Chapter 6

"Cooper? What in God's name are you doing here?" I squealed and ran into his arms. Cooper was different than I remembered him. He used to be so scrawny and short. Now he was built like an incredible warrior and taller than Hunter. He had rich light brown hair and copper colored eyes. He still had all the scars i gave him. Cooper tightened his bulky arms around me and spun me in a circle laughing. When he set me back down on the ground, I took a step back and in a fit of anger, I punched him. He stumbled a step back and rubbed his jaw with a grimace on his face.

"Guess I deserved that one." He groaned.

"Damn right you deserve it! You left me alone!" I shouted at him.

"Evangaline? Who is this?" Hunter asked.

I turned back to look at my knight. He had risen from my bed and watched with heavy suspicion. I sighed and gestured to Cooper.

"This is my uncle's illegitimate son that nobody knows about. My father took him under his wing so the queen would not know. Cooper is practically my brother. We were trained together as warriors. He was supposed to be my right hand man but when my father died, he abandoned me on some stupid quest to find his mother. The king exiled Cooper's mother without anyone but my father knowing who she was." I explained.

"Well then, great way to sum me up there V. Strokes my ego." Cooper said glumly. I glared at him for my nickname.

"Why the hell are you here Coop?" I asked coldly.

"Oh? Now where did that warm welcome go?" Cooper crossed the room and fell onto my bed face up. "Now let's see. What would bring me back to town? Ah yes, my father died and I'm here to pay my respects. When is his funeral anyway? Isn't there supposed to be a big send off because he's the big bad king?"

His question stumped me. "You're right. The city and the kingdom should be draped in black in mourning. There should be a funeral for all to see." I mumbled. I began to pace back and forth.

"Wait, so let me get this straight. Cooper is the king's bastard son who was raised by your father to be your knight but he disappeared on a quest to find his mother. Now he's back and gets a warm welcome from the acting queen and asking questions about a funeral that will never happen. Am i getting all this right?" Hunter said in exasperation.

"Yes." I said at the same time Cooper asked "Bastard?"

I looked at Cooper and then back to Hunter. His blue eyes were guarded and confused. "Wait, you said the funeral wasn't going to happen. Why is that?"

Hunter laughed hysterically. "Well princess, your uncle isn't a loved man. He's lucky they even say his name in death. Honestly the kingdom isn't sorry to see him go. You are the light in the Dark ages, come to bring a new world about."

"I'm sorry, who are you? I don't think I've had the pleasure yet. You already know all about me." Cooper got to his feet and stood in front of Hunter with an outstretched arm. Cooper was a head taller than Hunter, who was nearly a head taller than me.

"I'm Sir Hunter, son of Sir Alexander the legendary black knight. I am Evangaline's Knight and personal guard. The job i presume was supposed to belong to you." Hunter replied, grasping Cooper's forearm.

Cooper turned to me in anger. "V? You replaced me?"

"Oh don't you dare! You abandoned me! Of course I replaced you! What was I supposed to do? Wait around for you as if I knew you'd show? Be reasonable Coop. And quit calling me V!"

Cooper raised his hands in defense and took a step back. "My apologies. I do, however, wish to resume my position now that i have returned to you."

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "i don't know Cooper. I have a lot on my shoulders and I don't think I need another guard."

"Oh really? How many attempts on your life have there been?" Cooper asked.

"Three. One in the court yard, one from the maid with the poisoned chalice, and one while you were in the stables." Hunter answered.

Stables? I was brushing Dusk and Aliyannia took over cleaning the saddle. There was no attempt on my life, was there? "The stables? There was no attempt on my life there."

"Oh yes there was. A man with a javelin was sneaking up on the stables. He was wearing the guard uniform and I took him out." Hunter asked confidently.

"Right then it's settled. Sir Hunter, better get used to me. We just became partners." Cooper replied.

Great. I'm supposed to be queen yet I can't even control the men who are supposed to protect me.

I heard a tinkling laughter and my heart sunk. I don't know why I felt I needed to keep Aliyannia a secret, I just knew that she mustn't be found. At least not yet.

"What was that?" Hunter asked.

I ran over to my dressing room door and ran in just as both Cooper and Hunter yelled "Evangaline! Don't!"

I went in just in time to see a puff of glitter. I sagged with relief and checked on Dawn as a show that I thought she was in danger. Dawn panted happily and had her paws hooked around her pups. Cooper looked at me questioningly and Hunter sat there grinning. I rolled my eyes and exited my room. There had to be something for me to do. Exhaustion crept up on me and I began to seriously feel the pain from my earlier impact. Extreme pain shot up and down my legs as I walked. Gritting my teeth I pushed forward hoping Hunter wouldn't notice. Cooper probably already picked up on it.

"I can help." I heard Aliyannia's whisper. I shook my head and glanced behind me at the men casually walking behind me with guarded expressions. Cooper looked strange walking next to Hunter. Almost everything about Cooper was white and lightly colored. He wore a white shirt and light pants and boots. Hunter of course was mostly dark and deep. i turned back to the direction I was headed. Then I realized I didn't know where I was headed.

"Follow me. I'll lead you to your ladies in waiting." She whispered again. Aliyannia didn't appear, just her voice. I felt a small hand grasp mine and I jumped sideways, letting go.

"Are you alright V?"

"Uh yeah, legs a bit sore. Just twinged it."

"I'm not blind V. I picked that up when you started walking. I also know that's not the reason you jumped." Cooper said.

"I'm fine." I growled. Aliyannia gave me a quick warning before grasping my hand again. She pulled subtly on my arm down different hallways. If she wasn't holding my hand, I'd never know she was there.

"Evangaline? Are you injured from Dusk this morning?" Hunter asked.

"What? Dusk would never hurt her. He's saved her life not put it in harms way." Cooper retorted.

"Yes, Hunter. I am. Cooper? I blindfolded him because there was a huge crowd. He went faster than expected, i saved him from injury but I was flung into a wall. I'm fine, just a little sore. Now both of you hush, i'm trying to find my ladies."

Cooper groaned. "Which ones?"

I laughed hysterically and didn't answer. Cooper then launched into the story about how both Mia and Allison have been trying to get Cooper to marry them. Even before he looks the way he does now. Cooper just had this way about him that everyone wanted. Now Cooper would be irresistible to Mia and Allison. While they were distracted Aliyannia spoke to me.

"If you give me permission, I can take away the pain."

"Only if you aren't revealed." I whispered.

"I won't be. I promise but it will hurt." She replied softly.

"That's okay. I can take it."

With the snap of tiny fingers I was set alight with a blue glow. It felt as though I was set on fire. Screaming in pain as a way for release, I dropped to my knees. There was a popping and cracking noise in my body and then I heard nothing. Not even Cooper and Hunter shouting at me from beyond the blue haze. There was absolute silence. The pain ceased and I felt more than heard myself stop screaming. A warm tingle spread and breathing became easier. I felt better than I ever did before. I felt perfect.

"You're healed. Now take a right down and you'll run right into your friends. They're headed this way." The blue haze disappeared with the fairy's voice. I felt her leave and a puff of glitter flashed in my face.

I rose with ease and smiled.

"Evangaline? Are you alright?" Hunter asked. Cooper looked me over silently.

"Never better." I replied giddily. "Come on, I know where to find Allison and Mia."

I ran down the hall as Aliyannia told me and sure enough my ladies were there, laughing with some guards. They all looked up and the guards left down the hallway after bowing.

"Oh Eva, welcome. This is the guard's quarters. We didn't expect you here." Allison said politely. She blushed prettily.

"Well, someone special arrived and i thought there must be something we can do. Actually i was thinking we could do battle training and you could watch."

"Cooper's here?" Mia squealed. "Oh I miss that little runt. Actually I'm still hoping I can convince him to marry me. There is just something about him."

"Hey! I wanted him." Allison whined.

"Well ladies, it's been a long time. How are you two faring?" Cooper bravely commented. The girls looked at him and their jaws dropped.

"You look different. You look like a God my friend. Hunter beats you in the chiseled department but you are not lacking in muscles." Mia commented allowed.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Hunter said with a chuckle.

"So what do you say Cooper? Spar like old times?" I asked.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Rather than risk another crowd, we cleared away all the tables in the dining room and brought in training gear. There was an arsenal of wooden weapons, crafted to look and feel like the real deal. Some guards gathered to watch but mostly it was private. Cooper had removed his shirt and i relieved myself of my weapon belt and my blades. We both held wooden swords and twirled them with ease. Allison and Mia had brought in chairs to sit on while Hunter stood beside them in tense anticipation.

Cooper got in his ready position and I followed.

"The stakes Coop?"

"Same as always V, first one to the ground."

"You know I've always won right?" I teased.

"Not this time V. I've been training."

Without warning he lunged which I deflected. I tsked while we circled. "That is foul play Coop."

"There are no rules V." Cooper said with a wink.

We charged again. Our swords met in the middle and made a dull crack. I suddenly missed my prized weapons and the way they rung on impact. Cooper struck and we parried. I was surprised by the strength behind his wooden weapon.

"You have gotten stronger Coop." I shoved him backwards i swiped the air fast and strong, forcing him backwards.

"I told you I was training. I also found her." His words stumped me enough that he swung and launched my sword out of my hands.

"Low blow." I growled.

"I play to win." He replied. He lunged forward and I dropped, sweeping with my leg and knocking him to the ground. His new weight was his enemy. I jumped on his chest and pinned his arms.

"You never win." I let him up and then hugged him.

"That was fun, I missed this." Cooper whispered.

"You didn't really put up a fight. It was kind of boring except for the bomb you just dropped." I said as I stepped away. "So who is your mother?"

Cooper looked at me with sad eyes. "The King's sister. Juliana."