CHAPTER FOUR

Amanda and David woke up early. After breakfast they went to their rooms and started getting ready for their trip. Virginia came to Amanda's room and she was amazed to see her packing.

"Amanda, are you going back? You just came yesterday!"

"No, mom. I'm going on a trip with Dave for a couple of days."

"Does Wendell know about this?"

"I don't know. Dave was supposed to tell him I guess."

"Obviously he didn't. I don't think it's a good idea to leave the palace without saying anything."

"I was going to tell you."

Then Wolf came in searching for Virginia. "Amanda did you see your mother any where? Virginia you're here! I was looking for you."

"What is it Wolf?"

"Looks like Wendell is going crazy about Dave's decision. Amanda, you knew about this?" he asked as he saw Amanda's bag.

"She was going with him Wolf." Virginia said.

"Huff-puff! You could've killed us both! Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Wolf asked.

"I was going to tell you this morning dad. I didn't have the time for it. Sorry."

"Alright, it's no time to argue about this now, we have to stop Wendell." Wolf said.

They all went to David's room. They heard Wendell screaming at him.

"Do you realize how dangerous it is to leave the palace without guards? You are the heir to the thrown, and you must act like one!"

"Father, I know how to act! If being the heir to the thrown means that I have to be imprisoned in the palace to the end of my life, then I don't want it!"

Amanda, Virginia and Wolf entered the room.

"What on earth is going on here?" Virginia asked. "Wendell, will you calm down please?" she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Virginia, he wants to go on a trip! And without any guards with him!"

"Amanda is going with him too." Virginia added.

"What? Amanda, are you out of your mind? It's dangerous!"

"Uncle Wendell, New York is much more dangerous than here. And I live there all alone."

"I can't understand these two. Wolf, say something!" Wendell said.

"I say we let them go. They are going to use a carriage, so the driver can be the guard that we are sending with them."

"That's what I've been trying to explain to him uncle Wolf. But he never listens." David said.

"Alright, I'll arrange the carriage and the guard." Wendell said and left the room.

"Uncle Wolf, could you please tell him to treat me like a grown up? He still thinks that I'm a ten year old!"

"I'll do my best son. Don't worry."

David continued to pack his bag. Amanda went to her room to finish her packing as well. Wolf and Virginia went to see Wendell.

He was sitting in his office, angry about his son's sudden decision.

"Wendell?" Wolf called before he entered the room. Virginia followed him.

"Why can't I control him?" Wendell asked. He stood and went to stare out of the window. "I've given him everything. But he still doesn't act like a prince." He turned to Wolf and Virginia. "What did I do wrong?"

"Wendell, you didn't do anything wrong by raising him. It's just that you need to treat him as a grown up now." Virginia said.

"He told you to say that didn't he?"

"No Wendell. I'm saying what I saw. You acted like he was a kid who doesn't know what to do."

"Let him go Wendie. He's a man now." Wolf said.

"He's 27 but he isn't showing any interest in the princesses of any of the kingdoms. How is he going to keep The House of White family line alive?"

"Is that all you're thinking about? Maybe he hasn't found the girl that he loves." Virginia said. "And I know that all the marriages in the White family was built on love. You can't force him to get married."

"I wouldn't even think about that Virginia. If I was going to force him to get married, I would've done that long time ago. I never told him that I want to see him getting married either. I don't want him to get the thought that I want to rush him to marriage."

"Alright then. Leave him to do everything that he wants and you'll see, he'll come to you to ask for advice." Wolf said.

Wendell looked out of the window. He saw that David and Amanda were putting their bags in the carriage. "I guess you're right Wolf. They're getting ready to leave. I think we should go out there."

"Leaving? Already? Huff-puff! I must see Amanda first!" Wolf said and rushed out of the office. Wendell and Virginia followed him.

When they reached the courtyard Amanda and David stood near the carriage.

"We're leaving now." David said.

"Oh huff-puff! My creamy cub, I'll miss you." Wolf said and hugged Amanda.

"Dad, I'm not a cub anymore, and I'll be back in a few days."

"I'll miss you anyway." He kissed her forehead.

"I'll take care of her uncle Wolf. Don't worry."

"I'm sure you will son." Wolf hugged David too.

Virginia and Amanda whispered to each other on a side. Wendell stood in front of his son.

"I want you to take care of your cousin. And yourself." Wendell said in a concerned voice.

"I will father. You'll see that you can rely on me."

"I hope so." Wendell said and he gave David a hug. "Return soon and unharmed."

"We will." David said. He and Amanda sat in the carriage, and waved good bye to their parents.

"Finally were out of there!" Amanda said happily.

"Yeah. I'm glad we managed to keep our destination a secret." David replied.

"But we have a guard with us." She said and pointed to the direction of the driver from inside the carriage.

"Well, he can't send them a message, and he wouldn't leave us alone to go back and give a report about where are we staying. So, he won't tell them."

"But where are we going anyway?"

"I don't know. How about going through the forest, and head to Little Lamb Village?"

"No way! I hate that place. They have too many sheep. I could cause a problem."

"So what? You're with the prince."

"But we won't stay the night there OK? We'll check their shops and leave the village as soon as we can. We can camp outside of the village."

"Alright." David took his head out of the window and told the driver to go through the forest and head to Little Lamb Village.