To Love a Prince
Chapter Six
Disclaimer: see chapter one
Author's Notes: Marge gets drunk in this one! So don't waster your time reading this, read the chappie!
Surprisingly Kate was enjoying the ball. Being the Prince's friend had its perks; Roald had introduced her to his parents, the Lioness and a few other heroes of the realm.
"He is absolutely wonderful," Marge squealed. Marge and Jayne had forced most of the story out of Kate, and, although she had omitted some of the more interesting details they had still insisted on accompanying her to the ball. Emma had declined the offer to go with them, saying she had lived at the palace for a long time and had seen all the princes she needed.
"I'll say, his has such manners, going to get you a drink, Kate you are one lucky girl!" Jayne added.
"Oh, please, Jayne, Marge is bad enough without you starting, we are just friends! Besides, he's betrothed-"
"Not currently, now is the time to act, my dear, snag the Prince, make him yours…forever!" Marge finished of with a slightly insane chuckle.
Jayne and Kate just looked at her for a while then Jayne stated business-like "You've had a bit too much wine, me thinks, girlie."
"Nah…just leave me alone, I'll be fine…" Marge managed to slur.
"Let's take her into the gardens, sober her up."
"Good plan."
"What's the plan? You're not going to ruin the ball are, if you are can I help?"
The two girls jumped, they hadn't seen Roald coming back.
"Oh, umm, well, you see…" Jayne stuttered.
"Marge got a bit tipsy, so we're taking her outside, to sober her up."
"Ok, I'll help."
As unobtrusively as they could, the group managed to get Margaret through the open double doors that led out to the gardens.
Taking it in turns to jog around with Marge they spent twenty minutes in the grounds before Marge was feeling alright.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that. Bet you would've preferred to be inside, in the warm, right?" Marge smiled weakly.
"It isn't cold and, actually, its quite exciting, I've never had a drunk friend to rescue." Roald laughed.
"We had better get back before someone notices we're missing" Kate said.
Jayne and Margaret nodded but Roald said "you two go ahead, me and Kate will catch up later."
Kate raised her eyes in surprise and looked and her sister and cousin for help but they gave her cheeky grins and winked before sauntering away, their heads together. "My lady?" the Prince offered an arm. Kate smiled and took it. "Your Highness, the gardens look incredibly splendid." She said, feigning a snobbish accent as they set off.
"Oh, yes my father, the King, you know, has fifteen gardeners for each rosebush." Roald played along. They continued this for a few more minutes then fled from a young couple they had intruded upon. Roald and Kate raced down the pathways laughing all the way. They came to a stop at a bench and flopped down on to it. After a little while Kate ventured "well, they looked like they were having fun." Roald looked at her and they collapsed in to laughter again. Neither knew why they found it so hilarious, it wasn't really funny but they were both drunk of the night air and the sweet roses scent and the company they kept. They were far more drunk then Marge had been.
Abruptly the giggles died away and Kate found herself inches away from Roald's face. Wondering vaguely how he had gotten so close she whispered slowly "we really shouldn't…"
"I know."
Their lips met anyway.
A polite but loud cough broke them apart. Lady Knight Alanna was standing in front of them arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. "Your parents are looking for you, Your Highness," she said, stressing the last two words. Roald shot up opened and closed his mouth, then giving Kate one last look ran off towards the palace. Expecting a severe reprimanding Kate was surprised when Alanna sat down and started talking in a calm, soft voice. "Love is a sweet thing, especially young, innocent love but it isn't always like a fairytale, things…don't always work out. You…have to make tough decisions and I'm talking from experience, here."
"What? You…and…and…the King?" Kate was dumbstruck.
"Don't look so surprised! But I wasn't the queenly type and I found out…I just didn't love him"
"But what if I do love him, I'm not the queenly type either, but I would stand it to be with him-"
Alanna cut Kate off "if you haven't had a lot of experience you might not know what true love is, he's a prince, he's charming-"
"He feels the same way about me!" This time Kate cut off Alanna.
"How do you know that. Has he actually told you?"
"Well, no…"
"Look, Roald is going to marry a Yamani princess and there's nothing any of us can do about it."
"He's not actually engaged…"
"But he will be, we've already sent over diplomats, it won't be that long. You have to try to think of him as just a friend, nothing more." They sat in silence for a little while longer then Alanna said "Let's go back inside, it's getting cold"
Kate nodded then a thought struck her, "are you going to tell the King?"
Alanna sighed, "I'm not sure, I planned to but I think I'll let you be, as long as nothing else happens." She warned. They parted at the door way then Kate slowly made her way towards Jayne and Marge, scanning the room for Roald. She gasped as she felt an arm slip around her waist and pull her into a shadowy corner. Roald spoke quickly. "Can I come into you rooms tomorrow morning?"
"Roald! I hardly think that appropriate!"
"Oh, don't worry, nothing like that will happen! Just wake up early, ok?"
"Ok" Kate replied uncertainly.
"Good night."
Stuff is happening! Yay! Wow, only a few more chapters to go! School started today (eww) so chappies will probably be less frequent.
Review please!
Thanks to;
ephona sorry I didn't thank you last chappie, the computer didn't show your review, anyway, I'm really glad you like the story, I assure you I'm taking it…places…anti-climax! Anyways, thanks!
jollyrancher-j2k oh yes, roald without a shirt would definitely be a hot sight! Thanks for reviewing!
wild-wizard-women thanks, I'll try to spot the "owe". Thanks again for reviewing me!