CHAPTER ONE: ROADS, FIELDS, KNIGHTS, SQUIRES

Marco woke up before dawn. Sir Lavabo was already up and packing up his own stuff.

- My boy, you're up at last. We've got a long journey ahead, make sure to forget nothing behind you.

- I told you, sir, everything's packed up on my side. Time to wash, though.

When he came out of the bathroom, sir Lavabo was waiting for him near their apartments entrance.

- Chin up, boy! Princess Star is not going to fly away!

- Yeah, if you say so…

Marco was feeling downcast this morning, and the only remedy was to spend some time with Star.

- Don't sulk, Marco. This is getting you nowhere, you know. Remember what I told you yesterday? Focus on the training before focusing on princess Star.

- Yeah, I know…

Sir Lavabo sighed.

They went to the stables, where the grooms were readying the horses. Once the knight and his squire finished packing their things in the saddle holsters, they left on their mounts to join the royal convoy, which was gathering on the main place of the town. Commoners were also gathering around the big carriages, wishing good luck and good travel to the royal family and the knights of the guard. The sun was rising, slowly lighting the pinnacle of the castle with its golden rays. Marco hoped to see Star before the convoy left the town, and his hopes were fulfilled. As the last luggage was loaded on the carriages, he felt his pocket mirror ringing, and it was Star's ringtone. He quickly picked up the call.

- Star …

The princess' shouting interrupted him.

- Marco! I'm late, and my parents didn't wait for me!

- How is that even possible, Star?

- Well, I, uh… I told them to go ahead since I wasn't ready yet, and that I would catch them on the road to the convoy…

- And the convoy is leaving in ten minutes, sighed Marco, and you're just ready to leave.

- Could you come to the castle and take me to the convoy? Please? Begged Star, giving Marco the cutest look she was capable of.

The squire sighed and looked away, not much out of annoyance but to hide his blushing cheeks.

- Okay, I'll … Come and fetch you, then … But you'll owe me one!

- Thanks, Marco, you're the best! Answered Star immediately, without taking Marco's full answer into account.

She hung up the call, leaving Marco bewildered.

- I'll be right back, he told sir Lavabo, before spurring his horse toward the castle.

Star was anxiously watching the castle yard through a tall window of the throne room. Her master-plan to see Marco was working so well she was beginning to suspect something. Her things had been packed up and loaded on the royal carriage hours ago, she was dressed for the travel. All she had left to do was to walk to the stables and ask a footman for a carriage to bring her at the convoy. But she had an idea while bathing earlier, to see Marco a bit before leaving. She knew that Marco could absolutely not refuse her anything if she gave him the cute look. Starting from that point, she designed her plan to lure Marco into "helping" her to get to the convoy in time, and it went surprisingly well. Her parents didn't oppose much, and Marco accepted almost instantly to come. It was going too well.

- Princess Star? Asked a surprised voice behind her. Why are you still here? Your parents are long gone!

It was the Butterfly family's chief butler, a tall old man named Olgi. His brown moustached rivalled king River's, but he was balder. He was serving the Butterfly family since the time of Star's great-grandmother, more than forty years ago, to the extent that no one at the castle could tell his age.

- Let me call a carriage for you, princess.

- Oh no, it's … It's fine! I assure you! Panicked Star.

Olgi didn't answer, either because of his failing hearing or because he was stubborn – to Star, it was a mix of both.

- James, hey! He shouted at a passing footman at the other end of the room. Call a carriage for Her Majesty!

- I said it is not necessary! Insisted Star, with a bit of anger in her voice.

But Olgi wouldn't hear any of this.

- Follow me, princess. Your carriage is going to be ready any minute now.

Struggling wasn't a solution since Olgi didn't listen to anything Star said. She resigned and followed him, placing all her hopes in Marco's miraculous apparition in the castle yard.

"Please arrive quickly, please arrive quickly, please arrive quickly!"

She had almost reached the carriage when Marco passed the entrance gate, galloping.

- Marco! I'm here! She shouted, jumping in the air, to make sure the squire wouldn't miss her.

At the second he laid his eyes on Star, Marco felt twice lighter, and his day became instantly brighter.

- I'm taking her to the convoy, he shouted at the footmen readying the carriage. She'll arrive faster with!

- Does… Does the princess agree, though? Stammered Olgi, dumbfounded.

- Of course, I agree, answered Star.

Marco jumped down, and the princess jumped in his arms.

- We don't have time for this, you must mount!

Star looked at Marco's horse, a two years old chestnut stallion with a gentle temper.

- I'm… I'm too small to mount by myself… Muttered Star, staring at her feet, blushing.

- I'll give you a leg up, come on.

Marco kneeled, joining his hands to help Star getting on the front of the saddle. He mounted in his turn and spurred his horse. Despite wearing travelling trousers, Star was riding on the side-saddle, but Marco had no idea it had nothing to do with her education. She was perfectly fine with regular horse-riding. He understood her plan when he felt her arms wrapping around his body, under his cape.

- Star …!

- Oh, come on Marco! You don't want me to hug you?

- I do, and I want to hug you back, Star, but I've known places more comfortable than the back of a horse to do so… Besides, I have to hold the reins!

- There's no need to be in such a hurry, sir squire. You really thought my parents would leave town without me when I'm supposed to be the reason of the visit?

Marco opened his mouth but closed it before saying anything.

- You played me, didn't you?

- You have no idea how easy it was, Marco! Oh, come on, I did this so we can spend a little time together… she added as he seemed quite displeased.

A kiss on the cheek later, Marco was the happiest squire in the land. He slowed down his horse, trying to maximise time spent with Star.

When the convoy entered their sight, Star stopped hugging Marco, moved back on the saddle, and looked at him in the eyes.

- I… I love you, you know that? She stammered, blushing heavily.

- I think I do, yes. And I love…

Star didn't wait for him to finish his sentence.

- Please, don't be upset or anything during the visit, if you see fancy princes trying to seduce me. I did not ask for this, and if it were up to me I would've never paid that visit in the first place. My parents planned this long ago before we even met.

- I know, Star, I know…

- Also, a tournament will be held on the last days of our visit, in my family's honour. Promise me you won't take part to it

Marco gave her a suspicious look.

- Star, I am a squire, I couldn't take part in it even if I wanted to! Have you forgotten that I'm a squire?

- I, uh… What matters to me is that you stay safe!

- I've never been less safe in my life since we met, and you know it, answered the squire with a little smile.

Star smiled back. She moved her head forward and closed her eyes.

- Kiss me, Marco… whispered she, rather annoyed that the squire didn't kiss her yet.

They were not yet confident with "smooching", as Marco said, although they already kissed on the lips a couple of times before. Marco slowly approached Star's lips with his. They were about to kiss when they were interrupted. They moved back as if they were not at all about to kiss.

- My dear, you're finally here! Shouted king River, as they almost arrived at the convoy. I was going back to the castle to fetch you! Oh, do I interrupt a moment? Go ahead, you never saw me! Going back to the carriage!

The king ran back to the convoy as if nothing happened. Marco dismounted and helped Star doing so. She almost jumped into his arms and hugged him tight before reaching the ground.

- Star, I…

Marco could not finish his sentence, for Star had sealed his lips with hers. After a few seconds, she moved back, holding Marco's hands.

- My knight… Said the princess, with a cheerful expression.

- I'm… I'm not yet…

- I'll be the one to dub you, Marco. You're a knight if I say so. My knight…

- Your wish is my command, my queen, playfully answered Marco, playing Star's game.

She turned red and stammered something, before kissing him on the cheek and running away toward the royal carriage. Marco sighed while watching the princess disappearing amidst servants and guards. He still had the feeling of her lips, and suddenly felt guilty for having dared to touch them – the sweetest thing he ever touched – with his cracked lips. He heard a hoof sound coming near him, pulling him from his thoughts.

- Marco, my boy, we're leaving any minute now, announced sir Lavabo. Come with me, let's join the rear-guard. The captain doesn't like latecomers. Chin up, boy! It's not like you kissed farewell to princess Star!

The royal convoy passed the magical barrier at six in the morning. The sun was already above the horizon line, casting its golden rays on the dew-coated grass. A fresh breeze was blowing, piercing Marco's thick travel tunic. He wrapped himself in his cape, as the convoy was reaching the main road, a few miles from the city. They were progressing quite slowly, and Marco had to regularly slow down his mount to avoid bumping the horse before him.

- No wonder why it'll take a week, sighed Marco. At this pace…

- It's been a long time since the royal family travelled by this road, answered sir Lavabo. They're waiting for scouts' reports. And keep your eyes wide open, just in case.

The royal carriage was in the middle of the convoy, forty or fifty meters before Marco. Even if he was standing up in his stirrups, he could barely see the top of the carriage.

- The good side of things, said Lavabo, is that we have a whole week ahead to test your knowledge. You've been my squire for the past six months, and I already taught you many things, but it is time to see how much of it you retained.

- I think I'll do pretty well, actually, proudly answered Marco.

- We'll see, my boy.

After an hour or two, the convoy finally hastened, at Marco's pleasure. When they stopped for lunchtime, they had covered more distance than they initially hoped to.

- You should socialise yourself with other squires, my boy, said sir Lavabo as they dismounted. You don't have any friends of your age on Mewni, do you?

- There's Star!

- You barely get to see here more than once a day now, and don't lie to my face: she's more than a friend to you, isn't she? I'm talking about actual friends, people with whom you can laugh, drink, tell questionable jokes, without having to fear for the consequences if you're seen together. People that will actually help you if you get yourself in trouble. Do you think Star's going to…? No, do you think she'll even be able to help you if you end up, let's say, in a tavern fight? I don't doubt a single moment she'll fly to your rescue if she's able to, but the thing is: you're no longer living a "normal life" on earth. She's a queen-in-training, you're a knight-in-training. You no longer can rely on her every time.

Marco looked at his boots, without answering. Sir Lavabo of the Wash was right: Star was the only Mewnian of his age he was seeing.

- I don't have time for friends, observed Marco. I have one hour of free-time a day!

- Yes, but you're not the only squire in the kingdom. You'll eventually have to train with other squires, so you better get a head start!

Star was eager to go out and join Marco, and she stood up as soon as the carriage stopped for lunchtime.

- Where are you going, young girl? Asked her mother, holding her by the shoulder.

- I'm going to eat with Marco, why?

- You're staying here, with us. I don't want to see you picnicking in the mud.

Star protested, outraged.

- I'm not going to picnic in the mud, mom! I just want to spend time with Marco! Dad, tell her!

- I'm sorry, sweetie pie, but I must agree with your mother. You can't just walk out of the carriage and sit among guards and squires like that!

- You're the pearl of this diplomatic visit, Star! Do you even imagine the consequences if any rumour of this sort reached our vassals' ears?

Star's eyes widened in shock.

- I'm not engaging myself to any of these fancy princes! Shouted the princess.

- We know, sweetie, but this is part of your role as heiress to the throne, answered the queen. You can't avoid it, it is your destiny to be courted by princes, dukes, counts… I had to endure this too when I was not much older than you now. I'll promise you'll be able to picnic with Marco wherever you want once we get home. We know you love him, dear, but you have duties as a princess and future queen, and you can't avoid that.

- Maybe one time during the travel, we could have a picnic or something fancy like that, and have Marco coming over, whispered River in his daughter's ear but loud enough for his wife to hear.

As soon as the guards finished eating, the convoy resumed its progress through Mewni's countryside. Each landscape was different from the previous one, and Marco enjoyed discovering all those sights. For the first time in days, he wasn't thinking about Star, although he realised it later.

- Pop quiz, my boy! Exclaimed sir Lavabo. What are the five virtues of knighthood?

Marco answered immediately:

- Bravery, wisdom, compassion, mercy, generosity.

Lavabo continued asking Marco various questions, testing his progress as a squire. The trip was only beginning, and the knight was going to have a lot of time to test his squire.

Days passed by quietly, without much happening. On the dawn of the third day, scouts reported unusual monster activity three miles away from the road. Sir Lavabo, Marco and a couple of other knights and squires volunteered to inspect the site and to make sure monsters were not setting up an ambush.

When the group of guards arrived in the clearing where the monster activity supposedly took place, sir Lavabo immediately groaned.

- This place stinks! I don't think whoever was here before us washed their clothes since last year!

One of the squires dismounted and examined the ground.

- They set up camp here last night, said he, pointing at the remains of a campfire.

- They left in a hurry, assumed another squire. There are footprints here, here, and there. They left running.

Marco dismounted and checked the bushes around the clearing to ensure they were not being ambushed.

- Not a single monster in sight!

The group split into pairs, to patrol more efficiently the surroundings. After an hour searching through the woods, they concluded that all monsters fled at dawn, probably to escape what they thought to be a military convoy.

- Area clear! Back to the convoy! Shouted the group's chief, a battle-scarred knight with an impressive moustache.

- Do you think these monsters were an armed band? Asked Marco to Lavabo, when they mounted.

- I don't think so, my boy. Trained monster warriors are more disciplined than that. Furthermore, their sentinels wouldn't have mistaken a royal convoy and its thirty guards with a full-blown Mewnian army. To me, it was just a wandering pack of monsters, living from day to day in the forest.

- I hope you're right.

- But I may also be totally wrong. They may be trying to trick us into thinking they're a clueless monster group, while they actually are a regiment of highly trained warriors waiting for us to fall into their trap.

Marco gasped, not reassured.

- You see, my boy, there are things that no book will ever teach you. These things are to be experienced first-hand, on the battlefield. This is the first rule to remember if you want to become a good knight.

The convoy hastened for the rest of the day, to put as much distance as possible between them and a possible group of monsters.

The following day, the fourth of the travel, it rained from dawn to dusk, sometimes drizzling, sometimes coming down in buckets. At the end of the day, when they set up camp, king River spoke to the convoy.

- Knights and squires of Mewni, servants of the royal family, I am pleased to announce you that we're arriving at Dunham Shelt a day earlier than planned! Scouts have informed me that we'll pass by the bridge of Senh tomorrow at noon if we keep the pace. After the bridge, the city and castle of Dunham Shelt are at a day's walking distance.

Everybody cheered at the news, except for Star, who stayed in the royal tent with her mother. She had hoped to take profit of the last day to sneak out and have a little time with Marco, but it seemed the occasion was gone. Suddenly, River's head popped in the tent's entrance.

- Moonpie, Sweetie pie, I'm eating with my men tonight. They need to be cheered up by their general!

- Do as you wish, honey, answered Moon without even raising her eyes from her book.

Half-an-hour later, a servant entered the royal tent, holding precariously many food plates. Once he finished reading the menu, he left the mother and her daughter alone. Star looked at her plate with a bored expression.

- I don't want to eat here. I want to be with Marco before we arrive at the castle!

- You should let Marco enjoy this evening, my dear. He admires your father – as every knight of the kingdom does. They'll spend a whole evening listening for the thousandth time to your father's stories! Do you realise?

- Even if he often repeats himself, most of dad's stories are fun, objected Star.

But Moon had won the debate when she told her daughter to let Marco enjoy the moment.

- It's part of your role as my heiress, Star. You have to understand that you can't always do as your heart commands. I know how hard it is, I lived this before you!

- Thanks, mom… I… I really appreciate your help.

- Star, there's something more I wanted to tell you…

The princess gave her mother a worried look.

- While I always remind you that, as the future queen of Mewni, you can't do whatever you want… You must know that you are free to choose your future husband; your father and I will never try to enforce a choice on you. As long as the lucky person makes you happy, of course.

Star remained silent for a moment before answering, slightly blushing.

- Wow, it's… Touching, mom. But, I… I'm barely fifteen, and I don't plan to get engaged anytime soon… So, why did you bring up the topic? Asked the princess, expecting Marco to be brought up on the table.

- When your father and I planned this visit, a year and a half ago, little did we knew that you would become so passionate with your feelings. It was also a question of tradition: me before you, my mom before me and so on, every Butterfly queen had been presented at a moment or another to potential suitors. It served the family well, as a matter of fact, allowing to forge strong political alliances between the Butterfly family and neighbouring great families. Also, if we don't present you to our vassals, it could sully our relationship: many of them are hoping a royal marriage for their sons or nephews. But today, we know to whom your heart belongs, Star. Once again, it's your decision, and we won't get in your way.

Moon and Star warmly smiled at each other during the moment of silence that followed the queen's speech. Then only they began eating.

- It's… It's cold, observed Star after the first bite.

- It is indeed. Servant! Please reheat our food!

Star waited for her mother to go to sleep. Once she was alone, she quietly walked out of the tent, looking carefully around to see if anyone could see her leaving. The path was clear, the servants were dining in their own tent on the other side of the campfire. She wandered between the knights' tents, looking for Marco. Some of the knights were still up, she guessed because she could hear her father reciting his adventures.

- Marco, please don't be listening to his stories for the thousandth time…

She had been walking for several minutes when she finally saw Marco alone, sitting cross-legged atop a small grassy mound on the outskirts of the camp.

- Marco, you look so glorious with a cape and a sword… mumbled Star to herself.

She approached her knight, so quietly he realised she was here only when she sat next to him.

- Star! Exclaimed Marco, quite surprised. I thought we weren't going to see each other until the end of the visit.

- Almost a month without seeing you once would be the death of me, answered Star.

- Mine too, I guess.

- Anyway, what are you looking at?

Marco blushed.

- I'm, uh… I'm looking at the s-stars, in fact.

Star did not make the connection with her first name, and Marco sighed in relief as she stood up.

- Where are you going? Asked the squire, concerned.

- It's quite cold out here tonight. I'm moving to a warmer place.

And she sat down between Marco's legs, nestling in his arms.

- It's way better now, said the princess with the happiest of smiles.

- Star… Your horns, again… They're poking me…

- Take them off. You don't have to ask me, when they bother you.

Once the squire removed her headband, she laid her head on his torso and took a deep breath.

- You smell nice, whispered her.

- Thanks to sir Lavabo. Each evening, he makes sure everyone in the guard has a clean garment to wear for the next day. Also, I have to wash every morning with him.

- I would say that's normal, objected Star with a suspicious look.

- For you, it may be. But most of the squires and knights travelling with us took their last bath before we left, and usually, don't wash more than twice a week.

Star groaned in disgust.

- But they're nice, actually. I've been talking to some of them for the past few days, they all have something interesting to say. One of the squires is Rub…

Star interrupted him with a whisper:

- Shush, Marco. I want to hear your heart beating. I can't when you're talking.

Marco sighed and kept quiet. He wrapped his arms around Star's shoulders and hugged her tight.

They remained in this position for about twenty minutes, before Star felt it was time to sneak back to the royal tent before her parents noticed she was gone.

- I have to go, said she with a sad look. My parents will go nuts if they notice that I left.

- Allow me to take you there.

- No, it's okay Marco.

She kissed him on the cheek, but so near to the lips that Marco felt his heart missing a beat, and left.

Star had almost reached the royal tent when she heard her father behind her. He was only wearing his loincloth and had war paints on the face. He didn't seem to care about the cold.

- Hold on, young girl! Where are you coming from at this late hour, sneaking like a thief?

She felt like someone poured ice cubes on her back. A chill went down her spine.

- I was with Marco, dad… Please don't tell mom! We were alone on the outskirts of the camp, no one saw us!

- It's okay, then. Promise me that you won't sneak out of the castle this way during the visit, and I shall keep this secret from your mother.

- I… I promise, dad.

At dawn, the convoy was ready to resume its progress. The weather was misty and cold, and Marco, tired, spent his morning shivering. After Star's quick visit, he had returned to the tent he shared with sir Lavabo, but couldn't find sleep until birds began to sing at dawn approached.

- Tonight is our last night in a tent, said Lavabo in an attempt to cheer him up. Tomorrow, we'll have a solid roof over our heads.

- It's not the tent's fault if I slept bad. It's Star's. I can't get her out of my head.

- Young love… You'll have to endure this before being able to spend all the time you want with princess Star. You'll have to get used to this.

The bridge of Senh marked the boundary of the duchy of Dunham. The convoy arrived at it shortly before noon, and the sun was just piercing the heavy grey clouds. Ducal guards came out of the outpost built near the bridge and formed a guard of honour for the convoy. River waved his hand at them, excited, as they passed by.

After the bridge, the road was paved, and the convoy progressed much faster. At nightfall, they had travelled farther than expected. They were going to arrive at Dunham Shelt early in the morning.

- We almost did it, my boy, said Lavabo to Marco as the squire was stirring the stew in a big cauldron. Tomorrow, we're arriving.

- I'm not sure if I'm rejoiced or disappointed, he sighed.

- Don't fret, boyo! Shouted with a strong accent one of the knights who was waiting with his bowl to be served.

He was tall and well-built but lacked the left ear and the right eye. He was friendly with Marco and often offered his help.

- Don't fret. You're training to be a knight. The princess is training to be a queen, obviously. And I don't doubt that you'll eventually end up spending lots of time together. But for now, you're both on your own path. It's like that. Besides, what's cooking tonight? No potatoes and carrots, I hope?

Proud of his cooking, Marco answered:

- Deer stew with forest mushrooms and herbs! Hunters did great today.

- You heard, lads? Deer stew! All hail the chef!

The crowd of guards cheered in relief. They practically had no fresh meat during the week and had to satisfy themselves with potatoes, corn and salted meat. When Marco finished, everyone stood up and joined the line to get served. The squire poured generous portions in everyone's bowl. When everyone had been served, they sat in circle around the campfire. Marco sat down last, next to another squire he was befriending. As a matter of fact, the said squire, Emeriot, was Ruberiot's little brother and was squire to the one-eyed knight who spoke to Marco earlier. He looked much like his older brother, but with black hair. The first thing he said to Marco when they met was: "I hope the princess and you have been able to make up quickly after my brother's song". At first, the fellow did not convince Marco, since he was still uncomfortable with the memory of Star's Song Day. But with time, he learned to know Emeriot, and realised he was a very friendly person. The kind of friends Lavabo told him about.

- You're the best cook I know, man, said Emeriot.

Another knight heard him and added:

- You're the best cook our army has ever known!

- It'd be a dumb move for the princess to not marry you!

Soon, the thirty guards were once more cheering their cook, not only for his cooking but also for his assumed future relationship with Star.

Marco blushed and stammered:

- Alright, guys, I… I'm flattered, but… Could we please honour the food and finish it before it's cold?

- The cook is right. It'd be a shame to let such a delight go cold!

Marco sighed, relieved. If there was one thing he was less comfortable with than the Song Day memory, it was any mention of his possible future with Star.

- You must excuse them, said Lavabo to his squire when he sat next to him. They're persuaded to have the future king of Mewni amongst them.

- It's okay, said Marco. It's just that, I… I never really considered how far I want my relationship with Star to go. I'll be fifteen next month while she just turned fifteen, we have all the time we need to think of this.

- You're right, Marco. Enjoy your youth while it lasts, don't bother yourself with all this boring grown-up stuff.

- You've never been married, have you, sir?

Lavabo sighed and pulled a medallion from under his armour.

On the last morning, the mood was good, and they broke camp swiftly. During the last few miles, the guards sang mewnian traditional songs, and Marco joined them, although he wasn't perfectly on point with the lyrics. They were singing "Glorious Queen" when they arrived in sight of Dunham Shelt castle. It had nothing to see with the Butterfly castle: smaller, it was built with grey stone in angular forms. They felt lighter as they came close to the town built at the foot of the castle, enclosed by an impressive stone wall of the same colour as the castle. In front of the great door, a welcoming committee was ready to receive their guests. The duke was there, sitting on a sculpted wooden chair. His son was standing next to him. The convoy stopped two hundred meters before the gate, and the Butterfly family finished the travel on feet, closely followed by their thirty guards, all shining for the occasion. As they approached the gate, a handful of trumpet players played an official air, and a herald, standing next to the duke, exclaimed:

- We, Castatin Senh-Selys, third of the name, Duke of Dunham, are gladly welcoming in our modest town Moon Butterfly the Undaunted, queen of Mewni, former bearer of the Wand, with her husband River Butterfly, king of Mewni, general-in-chief of the mewnian army, First of the Queen's Knights, and their daughter Star Butterfly, bearer of the Wand, heiress to the royal throne!