Sorry it took so darn long.

Actually two more chapters, Tami. Thanks

Chapter 44: Queen Minnie

It seemed like forever before Carrie finally came to me with a mischievous smile and said the words I had been waiting to hear for days! Well... it was just hours, but still!

"She's awake, Lance."

I jumped from my desk of littered papers and asked, "And her wound? How is it?"

"You can hardly tell it's there. She was kind of surprised to find herself in the castle and all, but..."

"Here," I said shoving my quill pen into her hand, "Sign whatever needs to be signed, just ask Colby here, and Arundel."

"Your majesty!" objected Respectable Colby.

"Oh, and don't sign anybody's life away, or marriage contracts."

"But Lance I can't..."

"She's royalty," I said while backing quickly from the room. "The signature will be legal. Come on, I've got a girl to see."

Respectable Colby rolled his eyes in a very uncouncilman like manner and Sir Arundel grinned.

She wasn't sitting up in bed; she was standing, and stretching absently with a lovely yawn. She looked gorgeous. Her long auburn hair was uncombed and hung down her back and around her shining face. She was wearing one of Carrie's gowns with a silk robe and it fit her beautifully. She looked a little different wearing a dress made of something other than cotton and dirt, but it looked right, how a future Queen should look. A smile lighted her face when she saw me and she said, "Good morning, Lance."

I was about to feel awkward and uncertain but then I realized I couldn't; not after all I'd been through in the past few weeks. So, I leaned against the doorpost, folded my arms, and said casually, "Actually it's the afternoon, Minnie."

She raised an eyebrow. "How long have I slept?"

Here I smiled and crossed the room in a stride. "Too long," I said. I enfolded her into my arms and kissed her.

"Three cheers for His Royal Excellency King Lance of Adel..."

Before Lord Lisbon could finish my title the crowd erupted into three hearty "Hip-hip Huzzah!"s. According to custom I titled my head regally to my people, and then added a grin and a wave.

"Three cheers for Queen Minerva of Gaul!" shouted Rose above the ruckus and flying hats.

This too was by the traditional enthusiastic cheers. I was surprised at how readily the Adelfian people had accepted a Gaul as a queen. In fact they seemed right down pleased and proud as if it was a great honor to have a Gaul for a ruler. I had yet to learn that the Adelfian people often intermarried with Gaul, Rebezonia and the other countries the kings had conquered. It was their quiet way of accepting the new countries and calming them into perfect submission.

Taking Minerva's hand we ascended the marble steps from the alter where we had just been crowned King and Queen. We were immediately swarmed with lords, ladies, lads, lasses, lower classes, and lofty classes, each asking questions, praising, commenting and doing other things I could understand about the roar. The guards had a tough time keeping some space around us, enough to breathe. I smiled and answered as many as I could.

"Are you going to continue to conquer more countries?" asked a knight.

"Are you going to continue to excel above your peers?" I shot back with grin.

"What is your first order of business?" asked a richly dressed merchant.

I glanced his bulky figure and red face up and down and said sternly, "Cut down on the use of wine. Change your products, sir. You are going down in business."

He gaped at me and waddled off frantically, thinking furiously of what he could sell instead. Another figure took his place immediately and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to sell that horse, sir?"

I did a double take as I saw who was talking to me. The young lady I had met in the forest looked quite different, more mature. I was too shocked to answer, but Minerva said everything in amazed words:

"Robina Hall!"

"Hello, Minerva," smirked the tall graceful young lady, who didn't look at all like the rough bandit leader. She still wore her green lincoln, but it was a dress suited for a royal wedding, and her eyes were calm and happy. She looked so different, changed

"You are certainly looking well," she said, taking in Minerva's own new attire of royal purple. She looked at my wife as she didn't know whether to treat her as the bothersome brother she once had been or Her Majesty the Queen of Adelfos. Frankly I didn't know whether to treat Robina as a bandit who tried to steal Ares or a guest at my coronation.

"Did Eric give you trouble?" asked Minerva softly and sharply. Apparently she realized that her running away might've brought some sort of complications, and she just knew.

Robina raised an eyebrow, and a flash of pain flickered in her eyes. Then she glanced around almost proudly, realizing that their royal highnesses were totally ignoring all the other pressing people to talk to her. So, she decided to get personal, "Some, 'little brother'. But not as much as he gave you." She glanced at me then added, "I had my own aid."

"Stanley?"

"No. Thian."

We both recognized the name at once and stared at her in surprise. I even looked around for the quiet T brother, whose very name brought a surge of memories. Minerva looked only to Robina, waiting for an explanation.

"That's an adventure in itself," shrugged Robina, with an unexpected blush. She had never blushed before. "But to make a long story short, Thian and I are going to his clan later, and I won't be a thieving bandit anymore."

In other words, she had changed. I was about to say something, when someone called my name, or one of my names.

"SIR JESSE!! Oh my gosh! It is him!"

It took a second to realize who was calling me and then my little brother appeared at my side. He glowered at me and asked, "I kept telling them I was Jesse, but they don't believe me. Lance how do you know those...girls?"

Sure enough the four Kaloses were making their way through the crowds, lead by a very impatient and excited Hazel. When they reached us, the two sisters greeted each other affectionately, with Hazel practically jumping up and down with excitement and happiness. They both started talking so much I was lost after the hellos.

"You told us you were Sir Jesse," accused Elise, blue, sulkily looking a little timidly at my attire of royal silk and satin and my new shining crown, which was already beginning to feel heavy.

"I never said that," I replied. "Penny told you that. I only went by that name because I didn't want anyone to know I was a prince."

"I am a prince!" squawked Jesse. "I am Jesse!"

The three girls ignored him.

"Well you certainly engrained it your mind well," huffed Penny, red.

"We wouldn't have told anyone you were the prince!" insisted Violet, purple.

I wasn't about to say it was them I didn't want anyone to tell. I was sure I would have never gotten out of their grips if they had known I was more than just a knight. I could see them looking at Minerva enviously and it made me a little embarrassed.

"I'm more than a knight!" cried Jesse trying desperately to get their attention. I guess he never had a bunch of pretty girls say his name so much at one time. He was barely starting to admit that girls weren't too bad and was probably thinking this was his only chance.

"Oh?" Penny looked at him scornfully. "And how old are you? Ten?"

Jesse stood to his full height of five feet three inches and said defiantly, "I'm fourteen!"

He didn't stand a chance.

Minerva and I had hardly started to continue down the red carpet when we were stopped again, this time by Thian himself. He bowed, almost reluctantly, as if he had expected to have to bow to a couple he had considered a couple of strangers who couldn't keep their eye on their comrade and prevent him from falling into traps.

"Hello, Thian," I said heartily shaking his hand enthusiastically.

"Hello, King Lance, Queen P...Minerva," he said casually. Like the others he realized he was esteemed by the people around him for being on such informal terms with the king. "I represent my clan," he continued, as if he were reciting a memorized phrase. "They want to thank you for honoring them by visiting them."

It had been totally accidental and had done me more honor than I, who just ate their cooking. But I thanked Thian just the same and then said, "Before you go, talk to Sir Lisbon, my secretary. He can hook you up with my treasurer settle things."

Thian raised an eyebrow but I just moved on with a smile.

My first order of business was beginning to be carried out. I had to reward my people.