a/n: Hello, folks! I know I just updated a couple days ago, but I'm feeling generous so I'll post another chapter. As a thank you, you should all review! I really want to reach 100 before this is over! Please help me reach my goal! Thanks everyone who reads this story! I love you all and I'm so happy you like my writing! Please enjoy and please review! I love hearing your thoughts on the chapters; your likes, dislikes, favorite parts, favorite lines etc. I love love love to hear from you. Please let me know what you think about this chapter or this story as a whole. It would mean a lot thank you! ENJOY

Honor

Chapter Seventeen: Follow Your Heart

Reva and Prince Jai excused themselves from Princess Annie's chambers. The Prince led Reva through several hallways, down the large main staircase, and out the doors into the grand sunlit garden. She was vaguely reminded of their previous encounter in this very same place, but the feeling seemed slightly different somehow.

Jai led her deeper into the garden than before to be sure they were totally alone. There was a stone bench under a willow tree and he gestured for Reva to be seated upon it. She did so and waited. She looked up at him expectantly.

The Prince walked over and delicately plucked a flower from a nearby patch. He held it before himself and studied it. He twirled its stem to make it turn in slow, jerky movements.

After what seemed like a long pause he directed his attention to the maidservant.

"You said that when I found my special someone, I should let her know."

Reva could have sworn she heard the splash from when her heart hit her stomach just now. She had tried to steal herself to the idea, but it still stung. He was just asking for more advice on his love issues. He was using her to make a relationship with another woman. Reva made an attempt to remain calm and composed. She faked a smile towards him as he continued to speak.

"I have found her. I have found my special someone and she is the one I want to be my queen."

Reva's heart gave another lurch. She forced herself to smile at him as she rose from the bench, "I'm happy for you, Prince Jai. I'm sure she will make an excellent queen."

"Oh, she will," Jai smiled brightly, "She is stunningly beautiful, insightful, kind, wise, and brave. And I love her very much."

Reva summoned all her self-control and focused it on not bursting into tears.

'It's not like he could marry you anyway,' she thought to herself.

"That's good," she told him earnestly. She willed her voice not to crack. Jai beamed at her.

"Oh, I'm so happy. I knew you would agree," In a shy motion and blushing furiously, the Prince stepped forward and handed Reva the flower.

Reva took the flower in stunned silence. Obviously, this was some kind of thank you for the advice. But she didn't want the flowers. She wanted him.

"I suppose you should tell the King, so that you can break your engagement to Princess Annie," Reva mused. She had stopped looking at his face. Instead, she stared down at the flower in her hand as though it was her life line; the only thing that kept her from breaking down.

"But I'm sure it would go better if you were there too!"

Reva shook her head slowly. Her eyes were still focused on the flower, "No. I honestly wouldn't be much help. I have no business in this matter. Besides, the King would never listen to a servant."

Jai looked hurt, "But if he saw you and saw how much I care about you, he may be more willing to break the engagement. You are, after all, the one I want to marry!"

Reva's mouth dropped open in realization. Her heart floated back up from her stomach to its normal position in her chest. She had read the situation entirely wrong! He did love her! Reva beamed up at Jai and he gave a bright smile back.

"Of course! It would go better if I was there, you're right."

Jai sighed in relief.

"But there is one thing," she continued with a smirk. He face fell slightly, "That was not a proper proposal at all."

Jai laughed loudly and got down on one knee before her. He started to blush again. He took hold her hand, small and pale in comparison to his own, and looked up at her, "Reva," he started, "Will you marry me?"

Reva pulled him up and embraced him in a tight hug, "Yes!"

Annie, meanwhile, had continued to fight with her sister, Danielle. Arthur had his ear pressed to the door to hear the argument.

"You don't want to hear what they're talking about?" he asked Auggie.

The other guard shook his head emphatically, "I'd rather not."

"It concerns you," Arthur taunted with a smirk, "Danielle is currently threatening to have you shipped back to England post haste so she can hog tie Annie and drag her to the altar."

Auggie raised an eyebrow at his fellow guard.

Arthur smiled, "Okay, so it's not that bad. She is thinking about having you sent back though."

"I doubt that Danielle would do anything of the sort," Auggie told him, "She tries acts all tough like Annie, but she wouldn't harm a fly."

"Easy buddy, she may be your sister-in-law someday," Arthur teased.

Auggie's face grew dark as he shook his head, "There is no way Annie would ever marry me. Princess and guard aren't two positions that mix."

"Kitchen-boy is out there with Reva right now," Arthur defended with a smirk.

Though Jai's nickname was new to him, Auggie knew whom Arthur had to be talking about.

"No doubt only talking to her, nothing more," Auggie scolded him.

The older guard shrugged, "If you say so. Still, you might want to hear this."

Auggie shot a wary glance up and down the corridor and then joined Arthur at the door.

"I can marry whoever I want," Annie shouted. She was absolutely fuming.

"So you are willing to defy your father and sacrifice your honor to do it? You break an engagement and soil our family's good name? You will never been Queen this way!"

Annie stopped with a loud sigh, "I don't want to be Queen, Danielle," she said softly. She shifted her gaze to her sister as the epiphany dawned on her, "I just want to be happy. It was never my intention to rule over England and France," Annie started laughing. It was a wild laugh, that of someone who is tired of fighting, "I'm not even a good princess! How could I ever hope to be a good queen?"

"Annie, get a hold of yourself! Father chose you! You have been chosen to rule, not me!"

Annie sagged down into the plush velvet chair, "He chose me, yes, but you're the eldest," she sighed before continuing, "But that's not what's most important to me right now."

Danielle looked concerned for her sister, "Annie, I had no idea how hard this was on you. I'm sorry," She sighed and looked as though she were about to regret a decision she knew was right, "Marry whomever you wish. Be happy."

Annie looked shocked. She leapt up and embraced her sister.

"Thank you! Your blessing means the world to me, sister! Now I just have to figure out who will make me the happiest. Oh, Danielle, I'd gladly trade places with you if you wanted. Then I could go back to England, and you would have to stay here and be hopelessly confused on two very different men. One you're supposed to marry, and the other is the one you're confused about."

"I'm sure you already know who the perfect man is," Danielle assured her sister with a smile, "Just follow your heart. It knows what to do."

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review and tell me what you thought! I love hearing your thoughts on the chapters; your likes, dislikes, favorite parts, favorite lines etc. I love love love to hear from you. Please let me know what you think about this chapter or this story as a whole. It would mean a lot thank you! Love you all!