Chapter 2: A challenge
A knock on her door woke Ellie up. Groaning she rolled over. "We are not going through this again"
"I prefer to actually get some rest Laci!"
"Ellie if you don't open this door I will hurt you!" Rian cried.
"Please don't tell me all of you are out there!"
"Well if it pleases you then we won't but we are!" May called to her sister.
"I'm not coming go entertain the guests as you please!"
"Father won't be happy if you don't show up." Nora called.
The door swung open and Rian tackled her sister. "Rian!" The others laughed at the two.
"Now come on before we are late!" Laci snapped.
After ten minutes Ellie was walking beside her younger sister towards the dinning area. To their surprise they ran into the royal family. Kai was the first to spot them, though they were hard to miss. She nudged her brother who immediatly turned to look at them.
"Good morning ladies. I trust you all slept well."
"Yes we did I hope you all slept well?" Ellie hid her head to cover a yawn.
Gira came sprinting down the halls. "Rian! Ellie!" The two sisters turned. Not far behind her came three younger girls.
"Hanna! Sally! Katrina!" The two sisters cried as their younger sisters sprinted down the hall. Bending over Ellie caught all three girls in her arms.
The other girls knelt to hug each of them in turn. Everyone was talking excitedly. Risa soon came down the hall. "Mother!" The five of them cried together. The three younger sisters ran to their mother while the two elder ones went slower.
"Alright, alright lets go eat." Richard called followed by the King and Queen. As they made their way to the dinning hall Jason caught Ellie's arm stopping her. They waited till the others were gone before they turned to face each other.
"You didn't show up this morning," Jason said blatantly.
"Show up for what?"
"For what? I thought you were going to challenge me!"
"Oh that! Well you'll have to forgive me I had other things to worry about then the challanging of a prince!"
"You make it seem as if my being royalty means nothing to you."
"Should it? As far as I am concerned I shall be only seeing you this week and then I will not have to worry about you!"
"You give your opinion very decidely do you not?"
"I was always told to speak my mind and I don't intend to change that for you."
"Even if I could have you beheaded for speaking to me so?" Jason questioned.
Ellie laughed. "Oh yes and how would that look to your people? Their future king beheading a woman for speaking back to you! That would look very bad on your part."
"Like you could ever understand the life of a royal!" He snapped.
"I don't need to! I am a Lady and that is all I care to be! I will however respect my King and my country but as for now you are not my king and therefore I shall not show you any respect unless you do the same!"
Jason held her gaze for a long time. "One day you will think differently."
"Then that day shall be far in the future."
"Are you so sure?" Ellie narrowed her eyes searching his eyes.
"Yes! I would never want to be royalty! Besides you are a snob and ignorant jerk!"
"I suggest you watch your tongue!"
"Yes sure thing!" She told him rolling her eyes.
"You know you are a selfish brat!"
"What gave you the impression I am selfish! As far as I am concerned you know nothing about me!"
"And you know nothing about me."
Ellie laughed and pushed the hair from her eyes. "You forget I have many many friends at court!" With that Ellie turned and walked off. Yes she would challenge him but it wasn't what he was expecting!
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Jason was furious. Moving quickly he caught up with her grabbing her arm. "What afraid to tell me what you friends at court say about the heir to the throne?"
Ellie raised her eyebrow. "Oh poor little prince afraid of what the women have to say about him?"
"I am curious to know what they have said to make you dislike me so."
"It was never what was said but its more how you have acted." He met her light blue eyes with his dark green ones. To his surprise he saw a hint of amusement in her eyes. What is she up to?
"What would you like to me to do redeem myself?"
Amusement lit her blue eyes instantly. "Oh you should never had asked me that! To amuse myself I will have to request you do something for me."
"What would that be?"
"That you have to oh I don't know fall all over one of my sisters! I don't care which one but you have to do one."
"So my choice out of all of you?"
"Yes, yes your choice. Tomorrow though the whole day." She said with a smile as she walked off. Jason let her go and grinned from ear-to-ear. He had just outsmarted her. After all she did agree that he could choose out of all of them and he knew exactly which one he would pick.
"Jason?" She called back having stopped at the end of the hall. Shaking his head he ran to catch up with her. To his amusement the only two seats that were left were side-by-side. He made sure to move to her seat and pull it out getting a raised eyebrow from her. Taking his seat the food was then served.
"So tell me Risa where is your husband?" Jason overheard Richard ask. Not wanting anyone to know he was listening he kept his eyes downcast.
"He is at home busy with the raids in our town. I came along with the girls."
"You have come a bit early have you not?"
"I intend to take the girls a bit earlier then was actually planned."
"The King and Queen are here! How can you think of doing something like that?" Richard demanded harshly.
"They are my children! I will do as I please! You have no say in this at all!"
"I have say in this! They are my children as well!"
"I am taking my daughters and that is final!" Risa said as she turned to talk to the Queen. Tilting his head to the side he could see Ellie had not touched her food at all. Slowly he lifted his gaze till she noticed him. The color in her blue eyes had dimmed dramatically. Her face was slightly pale and she shook. "Ellie?" He questioned softly. "I just need some fresh air," she said quickly before she got to her feet and left. Risa looked after her and rose to her feet. Richard grabbed her arm in a tight grip. With an easy motion she detached her arm from his hand.
Jason waited a few moments before he too rose from his chair. Something seemed to be wrong with this family. Someone hid something that was important. Slowly he made his way through the garden. A glint of light caught his attention. An arrow shot out of the trees and dug deep into his arm. "Ah!" He cried as he removed his sword with his good hand. As he shot through the brush he stumbled and fell.
He rolled into a clearing slamming his head against someones legs. Ellie fell backward hitting her arm against the stone bench. "Prince Jason!" Risa and Ellie cried at once.
"What happened?" Ellie questioned. Opening his eyes he was a bit pleased to see she cradled his head in her lap. "I don't know someone shot me with an arrow. I went to follow and I tripped instead." He said as he tried to sit up. Ellie pressed her hands against his chest making him fall back against her.
"I suggest you don't move you will hurt yourself more."
"I will go get the healer," Risa said as she hurried off.
Jason looked up at Ellie whose eyes scanned the area. "That is not normal. Do you have any enemies? Someone who wants to kill you?"
"I am sure there is someone who does but I don't know of any off the top of my head."
Ellie now looked down at him. "You shouldn't have been out here to begin with."
"You were out here."
"I also was with my mother and I know these grounds better than anyone else."
"I do not doubt that."
Ellie's fingers wrapped around the shaft of the arrow. "You can break off the end." Jason mumbled quietly. Moving her other hand she placed it on his shoulder and broke the shaft of the arrow. Groaning he hid his face in her dress.
"It went clean through," she whispered. With one swift pull she freed the arrow from his arm. He clenched his jaw so hard that it ached fiercely. He heard a ripping sound and looked up to see her tearing her dress.
"Don't," was all he could say.
"If I don't stop the bleeding then it will get worse now hold still!" Grudginly he rested his head in her lap again closing his eyes. "Keep your eyes open!" She snapped so suddenly he was forced to do as she bid. He watched her carefully his eyes never leaving her face. When she was done she turned her gaze on him. "Jason?" She questioned but he could not hear here. Suddenly it all went black.