Chapter 13 ~ Sofie Von Bayern

 

I told my lord husband that I wasn’t hungry. I didn’t want to sit down and break my fast with him. I never wanted to sit down ever again. My skin felt tight as if it had been stretched and ripped. I was suffering even in standing.

Would it have been better if I had given in sooner? He got what he wanted anyway.

I told myself that I would give in quicker the next time he tied me down to that thing he made.

He laughed at me and dragged me along with him all morning. I stood by the great fire place as he spoke with his men. Every eye was on me. Some people gave me looks of pity. I figured that they had heard what happened last night.

I didn’t want to think about what had happened last night. I hadn’t been myself. I had said and done things that I never would have in a normal situation. Again this morning, I had obeyed him when I didn’t want to, but it was as if my body overruled my mind and obeyed him because my body wanted to.

The ladies glanced over at me and looked away when I caught their eyes. I felt the shame that the Lion wanted me to. He wanted everyone to know that I was a captive bride. I wasn’t a real bride who deserved to be loved and who deserved to be treated well. I was a spoil of war exactly like the treasures on the table.

I glanced at my husband. His eyes were on me. I turned away before he could see the tears, gathering in my eyes.

I wished that Frederick and my father’s armies had been the stronger ones. If they had lived and killed the vicious Lion, then I would be at home with my husband. Frederick had been so gentle with me. He had respected me. I would have been safe with him.

That was something that I could never hope to obtain from the Lion. He liked to hurt women. I now understood what the ladies at Werdenfels’ court meant. There was something evil in my husband. Something that he let loose in the bedchamber.

“It’s time, wife.” The Lion stood up. I could feel his eyes, drilling into my back. I turned and tried to smile and nod at him. Not because I wanted peace with him but because I wanted the other ladies to respect me. They would treat me as well as he let them, following whatever example he set.

I went to him with grace, trying to show the others that no matter what happened in our bedchamber, I was still a true princess.

The Lion held out his hand to me and walked out of the hall. The others followed us as we proceeded to the church where a crown would be put on my head.

I wondered what had happened to my last crown. Was it lost in the rumble of Frederick’s castle, or would I see it turn up at the Lion’s court? Or it might be placed back on my head in a moment. I worried about my mother’s jewels too. It had been such an honor to receive them for my wedding day.

The Lion led me to the altar. We dropped down together to bow before the cross and make the sign over our bodies in unison. Then we stood. The Lion moved away to the first row of benches. Others filled the chapel behind us. I remained standing as they took their places.

The priest stepped forward, and the ceremony began. A crown was placed on my head. I swore that I would help my husband rule the realm and keep the Catholic faith alive, strong and well. I promised to be a good moral leader and to use my influence to guide our people to the one true God.

Then I turned to my people. The priest announced me as Princess Sofie Burkhart, Princess of Bayern, Tirol and Werdenfels. Princess of the Lion’s Paw.

That was exactly where I felt I was, under the Lion’s Paw and in his hold.