Chapter Four
"To see America? What for?" Kriss asks. I slowly stand and she watches me, her expression looks hurt, as well as embarrassed. I feel bad for her, I know how it felt when I thought Maxon was all mine and saw him growing close to her. It's not my intention to have an affair with Maxon. If anything, I've been avoiding him for the last few days for this reason.
"That's between America and Maxon, Kriss. Off you go America, Maxon is waiting just outside the door." Queen Amberly smiles. I nod and make my way out of the room. Maxon is standing just outside the door, leaning against the wall opposite the Women's Room.
"Lady America." He grins at me and bows shallowly. I can't help but smile back.
"Your Majesty." I give a shallow curtsy. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, I just wanted to see you." Maxon winks, his eyes mischievous. I can't help but smile too. It feels so good to be around him again, it feels like home.
"Just to see me?" I smile, he nods and holds out his arm.
"Shall we? You've been avoiding me recently, or at least avoiding looking at me. I wanted some quality time with my closest friend." I look at the floor, wondering if we can ever just go back to being friends. "I also wanted to apologise if I came across as cold or rude the other evening."
"No, you weren't. It's fine." I brush it off, but he persists.
"America, please. I mean it. It wasn't exactly a brilliant reunion." He sighs.
"Maxon, I didn't expect a fanfare anyway! Stop being so courteous." I tease, he grins widely.
"Alright, alright. I just want you to know I really have missed you." His voice is soft, and I try to ignore the butterflies in my stomach.
"I've missed you too, Maxon." We walk through the palace in silence, just enjoying each-others company.
"Is there anything you'd like to do?" Maxon asks as we walk. I think for a moment.
"I've never seen the stables, maybe you could show me the horses?" I ask, Maxon nods enthusiastically.
"It would be a pleasure, my Lady." He says my title in a teasing way and I giggle. "We have to be careful; the rebels are always out there waiting for any moment to attack." He sighs, I squeeze his arm to comfort his sombre expression.
"Nothing's changed then?" I think of Kriss being a Northern rebel and wonder why she hasn't told Maxon yet, surely, she would be able to form an alliance. Maxon nods curtly.
"My father fears they will break into the castle one day and kill us all. I don't know what the southern rebels want, but the Northern ones have seemed to back off in the last two years. The Southerners attacks only grow more vicious."
"I'm sorry." I murmur.
"Don't be. I know Georgia and August wanted you on the throne, sometimes I wonder…" He drifts off.
"Wonder?" I push.
"Nothing, here we are!" Maxon pushes the doors to the garden open, we are immediately flanked by two officers. He walks me to the stables, and I have to admit, they are stunning, Maxon glows with pride as we look through the beautiful horses. "Have you ever ridden before?" Maxon lets go of my arm and strides over to a beautiful bay coloured horse, the sheer size of it intimidates me and I shake my head quickly. Maxon chuckles. "Nothing to be afraid of, this is my horse, Excalibur. I named him after a famous knight's sword." I can see Maxon beaming with pride as he strokes the horse's mane.
"May I?" I ask, reaching out my hand to stroke Excalibur's neck.
"Of course, he's very calm."
I place my hand on his smooth warm neck and stroke softly, I have never been so close to such a majestic animal in all my life. I stare in awe at Excalibur, and sense there are thousands of emotions in those calm looking eyes. "Sometimes I come out here just to sit with him and read, he's so calming."
"I can imagine."
"Would you like to go for a ride? We don't have to go hunting, just a short one around the grounds." Maxon offers.
"Is it safe?" I wonder, looking at the guards standing at the stable door.
"One of them can tag along. Jacob?" Maxon calls out, a scrawny boy of about sixteen comes around the corner, he smells of horses and his face has flecks of mud on. "Would you saddle up Excalibur and …" Maxon studies me for a moment, I blush at his eyes running up and down my body, "Faye."
"Yes, your Highness." Jacob bows his head and sets off to begin tacking up.
"You'll love Faye, she's a snow-white mare, very docile. Though perhaps with your personality you could do with a horse with a bit of gusto about them." Maxon teases.
"Gusto?" I laugh. The horses are tacked up within half an hour and Maxon replaces his suit jacket with a brown riding one with a material collar, and his expensive shoes with riding boots. "I don't know about this Maxon, I've never ridden, let alone in a dress." I say hesitantly.
"Hm, indeed. Jacob, are there any women's jodhpurs around? I'm sure Lady America would fit into my mother's old riding clothes." Maxon's eyes fill with wicked pleasure at my protests to getting changed. "I am the crown prince; you must do as I say." He teases. I change into a cream pair of jodhpurs and an emerald green knitted jumper, over the top of that is a dark navy Gillet. I feel practically regal. Maxon grins as I approach the two horses, waiting for me at the doors to the huge stables. "Well, Lady America, you look just as beautiful in riding gear as you do a ball gown." I blush at his compliment. He holds his linked hands out and gives me a boost onto Faye, I grip her reigns as I swing my leg around. I secretly thank her for her patience with me. Maxon on the other hand hops onto his thoroughbred with ease, looking ridiculously attractive.
"My Lady, your clothes will be taken back to your room for you." Jacob bows his head.
"Thank you." I smile, wondering how Jackson will react at my dress being returned without me in it. I push the thought away, not wanting to ruin this moment.
"We will take it slow, now just give her a slight squeeze on the sides and we'll be off." I do as he says, and sure enough Faye begins slowly walking along. The world seems different from up here, it's exhilarating. With a guard in tow, we make our way around the palace grounds, admiring the views. "Tell me about your fiancé." Maxon asks finally.
"You seem very fascinated; would you like to marry him yourself?" I tease, to which Maxon laughs. The sound of his laugh radiates through me and I remember how much I have missed this.
"I just want to know about the kind of man my father set you up with."
"Well… he's handsome. Wealthy. Has great connections." I think of other things to say about him, Maxon looks at me with a strange expression.
"But you haven't once mentioned how he is towards you."
"I have!" I protest.
"In passing. Tell me, my dear, are you truly happy?" He pushes. Honestly? No. I want to be with you. I want to be your wife. But I can't tell him that.
"Are you?" I shoot back.
"I'm comfortable." He says, looking out towards the forest ahead of us.
"Comfortable? But not happy."
"We're not talking about me. Are you happy America?" Maxon's voice suddenly turns more serious and I pause, tempted to tell him the truth.
"I'm fine. What makes you ask?"
"Well, I was passing your room the other night to apologise for my cold behaviour in the garden and I heard shouting from your room. I hope you don't think of me as rude. Jackson seemed to be very heated about something." Maxon explains. I absently touch my wrist, thinking of that argument. "Have I upset you?"
"No! No, that was just a quarrel about something." I shrug, but Maxon doesn't buy it, I can tell in his expression.
"America, if he ever hurts you, you must tell me."
"What?!" I whip my head to look at him, he meets my eyes with a calm but protective look.
"I mean it."
"Don't you and Kriss ever argue?" I ask, changing the subject off me.
"No, not usually. She doesn't have it in her like you do." He winks. I scoff.
"Pardon?"
"Arguing with our favourite thing to do, if you remember." Maxon teases. I laugh, shaking my head. "I distinctly remember your knee hitting my groin and shouting at me on the first night." He grins.
"Okay, okay." I laugh, we both smile at each other before his expression turns sad. "Maxon? Are you alright?" He checks behind him to see how close the guard is.
"Do you ever wonder what might've been? If I had chosen you." He says quietly. The question takes me off guard and my heart seems to skip a beat.
"I…yes." I sigh, no point lying now. He nods but doesn't say anything else. We ride in silence for a little while when I begin to feel a splatter of rain. "We best head back, it's going to rain harder I'm sure, look at those clouds." I nod to the black clouds above us as it begins to rain a little harder.
"I agree, let's turn here." He points to the bush just ahead of us. As we reach it, I sense Faye beginning to pull a little, I try to regain some control but there is a sudden loud bang of thunder, and Faye bolts. I yell, gripping on as best I can but before I know it, I've hit the floor, the wind rushes from my lungs and I gasp for breath. I hear the sounds of feet running towards me, but I'm so dizzy I can hardly focus. "America!" Maxon shouts.
"Stand down your Majesty!" The guard screams, there are more bangs before I realise, it wasn't thunder. It's gunfire. I feel someone next to me, but I'm so disorientated I can barely focus.
"America, can you hear me?" Maxon is over me, I can smell his shampoo and cologne.
"Yeah, my head hurts." I mumble.
"Thank god, it's alright, try to breathe. Stay low." His voice is rushed.
"Is it rebels?" I ask, blinking a few times to focus.
"Yes, more guards are coming now. You may have concussion. I'm sorry I put you in danger, I thought it would be safe." He mutters, sounding genuinely annoyed at himself.
"Maxon, I'm so sleepy." I mumble, but before I can hear what he says, everything goes dark.
When I open my eyes again, I'm in the hospital wing. It's dark outside and I can hear the rain lashing against the windows. There are curtains around my bed and only small amounts of light from the lamps dotted around, it must be late. I try to sit up, but my head pounds and I recall falling off the horse. And the gunfire. The rebels.
"I need to see my fiancé, please step aside." Jackson's stern voice was on the other side of the curtains.
"I'm sorry sir I can't let you. The head nurse, as well as his Highness the prince, have asked for her to be left alone." Another man said.
"How dare you. I'm her future husband."
"I said what I said sir. Do you need me to get his Royal Highness himself?" The guard shoots back, his voice is clearly irritated. I'm grateful for the privacy. I hear Jackson make some form of angry noise and storm away. I close my eyes, hoping to fall back asleep but then I hear another set of footsteps, this one less angry. "Your Majesty." The guard says. My heart begins to beat a little faster.
"Has she woken?" Maxon asks.
"No, sir." The curtains are pulled back lightly, and Maxon steps around the corner. I prop myself up and smile lightly.
"Hello." I say softly as he sits on the edge of my bed.
"I've been so worried about you. The doctor said you have concussion but should be good to go for the tour tomorrow as long as you look after yourself." Maxon says, looking at the bed rather than me.
"That's good. I'm fine, really." Maxon laughs softly and takes my hand.
"America, when I asked you if you think of what might have been," he pauses and takes a deep breath. "It's because I do. Very often. Sometimes I feel as though I've made a huge mistake with all this."
"Don't. You're married now and this isn't fair on Kriss." I mumble, despite feeling happy at hearing the words I've wanted to hear in all of those two years.
"But it's not fair on me either America. Or you." He leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. "I forgave you a long time ago. I should've listened."
"Shh," I hush him, closing my eyes, "It doesn't matter now."
"America, I haven't stopped thinking about you." His lips brush against mine and I have no restraint anymore, I push mine against him and he pulls me closer in a deep kiss. It's just how I remember, it's like coming home but everything new at the same time. All too soon, he breaks away but he's grinning. "I've wanted to do that since the moment I saw you again." He murmurs. I chuckle.
"We're in trouble now." I whisper.