A/N: Hey guys. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews in the last chap. All of you guessed well and this chap is dedicated to Willow Prince who almost/kinda got the answer right.

Anyway...read on! :)


THANK YOU MADDIE TESS!

THE BEST BETA READER EVER!

LOVE YOU! :)


Chapter 9: Seeds of Doubt

Lorenzo's POV

"Ok. You can do this" I murmured to myself as I nervously stood outside the library doors.

I took in a deep breath and nodded to myself in reassurance before pushing open the great oak doors. The library was fairly empty and it was so quiet I could have heard a pin drop. I scanned the gigantic room in search of the one person I was so desperate to talk to.

I finally spotted the person in question and a faint but anxious smile made its way to my face. I walked up to the shelf where the figure was standing and reading a book.

I cleared my throat as I stood behind her, causing her to turn around in surprise.

"Hey Ella."

Ella's surprise died down once she saw me and she let out a small laugh before frowning immediately.

"What have I told you about sneaking up on me, you oaf?"

I I had to suppress my laughter at her annoyed face. Ella was really funny when she was annoyed, though I would never let her know that, for that would mean my head would end up on the ground.

"Right. And you know no matter how many times you tell me, nothing's going to change. Anyway…um…I wanted to talk to you." I mumbled, the nervousness building up inside again.

"Shoot." She simply answered, walking towards a lounge chair and sitting down in it. She motioned for me to sit on the sofa next to her.

"Right. Um, well, I have an…Um. I guess I…well what I'm trying to say is…"

Noticing the confused and slightly worried expression on Ella's face, I swallowed whatever fear I had, took in a deep breath and opened my mouth again.

"I think I'm in love with Camilla."

My voice was barely louder than a whisper and it came out so rushed that I was unsure as to whether she caught it, but of course…

"HA! I KNEW IT!"

"Shhhh!" I exclaimed in a whisper as I noticed a few heads turn towards our direction.

"Sorry. Oh my. Oh I just knew it. The way you look at her. Oh Lorenzo…"

"Yes but Ella, please, you cannot tell anyone about this. Not even Edmund. Please Ella, could you please keep this just between us?" I pleaded, putting on my best puppy-dog face.

"Relax. I can keep a secret. Trust me." She smiled softly, though I could catch a glimpse in her eyes that I didn't recognise.

"I do. But anyway, there's a problem. I don't know if Camilla feels the same way. So I was wondering if you could help me?"

Ella beamed from ear to ear and took my hand.

"My friend, you have come to the right person. I am the Queen of matchmaking and I assure you, when I'm done you will be thanking me at your wedding to Camilla."

I flushed deeply at the thought of me and Camilla getting married, but I really did like the sound of that and I knew I would be ecstatic if it actually happened.

"Thank you so much Ella. Man, Edmund is so lucky to have you." I exclaimed, jumping up to hug Ella.

"I know. I don't ever let him forget that."


Edmund's POV

As I laid on my bed and read through some treaties, I heard the door open and looked up to see Ella walking in with a big goofy grin on her face.

"Someone seems happy." I commented as she sat next to me, still in a weird sort of daze.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah." She quickly covered up as she snapped out of her trance.

"Seriously, what happened?" I nudged her playfully and automatically smiled as she looked down with an adorable face.

"Nothing. Really."

I knew she was hiding something but before I could question her further, there was a knock at the door.

"Camilla. Come in." I smiled warmly at her as she shyly walked into the room. I turned and noticed Ella watching Camilla rather closely.

Strange.

"King Edmund, King Peter has requested your presence in the throne room."

I nodded and gathered all the treaty papers before planting a kiss on Ella's cheek and walking out of the room with Camilla.

"Queen Ella seems rather happy." Camilla commented as we walked down the empty hallways towards the throne room.

"Indeed. She does." I replied, skimming through the papers again.

"I mean, it's no surprise. She seemed to be having a good time in the library with that man…"

I stopped in my tracks and stared at Camilla in confusion and shock.

"What?"

Camilla looked down sheepishly and walked back to me.

"Well, I was in the library earlier and I saw Queen Ella sitting with a man. They were laughing and chatting away happily."

"Who is this man?" I asked, my brain going into overdrive.

"Sorry, Kind Edmund, but the man's back was to me. Oh, well I did see…no. No I probably shouldn't say. I've already said too much." Camilla whispered the last line as she placed her hand slightly over her mouth and looked down shamefully.

"Camilla, tell me what you saw."

My mind was screaming all sorts of accusations at Ella but I refused to listen to any of them.

No.

My Ella would never…

"Well, they were holding hands at one point and at another he even…he hugged her."

My heart did a strange and almost painful flip as I listened to Camilla.

"Anything else?"

Camilla seemed to be in thought for a moment and I silently prayed she would just laugh and say she was joking.

"Well, I could hear parts of their conversation. But all I remember was that the man said something to Ella along the lines of you being lucky to have her."

Again, my heart twisted painfully.

This did not sound good.

But my Ella…

No.

She would never do that to me.

I know her, and she isn't like that.

Maybe the man was just a friend.

Yes, he was just a friend…

Who held her hand…

And hugged her.

"Forgive me Kind Edmund. I knew I shouldn't have told you but it sort of slipped out. I'm sure Queen Ella told you about the man. She always tells you everything."

I looked down as I recalled the look on Ella's face as she walked into the room and how she was so reluctant and secretive about telling me why she was so happy.

The look on my face must have given me away as I noticed Camilla flush deeply.

"Oh. She didn't. Well, I'm sure it was nothing." Camilla laughed it off and resumed walking towards the throne room.

As I joined her, my mind was racing with all information Camilla just told me.

Who was this strange man who held Ella's hand and hugged her?

Why would he say I was lucky to have her?

That was almost like flirting…

Why did he make Ella so happy?

But most importantly…

Why was Ella acting so secretive?


Susan's POV

I was sitting in the gardens, watching the stars shine brightly above me. It was a cool, crisp night and I wrapped my arms around myself in an attempt to make myself warmer.

I should have brought a blanket…

Suddenly, I felt something warm and soft plop onto my shoulders and looked up to find Craig wrapping a blanket around me as he sat beside me.

"Thanks." I whispered, clutching the fuzzy blanket closer to me.

"No problem. Though I am curious as to why you are out here in the middle of the night in the cold."

I blushed as Craig gazed at me intently and looked down bashfully.

"Oh I just felt like…watching the stars."

What a lame answer…

"Interesting. Star-gazing is one of my hobbies too."

I turned to Craig who was smiling at me warmly. His smile sent a strange but nice tingle throughout my body.

"I'm sorry about Caspian's outburst at dinner yesterday." I murmured.

Whoa.

What a strange topic to bring up…

"Ah yes, well I'm alright but I just wasn't fine with the way he spoke to you."

My brows furrowed in confusion and I turned to him again.

"I mean, he shouldn't have spoken to you so disrespectfully and condescendingly."

My brows shot up as Craig seemed to get rather worked up as he complained about Caspian.

"Well, it's alright because we always talk to each other like that. We're best friends."

"If I am not wrong, best friends are supposed to support you and raise your spirits, not look down on you and act superior."

I was more confused than ever. Craig seemed really enraged by Caspian and I had never seen him get so red in the face before.

Before I could respond, he had already stood up.

"Well, I do feel rather sleepy. I think I shall go to bed now. Keep the blanket."

With a wink and a smile, Craig turned and walked away.

Craig's words were repeatedly ringing in my head.

Was it true?

Was Caspian really not acting how a best friend should?

It did make sense.

He was a little rude yesterday.

But I've known him for so long, this was just normal.

Or was it just normal to me?


A/N: So, how many of you guessed it was Ella? Haha well now the action/drama is going to start so please stay tuned.

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The more reviews, the faster the next chap. ;)