The morning of the Kings Cup dawned bright and clear, which did not match the mood in the Palace.
It was getting close to the time to leave, when their plan began to unravel, as the Queen was called away on urgent business, meaning Liam had to take her place.
He got in the car with Ted, willing himself not to look at him, certain, if he did, that he would happily strangle him.
The ride to Wembley was a long one, and Liam could feel himself getting anxious.
"Don't worry, your highness, I'm sure you will be fine."
Liam forced himself to smile at him.
Meanwhile James had already arrived at the Stadium and had procured the necessary swipe access card, while Eleanor and Jasper were en-route. It would be their job to enter the control room and change the video over.
James was stood waiting outside the door to the control room when Eleanor and Jasper reached it. James gave Jasper the swipe key, and the two of them went in, returning moments later with an unconscious body. Eleanor took the card off Jasper and opened a storage room next to the control room. This is where James and Jasper hid the body.
Once Jasper and Eleanor were in the control room, James returned to secure the car.
Eleanor ran to the window, and she saw the car that had Liam in it arrive.
"You need to hurry up!" she said "It's almost time!"
"No shit" Jasper replied, plugging his phone into the console and tapping a few buttons. He alternated his gaze between the football pitch and his phone. The upload of the video was being agonisingly slow.
It hit 100% as Liam began his speech.
"It's up. One button press will play it for millions of people."
"I'll do it." She said, but when the moment came to press the button she couldn't. She looked at Jasper, emerald locking with blue, and he pressed the button for her. They stood by the window watching what was about to happen. Eleanor's hand sought Jasper's as they watched the screen that was showing a memorial to her father, slowly turn to the CCTV footage of her father being killed.
They watched as James rushed Liam off the pitch, leaving Ted behind. They also watched as fans rushed the pitch at Ted.
Eleanor felt Jasper let go of her hand, take he elbow and guide her from the room. They made it to the main concourse without meeting another soul, on the concourse, however, when they got to the side of the arena, there were dozens of people and paparazzi. As one, they all turned to look at her.
Flash bulbs started going off in Eleanor's face. It was nothing she wasn't used to, but this time, she was emotionally raw, and, even though Jasper was managing to clear a way through for her, she was struggling to keep up.
Jasper kept glancing back at her, and when he noticed her become completely overwhelmed, he stepped back to her, wrapped a protective arm around he waist and he guided her forwards, whilst also clearing a path to the car.
He got her to the car, and she climbed in. Jasper climbed in behind her, and as the door was closed, the last thing anyone heard was Eleanor shouting:
"SHIT!"
Jasper had jumped in the car after Eleanor, his side hurting like hell from the effort of getting her there. Once his body hit the seat, he heard Eleanor shout, and felt something pressed against him. He looked down and Eleanor had taken off her jacket and was pressing it onto his wound site. Her hands were red, and bloody. At least it explained the pain.
He heard her shout something else, but he was starting to get woozy.
The next thing he knew, he was being dragged out of the car, onto a gurney. He was rushed through many doors and then everything went black.
"Will he be ok?" Eleanor asked as she watched Jasper rushed into theater.
"What happened, Miss?" a nurse asked, before Eleanor spun to face her, before correcting herself: "sorry, your Highness."
"It's ok. I take it you watch the news?"
"I do."
"That person that just got rushed out of here is Jasper Frost."
"The body guard who was shot recently?"
Eleanor nodded, willing herself not to cry. "He was getting me back to the car after the King's Cup fiasco. When he got in after me, the wound just started, well..."
Eleanor indicated her hands and clothes, which were covered in Jasper's blood.
"Can I stay with him?" Eleanor asked.
"Let's get you cleaned up first." The nurse suggested, taking pity on her, and escorting her to the staff room.
It took an hour of Eleanor pacing the corridors, trying to get through to Liam or her mum on the phone to let them know she was ok, but Jasper needed treatment, for him to be wheeled out of surgery and into a recovery room.
"Doctor?" Eleanor asked tentatively.
"Princess, I'm sorry, I didn't see you. How can I help you?"
"How is he?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you as you aren't his next of Kin"
"CRAP! I need to call her"