Julia took her white horse out of the stables. "I missed you girl…" she said, with a small smile. She began to ride it through the woods. She needed to get out of the castle. She had a few mixed feelings on her mind. Maybe it was being back home. Maybe it was the arranged marriage. Maybe it was jealousy at seeing her sister be with someone that her sister had fallen in love with.
Regardless, she knew that there was something else there that was bothering her. She slowed her horse to a simple walk. For some reason, Cain was on her mind. She had absolutely no idea why. Of course Cain was a nice guy, he was attractive, and he was protective. Aiden liked him. Rodney didn't exactly have a problem with him. She shook her head. Thinking thoughts like these were too dangerous.
Her horse began to whine slightly, and she turned her attention back to her horse. "Lila?" she questioned. Her horse began to shift uncomfortably. "Lila, what's wrong?" she asked. Her horse whined again, before rearing up on its hind legs. Julia slid off the horse and fell on the hard ground. Lila took off into the deep woods. Julia groaned and sat up. "Thanks Lila. Thanks a bunch…" she said, standing up.
Rodney and Glitch walked through the garden. "Glitch, what's going to happen when you go back to your kingdom? Are we…still going to talk?" Rodney asked. Glitch looked over at her. "I won't ever go back if we can't…." he said. Rodney looked at him. "But…its your place Glitch…" Rodney said. "Not anymore its not…" Glitch said. "But…" Rodney started, but Glitch interrupted.
"Even before I became Glitch…when I still had the part of me that was Ambrose…I never got to feel love. It was always around me, and yet…I still didn't feel it. At least not in the way lovers have it. I did have the love of friends, and family…well…I don't remember my real family. But Lavender Eyes and Ahamo treated me like a brother so they were like my family. But now that I feel the love of someone…an amazing…beautiful…someone….I don't want to loose it…." Glitch said.
"Glitch, I don't want to take you away from the people who are like family to you…" Rodney said. "You don't need to take me away. I know that…I'll always have family wherever I go. I can always grow into a new family, and learn to love them. But…I can't just find a woman to love like I love you just anywhere…" Glitch said, holding both of her hands in his.
Rodney's eyes began to water slightly. Glitch smiled and looked to the side. He bent over and picked a handful of colorful flowers. "Some flowers for the fair lady?" he asked. He and Rodney shared a smile, before they both began to laugh.
Julia had been searching the woods for over an hour. She sighed. "I give up…" she muttered. She sat down on the small gray boulder next to her. "I lost my horse, have no idea where I am, and have a headache. Wonderful…" Julia said, crossing her legs and folding her arms. She sighed and wondered how long it would take before someone would realize she was still missing.
She heard a faint neigh, and turned her head to see Cain approaching and riding her horse. She uncrossed her legs and unfolded her arms. "Un…believable…" she muttered. She stood up as Cain steered Lilia towards her. "You stole my horse…" she said. Cain scoffed. "No I didn't. She was in the middle of the woods, eating ferns when I found her. You abandoned her…" Cain said, with a small smile.
"I did not…she got alittle excited and then she….why are you smiling about it? This is not funny," she said, getting slightly frustrated. She wondered why she had found him so attractive only an hour ago. "Maybe for you its not…" he said. He turned the horse slightly and extended his hand to her. She stared at it for a second. "So now you're being chivalrous?" she asked. Cain shrugged. "Unless you'd rather wait for Paxton to come rescue you. But…who would tell him?" Cain asked. Julia smiled. "You wouldn't…" she said. Cain returned the smile.
Julia took his hand and Cain lifted her up so she sat behind him. He shifted the horse slightly and Julia quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. She heard Cain chuckle again. "You're still finding this humorous…." Julia stated. "Oh. Very much so…" Cain replied. Julia rolled her eyes. "You know you're a real jerk for a knight in shining armor…" Julia stated. "I'm a cop. What do you expect?" he asked. He turned his head so he could give her a side look. She smiled at him slightly. "Well, you get credit for…helping me," she said. Cain turned away and smiled. "That's good…" he said, before snapping Lila's reins.
Rodney was sitting infront of the castle, sitting on a stone bench and reading a book. "Princess Rodney…." Came the voice of Paxton. Rodney looked up from her book and smiled slightly. She closed her book. "Hi," she said, politely. He took a seat next to her on the bench. "So…you're in love with the…." Paxton paused. "Glitch?" Rodney asked.
"Yea. Glitch…right…" Paxton said. "Why do you ask…or…state?" Rodney questioned. Paxton smiled slightly. "Just trying to understand my future sister-in-law better. After all we are going to be family," Paxton said. "Yes. Thank you for the reminder…" Rodney said, looking away. Paxton's smile faded. "Has your sister talked to you about the living situation once we are married?" Paxton asked.
"She has, but we haven't come to a conclusion about it yet…" Rodney said. "I see. Not ready to let go of your older sister? She do everything for you?" Paxton asked. Rodney gave Paxton a look. "Well, I'm going to miss her. It's hard loosing the only person left in your life since the beginning…" Rodney said. Paxton smiled. "I didn't mean to offend. But look on the bright side, you get to make all your own rules…" Paxton said, with a wink.
Rodney chuckled nervously. Paxton shifted closer to her. "You know, Julia and Cain spend a lot of time together…" Paxton trailed. "They have a lot in common. In the past, they've both lost someone they love…" Rodney said. "Well then, why aren't you close with the tin man as well?" Paxton asked. "He's someone I can talk to, but we aren't best friends. We just don't have a lot in common like Glitch and I do…" Rodney stated.
"So…why would only Julia and Cain be so close?" Paxton asked. "I don't know. Why don't you talk to her about it?" Rodney asked. Paxton showed her a stiff smile. "You are…quite the stubborn one…." He said. "You have no idea…" Rodney said, looking away. "So…Julia ever-"
"If its about Julia and Cain, I don't want to hear about it. They are just friends and you have nothing to worry about…." Rodney said, rolling her eyes. There was the clomping of heels and Rodney turned to see Julia and Cain, riding together on Julia's horse. "How ironic…look at that…" Paxton muttered. Rodney sighed. "What? Never heard of two people sharing a horse before?" Rodney questioned.
"Only if they are a couple…" Paxton said, standing up. Cain dismounted, and looked at Paxton. Cain offered Julia a hand, but Paxton stepped over. "Please Cain…allow me…" Paxton said, shoving Cain slightly. Julia and Cain shared a look before Julia took Paxton's hand. He helped her slide off the horse. "You alright, my love?" Paxton asked.
"Fine…" Julia said, smiling slightly. "Where have you been for this past hour? I've been searching for my loving fiancé…" Paxton said, with a cocky smile. "I was riding my horse, as you can see. Then I was stuck there for an hour after my horse ran off. Then, Cain brought her back and…we came here…" Julia said, looking over at Cain.
Paxton turned to look at Cain. "Well, aren't we lucky that Mr. Cain was there to save you…what were you doing so far from the castle?" Paxton asked. Cain's expression hardened. "I was walking. Its something that I do…" Cain spoke up. "Walking? That all?" Paxton asked, squeezing Julia's hand tighter. "Ow. What are you doing?" Julia asked, pulling her hand away.
"I'm so sorry my dear…why don't you and your sister go inside and relax. I need to have a word with Cain…" Paxton said, looking over at him. Cain sighed and looked at the ground. "Paxton…" Julia said, warningly. Paxton showed her a reassuring smile. "I won't be long dear…" he said. Julia sighed. "I'll take her back to the stables for you…" Cain said, nodding over at Julia.
Julia smiled. "Thank You…Cain…for everything today…" she said. Cain returned the smile. Rodney rolled her eyes. "Come on Jul. Let's go find Azkadellia and have some girl talk…" she said, pulling Julia after her. Julia looked over at Rodney. "Girl talk?" she muttered. "It was the first thing that came out…" Rodney whispered.
Paxton turned to look at Cain. His face hardened. "What were you really doing so far from the castle, tin man? I bet you were just waiting for the perfect moment to come to the rescue…" Paxton said. "Yea, I was sitting out in a random spot in the middle of the woods….just waiting for the horse to come to me. You're right Paxton…" Cain said, looking over at him.
"I don't know how close you are to Julia or how you feel about one another…but…I plan on finding out…" Paxton said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Are you calling me a threat?" Cain asked, a small smile on his face. "Maybe so…but then again…why would Julia choose someone seventeen years older than her when she can have someone only seven years older than her?" Paxton asked, with a malicious smirk.
"Where would you get the crazy idea that I had more than a friends feeling for Julia?" Cain asked. "I'm a hunter Cain. I go on instinct, and my instinct tells me that you have a stronger feeling than a friend feeling for her. So, don't try to lie to me…" Paxton said, glaring at him. Cain sighed. "I'm a cop, Paxton. I go on instinct as well. My instinct tells me that you're not the perfect prince that everyone thinks you are and that you can't be trusted…" Cain said, sharing the glare.
Cain pulled the reins of the horse, and walked towards the stables. "My instincts tell me that you won't be here much longer, Cain…" Paxton said. He turned to look at the castle. "And if this stubbornness continues…neither will Princess Rodney or her precious Zipper freak…" Paxton said, gritting his teeth.
He turned to face the hedges. "Its time I arranged a meeting with my friends…" he muttered, before disappearing into the woods.