Authors Note: This chapter is dedicated htr17. My best reviewer =)

000

Jayne-

I took a steady breath as I walked through the door that Drake was holding open for me. I was hit with the smell of fresh bread and I realized how hungry I was. I heard the thump of Drake placing his bow down on the ground. He came up behind me and grabbed my pack startling me.

"Sorry, I just wished to put this down for you." I nodded and the pack slipped out of my hands as I started walking further into the home, looking at everything.

Though the furniture was not that of the palace, it was quaint and looked comfortable. There was a large fireplace with a kettle in it. I could see stew cooking in there and the smell of many different flavors invaded my nostrils. So he's most certainly is not poor enough to starve. I thought bitterly, as I remembered all the times Queen Bethany or Lance snuck me food because King Cole decided us slaves were getting too spoiled, therefore cutting off our food for a few days.

I turned around as I heard the back door slam. A tall man, along with a light haired woman came through the door. The man stopped suddenly when he saw me.

"Jayne…" He said in a whisper. I just stared at him, not making any movement or sound. No one needed to introduce me. I knew who he was.

The woman behind him put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a slight push towards me. He reached out his arms as he started walking to me and I stepped back a few paces, "Jayne…it's me. You're father. Don't you remember me?"

I laughed at that, "You left when I was four. There aren't many memories of you for me to recount." He looked hurt and stayed silent for a moment.

I took this time to look him up and down. He was tall, almost as tall as Lance. His skin was pale and his facial features hard. If it weren't for his golden eyes and dark curly hair that was only starting to turn gray, no one would ever guess we were related. I was thankful for that.

"I'm sorry I left. I truly am." He took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling as if it would help give him the right words, "I just couldn't stay there any longer. I couldn't stay under the control of the of a heartless king. I begged your mother to come with me. But she wouldn't. She thought it would be better for you and your sister to stay somewhere stable. Even if it was as slaves. She was worried we'd never find a home."

My mouth flew open at such cowardly words, "So you just left her…you just left us? Because she wouldn't subject her two young children to wander as fugitives? You know the penalty for a slave that runs away. You wanted that for your wife and daughters?" My fists were clenched and I'm sure there would be marks in my palms from my nails.

"I wouldn't have let us get caught." He defended himself raising his voice a bit. Something told me he was trying to justify it to himself more than me, "It would have been better."

"So instead of admitting that you made a selfish act to leave so you could have freedom, you're sitting here insulting my mother?! The woman who raised me? The woman who wasn't willing to put myself and my younger sister in harm's way for her freedom?" He seemed taken back and I was as well. I wasn't known for outbursts. This was a side of me I had never seen before. I was just so angry and who here had the authority to stop me? No one.

"What's going on out here?" A new voice said. I turned to see an elderly woman standing in the doorway of a bedroom, "What is all this shouting for?" She walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder turning to my father "Evan, this young woman is carrying a child in her body. Upsetting her causes harm to herself and the baby. Is that what you want?"

He looked down at the ground like a child being scolded, "No Mary, it isn't at all."

"Good." I turned to the lady who I had never met before but still came to my defense. She smiled warmly at me, "I'm Mary, dear." She looked me up and down, still smiling, "I'm sure you're starved after that long trip. Come sit down and have something to eat." She pulled me to the kitchen area and sat me down on a wooden chair, "Drake would you get the bowls out? Helen," She said turning to the woman who came in with our father, "Please scoop the stew into the bowls if you will. I'm sure we're all ready to eat."

I looked at Helen closer as she walked over to the kettle at the stove. She looked to be in her thirties, maybe just a few years younger than my father. She wasn't overly tall, but taller than me. She was pretty, not exceptionally gorgeous, but pretty nonetheless. I noticed she looked a lot like Drake and I turned to look at him where he was handing bowls to Helen having her scoop the stew in.

He must have read my mind because he said, "Helen is my elder sister."

They both brought over the food and place a bowl in front of each of us as they sat down with their own.

"So Jayne, I hear you stirred up quite a bit of drama back in Benbourgh." Mary said looking at me with a smile, I looked down at the table in shame, "Oh child no one will judge you here. Your Queen made sure we knew the truth and not just what the king wants everyone to believe. You're a brave woman."

I'm sure I turned slightly pink at the compliment, "You're too kind." I grabbed the spoon next to my bowl and took my first bite. I could honestly say it was the best stew I had ever had. We were never fed anything like this at the palace, "This is amazing." I raved, taking another bite. Mary smiled at the compliment.

"Church is tonight, Jayne." Helen started, "Do you feel up to going?"

I looked around the table slightly confused, "I have never been to church before…would I even be allowed in?"

Helen smiled slightly "Of course. The church denies access to no one. What would make you think you wouldn't be allowed there?" I met my father's eyes with that comment. He knew where that thought came from, unlike the rest of the table. I shrugged, not wishing to share stories of a world she obviously never had anything to do with. I realized this year might be even harder than I thought. This place seemed too different.

"I suppose I'll go then." I turned to look at my father again, "As long as I wouldn't be imposing."

"Of course you wouldn't be!" Mary reassured me, "This is your home now. You should meet the other villagers." She patted my hand across the table, "You'll get used to this place soon. Don't worry, dear."

I smiled but secretly hoped I wouldn't have to. I just wanted to get by until Lance came and got me. I would never be home until I was with him.

000

Lance-

I cupped my hand in the bowl of water and tossed it on my face trying to clear as much debris as possible off of it. I shut my eyes tightly, breathing deeply. I tried to focus on anything else, anything other than this place. I wanted to pretend for a moment that I was back with Jayne.

One of my generals came into the tent through the flap, standing a respectful distance from me and waiting to be addressed, "What is it?"

He cleared his throat, "An informant has told us Geleva is moving a week's journey west to recuperate before they attack again. If we follow them we can take them off guard, eliminating them completely."

I turned around and he raised his eyebrow at me waiting for my response, "How long will that battle be?"

"A week…maybe two tops. They're shock and low numbers are on our side." He responded.

"And how long will it take us to pack up and get there?" I continued my cold tone. My generals decided long ago they knew better than me. After all, I'm just the spoiled prince.

"Three weeks."

I nodded my head and sighed. After a few long minutes I answered, "Well give the orders then. We'll start packing in two days. Let's give the men a break."

He looked like he was about to argue the last part and then thought better of it when he saw my hard expression, "Yes, Your Highness." He answered instead and I heard the flap open and close.

I sighed again, sitting down on my make shift bed. I dropped my head into my hands. It had been seven months now since I left. I wondered everyday what Jayne was doing and how she was. I could only imagine right now she was cleaning a mess from my sister or serving my family a meal. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to pull her away from her duties for a couple hours. I wanted to share my night under the waterfall with her. Oh God, I'll lose my mind soon, I thought rubbing my eyes. Just a little bit longer, and I'll be home with my love. Just a little bit longer…

Authors Note: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. As always read and review =)