Let me tell you a story that bares repeating….

Clarisse entered her husband's study. Joseph stood with his back to her and her husband King Rupert sat behind his desk. Another young man in his mid-thirties stood slightly off to the side.

"Ah Clarisse. I'm glad you're here." Rupert claimed rising from his chair.

"I'd like you to meet Mark Jacobson. Mark is here as your new bodyguard."

"But Joseph is my bodyguard."

"He was until this morning. Clarisse, Joseph here is leaving us. After the attempt on my brother Henry's life, I must see to it that he's protected. I want the best and Joseph here is the best. I'm sending him to Glasgow."

Clarisse moved to her husband's side. This wasn't about reinforcing his decision; rather it was to read Joseph's expression. There wasn't anything about him that she didn't know including his emotions. But for once the expression was confusing, and unreadable. She suddenly felt as if she couldn't breathe but bravery in the face of fear was her strongsuit and she'd use it.

"I envy you, Joseph. Scotland is absolutely breathtaking and one of my favorite places to visit. The castle won't be the same without you." She said nearly choking on the syrup that pouring from her lying tongue.

"And I them, your Majesty." He said looking right past her.

"Rupert, dear, if you'll excuse me, Gretta has arranged a garden party at her new villa. I musn't be late."

"Of course my dear. Joseph will be taking the chopper with me to Esquire City and flying out tonight. I don't want Henry alone longer than he has to be. His head of security let that would-be assassin into the gates and I find him incompetent. I will be in Esquire for two or three days." He reached over and kissed her hand.

Clarisse wanted to rip it from his lips and punch him with it. Rather she gave Joseph the same hand as if to cleanse it.

"Best of luck to you, Jospeh." She said forcing herself to look into his eyes. How she wished she hadn't. The pain inside her was massive.

With grace she kissed Rupert goodbye and walked from the room. She dismissed her lady's maids and headed for the stable. Quickly she changed into her riding gear and escorted her horse through the back doors. Her horse Ellington was only to happy to run and soon they were down the other end of the grounds and heading into the woods.

Only when she reached the clearing near the waterfall and rock formations, did she stop. She tied Ellington to the large oak tree in the middle of a grassy area and walked to the boulder that sat near the water's edge. And it was there on that rock that she let her heart break out of chest.

The water was so loud from the falls that she didn't have to bury her head in proper, queenly cries. Her sobs marched on and on. How could it be happening? In twelve years he'd never been away from her. Not for one day. He was her best friend and even more than Rupert had been. At times she'd even felt guilty about that. She and Joseph had strictly a platonic friendship but at times she felt like she was hiding him as a lover; And so for all of that she cried.

Then suddenly he was there, his hand on her shoulder. She stood up and seeing his tender smile, she fell apart in his arms. He held her in silence until her sobs subsided.

"I'm so sorry Joseph. I guess I'm not very good at saying goodbye."

The tears in her eyes made it nearly impossible to steady himself. But he had to show her that strength that only he could show her.

"We've been through tougher battles than this. I'll only be a plane ride away and I'll send you letters."

Her lower lip quivered like that of a five year old just scolded.

"You're going to make me sing aren't you. Last time you started crying like that I couldn't talk for two days."

"Good than I'll know you won't meet anyone on the plane ride."

He laughed and led her to the boulder and sat her there.

"When you're down, and troubled and you need a helping hand and nothing oh nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there. To brighten up even your darkest night."

He took her hand and continued.

"You just call out my name and you know wherever I am. I'll come running, oh yeah baby, to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you got to do is call and I'll be there yeah yeah yeah. You've got a friend. If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds and that ole north wind should begin to blow. Keep your head together and call my name out loud. Soon I'll be knockin upon your door."

"You better sing it with me Clarisse."

"You just call out my name and you know wherever I am. I'll come runnin, oh yes I will, to see you again, winter, spring, summer or fall, all you gotta do is call and I'll be there yeah yeah yeah I will. Hey ain't it good to know that you've got a friend people can be so cold."

He lifted her chin as a tear start down her cheek and whispered the last parts.

"They'll hurt you and dessert you, they'll take your soul if you let them oh yeah, but don't you let them. You just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I'll come runnin, to see you again, oh baby don't ya know that winter, spring summer or fall, hey now all you got to do is call and Lord I'll be there yeah yeah yeah, you got a friend. You got a friend, Clarisse."

She moved to kiss him but he turned from her so she hit his cheek instead.

"I can't Clarisse. It will just make saying goodbye that much harder. Now smile for me, please. I can't remember you here in our spot with tears, I need to see that smile."

"I can't do it!"

"Here I want you to hang onto this."

Out of his pocket he took a ring. It was gold with a red ruby carnation inlaid with diamonds around it.

"This is a promise ring. I promise that this isn't the end. I promise that no matter where I am I will think of you and I promise that I will come running back if you need me. This ring belonged to my sister Elena. Her husband gave it to me when she died of leukemia last fall. I promised him I'd never lose it and I don't intend to. I'll send you a letter when I arrive. Take care of King Arthur for me." He said referring to his white horse.

He kissed her hand that clenched the ring and then he was gone on the back of his favorite horse and she vowed there and then she would cry no more. And that lasted for a full five minutes.