Chapter two

Feeling nauseous, Clarisse sat down slowly. She had heard it long before it landed on the grounds. When she actually saw it sitting there, it was then that reality hit her. Joseph did intend on getting her back in the air. Though it was just a chopper, still it flew. What was more important, and crossed her mind even more, was that it could also crash.

"Excuse me, milady, but some man insisted you get in touch with him." She spoke with a high tone, rather annoying, and dressed the part of a homely maid.

"Ah, could you elaborate on that?" When Clarisse saw the question was bothersome, she added, "Who needs me to get in touch with him?"

"Some man, I believe he said he was in Parliament." The make-shift aide shrugged her shoulders and left as Clarisse waved her away.

'How much more can I take of this?' Clarisse rubbed her temples, unsure of how to deal with the situation at the moment. If she was the best the Attache Corps had, then why bother asking for another?

"Your Majesty?" Joseph bowed slightly, seeing the concern on her face. "You will not fly today...nor tomorrow." He watched her face turn to relief, but also emit a question or two. "Or maybe even for a month." Joseph quickly moved behind her, relieving her own fingers and replacing his on her temples. He slowly, with slight pressure, rotated counter-clockwise, until Clarisse eased her head back to rest. "All I plan on doing is getting you comfortable sitting in them for now," he pointed to the chopper. "Genovia One as well, though I could not bring her to your back door," he added.

"Are you serious?" She opened her eyes a little, still enjoying his fingers dancing on her temples.

"Always. I told you we would take it slowly. There's no hurry, although Sebastian is running out of excuses for you, I might add."
"I don't know what I would have done if not for him. I bet he's not been able to spend much time at home at all these past months. I owe him so much."

"You know he's behind you. So am I. Whenever you're ready." Joseph slowly circled her temples once more before lowering his hands.

From the slight exhale Joseph could see he had eased her mind, at least for now. He swallowed hard, hoping to cover his true intentions from her. He could not give her any reason not to trust him. The truth pounded in his soul, and almost gave way as he walked around the furniture to face her, eager to escort her out.

It wasn't really betrayal at all, at least that it what he kept telling himself as they paused long enough to slip her jacket on over her shoulders. It had not got cold yet, but the Autumn air that blew in from the northeast put a chill in the air. Running his hands over her shoulders, he made sure she would be kept warm.

"You're overdoing things again," she whispered, looking around to confirm their solitude.

"I do apologize, madam. However as your head of security, and personal bodyguard, it is my job to see to your every need," he whispered back, brushing his nose through her light hair close to her ears. He loved their light banter together, they always made teasing an art.

"In that case, shouldn't we be taking off my jacket?" Her eyes caught his with a playful look.

"You're not getting out of this Clarisse," he solemnly expressed, knowing full well her temptations were many and almost impossible for him to back away from. This time he had to keep with the program. Queen Clarisse Renaldi had to fly again.

Pouting, she grasped his arm which he offered, and let him lead the way. It wasn't her intention of falling behind, her steps were slow and short from unconscious worry. Joseph knew that, and tried his best to push her, but not pull her.

With her arm tucked securely around his, he had a clear view of the bottom half of the scar. It was so dark compared to her pale white skin, and he knew just how much it bothered her. Joseph had not been surprised when the royal physician deemed surgery necessary for Clarisse to move her arm normally again. He remember how badly it had worried him when he first saw the swollen, purple extremity. She was lucky it had not been worse than it was.

With encouragement from himself and Sebastian, she had succumbed to the operation. It was almost funny, how he had insisted being in there with her, citing his duty and her safety was the top priority. It tore at it soul as they cut deep into her forearm, and though the blood didn't bother him at all, her pale and expressionless face did. Even now, Joseph still could not forget the picture of her lying on that table, in that cold room, submitting herself to be cut open as she lay motionless and clearly unconscious.

He had never told her of that experience. After she awoke, he smiled at her and continued to tell her how well everything had went and how beautiful she looked to him. She did, that was no lie. Everything had went well. Yet, in a sense, it had been a most traumatic experience for Joseph.

The scar left behind was only as long as one of his fingers, yet the tissue was thick. Of course Clarisse had gloves for every occasion, and during the summer relied heavily on them, and makeup as well, to keep the scar hidden from public view. There were times she couldn't do either, and at her last two visits with her doctor, he had mentioned of a laser procedure which would lessen the scar tremendously, and may even make it barely detectable. Clarisse liked the idea immediately, as well as Joseph. The catch was that she had to wait until the healing process on her arm was complete. 'Soon', he thought to himself. It had to be soon, as Clarisse was using her arm fully again.

Her ankle was a different story, for she was walking on that almost immediately. Joseph remembered seeing her for the time after her return at the palace. She was already up and walking on it then, stubborn as she was. Indeed, it had helped, and from what Joseph could see, it did hurt a bit, but nothing like her arm. So within a month her ankle had almost healed completely, to the point where she was in heels again, low heels nevertheless.

As one of the cameras came into view, Joseph nodded at it, knowing Shades was behind the monitor. It had taken him just as long to be comfortable again. His injuries were minimal, painful, but he bounced back as only Shades would. 'A little backache', he often termed it, but Joseph had the impression it was more than a little. When he finally insisted to be put back on schedule, Joseph had threatened him to do no more than desk duty. Joseph threats could be vicious. So behind the cameras he sat.

Another change was the awkward woman who was sent to replace Amanda, Clarisse personal aide. With her death, the sadness had been overwhelming at the palace, for she was a smart, hard-working lady, who everyone got along well with. Joseph couldn't believe her replacement, and he knew it was nothing but a frustration for Clarisse. Lately he had been stopping by her office just to see if he could lend a hand to help her, being as the replacement did little but mess things up. Joseph was in the process of finding someone to help Clarisse, and had been for the past several weeks. If anyone was capable and trustworthy, he would find them. Hopefully soon, before Clarisse lost her sanity.

He was right to make sure her jacket was tightly wrapped around her. The wind cut through the branches and a cool chill hit them in the face as they stepped out. Joseph slid the glass door shut behind them, and stood still for a moment, giving her time to adjust.

With his hand pressed firmly against her lower back, he urged her on. It was not a push, just a hint of support against her. Her heels clicked on the stone walkway as they headed out to the far western edge to the open grass. Usually her strolls through the gardens were enjoyable, but this one had a feel of dred attached to it. If not for Joseph, she would turn and run.

It sat there like an enormous dead insect. Its wings high above it, still as rock. It's legs the same, only below it and clutching the grass tightly. As they moved closer, she could see it was empty, and a sigh of relief again came as it comforted her. She had spent as many hours in the official helicopter as in the jet, she recalled upon seeing the Genovian emblem and flag on it's side.

When at last they were close enough to reach out and touch it, Joseph pulled her to a halt. "Not yet, although I am pleased to see that you are anxious to get aboard."

"Well, you said I was just sitting today."

"Yes, but I want you to feel comfortable Clarisse. You can sit anywhere and not exactly be comfortable. I want you as comfortable as you use to be on board." Joseph took her hands in his and pulled them up for a short, sweet kiss.

She nodded, yet not quite understanding how he was to defeat her unease.

"I thought maybe I would have to lure you on board," Joseph lifted his hand for hers, a common jester to help her aboard. "Do you think you are ready to step on?" Clarisse looked at the complicated machine in front of her, the broad expanse of space it took up, and finally resided that as long as she was just sitting, it would be okay. So in taking his hand, she stepped first one, then the other foot aboard.

Joseph followed, and eased her down onto the seat beside him. He watched her for a moment, worried she may become uneasy or begin to panic, but for now she seemed to be handling the situation fine. She did have his hand, and held it tight as she looked around and let what she was doing sink in.

Yes, she was on board. She was not flying, but she was on board.