," the king said. "Omens and signs are ingrained in the minds of some good, but simple people. Avoiding toadstool rings, an eclipse to even circumstances of a child's birth are signs or omens of bad luck or a curse. We now understand the true scientific nature of some of these things. Diseases such as plagues are viewed as judgements or the work of demonic forces."

Vincent nodded, "But education is the best defense..."

"True," the queen nodded. "The education of one or two people can be very successful, but a mob is nearly impossible. An invisible evil threat is better dealt with magically. Understanding about contagions and germs that are too small to even see!?"

"The actions of a king and queen can be blamed for tragic events," the king explained. "Even with religions bought superstitions out. A king or queen that are engaged in what people consider immoral can lead to the death and destruction of the people and someone will take on the challenge of getting rid of that threat."

"As I understand it," the queen began, "the beliefs of your grandmother's people came from observation of Humanity and the world."

I nodded, "Yes."

"What you and Vincent are doing," the queen smiled. "What King Fredrick and Christian are doing...has always been going on. Some of the greatest minds were as you are. Alexander the Great, Leonardo da Vinci, King James VI, William Shakespeare and even Julius Caesar...though for some who didn't care about the gender and were married and had children. There are so many in history, no one can name them all."

"But," the king smiled, "we need to be open and honest with each other."

Some silver platters were set on the table, covers were removed, and delicious smells filled the room with the steam.

Plans needed to be made, but I felt better about those plans were going to be made as we would talk about them.

You will not find anywhere that Vincent and I ever went to church. Neither of us were heathens. We did go to a couple of musical performances in London and Copenhagen. There were big differences with the churches in England and Denmark. History records tell that The Church of England was formed so Henry the Eighth could have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. The Pope wasn't letting him do that! The subsequent struggles between Catholics and Protestants ended many lives all over Europe and England.

The was no "church" for the Pohogwe. The whole world was our church. Pohogwe had a very deep spiritual life. When you still your thoughts and actions to be able to hear that music of the world, that was a form of meditation and prayer that, for me, was better than any other form of worship I'd heard of. You listen to what is said to you. Don't except a conversation in words, but it's there. Vincent had seen me do this when at Wentworth. He was fascinated and he asked me to show him how to do it. So, I did. It wasn't a religion as much as it was a lifestyle. There were some beautiful buildings in the world that were ornate and made you feel small, but again I'll put Earth's beauty against any cathedral anywhere.

Frederik's Church. See!? Another Fred! They loved that name around here. I had no problem with the name but use some imagination people! The first Fred was so wonderful they wanted all these guys to be named Fred as a tribute to him. Anyway, the prominent denomination or religious group in Denmark was Lutheran. Frederik's Church was elegant, but not a sprawling church. It had a high dome that covered church goers as they sang and prayed. We attended a choral presentation of a cantata by Bach. The choir that sang was huge! Almost a thousand people! Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Bass were there, and each section was divided into first, second and even third Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Bass. Great harmony! You got chills.

We all went. King Fredrik, Queen Maregete, Prince Vincent and Princess Annabelle. I was with them but stood aside as people looked at the family as they approached. The people knew about the Ring of Trust, and I was so loved by the Royal Family I was considered a part of the family. Tales of how I saved their future king's life spread and much of it was embellished. Now, I had become the Ambassador for the Americans and a cowboy from the wild west! There was even a tale about how I wrestled a bear! And won! I never wrestled a bear. I'd seen plenty of them, but never even touched one! You didn't challenge a bear, but never, ever run. You'll lose. Stand your ground, look them in the eyes, but your head down in submission. If it's a mother bear, you need to pray.

I did sit with them. Did it help with any rumors? No, but facts are seldom accurate with rumors. Staff knew better than to talk. Angelica was in Oslo having a Henrik heir. Vincent had returned having been gone for months! No one really knew why or where. In this situation the no talking about it helped. That didn't stop people from speaking about it with themselves. It happened with King Fredrik and Christian in the past. The queen's "miscarriage." (The real birth of her daughter who now lives in Russia.)

Danish Christmas or Jul (Yule) was very popular in Denmark. The traditional Christmas starting on December 25th. A more modern approach began on December 1st. The queen was right, the people in Denmark stuck with many old traditions. Many of the pagan traditions became a part of Christmas.

One tradition was the party at the palace at Christmas. Having been to several at Buckingham Palace, I had only been to one in Copenhagen. The party here was different. There were the elegant decorations, and it was well lit. Chandeliers glistened and the candles were lit, but they were not the primary light source. There were lights by lamps and fixtures that were powered by electricity. There were two rooms that were set up. The first had rows of long tables with china, sterling silver utensils, crystal glasses and goblets. A music ensemble was playing soft Christmas music while we ate. There was a ballroom also set up for dancing and mingling. The king and queen were introduced, but Vincent and Annabelle were not. Neither was I or anyone else. There was one table that was set up by width of the room for the king, queen, their children, and special guests. I was one of the special guests. Fortunately, I had experience with these sort of dinners. A cowboy can learn manners.

There were courses, and all you had to do was follow the utensils. Outside in. Bread, warm and delicious. Soup. You had to remember to tip the bowl away from yourself and use the spoon from front to back. You never spilled on yourself that way. They served something I never had. Goose! They served goose in England, but this...it was cooked the day before. It was cooked with apples and prunes that were stuffed inside! Then put out in the snow in covered containers and left overnight. Guarded, of course. The next day it's carved up and just before serving it, it was reheated in the oven where it heats the goose meat and crisps up the skin. The goose meat was sweet from the fruit that cooked in the goose, then chilled and then heated again! That dish was nothing short of heavenly. This was dinner at the palace, it had to be! There were hundreds of people here, so I know a whole flock of geese was needed. These guests were nobles and friends of the monarchy.

It was in the ballroom I got a big surprise I was not expecting. I had danced with a few ladies, three with Annabelle. I saw what she was doing. Three sons of nobility were pursuing her. One I was sure was much younger than he wanted people to think he was. I had to rescue her. Vincent danced with a few, but he was married now with a child on the way. I took a moment and got some cool champaign punch. It was cold out there, but it was warm in here! I felt a tap on my shoulder from a folded fan ladies used.

"Care to dance?" A familiar voice asked with amusement in her voice.

I turned quickly and there was Lady Beverly Haversham! "Beverly!?" I said happily at seeing her. It had been a few years, but other than a streak of white in her dark red hair, she hadn't changed! She was still trim and always well-dressed. "Beverly!" I hugged her, lifting her from her feet and swung her around causing her to squeal in delight like a young girl. "It's wonderful to see you!" I then held her back to see her better.

"It's wonderful to see you!" She said laughing.

"Wow! What are you doing here? In the palace in Copenhagen!!"

"Francesca," Beverly answered with a chuckle. "My daughter met and is married Mads Mortensen. He is the son of Sibbi Mortensen and a young officer in the Danish Navy."

That name I heard before. Greve (Count) Sibbi Mortensen a man of nobility and pretty wealthy. He was not related to King Fredrik. The titles over here! There were different levels of Counts! A grandfather had nearly sacrificed himself to prevent an attack on Denmark. That was how he got the title and land as a reward!

"Two months ago," Beverly smiled. "I was made a grandmother. They have a little girl!" She said proudly.

"Congratulations!!" I said happily. Often women didn't like that title, but it didn't bother Beverly. "I wrote you! How long have you been here?"

"We arrived on the third of December," Beverly said. "We'll go back after the new year starts." She shrugged, "You are a very busy man! The United States' Ambassador to Denmark and Norway!" Then her face softened, and she ran a hand over my face, "I heard you lost your father, and you went back to Wyoming. I am so sorry. He was an amazing and charming man."

"Thank you," I nodded and smiled, "Yes, he was amazing. I will always remember him." I patted my chest over my heart, "He'll never really be gone."

"And your mother?" Beverly asked.

I nodded, smiling as I remembered her, "She's doing well...considering. She's coming to visit me this Summer. I know she'd love to see you again."

Beverly's head went back, and she smiled, delighted. "I will look forward to her coming! I will have an excuse to visit my daughter and granddaughter again!"

I laughed, "As if you needed an excuse. You will be welcome any time." Backing a little, I bowed to her and offered my hand, "Shall we dance?"

She put a gloved hand in mine, "With pleasure!"

Friends and allies were important. The whole reason for me to go to Wentworth was to make connections to do just that. I would tell my father that I did, but Beverly was special. She was my friend! Vincent knew her and even liked her, but she was my friend. Mine. It was totally platonic. Never were there any romantic feelings for her or from her. She befriended my mother for me because of that friendship with me. Now, we didn't care who said what to whom, so we danced most of the night together. Lord Haversham knew about our affection with each other and didn't interrupt. He loved Beverly; I didn't doubt that. If anything, I think he appreciated that I occupied Beverly's attention. He had two left feet! The poor man didn't possess a sense of rhythm and didn't feel comfortable dancing. Beverly did. Vincent and Percival spoke to each of us. I couldn't dance with Vincent and Percival knew Beverly and I were good friends and was not jealous at all.

Having Lord and Lady Haversham at this party made sense. Percival was a Lord. He was nobility and he was born a noble. His title was inherited from his father. He loved to mingle. The Houses were what they were called. The House of Lords were men that had inherited their title, but just like King Fredrik told Vincent. The noble families had the money to educate their children. Having them in positions to determine the direction of England made sense. The House of Commons were men that were Commoners and elected.

Oh, yeah. We danced. Dances change! Dances were added really. After a particular lively dance...I knew several, but the names are hard to keep up with! Waltz, I knew. Foxtrot and Box Step. The Tango and the Chalypso, but this one dance...I guided us to one side, prancing with my leg to which Beverly did with a leg to take us in one direction together, dipping us to the side and back up and stepped and pranced in the other direction. I whirled us in circular manner. The music was bouncy not letting you stand still starting with the first note! Almost everyone on the ballroom dancefloor knew the dance. When it finally ended, I stopped to regain my breath. Beverly shook that fan in her right hand and made it unfold instantly and she waved it at her face. She was smiling as she looked at me, "My word!!" She almost panted. "I need to sit!" Then she turned her fan toward me and fanned a few times to cool me off.

"Dad would have loved that!!" I said grinned enjoying the air that came to my face. "He could dance to that one!" I escorted her to a table available, "Should I bring you something to drink?"

Beverly nodded, "Please. Some of the Champaign punch would be lovely."

Things they now served at these parties were changing. With snow and ice everywhere outside, they were serving these tall crystal goblets with a red punch. Stuck down into the liquid were the long pieces or ice! It was as if someone had taken an ice sickle and put it in the punch. They had! I put the goblet in front of her and sat with my own.

"It is so great to see you!" I said squeezing her hand, "I missed you!"

She smiled and nodded, "We've had some..." she thought, "interesting conversation over the years."

I grinned, "We have!"

Then her face got serious again, "How are you and Vincent?"

The way she asked, it sounded as if she knew about Vincent and myself. Grant it, she was far sharper than many other people and she knew me. Personally. Picking up on things others missed was just her talent. I would not insult her intelligence with a denial. "When did you know?"

"That first night," Beverly said. "I suspected something." Her smile reassured me there was no malice. She shrugged, "You were teenagers." Spoken like that was the only explanation needed. "Vincent is a very handsome Crowned Prince. He was going to a school for young men, he may not have met any girls to take to the palace." She shrugged again, "There were so many possibilities as to why he brought you." She lifted my right hand. "You did save his life," she touched the Ring of Trust. "He gave you this." She held her finger up, "But that too could be for many reasons. The level of devotion was telling. You are a smart, handsome, and talented young man. Not once have you mentioned anyone else. I met your parents and learned the sort of life you had. As you both became men, I realized it wasn't just youthful experimentation. You two love each other."

"It doesn't bother you?" I asked.

Beverly smiled, "It doesn't matter if it does or doesn't, but no. It doesn't bother me. You two have had some things to really test you. I know what the Church says, but what I've seen isn't you or Vincent. It isn't sin, it's love. What's wrong with that?"

"I don't think there is anything wrong," I said with a smile. "We got through it and we're together now. Nothing can pry us apart."

Beverly nodded with a smile, leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, "Good."