Nixiesocean: At the request of the reviewers, I have changed the scene-changing layout. It will now tell you who the narrator is. On another note: yes! I am updating!
Responses:
InChrist-Billios: Did you get my PM? I sent you a list of characters.
FaylinnNorse: Lorelei is quite dangerous. She's much like her namesake (hehe!).
ThaiLibre: I tried to elongate the time spent in each PoV. Maybe this will help a little bit for you.
For all those as confused as Billios, here is the shortened, condensed character list.
King Marcus Jonas & Queen Hannah: Crown Prince Matthew Marcus, Prince James Karl, Princess Sarah Katarina and Princess Hannah Mikaela
Lord Renold & Lady Mercy Anna: Isaac Renold, Adelle Mercy and Jonas Gideon
Lord David Michael (Son of Baron David from Rose Petals
Lady Lorelei Truda (Lady of Southern Crossroads)
Chapter 3: Preparation
-Hannah-
My mother visited Adelle and I while we were in my parlor. I was playing the pianoforte and Adelle singing. I stood when she entered.
"Hannah," She started, and noticed Adelle, "Good morning, Adelle," My cousin curtsied. "I want you two to watch Matthew."
And that was that. No explanation, no reasons. Just "watch him". Why not have one of the Royal Guards watch him?"Yes, Mother," I murmured.
She eyed me and sighed. "Hannah," She whispered. Adelle, I saw out of the corner of my eye, bit her lip and looked around the room. "May I speak to you privately?"
I bowed my head. "Adelle is able to hear anything you might have to tell me, she will keep silent," I looked pointed at my cousin, who was frozen next to the door, her hand just about to open the door. I glanced sidelong at my mother, "And I would tell her after you left regardless."
The queen of Hanor sighed, "You are too much like your father," She muttered and sat. I smiled and beckoned Adelle over. She sat next to me and we awaited my mother's reasoning for coming.
"As you know," She started, "Mercy told you two a tale, The Lion and the Frog I believe she called it." We nodded. "The first thing I have to tell you is this: it was real. I was a part of it, so was my lord and so was Mercy." She bowed her head. "I was the frog, your father the lion and Mercy the maiden who freed us." I glanced over at Adelle again; she had a small smile on her face. I sighed.
"So… how will this help us watch over Matthew?" I asked candidly.
Adelle spoke quietly, "It allows us to understand the past, and predict the future."
"Exactly," Mother replied, "Matthew will not let me near him, but you two are close – as close as a sister and a female cousin can get – to him." She stood and straightened her dress, "Also, keep an eye on Lady Lorelei for me." She smiled serenely, "I do not think she is quite as tame as she appears."
-Matthew-
I rubbed my hunting boots until they shone, then oiled my bow. I smiled and headed for the stables to brush off my horse and oil my saddle. On my way, I noticed Hannah and Adelle wandering the halls, speaking in hushed whispers. I shrugged and kept walking; I noticed them turn into the library.
Just outside the stables, I heard two voices. One: David, Two: Lorelei. I sighed and awaited their exit from the stables.
"And what shall I get my fair lady?" I heard my friend ask.
Lorelei voiced one of the most annoying laughs ever created by women. "Bring me the first flower your finger brushes."
"No animal pelts? No deer skin? No rabbit fur?" David replied.
I imagined Lorelei smiling sweetly at David. "I can have my maid purchase those any time at the market. However, my dear, a flower plucked by your own fingers has much more meaning than a simple pelt." I made a retching noise. David was entranced, I only hoped he'd realize his folly before she sent him home with his tail between his legs.
I opened the stable doors, and I saw David jump away from Lorelei, who caught my eyes as I walked to my horse. I bowed to the lady and pulled my horse out of the stall and walked back outside. I tied the horse to the post and went back into the stable for a brush.
I intentionally left the big doors open. David smiled at Lorelei, who now hung on his arm and they walked away. It wasn't long before I saw Hannah and Adelle come out to the stables.
"You know, Matthew, there are stable hands for that." My sister told me from a distance. I rolled my eyes at her and continued brushing. "If not for your royal garb, one might think you the stable hand, rather than the prince!" Adelle was silent. "Adelle, tell Matthew he is not respecting his post!"
My small cousin spoke, "Matthew, you are not respecting your post," She uttered monotonously. I laughed and continued brushing as they neared.
"We saw David and Lorelei," Hannah told me. "Is he her beau?"
"Not officially," I muttered.
"Do I sense jealously?" Hannah wondered aloud, winking her blue eye.
I turned to her. "No. Because jealously requires the want of what the other has, and I do not desire what my friend has." Just to spite her, I tossed the dust-ridden brush at her, catching her all over her chest. "Nor should a princess come out the stables in such a fancy gown!"
She glared but didn't retaliate, which took the fun out of everything. I picked up the brush and turned back to my occupation. I saw Adelle silently stroking my horse's muzzle and quietly murmuring to it.
"David and I are to go hunting tomorrow." I told her.
"Are you?" She didn't sound surprised.
"We are." I stated. I gently patted my horse's hindquarters as I passed behind him. I continued brushing him down.
"Bring me something." Hannah said. This was the first time I had heard her ask for something as I went hunting. Normally, she ignored me.
"What would you like?" I asked.
"Something pretty." Adelle interjected. "Hannah loves pretty things."
Hannah looked shocked. "I do not! I mean, sure, they're nice-"
"You like them, every girl likes pretty things." I saw my cousin catch Hannah's eyes, "Even self-proclaimed Court rejects." Hannah stood and left, leaving Adelle and I with my horse. "She is irritable today," Adelle added.
"Do you want anything?" I thought it only chivalrous to ask.
"No." She whispered; eyes alight talking to the horse, "Only the next mare this beautiful stallion produces."
"A deal." I replied sticking out a slightly dirty hand for her to shake. She produced a kerchief and set it in my hand before shaking.
-Hannah-
I couldn't believe what Adelle had told my brother. My brother of all people! As if having one wasn't bad enough, I had two, and one knew I liked necklaces and bracelets!
The sun set on the mountains of Hanor and dinner came before I saw Adelle again, who was animatedly speaking with Matthew, who was doing his best to ignore the whispers between David and Lorelei.
We sat in the informal dining room with Isaac speaking with James. Sarah came around and we struck up a conversation. My parents seemed to be off in their own little world until dessert came. Strawberries dipped in chocolate from the south and assorted candied fruits. I eagerly dug into the strawberries, ignoring the usual sweet meats and slices of cake.
"I don't understand Lorelei," Sarah was telling me, "Such a amiable girl, but she doesn't want a ball!"
"Maybe she doesn't like balls," I said after swallowing the strawberry chunk.
"But she loves dresses, she told me herself!" Sarah said, apparently exasperated. "Plus, it would be a good way to charm more men, which seems to be her occupation! The woman leaves no men for the rest of us less blest females!"
"Matthew hardly seems to care," I pointed out.
"Matthew!" She scoffed. In a less well-bred female, it would be called a snort.
"What? He's better than James, who is probably the male-incarnate of Lorelei."
Sarah turned to me, "At least James doesn't spend all his time hunting."
I grinned maliciously, "Of course he spends his time hunting…" I trailed off. Sarah smacked me.
"That's not what I meant! I meant… animals!" I raised an eyebrow, and earned another smack.
Night fell and we were sent to bed. I sighed and allowed myself to be hustled to bed. I fell into bed and slept soundly.
-Matthew-
The sun rose over the mountains, one of the most beautiful scenes in all Hanor. Likely the whole world. I dressed in my gear and went to David's door and knocked, hard.
No answer.
I knocked again, wondering why he hadn't awoken. Even if the sun didn't wake him, surely my knocks would, we were both light sleepers.
No answer.
Sighing, I tried a third time.
I heard someone moving around and the door opened. David had puffy eyes and looked quite sick.
"I hab a colb." He said through a stuffed-up nose.
"I see…" I leaned back on my heels. "I'll leave you to the physicians then." I said, turning on my heel. David sniffled and shut the door.
I won't let a little cold get in the way of my hunt. I told myself. I rarely got sick, so I wasn't worried. I caught a servant wandering the halls and told her to get a physician for Lord David. She curtsied nervously and sped off. I raised an eyebrow and kept walking.
I tacked my horse and mounted, making sure I had extra strings and full quiver of arrows. I left the stable doors open and galloped off toward the Royal Forest to hunt my quarry: Mother's so-called silver doe.
