Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and to "huntergirl" whom I can't thank personally.
X
A Little Glossary.
Lawrencia :- the Winchesters' home kingdom, at the moment conquered by Azazel.
Arkansia :- a neighbouring kingdom ruled by King Adrian, father to the Princess Jessica.
Arkadelphia :- Arkansia's Castle town where the runaway princes are hiding out in incognito as soldiers in a
garrison of Azazel's men, sent to hunt them down.
X
X
Chapter Twenty-Five.
X
Dean was the first to pull himself up thanks to his soft landing on top of his brother and he saw Jessica's stunned expression
turning to alarm. He just managed to rush forward and put a hand over her opening mouth to smother her call for help, before it
brought the guards running; but Jessica was no faint-hearted maiden and she delivered a bone-crunching kick to Dean's shin
causing him to gulp down the vulgar curse that came to his lips, but he managed ignore the pain and hang on to the struggling
princess.
X
By this time, Sam had pulled himself up and he tried to calm Jessica down. If he couldn't get her to listen, for him and Dean it
would all be over and they would be dragged back to Lawrencia in chains.
He held his arms open wide and tried to be as unthreatening as possible. The only part of him that was recognisable at the
moment were his eyes and that's what he went with. He widened them and tried to puppy-eye her.
X
"Princess Jessica, we're not going to harm you. Look at me closely," he began softly. "Don't you recognise us? It's me, Samuel and
that's Prince Dean that's holding on to you." He stared at her earnestly, diffusing as much sincerity as he could into his voice and
body-language.
X
Jessica's fear-filled eyes took on a sceptical expression as if the idea that this dirty, unshaven soldier could be the scholarly, neat
Prince Samuel that she knew, was utterly impossible, but the wide moss-green eyes were identical to Sam's; she knew THAT
because she had mooned over them so many times.
X
Sam perceived her change of expression and continued.
"Jessica, listen. We have something very important to tell you. If you promise not to shout for help Dean will let go of you."
She turned her eyes to what she could see of Dean; his bottle green eyes looked familiar too, although he was just as unkempt
as the supposed Sam was.
She was by no means completely convinced, but it could be them.
X
"Jessica," Sam repeated. "We are not going to hurt you, I promise. Just hear us out and if you don't believe what we tell you, we'll
go back over the wall and you'll never see us again. Please Jessica," he pleaded, eyes as sincere as he could make them.
She nodded, finally persuaded. There was no doubt that those eyes belonged to Prince Samuel of Lawrencia.
X
The brothers exchanged glances
[Let's hope she doesn't scream when I let go,] Dean's eyes said.
[Well, we'll soon find out,] was Sam's answering look.
X
Dean slowly removed his hand from Jessica's mouth, not wholly convinced that she wouldn't cry out, but the girl stood quietly, her
expression calm. Now that she had identified them as the Princes, she sensed that she was in no real danger.
X
"Prince Samuel is that really you?" She asked bewildered. "What on Earth are you doing here dressed like that? You know that
the soldiers whose uniform you are wearing, are the very ones who are searching for you?"
X
"Speak quietly Jessica," Sam admonished.
"We have to talk to you; it's very important and the fate of your father's kingdom maydepend on whether or not you believe what
we're about to tell you," Sam continued, as Dean took his place at his brother's side.
X
"Is there anywhere we can talk more privately?" Dean asked pulling Jessica behind an adjoining bush.
She shook herself free from his grasp and pondered for a moment; getting two soldiers across the garden and into the Castle
unseen would be impossible.
X
"There's a little summer-house at the bottom of the garden," she concluded finally "We can go there. Make your way down to it
following this wall and slip in. I'll take the main path through the garden and tell my ladies that I want to be left alone for a
while. Go!"
X
"Jessica, please don't betray us. We've put ourselves in great danger to help you. Don't let us down," were Sam's parting words
as she turned to go
"I said I would listen to what you have to say. I will not betray you, I swear," she answered solemnly.
Sam nodded as he and Dean set off, keeping their backs to the wall and concealing themselves carefully behind any available
greenery.
X
Jessica was a product of her day; an era when women had a set of rules of behaviour laid out for them to follow, but she had
always felt them tight. Why did the men get to have all the fun, she had frequently asked herself.
Truly the only way for a woman to be in charge of her own destiny was if she married. As a married woman she would have the
authority over her whole house-hold and be able to come and go at will, answerable only to her husband and she had set her
sights on Prince Samuel Winchester for that role, from the first moment he had turned his hypnotic eyes and sunny smile on her.
Nothing had changed since then, although she didn't quite understand why the sight of him dressed as a grimy soldier had made
her even more resolved to have him.
X
She set out towards the summer-house. She would listen to what the Princes had to say.
She had heard that Azazel had laid waste to Lawrencia with some kind of traitorous stratagem. Nothing could be kept secret in
such a restricted area as her father's Castle, and she also was aware that her father had albeit unwillingly, opened diplomatic
relations with the new king of Lawrencia.
Azazel had already conquered it, and there would have been no point in King Adrian making an enemy out of the new King;
so he had allowed his troops into Arkadelphia to search for the runaway princes; princes that she had just vowed not to betray
and who were waiting for her to join them.
X
The summer-house was a flimsy construction, barely large enough to hold all three but no-one would bother them there for the
time-being.
X
The brothers had slipped uneventfully into safety of the little construction.
"What do you think, Sam? You know her best. Will she listen?"
"I know her best?" was the incredulous reply. "I have spoken to her only a few times, mostly when we were younger, so I know
her as much as you do!"
"Little brother, that young lady has marked you out for her own, even if you haven't realised it yet, " Dean teased as he watched
Sam's face take on a reddish tinge.
"Shut up Dean!" he answered, pissed. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Well, Sammy, all I know is that when you turned those puppy eyes on her, she melted like hot butter."
"Oh, right, smart ass! You melt too when I turn them on you, Dean; but that doesn't mean I'm going to marry you! " Sam retorted
smugly, for once leaving his big brother speechless, or nearly.
"You little bitch, Sammy!
"Jerk"
X
The brothers cocked their heads in attention at the sounds of someone approaching and breathed in relief as the slender shape
of Jessica entered.
X
"Here I am. I'm listening," was all she said.
Somehow Sam felt overly self-conscious after Dean's little rant about him and Jessica, but he began nevertheless.
X
"Just how much do you know about what happened at Lawrencia?" Sam asked Jessica.
"I know what the gossip around Arkadelphia reports, namely that Azazel is said to have entered the Castle through a secret
passage revealed to him by someone inside, and that King John was deposed and killed."
X
She saw the brothers' faces sadden at the reminder of their father's fate, but she ploughed on.
"I know that my Royal Father accepted the new King, saying that there was nothing to be gained by making an enemy of him now
that he was already ensconced on the throne."
X
The brothers looked at one another.
There had just been ordinary diplomatic relations between Arkansia and Lawrencia but they were a little taken aback, and felt a
little betrayed by the swift acceptance that King Adrian had shown Azazel.
X
"Do you know why he has allowed Azazel's soldiers hospitality here?" Sam asked.
"My father thought that there would be no harm in it as he was sure that this was the last place two runaway princes would
come; it was too obvious a choice."
X
Another ironic glance passed between the brothers at her words, but Sam had found the opening he needed.
"If that's the case, then why would Azazel send a garrison of soldiers to search for us here, if the chances of us coming to
Arkansia were so low?
Wouldn't it be more logical if he had sent them to spy out the defences of Arkansia in prospect of a future attack? Why stop with
Lawrencia?"
X
Jessica seemed to ponder his words for a moment before she answered.
"I would think he still has his hands full consolidating his conquest of Lawrencia. The last thing he would do is take on another
fight so soon."
X
"Azazel hardly lost a man taking Lawrencia. We were too complacent; too used to peace and prosperity and that made us all
incautious. Then having a helping hand from inside the Castle made things even easier," explained Dean firmly, taking over from
Sam.
"Your father's kingdom is smaller than ours and Azazel would have no trouble conquering it, not when he already has troops
stationed right in the Castle-yard, thanks to your father's short-sighted benevolence!"
"Jessica, at least speak to your father about what we have told you. Warn him that Azazel is not to be trusted," Dean finished off.
X
To the boys' surprise Jessica turned on them, her words harsh.
"And just what do you expect me to warn him about? That two runaway princes believe that although Azazel sent some troops
here to search for them, his true intent is to wage war on Arkansia? I think my father would need more proof than that before
taking any action against him and plunging us into a war."
X
"Jessica, I can't give you certain proof but I had a…a…," he looked over at Dean, who just shrugged, as if to say, go with it,
"...vision. I know," he continued, "that it sounds even stranger, but I had one too before Lawrencia was invaded and I just
brushed it off as a bad dream, instead of which it came true.
Earlier today I had a similar vision only this time it was Arkansia that was conquered."
X
"A vision?" repeated Jessica sceptically. "Well I'm sure that my father will be persuaded to believe me completely when I add that
one of those runaway princes also had a "vision" of this hypothetical conquest!
I've heard enough! I said that I would listen to what you had to say but if even I don't believe you, how can I convince my father
to.
Now you had both better get out of here before you're discovered and captured.
Rest assured that I will not betray your presence; this I swear."
X
"But Jessica at least keep your eyes and ears open, you might hear something suspicious that will make you believe what we are
telling you, " Sam implored, dejected that he hadn't been able to convince her.
"Sam, what's come over you? I always got the impression that you were a level headed, intelligent person and now I find you
babbling on about plots and visions. I hardly recognise you any more!" she replied astonished.
X
Suddenly Sam put his hands to his head and fell to the ground, while Dean pushed unceremoniously past Jessica and knelt down
in front of his brother, taking hold of his arms.
As before Sam calmed down at Dean's touch and his vision played out naturally.
X
"Sammy, are you all right?" Dean asked as his brother seemed to come back to reality again.
"Yeah, I'm okay Dean."
"Well! What did you see, brother?"
X
"I saw the first line of Azazel's soldiers on the left bank of the river, ready to attack Arkansia two days hence.
Jessica; if you cannot convince your father of anything else, then at least ask him to send out a spy to see if there really are men
gathering there," Sam stated calmly, looking up at her.
"If you wish to speak with us you know where we are hidden"
X
"Come on Sammy. We've done all we can. It's up to Jessica now if she wants to believe us or not," ordered Dean, putting an end
to the meeting.
X
And without another word the brothers made their way to the wall and descended carefully to the other side leaving Jessica with
her mouth hanging open!
X
XXXX TBC XXXX
X
Sorry if any stupid mistakes have slipped through. :(
Your thoughts are always appreciated. :)