AN: Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Lotus Blooms

(Edmund)

"Herold, son of Richard, son of…?"

"George," I sighed heavily. Despite my tutor's protests I pulled myself to my feet and shuffled around the heavily furnished room.

"You still have lessons in royal lineage, your Highness!"

"Sir William, you want to be finished just as much as I do. Go and walk around the gardens for all I care."

"You know that as soon as I leave, another princess will come to see you, right?"

I groaned. "Fine then can you just avoid telling anyone that you left? Just… I don't know… hide or something? Just make sure my father doesn't hear that I'm available. Would you?"

"As you wish," he replied. With that, he picked up the books, deposited them into his bag, and hobbled out the door. Sir William was a portly, balding man who always reeked of some sort of musty cologne. We had an understanding of mutual dislike and somehow it worked well enough. Of course, as the prince, he couldn't do anything to me and I could technically tell him to do whatever I wanted—even though I usually didn't. So, for the most part we stayed out of each other's way unless it was mandatory by my father.

As far as my father goes, he was always kind and reasonable. Perhaps too reasonable at times and a little too eager to be what a king is ''supposed" to be. He even went to the point of entering an unhappy second marriage to give the country a queen. But ever since my cousin, Aidan, got married my father decided that that meant I should be too. So, practically every day a new royal would come waltzing into the room batting her eyelashes and giving me her most stunning smile; and every time, I would thank her for the effort of coming however far she came, and lead her back to her carriage like the "proper" prince I was.

I've met Aidan's wife, Anya, many times and I've always known her to be an atypical royal. While still being demure and regal when needed, she would sing and dance without a care when alone or with me and Aidan. I'll admit I used to have a little crush on her, but I quickly got over it at the engagement ball between her and my cousin. They were perfect for each other. When Aidan would whisper in her ear, she would laugh happily and naturally, not the polite chuckle I was used to hearing from princesses. Other times I would see them spinning and laughing on the balcony with eyes only for each other. I wondered when that would become a reality for me.

I smiled at the picture in my head, but was interrupted by a soft rap on the door. I groaned inwardly and called, "Enter!" In walked a young girl who couldn't have been more than 14 years of age. At first irritation, then rage billowed up into my head. "Miss, if you would excuse me for a moment?" Before she could answer I stormed out of the room in fury. Have they really gone through so many women that they resort to young girls? I thought.

While I could occasionally handle my father's meddling, sometimes he crossed the boundary between caring parent and obsessive puppeteer. Now was one of those times and I refused to silently let my father try to control my life.

Without thinking, I stormed into the throne room and confronted my father in the middle of a conference with his advisor. "Father, that girl couldn't have been much older than 14! Why is it so necessary to you that I find a wife at this very moment? I'm not Prince Aidan and I never will be no matter how much you wish it!" A harsher king would have thrown me out on the spot without responding for the disrespect I was showing.

My father fumed with anger, turning red as he reprimanded, "You forget your place, Edmund! I do what is best for my family and the kingdom, and I do not need to explain my decisions to you. You shall go to that girl and apologize immediately! "

"If it concerns my future and who I will spend the rest of my life with it is my right to know what on earth is going on! I am 19 years old, I am not a child!"

"Leave immediately," he responded coldly.

I glared angrily, throwing my emotions out through my eyes, and bowed submissively. I was helpless. The heavy doors I threw open seemed like paper to me as anger took over my body. Who would my father send in next time? A 12 year old? And why on earth do I have to marry a royal? No one pays attention to those stupid traditions anymore… I passed the Queen quickly, but not without receiving a smirk of satisfaction from her. She sure is enjoying this. I continued down the dark corridor, my steps echoing loudly, until I reached the broad wooden doors leading to the private pastures. Maybe a ride would calm me down a little.

I proceeded to pick a strong black stallion, one that would give me a good, hard ride and challenge my abilities. Waving the stable boy aside I fitted the animal up with its equipment and jumped on, galloping out of the stables. Rather than calming me down like I had hoped, the ride gave me new energy and fire and I was furious as ever. Finally giving up, I handed the reins to the previously disregarded stable boy and stalked off to the only place where I could truly be alone and possibly cool off: the lotus tree courtyard.

No one ever came here except for me. My mother planted these trees when she married my father, and ever since she died, I was the soul caretaker for them. I didn't want anyone—especially my father's new wife—to touch them and ruin her memory. As a result I always had privacy here and could scream, shout, and cry without a care. This was the place where I could talk to my mother.

On my way to the courtyard, I spied the girl I had run off from. She looked miserable. I slowly walked over to her, took her hand, and politely kissed her knuckles. "I am so sorry my Lady for the way I acted towards you. I understand how hard it must have been to come from…. To come from…. So far!" She blushed at the attention and accepted my arm as I led her back to her carriage. I handed her in and left immediately to restart my trek to the courtyard at the other end of the palace.

After a while of stomping through the halls, I came to the intricately carved wooden doors and slowly pushed them open; this was a sacred place to me. The light came sifting through the branches and warmed my face, making me finally feel at peace. The sun danced off of the koi ponds while the wind rustled the blooms among the branches. Growing more content, I walked over to the tallest tree and sat with my back flat against the trunk. Closing my eyes, I heard the playful chirping of the birds above me, and let the lighthearted sounds bathe me of my frustration.

But there was another noise: soft crying. It was coming from behind the tree. I quietly stood up and tiptoed around the enormous tree. There, sitting with her head to her knees and a letter clutched in her hand, was probably the most beautiful yet disheveled girl I had ever seen. I stared, oafishly gawking at her cascading red hair and stunning pale skin. If the back of her head is so amazing, I wonder what her face looks like, I thought ignorantly.

Being a decent man I knew I wanted to comfort her, but I will admit that I got a slight thrill out of the idea of holding her. Shoving the hormonal personality out of my head, I knelt down next to her and put my hands on her shoulders. She jerked her head up at the surprise of another person there with her. All I did was look at her awkwardly. Stupidly, I didn't say anything; I didn't introduce myself or explain why I was watching her, all I did was stare back.

With a sudden wave of emotion she fell into me, sobbing, clutching my shirt and pressing her face to my shoulder. Be smooth, be smooth, was all I thought. So, I adjusted my position so that I would have my back to the trunk and held her closely. I realized I should probably say something. "What's wrong? Tell me and maybe I could help," I gently whispered into her hair (It smelled of pine). "Please," I asked again, "you can tell me anything here. I won't tell anyone. You can just talk and I'll listen."—then because I didn't want to be too pushy—"or… you don't need to say anything. That's ok too. I just want to help if there's any way I can." Never before had I felt so lost yet comfortably at home. She even didn't respond for a while, she just kept crying and clutching me tighter as the minutes passed.

When I finally accepted that she wouldn't say anything, she spoke in the most heartbreaking voice I had ever heard, interrupting herself occasionally with sobs, "I'm afraid… there is nothing… anyone can do… to help. My…. My… my brother is… dying."

AN: YAY! Stuff's happening! For those of you who may have read the original version, how do you like the changes? Also, just a reminder I accept questions about myself and suggestions for one shots at any time :) BUT ANYWAY PLEASE REVIEW!

P.S. The only reason I'm updating so soon is because these were written before. I've just been editing and reworking them. So when I start writing new chapters, there will be longer gaps in between updates.