Okay, ready for the cliffhanger to end? I thought so…

Previously

"Do you need help?"

Kensy was shocked at the question as she looked up, her olive eyes boring into his tan ones. "What?" she whispered.

"Do you want any help? This is my room, so I can help clean it." He couldn't help but grin at the young girl's nervousness and shock. 'Why am I so interested?' he asked himself, but the next words out of her mouth answered his question.

Chapter Two

"I don't want to get you in trouble…" she murmured, wringing her hands and looking downward.

Hudson was so shocked that at first he thought he misheard. "What?" he asked, staring at Kensy's face getting redder.

'This was a bad idea. Why did I do this? Because I like being embarrassed, that's why…' she thought, taking a deep breath. "Um, I don't want to get you in trouble." she repeated, shutting her eyes.

Hudson was sure that he had heard it right this time. "Why would I get in trouble?" he asked.

"Um…I'm not sure, but wouldn't you get in trouble for conversing and helping a servant?" she asked.

Hudson felt his heart go out to this young girl. 'Young? She's my age, if not a year younger…'

"Don't worry. I promise you I won't get in trouble. So should we start?"

Kensy looked up, eyes holding shock. She said nothing but nodded, a smile appearing on her face.

Hudson smiled at her, then turned and began to make his bed. Kensy stood in shock, but soon broke out of it and began to clean up the floor.

Twenty minutes later, Kensy stood back and smiled. "Well, that takes care of the floor."

"As you can probably tell, I'm a messy person." Hudson murmured, enjoying her giggle. 'She's so cute when she's happy.'

But the giggling soon stopped when the door slammed open and Henry came in, face red. He stomped over to Kensy and grabbed her upper arm and tugged extremely hard.

"I tell you to clean and you're screwing around! What is wrong with you? Are you that stupid?" he screamed in her face as Kensy shook in fear, all happiness gone.

Hudson frowned at this. "Excuse me, Henry, isn't it?"

The man turned and immediately bowed, bringing Kensy to her knees as well. She could hardly keep in the cry of pain as he increased the hold on her arm.

"I am so sorry, Your Highness. Please forgive me. She is new and will be dealt with as seen suitable." He shot Kensy a glare and she cowered.

"What did she do?"

Henry was shocked by this question and looked up to see nothing but contained fury in Hudson's eyes. "Your Highness?"

"You heard me. What is it that she did to receive a punishment?"

"She was laughing in your prescense, Your Highness." Henry bowed even further, anger towards Kensy for making a fool of him and fear of Hudson's tone and eyes.

"Is that a crime? Miss Kensy was cleaning, as you sent her to do, and I made a joke. I will appreciate if you didn't treat people this harshly in the future. Am I understood?" Hudson asked, eyes boring at Henry.

Henry bowed, face flushed. "Of course Your Highness."

Kensy watched this exchange in interest. 'Why is he standing up for me? I'm nothing but a servant…' she thought, but couldn't help but blush.

Hudson cleared his throat and motioned to the death grip Henry still had on Kensy's arm.

Henry instantly let go and Kensy couldn't contain a gasp of relief. Instantly, she slapped her hand over her mouth and bowed.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Hudson couldn't help but stare at the bruise on her upper arm and felt anger towards the man who caused it. 'Wait, why am I feeling this?'

But he shook the feeling off and nodded. "You are dismissed, Henry. I would like to speak to Miss Kensy alone, please."

Henry bowed. "Of course Your Highness." He stood up and walked out, fury barely containing itself.

The two watched him go and Kensy instantly bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."

"What did I say about calling me that?" he joked.

Kensy looked up and couldn't help but smile. "Sorry, Hudson." She stood up and winced at the pain in her arm.

Hudson frowned and walked over to her, bringing her arm up. Kensy couldn't help but blush at his closeness, but forgot about it when he lightly tapped it.

"Ow…" she murmured, tears appearing.

"This is a nasty bruise." He murmured, feeling anger once again towards Henry, but pushed it down. "You better go."

She nodded and took her arm back, holding in her cry of pain at the movement. "Thank you." She turned to go, but Hudson stopped her.

Turning, she tilted her head. "Yes?"

"Can you do two things for me?"

"Sure."

"Take it easy and if Henry, or anyone else, treats you like that, come and tell me. Okay?"

Kensy blushed and nodded. "But why?"

"You're my friend. That's why."

Kensy was shocked and brought her head up. "Friend?" she repeated.

"Do we have to go through this again?" Hudson joked.

Kensy smiled. "No." She turned, but stopped and smiled back. "Thank you again." She walked out the door, leaving a confused Hudson.

Kensy walked down the hall, thinking about what just happened, when an arm came up and slammed her against the wall.

Whimpering, Kensy opened her eyes to see Henry's eyes holding so much anger and fury.

"Do you think it's funny that you made a complete fool of me in front of His Highness?"

Kensy shook her head, but Henry slammed her again, causing her to whimper silently.

"Good. Because I've been working here before you were born and I will not be embarrassed by a little girl. Got it?" he slammed her again.

Kensy nodded, tears forming.

Henry frowned and let her go. Kensy turned to go but Henry brought his hand up and brought it across her face!

Kensy lightly held the red mark on her cheek and looked up at Henry's angry body.

"Now go feed the animals." He walked away, leaving a shaking Kensy.

Nodding, Kensy wiped her tears away and walked outside. She walked into the barn and smiled at the horses greeting her.

"Hello. My name is Kensy and I'm here to feed you." She grabbed a hayfork and ignoring the pain in her arm, gathered some hay and brought it over the side.

The horse neighed and nickered, sticking its nose out. Kensy put her hand out and the horse smelled her hand. She giggled at the touch.

"I'm sorry. I don't have any treats for you, but I'll promise I'll bring some tomorrow."

The horse neighed in agreement and Kensy continued to pitch the hay and feed the animals.

When she was done, she wiped the sweat off and smiled. "Well, all the animals are fed…" Her good humor was cut off when she heard a commotion to her right.

Turning, she gasped. Somehow, a wolf got into the pig pin and was attempting to eat one. "Get away!" Kensy shouted, running towards the wolf, ignoring the danger.

She paused when the wolf snarled at her, but shook it off. "I'm not letting you hurt this pig!" she exclaimed, picking up a hoe and holding it front of her. "Don't make me use this!"

The wolf seemed to be laughing at her and turned back to the pig. Kensy shook with fear, but swallowed it and stepped forward. "I said get away!" she exclaimed, bringing the hoe down slowly, not wanting to hurt the animal.

Then, as if a switch was flicked, the wolf snarled at her and jumped out of the pin at her! Kensy screamed and dropped the hoe. She ducked and, accidently fell onto her arm, causing her to cry out in pain.

The wolf snarled at her again as Kens began to back up, scared out of her wits at the snarling wolf. "Please don't hurt me…" she whimpered.

The wolf snarled at her again, fangs showing, drool dropping to the ground. Kensy began to cry and backed up into a wall.

She watched as the wolf slowly came up to her. 'I really don't want to die. Please someone save me!' she screamed in her mind, tears running down her face in fear.

Suddenly, the door flew open and a figure was seen in the doorway. Both the girl and the wolf turned to see an old man walk in, steak in his hand.

The wolf followed the steak, drooling even more. "You want this?" the man asked, waving the steak. "Go get it!" he threw it as far as he could and moved quickly out of the way of the wolf running to get it.

Kensy sat in one spot, still scared, but grateful. Crawling to her knees, she bowed. "Thank you so much for saving my life. You have no clue." Tears still fell down her face, but this time in happiness.

"You're welcome. Be careful next time." the man walked out.

Kensy watched him go, wiping her tears away. For the first time, she realized she was bleeding from her nose and arm. "I must have fallen on something." she mused, standing up with shaking knees.

After calming the animals down, she walked back to the castle, thinking about the man who saved her life. 'I wish I knew who he was…I want to do something else to thank him…' she sighed out loud, not noticing where she was going.

"Kensy?" a shocked voice called out as the girl turned to see Hudson run up to her, concern, worry and shock evident in his eyes.

"Hey, Hudson." She greeted, weakly smiling, wincing at the pain in her face.

"What happened?" Hudson asked, taking in her dishevled hair with hay in it, her ripped dress, bloody knees, arms and nose and went back to her tear-stained face and her eyes holding fear.

"Nothing. Just a little problem with the animals." She tried to joke it off, but when she began to walk away, her knees gave way and she fell backwards!

She shut her eyes, awaiting the pain. She was surprised when she felt nothing and opened her eyes to see Hudson's eyes staring right back at her!

Shocked and surprised, Kensy jumped out of his arms, but fell backwards into them again. Finally realizing she couldn't walk by herself, she relented and shut her eyes, trying to keep the tears down. 'Why can't I do anything right?' she thought, tears falling down her face anyways.

Hudson watched, his heart breaking from Kensy's attemption at quiet sobs. "Kensy, what happened?"

She shook her head, but pushed off of him. She looked up at him with tear filled eyes, wiping them away. "Don't worry. I don't want to get you in trouble for talking to me. I gotta go." She turned, with much determination and wobbled away.

Hudson watched her go and felt something go with her: his heart. 'I can't…I just meet her a couple hours ago. But why do I feel this way when she's hurting?' Shaking his head, he turned back to go inside and think.

Oh no! Poor Kensy! I don't know about you, but I just want to hug her! All right, enough with my weirdness. Please RR