"Daniel, where have you been?" four people exclaimed as the young man was brought into the throne room.
Daniel groaned "I was nowhere, ok?"
Jonathan gave his son a hard look "And where exactly is, nowhere?"
Daniel turned his head and looked at the wall. He did that whenever he was determined not to say anything.
Ella stood up and walked over to him "Daniel, we were worried."
Daniel remained silent.
Ella looked at Jonathan neither one of them were sure what to do. They had raised him with honesty and discipline. They had been very careful not to spoil him and yet somehow he had turned to be the most stubborn, self-centered person you would meet.
The king and queen looked at the duke and duchess who simply shrugged, not knowing what to do ether.
Ella tried again "Daniel, talk to us. Where did you go?"
Daniel let out a frustrated growl "I was out in town, ok? Is that a crime?"
Jonathan sent Daniel a warning look "Watch your voice young man."
"Why do ya'll always have to know where I go what I do and anything else that evolves me?"
Ella put a hand on his arm "That's because you are our son and were worried about you when you just disappear."
"Well, there's nothing to be worried about! I'm fine!" Daniel shouted before leaving the throne room
Ella stared after him, trying to hold back the tears.
Jonathan walked over to his wife "Ella, are you ok?"
She nodded.
"How about a walk in the garden?" he asked.
Ella forced a small smile "That would be nice."
"Men!" Angel huffed "How dare he think he could just take my purse?" She was walking to her house that was hidden in some canyons.
She walked in the door to see all the elderly folks waiting for her. She sat her basket of stuff down.
"How'd it go out in town?" Clara asked.
Angel walked into the living room and sat down on a chair "Exhausting."
All the elderly folks had followed her.
Clara looked at Angel, who was red in the face. "Is everything ok?"
Angel looked up into the concerned faces "Yes. I just ran most of the way home is all."
"How much did you make today?" Jack asked.
Angel reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out her purse. "Two hundred and fifty dollar's. But I bought some stuff to make some pies and apple turnovers to sell to the general store."
The folks nodded.
Angel looked up at a clock on the wall, it read 3:00am. Angel eyebrows went up. That dumb clock is always dying! She stood up and took it down off the wall "Anybody have the real time?"
Jack pulled out his old rust pocket watch "It be 10:30pm."
Angel gasped "I need to make supper!"
Clara smiled "We already made supper, Dear."
Angel looked at her "You did?"
Clara nodded "We already ate, but we saved you some."
Angel smiled "Thanks. I think it's time for bed."
All the old folks nodded and started making their way to their rooms. Since there were only three bed rooms they hung curtains in the room to make little rooms.
Angel laid on her make shift bed in the pantry. The rent was due in one day. She hoped she could get the money by that time.
She looked at her wrist where there was a bracelet made out of golden silver leaves and diamonds.
The next day, Angel woke up early, made the pies and turnovers, fixed breakfast for the old folks and left a note saying she was going on into town and she be back late.
Daniel was walking around in town. It was about 2:30pm. He glanced over at a tomato stand and then looked over to where a lady was standing. A smile crossed his face as he reached over and grabbed a tomato and threw it in the direction of the lady. But before it hit her, a hand reached out and grabbed it. Daniel looked at who caught it and groaned
Angel walked over to the black headed young man "You never learn, do you?"
The man huffed and grabbed the tomato and sat it back in its stand "What are you? A guardian angel or something?" all day, no matter what he tried to do to cause trouble, she would show up and stop him.
Angel shook her head "No. What is you name, anyway?"
Daniel glared at her "Why you wanna know?"
Angel shrugged "No reason. This is just the tenth time I've run into you."
"It's Daniel."
She raised her eyebrows "Your name is Daniel?"
He rolled his eyes "Yeah. What's so hard to believe about that?"
She shook her head again "Nothing. It's just I never pictured a trouble maker with the name, Daniel."
Daniel stared at her. "So what's your name?"
She was about to answer when the ground slightly stared shaking and the marching of feet could be heard. They looked up to see the king's army marching through town.
Daniel's mouth fell opened. They sent the army out to find me!? Are they crazy!? He thought "Weeelll… I got to go. Bye!"
Angel watched as Daniel ran off. She shook her head. He was weird.
Ella ran through the castle halls trying to find Jonathan. She ran around a corner and ran smack dab into somebody. She would have fallen over, but the person caught her. She looked up to see Jonathan.
"What's the rush?" he asked.
"Where have you been?!" she exclaimed.
"In my office."
Ella stared at him. Why hadn't she thought to look there? "Have you lost it!?"
"Lost what? Ella, what wrong?"
Ella shook her head to clear it "I know you get aggravated with Daniel for sneaking off. But to send out half of the army is a little extreme, don't you think?"
Jonathan stared at her "Say what?"
"Don't tell you me you had no idea that half of the army is marching through town!"
"I had no idea."
"You have to make them stop before they destroy the town!"
Jonathan nodded before running off.
Ella watched him go, then she turned around to walk back around the corner, only to have somebody run into her. Only this time, they both hit the ground. She looked to see Daniel lying on the floor.
"Daniel!"
Daniel sat up panting for breath "Sorry, Mom." He managed to say in between gasped of air.
Ella looked at her son "Are you ok?"
He nodded
Ella stood up and crossed her arms "I take it you were out in town?"
He looked up at her sheepishly "Maybe."
Ella glared at him.
Daniel managed to stand up, then he leaned against the wall, still out of breath from running. "Ok, so I was out in town. But you didn't have to send half the army to come and find me!"
Ella suppressed a giggle "Serves you right."
Daniel sent Ella an annoyed look
Ella couldn't hold it any more she started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
Jonathan came walking around the corner, he looked at Ella who was unsuccessfully trying to stop laughing, then he looked at Daniel "Well look who found their way home."
Daniel groaned
Ella straightened up "So, what happened?"
Jonathan looked at Ella "I had told the duke to send the army out to find Daniel. I had only meant two or three, but he took me seriously and sent half of them."
Daniel leaned his head back against the wall.
Jonathan looked back at Daniel "If anything, it made somebody come home in a jiffy."
Ella smiled then started laughing again
Daniel looked back and forth between his parents. They both thought it was funny! With a huff, he straightened and went walking off towards his room.
(an. In case your wondering what the characters look like
Angel - age 20 - hair color brownish-red
Daniel - age 20 - hair color black - eyes sky blue
King Jonathan age 43 - hair color brown - eyes midnight blue
Queen Ella age 42 - hair color strawberry blond - sea blue)
Duke Edward age 44 - hair color dirty blond and gray - eyes green
Duchess Emily age 43 - hair color black - eyes pale blue