Chapter 4: Uneasy Feelings

When it was certain Billy wasn't coming back to dinner, everyone else went to their rooms to rest for the night. Meredith was escorted to her room in the west wing by one of the servants. Once at her door she nodded and they left. She went inside, changed into a wool gown, and went over to her window. Her room always had a perfect view of the setting sun, she watched it go down as she sat on the window seat. There was a knock on her door and she went up to open it. Evan was there, with his head bowed. "Yes, Evan?" Meredith asked. He looked up.

He heard his name and looked up. The princess was standing before him in a simple wool gown, most likely about to go to sleep. The sun was setting behind her, outside, and it cast a glow around her. His voice caught for a moment, but he regained his composure. "I hope I am not keeping you, but Billy requested your company." She nodded and stepped out the room to follow him. They went to the second floor of the castle and out onto the balcony that looked over their kingdom. Billy was there with his hands clamped behind him gazing out. He only turned when he heard the door close, then the siblings talked for a while.

Evan was walking down the hall, well running. He didn't know why he was running, he just was. Before he knew it he was at the stables. The prince and princess had four horses. A bright tan Arabian mare named Star Dust, a dark red Shire stallion named Pom, short of pomegranate, and two thoroughbreds. One completely white and the other completely black, they were named Yin and Yang. Evan saw the horse keeper, Brie, who was brushing Pom's mane. They nodded to each other and he kept walking.

Eventually he found himself in the garden. He looked around and sat down beneath a tree. The moon was just rising now, casting a soft glow on everything. He closed his eyes and tried to find the thought that made him run away. He couldn't find it, it just disappeared. He sighed and soon fell asleep in the moon lit garden.

Meredith didn't know what had caused her brother to call her, so she was surprised to see him smiling. He hadn't smiled in months. He gestured to the bench that looked over the yard and they sat together.

"So, why the smile?" Meredith asked hoping to catch him off guard, but he kept smiling and looking ahead.

"I got a letter." he said while holding an envelope. "A neighboring kingdom is looking for a queen. And young princesses from every spot in the country are going there."

"Why? What is so special about this particular kingdom?"

"The king has not been seen for five years and he is the wealthiest of all other kings." he looked over to his sister. "We got invited."

"What?!" Meredith almost fell out of her chair. "Why were we invited! I am not of marrying age and neither are you!" she screamed and walked to the edge of the balcony.

"We are going because if he chooses you, which he might he just needs a queen for his kingdom, then we could use the wealth to help our own."

"I am not marrying someone I have never met!" she gripped the railing and looked straight ahead.

"You may not have to, but we need to go anyway. Sister please." she glanced at him and saw he was practically begging. She broke.

"Fine, I will go. But, we are bringing a few people with us."

"Okay, it says we can bring five servants with us."

"Stephanie, Alyssa, Cory, Jenna, and Evan." she shot off as soon as he had finished. "They come, or I don't."

"Ok, done. I will go get Evan and he will tell everyone to start to pack. We leave tomorrow at noon." with that he left the balcony. Leaving his sister alone gazing out beyond her yard, beyond her kingdom, and beyond her imagination.