A/N – Starhine – Thanks for reading! Ilovedana53, Guest, maryrose59, and Virgy15 Thanks for reading and the kind compliments! I appreciate all reviews. It's nice to see what you guys think!

Chapter 2 – Precious Cargo

Ruby shook Liz vigorously. "Wake up, Lady Elizabeth. You fell asleep on the couch yet again." Elizabeth never wants to get up, but she needs to get an early start. It is dangerous to travel at night and they have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall.

Elizabeth drowsily looked around the room and yawned. "Is it really time to get up already?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "It's not like I willed the sun to shine earlier than usual. Now, hurry up and get dressed."

"Alright already. You're really bossy." She stomped to the stairs and then hurried to her room where Georgie helped her get into her dress as they chatted.

"I'm going to miss you, my Lady," Georgie said tightening her corset.

Elizabeth smiled. "And I will miss you."

"Alfred is going to be the most melancholy since he will have no one to argue with."

"True, you will just have to pretend to be me." She sprayed some perfume.

"I'm not as quick-witted as you. My tongue gets stuck and I panic."

"We'll work on that when I get back, but at some point, you will have to practice."

Ruby stepped into the doorway and cleared her throat. "We don't have all day, Lady Elizabeth."

Liz rolled her eyes. "Fine."

Georgie helped her with her hair and then they ran downstairs and out the front door.

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Elizabeth sat in the coach and then sighed. Traveling so far is something she absolutely hates to do on her own. Reading is nearly impossible given the dips in the road. With every jostle, her hand moved, and she lost her place. Giving up, she tossed it onto the seat next to her and sighed heavily. Several times, she attempted to nod off, but then was tossed about again. Some time passed before they finally made it to a smoother road, and she slept for a few hours. Unfortunately, she awakened with a start. They had stopped. She sat up and peered out of the curtains and one of the footmen opened the door.

"I thought you might want to stretch, milady."

Liz smiled and stepped outside. They still have a half days journey until they get to their sleeping quarters.

"Thank you." She perused the area. The clouds are shielding the sun for the most part, but the flowers are in bloom and she can't help but smile at their splendor.

Ten minutes passed before the footman opened the door and Elizabeth climbed back inside. She picked up her book and read for a while and then stared out the window, imagining what it would be like if her mother were here with her, and then fell asleep again. When they were almost to the next town, something happened that no one could have anticipated.

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Jason, Johnny, and a few other men rushed towards the town of Wade. They are going there to transport a thief back to the castle. They were making good time until they came upon Elizabeth's carriage which is in shambles.

Jason hopped down from his horse and checked inside but no one was there. The horses were detached, and the footmen lay dead at his feet. He glanced at Johnny and said, "I'm afraid that whoever was in that carriage is in grave danger."

Johnny nodded. "They can't be far."

Francis eyed Jason. "I think they went due North. We could probably catch them quite quickly."

Milo's attention is drawn to the ground where he studied the markings. "I think there was another carriage."

They hopped back on their horses. "Let's go."

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FLASHBACK

The carriage came to a sudden stop and Elizabeth could hear voices shouting but none familiar. They grew louder as her heart began to pound. She yelped and her hands flew to her chest as the door was thrust open and a man looked inside and grinned. "What have we here?"

"Who are you?"

"That is none of your concern. Now get out!"

Her eyes narrowed. "No, I will not. Leave me be at once!"

He reached inside and dragged her out.

"Get your filthy hands off of me," Elizabeth shouted as she struggled against him.

"Feisty one huh? I hope you are this wild when you are lying beneath me in my bed."

Elizabeth scowled and then kicked him in the shin which sent the man to the ground as she took off running.

She made it a few feet before she tackled, and as she went down, she hit her head on a rock and everything went black.

FLASHBACK END

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Jason spotted the carriage and nudged the horse faster. Two men are riding alongside it. Johnny and Francis split up and managed to knock them to the ground. The coachman snapped the whip to try and get the horses to gallop faster, but Jason followed undaunted and determined to find out what they had stolen. He got closer to the man, but he jumped off; rolling down a hill which Jason hopes hurt a lot. The horses are now panicked, and Jason was scared that they'd run off the side of the cliff, so he turned side saddle and then jumped onto the coach and grabbed the reins. Carefully, he slowed the horses and got them to stop before hopping to the ground. When he pried the doors open, he saw a woman lying on the floor.

Johnny slid off his saddle. "What is it?"

"That what is actually a who," Jason said stepping aside.

Johnny spotted Elizabeth and hopped inside. "She's hurt." Her forehead is bleeding.

Jason climbed inside and took out a small knife and went to task, cutting the rope off her wrists and ankles and then removing the scarf that was blocking her mouth.

"What do you want to do, milord?" Johnny asked.

"We need to get her to a doctor. Chester is the next town over. We'll get her checked out and we'll set course for home in the morning." The criminal can wait.

Johnny nodded. "You stay here with her." He left them alone to man the horses.

Royalty in town will be quickly noticed, so Jason isn't sure if that will count in their favor. Nightfall is approaching and there are lots of folks with grievances. However, the woman requires help, and he won't have her death on his conscience. He cradled her against him wondering who she is and from whence she came.

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They rode into town where Johnny found a place to rest while Jason waited inside. He went inside a store and inquired about a doctor and a place to stay. Pointed in the right direction, he quickly made his way to the doctor.

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Jason laid Elizabeth on a bed.

"You say you found her like this?" the doctor asked.

Jason nodded.

"She has been unconscious the whole time?"

"Yes."

The doctor made a noise. "Not good…" He cleaned the cut on her forehead and covered it up. "I'm afraid there's not much else I can do, but her pulse is strong. She just needs to wake up." He stood.

Jason went to hand him some money, but the man shook his head.

"Your money is no good here, Prince Jason."

"You know of me?"

"It probably isn't safe for you to be here. It is dark, and nothing good tends to happen after nightfall. Go back to the carriage and have your men take a right at the fork in the road. The first house you will encounter is mine. I will put all of you up for the evening. There is plenty of room."

"Thank you, sir."