A/N: I'm back from vacation and I have chapter 2 up! Jet-lag stinks by the way. Anyway here it is... Oh! Thanks for the reviews! I have also decided to give her Autism but only the symptoms of it for I believe they did not know what it was back then.
Disclaimer: Alright because I getting SUPER TIRED of this I am going to say I DON'T own anything except Minerva for the whole story. Happy FF people?
I looked around the corner of the brick wall that entered into the Throne Room where the two Thrones where sitting. One of them was vacant and one had a Queen filling it – a different Queen then I commit to memory. Well, maybe it is the same Queen as before her hair is the same and her eyes too. "Gunther which Queen is this?"
"The same that ruled when you trained for knighthood," he whispered oh so softly in my ear.
"Really?" I asked.
She looked well older than her real age. Dark hollows under her eyes as if she had gone through something torturous; her skin seemed to be paler than I remember; you could see her bones on her hands and face easily now; but most of all was that she lost her beauty – her gracefulness was replaced with mourning.
"What happened?"
"Heavy birthing of the third child," Gunther answered sadness covering up the earlier happiness.
"Did the child survive, and why didn't the town know?"
"No, the child died in an hour after she was born. The town knew but kept quiet, respecting the King's wishes of not saying anything about it."
"Oh."
"Mmm hmm and I think it would really cheer her up if she saw you again. She fancied you like Lavinia when you where training."
"Really? You think? What will you think she will say about Minerva I mean she has lost her daughter?"
Gunther shook his head and went into the Throne Room. I looked down at Minerva who had her thumb in her mouth and head tilted to the side as if inspecting something. We held our breath when we heard Gunther's voice.
"Is it fine if I bring someone to ask permission to enter the Castle Grounds?"
I held Minerva closer to me now – clutching her chest with my arms. I was worried. We had already broken the rules of entering the castle grounds.
"Who is this person Sir Gunther?" Asked the careful, gentle voice of the Queen.
"Well Your Majesty, I would like to think it is former Squire Jane."
There was a long pause before I heard the Queen speak once more saying, "You have my blessing Sir Gunther to bring Jane to me and is there someone else you would like to introduce?"
An eerie pause followed.
"Um yes but she will be with Jane, your highness." I could only imagine that he bowed for his voice dropped onto the floor.
"You may be dismissed."
A few minutes later Gunther came around the corner beaming. I gave him an old glare I used to give to him when we were younger training to become knights. "Gunther are you sure it is okay?"
He was about to answer when suddenly, I became rigid and heard an all too familiar voice inside my head talking to me saying, Go on in Jane. Moo. So I battled with it saying, Dragon I will not go in. You can not make me. More than likely he will counter – he did, I will go and watch some cows and play 'Swoop 'N scare' while you go and get permission from Her Royal Highness. I unconsciously rolled my eyes earning a worried and quizzical look from Gunther, Dragon I will – you are years dead anyway you can not talk let alone fly. When I thought he would finally stop I was wrong, Moo. Moo. Of course I could not argue with that so, Alright I will go. …Champion. Was all he said before leaving my head.
-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-
"Jane," The Queen said when I bowed to her.
"Your Majesty."
"You may rise."
I did as I was told and as I rose I saw a tear escape her eye. She studied me passionately nodding here and there muttering to herself. I continued to stand perfectly still until the inspection was over. A few moments later she spoke, "Where were you a year ago? 5 years ago? When I was still a pretty known Queen and not this wretched looking one?"
"I-I was in the village taking care of Minerva. And you still are pretty, even beautiful," I stated afraid.
"Minerva," She said softly as she looked into the unknown faring away from her anger.
"Y-yes, t-that is my daughter Your Grace."
"May I see her Dear Jane?"
I nodded to afraid to even breathe. "Minerva!" called I.
We waited a minute in silence for her. The Queen leaned to the front of her chair curiously while I held my breath. Minerva didn't respond to her name often, in fact at all. Only a few times here and there, never constantly though. Sadly she didn't respond this time, she probably lost in the oblivion of her mind again.
"Well?"
"She sometimes does not respond to her name."
"Can you go and get her?"
I nodded and headed to where she was.
