Reviews:

The Angry American – Yes, it is sad. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a big tragedy/angst/drama sort of in-cooperated person, with some highlights of humor, that kinda sums up most my writing in a nutshell lmao. Glad you liked it! Props accepted xD HeartOfHearts – thank you! That's the plan ;) ShiningBright – Haha awesome! Oh there will be enough Hunter and Ashlynn, but when there is, I don't know if you guys will hate or love me, but no worries, it's coming for sure! Shiranai Atsune – that's what I was trying to get everyone to think, that Hunter did it. But alas, a twist was in the midst, xD Guest – Oh wow, it's the first one you've read of this pairing? Wonderful! I'm honored you chose mine to read first, glad I didn't disappoint! :) Infinity90 – Thanks love! Lmao Rashlynn! I never even thought of a pairing name for them, xD that's clever!

Alerts:

Wolvmbm

Thank you for the continuous support!

It's always totally appreciated :)

A Royal Gone Rebel

Chapter Five

"Gotta pee, gotta pee!" Ashlynn chanted in harsh whispers on her way to the nearest bathroom. The girl was never seen without a single pair of shoes on, so she was wearing her soft pink ballet styled slippers. They were cute and royally elegant. She soon reached the nearest location of a bathroom, that was her parents' master suite and she was outside the first door. "Ooh no." She knew that she'd never make it if she had to go to another location, so it had to be this one, or Jameson would believe they had a puppy that piddled on the floor. She knocked loudly on the door, "I hope you're not making a new heir, but I gotta goo!" She opened the doors and shielded her eyes from her parents' bed, whom were rustling about underneath just after being rudely awakened.

Ashlynn didn't care about getting yelled at – she felt nothing better than to finally relieve her bladder. After doing her duties, she washed her hands with the lovely scented soap and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Long hair strewn everywhere, still in her riding blouse and pants, but had on slippers? It was obvious her mind was in a totally different place from where it should be. She sighed, washing her face free from yesterday's make up, taking a moment to moisturize and now... she felt at ease. For now at least.

She opened the door to see her father standing outside the bathroom door. "He didn't hurt you Ashlynn, did he?"

Ashlynn shook her head, "No daddy, I was in the same room with Roland," her father giving her a protective glance just by hearing that tidbit of information. "and I... just bolted here because I had the wicked urge to go I guess, haha." She giggled nervously, "Sorry about that."

He hugged his daughter, Princess to turn Queen one day it didn't matter – she'd always be his little girl. "It's alright. There's still another while before everyone wakes."

Ashlynn nodded and after parting the hug with her father, she left the room quietly and starting down the hall. She heard some of the early rising maids speak in whispers about her being dressed in pants, when she should be in a dress at all times. Some whispered about her not being a proper Princess, she'd never make a proper Queen to reign. Ashlynn hugged herself and went straight back to the guest room. "Good morning beautiful," Roland greeted her as he stood upon her arrival back to the guest room, startling Ashlynn whom narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oh well aren't you just up and feeling great already?" He laughed a bit and she shook her head. "My name is Ashlynn, not beautiful."

Roland caressed her cheek gently, even though it did physically hurt him to do so. "You are beautiful, Ashlynn."

She then remembered she had no make up on what so ever. "Ah! Hey, you're not supposed to see a girl with no make up. Not this early on anyways. Get down on that bed and stay there you, pain in my royal behind you."

"And your behind looks wonderful in those pants."

"Ugh! Clearly you're feeling better," she rolled her eyes and stood with her back facing him, arms crossed over her chest. Roland slid his fingers into two belt loops of her riding pants, pulling her towards him. Turning around to tell him off, she lost her balance and fell directly on Prince Roland.

He laughed, then she laughed a little. "Ow, ow, ouch." He wriggled a little as his wounded shoulder was causing him pain. But this moment was more sweet for him, than the pain he was experiencing. Ashlynn was haphazardly straddling the Prince when there was a knock on the door, hearing it open – her heart sunk.

"My, my..." Jameson was at the door. "starting a little early this morning?"

Ashlynn scrambled to get off of Roland, nudging his pained shoulder once with her hand and again with her knee as she bolted off him. "Jameson! No, it wasn't what you think!" She brushed herself off right away, "I was standing over there you see, and he grabbed right here on my pants and then I ended up over there and..."

"A similar story your parents had once," he smirked, watching the young Princess writhe after hearing that.

"Eww, Jameson..."

"Well Prince Roland... now I assume you know why Princesses do not wear pants. Especially if their courters cannot handle it." Roland glared at Jameson as he sat up a bit, "Breakfast should be ready soon... so get dressed the both of you. Shortly Roland needs to start on his way back to his Kingdom." He soon left the adolescents to get ready.

"Yeah, it's quite a long distance I came to see you." He told her truthfully, rubbing the back of his neck nervously with his good arm.

She didn't realize he had to travel so far out of his way, "Honestly? Why would you come so far out of the way to get shot in the shoulder? You silly boy."

None of that mattered to him, only she did. "Because I knew I had to see you for myself... and I am not disappointed." He got up and slowly walked over to his jacket which was hanging, a hole where the arrow had made contact. He pulled something out and walked back over to Ashlynn, brushing some hair out of her face with his warm hand. "Close your eyes."

"Roland..."

He smiled, "Just do it, I won't do anything bad I promise."

Reluctantly, she did so. Only to feel something around her neck with a chill to it. It was a necklace. He was giving her a necklace, but why? "Roland..."

"Okay open them." He adored seeing the pure gold necklace around her neck. There was no pendant, it was just a lovely gold chain. "This is a plain gold necklace... it's not because I'm a loser and can't afford anything beautiful," he chuckled slightly, but carried on with his explanation. "it represents the beginning... of us."

Wait, wait, wait – the beginning of them? Ashlynn didn't know what to think, she didn't really expect to be anything with Roland at all, the gold necklace was nice... but was she really ready for what this necklace symbolized? Possibly, but not with him. "I should go get ready," she said finally, stepping away from Roland and proceeding from the guest room into the hallway, the necklace around her neck just so. It felt foreign, she could feel the chain sitting there.

"Your majesties!" There was a messenger, and he looked dishevelled with a solemn body language. Ashlynn remained in the hallway, hidden behind a tall plant. "We have had seven more fatalities in our Kingdom over the past evening... there are no longer enough resources. Mothers cannot feed their infants as they have no nourishment themselves, children of the Kingdom are too sickly to play and despite many efforts, food and supplies are too low for survival."

This was bad, very bad. She heard her mother's voice next, "That is terrible, those families losing their loved ones... we cannot have this happen further. What can we do?" The worry in her voice made Ashylnn's own heart begin to race. They were in the midst of serious crisis.

Ashlynn recognized her father pacing back and forth, he always paced when there was a serious decision to make. "Can we borrow from a neighbouring Kingdom until we get back on our feet?"

"The only Kingdom neighbouring near us able to help is Prince Roland's. His Kingdom is prosperous, more than enough to go around, the only hope is if somehow – our Kingdoms joined."

"The only way for us to help our Kingdom, is if my daughter marries this, Prince Roland fellow?"

"Yes sir, it's the only hope for our survival."

Ashlynn's eyes began moisten with warm tears. People of their Kingdom were dead and dying, they didn't have enough to live? Tragedy was overtaking them while they were living in the palace. She couldn't have that, she couldn't allow that to happen to her people. She took off quietly towards her own bedroom, trying to get ready for the day only she couldn't stop trembling after hearing such devastating news. All those people and many more if something wasn't done and fast.

She slid off her riding pants and blouse, quickly choosing a gown and sliding into that but for once Ashlynn Ella forgot to change her shoes as she took deep preparation breaths. Even if they were shaky, she would try her best to face this day with a smile, though she rather do nothing but frown.

~ ) * ( E – A – H ) * ( ~

"Hunter!" He supposed he was having that dream again, where he and Ashlynn were separated but no matter what they always found one another. He gave a small smile in his sleep, this was one of his favorite dreams after all. "Hunter! Can you hear me?"

This dream was beginning to feel so real, especially when he felt her arms around him. It wasn't until he felt her soft hand on his face, where his eyes nearly shot open. "Ashlynn?"

"Hunter, thank goodness! What happened to you? Oh no it's all my fault, I wasn't here with you and you got hurt." He sat up, wincing a bit but he wrapped his arms around her, he'd been waiting all weekend to see her.

"Shh, Ashlynn nothing's your fault my sweet. This is nothing really, I just... I've missed you so much."

She hugged him tightly, never wanting to let go again. "You have no idea how much I've missed you, I'm so confused... so lost."

Hunter brushed her hair back and kissed her lips softly. How he missed them so. "You're not lost anymore and y'know why?"

Ashlynn shook her head, he cupped her chin and looked into her sparkling eyes, kissing her nose he simply said, "Because I've found you."

In everything that happened the whole weekend, she couldn't wait to get back to Hunter's arms and she knew why, it was because every single second spent away from him her heart ached for him. "Hunter, there's much I have to tell you. Some my heart is sad to admit, but I have to because... I need you in my life Hunter." She leaned up against him, in his strong muscular arms. There's no place she'd rather be. "This weekend, I was told I needed to find a Prince to date. I figured I'd be safe from all that for at least another year or so... but so this Prince ended up coming to visit, we went out on the trails just yesterday when he made the total jerk move of kissing me. I wasn't impressed in the least Hunter and I never meant for it to happen, I was just about to shove him away when... he was shot with an arrow." Her breath hitched at the memory of it so vivid in her mind still.

Hunter at least was told about how this all came to be, but maybe now it was time for him to confess. "Ashlynn, the one who shot the arrow... was my father. He was just showing me 'how' to hunt properly... I told him I finally wanted nothing to do with hunting and hurting anyone or anything... he then disowned me and told me never to come home."

Ashlynn gasped, turning to hug him once more. "Hunter... that's horrible."

"Well, I saw Duchess in the bushes and I just knew that if she made a single sound... my father would have shot her dead. So when he shot an arrow in her direction, I ran to shield her from it. That's how I got this." He showed his knee to her, her hand caressed his torn pants.

She sighed, "It seems like this has been a down weekend for the both of us. But unfortunately, there's more to my story."

Hunter settled down to listen again, he didn't want to interrupt. He held onto her hand for the right encouragement to continue on.

Worriedly, she patted it. "I learned some very bad news this morning. Seven more people in my Kingdom have died because of little food and resources. No medicine for the sickly... things aren't going very well. Roland's Kingdom is striving well and then some."

Hunter thought about it for a minute, he was a pretty decent problem solver. "Then how about his Kingdom helps yours, at least while you guys get back on your feet?"

"Well yes, but... it comes with a price. And the price, is me."

Hunter's eyes widened, "What are you saying? No one's going to hurt you, right?"

She hugged him, "No, no. Nothing's going to hurt but my heart. I think, I think that Roland's going to ask me to..." she couldn't even say it, that's how choked up she was starting to feel. "advance in a relationship... to take to the next, level."

"Well after just meeting him, what's that – lunch?" He chuckled lightly, but seeing his love's face so saddened he realized that the price was a much bigger sum to pay than expected.

"It's... it's probably marriage, Hunter. I think that for the benefit of my Kingdom... I'll be doomed to marry Roland."

"Doesn't that affect your story though?" Not that he was a fan of her story either, with her losing her slipper and so on as the whole thing goes.

Ashlynn didn't even think about that, but the messenger sounded so desperate, so did her parents. "They sounded so desperate Hunter, all of them... my parents, the messenger from the village, even Jameson the adviser seemed worried. Hunter, if something isn't done..." she trailed off, her eyes beginning to water yet again. "everyone will die, so many lives will be lost. I don't know what to do. What would you do?"

He hugged her tightly, he now understood the severity of this problem. Her Kingdom was in the midst of poverty and his was very well off. If his Kingdom could help hers... it must be done. "I don't know, I'm not a Royal. But I do know that no matter what, you will always have my heart Princess."

She listened to his heartbeat and let out a contented sigh. "As you will always have mine, my rebel."

~ ) * ( E – A – H ) * ( ~