Chapter Two

Home, again

When Elizabeth woke in the morning she was surprised that she was not alone in the room. Edward sat at the edge of her bed, watching, his dark eyes heavy with sleep. "Oh! Edward? Are you okay?" she crawled out from under the covers and sat next to him, not caring that she was still in her night clothes.

"No, I'm not!" he said angrily. Elizabeth shrank back, surprised by his sudden fierceness. He slid off the bed. "Thanks to your little stunt last night your father is in trouble, I'm in trouble and as soon as you go downstairs you'll be in trouble as well."

"Why are you in trouble?"

"They think I goaded you on. " he frowned."I shouldn't have asked you to come. It wasn't right, you didn't want to go. "

"Maybe you should get some rest. Sleep on the sofa, then we will talk. You have circles under your eyes." Hesitantly she reached out and gently traced underneath his eyes with a finger. "Sorry." she looked away.

"Now look who's being foreword." he muttered but he sat down on the sofa. "I shouldn't sleep. I've been here all night waiting for him to come, but he hasn't. "Edward sighed and rubbed his temples. "Listen, you must stay on his good side, at least until you get home. I don't want to leave you alone in that carriage with him, but he has insisted and his father could care less about you," Elizabeth flinched. "Sorry. It is the only way we can get you safely home."

"I should never have come here. I've only met disaster. The whole thing was a mistake. Nothing good has happened to me here. "

"What about me? I thought you had fun with me." Edward asked lightly, pretending not to be bothered by her words, but Elizabeth could tell she had hurt him.

"Edward, I did have fun with you. I'm sorry. " She got up, walked over to him, and knelt by his feet. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Forgive me? Please?"

He touched her hair gently with one hand, smoothing it back into place. "Of course I will, but there are more important things going on right now. One, we have to get your things packed. Two, you have to get dressed. Three, you have to explain to my father, your father, my mother, your mother (eventually), Julian, and the idiot Edmund. We've got a crowded agenda, lets go!"

"Yes, sir!" Elizabeth gave him a mock salute and put on a robe. "Do I have to do them in that order? I really need to freshen up."

"I'll wait here until you get back."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, expecting him to explain further, but he walked to the window and pulled the blinds open. She sighed and grabbed a dress from her wardrobe, along with her underclothes. She grabbed the rope for the bell and rang for Missy. The tall maid came in moments later carrying two trays of food. She bowed and set them on the coffee table before hurrying into the changing room to help Elizabeth dress. As soon as she was decent, Elizabeth and Missy pulled the trunk out of the changing room and into the main room. "Thank you Missy, I've got it from here. I'll ring if I need you. "

"Yes, Miss. Your Highness," she bowed and rushed out of the room. Elizabeth began pulling dresses out of the wardrobe, wrapping them in tissue, and putting them gently back into the trunk. "So," she began, but she stopped when she heard an odd noise from Edward. It sounded a lot like a growl, but she couldn't quite be sure. She looked up and followed his gaze to the door. As you probably already know and can probably guess, Edmund was there, a permanent smirk on his face. "What do you want?"

"I'm supposed to deliver a message to you from your father. Sometimes they treat me like a bloody servant, but I'm not so sure you are available to get the message. "His dark eyes flickered from Elizabeth to Edward and back again. His eyes raked over her, and suddenly she felt utterly exposed. She grabbed a shall from the trunk at her feet and drew it around her shoulders. "I will tell him you were unavailable. Perhaps you will go to him and find out. We will be waiting." Without so much as a nod to Elizabeth or a bow to Edward he exited the room and disappeared down the hall. Elizabeth sighed and shook her head.

"Elizabeth, are you alright?" Edward asked quietly. "It looked like you thought you were . . . indecent." He cautiously touched her shoulder. Elizabeth smiled.

"I'm fine. I guess I should hurry and get this done."

"What were you going to say before we were so rudely interrupted?"

"I don't remember. And I'm not lying. I see it in your eyes that you think I am." Carefully she took off the shall and refolded it, placing it back in the trunk.

Edward scratched his jaw in thought. "What would you think of me coming to stay with you?" He saw the surprise on Elizabeth's face. "It would only be for about a week or so." he added quickly. "I have some things I need to discuss with your Father and Mother."

"Oh," This word seemed unfitting, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"I won't bug you or anything, I'll keep to myself and mind my own business."

"I don't mind, I think it would be nice to have some company." Elizabeth smiled, but was still in awe.

"Do you truly think that or do you wish that I wasn't going?"

"I really want you to come. You are a great friend. I will really enjoy your visit."

Edward looked at his hands. "I have come to think of you as more than a friend." his voice was barely above a whisper. "I like you, Elizabeth. I think you are perfect in every way. I don't want to leave you or have to be without you, but I can see that what I want might be just a silly dream after all." He turned and started to leave the room.

"Wait, Edward, I don't want you to leave. Please don't. What if Edmund comes back? I– please, don't go! Listen to me! Edward!! You must listen to what I have to say." Elizabeth drew a big breath, waiting for him to leave like she thought, but he stayed with his back to her. "I don't think you are being too forward. If you want to you may court me, I have no objections, but Edmund and Julian will. They are tricky, they tricked the King, that's how they killed him. I know more than I let on, Edward. If you listen to my advice, some good will come. They will trick your father and mother too, if you're not careful." When Elizabeth had finished speaking she shut the lid to her trunk and pulled it to the door. He came up behind her and touched her arm gently.

"You will find out one day that knowing too much is not good." he whispered in her ear. "Come now, lets sit and eat that breakfast that your servant brought us. I'm hungry and I get the feeling you have more to say."

The ride back to Elizabeth's house was anything but pleasant. Edmund said nothing, which was good . . . and bad. He just watched her. "Well, I had the pleasure of talking to Edward before we left. He told me that he would be arriving later this afternoon, what do you think about that?"

Elizabeth said nothing. "Answer!" he barked.

"It will be nice."

Edmund snickered. "You like him, why?"

"He is nice, respectable, and he would never kill another man, let alone a woman and a child."

"He's a ninny." Edmund snorted.

"He's nothing of the sort."

"Prove it." he smirked. "This is so . . . cute. You're in love."

"No, I am not."

"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind taking my hand?"

Elizabeth gasped shocked. "What? You cannot honestly be surprised, my dear. I think you knew this would come. I shall give you some time to think on it, but if I were you I would choose wisely."

She turned to face to the window and tried to hide the tears that fell down her cheeks. She knew that she had no choice. If Edmund wanted to marry her there was no one that could stop him except his father and what were the chances of that happening?

The carriage pulled to a stop outside her home in the country. Mora was waiting for them with baby Thom in her arms. She smile when the doors to the first carriage opened and the King stepped out followed by Marcus. Without waiting for permission she plopped Thom onto the ground and raced to where Marcus held his arms open. They kissed once before Marcus broke away and picked Thom up. Edmund was next to get out of his carriage. He stopped and held out his hand which Elizabeth took and stepped down lightly. Mora knew something was wrong with her daughter. She looked drained and sad and fearful. She curtsied to the King and Prince before turning and running up the front steps of the Mansion. Mora looked at Edmund who shrugged ad went into the house. "Well, I trust you had an eventful trip, Darling."

"I don't think things went as well as they could have, Mora dear. Your Majesty, I am sorry for what my daughter said yesterday. It was rather hot in the room and I think she may have been affected by that and her dress."

"Your apology is excepted. I have heard many things like that upon my few days as King, but I do not think that my son will be as willing to forgive her as I am."

"I hope that that is not the case, my lord."

"Elizabeth?" Edmund strode quickly down the hallway, ignoring all the servants bowing hastily. "Elizabeth!" he said louder and sharper. "Come out at once!"

He watched as a door to his right opened and she stepped out. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were red. "I won't hurt you, my dear. I swear I won't. I'm not as horrible as I seem. Hmm?" He brushed a tear from her cheek and touched her hand lightly with his finger tips. She stood trembling like leaf in the wind. He bent down and pressed his lips to the top of her head. He inhaled once or twice before straightening up and backing away. "Say nothing of this to anyone."

Edward arrived later that afternoon as planned. He brought only a bag with his clothes and two horses. He put them in empty stalls in the stable, hoping that Elizabeth wouldn't notice. Then he walked up the front steps and pushed the door open. He heard yelling coming from one of the rooms. Listening closely he followed the noise to a small side parlor.

". . . what you were thinking, Elizabeth! Where do you get off speaking like that to the Prince? And you don't even apologize? Go to your room and stay there. You will not be dining with us and Edward tonight." shouted Marcus. Through a crack in the door Edward could see Elizabeth sitting on a sofa and crying. It seemed that she had trouble breathing as she stood and opened the door before he could pull back.

"Edward . . ." Without another look in his direction she ran past him and up the stairs at the end of the hall. Edward stepped into the room and sat on the same sofa that she had and prepared himself.

"And you! You Prince! Why weren't you watching her? Why weren't you with her? You could have stopped her! Now look at this mess!"

"Marcus," Mora said softly. She put Thom on the floor and the toddler crawled off to investigate a book that had fallen off the shelves. She rested her hands on his shoulders. "Don't yell at him."

"I've already yelled at myself enough for you the King and my father." Edward said. He scooped Thom up off the floor and settled him on the sofa next to himself. The child cooed happily and played with the sleeve on Edward's shirt. "I should have watched her more closely, but she promised not to do anything. I just went to get us something to drink."

"I'm sorry, young Prince. You'd better excuse us. I'll have a maid show you to your room."

Elizabeth was still crying when she heard a knock on the door. She quickly dried her tears and sniffled, before opening the door. It was Edward. Seeing him she burst into another round of tears and managed to choke out, "Go away," once. He ignored her and entered the room looking around with interest. "Please leave me alone,"

"Elizabeth, what is wrong?"

"Nothing. Go away."

"Elizabeth," Edward sat on the bed and pulled her onto his lap. He rested his face on the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her.

"Please, Edward, just leave me alone!" she pulled away from him and stood by the door, holding it open. She looked away as shock crossed his face.

"If I don't?"

"Then I will!"

"You can't, at least not until supper is over."

"Watch me! You think you can have your eye on me all the time, but you'll see." she turned around and went to the balcony. She looked over the edge at the ground that waited below. If she jumped it would be over in seconds. She shut her eyes tightly. She lifted one foot . . .

"Elizabeth!" he roared. With a yelp Elizabeth was pulled away from the ledge and thrown into the room. "What do you think you were doing? I thought you were going to jump."

"So did I." she admitted.

"Something is wrong, you must tell me what is going on."

"I'm going crazy, Edward. I've never felt like that before. I've never thought like that before."

"Let me know when you're ready to talk."

"I will,"

"And stay away from the balconies, please."

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as he left the room, blowing her a kiss on the way out.

That night Elizabeth crept out of her room and down the hall to where Edward's was. She opened the door slowly, willing it not to creak. It opened smoothly and quietly. She slipped into the room and shut the door behind her. Looking at the bed she found Edward's shape among the sheets. She walked over to one of his chests and opened the lid. It was filled with paper and books and other small things. She moved to the next one and pulled out a pair of breeches and a shirt. Hurriedly she went as far from the bed as she could, and slipped off her nightgown. The shirt slid easily over her head and settled on her shoulders. The breeches, however, were so loose she would need a belt to tie them up with. Clutching the breeches at her waist, she turned around.

She nearly screamed, but one look from Edward told her not to. He got out of the bed and pulled a belt from another trunk, handing it to her with a smile. "I knew you'd come."

"You've been waiting!"

He nodded. "Where are you going? It's three in the morning."

"I'm running away."

"What! Why?"

"I have to."

"What?"

"Come with me to the stables and I'll tell you, hmm?"

Edward pulled on a pair of pants and followed her out of the room. She hurried silently through the house until she got outside. Then she broke into a full-on sprint to the barn. He followed as fast as he could and watched as she leaned against the wall, gasping. "I need a horse, can I have yours?"

"You don't have a horse of your own?"

"No,"

"Well, come on down here and we'll see about that."

"What do you mean?" she asked as Edward led her down the rows of stalls that lined the barn. Edward stopped by the very last one. "Oh no! You didn't!" Looking into the stall she saw the big brown colt –the first that she had seen.

"I brought my horse is a stallion so I figured that I had better give you a stallion as well, instead of having issues of on the road."

Elizabeth blushed at the topic. "Anyway, he's yours to name."

"How about Shadow Fox?"

"Sounds good. Now will you explain?"

"Let's go for a ride, I'll tell you then."

So Edward saddled up his older horse Jumper and helped Elizabeth with Fox. Once the two horses and their riders were ready Elizabeth took off and jumped a hedge. She rode out into one of the many fields surrounding the Manor. Finally she slowed so Edward could catch up. She looked out at the fields nervously. "The first day we came to your palace, Edmund insisted that I ride with him. My father had given me some old books that have been in our family for ages. I think he was pretending to be interested so he could get close to me, but he sat next to me. He was so close I could feel the heat from his leg touch mine." she shuddered. "And then on the way back today in the carriage he said that I was in love with you, but I told him I wasn't and then he asked me if I wouldn't . . . mind . . .taking his hand in marriage." she blurted the last bit out quickly.

"What! I hope you said no!" He was so angry that Elizabeth could see his knuckles turning white as he clutched the reigns.

"I didn't say anything." Then she told him about Edmund coming looking for her. "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone . . ."

"That is only okay when I do it!" he thundered. Elizabeth looked down. "Sorry. You have no idea how hard it is for me to let him get away with this. That is simply unacceptable."

"Edward," Elizabeth felt a shiver go through her spine as she said his name. "I have to leave. I can't stay here. I'll only bring trouble to my family."

"You'll only bring trouble to your family if you do go." he said. He reached out and took her hand. It was ice cold. "It's late, we have to go back. We need to talk this over. And I must talk to your parents. This may not be the best time to do it, but it is now or never." He grabbed Fox's reigns and turned Jumper. The gray horse shook his head and broke it to a gleeful gallop, but mid-step he tripped and screamed. Edward flew forward over Jumper's head as the horse neighed its pain. Fox slid to a stop right behind Jumper. Elizabeth got down and went to Edward. He shook her off and crawled to Jumper's side. The horse was breathing heavily and his eyes were full of pain. Elizabeth put her hand on his shoulder, ut drew it away when she touched something warm and wet. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Beside her Edward let out a cry of agony. He put his hands around the arrow that was embedded in the horse's shoulder– ready to pull. Elizabeth put her hands over his and tugged them away.

"It will only be worse if you take it out." He nodded, his eyes full of misery. Then he seemed to regain what little self control he had left and shoved Elizabeth to the ground, just as an arrow flew past his face. "Edward! Get off me!"

Edward pushed her back down and pressed his face into her neck. "Stay put. We have to wait this out. I think someone is trying to kill you."

"More likely you than me." Elizabeth muttered as Edward's breath tickled her ear. After what seemed like hours Edward got off Elizabeth and returned to Jumper's side. The old horse nickered gently. "Edward, we have to get you back to the mansion. If they want to kill you, then we are in danger every moments we spend standing here. Jumper will live. I will have servants come out here and get him back to the stable. He will be fine." Elizabeth said as she glanced into the darkness around them. She grabbed his arm and pulled him up, looking him in the eye. "My servants are animal lovers just as you are. They will care for him in the best ways possible."

He nodded. "Let us go then."

Elizabeth and Edward burst into the upstairs sitting room that was attached to her parents' room. Within seconds of their arrival Mora and Marcus were sitting on one of the couches. "I was running away, Papa." Elizabeth answered her father's unasked question quickly. "Edward was going to stop me. We rode out to one of the eastern fields. On our way back his horse was shot with an arrow."

Mora gasped and her hand flew to her mouth.

Then Edward spoke. "They were trying to kill me."

"Geoffroyi, said men out at once. Scale the hills and fields." ordered Marcus. The armed man who had been waiting patiently at the door nodded and left the room with a growl.

"And Edward's horse," Mora said. "Make sure he is taken back to the barn and fed."

"Maybe you should go home, young Prince." Marcus said.

"Yes, I was just beginning to think that myself."