Shadow- You are my first reviewer! Yay! I'm glad you like the story so far.
Vestastar- Thank you so much for that review. It defiantly got me to continue on. I hope you like this chapter
000
Jayne-
A week had passed since Lance and I first time together. We have been together three times since then. I felt foolish for always having this faraway gaze and small smile on my face, when I thought of it. I had done this one day well I was in the garden picking roses for the dinner table. I had not noticed that Queen Bethany was watching me and when I finally did, she stared at me with a questioningly look on her face. I turned away quickly and went back to my work, trying to sober my features. I wondered what was going on in her mind at that moment.
Later in the afternoon I was called up to her chamber to serve tea for her daughter and herself. I placed the tray of tea on my forearm, balancing it pretty well, as I knocked on her door. The smiling Leah, the King and Queen's ten-year-old daughter greeted me. I thanked her as she allowed me into the room. She rushed over to the ruby red couch her mother sat on and bouncing on the seat next to her.
The Queen smiled up at me, "Place it on the coffee table, dear." I nodded and did so, kneeling on the floor by the table I placing both of the teacups in front of the Queen and her daughter and poured their tea, placing a sugar cube in both, just as I knew they enjoyed it. She smiled at me and I stood up. "Oh Jayne, darling sit down and relax for a little bit. We barely talk anymore."
I thanked her and sat down on the chair across from the couch, feeling vaguely unsettled. It was becoming more and more obvious each day that she knew of my relationship with Lance. She picked up her teacup and sat back, looking at me over the cup, "How have you been?"
I knew there was a hidden question in there with the tone she used. I had seen her interact enough with ladies of the court to know she was a master at double meaning. But I answered it as the words were spoken, not the secret question behind them. "I am fine, your majesty."
She smiled at this, "I assume you are." I knew what she meant by this and I turned my head away slightly. She placed her tea down, "May I ask you a favor?"
I nodded, "Of course, Your Majesty. Anything."
"My husband is planning another attack on Geleva." I nodded. It wasn't a surprise at all, there were constant attacks against Geleva. The countries have been warring for over fifty years. It seems that Benbourgh finally has the upper hand now though. "Lance is young, and yet I've already lost count of the battles he has fought in. I think that by putting so much focus on the war, he isn't giving enough attention to his country itself." I wasn't sure if I agreed to that. Lance cared more for his country than you could outwardly tell by his cold demeanor. He was intelligent and understood politics quite well I thought. But a warrior he was by nature it seemed, and I could see how most people would think he was more fit to than rule. "Also I have an idea that this attack will be bloodier than any other. My husband is determined to cut Geleva deep." She added, "I believe many men will have their lives taken in this one. I was hoping to get him to stay back for this battle. But I cannot convince him. I was wondering if maybe you would try."
"What makes you think I can convince him?" I asked, trying to hide my nervousness.
"I think you know why." She turned to Leah who was eating some sweets from the table. Lady Bethany brushed the young child's hair back. "Lovely, will you go play for a little bit? I would like to talk to Jayne alone for a little bit."
"Of course, Mother." She answered dutifully as she kissed her on the cheek; she came over to me and kissed me on the cheek as well. "Will you come play with me afterwards?" she asked innocently.
I gave her a big smile and brushed her cheek with my hand, "Of course, Your Highness. I would love to." She hugged me and ran out of the room.
I turned back to the smirking Queen Bethany. "You will be an amazing mother someday, Jayne. And," she added with a pause, "a good wife."
I looked down to the ground, unable to meet her gaze. I knew what could happen to me for what I have done with the prince. It was one thing for a member of royalty to casually bed a slave they fancied. Another completely when they grow a romantic relationship. That was overstepping the line by a long shot. That could cause the country harm, tainting the royal bloodline. "Your Majesty…" I started. I found it difficult to get the words out, "I think I know what you want to speak to me about. I apologize deeply…"
"No need, dear." She said cutting me off. "Jayne, I have realized the connection between you and Lance for some time. Though I was not sure for certain how far it had gone, until yesterday," Her light blue eyes met with my gold ones, "when Lance confessed that you too had gone to bed together and he wants to marry you."
"I'm so sorry." I whispered, "I never meant to fall in love with him. It just happened. I am deeply sorry."
She reached over and took my hand in hers, "Do not apologize for it. Love has taken over your hearts, 'twas not planned. Fate just had something else in mind." She sighed as she looked over at her bed. "My husband does not know, and I do not think it wise to tell him. If he knew Lance has fallen in love with you, it would be horrible. He would think it your fault. He would send you away." I nodded. I knew that would happen. Somewhere far enough away that Lance would never see me again. He could not accept a slave as a daughter-in-law, and he certainly would not accept the children I would bear. "You will have to wait Jayne, you and Lance both. You cannot get married until Lance is king. I will try my best to convince my husband to give up his crown soon. But it may not before another year or two. Are you willing to wait?"
I gave slight smile, "I'd wait forever for Lance."
000
Lance-
I knew in my heart I had to speak of it with my mother. I knew she could help. I also knew she had an idea of our relationship. She was an observant woman who knew both Jayne and I well. My mother was strong, and understanding, far more understanding than my father. She did not judge on status as much as he did. She saw people for their heart.
I paced back and forth in my bedroom, rubbing on hand across my forehead. I didn't know how I could pull all of this off. How would I get my father to pass down his throne soon? I knew even after I became King he would protest our marriage, but it did not matter at that point. There would be nothing he could do about it. I loved Jayne, and I would cut off all ties with my father to be with her, if that's what I had to do. Once I was King he would have to answer to me, not I to him.
I heard a knock on the door and when I opened it I couldn't have been more thrilled. There stood the subject of my thoughts, smiling slightly. I couldn't help but grab her by the waist and pull her through the door, slamming the door behind us. I kissed her passionately, and as always she met fire with fire. She pushed her body against mine and wrapped her arms around my neck, drawing me as close to her as possible.
After a few minutes of this embrace, Jayne pulled back slightly; both of us were out of breath. "You're a distraction, Lance." She said, "I wanted to speak to you, yet here I am in your arms instead."
I smiled down at her, "The exact place I want you to be." I kissed her lightly on the neck. I led her over to the bed, my arms still wrapped around her tightly, kissing her neck.
"Lance," she started to speak, as I nibbled on her neck and she gasped, "Lance…I really need to talk to you." her words came out breathless as she spoke them.
"Can't we talk after?" I mumbled into her neck. She pushed me off gently and shook her head. I gave her a pout and she laughed, bringing her lips to mine. Just then I heard the creaking of the door opening and then a gasp. I turned my head and instantly jumped off of Jayne.
My little sister, Leah, stood there with her mouth hanging open in an almost comical way. "I was just seeing where Jayne went off to, we were supposed to play together…I'm sorry. I'll go…" she turned away and I ran over to her and grabbed her hand.
"No, Leah, please stay. Jayne and I were just…" I looked at Jayne for an answer, but she shook her head, "Well you see, Leah, Jayne and I were…well…I tripped and fell on Jayne. A clumsy accident is all."
Both Jayne and Leah looked up at me with their eyebrows raised practically saying 'you don't seriously think that's going to work?' I sighed and turned away from Leah with my hands over my eyes. It was one thing for my mother to find out, but no one else could know. No one. It was too dangerous. I couldn't risk Jayne being punished.
When I turned back to face them Jayne had walked over to Leah and had a gentle grasp on her hands. "Leah, I know it's a lot of ask and I know that you are not to lie, but it is very important that you do not breath a word of what you saw to anyone."
"But why?" my tiny sister asked. I suddenly realized how young she truly was. You forgot sometimes with the way the royalty and nobility raise their children. From childhood they are forced to act obedient, calm, collected, and mannered. There was no place for childhood in that life.
Jayne brushed a stray strand of hair behind Leah's ear. "You see, a prince cannot be in love with a slave. It is not allowed."
"Why?" she asked again, and it almost broke my heart. How could any of this make sense in an innocent mind?
"I don't know." Jayne answered simply and kissed Leah on the cheek "Let me talk to your brother for a couple of moments then I will meet you in your room and we'll play."
Just then my father walked into the room, he took one long look at all three of us together and crossed his arms over his chest. "And what is going on here?" As cold hearted as my father could be he was not an oblivious man. I knew that he saw something between Jayne and I for some time now. Though, I was positive he did not know that we had ever acted on our feelings, but he was aware of my love for her. And that scared me more than any battle I have ever fought.
Before I could make up and excuse, Leah stepped in. "I'm afraid father I was being a pest to Lance. He had to call Jayne in to take me out." She ran over to him and gave him a hug, "Please don't be angry." Leah was good at what she did, that was for sure. She could make your heart melt with just a few simple words.
My father brushed her hair back and kissed the top of her head, "Of course I am not angry." He looked up at Jayne, "Now, will you take her out of here, I need to speak to my son of something of great importance." The expression on her face showed that she knew what he would talk to me about and I wondered what it could be. Jayne looked worried, very worried. But she knew that what the king ordered she must do, so she took my sister's hand and walked out of the room.
Once the door was closed my father gestured to the chairs by the fireplace in my room, "Please, son, sit. Let's talk about a new battle."
A/N- eh…not the best chapter I suppose. What does everyone think so far? Have any suggestions? Please read and review!
