Knock, knock... I knock on the door before me. I shouldn't be here. I can practically here the lecture and disapproval of Uncle Gareth already. Sir Myles, Gary, Raoul, George, none of them will pleased to learn I came here all alone. They'd say I was taking too large a risk. That I was being reckless and foolish. But I need to know the truth. I owe him and our friendship that much.
Knock, knock...I knock again. Frustration begins to leak into my being. Maybe those theories about their being a secret tunnel is his rooms are true. Because I know he should be in since I watched for him to return.
Just as I am about to leave, the door inches open. Thank the goddess, for I doubt I will ever get another chance like this one.
"May I come in?" I ask, already knowing he can't tell me no.
"As you wish, your majesty," he moves back from the door, allowing me entry. He quickly closes the door behind me.
I stand in the middle of the room, taking in my surroundings. After all this is my first time in these chambers. They appear to be in surprising disarray considering the sole occupant.
I stifle a sigh, as I turn to view the man I came here to see. He seems smaller than I recall, thinner, frailer now. A tremor runs through him as I watch him. Do I make him nervous? Or is it something else? For he does not look well.
I walk over to him and grasp his shoulder, he jumps at my touch. "Are you all right?" The question feels ludicrous before it has even finished passing me lips.
"Yes, your majesty", he replies. Though his head remains bowed.
"Just Jon when we are alone or among friends", as I say this I move him over to the couch, I feel it is best that he sits down. "We are still friends, aren't we Alex?" I smile at him in a reassuring manner. I'm confident my assumptions about him are correct. But I need to know for sure. I need him to confirm it so I can tell everyone, especially Sir Myles and George to back off.
I am certain, as I watch him shake, that he is yet another victim of my traitorous cousin and one that I will not fail.