Chapter Sixteen

We traveled back home on Cleo to bring her to her new stall next to Cisco at the barn. We get back to the castle and lay on the couch together, after I go to put more makeup on, as Xan makes conversation with everyone. I lean agent his chest while his arm is secured around me from the left. I listen to his heartbeat and play with his shirt in my hands, which smells freshly cleaned. I always loved the smell of laundry it reminded me of being young, happy, and oblivious to everything bad.

Usually I completely my training before dinner alone, but since I told Xander he hasn't left my side insisting to allow him to move rooms to be close to me Incase anything happens.

I stand in front of the flower bag dummy two silver rapiers in my hands. Along with horseback riding, armed combat is a tradition in my father's bloodline, which I wish to continue. As royalty if we go to war I will fight in it battle, so as a kid you choose the type of combat, duel, weapon/shield, long distance , etc., and the weapon choice, types of swords and spears, bows, nunchucks, etc. I choose to dual wheeled rapiers, a light sword with the ability to make quick, lethal thrusts and slashes. Xan complimented me on my skill, saying that I use the swords well. I hope so considering the fact that I've been protecting it since I was 6. However it is not the only weapon that I have trained with.

After that, he sat on a bench waiting to walk me to dinner. As every dinner goes in the castle I sit at the end of the table closest to the door, Xan convinced Jessie to switch seats with him, so that he could sit on the direct left of me and across from Lillian who sits on my right.

Lillian leans over to me", Is there a reason he's following you like a dog?"

I look over at Xan who talks to Colin.

"Probably," I respond.

"Any ideas?"

"Ya"

"Thanks that was really helpful."

"Your welcome."

"Where did you guys go earlier, I was looking for you."

"We went to the garden and barn."

"Anyway, I was talking with Colin and I think we already have a couple that can leave," she points over at Ace and Ashley who keep making playful jestchurs. Leon who was sitting next to us seeing Lillian pointing looks over at them.

"Hey," Leon says in that direction ", get a room!" Ace shoots him the look that kids give there mom when they don't buy them something they want. Ashley pulls on his shirt to get his attention again, and they continue.

I look back at Lillian, "I'm considering making them eat in there room." She laughs. "I see what you mean, this isn't a hotel, when you get what you need it's time to go," I say.

"Hello children," my mother says coming into the room. Everyone goes quiet and Ashley and Ace quit there inappropriate behavior. She walks behind me putting her hands on my shoulders squeezing them once, I understand her message, but Xander tenses at the sight. I look over at him reassuringly.

I stand ", excuse us," I say with a slight bow.

I walk parallel to my mother into a corner of the room.

"What do you want?"

"The southern kingdoms are recruiting."

"Where did you learn this," I say checking the table with my eyes, to make sure none of them could hear us.

"Some one on the inside."

"So your telling me that there building another army."

Years ago when the war started one of the very large kingdoms ,far West over the ocean had a son in there bloodline, even his parents were worried about him ruling. When his parents passed he became king. As king he decided that he needed to own more land over the ocean, and attached the western kingdoms. At this point we bordered the countries that were being invaded. We allowed citizens to take shelter in our kingdom where they could, and were offered jobs. We started forming alliances with other kingdoms promising there subjects shelter. There was only one kingdom left to ally with and that was the one my father volunteered to go to. The war ended after the last three countries decided, with the land they had left, to merge with our kingdom. Making us the second strongest kingdom. The king of the western kingdom didn't try to challenge us and ruled over his new land.

"Yes," she responds ", there going to rebel soon, and the king won't be easy to get rid of."

"Well I think we shouldn't get involved. We have the stronger military, but we can afford to move our forces away from the castle until our guests leave. If we do that we'll become the target with all of the future airs of kingdoms here."

"I agree as long as they're here we shouldn't."

"We should get back to the table soon, but first I wanted to tell you that we already have a pair of couples that could leave, I think they've found there person."

"Understood"

We walk back to the table and sit down on our ends. I clap and the waiters come out with food. Men and women with silver trays scurry across the floor, placing the food down.

"Ray," Lillian says " what was that about?"

"It's nothing don't worry about it there was just something my mother needed to tell me."

" Can you tell me?"

"Sorry, you know how it is."

"I know, I had to try though."

I scoop potatoes onto my fork, as everyone continues to talk. I look at them all and see there faces all of them are happy.

...

Tonight Xan followed me down the royal wing to my room. He requested a room closer to mine, it was relatively harmless so I complied. He took the room next to mine with had a door that connected the rooms, I kept it locked. I sent maids with him so that he could move his belongings, as other maids cleaned the dust and polished up the room to look new. He went to his room after he knew I was in mine. I sit and look out over the hills, covered in a blanket of darkness, then up at the sky. The sky was full of stars with a full moon shining silver in the darkness. I close my eyes and remember the last time the sky was this beautiful.

"Ha! I found you!"

"That you did my little princess," my dad scoops me up and spins us around.

That night we were in the garden playing hide and seek. He picked me up and walked me to a patch of grass, we look up at the stars. I could hear a fountain, and the rustle of trees in the background.

"You see that one Rayray."

"Ya!"

"All of those stars connect together," he says pointing at all the little lights "What does it look like?"

Hmmm," I say thinking "It looks like a horsey!"

"That's right my little foal, it's called a hippocampus, it's a mermaid horse."

"Really!"

I opened my eyes and decided to go to the garden, even though I'm only wearing a night dress and a robe. It would be a waste to not go outside when it's so perfect. I try my hardest to not make any sound as I walk down the halls, with my feet bare. I look behind me as I open the door.

I take off running through the garden laughing to myself. I ran past the fountain the wind wiping my hair behind be. I jump the fence that leads to the hill I used to sit on. I get to the top and fall down rolling to lay on my back. I start to giggle uncontrollably.

The moon was full and the stars were bright, when the night was like this, it lights a feeling in my chest, reminding me of cold waves at the beach lapping agents my feet at night. The still night had the slightest chill that bit at my wet toes and slender fingers. I release the stress I have through a deep breath, and sink into the damp grass. I close my eyes, the trees sway around me making a rustling noise. I breath in the fresh air, crisp and cool, I smell the flowers perfume in the garden carrying into my nose accompanied by a fimiller smell. I had smelt this before, but I couldn't put my finger on it, I liked the smell and I breathed in deeply again. I move my arms to put them above my head. When I did that I felt something warm embrace me, confused I opened my eyes. In front of my face was Xander looking at me. I tilt my head up to look at his body and he was only wearing pants and a belt. I check down before I rest my head back down I see that he had brought one of his blankets and had put it on me, it was warm like he had just used it. I stared into his eyes he leans down centimeters away from my lips asking me without words. I lean my head up to pull his head to meet mine on the ground using my lips,  I try to move my hands, but he pinned them using his knees. He lets his hands roam on my arms massaging the muscles. I like the feeling. He sits down breaking away, and pulls me into his lap holding me against his bare chest. I use my finger to trace his tattoo, as he admires the sky.

"You are really committed to not leaving me alone, huh?" I say.

He looked down at me sadness in his face, "I don't ever want to see anyone hurt you ever again."

"I really am fine Xan,"

"I'm not taking any chances, I won't let anyone get the chance."

I close my eyes, " It that why you started carrying around your sword?" Usually Xan dressed in his normal castle cloths but lately he has been wearing comfy clothes and carrying his sword, even now he has it.

"Along with other reasons."

"You need to calm down, it's safe behind the walls."

"And when was the last time someone even tried to get in? I bet if they wanted that wall would be no problem."

I stay quiet and we sit there together under the stars, not wanting to continue the conversation, and I rest agents his chest as I lesson to his heart beat mixed with all the calm sounds of the outdoors.

I wake to well nothing, but my mind becoming

aware of reality. The blinds were shut and so was all the windows and my balcony. How long have I been asleep?! I rush pulling on a dress with a v neck and a circle skirt. I grab the key from my drawer and knock on the door connecting Xander's room to mine. No one answered, so I unlocked the door and went inside. He wasn't there, I know that I shouldn't have, but I wanted to look around. He wouldn't know. I walk around looking at the stuff in his room. He had an empty case on one side of the room, that was probably for his sword. It was really interesting looking at where people slept, you could learn things about them that they would never mention, like in my room on my desk I have a photo of my father holding Cisco and a newborn foal.

In the corner near the balcony, were the desk usually sat, was a tarp on the floor, and the desk pushed up against the other wall with paint, brushes and other art supplies scattered across it. On the easel where the desk used to be was a canvas, on it was a half finished painting of a girl standing tall in front of a small flight of stairs. The more I studied it I realized, that girl, that was me the day we were all introduced. Standing tall looking regale my crown sitting perfectly on my head. I put my hand over my mouth in shock. Is that how I look? It's obviously not how I am inside, I don't feel the way I look in that painting. I look at the crown on my head, I fitted me perfectly, I wonder how many of the people here know that I'm technically the first princess of my kingdom?

I make my way out of the room, and walk around the halls my hands resting behind me. I turn the corner and bump into a maid who has a piping hot kettle of tea. The tea slashed all over me as well as her.

"Your highness are your ok!?" She asks worry in her voice.

"I'm ok, really, but your skin is turning red, dear. Please let me take you to the doctors quarters."

"There's no need my princess! I'll be ok really."

"It's not a request, I care about your health come let's go," she doesn't protest any more and follows me to the doctors quarters.

"Get me some burn medison and ice please," I ask one of the nurses.

The nurse hands it to me, and I apply the ointment to the red parts of her skin. I can feel both of their eyes on me and I look up at the maid. She was probably 16 or so, goodness she was so young, I helped feeling partly responsible for her burns. I hand her the ice and stand.

"Put this on it go back to work when you feel better, Ok?"

"Yes princess," she said looking at me with aw.

I feel a blush run across my checks feeling flustered for some reason. I walk out and ignore the feeling. I ask another maid to bring her some clean clothes, as I go back to my room to change my own. I go back to the kitchen and get another pot of tea to bring to the common room.

I walk to the common room were everyone was, I walked into them all in chairs around the stage where my mother sat talking. Xan was right behind the doors when I opened them.

"Well just who I was looking for,"

"Sorry I was going to make my way here, but something came up."

I place the tray of tea on the bar counter.

"That's ok, your mother has something to announce to all of us."

He puts his arm out, and I take it following him to two empty chairs. As we sat there I listened to my mother babble for a little, Xander had decided to ignore her and instead place his attention onto me. He traced my arms and the tattoo behind my ear. I stop listening and look over at him. I give him a jokingly annoyed face.

"Do you plan on listening at all?"

"Your much more interesting," he purred into my ear.

I roll my eyes and listen to my mother talk in her unpleasant voice.

"Well now that we have all the news and letters addressed to, I have planned something for all of you," she says looking at all of us.

She lands her eyes on Xander, who is still distracted tracing my arm with his finger to notice. I elbow him and clear my throat. He perks up when I do, and he adjusts his posture when he sees my mother's eyes on him. She then looks at me with a look that just read 'really?' and I shrug it off. She goes back to talking.

"Today you need to start packing because we've got a plane to catch tomorrow, heading out to Cassadrus!"

Most of the girls squealed with excitement, I rub my temples at the sound. How could 5 girls make so much noise, the only one who didn't say anything was June who was sleeping prior to the squealing, she jerked up startled at the sound, and I see Grayson suppress a laugh. I look over at Xan who covers his ears until it stops. He leans and whispers into my ear.

"Good thing you don't excite that easily."

I leaned over to him and say into his ear, " not when it comes to things like that."

He gives me a playful look and leans in so close our noses almost touch, "So what dose then Ray?"

I swallow unitenchunly, WHY? I yell in my head. My face heats and I look away. He stands and offers me his hand.

"Come, let's start packing."