Story of a Princess Unknown – Chapter 4 - Together

Thanks to everyone that reviewed – sorry I think my last authors note didn't turn up on the site for some reason! Thanks to taintedpromises for always reviewing and I will email you soon if I have anything to say! EJ Riddle – sorry about your mum thinking you are insane. YOU CAN'T BLAME ME! I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE! If you go into our profile, you will see a story that me and Pippa (who is also on this account) wrote about us and our horses. You will see that I, Amy, are definitely insane too! More insane moments coming up in future chapters, I promise!

Now, just to let you guys know – I have the whole outline for this story written down in my little notebook and NOTHING you say will make me change it! Anything you suggest that happens was MY idea first – hehe! By the way – I really want to know what you guys think of the characters – particularly Eve and Luke. Do you think Luke is nice? Random thought – it was my 14th birthday yesterday, and I'd had a really good idea the night before for the story. The characters just kept running around in my head all night! I was like, shut up, all of you, just shut up! So anyway I was really tired on my birthday. But my mum gave me Green Day's new CD! So I'm happy cause I'm listening to it now. Anyway. Ahem. Back to the story. I might have to change the rating, it just gets a bit more intense from this chapter onwards. BUT WAIT – a disclaimer! In the words of Pippa (sorry this is so cool I just had to say it again!) - menot be owning, younot be sueing! Okay, NOW the story. I'm gonna make this chapter a nice LONG one.

Eve knew she had to ask Count Colin about money for Luke. He had helped her so many times when she was feeling alone and sad. But she was worried – what would Colin do to her? He was not known for being a nice man. And she certainly didn't want to be alone with him.

Stop being so selfish, Eve told herself. Just get on with it.

So, after she had finished making lunch (Coral was having a sick day – not that Eve believed that. She just wanted to get off work), Eve took a deep breath and knocked on Colin's office door.

"Come in." She shivered as she heard his slimy, cold voice. Then she pushed open the heavy oak door, and walked in, bobbing a curtsey as she neared his desk. The man turned his eyes towards her, and Eve trembled again as she saw them – cold, grey bottomless pits. But she straightened up and walked boldly forward again.

"Why hello there – young Eve, I believe? How's your back feeling?" He smiled maliciously.

"Fine, master. Much better, in fact," Eve replied, her eyes flashing dangerously.

"Now, did you want to ask me something?"

"Well, I did, actually. Do you know Lucas and his family from down in the village? Well, his mother and all his brothers are sick at the moment, so he was wondering if they might have their pay early to buy some food. They will work double time in your fields to make up for it."

"I don't see why I should just give them money, when I have no assurance it will be given back. I might require a little something ... extra ..." he replied silkily.

"You've grown into a pretty girl, Eve." He rose from his desk and moved, cat-like, towards her. Eve knew what he was suggesting – but she was frozen, couldn't move, she had to get the money for Lucas...

His eyes roved over her body, then he brought his hand up to caress her cheek.

"Surely, you want to help your friend, Eve?"

"How..how DARE YOU!" Eve spat out. Then Colin slapped her on the face, hard. She stumbled backwards, unfrozen by her fear.

"You wench! I thought you wanted to help your friend!" He was still coming after her, her frightened mind registered. A sob burst from her as she spun and ran out the door, leaving him behind. Colin quietly went back to work at his desk. I'll get her in the end.

Eve ran, stumbling, down the path to the river, where she had arranged to meet Lucas once she had asked the master. I knew that would happen, she thought. I just knew it. She slowed down when she caught sight of Lucas idly sitting by the river. I don't want him to know that anything's really wrong. She walked quietly over to Luke, settling down beside him. Then she caught a glimpse of his face.

"Luke? What's wrong?"

He ignored Eve's question, not seeing the look of distress on her face. "What did he say?"

"Luke...I'm really sorry – he said no, unless I ... unless I ..." then Eve broke her own rule – don't cry – as she burst into tears.

Luke finally seemed to snap out of his reverie. "Eve? What's wrong?" He put his arms around her and pulled her close as she wept, burying her face in his shoulder. "Hey, Eve, it's okay, you don't have to do anything he wants..." He rocked he back and forth as she cried.

"What did he want?" Luke asked, when Eve straightened up and wiped her face.

"He wanted me to sleep with him," she replied, dry eyed, all cried out now.

"He didn't! The bastard! I'm so glad you didn't, Eve. It doesn't matter anyway."

"What? What's happened, Luke?"

He looked down at his feet. "They're dead. All of them. They were feverish all night...I tried, I just couldn't look after all of them. I went to the neighbours this morning, but they're all sick as well. It's like an epidemic, and the king won't let anyone get medicine for us people down here. I don't know why I haven't got the sickness. But I wish .. I wish I had died with them."

"I'm so sorry, Luke..."

Now it was Luke's turn to cry and for Eve to hold him as he mourned his family.

"I know how you feel, Luke. It was so hard when Anna died, and I had no one. But I'll look after you."

"Thanks, Eve. I feel like such a wimp, sitting here crying while my family are dead."

"You're not! Don't think that. I cried so much when Anna died."

"But Eve – you were only seven. I'm nineteen!"

"It doesn't matter – you still need to cry." They sat in silence for a moment, arms around eachother, each remembering their lost loved ones. Eve broke the silence.

"So what are we going to do now?"

"There's nothing left for me here now. I'm going to leave, find a new place. You should come too, Eve! We could both leave this awful place behind."

"I've always wanted to just get away from here. Remember what I said the other day? How I want to get out? If you're going, then I've got nothing left either. Yes – I'll come."

"Thanks, Eve. I think I'll really need you in the next few days. You're a good friend."

"So are you Luke. We should leave right away – I just need to get a few things from the house."

"I'll come too – you'll need to be carefull around Colin." She smiled gratefully at him.

They got up, untangling themselves from one another. As they started walking back to the manor, Luke took Eve's small hand in his own. She looked up at him, her green eyes smiling, shyly, uncertainly, into his. He leaned down impulsively, placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her softly. As they broke apart, Eve smiled at him again, less uncertain this time. They continued on their way.

As they neared the manor, Eve clutched Luke's hand a little bit tighter. Memories of Colin tore through her, but she refused to let it show – I've been pathetic enough already today, she thought. "Wait here," she quietly told Lucas as she slipped through the kitchen door.

Eve raced through the kitchent to her tiny room and grabbed her spare shift and dress – and her most treasured possession, her blanket with her name embroidered on it. She stroked it softly, wondering if her mother would have been proud that she was standing up for herself by leaving.

As she opened the door through to kitchen, Coral unfortunately in. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"I'm leaving! I've had enough."

"You ungrateful wench! After ALL I've done for you!"

"Ungrateful? All you've DONE for ME?" Eve's voice rose to a yell. Lucas burst in the door, alerted by their raised voices.

"You've been nothing but a burden to me, looking after you all these years! And who is he?" Coral retorted.

"Since when have you looked after me? The ONLY ones who looked after me where Anna and Lucas here! For your information, I'm leaving with Luke – he's the only one who cares about me at all!"

"I should have known! You, running off with a man! You'll turn out bad, just like your mother!"

"Don't you DARE insult my mother! You don't even know who she was! She could have been Queen of Kyrria for all you know! And now, like I said, I'M LEAVING!"

And with that, Eve turned and went out the door. Lucas had no choice but to follow her, leaving Coral staring, open-mouthed after them.

Luke was still feeling awful about his family but he put on a brave face – after all, Eve had problems too, but she didn't whine about them all the time.

"Wow! I haven't seen you that angry since...hmmm, let me think...yesterday? Wow!" Lucas couldn't believe how Eve had stood up for herself.

"That felt really good just to vent out my anger on her. I spose it's not her fault about Colin, or how that stupid king won't give us medicine – but it still felt good!"

Luke took her hand again.

"Luke, about yesterday, and...and before...is that how you really feel about me? As more than a friend?"

"I've always felt that way, Eve, but if you don't, that's okay..." Lucas broke off, looking sad.

"Don't look like that! I've been feeling like that too ... for a while. I just wasn't brave enough to say anything. Thanks, Luke, for ... being the first one to care about me in a while."

"I meant it when I said that yesterday."

"I know."

They smiled at each other and walked on, out of the village, on the road heading north. They didn't know where they were going – but they were together.

They weren't quite so happy when they stopped to rest that night and realised that neither had brought any food or blankets to keep them warm.

"Oh well," Eve said. "We may be cold and hungry, but we're free!"

"Right. Night Eve."

"Night Luke."

They both curled up separately, a few metres apart. The were in a small valley just off the road where they had a stream for water. Low down in the valley, it was cold, as well as it being early spring still and not very warm during the day either. Eve couldn't stop herself shivering. She couldn't get to sleep.

"Eve? You still awake?"

"Yep."

"Are you cold? Cause you could come over here, you know. We could keep eachother warm..."

"Luke! It wouldn't be ... proper."

"Since when do you care about 'proper', Eve? Are you just scared to sleep near me?" Luke replied in a teasing voice.

"I am NOT scared!" Eve said indignantly, sitting up. "I bet you just snore!"

Luke laughed at the annoyed look on her face.

"Fine! I'll come over – just cause I'm cold, though! And don't you DARE try anything with ME, Lucas!" He laughed again as Eve came over to him.

"Shut up and go to sleep!" She came closer but was till tense near Luke. He put an arm over her waist and he gradually felt her relax and curl closer to him. It WAS warmer curled up with Lucas, Eve noticed. She drifted off to sleep, feeling happier than she had in a long time.

Luke looked at Eve's beautiful face, peaceful as she slept. He was happy that she was with him to help him get through the next few days. He remembered his family – his grief was still raw. He and Eve had been through so much together in the last few days – and he had a feeling they would have to go through even more.

But they were together.

Do you guys like it? I tried really hard to make this one good! I'm really looking forward to writing some Eve/Jared moments in the future but I have to write a few more chapters first. I'm still just getting into the story! But I'm getting there!

NOW REVIEW! And remember to tell me what you think about the characters so far! Thanks.