(A/N- So I updated… Thanks 2 every1 who reviewed… I luv u guys! Also a big big big thank you to my first reviewer ever, Lady Janelly! Thanks so much for the tip on my sum.
Btw thanks to u to beaver- and yeh u probably do no wat happens next!)
Recap:
"I'm not saying anything for certain Chloe my dear, I'm just warning you in case something does happen. Good day girls, enjoy the rest of your ride." And with that she was off, leaving Chloe with a worried look on her face and Allegra looking apprehensive.
"I'm sure nothing will come of her grace's warnings Chlo. She was just being careful, you know how she cares about you."
"Yeah I no, but it worries me all the same. She wouldn't tell me unless there was a reasonable chance. But let us continue our ride. Amore is beginning to fidget. Yah!" and with that she toed Amore and was off, proceeding quickly from a trot to a canter, canter to gallop.
Allegra was quick to follow her mistress, but at the back of her mind she too was worried for her lady, and best friend's safety.
Chapter 2: Kidnapped
Later that day, after both Allegra and Chloe had showered and changed for dinner, the two strolled up to the King and Queen's chambers to talk to their majesties about the Duchess's news.
Chloe knocked lightly on the door and heard her father say "Come in" and opened the heavy oak doors.
"Ah, Chloe! Good afternoon my angel." He said, smiling up at his daughter. "And good afternoon to you too Allegra," Smiling in her direction as well. The bashful maid bowed her head so her dark hair shielded her pretty face.
"Hello Father, we have just been for a ride, and while we were riding along the beach we saw their graces, the Duke and Duchess of Avon Park" She paused and caught her breath. "Her grace was telling us about the messenger that visited you and mother this morning."
Geraint looked faintly surprised, he had thought it silly to worry his only child with such ridiculous encounters but still had felt bad about not telling her and he had known that she would have found out. He was planning to tell her at dinner.
He met her eyes. "Yes my darling, a messenger for the King of Kemack visited us, requiring your hand in marriage for his youngest son, Mitchelent. We sent him away without another word." He continued to hold his daughter's eyes.
"But father, why did you or mother not tell me!" Chloe exclaimed. "You must have known that I would find out!"
"Yes Chloe, both of us knew that. But keep in mind that we have barely seen you all day! I was planning to tell you at dinner, although your mother was in favor of keeping it from you indefinitely but I disagreed. It is your future, not ours although we care a great deal for you."
"I know father, and I am sorry I was angry. But I was just so… so shocked that King Marcius would have the nerve to ask something like that of us, of me!"
"I felt the same way. I don't think that that messenger will ever return here again, we gave him quite a hard time."
Allegra cleared her throat meaningfully. "Your majesty, Chloe, it is five minutes past dinner time, her majesty and the Marquis de Laval and his wife will be waiting."
"Ah yes, thank you Allegra. We shall proceed immediately. Come child, do not blame your mother, she just wanted to protect you."
"Yes father I know, and let us go now." Chloe took his arm in hers and together, with Allegra walking next to them, made their way to the banquet hall.
As they entered the hall, at the head table on her father's right she noted the Marquis de Laval, a favourite of hers from her father's inner circle, chatting animatedly to her mother, Queen Ella. From the red tinge to his cheeks he had obviously had a little to drink prior to their arrival.
"Good evening Bartholemue" Geraint greeted the Marquis on first name terms, as they had had a fair few dealings together. "I trust everything is too your taste."
"Yes thank you Geraint, I was just enjoying the much too pleasant company of the beautiful Ella. How do you fair, old friend?" Bartholemue greeted the King warmly and then turned to his daughter. "And you Chloe! Has it really only been 6 months since I saw you last?" He bowed and kissed her hand, "Ella my dear, I am afraid that she is growing to be as beautiful as you, if that were possible."
"Thank you Uncle Bartholemue!" The marquis was not really a brother to her father, but it had always been like that for her. "I have missed you all these months, what with only the more boring lords and ladies to chat to."
"Pretty one you flatter me! I am sure that there has been scandal enough over the issue of the young Baron of Moreland and that pub girl, what was her name?"
"Bernadette," Ella supplied.
"Ah yes, young Vidal and Bernadette. Scandal in the highest order!"
"Oh yes that was entertaining uncle! You should have heard her grace, how tongues wagged at that story! But uncle, I should like to know more of your travels of late."
The Marquis had always been one to travel to all kinds of exotic places, and this was what Chloe most loved about him. He always had so many stories to tell, of the fields of olive trees whose fruit is said to become gold in Cypriatra to the mystical fleeces of Arabian sheep.
As the night wore on, the wine and stories flowed freely to waiting ears. But at the eleventh hour, Chloe finally decided, to Allegra's great relief, to retire to her chambers.
She kissed her mother, father and uncle on the cheek and then retreated from the noisy hall, Allegra close behind her.
"Ah, Uncle Bartholemue always has such thrilling stories to tell! I wish I could travel like him sometimes. You know in all of my sixteen years I have only been across the border once!" exclaimed Chloe.
"Yes he does, I really do not know how he travels to all these places so easily! I should love to travel some day. And Chlo in all my sixteen years, I have never even been across the border to Kemack." Allegra retorted but then sighed wistfully, with no real idea quite how quickly this was all going to change.
The next day was also beautiful, with the sun shining almost blindingly, the birds flitting happily from tree to tree each singing their own song and the water sparkling on the lake.
Allegra and Chloe decided to take a walk through the palace gardens out to the town, to browse through the markets and talk to some of the people there.
They walked slowly through the gardens, virtually in silence broken only by one of them pointing out a bird or a flower that was exceptional to the beauty of their surroundings. The watchman on the palace wall greeted both girls as they continued through the palace gates, out into the open markets.
They browsed through, each stopping to look or barter for something eye-catching; until Chloe suggested that they walked through some of the back streets to reach the beach. Allegra immediately felt an unfamiliar sensation rise up in her, and voiced her concern to her companion.
"Chloe I can't explain it but I have a bad feeling about this."
"Oh don't be silly Allegra, we've done this millions of times before."
"Yes I know that. But this time it's different, I have never felt this before."
"You silly goose," Chloe said jokingly. "I'm sure not a thing will come of this." With that she headed off down the street so that Allegra, not wanting to leave her friend alone, quickly followed. But all the same she kept her hand close to the top of her breaches where her dagger sat.
As they walked, Allegra began to feel more scared and aprehesive by the pace, although Chloe was acting perfectly normal. Allegra felt her self jumping at every movement of every shadow, expecting something terrible to happen.
"Chloe I really don't like this." She whispered.
"Oh don't be silly, we are almost there." But although she put on a brave face, the Princess was beginning to feel it as well.
Suddenly, a hand came down over Chloe's mouth and she immediately reached for her dagger, which she had been extensively trained in the use of. She tried to look over at Allegra and saw that she was doing much the same, stuggling for the use of her dagger, and as Chloe tried to jam her dagger into her attacker's leg to no avail, she felt the hilt of a dagger crashing down upon her temple and the world begun to go black. But the last thing she saw, maybe even sensed, was that Allegra was falling as well.
(A/N- A little more action in this chapter… what did you all think of the kidnapping? I reckon it was good so early, otherwise I think I would have spent way to much time working out other characters ect. So guys… please r&r!
Lots of luv
Jess
PS. If you like my story you should read Of Trust and Betrayal by my good friend Ellie- aka beaver or beavergirl. Its cool… promise lol.
Luv always Jess :P)