AN: Here's the second to last chapter. Hope you like it. Xxxxxxxxxxx.
Caleb was woken up by the sun light streaming through the wooden door. He looked down at Hanna who was sleeping next to him with his arms wrapped around her. Then he looked at James who was asleep next to Hanna in his cot. Their first night with him had been good he had woken for feeds a few times but quickly settled after it. Caleb had insisted on staying with Hanna and helping in any way he could.
"Morning." Hanna whispered as she woke up.
"Morning." He whispered back kissing her on the lips. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good." She smiled kissing him back. She looked outside and noticed the sun was up. "You should go the King and queen will be looking for you."
He sighed knowing she was right. "I promise I'll come back as soon as I can."
Hanna looked down and tried to hold back the tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong Han?" He asked lifting her face up gently with his hand.
"Your marrying Alison." She sobbed as he pulled her into his chest.
"Trust me Hanna, I not." He replied one last time kissing her forehead.
He left the small house a few minutes later and nodded at Toby who was walking up and down the street keeping his eye on Hanna's house. He nodded back keeping his hand firmly on the sword at his side.
Caleb entered his chambers to find his servants and the queen pacing around his bedroom.
"Where have you been?" She bellowed.
Caleb just stared at her in complete disgust. She had threatened Hanna and their innocent baby.
The queen had noticed his absence from the dance when everyone had started to leave. She instantly scanned the room for Hanna and noticed her absence as well. She ran to the window in time to see Caleb walk across the courtyard with Hanna by his side carrying a baby.
Her original plan had been to make threaten Hanna so she never spoke to Caleb again but make him watch his child grow, putting him through torture. That clearly didn't work though as Caleb had spent the night with her and the baby.
She just glared back at Caleb and started walking towards the door.
"Make sure your in the hall in ten minutes." She said as she left.
Caleb sighed as the servants started changing him into his clothes for the wedding.
—
He entered the hall ten minutes later to find all of the guests in their seats. There was lords and ladies from both his and Alison's kingdom and Alison's family.
He made his way up to the top where the priest stood talking to the King and queen. He still didn't know how he was going to stop the wedding. He didn't want to make a big scene in front of everyone but he couldn't go through with it.
Before he could do anything he was shoved into place by the queen as she took her place next to the King with their crowns on their heads. The music started and Alison entered the hall and started walking up the isle beside her father.
She was dressed in a white lace dress and her hair was curled perfectly. All the make up and jewels and finest materials were nothing compared to the beauty Hanna held in just her tatty dress.
Alison reached him and stood opposite smirking at him. Caleb was about to speak when Toby burst through the doors. He was panting and had a bloody nose.
"They've taken her." He shouted looking straight at Caleb.
"What?" Caleb asked leaving Alison and making his way down the steps.
"Soldiers came, there was too many Caleb, I'm sorry. They took Hanna and the baby." Toby explained.
Caleb whipped his head around and marched up to the queen.
"What have you done to them?" He demanded grabbing her neck in his hand in a rage.
As soon as his fingers touched her the soldiers around the room pulled out their swords, as did the King.
"Back away Caleb." He warned pressing the sword into his toned chest.
He pulled his hand away but didn't move back. "What have you done to them?" He asked more calmly.
She smiled deviously at him and then looked to the main doors and nodded at the soldiers guarding it. They opened to reveal Hanna with a pair of chains wrapped around her wrists and two soldiers grabbing her arms and pulling her to the front of the hall. They threw her down on the floor.
Caleb shot forward making his way to her before the queens words stopped him. "Touch her and the child gets it." She warned pointing to the side door where a soldier walked in carrying a screaming baby in one hand and a sharp knife in the other.
Caleb stopped in his tracks. He wanted so desperately to pick Hanna up and carry her to safety with James but it was impossible without one of them getting hurt.
"Your sick. Your a sick, twisted, evil bitch." He shouted pointing at the queen. "Your holding a knife to a baby. He's not even one day old. He's done nothing wrong."
"Don't you dare speak to your mother like that." The King bellowed pointing his sword at Caleb again.
"She's not my mother." He shouted. "Your not my parents."
"Of course we are."
"Don't even try to deny it. You became King after my father died and when I was born you took me away from my mother and made her disappear." He said causing all of the guests to gasp. "You took me so you would have an heir to the thrown because sons always inherit the thrown after their fathers died. Well I am King James' son which means I should have been made King not you. The minute I became sixteen you should have given the thrown to me."
"You have no proof." The queen screamed.
"Yes I do. Ask anyone who worked in the castle when I was born they'll tell you that she didn't give birth to me." He said pointing straight at the queen in disgust. "Queen Claudia did. And I have this." He said reaching up for his fathers chain around his neck but then he remembered where it was.
He looked over at Hanna who knew exactly what he was looking for. She reached up and pulled it out of her dress and took it from around her neck, struggling because of the handcuffs.
"That's my fathers chain. My mother left it with me." He said.
The priest hurried forward and pulled it from Hanna's hand examining it. "It is." He muttered. "I recognise it from King James." He said gently putting it back around Hanna's neck.
"If this is true then prince Caleb should be made king." A Lord said from the side of the room. The whole room nodded. They hated the King and queen and what they had turned the small kingdom into. It used to be a fair and happy place but now it was miserable and the rich were too rich while the poor were dying of hunger. They thought that if Caleb really was King James' son then he might be at least a little bit like him and restore happiness to the land.
"You could never be King." The queen bellowed.
Caleb looked back at her. He could tell her and the King were nervous they had huddled to the back and both gripped onto weapons as they looked down the halls of people who were quickly turning against them. "Why not? I care about my people unlike you and I want to help them. I want to make this kingdom happy again like it was before you came to the thrown and I want to give them food and help them grow crops and keep animals and build there life's back again after you ripped them apart." Caleb said.
Then he slowly made his way over to the soldier who was holding James. He help his hands up peacefully and silently begged that he wouldn't do anything to the baby. The soldier nodded and let Caleb take him from his hold. He pulled his son close and rubbed his back soothing him. Then he looked at Hanna. She let out a sigh of relief when James was out of danger. He walked over to her and helped her up pulling her in for a hug. She buried her head in his neck and let a few tears of relief.
When she pulled away she pressed a kiss onto James' head and took him from Caleb.
"I'm so sorry." Caleb whispered.
Hanna smiled up at his and shook her head. "It's not your fault." She said running her hand along his cheek. That's when Caleb noticed her hands were still chained together. He pulled a guard aside and got him to unlock the chains.
"My lord, it is your choice?" The priest asked making sure Caleb wanted to be King.
He nodded. He wasn't doing this for himself. He was doing it for his people and Hanna and James.
He kissed Hanna's head and made his way back to the King and queen.
"You have an hour to collect everything you will need before you are banished from this kingdom." He said.
"Please Caleb. We have been good to you all these years. We took you in and treated you like our son." The queen begged.
Caleb scoffed. "That's why your not being sentenced to death. Pack your things and leave. And I warn you know if you ever step foot in this kingdom again you won't be pardoned."
He had a guard lead them out and turned back to the priest. "You just have to pick a queen now." He said looking between Alison and Hanna.
Caleb smiled and looked at Hanna who was gently bouncing James in her arms and pressing kisses onto his head.
He turned and walked over to Alison. "I'm sorry but I won't be marrying you. Thank you for coming and you are free to leave." He said simply before turning back to Hanna not giving her a chance to reply.
"Your choosing a servant over me?" Alison called in disgust.
He turned back and smiled at her cockily. "Yes I am." He replied turning back to Hanna again.
He smiled and she smiled back completely lighting up the room. He walked over to her and took her free hand in his. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss onto her lips.
When he pulled away he leant his forehead on hers. "Marry me?" He smiled.
Hanna pulled her head away so she could see his face to see if he was serious. He was.
"Now?" She asked looking down at her tatty dress.
"I don't want to wait a second longer." He smiled back.
—
"I do." Hanna said smiling at Caleb and running her thumb along the ring on his finger.
"I do." Caleb smiled as he slipped his mothers wedding ring on to Hanna's delicate finger. It fit perfectly.
"You may now kiss the bride." The priest announced as Caleb placed his hand on Hanna's cheek and pulled her lips to his. They kissed passionately until they had to pull away for air.
Hanna looked over and smiled at Ashley who was holding James. All of Alison's guests had left and after the whole commotion with the King and queen had calmed down they found a beautiful dress that belonged to Caleb's mother for Hanna to wear.
Ashley handed the baby to Hanna and she lay him in her arms as Caleb pulled her back in for another long kiss.
They were finally together.
AN: Hope you liked it. Yay Haleb are finally together. The next chapter will be an epilogue a few years into the future. I have some of it written out but need some suggestions on what should happen and how Haleb will be. Please give me some ideas and review. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
