A little more mess…
"Where is she!" the king boomed out over the oversized hall.
"I am unsure of that father." William replied to his father calmly.
"She has been gone for over two weeks! THIS IS UNEXEPTABLE! I shall have someone's head for this!"
"Father calm down." Samuel came into the conversation as calm as William, they were both sure that where ever Steph had gone she would be safe.
"Calm down? That girl is taking up MY time and MY money!" he stood up, his richly ornamented hand grasping his glass goblet of rich wine.
"Father, we do not know were she is. Nobody does." It was Samuel again and with these words the tyrant king grew even more livid.
"GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT BOY!" Samuel ducked as his finely madem, one of a kind, goblet was hurled towards him at full speed, it smashed on the stone wall behind him and the rich red stained the dull, fading grey, oozing down slowly.
Samuel shrugged in Williams direction and stalked out sullenly and the king took his seat once more, breathing very deeply.
"Father, let us think about this rationally in the morning, it is the eleventh hour and we should take to our beds."
"Traitor! You think I am drunk! I am perfectly rational!" he slurred as he spoke.
"Yes father you are very sober," William rolled his eyes with inpatience "but it is late and we have more meetings with the royal advisers. Oh and Lord Masheder has stated it is quiet vexed with the situation and is unsure wether it is worth marriage to wait this long."
"My daughter, is the most beautiful girl in the known civilised world! How DARE he!" standing up too quickly, he stumbled and fell flat on his face.
Stifling a laugh William looked at his father with raised eyebrows "Go to bed Father." he said plainly.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that! I am the king!"
"But who's the one on the ground? Goodnight father." Rolling his eyes William walked up to his magnificent rooms. As he arrived he noticed it was unlocked at the door was open, drawing his knife from his bootstrap he edged towards the threshold.
Peering inside he placed the sharp blade back in his boot, it was only Samuel.
"Do you really think she's ok?" Samuel looked anxious.
"Personally I think she is fine. Have you ever known our little Stephie to be unprepared? She didn't just walk out, father still hasn't realised that she took her horse, food supplies for a month or more and look a fair amount from the royal treasuries."
"I still can't help worrying though, we ARE her older brothers. You miss her right?"
"Of course! Everyone does, maybe except father. He never really understood women, even young, innocent ones such as Stephanie."
"She sure gave spark to this castle, is a subtle shy way." Samuel looked at William in a far away kind of way. "Where do you think she has gone?"
"You know I don't know, she would've told both of us if she was going to tell anyone."
"But you do have you suspicions."
"Of course."
"Like…?" Samuel said ringing his hands.
William walked over and closed the door that was previously ajar. He sat down next to Samuel on a chair next to his bed and leaned closer, "Christian." He whispered.
"Of course! CHRISTIAN!" he almost shouted excitedly.
"Shhh! Keep it down!"
"Ok, ok," he whispered back "but what are you going to do about it?"
"We'll have to bide our time. If we left now she would have to marry Lord Masheder. And I will not have her married to him, I would prefer her to be a spinster, thankyou very much."
"Yeah but I still think we should save her."
"She will be fine with Christian. I promise you, we were all once great friends. He wouldn't hurt her, he is mighty strong but he would never, not in the entire world, hurt Stephanie. You say they way he always looked at her."
"I guess you have a point. Well this has been a mighty fine chat but I must be off brother old pal." He smiled buoyantly and strode out the door.
"Goodnight Sam." He said shaking his head.
"Night!" he said from down the corridor.
"Close the door next time!" William called after him but Samuel was already gone.
Shaking his head he retreated back into his room, closing the door and sitting down to write a letter, Christian had to know the updates on the current situation. Even though William had acded confident that Stephanie was alright, he had his own fears. But along with it came hope and belief, hope that all would turn out right and belif that it would. Yes, it would be fine.
Jem, Tim, Stephanie and Peter were out on a picnic. It had rained the last week and a half and being cooped up inside was vexing to everyone. Peter had only come along because of the promise, he certainly had looked smug when she had asked him.
At odd moments she would feel odd tingling up her spine like someone was watching so she glanced around but say no one looking at her. The third or forth time this happened she looked straight at Peter and he was staring at her. It was quite unnerving.
Sitting under the tree was nice and it was only a quarter of an hour out from the city, with wildflowers all around the sweet aromas were intoxicating and made her feel almost sleepy.
"How 'bout some croquet!" Tim yelled pulling mallets, balls and pegs out of his saddle bags from his tall, 16 hand steed.
"Yeah! Great idea!" Jem replied.
Stephanie just nodded and shrugged her shoulders, "Sure.".
They had an amusing and pleasurable time playing croquet but Peter looked at Stephanie far too many times for her liking and by the end of the third or fourth game they were all tired.
"Stephanie, what a pleasant surprise. Out of the castle already?" Christian dismounted and walked towards her.
"Of course, being inside has taken its toll."
"Yes, yes and you could never sit still for more than four minutes if I can recall correctly."
"Right, so, we were just playing a game or two of croquet."
"As I can rightly see. May I have a word Steph?"
"Go for it."
"And a walk?"
"Isn't that pushing it a bit?" but she still walked over and linked her arm with his outstretched one.
"I've received a letter from someone about you."
"Who?"
"William."
"William! How is he?"
"He is fine. Worried, but fine."
"and father is angry?"
Christian nodded.
"I assumed as much. And how is Samuel?"
"He is in good health, also worried."
"That's excellent!"
"But you didn't tell me something."
"what?"
"It was lord masheder."
"Yes, I was supposed to be engaged to him."
"He is the second richest noble, and fourth family from the crown."
"I realise this. Is William coming here?"
"Maybe. He is unsure wether it is a wise decision."
"It is not, but he should still come." She smiled lightly, still worried about the situation.
"He enclosed a letter for you."
"Sweet of him."
"Quite." He handed her a think envelope. "I shall leave you now to read it." she nodded, broadly grinning and he smiled back, kissed her hand and walked back to the other men.
Dearest Stephanie,
I hope this reaches you in good condition, we are all worried deeply about our dear sister and cordially wish thou good luck in thou travels.
If you are reading this I am assuming you are with your Christian, you are in good capable hands and hold tight I shall be with you soon enough.
Father is furious, and has spies all over the continent looking for you, do NOT stray out of doors or divulge your true identity, it has been decreed that thou shall be dragged back here. Dead or alive. Fathers cruelty has reached new heights.
I shall not go on any further in case I have spent ten minutes writing a letter which shall not reach thee, please reinforce my wishes to Christian and instruct him to write a reply swiftly and make hast.
Samuel sends his love as I send mine.
Thou Dearest Brother,
William Norman
Oh and destroy this letter as soon as you receive it, I may be disowned as heir if it is found I am communicating with thou.
Scrunching the note and tearing it to tiny pieces as she threw it on the ground and walked back to dally away the afternoon.
Walking back to their picnic spot, voices came clearly into earshot. "Why do you have to steal MY property?" Came Peters voice.
"I never knew you two were so close, next time I shant be so ignorant." Christian replied
"Forget about it, just stop being near her."
"Never. And i should be the one warning you about getting to close to her, I am not blind. I have seen what has happened between you and the madiens of court!" Christian spoke in passionate spite.
"You see more devils than vast hell can hold."
"But when the devils come too close only angels can contridict such immoral actions."
Stephanie came into view, Peter and Christian were having a heated descussion, Jem and Tim were nowhere to be seen. They both stopped and looked up as she approched.
"What were you descussion in my absence?" She spoke nervously.
"A matter of no importance." Peter snapped curtly.
"I think you must be off now Lord Peter."
"Why? We were just having a bit of fun."
"The fun is over." Tim said, sidling back into view with Jem hot on his heels.
"Come Jem, Tim, let us talk about your recent pranks, I might teach you something new."
"I thought you had taught us all you had too know." Jem said reprochfully while Tim sat down.
"I taught you everything you know, but I havnt taught you everything I know." Steph replied her eyes sparkling with glee.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, It's scary that I have posted (in total) nine chapters in my other stories since I updated this one! Sad yes I know. Everyone who likes this, read "To shimmer or shine" by ME! Coz it's the same but different, ok really I just think people should give it a chance…
Thanks:
li'l bling bling
Lady Vampyre
GreatMotherG
hoolihoopgrl131
dragon5745- Thanks heaps for reviewing I kinda forgot to update and you helped me lots!