Six

~Aderyn~

When I entered my room there Elizabeth stood with her hands clutched tightly in front of her, her eyes red-rimmed and glazed over, and her bottom lip jutting out and trembling as if trying to hold back more tears. Might as well make the most of it, Aderyn. You're stuck with her for the rest of—I cut that unpleasant thought short and sighed, readying myself for the many, many days to come.

"You don't have to be so brave," I told her as gently as I could manage, taking a step towards her. She shrank back a little—okay, that makes me feel horrible—and bit her lip, unsure.

"I'm afraid I do, your highness," she said and her voice sounded awful. When was Lady Catherine returning with that tea? I walked over to her and awkwardly guided her to sit down in my high-back chair.

"I know how you feel. Believe me if there's anyone who can come close to feeling the pain you do right now, it's me." She stared up at me, her quivering lip growing out of control. "You understand that, don't you?" She nodded quickly and sniffled loudly, making me cringe a little.

"I love him," she blubbered and I mentally scoffed. I took a deep breath and let it out, forcing myself to smile at her sympathetically.

"I know. I do too," I said.

"But I-"

"Ah, ah ah!" I cut her off before she could start making wild accusations and assumptions. "Let me finish." Her mouth shut with an audible pop. "Love comes in many forms. You feel one sort of love for him and I feel another. But they are both still types of love. Do you understand that?"

She nodded once again.

"You've known him so much longer than I have," she stated, sniffling again. So, so much longer, I thought to myself. "You haven't shed a single tear and yet you're telling me that I don't have to be brave?"

"I suppose you think me a hypocrite." It wasn't a question and she laughed nervously. "That's just one of the differences between you and I."

"That what? I'm a blubbering fool and you're the stoic heroin?" I smiled. Smart girl. I shook my head.

"No. Just that you're more tender-hearted than I am. And besides I knew that this day would eventually come for years. I had a lot of time to mentally prepare for it and you did not."

"I suppose I hadn't thought of it that way," she said, staring down at her hands.

I left her there and walked over to the small table near my bed where my favorite compilation book of poetry rested and picked it up, reading to kill time. I'm going to end up with my own library someday with all the time I'll waste reading, I thought unhappily to myself.

When Lady Catherine brought the tea I gracefully accepted my cup while promptly skipping past all the poems specifically written about romance and love. Across the room I could hear Lady Catherine murmuring to Elizabeth.

"Are you feeling better?" I heard her ask in a low voice.

"A little, thanks to Princess Aderyn," I heard the response through Elizabeth's tiny voice. I ineptly averted my eyes from my book for a moment and curiously stared at the girl who held Brynn's heart in her delicate and pale hands. She was very pretty; younger than Brynn and I, and bright-eyed.

Without even needing to flip to the page I was reminded of a love poem in the book that talked about how a man viewed a woman's beauty in a variety of different ways. I had just assumed that maybe there was no more than just light hair, bright eyes, creamy skin and pouted lips that Brynn liked about Elizabeth; but perhaps there could be more.

I studied her more carefully.

The way she carried herself physically could either mean she was a snob or that she had a lot of self-respect. As for smarts, it was too soon to tell if she had any of those. I couldn't imagine Brynn courting some air-headed, big-chested wench of a girl but maybe I was giving him far too much credit.

If there was one thing I never talked to Brynn about in all our many long years as friends growing up together, it was relationships. I had never found any interest in any boy—ever—and I just assumed Brynn felt the same way. That is, until he proved me wrong.

Maybe that's the real reason why he didn't tell me. Maybe he thought it would have been an awkward situation. It made enough sense. After all we had never talked about those types of things before.

"Your majesty?" I jumped, not noticing that Lady Catherine had been standing next to me and, apparently, talking to me. I stared up at her and she bent down to whisper to me.

"Sorry," I muttered.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"Well, you did a good job," she said, peeking back at Elizabeth. "She seems to be in better spirits."

"Good. I'm glad." And somehow, I found, I really was.

"I ran into the King in the halls," Lady Catherine said and the tone in her voice caught my attention.

"And?" She took a deep breath.

"The war is coming. And fast. I know in your heart you had hopes Brynn would be home sooner rather than later but... I don't want you living in that sort of false hope that he'll return any day now. You'll make yourself sick; you and Elizabeth both."

Right now I was too numb to even think about that possibility. After all, what difference would it make? He was already gone. If he died... how would things be any different?

I scolded myself, knowing that if he were to die, I would somehow be right there behind him. I couldn't bear to hear the news of Brynn's death any more than I could my mother or father.

"I know that, Lady Catherine," I said and sighed. She stared at me for a few more moments and then ushered Elizabeth out of the room where I could sleep.

I must not have been the only one Brynn asked to keep an eye on his dearly beloved Elizabeth.

The next morning I awoke to the pleasant surprise of Lady Catherine in my room but no one else. I longed to latch on to the thought that I had dreamed it all up and that I would soon be heading out into the stables to see Brynn.

But then I heard thunder roaring outside the castle and felt the dampness of rain in the air and I knew he was gone.

I quickly changed into a dark green dress and headed down for an early morning walk to the marketplace within the small square outside the castle walls. Businesses were closed everywhere; even the small flower cart was covered in a tarp, the lady who sold them nowhere in sight.

I walked underneath covered stalls and soon ducked into a small bakery shop where the owner offered me a hot cup of tea and the freshest bread from the oven.

"Yes, thank you," I smiled at the older man, thankful that I could eat outside the castle walls without having to see Elizabeth anywhere.

But, as if the little ray of sunshine seemed to have a keen sense of where to find me, in she entered—followed by three other training quires who were friends of Brynn.

I remembered their names being Peter, John and Robin. Very common names for the three not-so-common boys. I inhaled and held my breath as they lead Elizabeth to the front of the bakery, so occupied by her beauty that they didn't notice my presence at all. Instead of being annoyed by that, I found it strangely comforting.

I decided to wait until the perfect moment to quietly slip away; although my stomach rumbled with hunger I was not willing to chance being caught.

"One moment, miss," the baker said and I froze as I heard his footsteps grow closer to me—no doubt he was delivering my food.

"Here you are, your grace," he said and placed the steaming cup of hot tea and warm bread in front of me.

"Thank you," I managed to say as quietly as possible but I soon heard the laughing of one of the boys.

"Your majesty!" I turned and gave an impish smile to Peter, who rushed to my side, bowed, and kissed my hand. The other two were quick to follow suit, leaving Elizabeth standing awkwardly at the counter.

"I think it wise for you to not forget your charge," I say to them, motioning towards Elizabeth and causing her to turn red from embarrassment.

"Brynn's asked that we keep an eye on her while he's away," John said, his dirty blond hair falling neatly back into place after he ran his hands through it.

"Yes, I'm aware," I said aloud and then added under my breath, "I am her keeper by night."

"Perhaps your majesty would like some company?" Robin asked and looked me straight in the eyes. I swallowed hard and knew what my answer would have to be.

"I would like that very much. You may all join me," I said and struggled to keep my composure while they bustled into their seats.

"So, how are you fairing with Brynn being away so far, your majesty?" Peter, who sat directly across from me, asked. I could tell he chose his words carefully. I found it rather odd that he was treating me so... differently. It was always understood among the three boys that they weren't to give me any special royal treatment so I had to think it was only for Elizabeth's benefit.

"He's not even been gone twenty-four hours yet," I tried to laugh.

"Well, yes," John answered. "But by now you'd be out somewhere with him, would you not?-Ow!" He groaned and I saw him exchange an angered look with Robin. He looked at the strained expression on both mine and Elizabeth's faces and quickly tried to right himself. "I mean, if he weren't with Lady Elizabeth- Ouch!" Yet another slip-up.

The other two boys shook their heads and an awkward silence hung in the air.

"I think the answer you were looking for is this," I said and smiled warmly at John. "We all miss him terribly. But he shall be back before we know it."

Robin bit the side of his mouth and cleared his throat.

"Well, yes, of course he will!" he beamed with false enthusiasm and I felt a little bit of the hope inside of me fade away at his uncertainty. Peter, thankfully, changed the subject.

"Any news from the Prince? Of the war? Anything at all?" I had to smile. My older brother, Prince Edward, had gone away on his sixteenth birthday to travel the world and had yet to return. The last we had heard from him, he had joined the royal army and was heading to St. Andrews where Brynn was now well on his journey towards.

"Last I heard he was instructing a hoard of men to play cards with him," I teased and everyone laughed. "But I believe he thinks this war is more serious than we think it will be."

My heart sank a little more at this new revelation. Not only was my best friend out there amongst the danger but the next in line to the crown—my brother—was as well.

I loved my brother. He was always kind to me and understanding. He inherited the good looks and charm, leaving me with the skinned knees and the embarrassing moments. We were complete and utter polar opposites but had never quarreled a day in our lives.

He is blond, I am auburn; his eyes are bright and cheery, mine are dark and mysterious; his skin is creamy and mine is pale; his voice makes him sound strong and sure, mine makes me sound a bit brusque at times; the girls fawned over him—much like they did Brynn—and I was looked upon like a tomboy.

I smiled at the memory of my twenty-year-old brother. Maybe someday he would return and I would warmly welcome him home.

"Maybe he'll meet up with Brynn," Peter's grin widened at my silent musings.

"Maybe they'll both return together on the same day, even," John added hopefully.

"I think I might die of sheer astonishment if that happened," I said and laughed. Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"Did Prince Edward have any intention of taking the throne?" she asked.

"He... wanted to be free to do as he pleased before he made any sort of..." I stopped and cleared my throat, searching for the right words. "Commitment." That seemed proper enough. "Edward is quite the free spirit."

"Like you," Robin added and I blushed.

"On a different level." I turned back to Elizabeth and smiled. "Edward can do no wrong. He's the pride and joy of the King and Queen. And I love him with all my heart."

"It must have been hard to see him go," Elizabeth ventured.

"It was. But I knew it would make him happy. And I know he'll come back when the time is right."

Elizabeth smiled sweetly at me and blushed from the attention she received from Peter, John and Robin, who thought she was the most amazing creature they had ever seen.

Even I found I was beginning to like her a little. Although her overly-innocent personality annoyed me to no end. If she was to be my charge then I would have to tolerate it, but perhaps I could try to make her a little more rough around the edges. That was certain to ruffle Brynn's feathers a bit.

I didn't exactly plan on corrupting her, but the girl seemed like she had a hard time saying no to anything. 'Yes, please. Thank you,' when Robin offered her more tea. 'Why, I'd be delighted,' when Peter would suggest he give her a tour of the squires indoor training facilities. 'I'd love that,' she'd answer when John sweetened the deal by offering her riding lessons on his champion horse.

I shuddered to think at what else the dim-wit would say yes to.

That would have to be fixed. Immediately.

I had a lot of work to do it seemed.