Disclaimer: I own no one so far except, Catherine, Charming, Lauren, and Alex
Lessons were all forgotten in the chaos that followed the report of the king's illness. Charming and Catherine stayed out of the way, as their older brother, Alex, entered the king's sick room. He looked relieved when he heard that Charming was going to head the kingdom in his father's absence, and was rather happy when told he would be one of Charming's advisors. He never had liked politics, and would rather spend time training soldiers.
Alex had run the country before, so he knew a lot about what to do. "Rest well, father, the country needs you. I heard reports before coming that ogres are just outside of the borders, on the rampage." Alex said solemnly.
He was in charge of the troops, and had already begun planning his next attack on the ogres when his father had called him to his sickbed. Charming was alarmed. Ogre attacks! I have no idea how to handle ogre attacks! He thought franticly.
Ella looked over at Charming. He looked very stressed. She reassured him, quietly. "Charming, calm down. There is no reason for alarm. Your brother and I have both dealt with ogres, we can help you." She said.
He nodded, remembering his mother's story of surviving against ogres when she was younger, and not yet married to his father. Charming had always felt that she left out some vital piece that made it possible for her to live through a night with ogres, but he could never get her to tell him what it was.
He got up and took Catherine by the hand, leading her away from the talking of grownups, and giving her to Lauren, a maid who helped Ella care for Catherine most of the time and knew how to care for her. "But Charming-" Catherine began.
"No buts, stay with Lauren until mommy comes to get you, ok?" He asked.
"But I wanna help!" She said.
"You can help by..." He started saying, but couldn't think of what to say next.
Lauren jumped in. "Making something for your daddy." She said, picking Catherine up.
"Like a picture?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, or a story." Lauren said.
Catherine looked rather happy about being able to help. Charming gave Lauren an appreciative smile. "Thanks." He said quietly.
"No problem." She replied, smiling back.
Charming was still smiling when he went upstairs to his room, but it left when he saw that Lord Fredrick was waiting for him. "Edict time." Lord Fredrick said.
Mentally, Charming groaned, but got to work on court edict....