Firstly I would like to thank to all of you who are still reading my story. It has been ages since I last updated and I am truly sorry. When I am done with exams I will probably have more time to update regularly.

Secondly thanks to my beta for checking my work :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter Eight: Isobel

Allannah was coming around the corner when she bumped into something tall. She slowly looked up and saw a bald man with brown eyes and brown hair. Her eyes widened and she immediately stepped back and apologized,

"I am so sorry I was not looking where I was going"

"It is no problem my lady" the man smiled "I should be more careful when I am walking around but I did not except to meet anyone at this early hour"

"I never sleep late especially now I have some trouble getting to sleep so I thought it will be better for me to get some exercise done when everyone is still asleep"

"I like the way you think, princess"

Allannah frowned slightly and asked,

"You know who I am?"

"It is my job to know people around Sebastian. His mother appointed me as his new bodyguard oh by the way my name is Alec"

"It is nice to meet you Alec" Allannah said with soft voice but moment later her tone changed to a more worried one "Are you expecting any trouble for Sebastian?"

"I always expect trouble, my lady and I agree with his mother that a lot people won't like that King is trying to legitimize him"

"I hope they won't try to kill him" Allannah said quietly. She was getting more worried by moments that passed. The king went to see the pope and try to convince him to get Sebastian legitimized and in his absence Sebastian was acting as a regent. This was a perfect opportunity for someone to try and remove Sebastian from the throne. A lot of nobles were displeased with the thought of Sebastian being their king someday. Some people just did not like changes.

"The King is gone so they have a perfect opportunity to strike" Alec confirmed Allannah suspicions "And by they I mean the Queen. Diane ordered me too beware of her"

"She can be quite cunning and ruthless" Allannah nodded. Absently she slid with her hand across her hip checking if her dagger was still there and when she was sure she could still feel it she added "I will help you keep watch and if I see something out of place I will inform you"

"I would appreciate that but try not to put yourself in danger, my lady. Sebastian would have my head if something happened to you because of me"

Allannah pursed her lips in a thin line and ignored the comment about Sebastian when she responded,

"I would be more than happy to help. This will give me something to do and take my mind of… some things that I would rather not think about"

He smiled but before he could reply he was interrupted by loud footsteps coming from behind him and a loud voice,

"Alec, why on earth are you taking so long to come back? I want to practice before the court is held and…" Sebastian stopped talking when he saw that his bodyguard was talking to Allannah. Sebastian eyes widened in surprise "Oh, I did not see you there Allannah. I am sorry"

Allannah suppressed a sigh and an urge to close her eyes. Before she said anything she collected her thoughts and reminded herself that she was not speaking to him and that he was now engaged to her sister. Princess looked back in Alec's brown eyes and said,

"It was a pleasure to meet you and as I promised I will let you know if I spot something suspicious"

"Likewise princess and maybe someday you can show me some of your moves"

"I would love to" she grinned and curtsied. Then a smile on her lips died when she walked by Sebastian. She did not look him in the eyes because then she knew she would not be able to stay angry with him. She hated the idea of not knowing where she was with him but then again it was her fault because she did not want to speak with him.

"Allannah, wait" he hurried after her and gently grabbed her by her arm. Allannah stopped and let him turn her around.

"What do you want Sebastian?"

"I want to talk with you" he said with a pleading tone "You have been avoiding me since we got back and I want to say that I am sorry"

"You are sorry for what exactly?" she asked and looked him directly in his blue eyes.

"I am sorry that I left without saying anything and for all this mess. Things got a bit out of hand when Mary tried to save Francis"

"A bit out of hand?" she repeated with raised voice "That is understatement of the year and you really don't owe me an apology"

"I think I do. We had something… I am not sure what but I loved it and I want it back the way it was"

He took her palm into his hand and squeezed it gently which made Allannah swallow hard and look away from his face,

"I cannot forget all that has happened or act like nothing changed because a lot is different now. You are going to be a king and…" she stopped talking and after a moment she added with quiet tone "I am sorry but it is not right to go behind my sister's back"

She wanted to leave but he did not let go of her arm. Sebastian stepped forward and caught her face between his hands and gently forced her to look at him,

"Mary does not love me and nor I her she only did this to save my life for which I will be eternally grateful for but I don't want to marry her and I know she feels the same way"

"Sebastian… just don't I beg you" Allannah whispered.

"No. Listen to me please. I will never be able to marry any other woman because she is not you"

He took her by surprise and even if she was able to respond she would have been interrupted by arrival of Mary and Alec. As soon as Sebastian heard them coming he let Allannah go and waited for a Queen and his bodyguard to come into view. Allannah just stood there staring at Sebastian like she had seen him for the first time and thinking about what he had said.

"Oh good you are both here. We need to get to the throne room everyone is already there and waiting for you, Sebastian"

"What about my training?"

"No time for it anymore we will do it later" Alec promised and gestured Sebastian to go first then he followed him and left sisters to walk behind them. Mary sent Allannah a concerned look and asked,

"Are you alright?"

Allannah just nodded not trusting herself to speak and she knew that Mary did not believe her and she was grateful that her sister did not press for details. They were all quiet on their way to the Throne room and once the whole ceremony started Sebastian just sat on the chair and listened to the petitions from his people. It was incredibly boring until they brought forward a young pregnant woman.

"This man claims that his house was robbed by this woman"

Allannah could see the change on Sebastian's face when he saw the woman. She did not want to jump into any conclusions but she knew Sebastian well enough to notice that he cared for that girl.

"What is this about?" Sebastian asked the Lord who presented the petitions.

"He claims that she broke into his house and stole several items of great value"

Now the man that claimed he was a victim of a robbery spoke up,

"Search her house and you will find them I am sure. She probably did it for that baby she has without a husband"

"That is a lie!" woman defended herself and Sebastian tensed even more. Allannah frowned slightly and observed further.

"Then why don't you let me search your house?"

"Because you are lying that's why" then she turned to look at Sebastian "They just want…"

Then she stopped herself and looked away from Sebastian. The Lord stepped closer to her and with sweet voice he inquired,

"Yes? What is that they want, young lady?"

In the corner Mary and Lola were whispering something to each other while Allannah paid close attention to the girl who swallowed and answered,

"Nothing"

The Lord stepped towards Sebastian again and asked,

"My lords regent, shall I have the guards search this woman's house?"

"Of course" Sebastian replied without hesitation "Have her held in the castle until the search is complete"

The guards led her away and when Allannah thought all the excitement was over well dress woman stepped forward. She spoke directly to Sebastian and something about her gave Allannah a strange vibe. She warped her fingers around her dagger but she kept it hidden under her cape. Better safe than sorry.

Then the woman started to move towards Sebastian ignoring Alec's order to stay way. Allannah's heart started beating very fast when she saw that this old lady had a dagger hidden in her sleeve. With panic the princess looked around the room searching for Alec but he was too far away to stop the assassin from killing Sebastian who still had no clue he was about to be assassinated.

Woman had already pulled out her knife and she was about to throw it at Sebastian when Allannah's dagger hit her in the forehead right between her eyes. Her eyes widened and moment later she collapsed lifelessly on the floor. Nobles started to panic and guards started to rush them out of the throne room securing the scene.

Alec was already kneeling next to the dead assassin with Mary and Lola standing next to him when Sebastian looked from the woman and back to Allannah still shocked that someone wanted to kill him. Alec pulled the knife out of the woman's head and said,

"This was meant for the regent" then his eyes stopped on Allannah who was staring at the dead woman on the floor.

"Thank the gods you stopped her" Mary whispered "If you didn't…"

"I didn't stop her, your majesty" Aleck shook his head.

"If you didn't then who did…?"

"I killed her" Allannah said quietly and stepped on Sebastian's left side. Then she looked away from the assassin and addressed the next question to Alec,

"Do you think it was Lord Hugo's plan or do the roots reach deeper?"

Alec smelled the blade of the knife and then grimaced,

"Poison"

Mary's eyes glowed dangerously and then she said furiously,

"It was the Queen Catherine's plan to kill you Bash"

"Good luck proving any of it" Sebastian sighed then he gestured at the dead assassin "Seeing that she is dead she cannot give us any information about who sent her or confirm our story to the king"

The tone of his voice made Allannah to turn her look and glare at him,

"Excuse me for trying to save your life. Next time I will aim somewhere else but do not blame me if you end up dead because of it"

"I wasn't trying to criticize you" Sebastian explained turning towards Allannah, who only narrowed her eyes and responded,

"It certainly sounded like you did"

"It was not my intention I assure you" he repeated. Allannah nodded relaxed her face then she walked towards the body and knelt down next to it,

"She is well dressed but I do not recognize her so she probably isn't noble and her attempt was rather poor so she isn't a professional assassin either"

"She is probably one of Queen's lackeys" Mary suggested looking at her sister "I will go there and speak with her while you and Alec take Sebastian back to his chambers. I will join you when I am done speaking with the Queen which might take a while"

Allannah nodded in agreement. When Mary was gone she accompanied Alec and Sebastian. They walked in silence Alec was probably processing the recent events while Allannah's thoughts were back at the unexpected Sebastian's confession from before the ceremony in the throne room started. She was still trying to decide what to make of it and when she was no near any conclusion she chased the thoughts out of her mind and said quietly,

"You go ahead without me I have an errand to run before I can join you"

"Where are you going?"

Allannah stopped walking before she answered with neutral voice,

"I am going to bring that girl from the throne room with me"

"Why? She does not know anything about the attempt on my life" Sebastian said with a defensive tone. Allannah suppressed the sudden wave of jealousy when she responded,

"I am aware of that but I know you and she have some history together and I know that there is a lot more here than it meets the eye. I will be back momentarily"

She did not give him the chance to respond nor did she want him too. She tried hard not to assume what was pretty obvious at this point. Somewhere in the back of her heart she hoped that she was wrong and that that woman wasn't pregnant with Sebastian's child.

She got that familiar chill down her spine when she reached the holding cells. This was not a place for a pregnant woman to be, guilty or not. There were two guards patrolling in the dungeons and the one that was closer to Allannah sent her annoyed look which she ignored.

"I have orders to speak with the girl myself"

Guard narrowed his eyes slightly and wordlessly gestured Allannah to proceed but the princess stayed where she stood,

"I need to speak with her in private after I am finished she will stay in the care of my personal maid because the dungeon is certainly not a place for woman in her condition don't you agree?"

She saw that the guard did not like the idea of letting Allannah take care of the girl but he opened his cell and let the woman out. Allannah offered the girl her arm and then lead her out of the dark and cold place. She left that the woman was shivering so once they were far enough from the guards she stopped and took off her cape then she warped it around the girl's shoulders.

"Here you go that should help with the cold"

"Thank you" she whispered "But I do not understand why you are so good to me. No one treated me well since I got here"

"I apologize for that" Allannah replied "French court can be a nasty place to live. My name is Allannah and you must have heard of my sister Queen Mary?"

"Yes I heard a lot about her" the girl nodded "My name is Isobel"

Allannah gently took Isobel's palm into her hand and lead her towards Sebastian's chambers. The girl reluctantly followed the princess and after a while she quietly asked,

"Where are you taking me?"

"You know Sebastian don't you?" Allannah asked when they turned around the corner and climbed the stairs to the floor with Sebastian's chambers. Isobel's face brightened when she heard Allannah say Sebastian's name and the girl's lips curved into a small smile,

"Yes I know him but I do wonder how you know him you are probably not the Allannah I heard so much over the years?"

Isobel's words surprised the princess and she barely hid it. Without looking at Isobel she answered her question with the lightest tone she could muster up,

"I might have been me. We were really good friends when we were younger and I spent a lot of my childhood here so I would not be surprised if he had mentioned me"

"Mentioned? You have to be joking, for some period of the time you were the only one he talked about"

Allannah felt the small blush creeping on her face but luckily she did not have to reply because they were standing right before Sebastian's chambers. Princess gestured Isobel to walk in first and she closely followed the girl inside.

When they entered both Sebastian and Alec looked in their way. Sebastian's face changed to surprised then to happy and a split second later he seemed almost worried. He breathed,

"Isobel"

Isobel smiled and rushed forward into his spread arms. Sebastian gave her a tight hug and after few long moments he let her go but he still held her hands in his palms. Allannah tried to suppress yet another surge of jealousy but she was not as successful as before. Her fists were clenched and her fingernails were leaving the mark on her skin.

"I have missed you so much you cannot even believe" Isobel started "Ever since father died it has been lonely and too quiet"

"I am sorry I should have visited more often" Sebastian apologized and he really meant it "Now look at you, you are all glowing"

"Pregnancy will do that to you" she smiled. Allannah transferred her weight on her left foot and crossed her arms then she took a deep breath in and said loudly,

"I am sorry to interrupt your little reunion but we do not have much time. Your father is trying to legitimize you and if the nobles find out that she is carrying your child…"

Before she could continue Sebastian interrupted,

"She is not carrying my child. Isobel is my cousin"

"Ohh…" Allannah said intelligently. She immediately felt better and relived at the recent discovery but something still did not end up "If she is your cousin they why does the Queen want to use her?"

Sebastian glanced at Isobel who nodded letting him share her secrets,

"Well she probably thinks what you assumed and it is better that way. My uncle was… as Catholics would say a heretic and he was killed for that"

"So if they made the real connection between you two you could never be king" Allannah finished for him relaxing her stance. Her eyes stopped on Isobel who looked a bit too pale for her liking "Isobel why don't you lie down for a bit? You look at least eight and a half months pregnant and standing all day cannot have been good for the baby"

Isobel followed Allannah advice and let Alec lead her towards Sebastian couch and make her feel comfortable while Allannah stepped closer to Sebastian and sighed,

"We need to come up with a plan and get her out of here before it is too late. The Queen has her claws everywhere and Isobel is not safe at the Castle"

"What do you propose we do?"

"I do not know yet" Allannah admitted and glanced at him "I suggest we wait for Mary maybe she will have some ideas she always has something up her sleeve"

"That is true" he agreed. Allannah sent him one last look before she walked over to Isabel and sat down on a small chair next to the sofa. She looked at her with warm smile on her face asking,

"How are you feeling?"

Isobel thought about it before she answered the princess with sleepy voice,

"I am only a bit tired, my back is sore and my head is killing me other than that I think I am alright"

"That is a wonderful news" Allannah nodded and placed her hand over Isobel's forehead checking if her temperature was right because she still looked a bit unhealthy to her "You don't have high temperature which is good. What about during pregnancy, have you experienced any trouble?"

"Not that I know of" she answered with widened eyes and her voice was a bit shaky "Why? Do you think something is wrong with the baby?"

Allannah shook her head taking Isobel's palm in her head answering,

"No. I apologize if I scared you. I simply wanted to be prepared if the baby decides to come during your stay at the castle"

"That is a relief" Isobel sighed then her expression saddened "I wish I knew how far along I am exactly but no one told me"

"Do not trouble yourself. It is not good for the baby. Let me take care of things for you, alright?" Allannah advised gently and when Isobel nodded she added "Try to get some sleep while we make a plan how to get you somewhere safe"

Before she walked away she felt Isobel gripping her hand. Princess looked back at the pregnant lady as she thanked her,

"Thank you for everything"

"It is no trouble" redhead smiled and then joined Sebastian and Alec who were standing near the window and eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Have not your mothers thought you that eavesdropping is bad?" Allannah asked with raised eyebrow when she was standing close enough for them to hear her quiet question. Men shared a look and then shook their heads at the same time which made her roll her eyes "Well then let me teach you. Eavesdropping can get you killed"

"Are you implying that you will kill us, my lady?" Alec asked with complete seriousness but from the twinkle in his eye you could see that he was joking.

"Of course not but someone else might" she answered looking through the window "But moving on to the more important topic, have you thought of a plan yet?"

They both shook their heads and not long after that Mary joined them in the room confirming their suspicions that Queen was behind all of the commotion. They decided that they will dress her up as one of Allannah's ladies because the guards won't be suspicious when it comes to the princess.

After Isobel was ready to go she and Allannah rode in the carriage away from the castle while Sebastian and Mary will follow then taking different path to avoid rising suspicion. They would meet deeper in the forest and then continued the journey together.

Once they were far enough from the castle Allannah took off her fancy dress and safely folded it on the seat next to her. Now she was sitting in her usual leather pants and loose tunic. She had two daggers hanged around her waist just for the safety if they were by any chance attacked by bandits.

It didn't pass long after they met up with Mary and Sebastian and for them to notice that they were followed by the Queen's guards so they decided to take the path through the Blood Wood. It might have not been the wisest choice but it was the only one because they all knew that the guards won't follow them through that part of the woods.

Allannah wasn't comfortable making camp in the middle of the Blood Wood but she did not complain she helped Isobel to get comfortable and with Mary they made a small fire to keep them all warm. When they were all getting to get some rest Isobel's water broke.

"Let me get some water" Mary offered but Allannah refused her quickly having a suspicion what Alec and Sebastian might had placed around their camp "You stay here and make her comfortable I will get the water"

Mary nodded and tried her best to make Isobel comfortable. Sebastian and Alec did not know what to do so they only paced around feeling helpless. When Allannah returned the sisters tried their best to deliver the baby safely but none of them had done such thing before. Mary took point because she saw the Nuns deliver children before.

After long, exhausting and painful hours Isobel gave birth to a pretty little girl. Mary wiped the sweat of the Isobel's forehead and helped her change into something cleaner while Allannah took care of the baby. Once the mother and daughter were clean and warm princess placed the small girl in Isobel's arms with a smile on her lips,

"Here you go"

Isobel looked at her daughter her eyes gleaming proudly,

"She is so beautiful"

"I see she takes after her mother" Mary agreed looking at both of them. Allannah knew that her sister felt the same as she did at that moment. Seeing Isobel and her daughter they both started longing to have their own family someday but with all things so complicated at court they realized that it won't be so easy.

All the happiness vanished the next morning when Allannah got up early wanting to check on Isobel and what she saw filled her with fear. Sebastian was already up and when he saw her expression he knew something was wrong. Allannah knelt down next to Isobel who had her daughter in a tight embrace.

"This isn't good" Allannah whispered moving her palm to Isobel's head "She is burning up and I fear she might have lost too much blood"

"What are you saying?"

Mary joined her sister with the same horrified expression,

"I saw this happen few times before and it…" her voice died because she did not want to finish the sentence. Isobel opened her eyes and searched for Sebastian,

"It is okay. I know that I will not live much longer so I need you to promise me something" Sebastian took her hand into his and nodded,

"Anything"

"Promise me that you will take care of my daughter as she was your own. That is the only thing I need to know"

"I promise you" he swore looking sad. Isobel smiled weakly taking one last look at her daughter's face before slowly closing her eyes. No one moved or said anything for a long time they only sat there not fully understanding that they had just lost yet another friend.

They were awoken from their trance by the baby who started crying. Allannah picked her up and covered her with addition blankets so that the baby was warm. She looked down at her with soft yet sad expression and murmured a lullaby.

"What are we going to do with the baby?" Sebastian asked "I can't just bring her to the castle I have no way of explaining her presence there"

"That is true" Allannah agreed still not looking away from the girl's face. She was now peacefully sleeping in her arms.

"But I do not want her to be raised by strangers" he admitted. Allannah glanced at him her mind racing trying to think of a solution and then she suggested something unthinkable,

"You can't adopt her but I can. I am a princess and there have been known cases of royals adopting a baby here and there. I will say that I knew her mother and that she died at the child birth. As soon as I saw the baby she stole my heart and I could not bear the thought of someone raising her"

Sebastian thought about her suggestion for a while and after a long consideration he nodded,

"That could work but you should not return to the castle with us. You shouldn't be back for at least a couple of days so that it doesn't look to suspicious. I know that the Queen will be on to us but she cannot prove any of this"

"Allannah are you sure you want to do this" Mary asked carefully "Raising a child is time consuming and responsible job and once you start you cannot change your mind"

"I am aware of that Mary" Allannah nodded looking down at the girl once more. Then she felt Sebastian's arm warp around her shoulders she instinctively snuggled closer to his chest and asked, "What do you want to name her? She is your niece after all"

"I don't know" he responded quietly. Allannah thought about it for a second and then suggested,

"You could name her Isobel after her mother. I doubt anyone will make the connection and her second name could he Diane after your mother"

"That is an excellent idea" Sebastian smiled. Allannah gently freed herself from his embrace and handed him his niece saying,

"Isobel Diane soon to be Stuart, meet your uncle"

Sebastian accepted the baby and while he held her he did not move his eyes from Isobel's face. At that same moment the baby opened her eyes and they were in the same shade of blue as her mothers. Allannah let them have their moment and helped Alec and Mary to break down the camp and get ready to move out.

When they had everything cleaned up and ready to go Alec stepped towards Sebastian addressing him gently,

"My lord it is time for us to return to the Castle"

"And for me to reach the nearest village and find someone who recently had a baby to feed the poor thing. She must be starving by now"

Sebastian stepped towards the redhead princess and hand her the baby. Allannah left terrible for taking the baby away from his because she could see that he already cared deeply for his niece.

"I am sorry for taking her but it is one of the safest choices"

"I know" he responded looking straight into her eyes "I am happy that she will be with you that way I know she will be well taken care of"

"We will be back soon, you know" she informed him "It is not like we are moving away to Italy or something"

She left Sebastian's palm on her cheek slowly brushing his thumb across it,

"I will miss you"

"I will miss you too" she admitted but then added more sternly "But I am still upset with you"

"And I thought you have forgotten about that" he managed to smile while she rolled her eyes and said goodbye to her sister and Alec. They she and little Isobel were on their way to the nearest Village which was only an hour walk from their camp.

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