"So what are you here for?" Cameron asked, his face clouded with anger once more. "Shouldn't you be off, saving Hadanim once more."
"Cameron," Linderen said sharply.
"It's alright, I understand his feelings," I said, looking sadly at him. I wished he didn't feel that way though. "It is for that reason that we returned here. We want to save Hadanim, but we need help to do it. I would never ask this normally but... will you accompany us to the ruins?"
"Oh," Rupert said, "Shaylee, I am a friend but that is a hard thing you ask."
"I know and..."
"I will come with you," Alicia said, interrupting me.
I turned to her, "It will be dangerous."
She gave a laugh, "I know that, I'm not stupid. Besides, I am half fairy, I'll cope better than you."
"I wouldn't bet on that," Finley said with a smile, "Shaylee has coped with a lot so far. Plus she has to live up to her sister's adventures."
"I can beat Kayla any day," I said, laughing, then I turned to Cameron. "Cameron?"
He turned to me, his eyes amazingly colourful. "You came here and we... and then you want me to..." He got up, without finishing either of his sentences. "You'll have to do this alone, sister." With that he went out the front door.
Linderen turned to me, "I'm sorry about him he just... But I shall help you, as will Rupert. This was once a great country, under your rule. And I hope it can be again."
"Thank you."
"What do you plan to do at the Ruins? Surely that is not the place to start," Rupert asked, "Wouldn't one of the major cities be better?"
"And which do you propose?" Finley said firmly, but without malice, "If we choose a fairy city we shall be showing bias, and if we choose a human city the exact same will be said."
Rupert nodded, and took a sip of tea, thinking, "So... I ask again, what is your plan?"
"Well, I haven't been to the Ruins for many a year, but I know that is where our quest will start. Where it will end... I don't know. I know that someone spread the seeds of deceit in my Kingdom, and they are most definitely linked to the goblins. The goblins are at the Ruins, so that is where we must go."
The next day all was prepared. We decided to take Pinto, as a carrier horse, and shouldered the rest ourselves. For this reason we took very little and what we took was mainly food, although Linderen and Alicia both knew the foods the forest could offer us. The Ruins were little over a days walk, but we knew not when we would return, so we came prepared. As we walked through the forest, the birds singing above us, we heard a running step behind us.
"I locked the cottage up," Was the simple answer Cameron gave to our questioning looks.
"Thank you, Son," Rupert said. I smiled secretly, I was pleased Cameron was here with us as even though he didn't trust me, I trusted him. It was also amusing to watch Rupert with his children and wife. Amusing but strange. I wondered if I would ever have such a loving family, somehow I doubted it, as the only reason he had won such a prize was that he had been relieved of his Royal duties. But then Kayla and Tynan were happy as royalty. Maybe it was only for some... Whether I was part of that some, I neither knew nor could guess.
We walked for hours, mostly in silence. Every now and again Alicia would take up a conversation with Finley, and he would reply friendlily, as was his custom. Sometimes Rupert would also join in. Linderen seemed peaceful, just walking through her home forest, listening to the world around her. Cameron and I seemed to be more restless in our silence. Although I didn't know what he was thinking, I hazarded a guess that it was much the same as me. I wanted to speak to him, to talk to him about... anything. But I knew he would reply with anger, and I didn't want to argue with him again.
"Perhaps we should set up a camp," Rupert said, as the light between the trees faded.
We all nodded our agreements so Alicia and I went to find firewood, while the others began to find food and blankets in our packs. I had loosened the loads from Pinto, and I walked her with us so she could graze, and find some water. Soon we found a small clearing with many sticks and a few logs. They were a little damp, as the clearing also held a stream, but enough were dry for us to start the fire well. As we gathered the wood and Pinto drank, I noticed Alicia looking at me curiously.
"Are you alright, Alicia?" I asked after a few minutes.
"I'm fine. It is you who seems odd. Why did you not talk today during the journey? Do you still feel unwell?"
"No, I am much better. I just wasn't in a talking mood."
"Has it anything to do with my brother?"
"Of course not," I said with a smile, "What would my silence have to do with Cameron? I believe you are imagining things"
"I was just asking for you seem to... oh never mind. As you said, I must be imagining things," Alicia replied, "Come on let us get this wood back, they'll be ready with the food. Mother is a magnificent cook, with or without a stove."
That certainly proved to be true. The salted meat and bread we had was better than that I had ever tasted when on a journey, as I often travelled with my father to other kingdoms. My stomach felt full and content as I lay down to sleep, letting the waves of conversation drift over me. A few hours later, as it could not have been much longer, I felt someone shaking me awake.
"Shaylee, it's your turn to guard camp," It was Alicia's kind face above me, smiling to reassure me there was no danger.
"Oh, of course. Thanks for waking me."
"I had no choice if I wanted any sleep! Cameron's turn is next, but I don't doubt he will wake up. It as if he has an alarm clock inside him."
"Alright, thank you," I said, with a tired smile.
I went and sat a little apart from the group, leaning against the hard trunk of a tree to make sure I didn't accidentally fall asleep. I watched as Alicia lay down and eventually lay quiet. All was quiet and dark, the moon cast little more than a dull gaze over the sleepers.
"Shaylee? Is it my watch yet?" Cameron sat up, looking at me with wide eyes. I jumped, startled at his sudden awakening. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He got up and came to sit next to me.
"I don't think it is your watch yet, Alicia has only just gone to sleep."
"Oh... Well, you can go back to sleep early if you wish, I won't tell anyone," he said with a smile.
"No, I'm not really tired now. You go back to sleep."
"I'm not tired either. I shall sit up with you, perhaps we might talk?"
"I will talk with you if you wish. But I got the impression before that you didn't want to speak to me?" I couldn't help adding the last, I wanted to know why he gave me such disdainful looks.
"I know... I'm sorry. I just..." He sighed, "I do like you Shaylee, but it's hard for me not to think only of your title. I know now you are my sister and my friend. But what about when this little adventure is over? You and Fin shall once more be royalty, and we shall go back to our normal lives."
"You are royalty too, though."
He gave a small laugh, "I am not royalty. My father was once, perhaps. But I am not, nor have ever been, the son of a Prince."
"But you are..." I had just realised this, and I wasn't sure if it was what he wished to hear but I said it nonetheless, "You are the only heir to the Kingdom of Fridenum ."
He looked pained, "Shaylee, that is a kingdom in another world. What do you expect me to do?"
"I... I just think you should not be so... decisive about people, about a lifestyle that you know nothing of."
"And you hid the fact that you were royalty because? If it is so great, why didn't you want anyone to know?"
"I never hid my heritage! I merely wanted... I just... I think it is time for your watch, I'm going to get some sleep," I said simply. Then I went back to the others, leaving him to sit. But I didn't sleep, merely lay there, tears running silently from my eyes. Because he was right, I knew he was.
A/N well, hope you liked this update! Hmm, anyone else see any similarities to another conversation held by firelight. In the previous story perhaps? lol. Anyway please review!