Story of a Princess Unknown

Chapter 3 – Someone Who Cares

Mordred was in his room getting dressed for yet another expensive ball and banquet, to promote another expensive fighting tournament. Everything he did was expensive. He was not a good king.

His only friends were a close group of nobles of Kyrria. They weren't even really his friends – more hangers-on who wanted to increase their lands and money. They planned expensive parties and balls for the rich and noble people in Kyrria. Mordred ignored the commoners who worked hard to make a living and provided all the materials Kyrria exported and used. He had quietly squashed every rebellion that had sprung up over the last sixteen years – killing every man he suspected to be involved in planning against him, commoner and noble alike. He had been lulled into a false sense of security as there had been no unruly subjects in the last three years.

What he didn't know was that there was a large group of common people in the south who were angry. Angry at the way they were ignored by the king. Angry because of family members and friends who had been killed for trying to make things right again. And angry because they were sure there had been foul play in the deaths of the rightful king and queen fifteen years before. They were working – silently and swiftly, so no-one knew. Working on a plan. They needed to be patient, to make sure everything happened at the right time. But they were going to make a difference – and when they did, Mordred was dead meat.

"Gold crown, or silver crown? Blue jewels, or red jewels? Such a HARD decision." All Mordred cared about was money and power over others. He didn't care about the starving people because of the famine since the crops had failed.

His son Jared was now eighteen and known as the castle playboy. He took advantage of his father's name and wealth. ALL the noble girls swooned over him – young people ignorant of how badly the king ruled and the starving people in the south. Even Jared didn't really know what was going on – he had been brought up by his father, after all. As long as he had a sword to show off with and a group of girls to show off for, Jared was fine.

Eve's back was raw. Deep, jagged lines scored it – reopened wounds from previous beatings and new ones from the night before.

"I'm so sick of this," she muttered to herself as she lugged heavy pails of water to the house that morning. "Why do they have the right to beat me for trying to spend time with my friend?" She winced and gasped as she bent down to pick up a bucket. Eve felt tears coming to her eyes. No, she thought fiercely. They won't make me cry. They'll never make me cry.

"Eve!" She heard Lucas call.

"Great. Just what I need right now. I will not blow up at him for being a jerk." she muttered.

Lucas ran up, his usual grin nowhere in sight. "Long time no see! Well, since yesterday." He slapped her back. Stupid, stupid, Eve thought. A wave of pain raced up her back and she felt like she was on fire. She couldn't hear Luke anymore, he was disappearing...

Her eyelids felt too heavy to lift. What had happened? Oh yes. Lucas. She opened her eyes to find his worried blue eyes staring straight into hers. "Eve? You're awake! Thank god! I thought I'd killed you! What happened? Are you alright?"

She pressed a finger to his lips. "Luke, it's okay. Don't worry. Next time – just don't get all touchy-feely on me before I've said hello!"

"But what happened? I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"It's not you," Eve sighed. "It's just ... them. Again. I just .. do you have some bandages or something?"

"Stay right here! I'll go and get some."

He's so willing to help. But why does something still bother me about him?

Luke came back shortly. "Here; some bandages, and I brought some water and cloths as well. Now, will you just show me what's wrong?"

"I ... kind of got in trouble last night for coming home a bit late."

She felt a bit embarassed unlacing the back of her shift in front of him but her back was hurting too bad for her to really care. She heard his sharp intake of breath when he saw the jagged lines across her back. "Eve! Who did this to you? There's laws against this, you know!"

"I know, all right," she replied bitterly. "But who's going to enforce them? Who, in their right mind, would care about a servant, these days? Not the king, that's for sure. The prince? Does he care? Or maybe even Lord Colin? Do you think HE cares?" Her eyes flashed dangerously, showing how angry she was. "There's no one for people like me, Luke. And there never will be."

They sat there is silence, Eve still smoldering with anger, occasionly tensing up as Lucas washed her back with cool water, then bandaged it. "I'm sorry, Luke. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It's no one's fault but the king's. I know life isn't exactly easy for you either."

"Actually, I came to ask you a favour. My mum and all my brothers aren't feeling too well at the moment. None of them are up to working – could you maybe ask the Lord if we could borrow a small amount of money, just to buy some food for the moment?"

"I'll ask, Luke, as you're my friend. But it won't do any good. You know he hates me. But because it's you, I'll do it."

Luke stepped closer, his blue eyes never leaving her deep green ones. She smoothed a lock of ice-blonde hair out of his face. "To say thankyou ..." he murmured.

Then his soft lips met Eve's. She was so shocked that at first she couldn't respond, but then she sank into him and deepened the kiss. Then, she broke away. "I've got to go," she said, looking around for the water buckets.

"Eve." he said, causing her to look into his eyes again. "I know you think no one cares. But, Eve – I care."

Then Luke turned and sauntered back up the path to the village, leaving Eve to walk home. And wonder.