CHAPTER 3

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COMPETITION AND PROBLEMS

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I watched as Alleopes, my centaur, pranced gracefully around the royal pasture, smiling as I leaned against the tall oak.  It was a crisp autumn day, roughly a month since my uncle had first instituted my punishment.  Only that morning was I finally allowed to leave the house.

I had spent half the morning searching for Jerrold, who obviously had taken to hiding.  I wasn't very sure why, for his sister was very hazy on the details.  She had said something about the princess of Ayortha, but I couldn't be quite sure what she had meant.  What I did know for sure, however, was that Princess Calantha of Ayortha had come to spend a year at the Kyrrian court.  I did not know why, but I wagered it was because the Ayorthaian's wanted to come to the court of Kyrria for a change.

Whatever the reason was, I spent as little energy as possible thinking about it.  I wanted to enjoy the outdoors; relish the beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange the leaves of the trees were changing to and the clean, crisp air that filled my lungs.  That, and to watch my beautiful four-year-old centaur, Alleopes, as he galloped around the field.  I had received him as a gift on my twelfth birthday.  At the time, I hadn't really been particularly fond of centaurs, but after spending a few days with him, he became my treasure. 

Alleopes was perfect to talk to.  I could complain and carry on for hours, and he would listen patiently.  He would never tell me I was wrong, or that I should act a certain way (like a few people I could name did).  True, he did not understand a word I said, but he was still a beloved companion.  I would bring him a basket of apples, which were his favorite food, and what I named him after.  'Alleopes' is Elfian for 'apples'.  Not only were they his favorite food, but seeing as his father was named Apples, I had thought my self especially clever to name the son 'Apples'.

I yawned and stretched my arms, then reached for an apple from my basket.  I waved it in the air and Alleopes raced over.  Suddenly, however, he paused, kicking his hooves into the ground.

"Whoa, boy.  I swear… he hates me!  Alleopes is very protective of you."  I glanced up at Jerrold who shot me a quick smile.  "I think he gets jealous that he doesn't get all your attention."

I gave Alleopes a fond glance and gave him the apple I was holding.

"He doesn't have to worry, no you don't," I whispered in the sort of voice one talks to a baby with. 

"I daresay I'm extremely jealous," Jerrold joked, then eyed the apples in my basket.  "Give me an apple, will you?  I'm starved."

I cocked my head to the side and scrunched my nose.  "Sorry, these are for Alleopes." 

He pouted and I couldn't help but laugh.  I bent over to my basket and took an apple out.  I thrust it into his hands and shook my head at his behavior. 

"Here you go.  That's the only one you're getting.  Anyways, where were you?  I've been searching all over!"

Jerrold finished taking a bite and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"I should ask the same thing of you!  I've called upon your house countless times this month.  Your uncle said you were picking flowers.  Five days in a row, too!  I bought it the first day, but it was kind of hard to believe you'd actually need that many flowers."

I laughed.  "If you consider 'picking flowers' sitting in your room idly, then yes I not only did I 'pick flowers' for those five days, I 'picked' them the whole month."

He furrowed his brow and took another bite out of his apple, making a loud crunch as he did.

"You were punished?  For wha… oh, no…  It wasn't because of the funeral, was it?  Oh, Rosalie, I'm so sorry.  I never meant…"

"Jerrold… please.  It's in the past; forgive and forget, as I always say," I said, then sent him a grin, "I've never said that before, to tell you the truth.  It sounded wise, though."

He laughed.  I smiled even wider.

"Well, it's only fair if I tell you why I've been in hiding.  Come closer.  No one else can hear this." 

"Jerrold, you're silly.  No one can hear us out here except Alleopes, and I doubt he'll tell anyone."  I pointed at Alleopes' blank eyes to prove my point.

"Fine, it's the princess… she's been-"

"Jerrold!  Yoo-hoo!  Where have you been?"  A petite woman decked in full ballroom apparel approached us, waving her arms profusely.

He attempted to hide his face, and I raised my eyebrows.

"That," he whispered, "is the reason I am in hiding."

The lady reached us, straightening her skirts.  "Jerrold, where on earth have you been?"  She gave me a scrutinizing look.  "And who, Jerrold, is this?"  Her pronounciation was very… unique.  It wasn't only her Ayorthaian accent, but she added trills to her r's and pronouncing her th's as z's.

"Rosalie, she's m--"

"You're not courting her," Princess Calantha asked, as she latched herself onto his arm, "are you, Jerrold, love?"

I smothered a laugh with the back of my hand.  This was hilarious!  No wonder Jerrold had been in hiding.

"No, we're best friends," I replied, giving her a candy-sweet smile.  "I'm Rosalie, as Jerrold said.  Daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Frell.  Utterly and totally…eh-hem… excuse me… where was I?  Oh yes, pleased to meet your acquaintance."  I curtsied, as was apt to do to royalty.

"Oh," she said, flippantly, "Jerrold promised me a tour of the palace today.  Perhaps we'll see you later."

I looked at him and held back more laughs.  He gave me a vehement look.  I shrugged.

"I suppose I should go.  I was planning on visiting my mother's grave today," I said, "And I should get Alleopes back to the royal menagerie.  I'll see you later." 

"No, don't!  I…eh.. was going to join her.  You wouldn't want to go… it's a long walk."  Jerrold looked to me for some help.

"Yes, a very long walk, through marshes," I added.

He sent me a thankful smile.  "And tall grass where Ogres are known to dwell."

I shrugged.  "It's actually not that bad, though.  You should join us."

Princess Calantha looked appalled.  "I'm afraid not!  "I've much more sophisticated things to do."  She pursed her lips.  "It's no wonder you are best friends.  I wonder whether all the girls in Kyrria are so barbaric."

And with that, her majesty marched off the pasture.  Jerrold and I looked at each other.

"Jer-r-royd, yove (love), zer-r-re you ar-r-re!" I imitated. "Seems Alleopes isn't the only one who doesn't like competition."

"She's a nightmare," Jerrold whined.

"I can relate," I replied.  Jerrold furrowed his brow.

"How so?"

I shrugged one shoulder.  "My uncle and I don't exactly get along that well.  It's sort of hard without my mother there to watch my back."

"I didn't know," he said apologetically. 

"I didn't want to complain," I murmured, "Besides, you seem to have enough problems on your hands."

"Well, it seems like we both have some important problems to deal with," Jerrold said, "Just know that I'm here if you need me."

"And vice-versa," I replied, giving him a smart rap on the arm, "Don't think you're the only one who can offer help."

"I never said I was.  Now give me another one of those apples.  They're good."  He kneeled next to my basket and took one out, biting into it with another loud crunch.

I smiled.  I didn't exactly feel like scolding him for taking an apple.  I felt oddly happy.  We spent the day sitting, talking, and laughing.  Jerrold told me all about the month; including lengthy descriptions of all the boring cotillions that were held at the palace and all the boring nobles who came to visit.  I told him very little, basically about the books I'd read in my confinement.  The conversation wasn't exactly on the most enthralling topics, yet somehow, it was still interesting.

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A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update!  I've been very busy this week.  I hope you enjoy the chapter!  I pretty much wrote it all today, so if it's "hot off the press" I apologize.  I also apologize in advance for the fact that I won't update this entire week.  I'm visiting family in New York.  So enjoy, read, review and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!